DeeSpencer

Collingwood pushed really high but kept at least one defender (generally Moore but sometimes Quaynor and Murphy) back and would often get bailed out of 1 on 2 or 2 on 3 because they'd be sitting deep and have a clear run at the footy So often we'd bomb it long to Moore and have a guy running free in the forward pocket. Their pressure dropped just a smidge and teams started to find that spare guy last year. Geelong are always staying at home. Brisbane fairly at home too. Both of those sides use kicking to make the ground big once they turn the ball over and slow suck up forwards and midfielders to chase down uncontested kicks. Then go forward in to open forwards lines by spacing their forwards out. I reckon with Hipwood/Morris and Neale/Cameron they've both started to hit leading CHF's in their ball movement too which is something that went way out of the game. Skills are a factor, but neither Geelong nor Brisbane have amazingly skilled backlines. What both teams do have is midfields and forwards that are drilled like soccer teams and know how to move off the ball for each other to create spaces in the zones. Both teams as failed in finals for multiple years because they mucked around with the footy, weren't direct enough and would turn it over in high pressure moments. A big question is whether our bash and crash big 3 mids are willing to add smart unrewarded off ball running to their games after they've had years of getting to the feet of the long down the line kick.

We didn't have the key backs or a deep 2 way running midfield but Goody took over from the most uninspiring Paul Roos footy and built a very strong attacking side in 16, 17, 18. I don't think that was ever the plan as the finished product but our attack was building really well. And in 2021 whilst we were more boundary focused it was always quick movement. We seemed to regress in 2022 as everyone got tired. But 2023 had flashes of change and last year they absolutely tried to change but didn't have any players to adapt. The big factor this year is whether we have the players to adapt. We've certainly moved magnets but there's some old dog, new trick guys that concern me. Mostly in midfield skill and backline run. As well as the bandaid that is Max Gawn that holds us back at times (not blaming Max, just our players know he's there).

I think it’s 90% psychological but I also think he has an across the body motion where as Choco coaches everyone in straight lines. I’d be training Jack to allow him to swing out more

He’s spent all preseason on the wing. Rotated at half forward because we had Taj and Lindsay fit for the first preseason game and not a lot of half forward depth. Did the same in the last quarter v Freo when Taj was subbed on. Obviously wingers do have shots at goal but it won’t be expected to be a major part of his game.

Absolutely, even if it contradicts my desire for a fired up run out song and the demon time button. No flashing lights or music between goals and especially quiet time at quarter and half time breaks. It’s break, you’re there to catch up with friends not have [censored] pumped in via the speakers

Ahhh I knew something had changed but couldn’t pick it. Time to change or even change back

Love it, the club should do more to reward the most loyal of members.

Stress reactions are pretty common, clubs have a good guide on how long they take. The big issue is he’s done the easy part of the rehab - sitting around doing non or low weight bearing stuff. The next month as he builds back up to full loads is the time where things could be really straightforward or face set backs.

So given we're in a bit of a holding pattern this week with only the 2 games now and the Demons hopefully out of the headlines I thought we should put the Demonland brains trust to use to see if anyone can come up or improve on some half baked ideas (no matter how big or small) to improve the club. The idea is a rip from Bill Simmons pod where he brings on Kevin Wildes to discuss random ideas. It's pretty self explanatory. Feel free to add your own, no bad ideas! 1. Demon Time (bash boost button rip off). The big bash this year had kids come on the boundary and smash a button when teams took the batting powerplay. Not all that exciting when you've seen it 25 times but nice for the kids who get a great moment. Obviously footy has the auskick kids and the kids running through the banner, but why not make the day for 2 more kids by having them on the boundary at the end of half time? 3rd quarter is always the premiership quarter, so let's just rebrand that demon time. So they smash a light up button, bit of noise, bit of lights and animation on the scoreboard saying 'Demon Time'. Costs next to nothing but it's a great moment for 2 kids. 2. A Tracc MFC tiktok collab. I know there's probably still some mending of relationships going on here but it remains that Tracc has 390k and the Demons 90k follows. It's frankly embarrassing. We've got a club nutritionist who could go round to Tracc's and cook with him. We've got 45 hungry players and coaches. It seems crazy that we haven't leveraged this additional social media power. Hawthorn 290k and they turned their entire club in to a freaking tiktok machine that plays footy every now and then, Collingwood 270k by the way. Tracc has them both covered. 3. New run out song. So we run out to Hells Bells right? Before switching to the grand old flag. And don't get me wrong, it's pretty cool, fits with the demon theme. But sometimes you need to try something different. I've recently discovered this song: Wolf Totem by Mongolian folk metal band The HU and to me the combination of heavy and traditional instruments and throat singing, it's what we need. The other team aren't messing with wolf totem.

JVR is a good set shot too. But really I’m suspect on expected score from non set shots, especially when it’s wild kicks under pressure.

It’s not a surprise that we’ve pushed Pickett, Riv and Langdon on ball, put Windsor to half back and drafted Lindsay. Half forward class is probably the missing piece. A healthy Spargo, see what Kolt and Langford can do and, hopefully Jack Henderson offers something. But it seems wishful thinking.

Not for me, I maintain our issue is we prioritise volume of inside 50’s over quality. How many marks in the big scoring zones (inside 20 or inside the corridor within 40) do we get per game? How many runs in to an open goal plays do we get? We need half backs who kick to space and run, we need mids who find the footy in space and we need to use the corridor and diagonal plays using half forwards to get deeper entries. We have to attack in a way the good sides do to trouble our backline.

Congrats on waking from the coma that you were in during 2022 and 2023

Kemp played full back most of the year, went forward when they had injuries. I'm pretty sure their win/loss record with 2 rucks was awful and even then TDK has some genuine forward juice. Tom Campbell in a forward line in 2025, come on now, be serious. And what on earth is Jeffo doing in a side with 2 rucks and 2 key forwards and Fritsch? May as well play him on the wing. Right now there's only 1 decision for match committee and it's whether they throw out their summer plans of just 2 talls and go with 3 for some extra crash and bash. Tom Campbell won't be remotely in the selection frame.

Disco really doesn't lack much height and he's moving beautifully at training. The instructions for our forwards especially our deep forwards is to get deep, they're just spreading them out with width as well now. The challenge for our mids and half forwards is to use that extra option via half forward and/or just delay their kicks until the forward has established depth and then come back up at the ball. Tracc will definitely play a good chunk forward but thinking about it now if he really is putting up big time fitness numbers he'll want to play midfield. He's always wanted to be a midfielder and a Darcy Moore knee to the ribs will only further cement that I believe. So far it's been mostly Sparrow, Langford and Sharp across half forward and mixed results if they've been used.

3 tall forwards and a second ruck to roll out for 15% of game time. Try again

Yeah I'm starting to lean towards leaving him out too. It's hard to justify centre bounce time when they've got the 3 big guns, are rightfully trying Langdon to get some much needed run and speed and are right to keep going with Rivers on ball. I'd hope he gets time on ball post centre bounce, that would be wise that he's the guy to swap with Tracc after the clearance. But whether that's enough midfield time is worth asking. If you believe in 3 tall forwards and Fritsch it's very hard to justify another bigger body who doesn't provide any tackle pressure or speed up forward. And even if like me you think 2 talls is fine he still has to make an impact across half forward and it's such a tricky position. Made even harder if there's no flow to our ball movement. Even harder again when it's 35 in Mandurah and you get subbed out at 3/4 time. I think his greatest strength this year is his around the ground movement, not ball winning or overhead marking (both are skills but they're much easier to use when you're 21 not 18). He has natural instincts in how to accumulate the footy. But to play as an attacking half forward at 18 you need to be freakish at that. I'd be happy to try him rotating as the 3rd winger for those same reasons, it's just an easier position to do that in, but they haven't done that. Of course the big question is who comes in and just purely on attributes Jack Henderson is the standout if we assume he bought his Werribee form to Casey, but it seems we'll seemingly never know if he did!

He had a back spasm because he got a hip or knee to the back trying to hold off his defender on a lead after Sparrow kicked a moon ball to no one on the first inside 50. He was just about immediately subbed off for AJ so we weren't one short and didn't have to restructure. Freo subbed on a defender at half time then 2 impact subs (Voss and Erasmus) for the last. We subbed on Kossie and Taj for the last.

Sandy at least have proof it happened. https://www.sandringhamfc.com.au/match-report-vfl-practice-match-2-vs-casey-demons?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2MkNn_KZJLRAgWNX1CNtJRPA8Jrf3v4QJGZOr-n5j6VYpZfHY6XAO4ezc_aem_R-_CmjnB5cgJ90DZ8V3JGA

JVR just got injured playing forward and you’ve decided ruck is more dangerous with no stats? Disco would’ve rucked if not for Aj and we’d have been very small up forward, that’s a risk, but not a risk compared with known outcome of being too slow if we go in too tall. Max will never stop going back with the flight. It’s up to the other players to protect him by blocking their forwards from getting a clean run and jump.

So Fritsch as sub? Don’t mind it.

17 of 30 yesterday. Club are screaming from the rooftop that Langdon is playing mid. Not sure why people are ignoring it. More likely to rotate forward for much needed pace than wing at least until Pickett is back.

What purpose we he fill up forward alongside Fritsch, Turner and JVR? I like him, but the answer is he’ll be a big witches hat.

It’s tricky to assess because he might be forced to play deeper due to injuries/suspensions, in which case he has to get open for goal scoring chances, but of course he can’t kick it to himself. At half forward it’s far more about being in the right spots than how many times you get the ball. No half forward in the league scores more than the damage that gets done if they aren’t getting in the right spots. Look across the league, purely attacking forward flankers don’t really exist. Week in week out last year he’d consistently get to the right spots as an outlet and defensively to cut off counter attacks. What I know for certain is that disposals and goals are a really poor guide for measuring that role. But also, Kade had a shocker against Freo. If it’s fitness or a run of poor form I hope we send him back to Casey and let him get 20+ touches, kick some goals and bring him back with some belief. We’ve been too reluctant to drop good role players out of touch. Which only leads to further poor form. You need the circuit breaker some times and it’s not easy to find in Melbourne’s forward line.

Viney spent a good chunk forward (As did Clarry). His hunt for the contest inside 50 was noticeable. Totally agree on small forwards. They are learning a new game plan to give them some outs. We’re going to miss what McAdam could’ve given us even if it was 12 games. At anything like his best he’s the combo of aerial and pressure we need. Sharp is somewhat handy when he makes a straight line for the footy, even more so if that line continues direct to goal. Having to fill in as the third winger didn’t help his game. I’d be inclined to try Chandler for some wing minutes and see if Sharp can just focus on providing the half forward speed we badly need. Hopefully Kolt is fit sooner than later. And we’ll see it Jack Henderson has something to offer. Spargo of course as well.