PaulRB

Fully expecting hope and then a crushing disappointment. Cant tell if the MFC has finished playing with my emotions for the year, or they have another smack down beating (or two) in store. Gotta love em... ?

While I’m not a fan of Mummy or the heavy hits he was dishing out, I like that he did it, and we soaked it up and still won the game. For those of us who can recall the 2000 GF, we know that the gloves can come off in the big game, so I’d prefer our guns learn to soak it up and win the game than go into our shell and expect the umps or tribunal will protect us. Personally, would have preferred some of the boys flew the flag, but the modern game doesn’t allow such distraction, especially when it’s close.

Would be ironic (poetic, tragic..?) if Hogan was to lift the Demons into a second finals series (that he wouldn’t be partaking in) in three years, next Friday...

Problem is if Hawks beat Dogs we’re in 8 and back in control of our run to finals... ... and we all know what’ll happen next. ?

Go Saints!

Goodwin has the worst job in football, trying to extract consistent performance form this mob. If you were an aspiring or experienced AFL coach and Pert whispered “Come coach the Demons..?”, you’d run a mile. Tonight... roll a dice. Go Dees ?

Go doggies. Team with heart. wish it was us

I'd not play him again this year. Needs to build his confidence in body as others have said. He also needs to build trust and his brand around his contested and defensive intensity/commitment. Club need to play those players who may contribute to high intensity finals footy, and Harley appears well off that level.

Given where Sydney are at we should beat them comfortably. So the team selections are less about matching our team to beat Sydney, but more to identify and consolidate the best team that we can take forward through the remainder of the season, into our first elimination Final against one of Westcoast, Collingwood, Saints etc... It appears that there are 3-4 spots or roles up for grabs with several candidates or options for each. I'd expect if we can avoid injuries, we shall aim to have no changes between round 18 and finals with the selections settled with the final addition of Jackson for the Dons game. This internal competition for the final available 2-3 spots in our best 22 should keep us building and winning... Good signs Go Demons

The prospect of Jackson fit and back for the Dons game and finals is great news. Is a wild card, and would Have us at as close to full strength come finals...

Given we’ve got the Hawks second round pick... I say play on Clarko pop Scully in the ruck... Frosty to Full Forward. You are a genius. ?

That’s the max temp forecast, so at 5pm when game starts more likely around 24, which according to the BOM app for Cairns “feels like 21 C and getting cooler as sun sets around 6pm. That plus a forecast breeze means condition won’t be overwhealming...

I’m not convinced Bennell is “finals ready” in terms of defensive pressure and physicality. He’s one I’d almost put a line through for rest of 2020... despite his sublime skills.

I think our objective for the remainder of the H&A season is to win our way to finals, so best team every week. At no point take our foot off. Complementing that is to identify, solidify and get continuity into what the coaches see as our best 22 if/when we’re playing finals. That said it’s a challenge to sort out the last 6 players in our best 22 at the moment.

It’s hard to assess the changes based on last nights tv coverage. we won because we held our structure which could involved those with low stats simply doing their job, limiting the Saints options, and ensuring we win. spargo, Vanders and Kozzie seem good at positioning and pressure.

How has Harley been going in the praccy matches? Needs to show more defensive intensity for mine before I’d bring him back...

Great win. Well coached by Goodwin setting the game up to be played on our terms. Maybe the “coach killer cult” will go into their shells for a week or two...

How the [censored] is a dumb kick by an experienced player and concentration lapse from the mids a second later Goodwin fault!!! ffs the anti-coach cult on this site [censored] me.

Goodwins boys have started well...

There's a moment in the film "When we were Kings" during the fight where Ali has thrown a series of unexpected punches at Foreman, hoping to knock him out in the first round. But instead it just enrages Foreman who proceeds to pound Ali, and Ali realises all his fears were well founded and that any victory that nigh will require a high physical price that he's not sure he will be able to pay... Its a great moment in the fight and movie. I think MFC supporters come into seasons hoping we've a great and dominant team, and then realise (often several times) over the season that victory will require a great price emotionally. Last week we paid, we may again tonight. But one day, if we persist, we will experience the victories we seek, like Ali did. Go Demons.

The contrarian in me is quite buoyed by the universal pessimism on Demonland, this beautiful almost Spring day in Melbourne. Classic boil over ingredients are in place. Too much focus on Wagner and too little on Gawn and Jones. Looking forward to tonights game. Go Demons.

I think people underestimate the value of good onfield leadership and it’s critical role in enabling the team to implement the coaches plan under game pressure. We are thin in this area and need more leadership from our emerging midfield guns in Petracca, Oliver and Brayshaw. Too often with Maxy out it appeared left to Jack Viney to lift the intensity of the team alone. The lack will be massively addressed with Maxy back in, fit and firing. looking forward to a rejuvenated and dominant display from our midfield. Win there and we do the Saints.