Whispering_Jack

It was really disappointing for me to read this thread this morning. Not so much because of Casey’s loss which was half expected due to the sheer lack of AFL experience. I think Scott Selwood has more AFL games under his belt than the 10 Melbourne listed players who took part. My disappointment was due to the fact that a number of posts had to be deleted by our moderators as a result of the unnecessary derailing of the thread for the purpose of chest beating and preaching when it wasn’t warranted or relevant. People come here to read the thread mainly to find out how some of our younger prospects and our out of form or players returning from injury are faring. We want to know if our VFL partner can make the finals. Demonland is not about individual posters. It’s about our club and it’s players. A great deal of what I read was crap and was rightfully removed. We won’t tolerate it here so before anyone thinks of posting “I’m better than you” posts, think again because they won’t be visible for very long.

It’s hard to fathom exactly what’s gone wrong since the last time that Melbourne ventured into the red centre when it comprehensively demolished Adelaide a week over recording that 100+ points win over Carlton (we sit today behind both on the ladder). I suppose the troubles began immediately upon our return home when Jake Lever twisted his knee at the former Etihad Stadium but, apart from a couple of wins late last year and the euphoria of those two home finals, it’s never been the same. The win against the Eagles at Optus Stadium in Round 22 last year was in the minds of many, our finest achievement of the season. Here’s hoping we can reach those heights again in the near future and provide them with a contest today.

What happened to the honourable tradition in football of taking things one week at a time?

After witnessing the winning performances in this round of two other clubs heavily affected by injuries - Collingwood and Essendon - all I can say is the time for making excuses is well and truly over.

Young Tiernan Stynes played for South Metro JFL side Port Melbourne/South Melbourne last year in the Under 13s and was also in their interleague team. I checked on the league website and it appears he’s not playing for them this year. The fact that he’s at Wesley might have something to do with this because the schools in the APS play their inter school matches on Saturday mornings which often puts pressure on young kids backing up for games with club teams on Sundays. I believe that Jeff White’s son is showing some promise as a sportsman and is perhaps a year or two younger. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a young Stynes and a young White combining for the Demons in around five or six year’s time after Maxy retires?

Put Cooper Sharman down as a smokie - Balwyn forward Cooper Sharman attracting AFL attention Perhaps somewhere later in the draft?

Both Carlton and St Kilda have made the finals during the current decade so what are they complaining about. Melbourne also did it once but are now languishing in the bottom four and is a game and %age behind the Saints. Had Jayden Hunt’s shot at goal on Sunday gone the way of most of his team’s set shots, we would have been behind the Blues on the ladder as well. Therefore, we have as much right as those two teams to a priority pick - and it would correct an historical wrong as well. #prioritypicforDees2019 ?

Some more serious reading about the 2019 crop of draft prospects - AFL Draft Power Rankings: State MVPs make a run up the board Under 18 Championships: 5 AFL draft prospects who elevated their stocks AFL Draft Wrap: Unique defender with booming boot looms as a first-round force

Fox Sports “If Match Review Officer Michael Christian grades the incident as careless conduct, low impact and high contact, Lewis would receive a fine.”

Zac Fisher played out the game and appeared unaffected. Low impact. Lewis cops a fine at worst despite his record.

No room for T Mac?

Is there any danger that just for once, we kick straight in the second half and our opponents muck up easy shots and kick atrociously? Just once!

Max is Gawn for this week.

Two of the oldest clubs in the competition playing in a game that can’t exactly be called the match of the round. Please allow Max the week to rest the ankle.

This is a tough industry. I suspect, judging on how some are playing at this level, that a few have already been told that their cards are marked.

Perhaps Barrie but on the other hand, they’ve just won their fourth on the trot. If only the MFC could do that!!!

KC is definitely our “Robin the Boy Wonder” here at Demonland. Cranbourne East is a bit on the cold side for me these days “rjay” - I’m visiting the Gold Coast at the moment and can see Metricon Stadium, where the AFL Tigers are having a feast at the moment, from my window.

So what’s new?

The All Australians

Is #1 pick still a two horse race Henry stars as WA snatches final-kick win to claim U18 champs Dylan Stephens leads South Australia to routine win in final Championship game

The final matches of the Under 18 Championships will be played today at Marvel Stadium and, like it or not, as Melbourne’s season unravels, there is a distinct possibility that the Demons will be in the running for a player like Noah Anderson - AFL No.1 draft pick fancy Noah Anderson likened to Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli For those who have access to Foxtel, the games will be televised so watch them or check your local guides and tape away. It won’t be long now and we’ll all be preoccupied by phantom drafts so in the meantime, here are the Draft Central Power Rankings: July 2019

GAMBIT by KC from Casey The opening gambit of Saturday afternoon’s game told us everything about who would be its main players and who would come out on top. The Casey Demons were eager to turn the tables on the Box Hill Hawks who beat them in last year’s grand final and then gave them a first up mauling at City Oval, Box Hill. Kicking with the aid of a strong breeze in the opening term, Braydon Preuss’ first hit out went straight to the diminutive Jay Kennedy Harris who pounced with a 70 metre shot at goal that sailed through the big sticks with just 13 seconds on the clock. That pair shared the best on ground honours with Preuss amassing 64 hit outs and 17 disposals while his roving partner-in-crime, better known as “JKH”, finished with 24 touches and three goals. Box Hill returned the favour a minute later but Casey took total control from then on. At one stage in the middle of the opening term, the Demons had been inside the 50 metre arc a dozen times to one but errant kicking kept their lead to manageable proportions. They were up by 26 points at the first break but that was pared back to 15 at the main break. The Demons whisked away in the third and then held on to a complete a comprehensive 34 point victory. The win makes it three on the trot for Casey and the second for new coach Sam Radford and it lifts the team to within sniffing distance of a finals berth. That it was achieved against one of its main rivals for a place in the top eight was particularly gratifying in light of the loss of some important players through injury and last week’s playmaker Jordan Lewis who was called up to travel to Brisbane with the AFL team. Preuss’ ruck dominance made a complete contrast to the team’s last few outings against the Box Hill Hawks and he had excellent assistance from fellow tall, Liam Wale-Buxton. Together they fed a midfield headed by the clean ball handling of JKH who reveled in the conditions. The two Coreys - Maynard and Wagner - were hard at it with their ball winning and tackling that never let their opponents get off the hook, even when they had the wind advantage. And what they didn’t attend to was looked after by Jimmy Munro who continues his fine season. On a good day for defenders, Oscar McDonald and Josh Wagner were impressive with their rebounding work, the latter was particularly outstanding. Young Demon lister Toby Bedford played his best game to date. He was especially dangerous with his ability to get loose and out on his own up forward but he also maintained pressure when the opposition had the ball. He and Mykelti Lefau were a thorn in the Hawks’ side all day, each ending with two goals. James Jordon also impressed with some solid work and his good disposal in the conditions. Mitch Gent, on return from injury, and Jack Hutchins were strong contributors among the Casey-listed contingent as was skipper Mitch White although his kicking for goal was a little off the mark. The club also welcomed new recruit Ariek Lual from Noble Park who was a stand out for a newcomer at this level. Another big game looms next week against fellow finals contenders in the Northern Blues at Casey Fields next Saturday as the team goes for four in a row. 2019 Hard Yakka / Totally Workwear VFL Casey Demons 4.8.32 5.9.39 10.10.70 12.12.84 Box Hill Hawks 1.0.6 3.6.24 4.7.31 7.8.50 Goals Casey Demons Kennedy Harris 3 Bedford Lefau 2 Dunkley Jordon Munro Wale-Buxton White Box Hill Hawks Walker 2 Jones Lewis Meadows Mirra Moore Best Casey Demons Kennedy Harris Preuss C Wagner Maynard Lefau Bedford Box Hill Hawks Lewis Morrison Jones Brand Miles Mirra Statistics Toby Bedford 2 goals 10 kicks 5 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles 82 dream team points Austin Bradkte 2 kicks 1 handballs 3 disposals 1 1 mark 1 tackle 12 dream team points Wayne Collis 7 kicks 7 disposals 2 marks 4 tackles 42 dream team points Kyle Dunkley 1 goal 13 kicks 4 handballs 17 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 70 dream team points Tom Freeman 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 31 dream team points Mitch Gent 15 kicks 4 handballs 19 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 70 dream team points Jack Hutchins 6 kicks 3 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 38 dream team points James Jordon 1 goal 9 kicks 6 handballs 15 disposals 1 mark 7 tackles 74 dream team points Jay Kennedy Harris 3 goals 1 behind 14 kicks 10 handballs 24 dis pos als 2 m arks 2 tackles 93 dream team points Mykelti Lefau 2 goals 9 kicks 1 handball 10 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 63 dream team points Ariek Lual 10 kicks 1 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 53 dream team points Oscar McDonald 15 kicks 4 handballs 19 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 70 dream team points Corey Maynard 12 kicks 11 handballs 23 disposals 4 marks 13 tackles 114 dream team points James Munro 1 goal 1 behind 10 kicks 8 handballs 18 disposals 1 mark 9 tackles 92 dream team points Braydon Preuss 17 kicks 17 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle 64 hit outs 130 dream team points Aiden Quigley 3 kicks 1 handball 4 disposals 2 tackles 21 dream team points Charlie Spargo 7 kicks 6 handballs 13 disposals 2 marks 10 tackles 73 dream team points Cory Stockdale 7 kicks 1 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 37 dream team points Anthony Vella 8 kicks 4 handballs 12 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 42 dream team points Corey Wagner 1 behinds 13 kicks 8 handballs 21 disposals 1 mark 15 tackles 114 dream team points Josh Wagner 1 behind 14 kicks 5 handballs 19 disposals 2 marks 6 tackles 78 dream team points Liam Wale-Buxton 1 goal 5 kicks 5 handballs 10 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 17 hit outs 59 dream team points Mitchell White 1 goal 4 behinds 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 4 marks 5 tackles 78 dream team points

It’s time to start showing the form that was expected from this team when the season started.

Casey was slaughtered in the ruck in last year’s grand final. How are the ruck duels going KC?