Demon Dynasty

I mentioned the hate for the Demons on here a few years back and mostly got howled down as it being nonsense. Hope everyone here has felt that this year as it's not just the odd media journo. If you attended a few games at the G you would have felt/heard it there as well. 2023 has to be a big year for this club. Need to come out and wack all these farkers big time. 2023 ....THE YEAR OF NO MERCY!!

Nah that's too sensible for Krusty Kane...

Wacked by Jack?

No Grundy FCS. Have to assume he's damaged goods and can't play forward anyway. Need a Tall KF play maker / contested mark inside 50 to replace BB whenever that's needed and support Macca/JVR foing forward

I agree with that. No matter what happens dont cave MFC. Need to get serious comp here or let him take his chances. We have plenty of $$ in the kitty. If Freo don't come to play show em the door!

Will always be an immortal Demon in my eyes. However VERY dissapointed he & manager strung this out. As an act of decency to the club he should've at least made this known 6 to 8 weeks out from finals so we had a choice as to whether we would try blooding someone else or shifting the team around to prep for finals and to trial options in readiness for his abscence in 2023. The obvious one to me would have / should have been Weid in for LJ. Weid takes Petty's place. Plays about 80%/20% Petty's role / Relief ruck role swapping with Max for the 20%. Weid also could have handled ruck duties in defensive 50. Petty goes forward permanently in the later half of the year and finals. Alternatively bring JVR or M Brown in for LJ. BB & M Brown share a very small 10% - 15% ruck relief role. JVR was probably a bridge too far in 2022 and no way,he could relief ruck. Even M Brown was unlikely here but we sure needed another tall forward. I reckon this would have hit Maxy and a few of the boys pretty hard. They would've had wind of this or have been 90% sure he was going by finals time (or most likely earlier) surely. The body language in game for most of the latter part of the season & finals was enough to tell, even if nothing was officially confirmed. All too late to change anything up in a meaningful way. Forever grateful for his role and efforts in 2021 and our first premiership in 57 years. Had a huge soft spot for dogga, will always be appreciated and loved for being part of this lengendary line up. No booing from me. Genuinly a really sad day from my perspective even though i knew it was 95% coming. Good luck Luke. Just hope you made the right call at such a young age.

Thanks Buck ...and for your work also. It's been an interesting season of ups and downs that's for sure.

Yes i'll get there at some point DZ. Very depressing going out like that. I'll post this match's results vs H&A. Then the combined finals averages vs season averages. Plus combined finals averages vs 2021's finals averages.

The balance of youth v experience was a little skewed to the latter IMV. Need to get the balance a bit better in 2023. Not alot of speed in this team due to the above and just in general. Even the mid field hasn't got alot of break away speed happening. Kozzy about the only one with serious jets. You could counter that if you had one or more of Clarry, Tracc and Viney bursting away and out from congestion more often like we saw in 2021. Not as much of this in 2022. Or alternatively a mid with crazy evasive skills / ball use like Pendles but of course how often do you find that sort of talent? We would go to another level as a team/club if we had that sort of ball user in the middle and finish coming inside 50. Too many plodders on the outside as well. ANB, Gus, JJ & Lingers for loose ball contest / link chain play. None of them are quick across the ground either and ANB rarely finishes inside 50. Great endurance / work rate from all four. Ability to get from contest to contest is first rate, but not that speedy once they've got the pill. ANB in particular. Got caught far too often this season. Spargo is a lovely user of the ball but just doesn't get on the end of it often enough. Some games yes eg; the GF but goes MIA in others. Brings it in patches during a match but then will go missing for long periods at other times.

Mach the FD should post that at the training facilities above every entrance for the next pre-season...just with the year in front of it. A little reminder of what could have been this season. Yes the stopping and propping crept in very early in the season CBF and slowly got worse. If you watched the Pies against Freo there is very little of that. They just roll onto their preferred and instinctively seek out the next target without even looking/blinking. They just trust. I guess the trust issue plays a big part as their targets are presenting so well and so often. When they get the ball they're also very confident that they'll maintain the chains and even if they don't the defenders will have their backs. So they run in support from HB all the way into 50. And wow do they run...for the whole fricken match. Incredible running. Something we didn't see enough of from our blokes this season aside from the likes of ANB and Lingers and reasonable running in first halfs that unfortunately dropped away in second halfs. They also do the little one percenters so well. Shepards etc to assist the ball carrier. And pressure is generally off the charts. Again we lacked that side, particularly inside 50. (SELFLESS ACTS!) They have some insane runners as well that give second/third effort to support and get on the end of the chain. I reckon they'll make the GF and play off against the Cats. They're marginally ahead of the Swans. We did the above very well in 2021 but dropped off in many of these aspects this season unfortunately. We were still very good in defence and at the contest. Not so good at what we did after that with ball in hand though and the delivery into F50, nor the craft / finish inside once it got there. We also over used handball at times, inviting more pressure instead of taking the direct option, particularly at center and stoppage bounces. In addition the explosive drive out of and away from stoppage from the likes of Clarry, Tracc & LJ weren't near the level/numbers i believe we saw in 2021 for whatever reason? This playes a huge role in our ability to transition and score in my view and was sadly not as evident or if it was, just not as explosive this season. Need to address some of the above prior to 2023 or we'll all be sitting here again at the end of 2023 asking similar questions.

I think the team may have slipped on one or two as they ran out on Friday night DF

Dunstan (for Sparrow), Bowey (for Salem) and one of Chandler/Bedford (for Spargo) & Macca/JVR (for Melk). While Melk would feel unlucky given his form just prior to the finals, his first finals performance was that bad* it was not a risk worth taking hoping he would bounce back in a follow up do or die final. Besides it was clear that we needed a second tall KF to help BB out... yet we went with the same line up making it easier for Brisbane to defend in the air. *Same with Salem Spargo & Kozzy didnt fire a shot in the first final and also didnt bring enough pressure inside 50. But again...no change. Too easy for Brisbane to defend at ground level. They had us covered in the air and on the ground in defence. The first final was 'the tell' we were in trouble and that some players were a mile off AFL level let alone finals level, yet SG stuck with the same team & format.

Turner isn't far away if he stays fit. He can easily come in for Petty pretty early on next season and send Petty forward. Goodwin would be crazy not to trial Petty as a potential permanent forward in 2023, starting with intra clubs.

Howes is a fair way off impacting at AFL level. Looks very promising but might take a bit longer to force his way in than JVR imv

Rivers has been too easily lost in the heat of the contest in 2022 DS. Too often loses contact with his opponent. Unsure whether to peel off / hang back or close check back shoulder. Caught in no mans land far too often for my liking this season. He should come good again, possibly just a fitness/form issue but alot of work needed in the off season IMV. P.S. Turner looks the goods for mine. Barring injury he'll be hard to dislodge once he finds his feet and should provide us with better rebounding potential & slicker transition off HB than we've seen of late.

Yes as mentioned, still work ahead. Reckon he presently has the edge over D Smith. McVee & Rosman have shown glimpses that they aren't far away. Form is still too hit & miss though for AFL level. Maybe another pre-season will help them here.

He improved from early season sub-par form but never got back to his best 2021 form in any match in my view other than small patches. Has alot of work ahead of him if he's going to hold his place in this team in the medium term. Turner looms large and then there's also Bowey. Rosman not that far off either but still work to do. Looked much better after returning from injury at Casey. Unfortunately got concussed yesterday and will miss the GF.

Great post JG What an abomination our kicking was (not always but far too often and especially in both finals) this season. I'd be going after Gary Ablett Snr as forward line / mid connection coach big time. We suck here and it's going to cost this club fonals appearances/ wins and potentially any further GF appearances if we don't address it and just try to soldier on. If you've already suffered enough after Friday night's pi$$ poor result i would not recommend watching the AFL clip below.... https://fb.watch/fsT3QvMjSz/

Posted this in the Post Game thread in response to PF who suggested we won't make the 8 if we just roll into 2023 as is with very few changes. Probably better suited here... ...Absolutely agree although we might just scrape in to the finals with another ordinary result (eg; one win then out the next week, no PF appearance). Anything other than a PF this season should be viewed as a severe Fail mark for the club as a whole. We were just beaten by a visiting club in a semi (a level down from the PF) that hasn't won a game at the G since 2014 with a massive home crowd advantage, who had no genuine serious ruckman and their best KF AWOL. Anyone (Club Land Goody & the FD included) thinking we will just reset and pretty much go around again next season as we are, with just few tweaks to personnel and/or minor or no tweaks to game style, are kidding themselves. We failed to make a PF as predicted and at least three of the top four clubs have passed us in a convincing manor. This club needs to do a full review of game style, offensive methods and defensive methods as well as serious additions, especially at least one other tall key forward coming through either through the draft or trade and an attempt to pick up a very classy ball user deliverer through the middle or off HB. In addition the forward line plus inability of mids to connect with it has been a massive fail all season and are the two areas that need to come under the most scrutiny. Only my view and may not be available anyway, but i'd be going after Gary Ablett Jnr big time as the new forward line/mid field connect coach OR at the very least as an additional specialist forward craft/kicking coach. If we also roll into 2023 with same set up up here (forward coach) we will be doomed to another year of no PF and a back to back fail with further teams, like the Blues and potentially others like the Dogs and Freo, passing us by. There's a worrying 'she'll be right' complaceny creeping in and it needs to be hit on the head with a serious review then action required if we're to adjust, make approrpiate fixes/tweaks/list changes, before heading into the 2023 campaign. I hope Kate is seeing it this way also and not still basking in the 2021 glory with her rose coloured glasses on. Fingers crossed!

Absolutely agree although we might just scrape in to the finals with another ordinary result (eg; one win then out the next week, no PF appearance). Anything other than a PF this season should be viewed as a severe Fail mark for the club as a whole. We were just beaten by a visiting club in a semi (a level down from the PF) that hasn't won a game at the G since 2014 with a massive home crowd advantage, who had no genuine serious ruckman and their best KF AWOL. Anyone (Club Land Goody & the FD included) thinking we will just reset and pretty much go around again next season as we are, with just few tweaks to personnel and/or minor or no tweaks to game style, are kidding themselves. We failed to make a PF as predicted and at least three of the top four clubs have passed us in a convincing manor. This club needs to do a full review of game style, offensive methods and defensive methods as well as serious additions, especially at least one other tall key forward coming through either through the draft or trade and an attempt to pick up a very classy ball user deliverer through the middle or off HB. In addition the forward line plus inability of mids to connect with it has been a massive fail all season and are the two areas that need to come under the most scrutiny. Only my view and may not be available anyway, but i'd be going after Gary Ablett Jnr big time as the new forward line/mid field connect coach OR at the very least as an additional specialist forward craft/kicking coach. If we also roll into 2023 with same set up up here (forward coach) we will be doomed to another year of no PF and a back to back fail with further teams, like the Blues and potentially others like the Dogs and Freo, passing us by. There's a worrying 'she'll be right' complaceny creeping in and it needs to be hit on the head with a serious review then action required if we're to adjust, make approrpiate fixes/tweaks/list changes, before heading into the 2023 campaign. I hope Kate is seeing it this way also and not still basking in the 2021 glory with her rose coloured glasses on. Fingers crossed!

Solid post but the last bit might not be that easy either. Keep in mind the Hawks under Clarko won their first in 2008. Took them another 5 years to crack the next one.

Incredible that players, especially Leaders, are still running their mouths. Even after a diabolical finals series. Goodwin needs to get a hold of this cheap rubbish / nonsense talk and shut it down well before 2023 commences. Max is forgetting the very fabric of the culture that won us our first premiership in 57 years... "When all is said and done, more is said than done".

Fabulous post JCB. There were other issues as listed like the low pressure levels, especially inside 50, lack of decent delivery inside 50, very poor / slow transition off HB far too often, lack of a 2nd tall forward, smalls not working hard enough to get to the drop more often (front & square), default kicks to the pocket & bombing far too often etc etc etc. But you also have to look at our game style / methods which are or may have been surpassed by other team's styles as we speak such as the Pies & the Swans. That doesn't mean we throw the baby out with the bath water but we should at least go back to the drawing board, pick the whole system apart and re-assess every aspect of ball movement as well as offensive and defensive methods prior to the start of the pre-season.

The one positive (only in an insight sense) from last night's game was witnessing what Petty can bring up forward. So for 2023.... Weid to take Petty's place. Can also pinch hit in the ruck with Max resting down back to help out when he does. Petty goes forward as a permanent forward. Macca as the other tall forward. Start blooding JVR for Macca when Macca is being occasionally rested/managed throughout the season as needed. JVR also in when we occasionally need a third tall to stretch the oppo's defence etc. Sydney turned McCartin's career around by sending him back. Is it worth trying with the Weid Who also has rucking abilities up his sleeve? Three potential wins if we can pull this off in 2023... 👉🏼 We gain a strong marking 'MOBILE' tall forward with significant AFL / Finals experience without having to trade one in. And one who appears to be capable of kicking goals 👉🏼 Weid switches with Max in the ruck about 20% of time allowing Max to plug a hole down back. Max no longer needing to rest as a forward where he rarely marks/hits the scoreboard anyway and is often wasting space for a better alternative. Max often plays back now and intercepts quite well on occasions with pretty good outcomes. 👉🏼 No longer need to chase a back up ruck for Max assuming LJ is going. Use that pick on a classy ball user with some pace through the middle or off HB. Or alternatively go after another tall forward in case the Petty experiment fails and/or as a replacement for Macca when he retires.

So just putting this out there. Is it worth trying to blood the Weid as a backman to replace Petty. Is he capable? Has he played much down there at Casey and if so how has he gone peoples? I did see him play one very good match across HB vs Box Hill a few years back and he was impressive that day. But one day doesn't make a summer & it was only VFL. But let's just say we can do a McCartney with Weid... IF....could we then send Petty forward? Imagine a Petty and Macca forward line with JVR starting to pop in on occasions for brief cameos, or maybe more than a few cameos, in 2023. BB a back up to Petty, Macca & JVR if they go out due to injury and JVR is NQR for whatever reason in his debut season.