Supreme_Demon

Here are the expected delistings (and tradings)... 1) Angus Brayshaw - sadly forced to medically retire 2) Ben Brown - retired 3) Josh Schache - just not aggressive or competitive enough 4) Joel Smith - for reasons we cannot discuss 5) Alex Neal-Bullen - traded back to South Australia for family reasons 6) Lachie Hunter - unfortunately too many injuries 7) Kyah Farris-White - probably best to just play VFL and bulk up his body more 8) Adam Tomlinson - will probably ask to be traded to seek more senior opportunities 9) Tom Sparrow - he continues to frustrate me with the way he plays and I am not against trading him back to South Australia

If in the highly unlikely possibility that Josh Rachele from the Crows requests a trade to Victoria, then a trade with Alex Neal-Bullen and maybe a draft pick is definitely on the cards. It would be a massive boost to our forward line too. Dan Houston from the Power to the Demons is still a possibility, but maybe not as certain as it was a few months ago. Two first round picks for Dan Houston seems a bit over the top though! But yes, it would definitely be interesting to see who provides the better offer for Alex Neal-Bullen in either the Crows or Power and who actual needs him more? I suspect the Crows do.

It just goes to show how much the loss of Angus Brayshaw affected us. This loss cannot be underestimated. In fact, it left a massive hole in our team in a variety of ways. Especially, in regard to team structure, team strategy and team spirit. Then there's the off field dramas and various distractions. Many of which we cannot discuss. But definitely Clayton Oliver not having a proper full pre-season didn't help. Then you've got the problems we have in our midfield and forward line regarding connection. It goes to show why we were so desperate to try and get Harley Reid in the draft. Although, I have been happy with the development of Caleb Windsor and Koltyn Tholstrup. Plus the injuries to Petracca, Melksham (coming back from an ACL), Ben Brown, etc. The warning signs were there in the first loss to Brisbane at the MCG. The loss against Fremantle in the Northern Territory was humiliating. But I think we all knew that deep down the season was over as soon as Petracca got seriously injured against Collingwood. In the end, we will need to do a serious and thorough review of the entire football department and playing list during the off season. Ideally, I would like an external review, but I think it will just be an internal review. All, I hope is that it is done well and that the issues we have are identified and actions are put in place to resolve them.

Entire team: Soft as butter

We desperately need a smooth moving midfielder with excellent kicking skills. Our field kicking is still atrocious compared to teams like Collingwood and Sydney.

The biggest question to be asked is when are we going to stop letting Collingwood bully us? When will we stand up and fight back? Will Angus Brayshaw ever be avenged and Brayden Maynard put in hospital? An eye for an eye? Or will we continue to be laughed at as a soft and weak football club?

Losing Lever before the game with gastro didn't help. But still very disappointing to end the season in a whimper. Especially with so many vile and disgustingly obnoxious Collingwood supporters gleefully laughing at us. It's very difficult to respect the Melbourne Football Club at the moment too. We really have a soft and weak minded underbelly which needs rectified. I would of liked to see an all-in brawl and for Brayden Maynard the horrid thug to get knocked out. Unfortunate it didn't happen. At least Kozzie got Darcy Moore in accidental contact. A little bit of pay back for Christian Petracca at least.

We were as soft as butter against Collingwood. It was embarrassing. We still haven't avenged Angus Brayshaw and put Brayden Maynard in hospital. Until we grow some balls and learn to fight back we will continue to be walked all over by these thugs at Collingwood.

I also received the email regarding the legal issues between the MFC Board and Peter Lawrence. Seeing as the Court has now handed down it's decision, hopefully it is now over. It's disappointing it could not be sorted without legal action, but it is what it is. The primary focus for the Melbourne Football Club Board now should be to get the Home Base at Caulfield Racecourse up and running. If Kate Roffey and the Board can achieve it and get the Home Base built, then that will be an outstanding legacy for the Melbourne Football Club. It's time to stop being nomads and have a proper Home Base!

It will be interesting to see if the Crows or Power are keener on Alex Neal-Bullen. Dan Houston for Alex Neal-Bullen "seems" a fair trade. But it's probably not that simple. Especially as Port Adelaide want two first round draft picks for him, which is ridiculous. When it comes to the Crows there's a few players that would be worthwhile asking about. Jake Soligo and Zac Taylor would be possible options maybe. Especially as I don't see Josh Rachele leaving the Crows. As for the Power, if we can't get Dan Houston. There's definitely a few others worthwhile inquiring about. Such as, Josh Sinn (who I have been a fan of since his draft days), Miles Bergman, Dylan Williams, Ollie Lord or even Willem Drew.

I haven't been on Demonland for a while due to work commitments and family matters. However, I thought I should make a post about the serious issues the Melbourne Football Club is facing. After finally breaking our 57 year Premiership drought in 2021, things are now looking grim and we need to fix the serious problems that the Melbourne Demons are currently facing. This is why I support former Demons champion in David Schwarz about having an entire review of the Melbourne Football Club. I don't think CEO Gary Pert should do a mere internal review as I don't think that will be enough. We need both internal and external people investigating the problems the Melbourne Football Club has and look to identify these problems and find solutions to them. Kane Cornes actually wrote a good news article discussing our issues the other week: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-demons-stand-at-the-gates-of-footy-hell-these-are-the-five-mistakes-that-got-them-there-20240808-p5k0ms.html I actually agreed with many of the unpleasant truths that he identified about the Melbourne Demons. An external review is the only way to get to the bottom of all our problems at the Melbourne Demons. Some of the problems have been out of our control like Luke Jackson wishing to leave the Demons and return home to WA. Others, have been due to rotten luck, like poor Angus Brayshaw being knocked out by Brayden Maynard and then forced to medically retire due to all his concussion injuries. Why the Demons players didn't seek vengeance for what happened against Angus Brayshaw still bitterly disappoints me. But I guess I have a more bloodthirsty attitude compared to others and would of liked to see football played the way it was in the good ol' days of the 1980's with brawls and pay back against any of our players that were hurt by an opposition player with "an eye for an eye" mentality. Sadly, our attitude against Collingwood on King's Birthday this year was as soft as butter on a hot summer's day in my opinion and was humiliating to witness. Nevertheless, other issues have to do with poor list management and recruitment. The foolish trade for Brodie Grundy, with the experiment given up after one mere season of trying to see if it could work and then trading away both James Jordon and James Harmes. Not trading in a tall forward or a forward-ruck to help Max Gawn was a big mistake. I don't think we bothered using Tom Fullarton at all either. Losing Alex Neal-Bullen is disappointing too, but family comes first and hopefully we can arrange a fair trade for him to either the Crows or Power. Then there are cultural problems and the poor behaviour of Demons players. Obviously, some of these matters cannot be mentioned. But the most important factor is the need to raise the level of the professionalism of a significant portion of our players. David Schwarz even mentioned this on the radio with Demons players allegedly mucking around during their preseason camp down at Anglesea. Most importantly, we also certainly don't want to see one of our greatest Demons players ever and Norm Smith medallist in Christian Petracca leave the Club. Losing Christian Petracca would be as bad as Ronald Dale Barassi leaving for Carlton at the end of 1964. So reconciling with Christian Petracca is a crucial matter that needs resolving. The stagnation regarding our Home Base development at Caulfield Racecourse has also been incredibly frustrating and this also needs to see further progress. In the end, I don't think I am alone with these concerns and the entire Melbourne Football Club (from boot studder to President) has a lot of pertinent questions to answer. We as Melbourne supporters and members deserve answers and explanations for how things have fallen into disarray so rapidly in season 2024. Anyway, we still have 2 rounds to go. So let's see what happens....

Still absolutely livid with anger that we lost! The Demons players literally [censored] the bed against the Lions after half time. Another goalless last quarter was humiliating too!

I think the most damning thing about this is how the Melbourne Football Club is viewed by the wider AFL community and opposition supporters. It took us such a long time (57 years) to finally gain respect again after winning the Premiership in 2021. Demons President Kate Roffey aptly said, at the time, that we were at the "centre of the AFL Universe" which was correct. It was a great position to be in. Seeing the late and great Ron Barassi raise the 2021 Premiership Flag in Round 1 back in 2022 was a wonderful experience. But now, after two straight sets finals losses in 2022 and 2023 and allowing Collingwood to bully us we are seen as a joke again. It may be fine for others, but to be called "weak" and "soft" by feral opposition supporters really angers and embarrasses me.

Sneaking into the top 8 and playing finals would be ideal. Sadly, I don't see it happening. A full capitulation in the latter half of the season would be an utter disaster though. What happens for the rest of the season? I have no idea whatsoever. Losing Christian Petracca is a massive blow. He is a star for the Demons and a vital key to any Premiership hopes. All I hope is that the players (and coaching staff) show some fight and hardness. At the moment, we are seen as being "soft as butter" and we have lost the respect we only briefly gained after finally winning a Premiership in 2021. Some serious discussions about culture, hardness, player development, connection into the forward line and list management need to be addressed at the conclusion of this season. We probably need an entire football department review again in my opinion.

I have to agree with the article by Mick Malthouse. However, I think it is commonly known that he hates the Melbourne Football Club.

The big question is....are the players at the Melbourne Football Club mentally weak? We had the 10th Anniversary of Freeze MND for the King's Birthday and the inspirational Neale Daniher come to the Club and spoke to the players earlier in the week. You had the fact that we were playing against the team in Collingwood that we should of "smoked" according to Steven May at the 2023 Best & Fairest last year. We had "the thug" ,in that piece of excrement, Brayden Maynard, who almost killed their beloved teammate in Angus Brayshaw and was forced to retire due to concussion related injuries. Nobody from the Demons went after him. In fact after the game the players are smiling and giving hugs! If Angus Brayshaw was watching the game he probably wanted to spew up! There was also the fact that we got belted by Fremantle the week before up in Alice Springs and we needed to respond. What happened? Nothing! It was all talk and no action. WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, MORE IS SAID THAN DONE. Quite appropriate words by Neale Daniher. The Melbourne Football Club is an utter embarrassment and the players and coaching staff need a good hard look at themselves during the bye.

I personally had a lot of hope for Bailey Laurie. Unfortunately, I don't think he is up to AFL standard. But he had a lot of friends today. Our overall performance was woeful. Let's hope Christian Petracca recovers quickly from his injury. If we lose to North Melbourne it will be season OVER for 2024.

Luker Kentfield may debut sooner than we expect perhaps? Especially, after the quite pathetic performance by Daniel "Disco" Turner.

I wouldn't blame Jason Taylor at all. He has been a brilliant recruiting manager for the Demons. He definitely might need some help though. As for Tim Lamb, Alan Richardson, Troy Chaplin, Greg Stafford and Kelly O'Donnell. They are all in the firing line. People at the Melbourne Football Club need to take responsibility for our poor performances and heads will need to roll at the end of the season if the rot continues.

Not even a fleeting whimper to avenge what happened to Angus Brayshaw by Brayden "The Thug" Maynard. The Melbourne Football Club was as soft as butter today.

A disgraceful display. I hate Collingwood and losing to them is humiliating.

Yep...was weak as [censored]. A total and utter embarrassment.

As harsh as it sounds, Shane McAdam has been next to useless these past two matches. Incredibly frustrating watching him attempt to take unrealistic marks and generally not look even close to kicking a goal. Would rather give Andy Moniz-Wakefield a chance.

Don't know if Fremantle were really good or Melbourne was really awful on Sunday. Either way, it was a disappointing effort and the players as well as the coaching staff need to sort things out. I feel sorry for the all the passionate Demons supporters who made the huge effort to travel to Alice Springs to watch the game. They would of been livid. We cannot tolerate such a humiliating loss. I don't wish to see a return of the "dark days" of regular beltings that we all experienced in the past.

Nibbler was excellent last night. Credit where credit is due.