D4Life

Yes it was very poor, in fact [censored] poor, we looked underdone! i just looked outside, the sky is still in place. Best of all, at least we’re not Essendrug!!!!!

A really bad day for the Demons, let themselves get roughed up by a young Port team and did nothing about it. May and Preuss can both come in and do something about it!

I thought Lewis tweaked a hamstring, so won’t be ready. Unless K.K stars in VFL would rather see him play a couple of VFL games so he is really ready. Jones, Viney looked short of a gallop and Melksham ran out of puff, don’t want KK doing the same. Agree Horne out and May in. Perhaps Frost or O Mac out and Preuss in to support Max and bring in some strength. Not sure answer re more speed, just the team playing better makes a big difference. Hopefully bit of a reality shock will help make players more accountable! Can also see why FD wanted JSmith in forward line, speed and pressure on opposing backs running the ball out of the backline. Out: Hore & Frost In: May & Preuss (not sure why we let Port push us around yesterday, but these two will help)

Our Collingwood trades have gone badly for last 5 years. Kennedy, Lumumba, Dawes and now Hore. Looked very slow and disposal ordinary at best. Reminds me of a slow Wagner in defence. Not good enough for AFL. Hopefully I’m wrong!

Part of yesterday’s game reminded of our loss to St Kilda last year. We got out run and Port ran in waves, particularly from backline were they outnumbered us around the ball, then would typically break away as a group of three and start running and passing the ball amongst themselves. Several Demons weren’t running and chasing, led by our captains, Jones who seems to think he is above chasing, Viney who looked injured, and Petracca. Hore just looked slow, and the team generally didn’t seem to be running. We recovered after losing to St Kilda last year and am expecting almost the whole team other than Salem & Melksham to improve on yesterday’s performance. Would live to see Jones chase!!

Veery tough to pick 6: 6 Salem (best by a mile) 5 Melksham 4 Brayshaw 3 Harmes 2 Hunt 1 Sparrow Worst also difficult as so many to choose from unfortunately!

MFC - Very bad day Team ball movement- slow slow slow Kicking out - slow, short, poor Not so good: Viney, Gawn, Oliver, Harmes, Jetta, TMac, Hibberd, Petracca - well below average ok Jones - will not chase (did not mark!), end is near! Frost - replace with May OMac - was no Mac Spargo - brushed aside easily, at least smart ANB - missed two & disappeared Fritsch - a bit spasmodic Weid - not his best (no easy possessions, slow ball movement, into forward line) Showed something: Hunt - had one crack Newbies: Hore - looked very slow, out of position, replace with anyone Wagner - had a crack Sparrow - some good signs The Good Salem - a class act Melksham - forward line spark Normally don’t bother with player summary but found it cathartic! Shocker of a performance, hopefully can only get better, roll on round 2!

Jones won’t chase and incredibly casual dropped simple mark, when mark and captains goal may have kept us in it.

May for Hore

So why aren’t we smashing into Ryder! Too passive! Jones refuses to chase, poor example from captain!!

Jetta OMac Hibberd Salem Frost Lewis Fritsch Oliver Harmes Petracca Weideman Melksham Spargo TMac ANB Max Brayshaw Viney Jones Hunt Preuss Sparroe or Stretch Backline same as finals last year Fritsch skills to wing Preuss to help counter two Port rucks

Agree DeeSpencer post was good. Give Spargo some time, last year was first season after interrupted pre season, so hopefully this year will be better. I would like to see Clarry kick more, as he is a smart ball user. Dangerfield & Martin both have very average disposal efficiency rating, due to pressure when kicking, and this impacts our mids as well. Disapppointing part is when player is clear and gives it to opposition, ANB, AVB, Hunt and Brayshaw at times are guilty. As DeeSpencer highlighted KK, Fritsch, Spargo, Melksham, all use ball well, most of the backs are good, Weid smart with ball in hand, so we should be improving. Some players like TMac & Hunt probably better near goals, get ball go for goal, nothing to think about. As highest scoring team last year, only need some small improvements to make a big difference. Go Dees can’t wait for Saturday!

While I would love to see point 1 occur, petracca go wild, I think supporters in general have an unrealistic expectation of Half Forward or Forward Pocket players when it comes number of possessions and goals. If Melksham, ANB or Spargo averaged 2 goals a game, 15-20 possessions a game and 3-4 tackles, across the season they will have a great season. But lots of supporters seem to have far greater expectations.

If Smith misses, definitely not playing a Hore from Collingwood! Much prefer Spargo in. Rest of team looks good.

Very good side. Agree coaches will go OMac ahead of Frost, ANB instead of Stretch. Spargo has to crumb in the pocket, using Van DB off bench. Hard to know what to make of JLT form, seemed haphazard and defence pretty loose. Be great to see Viney back in, and Melksham is a key part of forward line functioning properly. Can’t wait for the 23rd!

Very good team, but looking at last years team selections, OMac will get nod over Frost, Lewis over Hunt(early in season). Round one - Preuss in against Port onto bench, ANB into pocket and Hannan out for mine. Harmes on wing Fritsch on bench. In waiting room: Backs: Lever, Hunt, Frost Mids: Stretch, Sparrow, Maynard Utility: J Smith (has the speed and can close opponent down) Forwards: Garlett, Hannan, T Smith, Keilty Team just looks a step up from last years finals team!

Max Petracca Fritsch Preuss & KK

Nice to remember Jakovich in particular that game against North when he kicked 11 goals and about 10 points and was just running around getting the ball for himself, he was a freak! schwartz before he got injured, the nine goals against the Swans, he was going to be a superstar! Farmer kicking 8 against Fremantle at Etihad! But it’s gotta be about 2019: Melksham Weideman Petracca ANB TMac Spargo or Farmer if he comes good Gawn & Preuss dropping into forward line Oliver swapping with Petracca Adding May, Preuss and KK just brings another dimension to the team. If Hunt can get it together and J Smith take the next step it’s going to be hard picking a best 22! Roll on round one, can’t wait!!!!! Gawn Brayshaw Viney Harmes Oliver KK all in the middle feeding the forward line, sounds good!

What are the odds/stats on Champion Data finally getting it right?

De Goey played on flank but even if he plays full forward. If he and Cox go down, who is their third tall? Who is Swans, second tall forward, if Buddy goes down what happens. My point still stands not many teams have two key tall forwards, let alone three. Cats - Hawkins then who? Hawks - Roughead nearly finished, Gunston almost half forward. GWS - Cameron & Patton

If Riewoldt & Lynch both go down, Richmond have? If Cox and ???? Go down Collingwood have??? if Darling & Kennedy go down Eagles have ???? Big KPF are hard to find and very few come up to speed within a few years of being drafted. Hogan was one of the few. Demons have TMac and Weideman on the way. If either go down the Demons may look to Preuss to do a Cox like role, or turn to TSmith, Keilty, Petty or even OMac. Not many if any teams have a good 3rd big key forward!

Very good team, I’d make a few changes: Lewis to interchange Salem to half back Harmes to wing Preuss to bench Melksham to flank Petracca or ANB into pocket Spargo for Garlett (unless Garlett improves 200% on 2018) By season end Lewis out, Fritsch in Note: don’t think lever will make round one, so Fritsch in.

Apologies, couldn’t help myself on Sparrow!!

Definitely Sparrow, heard he flies down the wing!

As players get older, slower and gradually worse (except Cameron Smith@ Melb Storm), supporters, commentators all tend to highlight poor games. I know against the Swans, Jones didn’t seem to be running, maybe he was injured, but did make me consider, how long has he got to go! From a loyalty perspective, it would be a hard hearted Demon who wouldn’t want to see him part of a flag! As this years GF showed, margin between winning and losing is fine and you can’t carry any passengers. Lets hope Jones has an injury free pre season and has a great year, but in the end the club/team is greater than any one player!