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If having to put up with Brian as part of winning I am absolutely happy to include this each week. Really makes him think he is important but behind the responses there is s good deal of banter some sort of unbelievable mirth and also true footy cliches. Oh and just a hint of information for us fans!

The best way of judging Trac's game last night (or any time maybe) is who would have kicked those 2 goals especially the second.? Also last week vs Bombers inclose on his left foot his strength won out. Once you eliminate 3/4 of the Forward line I suggest probably only Tommy Mac (WC Round 14 2027 winning goal) Clarry and maybe Melkshake . Also his heavy traffic performance IMO is priceless to our goal scoring capability like to Jonesy last night and in the Elim Final. Another point is that we have 2 elite ball users and currently moderate contributors in the forward line in Weid and Spargo. Now they both don't get enough of the ball snd need games and experience to develop that as they both are only about 25 games into their careers! The balance and bonus of playing them consistently should not be overlooked unless they have a real period of low confidence (like Oscar at the moment).They Both Have one or two great skills Weid good ball handling superb kicking fir goal esp. Marking still a work in progress. Good team player as well. Spargs footy brain and disposal ability are a natural born elite skill that will stand him in good stead throughout his career. Yes more pace stronger tackling and greater kicking depth are needed to become an excellent AFL small player. Wonder if he could develop like Calem Daniel of the Dogs? So keep Trac and develop game time for Weid and Spargs and inFinals (whenever ) the tests will come for them all.

Jones???

Suns 8 years

Great team lifting win and when the chips were down the leaders came up with the the cream. Jonesy Jack and Gawny outstanding but a real contribution by all in the red and blue to start the 2019 season. Big Swans hoodoo and on SCG broken the Buddy hoodoo also and bonus from debutants Pruessy and Marty Hore in a win that will give all a confidence boost. The season is just starting and most of the nearly dozen injured players all can look forward to joining the group in much better form.

I have no doubt that May was not up to scratch for our pre-season and finished a very out of breath last in the first 2 runs. But I believe ha has got pretty fit in the period but again injuries have limited his prep time. Here is also a thought that he suffered too many tissue injuries st the Suns. If sny one used the GC Suns as an excuse it was May when he first said the standards at MFC were greater. I think it is blame on both sides ie lack of communication from us and he not keeping in trim on his holiday time off. Agsin nothing going our way in 2019 injury and health wise!! Please don't get me started on Joel Smith that's almost criminal now 10-12 weeks and as thought Vanders time is strung out again looking like the bye if at all. Whats the saying The more things change the more they stay the same !! 2017 again fir both!

Thank goodness no Justin Westhoff (no goals since 5 vs us!!) clone Reid is a good player no shame if he plays well only that he plays few games . We have just as much ability if not more but need to play as a team if not then it will be a very difficult assignment.

Can be 2 years from now on Dint agree about expendable players !! List if retainees is good but needs an injection of class forwards quick and flexible to match goal scoring potential that has hampered us in the 3 years so far. Next issue is why our game plan really doesn't stand up vs the top 2 or 3 teams. Need more aggressive and urgent style IMO and that's the Coaches job do this is why I am saying a Change of Coach is necessary.

Agree completely Balls

Good luck Tommy and thanks for your 150 games of honest and brilliant footy. Lets win tonight and kick start the season and out fear into our opposition.

Good list of retained players What about the Coach? Pies have moved their man on and our same old same old positions finish on the ladder plus the failure to develop a real forward plan to ensure scores enough to make Finals plus win the close games at Casey has hurt us 3 years in a row. Our ladies team lacks at least a couple of flexible faster and skilled flankers and/or on ballers to break lines and assist scoring heavily, in short X factors ( like the Crows forwards) to go the next level and challenge for the Finals and flag. We should be chasing Bec Goddard if she is available to get a really aggressive and urgent game plan not the staid one that has failed for 3 years. No doubt Mick Stennear is a popular coach but team needs should over prioritise popularity.

At the risk of disagreeing to this forum the very nature of the title "CROWD SUPPORT fir the Demons" seems to indicate that if we attend aDemons game as the crowd then we are there to support our players and heroes of the Club. ie it really isn't negotiable. All the posts here are watery and weak plus conditional excuses of the lack of noise ie support for the Dees on Round1. Blaming it in The Demon Army! The reality of it was we were within 10 points had hit the front and then lost it just before 3/4 time. In the first 10 mins of the final quarter when the team urgently needed our support it wasn't there in noise. We had chances and when Jonesy fumbled that mark ( others have done that since ie Track and ANB ) the dam wall broke and it was all over. Fans have hyped up and joined with the wallets (6,000 more members as at Round 1 and record membership) but we need not go into our shells because things are not exactly going our way. I don't think the players are not trying but I do think some are not fully recovered and match fit from pre-season ops and training and the sheer weight of these plus new season injuries has left us lacking ready made talent and depth to start the season in peak shape. Also our game plans are not looking updated to take in fir the new rules in 2019. Coaches have been far too slow to adapt. Additionally some players are below the form that took us to 16 wins and Finals last year. Eg ANB Oscar Frosty Nev Hibbo Tommy and others do we are not performing well at either end of the ground. The reaction by some in 3 games is "Same Old Melbourne" now down and out and bottom of the ladder, and I can't support that because we should be unbeaten and top. No thought about any facts or consideration of effects and reasons why. Support is needed more than ever now and ONE win can solve our form and produce done if the 2nd quarter magic that gave us a chance against the Bombers. We can win vs Swanson's let's all get there against the Saints make them pay he'll as 35,000 of us get the team over the line. Don't wait fir them to ignite the flame let's light it ourselves and reap the benefits. 2 out of 3 and we will be ready full on and vocal fir the Tigers on Anzac Eve. Go Dees (loudly)

Confusing more spectacular for classical!

I believe we can beat the Swans if our forward line can play like it did in the 2nd quarter and our defence toughens up and mans up. Also providing ANB Oscar are changed for by Pruess and Garlett/Stretch. Jonesy May get away with his role on the wing but it should be phased out and he be placed in the forward 50 metre as a crumber. The 2 way midfield should tighten up and not sure if Harmsey has been tagging If not then Heeney might be a start! Of course 18.4 and not 4.18 is a given. We badly need an update in our Plan and the Coaches should have been burning midnight oil on this! Go Dees!

Why no Petracca ? Is one of our better ball users ! Just misses set shots fir goal. How good do you know that Chandler will become He definitely seems more skilled than other smaller forwards I agree but not unfortunately. Looks good and obviously some players need building up and devrloping size and strength. Also need turnover of coaches under Goody st end of 2019.

Spot on and Nev also has been underwhelming often flying at the REAR of packs with no hope of spoiling orvmarking. Plus Oscar And Frosty have played the 3 worst games in their mediocre careers with no judgement at all. In all the defence has looked far worse than at the start of last season and I wonder following its rehabilitation in the last 8/10 games if the Prelim Final has knocked the stuffing out of this group. (Especially with no review that we are aware of)

Far too quick to basket Weide and Tommy given a full season would have kicked 70 in last season. Weide will improve as season goes on and and his accuracy is breathtaking looking at Hoges and others in our Forward line. ANB plus no Fritsch forward Hannan and Jeffy are hurting the potential goal total also. ANB needs a Casey recall and hard contested football and goal kicking accuracy practice. in time our full team will/may emerge with Lockhart Chandler and Perry/Kelty and maybe Pruess occasionally and of course AVB and Hannan plus May and LeVer. Much better balance and future and maybe no Jinesy or even Lewy. Let's see over the next next few weeks or months!

Sorry Troy but the persistence and team spirit of a peanut. Glad you don't work for me. Imagine if the world ran to this schedule and standards. Team is at lowest ebb much has not gone right but I bet if we have a real chance later in year or do a Tigers and win next much will be made of this period and the reasons and resilience of our group. its never a straight line upwards and if we have what is a good group and confidence in our system coach and brand then it will overcome our injuries lack of form and things like frustration with umps inconsistencies on Friday night. We have got to be better than ever from now and all in together players staff and with supporters on board.! Two wins vs Swans and Saints can kick start our season then it's really in Anzac Eve against the stuttering Tigers.

You don't do please don't undermine the other contributors !

Both Matthews and Mac P are! Chaplsin was employed by Roosy but we need new ideas from successful other Clubs ex staff. Thats What Tigers and Oies and now Saints have done. Assistants need to get into Goodys head snd bslabce his game plan. Idmf Matthews hasstoppages then that's my point. Need new plans as another post sums it up All our mids chase the man ( and the ball) and leave no outside runners to carry! And criminally the opposition has a clear path to hsbdpass and get their game going without pressure! Pies did it QB and Eagles in Prelim and again this year it's happening.! Got to stop!!!

Best piece of advice in this Demonland this season. Pert clearly has the ability and is in the job fir the right reasons. And again don't go crazy because he had ideas and plans. That's what he is an empire builder and like Rome it all takes time even our onfield woes are not overnight changing (thought our best footy by far in 2019 and our attacking style with Clarry Gus and Trac leading the way last night yes defence terrible at times). But to say the footy results and form are Perty 's fsult is simply scapegoating scandiously. Ops and limited pre season fitness are one reason and form another and the coaches failure to move with the times and change some of our game plans are reasons for 0-3. If we can sneak Saints and Swans then Anzac Eve is HUGE vs underdone and Tigers starting to doubt their depth and Club culture and game brand.

Horses fir courses If Hird van come back so can Gary is Ben Matthews or Mc Pherson still around? if not apologies!

Wasn't Troy Chaplain our forward Coach last season and before in 2017? Last year our forward entries with Hoges we're rush rush rush and chaotic no system, and now it's no better! Rawlings May be better but deserves his role at Casey and Plapp is midfield I think. Need a changeover like Tigers or Saints as most of Roosy's staff are still safely in trust (too safely me thinks). I have said it before and again I believe Gary Lyon (yes ha helped give us Neeld and Bails) should be on board for match day in the box and perhaps greater. Has the sharpest brain in footy these days snd knows the tricks and ways to utilise the players best attributes.

Defence cost us in First Quarter not helped by lack of pressure from midland forwards. I think Oscar played his worst game last night and Petty (not Kelty) deserve the opportunity to claim that position till the injured return and beyond if he shows his true ability. FWIW thought Hibbo returned to some form and Nev got back on track last night. It's also so one dimensional to just punch someone must mark the ball and get it moving to create tun and carry to out forwards.

No doubt we have missed Lewy not sure about last night making a difference due to the pace of McD TW and others but a Swans and Saints return would be ideal in his role of "General down back". If as I suspect Petty (rather than Keltie) should come in vs Swans then his experience would be irreplaceable. Jonesy may fill the breach but of course is no faster!