Demon17

17 hours ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

I've heard much of Dennis Jones during my time here through the almost terrified whispers of those who lived through the era. He's almost like a sasquatch style myth because of how bad his one year was apparently. 

Was he actually worse than Neeld?

I attended the club agm in 1979 when Jones was appointed and he was introduced and spoke to the meeting.

His key take away I got was he was introducing a wrestling asst coach to train the players on how to wrestle and thus improve them as footballers.

It seemed laughable at the time. Sad now though.  No idea why I've remembe6ted this experience.  Also sad.

Lasted 1 year.

2 minutes ago, hemingway said:

Agree. 

A sensible and realistic contract extension. Everyone has their use-by date. We just don’t  know when that will be for Goodwin. I just hope when that comes,  both parties can agree to the parting in a decent and gracious manner and we don’t see a repeat of the debacle we have seen with other coaches our own included. Despite all the rhetoric from the family club, their parting with Clarkson was a nasty tacky ending.  

Times will never be better than now. We have won that elusive premiership and we are top of the ladder and seemingly sweeping all before us. We may win more flags but the first is always the best like winning that first Gold Medal.

 You are right in stating that Max, Christian and Clarry are generational players. When it is all said and done, they collectively and individually are the difference between winning and losing. And we should probably throw May into that ring. If you took anyone of those 3 or 4 out of the ring, the Hawks would have knocked us off.

We do have many great players and we have great depth. But the good times never last for ever. It’s always a thin line between winning and losing and the generational players and match winners are usually the difference. Just taking one of those players out of the team has a huge impact. Just think Melbourne without big Max. Think of Dusty at Richmond.  

Its when a Club needs stable and consistent leadership with development and succession planning being an on-going feature of the way it manages the ups and downs. 

I like that old saying that you are never as good as you think you are or never as bad as you think you are. However with intelligent recruiting, player development and a flexible creative and respected coach (and coaching staff), a Club can enjoy a longer period of success. 

 

Great post Hemingingway but one improvement.

SHOULD  have thrown May into the list?

No should about it - he's in the list for sure..

Excellent decision by all parties. Well done to all. The players to a man will be rapt.

Gives Goody the chance to be a 4 - time Premiership coach.

Importantly also must keep the band together.

Like Choco, Yze, Jason Taylor, Tim Lamb, Dr. Laura (for gettiing May up for the GF - lifetime contarat  for her for that effort IMO), and apologies to those I should have listed.

Remember when Clapton left Cream - the band just folded.

Downside it gives the media 3 year's worth -of   made up stories about what happens next re: Yze - will he, won't he????? Succession etc.... 

On 5/2/2022 at 10:10 AM, Deeoldfart said:

I love it.  Dees continuing to lead the way, both on and off the field.

Nailed it DOFart.

This club just does things so well these days.

This initiative is a credit to them because it comes from the heart.  And a chance to see the great Aaron Davey again. He used to terrify any player he was within 20m off - mantle now ably carried by Kozzie - as per the first 1/4 of the GF last year.

Frightened the Doggies into kicking to Jacko for Spargos goal.

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

He’ll sign with us and maybe end up at Freo in 4-6 years time. He ain’t going near the Eagles. He and Brayshaw are simply waiting for the new EBA before signing. The rest is media chatter

The chatter is disturbing on one level, but never has any substance behind it usually.

As Oscar Wilde once said along these lines

                                           ,"...the only thing worse than being talked about,  is NOT being talked about..."

Keeps the Dees in the paper, coz there's stuff all news out of the club except how good we are, and that doesn't sell papers.

6 hours ago, Dwight Schrute said:

Given that's from the Age i take it with a grain of salt, but the way it reads makes me think Jackson would definitely like to stay short term, but long term he's not sure, and he needs to really think about it given Melbourne is clearly planning on him being a key part of the footy club. 

if that's the case it is an integrity move to not commit and then demand a trade later.

This mornings Age article was an opinion piece - nothing more, nothing less - with no new information.

Made interesting reading and highlighted the public knowledge about Jacko/Max's 3 year plan.

I always expect Luke will go home if family still there andhe's not hooked up in melb.  But it will be a giant contract in 3-5 years time, and good luck to him.

54 minutes ago, 58er said:

Chandler is further away IMO now than last year as Bedford has surpassed him.

BUT let's not get too warm snd cosy and say that either Kossie or Spargo or even ANB should be dropped for Toby despite his excellent team play yesterday. Showed some great skills in his goals and that pick up that BBB  eventually goaled from was pure class.

One season of 25 games  and 7 this year are excellent brownie points to base a spot in the team for all three. Of course sometimes someone is going to be unlucky like our tall forwards or defenders fighting for positions. 

It will keep the players on their toes and us fans alert as well. Good competition to have as no one will go stale. 
 

The loss of Kozzie was glaring when the team played fast out of defence. A number of times we stopped because of  no options.  Usually its KOZZie speeding to goal and/or space.  Not last night.  Spargo played his pressure/tackling role very well, but those small forwards operate as a machine with moving parts so with ANB and Kozzie out it was always going to be problematic.

1 hour ago, 58er said:

It probably won't cost Tmac his place but it was bazar really and Toby was 3 metres away who probably didn't think to yell out "leave it". Another more senior player might have.

Also Tmac has more brownie points than any other forward in shepherding goals through ( GF Tommy Sparow and a recent one in earlier round). Are prime examples. 

Agreed.  Tmac was clearly unaware of surroundings and exact position and did the conservative action by marking the ball to ensure a goal.  And he didn't juggle it over the line.  Smart.

He quickly apologised to Harmes when he finally became aware of what he had done.  relays shows the immediate "sorry mate".

Well done Tmac on both counts.

I'm amazed this issue has even become a talking point.

Lever  -  covid affected surely   (seemingly hazy)

Viney - Covid affected surely   (seemingly hazy) 

Langdon - heavy tag applied

Comments from a recent covid sufferer. - Spaced out was my key sympton.  And ran out of puff easily (Lever and Viney's issues also,  but given that I thought Viney's game was unbelievable the way he stuck at it given the circumstances).

30 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

If we win the fear meter from other teams will go thru the roof!

All we need from Bedford and Melksham is tackle, tackle, tackle and keep the ball in our f50.  Others can kick the goals.

Still thinking dees 3-5 goals.

Top post.

I'm confident Beford will be ok.  Melk has a bit to prove and should do so if sensible.

Your'e first comment on the fear factor will be fascinating to watch if we do win.

relaxed with Yze and Williams and others on the case also.

2 hours ago, DubDee said:

Easy win coming up 

Demons 11. 25

Hawks 13. 4

Not funny.  although you do have us winning by 9 points.

If we win with 4 GF stars out (they were all stars that game) and Goody, the media will still pay scant attention as it will just further emphasise the " daylight second" theory.

Whcih may just be right at the moment

12 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

That big bloke we have down back May gives me a fair bit of confidence too.

sorry,  should have used capital letters.

19 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

One out in each line so each part of the ground should continue to function as normal.

No surprises for each other which is good re our system and positioning.

Smith and Dunstan stay in and Toby gets a run, at last!

Dees by 25 points.

6 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

Petty is a big out. Love what he brings

Agreed. But may  lever rivers bowey supported by smith and hunt give me confidence. 

And Jack around the ball.

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

Agreed.

when were all these bottom of the table clashes on a friday night when we were terrible??

This sort of fixturing combined with Ch 7 commentary team.

And they wonder why ratings are down?

16 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Helpful that Langdon plays the whole game on the southern wing side. Will make it easier for Yze to communicate with the bench.

My thinking exactly LDVC

5 minutes ago, In Harmes Way said:

Any thoughts on Yze taking on a captain coach role this weekend and coaching from the guts rather than the box?

I'd put Yze on a wing and move Jimmy Jordan into the guts. Team balance.

Means Yze can stay in touch with the bench more easily.

He'll probably give himself coaches votes too!

21 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

It was an ugly game only in terms of our inaccuracy. 

We really did dominate and if we kicked better could have easily won by ten goals.

It was a big game on a big stage so it could have gone sour. Plus an in form Viney was out and so was Lever. Our fwd line is far from settled with bbb back after a long absence and Sw still struggling.

We did very well.

A good summary I reckon LITD.

Sitting on the Oposite wing to Langdon ( the James Jordan Wing at present) the ball was often in dipsute with some ferocious attacks by Dees in defending and repelling moves by the Tiges.

Can't criticise effort and commitment at all times.

I took solace in the team kicking 10.2 in the 3rd 1/4 last week and put this inaccuracy last night to 'on of those games'

The takeout in the media was the Dees could have won by 12 goals plus they were that superior except for kicking.

7 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Smith has to play from behind. He gets so lost in the play if he can’t see his opponent and then run and jump to spoil or mark. 
He is too much of a liability down back. Reminds me of Frost. The agony and the ecstasy. 
Would probably be a regular at 17 other clubs. But at Melbourne if you’re not an A grade defender you’re gonna struggle to hold your spot. 
 

Hunt did a stellar job on Bolton who is a weapon. Could be important at stopping someone like Charlie Cameron who killed us in the semi final last year. If he can tidy up his ball use he might just stay. 

This is the issue with Smith.

It stands out when the rest of the defence are top notch. and maybe that's his problem. 

How can he shine in the presence of May, Lever, Petty, Bowey, Salem, Hunt(usually),.......?

14 hours ago, binman said:

I can assure you I wasn't comparing weed and robbie skill wise.

My point was that to perform well, to get into a flow state, players have to work out what mindset and energy works best for them to get in that state.

And then make sure they can get into that state every game.

For some, like may it will be all hype and controlled energy. 

Others might need to go internal or relaxed, because otherwise they get too worked up.

Know thyself.

My point exactly.

If Weid needs to be more 'chilled' to perform and has trouble controlling say, anxiety, then hopefully the club is working on this with him. BBB's encouraging hug to Weid after the game suggest this and that awareness of all around him is not an issue and was a credit to Ben to put his arm around Sam.

Never would I compare the skill of any player with Flower, let alone Weid.  My point was Flower may have been on edge but having seen nearly all his games live , one would oftern never have an inkling he was conerned about what happens next when close to the ball. He knew ahead of everyone around him.

4 hours ago, binman said:

Robbie Flower played chilled. Seemed to work for him ok.

Same goes for Fritter and Langdon. 

Different strokes for different folks. 

Flower was a genius who saw the ball way ahead of opponents and seemingly played in slow motion. Similar to Pendles.

Weid not in the same universe as robbie.

Dont get me wrong as i hope weid has a fantastic game and gets his role done.

1 hour ago, Gippsland Dee said:

Since this one is an away game, will the cheer squad be at the ponsford stand end or the regular spot in the Warne stand?

Ponsford

7 minutes ago, binman said:

He plays his best footy when he is relaxed. And I suspect his least best when he is on edge.

Goody will be telling weed the exact opposite of fire up or else, because it won't get the best out of him. 

He'll be saying just do what you did last week - compete, second efforts and gut run. Don't worry about anything else. The goals and marks will take care of themselves.

But will he or should he even?.  Don't tell me Steven May plays relaxed.  He's on edge all game. best Full back in Australia.

You make some good points but if Weid needs to relax to play well then he's in the wrong sport.

Tonight will see him right for the next 6-8 games, or IMO marked never to be slected again.

1 hour ago, loges said:

Is not that the same requirement of Weid that he shows some consistent form?

And if he starts flying and spoiling BBB tonight then its over for me with thim.

I hope Goody sorts this out because this is a problem with Weids as I see it.

And keep out of baileys patterns also.

2 hours ago, Hatchman said:

Dunstan got in for Viney. Good decision, he's better than Melksham in that role

We have such good fortune with injuries at the moment, I'd love to see Bedford get a game though the kid has talent

I have no knowledge of Dunstan or remember seeing him play at the saints.

What can we expect tomorrow night from him????

Any thoughts appreciated

5 minutes ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

Goody has already said we wont play 3 key forwards. I wont put any thought into the 18 named on field and just absorb the outs and wait until the final 22 is announced tomorrow. Shame about the 2 out for protocols but it is what it is. Will be interesting to see how they cover Viney’s midfield time. 

I have lots of faith in the jordans and sparrows of this squad.

4 out of 6 premiership defenders too.

Not ideal but go Dees.