Demon Dynasty

Rivers great endeavour in general but a bit scatter gun with his kicking at times. Bit of work to do there. Sparrow's made about three rookie errors this quarter. That last one on the mark costing us a goal. Clarry out of the middle there taking on everyone ahead of him lol. Nearly came off

Finally picked up a holding here to ANB. Wish they'd look at the Clarry match up a bit more. Getting held off the ball quite a bit ... no frees

3rd with 16 min to go Snap Goal off the pack with a sidestep...guess who... Kozzie Mel 11.8. 68 Tigers 4.6 30

3rd with 16 min to go Mel 10.8. 68 Tigers 4.6 30

Thx engine. Sounds like a decent mix. Koz brings the ability to create time & space when he gets it and the finish is usually first class. Might be just what the doctor ordered if what you say about Chaplain is on the money. Will certainly provide an extra match up headache for the opp as well

THE GOOD... Grundy & Gawn combo wasn't too bad. Remember Grundy hasn't played much at the level of late so it will take him a few weeks of AFL matches in my view to get back to his best. I'd prefer to see them not within cooee of each other when both on the ground. However, as PartyTime has mentioned up there, we appeared to be using them a fair bit 'together' down the line, one acting as a diversion. Might be the go. Who am i to say that won't work. Not big on the continual down the line stuff and prefer to see more 45s and or run & carry through the middle off HB wherever possible. We where murdered by some of the better teams on the spread/counter last year when we overused the 50/50 down the line play imv. Kozzie looked very slick indeed. Don't mind him as a pinch hitter in the middle but would't want it to be much more than 20% game time as it would likely cost us too many snaps up forward feeding off the likes of Grundy, Sideshow and Macca. Sideshow looked to be in the best nick ive seen since coming across to the Demons. This wasn't sloppy sideshow.... this was the old sideshow on steroids that we once saw at Norf when he was at his peak. Noice. Hunter looked the goods as a HF pushing back at times. This bloke can play as we know. His two way running is elite, he finds space and creates options out wide and his delivery coming inside is a step up from most at the club along with the likes of Spargo and Kozzie. A nice addition indeed. Nibbler. Looked to be in fine fettle. That goal he kicked from 45 out or so was like a dart. Doubt he would've even made the distance last year and if he did it would've usually shanked left. Choco? Having said that, there did appear to be a bit of a gale heading to the right of screen. McVee. Wow. Just everywhere down back. A slightly smaller foil for roaming Rick? However he is also capable of beating his opponent one v one. Probably needs a year or so in the system and it was only the Aints but still. Nice prospect on our hands.... plus Disco waiting in the wings. Disco. A little raw but also stood out in the second half B section. Moniz. As per disco. Macca early looked ok. Think he may have been switched back to dover and injured Lever at one point. Looks out of sorts back there for mine. Rivers. Some surprise time in the middle and even pushed forward for the big bomb from 55 at one stage. Looked slick and fitter / stronger than last season. Tracc. Limited game time but was clearly a notch above everyone on the park. Physically appears to be back to his bustling bullocking 2021 best and raring to go. Potential Chas material for mine if the body holds up! THE BAD... Too much down the line not enough run & carry. Ok so happy to see how the Gawn/Grundy combo works here. It might and we have nothing to worry about. Also have BBB as an option to take the odd grab which is another plus. But just hope this isn't our main go to and we're looking to switch inside or just switch across HB alot more often as teams did to us on many occasions last season and found us out. Harmes... usually takes 2 to 3 matches to find form but sadly he looked very ordinary for mine. Fingers crossed he will step up as he gets more game time. A little too much bombing in straight lines without lowering the vision and going to a short option.... or just propping and looking to switch it around the arc till an opening arises. Patience vs pound it in there on the top of eveyone's head a little more often pls coach! Possession also helps the mids and defenders to recoup and defend a little bettef if we do turn it over coming inside. Run & Gun off HB is fine and we do it well.... just want ro see a little bit more clever use and finesse at times. Looking at the likes of Viney, Tracc & Clarry here in particular. They've got the basis of a great game within them. That's a given. Now can we add a layer of finesse coming inside or around the arc with those last kicks / handballs pls! THE UGLY... The bulk of the B team. Aside from Disco, Piggy & Moniz i didn't see much there at all although there was plenty of newbies so not saying its a complete flop with the rest either. Tommo... been a great clubman but boy, if you're getting beat by some of the second rungs from the B team of a pretty ordinary club well.... THE OPPOSITION Phillipou.... WOW!. What a lovely footballer the Aints have their hands on here it would seem. The next Kouta but more a medium forward? If he's this good at this age the sky's the limit. Early days and not getting too carriex away juat yet but lip smacking stuff for mine. Steele played a handy game. Higgins ok. Meh to the rest! So it was only the Saints...and it was a scratch hit out. Reserving my judgement to where we are at as it's obviously just the warm ups but.... i have to say there where a number who looked VERY rusty who would want to make some decent progress in the coming weeks / months form wise if we're to go places this season and have a real crack at another GF.

Kayo or Fox RM

Too hard too early? That was a stinkin hot arvo of footy. Ok so warm down but 30 minutes? Bit OTT imv

Choock it always takes him at least 2 full matches/hit outs to get his head back in the game. You know this 😄

Thanks that works... i have a digital (Kayo) membership but no idea how to activate the Kayo bit to watch this. Apparently its not a freebie as advertised? Anyone?

So ..... nothing on Kayo after promoting it as being on Kayo 😄

Need to experiment with Petty & Schache early in the pre-season games and first half dozen for points. See which set up works. We need another serious tall not medium talls which leaves Smith (@ only 191cm) in no-mans-land other than as a back up for Turner and/or Schache (in defense) IMV. Personally there is really no available role for Smith if Turner & Schache come into the season fit and firing IMHO. Will the above trials (mostly Petty forward) happen under Goodwin's watch? Who knows, but gut feel says highly unlikely.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/10/19/can-petty-become-the-real-deal-as-a-forward-melbournes-burning-questions-for/

Could rotate/trial him and Petty forward/back and see who gets the chocolates. Assuming he remains in the seniors of course.

Turner can cover off Petty's TRIAL move forward. It's worth finding out what he might bring to the table in this position especially early in the season if Macca doesn't make it back for quite some time (or maybe at all). BB solo up forward won't cut it.

If we could somehow land Whitfield & Geogiades. I havent heard of us being in the hunt for any of these reasonable prospects though. What makes you think they're in play (for us) BRR?

You pretty much answered your own question CB. Also we still don't know 100% that Grundy is fully cleared of his injury woes. The FD said they did a full check but im not convinced as we are dealing with a very shonky shadey club. Mind you most of them are but some more than others IMV.

Agree...the Weid trade should be dependent on this. Weideman can also play as a defender and part time ruck if the Grundy trade flops which i seriously hope it does. Allows Petty to go forward which is a must if we're to improve our forward woes in 2023 IMV. Otherwise we're betting a little too much on a suspect Macca returning to decent form and a brand new rookie in JVR. I would go with the above anyway and throw the picks at other much needed/more valuable talent to fill a mid/HB role and a KTF. The club should just call off the Grundy trade if they won't take 27. Not worth anything more than that regardless. Will be seriously [censored] off if we cave on this one.

100% agreed. Would not bother unless / until the AFL ringmasters decide to alter the ridiculously short contract term to around 4 seasons minimum and/or sufficient minimum standards/points/$$/player swaps introduced as compensation. Will that ever happen? Who knows. The AFL circus continues unchecked.

Don't tell me we're gonna roll over to this mob for pick 13 and whatever for a questionablly fit/capable lumbering ruckman?? If so SG & the FD have seriously lost the plot.

Poor outcome. Rolled over on this and be lucky if we get a pick at 15 or so once the academy picks play out. Just hope we don't cave on the Grundy trade as well and end up giving them pick 13. Shouldve been two 1sts or no deal...send to the PSD! Very poor results so far at the trade table. Have lost speed and skills / finess (Hunt / Bedford) which is exactly what we need more of (Hunt borderline but still cant afford to lose speed across HB... who's his replacement?) in 2023 for a lumbering Ruckman who may or may not be capable of bringing his best from a few seasons back. Even if he does get back to somewhere near his best we have not really gained anything with the loss of Jackson in 2023 for not much immediate return. Neautral outcome in this area at best. The only real potential shining light at this point is the entre' of JVR but can't expect miracles from the youngster in his first season. Expect we might just scrape into the eight in 2023 but that's about it. Plenty of teams going past us now (list wise). This is what happens when you don't utilise your list throughout the year and find out who's up for the challenge and who isn't (at senior level). 2021 a great year for SG & the FD 2022 Great start / first half but poor finish and list poorly managed in general by SG & the FD IMV. Also some of the boys (including leaders/more senior blokes) talked too much talk and didn't walk the walk in the back half. Complacency set in a little IMO.

As you so often say OD, nothing has taken place even with successive boards promising they will follow this through. In the end you need an appropriate space which will take a complete change of thinking from this board or a future one if this one doesn't come to its senses. Following on from there, local council/state Govt baking plus State Govt $$. It seems we are still years and maybe a decade away or more from any of this coming to fruition. I also think this plays in to some of our recruitment issues and attracting some of the top players (maybe not massive issue but it all adds up). When they come and tour facilities where are we telling them our home is and what are we showing them? Facilities at AAMI / Gosches then tracking them an hour away out to the blowey hole that is Casey? Must feel a bit disjointed vs some of the other set ups surely.

They're a death trap for the uninitiated IMV. Some of the pot holes ...wow! Casey is better than nothing but i wouldn't say a lot better. It's a massive blow hole as well. Very difficult place to learn skills on i would reckon. Reminds me a bit of willy at times when it blows a gale (which is alot of the time!).

JVR & Turner the only two certainties for mine in terms of getting a handfull of games or more (barring injury). Chandler will get a look in at some stage and is actually one of the more likely ins for sure. Just not convinced that will turn in to a level of output that will ensure he can hold down a role and keep other smalls out returning from injury or a 'managed' situation etc. Needs a decent block of games though and reckon he just might show he has turned the corner here in 2023. Woe possibly vying for this role as well in 2024 so would want to get a wriggle on. Laurie a maybe but would have held on to Bedford before him, who i thought was a class above. Howes had too many interruptions to get a serious gauge on this season but showed patches of very nice form. Should benefit from another pre-season and a few extra kilos, tank, experience & learnings at VFL level before being asked to take the step up. Super young and not sure i would be rushing him in until he's super primed & 100% ready in all aspects. Woe similar to Howes. Looks great in patches but needs to build up some strength with another pre-season to stay over the ball & offer repeat efforts etc. I wasn't as impressed as some here with his 2022 season but certainly worth persevering with for another season and see where he can get to. Moniz needs another pre-season or two IMV but if he gets super serious about his footy, maybe working on his left side as well at times, then who knows. A real natural who shows glimpses of brilliance (VFL level) but will need more consistency. 2024 a possible breakthrough year for a seniors debut?

Was obviously never truly committed in either mind, body or spirit after he had checked out to heading back home (probably from very early on). I saw moments in games where i just shook my head that he was still out there taking up a spot that someone else would have thrown everything in on at certain contests (pulling out of marking contests, not wanting to be crunched in tackles and instead handballing to a player well covered or about to be wacked himself...turnover at HB... goal on turnover, 12 point turnaround....game lost) and at least given a yelp. Situation very poorly managed by Goodwin who should have sat him down about the half way mark after about Rnd 12, eyeballed him and assuming he wasn't continuing, just blooded or played any alternative (M Brown, Weid and/or JVR) from Casey. Goodwin's mantra of us being ruthless did not hold sway, even by his own actions or lack thereof here, and the team/club paid a massive price with Jackson contributing to a very ordinary second half and the club going out in straight sets after securing the double chance. And to the Lions of all teams. One of the worst clubs to make a finals series in recent memory.