Supreme_Demon

Not often I would agree with Joel Selwood. But I do with his comments this time. Here is the news article in question: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/joel-selwood-slams-clayton-olivers-classy-sportsmanship/news-story/c717d5d17eb17f0ba7db6cf1ae174252 As Neale Daniher said many years ago....the Demons need to be more ruthless!

Not fussed about Stuart Dew's weight. If he personally wants to get fit and healthy that's totally up to him. Other options include; Andrew McQualter, Leon Cameron, Blake Caracella, Cameron Bruce, Brett Ratten, Daniel Giansiracusa, Scott Burns, Ashley Hansen, Justin Leppitsch, Nigel Lappin, Steven King and Matthew Knights are a few names worth considering. I would also definitely inquire with Trent Cotchin and Joel Selwood to see if they are interested in a coaching role.

I would be over the moon if we got draft pick #11 for Brodie Grundy!

Any chance Christian Petracca might win the 2023 Brownlow Medal on Monday evening? He should finish in the top 5 at least?

These are all definitely worthwhile questions. We all get quite fired up regarding our beloved Demons. That's why we have this wonderful discussion forum here at Demonland. Tom McDonald and Ben Brown appear to be "cooked". But they might have excellent Pre-Seasons? Who knows? I sadly don't have much faith in Josh Schache due to how timid he is. But perhaps he'll take some "angry pills" during his holidays and come back playing more aggressively? Sadly, I don't think it's part of his personality. But I am happy to be proven wrong! As for Jacob van Rooyen. He is only beginning his career and is a huge talent! I love the way he plays and he reminds me a lot of a young David Schwarz or maybe a young David Neitz? 🤔 Harry Petty has had some rotten luck with injuries. But I think he is the answer to our forwardline woes. He may even be a better forward than a defender?! Time will tell. I think that Adam Tomlinson and eventually Daniel "Disco" Turner replace him in the back line. Lastly, we need to be patient with Matthew Jefferson. He needs to "bulk up" in the gym and get a lot fitter. However, he has shown he has potential. Another season or two is definitely required at VFL level for him to develop. While it would be nice to have another mature key forward in our side. I highly doubt we will be able to snaffle a Tom Lynch unless new Richmond coach Adem Yze thinks the Tigers need a total re-build. The best we can do (for the time being) is look to the draft or to the state leagues for key forwards. Otherwise, be patient and try to land a "big fish" like Ben King from the Suns when his contract comes to an end. However, I think that it would be very unlikely that we would have a chance of getting him due to 17 other AFL Clubs being keen too!

Old school football "sprays" like the late great coach (and player) Ronald Dale Barassi used to do probably aren't very helpful if done constantly. In the 1970s and 1980s it was very different too. No soft stuff back then! Coaches screaming at teams was done well into the 2000s. But this new generation is different and it won't work if done too much. The problem with screaming is that it has no effect if you blast players constantly. Players just think you're an unhinged [censored]! I am also assuming Mark Neeld did that alot to no great effect! Dennis Jones way back in 1978 used to scream at the players too from what I was told. That's why he only lasted one year! Neale Daniher gave a few decent sprays too! Anyway, as much as I am sure the Melbourne players didn't enjoy getting a spray from Simon Goodwin. I am sure Simon Goodwin didn't enjoy giving the spray either. However, we as supporters probably feel the players "deserved" to be sprayed after what happened in the last 2 minutes of the game against Carlton. Especially because if we had held our composure we would of won! I actually like hearing that Simon Goodwin "cracked it" as he is often too robotic at times in his media conferences. I prefer a more emotional Simon Goodwin.....on an occasional basis. Plus, Simon Goodwin, as well as the players were devastated and they knew they "blew it" and you can't always be nice and pat them on the back and say "ohh good try!". I am sure Simon Goodwin will make amends with the players. The best thing the players can do now is forget about football for a while and go on holidays overseas or something. Come back refreshed and fit for Pre-Season. Then be determined to go all the way and win the flag in 2024.

I am sure if people wish to nominate then they will do so. I would love to be on the Melbourne Football Club Board. But unless I was a multimillionaire or a billionaire I don't think I would have the qualifications to join the Board. Even just money doesn't bring skillsets. All I ask is that we remain a stable Football Club and we strive to win more Premierships, continue to grow our membership numbers, increase our financial strength with more investments, and last, but my no means least, get our Home Base finally built at the Caulfield Racecourse (or wherever it will be)!

I like this idea! Happy to at least be open to this possibility. Even as a rookie draft pick. There's probably a few full forwards and centre half forwards at state league level that are at least worth looking at. Sadly, I think both Tom McDonald and Ben Brown are cooked. The best thing to do is look at tall forwards in the state leagues that are capable of taking their chances at AFL level.

True. It didn't age well. But we all were extremely excited....just sadly we all got disappointed. 😔 Anyway, the only thing I will be bringing up with the Melbourne Football Club Board is what is the current progress of our Home Base at the Caulfield Racecourse?

Well....as previously reported....it looks like Adem Yze has got the senior coaching role at Richmond. I congratulate him amd wish all the best (except against Melbourne)! That means we will have vacancies in our coaching department. It will be quite interesting who we look to get to replace Adem Yze. Would definitely be open for a "swap" and getting Andrew McQualter at the Demons. Hopefully we can also get Stuart Dew to help us out at the Demons too? As much as I am sure some people would "loathe" him, I actually think Nathan Buckley would be a fantastic acquisition to the Demons as an assistant coach as well. Whether or not he is interested in doing coaching again is another question!? Anyway, I am sure it will all play out over the next few weeks. I just hope the Melbourne Football Club aims to get as many good quality "football people" to assist Simon Goodwin at the Club as much as possible.

Agreed! Sports psychology needs to be a big focus. I don't know who the Demons sports psychologist currently is? Nevertheless, the Melbourne Demons definitely needs to consider investing more into this field. For those who have some spare time later, I highly recommend this video (shown below) featuring well respected Sports Psychologist Bill Beswick. Who was a Sports Psychologist for Manchester United and other teams.

I understand we did a football department review at the end of 2020. Or was it 2019? I can't remember exactly.🤔 Nevertheless, I thought that the MFC CEO Gary Pert did an excellent job with that review at the time. My question is, do we need to do another football department review? In some ways, it is also quite healthy to do a review every few years. We definitely need to give the Demons senior coach Simon Goodwin more help and perhaps employ more development coaches. Especially if our football department budget is expanded to the Pre COVID-19 amount. We may or may not need a few new assistant coaches. Especially if we lose Adem Yze to the Richmond senior coach role. A specialist goal kicking coach may also come in handy? I think Mark "Choco" Williams has been brilliant at the Demons. However, we should aim to get more specialist coaches to assist our players. Improving our forwardline connection and our goal kicking accuracy is crucial. However, our overall kicking efficiency around the ground needs to be greatly improved too. I think an internal review is satisfactory. But should it be an external review this time? Anyway, I am keen to hear the opinions of other Melbourne supporters about the suggestion of having a new football department review?

Sadly if we continue to "choke" in finals these types of cretinous buffoons will have oxygen to attack the Melbourne Football Club. The only way we can shut them up is winning a Premiership on the MCG!

Good article. 😎👍 The pressure on the Melbourne Football Club next season in 2024 will be intense.

I guess I am still bitter that we lost. But seriously Carlton and their obnoxious [censored] supporters can go and get [censored]! Patrick Cripps "monstered" us in the semi final. The way he gets hand balls out while getting tackled is absolutely incredible. He is a super star player. Maybe I'm an [censored], but I would have dobbed Patrick Cripps in for the blood rule. No doubt about it. Sometimes doing the right thing can be the wrong thing. Being nice is seen as being weak. You gotta be ruthless to win finals. Just look at what Collingwood did in regards to Brayden "the Thug" Maynard knocking out Angus Brayshaw?! Or Mason Cox intentionally trying to injure Max Gawn and Christian Petracca!? They came after us with intent to hurt and injure! To win at all costs! Dobbing someone in to the blood rule is comparatively quite harmless and only enforcing the rules. If it meant the difference in beating Carlton with Patrick Cripps off the ground for those crucial few minutes then I would have dobbed him in every single time.

Thank you to Andy, George and Binman. An excellent podcast as always. 😎👍 I also greatly appreciate your efforts during the difficult circumstances of our disappointing finals loss to Carlton. All the best, and I hope that all 3 of you get a bit of a break and a holiday for a few weeks. We all definitely need time to recuperate from such a devastating finals loss! On top of that, losing the great Ronald Dale Barassi has made it a very unfortunate and saddening time as well. He was a legend of the Melbourne Football Club, the Carlton Football Club, the North Melbourne Football Club, the Sydney Swans Football Club and Australian Rules Football in general and will be deeply missed! Fingers crossed the AFL decides to call the AFL Premiership Cup the Ronald Dale Barassi Premiership Cup as it would be a fitting tribute! 🤞 Then, after the dust has settled on this 2023 AFL Season, for those inclined, it will be time for the trade period and then the drafts later in the year. GO DEMONS IN 2024! 🔴🔵👹

Now, I can cop the criticism from Garry Lyon. Because he is a champion of the Melbourne Demons. But to get insulted by a knuckle-dragging imbecile like Campbell Brown is beyond the pale. He called the Melbourne Football Club "fragile" and "pathetic" for making up excuses. Here is the link to the article: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/exafl-gun-unloads-on-fragile-dees-absolutely-pathetic-excuse/news-story/f4a53703b7ac54ec098740a3dee7c989 All I will say is that I hope the Melbourne Demons players stick this article to their locker doors in the change rooms. They need to be motivated to seek redemption in season 2024 and beyond. Otherwise, insults from morons like Campbell Brown and other media snipers will continue! This utter disrespect makes my blood boil! 🤬🤬🤬🤬 But unless we win those cut-throat finals at the MCG infront of huge crowds then this shadow of being "mentally weak" shall continue to follow the Melbourne Football Club. Time for a new mindset of stoicism and determination from both our players and our coaches.

I agree with most of the above comments. One thing that really irks me is the missing of easy goals. I understand that AFL players have a limited time at training. But the phrase "practice makes perfect" rings true. If each Melbourne player dedicated a mere extra 30 minutes or an hour to goal kicking practice 4 or 5 days a week it would make a huge difference. Our goal kicking accuracy was one of the major reasons we lost our finals matches. The average AFL player makes about $400,000+ a year, which is a lot of money compared to the rest of us. I don't think an extra 30 minutes or an hour before and/or after training is that big of a deal. Especially if you wish to do whatever is required to win a Premiership for your team. Anyway, plenty of food for thought.

Agreed! 😎👍 Would be an ideal long-term replacement for Steven May. It is also another reason that the Demons should aim to get as many picks in the top 15-20 as possible. Which will ensure sustained success at the Melbourne Football Club. Anyway, I have full faith in Jason Taylor and the rest of the recruitment team at the Demons.

While I sort of agree with Garry Lyon, he could of expressed it more eloquently. I guess football was more important than English class in his younger years at his old town in Kyabram. He is always known as being a grumpy bugger ol' Garry Lyon though! 🤣 It also needs to be remembered that the Melbourne players were quite traumatised seeing poor Angus Brayshaw getting knocked out for 2 minutes by that vile piece of slime Brayden "the Thug" Maynard. Nevertheless, I am sure the Demons will "suck it up" and hopefully use the disappointing exit from finals as motivation for next year. Here is the link with Garry Lyon's comments: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/suck-it-up-claims-stars-ko-derailed-dees-run-after-finals-choke/news-story/4479e3db7817a98992ad748f28457bc7 I should note that everyone in the football media loves to kick the Melbourne Demons while we are down and out. But you gotta expect that when there are high expectations and you don't meet them. Oh well....better to be criticised for poor finals performances than being Wooden Spooners! 🤷🏼‍♂️

Agreed! I am very disappointed that this plan of playing two elite ruckmen in our team didn't work. I was genuinely excited about it after Pre-Season games against St. Kilda and Richmond. Sadly, it wasn't given enough of a chance to work. I want to thank Brodie Grundy for his efforts throughout the season. Especially when Max Gawn was out injured. If it wasn't for Brodie Grundy we would of been screwed. In the end though, the harsh truth is, the buck stops with Simon Goodwin and Max Gawn. The experiment of having both Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn in the same team was a disappointment and a failure. Although, Brodie Grundy also needs to take responsibility for his own lack of ability to be a forwardline threat and being unable to take contested marks. Nevertheless, I wish Brodie Grundy all the best up at Sydney (except against us), and hope we can maximise a good deal in a trade for the Melbourne Demons.

Hope Angus Brayshaw is doing ok? Any further news? The "silver lining" of yet another straight sets loss in finals is Angus Brayshaw gets a nice long break to rest and recuperate. However, I am sure he would rather be playing against Brisbane in the Preliminary Final! As would we all! Additionally, I assume he is still furious about getting knocked out by his so-called "friend" Brayden "the Thug" Maynard. The way the media replays the horrific incident on the TV constantly still really irks me! The AFL will need to eventually pay for disgracefully letting Brayden "the Thug" Maynard off the hook! 🤬🤬🤬🤬 Lastly, I also have my fingers crossed that Angus Brayshaw will fully recover and be fit and ready to start his Pre-Season for 2024 after a nice long holiday. 🤞

Brutally accurate play-by-play analysis of how Melbourne basically "[censored] the bed" with less than 2 minutes to go. On the MCG with a crowd of 96,000+ watching there is nowhere to hide. The Demons got stage fright and "choked" big time. Lots of "learnings" to be had over the upcoming Pre-Season!

There's been a lot of talk in the media about naming the AFL Premiership Cup the Ronald Dale Barassi Premiership Cup. I support this idea! 😎👍 The great man was involved in 10 (6 as a player and 4 as a coach) Premierships! Pretty amazing!

Melbourne's reaction to Adelaide asking for Harry Petty in exchange for Shane McAdam....