Skuit

"Then it clicked. Just as Tom McDonald hobbled from the field after rolling his ankle following an awkward landing in a marking contest, Melbourne's small brigade came to life." - AFL.com We lowered our eyes, began locking it in, and found space in front. And then it unclicked . . . when Tomald returned. We've seen the same thing happen with Hogan's absence in the past two years. Out: KK and Tomald - send him to CHB if you want to keep him, can't be worse than his brother. And we could undoubtedly do with some leadership down back. Jones should join him there as well, and Fritsch who can jump and mark can play up front. In: Keilty and Garlett

We looked the goods when Tomald was off the field.

The MFC and Rupert Murdoch and his lackeys sit at the exact opposite ends of my love scale in life - in fact I still have Demonland warning points from a couple of years ago for saying that I wished he would die. Despite that, I'm emotionally detached from this story and its surrounding intrigues and just want the information - which is difficult to get to, obscured by a Hun paywall and all the arms up in the air on here. You seem to be on the same page. If you have a means of access to them I'd be grateful if you could share.

WJ - I don't have access to the documents/reports and don't know what is going on. Can you elaborate further on your response?

Are these documents available outside of the Murdoch domain? If not, why not? And why does Newscorp have them? If they were leaked from AFL House, I'd argue that that would constitute bringing the game into disrepute.

Yup, and with Lewis, Garlett and May out that leaves only Melksham as a 100-plus gamer in any sort of form (excluding Gawn and Viney). We have a massive experience vacuum as it is - especially when Garlett and May are being added to that list as outs - and those with experience are wildly underperforming.

The smoking gun? It's the Hun, so I'm not so sure. It doesn't feature a direct quote, and as a journalist myself I'd want that revelation coming directly out of the mouth of the subject themselves. Reporter: did you dwell on the preliminary loss? Goodwin: the game was pretty clear in my head . . . Copy: Goodwin did not watch the game. But, if we're to move on - it leads directly to the next one: Contention: Goodwin's game-plan was found out by the Eagles in the prelim. I live away from Oz. Was this ever discussed with footage on any of footy shows or in print? What was it that the Eagles supposedly did to undermine our game-plan that hadn't been done before and can it be clearly evidenced on the replay?

I've always thought we should introduce blades to football but missed the announcement. Finally, Gil gets something right.

I like what he does here.

Supporting evidence: Jack be nimble and the shaved chicken ran up the clock at half past seven.

Not sure how this thread devolved into arguments? Contention. Find source and supporting evidence. E.g Contention: Several years ago the MFC put a massive contract offer in front of Josh Kennedy (Syd). Did the club ever hint at or confirm anything of the like? Or was it just a rumour from a supposed insider?

That is the premise, hopefully through objective measures where possible rather than just subjective ones. For balance, I should have written that some reasonable posters have suggested he is fat (and I'll go through later and compile a list), whereas others have said he isn't. It was just to highlight that there appears some conflict between the photographic evidence and some eye-witness reports. For those contesting the use of the word fat - clearly he is not fat by any definition. But it's fun to call a footballer fat and makes us all feel better about ourselves. Yes, the debate surrounds around whether he is in the appropriate shape as an athlete/for his role.

Hehe. Could be straight out of a gym session or flexing for the camera though? I was convinced by this photo that he was in good shape. Some reasonable posters who have attended training sessions have suggested he's not. I'm not sure how this one can be resolved?

Good one Hell Bent - this is on my list also. It's also a good one to demonstrate my own confirmation bias. I strongly disliked Neeld, love Viney, and wish we had selected Ollie for some midfield explosions. Hence, I've accepted it as true that Neeld overruled Todd - but think I've never read about it or heard any real evidence. Interesting that you've added another element - if there was a heated discussion, who's camp was Viney in?

Is there a public record of him having said he/the coaching staff hasn't - even if that isn't irrefutable evidence in the first place. This is what this thread is about - getting to the source. From Michael Gleeson in the Age: "The Demons coach did not spend long dwelling on the preliminary final blowout, because his side was so poor they didn’t resemble Melbourne at all." "The Demons did not do a regular play-by-play review of the game with their players because it was futile when they had played so far outside the way they know they should play, and outside the way they had been playing." Goodwin (as quoted): I certainly didn’t dwell too much on the way we played because it was nothing like the way the Melbourne team plays. But you do reflect on the things in our program (sic?) we keep addressing and learning from." Dated March 7 2019: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/grand-final-was-the-real-lesson-for-the-demons-goodwin-20190307-p512hl.html There's also another google reference to Goody not reviewing the game but it's behind a Hun paywall, and I recall he may have said something in a post-match interview or elsewhere about not reviewing. If it was future tense in the preliminary final post-match, I think that can be rejected as a pretty unreliable source. Anyone else have anything?

Oh, and; Contention: Petracca is fat. Is he fat? I have no idea, but think it may be man-puberty. It would seem odd that he may have strayed do far from MFC dietary advice and still be getting a game - but I do recall some sort of joking reference to Maltesers or the like in a pre-season Gold Coast trip video and one of our support staff pricking his ears up. Anyone have access to MFC skin-fold data?

Free hit for the media commentariat. Call-out Melbourne with stereotype dog-whistles to those who feel we have a reputation, and claim the wake-up call when we turn it around. Can't believe that some of the excitable Geelong tribe would have the gall to call us soft this week, after our kids physically dominated their veteran campaigners when it mattered.

No, it's not another thread about Christian Petracca - it's Demonland Fact-Check with a 'c', the home of unbiased, objective reporting. There have been any number of rumours, conjecture and innuendo which have somehow evolved over the years and eventually entered into Demonland lore. But where did these ideas originate, and is there any evidence to support them? For those subscribed to such 'facts', this is the place to substantiate them, and for those who question false news and believe in at least some degree of truthiness, ask your questions here: With our poor start to 2019, we already have some flimsy ideas being taken as gospel, so I'll get the ball rolling on a couple emerging subjects - but please add any widely reported Demonland beliefs about the history of the MFC you wish to have clarified. In this instance, Google is your friend. Contention: Simon Goodwin didn't review the 2018 Preliminary Final face-plant against the Eagles. Is this true? Or did Simon just not bother reviewing it with the squad, which some might argue is a worthwhile approach for a young team? Contention: Our mismanagement of Joel Smith has blown a minor injury into a major one. Sure, it doesn't look good - but is there any evidence this is genuinely the case? Or can someone provide expert opinion that it's likely to be so? Contention: Steven May arrived at pre-season training unfit and out of shape. He seemed to lag the pack according to reports, but was this due an attitudinal problem? Is GFC's fitness regime below standard? Was there enough time to bridge the gap?

I apologise again. I actually love stats. Please keep providing them wherever and on whatever subject you see fit. 0-2 to top 4 occurred last year and Sydney were a whisker away from making the top 4 after a 0-5 start in 2017. I get the sense already that this is going to be another even season with no real stand-out performers - so let's hope that trend line continues.

Neo is a character played by Keanu Reeves in a movie called the Matrix and Stinga was the nickname for 90s MFC midfielder Stephen Tingay. Why l felt the need to respond like I did initially? I've done some self-reflection and I'm genuinely not sure.

I appreciate your effort, but did you miss every media outlet promoting this same bs during the week? Can you narrow your analysis down to the last three or four years, when the AFL model has been upended by expansion? That said, none of the said media outlets gave a run-down for 1-2 or even 2-2. Can you provide that for us? See the stats-file 2019 thread for further statistical insight - we're not the same as Essendon - but are we statistically different to any other 0-2 teams from the past? Edit: sorry, I don't mean to come across as hostile: welcome aboard.

Noted a fat-tracker app in the Google store the other day. Man-bo'som-tush.

Keanu Reeves and Gordon Sumner.

Has shown potential to be our most damaging kick alongside Melksham. But he's too good inside to find space for on the outside at present. He's played 60 games and won 25 contested possessions on the weekend, and I'm pretty sure he had a 50-plus possession game vs the Cats but some of of them were almost imperceptible. Neo's kicking will get sharper the more aware he becomes that he owns time.

Is Jay now the all-time leader for time in the AFL to fist goal in the AFL?