D4Life

Thanks to Andy and the rest of the Demonland crew for a great site. Often informative, a bit offbeat, but a pleasure to hear from other Demon fans, and what a season we had. We’re getting very close!

Correct, so does May. Eagles manhandled and bullies us last week. A couple of beasts in the team will definitely help. Another big factor will be our gun mids getting another preseason and a year older. Clarry, Brayshaw, Harmes, Petracca, even Viney, they all become bigger bodies. Eagles were almost a year and a half older on average than us, so a year makes a difference, also another older guy in May helps in that 26-29 bracket. Even Pies midfield of Pendle, SideB, Treloar, Adams that bit older than the Demons. Adding a few big tough bodies a bit of Outside run and skill, plus another year into our 20-22 yo players, it’s exciting thinking about next year.

Fair comments, like the old/young concept, only area I feel we’re fine compared to you is the mids. Rotation 1 - Oliver, Brayshaw, Harmes. Rotation 2 - Viney, Petracca, Jones. Others - ANB, Salem. From my recall of finals matches Oliver, Brayshaw, Harmes, and Viney covered about 80-90% of centre bounces, so get Petracca to play a little more mid time. Tyson, AVB didn’t get much time in middle. But maybe amongst the 8-10 picks we look like having, might find another inside mid in the mix. To date keep hearing a lot about ins: Preuss great to support Max and if anything happens. May gives us a gorilla tamer and hard but which is good. Thought he was going to Pies! KKK who may be an outside mid for us, particularly if his skills are good as reported. Outs: Hogan - big loss. Kent - while occasional very good game, lots of so so games and injury prone, which is unlucky for him, so minimal loss. Tyson - first two years were very good, but last few only fair and skills fell apart. Losing a reasonable depth / interchange back up mid. AVB - love his pure aggression and tackling, skills ordinary, will be missed as a handy bottom six player. Always felt he was similar to Bugg. Delisted guys - can all be replaced. Should be interesting to see what trades we do, assuming Hogan gone if we have 5 & 10 as replacement, might go for one of the gun kids in the super draft with 5!

At start of game, was hard who to support, hate both, but went with Pies losing to a kick after the siren! sSo close to the perfect result! Pies supporters maximum misery and don’t have to listen to them gloating for next 12 months!

Forwards: If Spargo steps up to 1-2 goals per game, and Weideman continues on his improvement, with TMac, Melksham, and Trac it looks very good. Better ball delivery into forward line will make the highest scoring team in 2018 even better. Hogan is a loss! Recruiting a quality quick crumber would be good. Backs: Lever coming back will help and if May joins, he adds that gorilla owner that we lack. He also has a bit of mongrel that premiership teams need. Mids: Give Oliver, Brayshaw, Harmes another year, Viney a preseason add Max with a backup and they are elite. Tyson and VDB were rarely used, covered by Petracca coming in occasionally. Outside mids: This is a soft spot, for mine Fritsch should take a wing and hopefully Stretch is fit and steps up. Maybe Salem, but I like him in backline. We need to recruit a class outside mid. Depth: We lost Lever, Hogan and Stretch when he finally looked good, and managed to win two finals, so I think our depth was pretty good. I always compare depth to other teams, and only Eagles, Collingwood and Richmond were perhaps slightly better re depth and not really sure on Tigers as they didn’t lose any of Rance, Riewoldt, Cotchin, Martin or Nankervis. If they lost Rance as we lost Lever and Riewoldt Vs Hogan, they couldn’t replace them. So they have no spine depth, only Eagles & Pies with better depth for mine! Next year a different ball game, looks like we have 8-10 players to replace, so once trading is done, will then be able to better judge how we look!

Seeing Pies go down with a goal after the siren, would be worthwhile! But hard to barrack when hate both!

Lewis played some good football for the Demons this year. Shocker on Saturday but had nearly 21 mates in the first half. Obviously next year will be it, as falling to ground, speed etc will just get worse. Trade was worth it! Not sure if alternative pre season with martial arts training incorporated may improve his balance & strength, for one last season!

Like your thinking, not sure Saints would go for it. Kent go Saints 3rd rounder Tyson to Blues for 2nd rounder

Shocker on Saturday, disappointing re tackles and terrible skills in turning the ball over! Eagles bullied Demon players and we didn’t do anything about it, we almost responded as if in shock. For a first finals campaign, two good wins and a stinker. Assuming we learn from the result, another big pre season that will help the 23yo and unders, that should lead to another level of improvement. Every team gets pre season but I think the Demons have best batch of 23 and under players, so significant room for this to have an positive impact. Trading to date, smart delistings, Kent’s best was very good but haven’t got to see it much over 5 years. What would help: - Outside mid who is fast & skilled - Nippy goal shark - 2nd ruck, Preuss would be very good - Possibly key defender ( If Lever comes back okay next year, maybe not) May would be great, but I wouldn’t be trading Hogan to get him

The umpires do a great job, particularly when you consider they have to leave their Labradors off the ground! Apologies for the political incorrectness of my post, I’m a keen supporter of Guide dogs association and have a lab and a mungrel lab, should have called him Nicholls!!

Delist: King & Filipovic (we got killed every week in ruck in VFL, especially if Preuss in they both have to go!) That gives us 5 spots with retirements. Sounds like Tyson trade likely that’s six spots, and as much as I like Garlett he will be another trade, making 7 spots available! Then Bugg to trade, or Johnstone or McKenna delist and we have 8! 8 is plenty to trade, draft or deal, a very good spot to add into our existing list, with only one Tyson being in our preliminary final 22. Tyson best spot is inside mid and I’d put at least 6 in front of him (Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw, Harmes, Petracca, Jones) and could add Salem, and AVDB, maybe more! Trading, delisting eight looks great!

Thanks for all the years and blood, sweat & tears, and terrific effort in 2017. Gun in VFL, just lacking the little extra to be a permanent fixture in The Ones! Best of luck for the future.

Media like umpires not held to account for rubbish calls!!

The sky is falling and we need to trade the whole list! At some point all the chicken Little’s on DL will realise that you typically need to experience a finals campaign before your ready for a flag! Shocking performance no doubt, but anyone who said making finals and winning two finals before the season started wasn’t a successful season is delusional! Yesterday delivered some cold hard truths about what is required to go all the way. But when you compare experience, age and bodies of the two teams, and massive home ground advantage there was a big difference. I’m looking forward to next year, after another pre season, our dozen 23& under players moving into 50-70 game bracket, and moving out a few guys who aren’t good enough. We will be very close to challenging for a flag next season!! Final note, if Nicholls is retiring, a huge benefit as he is an absolute [censored], Viney getting hit in throat in front of him and no decision showed Nicholls is a filthy T..D!

I’m ready for a pre match snooze, then head to bottle shop, stock up with some cold ones and watch the Demons come out on fire! All the talk has been about Kennedy, Darling, I’ll trump that with one Jack Viney! Go Dees, smash them by one plus points!

Disagree, Harmes who is good in the air and has pinch hit in the ruck will not get killed in the air by Yeo! Whether he plays on Shuey or Yeo, depends on who will hurt us more. Too many tags is a risk, Hawks tried it last week, on Oliver & Brayshaw, and Brayshaw while down on possessions still kicked two. We won by 32, just playing okay.

Stevie dressed Dermie & umpired, multi talented & shite at both!!!!

Forget everything we won!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome

I’m not that fat according to my BMI, but I’m sticking fat for Oscar! 4 year deal soon to be announced!

No change in team and no change in result!

Since our loss to the Cats when they kicked 16.4 and 8 straight in the last away at Geelong, we’ve learnt a lesson and improved. Leading to away wins against Crows and Eagles, and beating GWS who we destroyed. Viney back is a big in, he makes a huge difference to the team in close games. Its our time! Demons to pump the pussycats!

Player said I’m staying! Coach said Hogan staying! Manager said he is staying! Kicked 47 goals, handed off plenty, also played up field and in middle, typically has 2-3 opponents, missed a few games. Guy is a gun, give him another preseason and 20 more games, will be elite next year! Well and truly time to close this thread!

End of game would top it!

OMac is a good mark and a very good kick. Still building strength and not the quickest, but continues to improve, and hasn’t been beaten very often this year. Only 22, on his way to developing into a very strong full back. 2018 has been a year of great progress for OMac. Probably one of the most enjoyable facets of watching the Demons has been across the board improvement of our 20-23yo players: Brayshaw Harmes OMac ANB JSmith Oliver Petracca Hogan Weideman Stretch Salem Lever While we’ve been very good this year, give them all another pre season, extra 20 plus games and will hit next years finals as an awesome machine! Fingers crossed for the finals, our best is very very good, and our composure is definitely improving!