Demon Dynasty

Team & Player Ratings to Rnd 22, 2025 vs H&A Season 2024 Season Team Rating % Change vs 2025 2021 67.23 -3.34 2022 69.48 -0.10 2023 69.86 0.45 Player 2025 Rating 2025 Rank 2024 Rating % Change vs 2024 2024 Rank Change in Rank vs 2024 Max Gawn 4.523 1 4.132 9.5 2 1 C Oliver 4.134 2 3.364 22.9 6 4 C Petracca 3.850 3 4.476 -14.0 1 -2 C Salem 3.746 4 3.421 9.5 4 0 J Bowey 3.721 5 2.755 35.1 13 8 S May 3.588 6 3.741 -4.1 3 -3 J Culley 3.500 7 - - - - K Pickett 3.476 8 2.433 42.9 16 8 T Rivers < 3.369 9 3.391 -0.6 5 -4 Ed Langdon 3.236 10 3.089 4.8 9 -1 Jack Viney 3.156 11 3.178 -0.7 7 -4 T McDonald 3.077 12 2.967 3.7 11 -1 K Chandler 2.961 13 2.223 33.2 22 9 H Langford > 2.837 14 - - - - D Turner < 2.784 15 1.393 99.9 32 17 J McVee 2.675 16 2.816 -5.0 12 -4 J Lever 2.672 17 3.103 -13.9 8 -9 B Howes < 2.613 18 2.341 11.6 20 2 X Lindsay < > 2.591 19 - - - - B Fritsch > 2.525 20 1.746 44.6 29 9 C Windsor > < 2.280 21 2.275 0.2 21 0 T Sparrow 2.236 22 2.517 -11.2 15 -7 J Melksham > 2.130 23 1.850 15.1 27 4 J Billings* 2.100 24 2.430 -13.6 17 -7 C Spargo (vs 2023 Rating) > 1.978 25 1.886 4.9 29 4 H Petty 1.906 26 1.701 12.1 30 4 J Adams* 1.900 27 - - - - J V Rooyen 1.889 28 2.026 -6.8 24 -4 H Sharp > < 1.848 29 - - - - J Henderson < 1.726 30 - - - - K Tholstrup < > 1.681 31 1.898 -11.4 26 -5 T Woewodin* > 1.600 32 2.052 -22.0 23 -9 A Johnson 1.416 33 - - - - M Jefferson < 1.056 34 - - - - T Fullarton 0.925 35 - - - B Laurie* > -0.200 36 2.425 -108.2 18 -18 Team Rating 69.55 65.17 6.7 Top 6 23.56 22.53 4.6 Bottom 6 14.92 14.04 6.2 * Played less than two full matches < Subbed out at least once or more > Subbed in at least once or more Stats courtesy of footwire.com & wheeloratings.com

A decent outcome. Bowey has composure and generally spots / hits targets inside 50 pretty well and can score on occasions also. If that's the set up from here (Howes in, Sparrow out and a decent impact sub off the bench at some point in the future) i reckon that's a win for us. Maybe the sub is Sparrow? Do we need all of McVee, Howes, Salo, Windsor & Bowey down back? Not that they're all solely playing back there for the entire match but i think you get my drift.

Yep that was perplexing. We needed some leg speed - run & gun out of stoppage in my view. Not that Sparrow brings that either. We really lacked explosiveness around the footy from a sub option (if available but pretty much non-existent at the moment). Bringing Howes on and losing a mid / forward rotation with the game still up for grabs was certainly not going to help our cause late in the game imv. Viney having a bit of a mare didn't help also.

Round 22, 2025 MCG - Demons vs Bulldogs Another impressive game from Culley. Petty's highest rated game for the season beating last week's 2nd highest 3.32 result Not the worst game of his career but also not quite at the usual level for Ed on his 200th. Great effort by the way and has been pretty consistent over the journey. Big Maxy a mile up on the rest. Beat the Doggies in the forward efficiency / scoring stakes but they had a few more shots in the end which was enough to get them over the line. Our two blunders early in the last quarter resulting in goals from turnover where very costly indeed. Scoring Efficiency Demons Bulldogs Disposals Per Goal 25.33 25.87 % In50s Goal 31.90 24.20 Conversion % 62.50 50.00 Average Attributes Melbourne Attribute Western Bulldogs 187.7cm Height 190.5cm 86.5kg Weight 87.3kg 26yr 0mth Age 26yr 1mth 122.6 Games 107.9 Total Games Played Melbourne Attribute Western Bulldogs 6 Less than 50 9 5 50 to 99 4 3 100 to 149 2 2 150 to 200 5 7 200 or more 3 Player Rating Rank 2024 Season Rating % Change vs 2024 Max Gawn 5.825 1 4.132 40.97 C Salem 4.100 2 3.421 19.85 C Oliver 4.050 3 3.364 20.39 C Petracca 3.875 4 4.476 -13.43 H Petty 3.825 5 1.701 124.87 J Culley 3.675 6 - 0.00 J Bowey 3.575 7 2.755 29.76 D Turner 3.500 8 1.393 151.26 H Langford 3.475 9 - 0.00 T Rivers 3.350 10 3.391 -1.21 T McDonald 3.100 11 2.967 4.48 J McVee 3.000 12 2.816 6.53 Ed Langdon 2.850 13 3.089 -7.74 B Fritsch 2.700 14 1.746 54.64 K Pickett 2.525 15 2.433 3.78 J V Rooyen 2.450 16 2.026 20.93 K Chandler 2.050 17 2.223 -7.78 T Sparrow < 54% 1.925 18 2.517 -23.52 J Adams 1.900 19 - 0.00 J Viney 1.850 20 3.178 -41.79 C Windsor 1.800 21 2.275 -20.88 J Melksham < 64% 1.350 22 1.850 -27.03 B Howes > 24% 1.175 23 2.341 -49.81 Team Rating 66.75 65.17 2.42 Top 6 25.35 22.53 12.52 Bottom 6 10.88 14.04 -22.54 > Subbed out TOG % > Subbed in TOG % Stats courtesy of footywire.com and wheeloratings.com

Quite possibly Brownie. We seem hell bent on heading boundary far too often although there are times we look to hit up Max in the middle which Adams did superbly at one point yesterday. But that's a set play. The general instinct (instruction?) seems to be to play everything wide as you say and most players point / move in that general pattern which is sad to witness when you see so much space open in the middle (at times) and a player all on his own that could easily buck the trend and lead there whilst two or three others are all running to the usual skinny side spots and dragging their opponents there as well. One can only hope the next coach is alot more innovative in this regard amongst other methods / way of playing. Another example of how the dare / flare appears to have been coached out of some within the group. Turner outpointing Noughton in a 1 v 1 yesterday. Reads the ball beautifully for the intercept at CHB. Has a meter on Noughton after marking, open field and an immediate 'Play on' rebound option ahead of him to take us quickly into 50 and catch the Doggies out on the sling shot. But instead hesitates, takes a number of steps to get back behind Noughton on the mark, then tries to pick out a player on the switch (angle sees ball going backwards!) which he misses, intercept...Doggies goal. Potentially a draw if we avoid the turnover in that instance in the worst place on the ground and maybe even the win if we take it down and just score a point!! Players second guessing themselves and hesitant to take the game on is not going to win you many of the close matches imv (ie., going into their shell too early). That needs to be stamped out pronto during the pre-season and 2026 by the next coaching group. Would much rather see more of them playing with confidence, dare, flare when they win the ball back wherever possible, hopefully resulting in slick quick transition footy, whilst at the same time maintaining some structure and defensive aspects behind the ball as best as possible for when we cough it up in transition. It's def a hard balance to get right but at the moment i feel we are skewed a little too much to the defensive / conservative side in general.

Out: 🫱🏻 Kozzy's horrid field kicking and lackadaisical high school level intensity. 🫱🏻 Lack of forwards making multiple leads (with decent timing) into space as players break from center / wing contests forward and almost always won't see anyone leading into clear open space on the fat side / in front or 45 angles for easier shots at goal. Instead seeing players sitting back inside 30 and/or pointing leading to the right hand pocket and then having the ball kicked there to see it either go OOB or, on the odd occasion, hitting a player on the boundary and have him try to kick the lowest percentage shot at goal.

He's not alone. Chandler one of the worst offenders here also. Chandler was also on his own in the middle just off the square during one of McVee's kick ins late in the third. Instead of leading and calling for the over the top kick into the middle he points and heads straight out to the skinny side where the ball ends up on top of everyone's heads and turns into a 50/50 at ground level. Luckily Culley ends up with it and runs / handballs our way out of congestion which i think Chin ends up on the end of it giving it to Melk who gets the joe-the-goose goal to Tracc. Chin is a handy player but alot of his good work is undone by his poor decision making / lack of composure / awareness on occasions. That's not to say Chin never lowers his vision or hits targets but he should be doing alot less of the bombing / lack of awareness things now given his experience. Unfortunately they're still happening though and in some cases, costing us opportunities in transition where we have advantage in play and should be punishimg the oppo more often.

He absolutely stays subject to putting in a huge 2026. Tracc is a massive worry (above the shoulders). Constantly fumbling, non-committal at moments when its his turn to go. Hearing footsteps when playing in front or going for ground balls. I understand why he has the yips but for as long as it lasts we are effectively a quality rotation down in the mid-field in terms of where we were at from about 2018 - half way through 2024 (in terms of his levels during this period up to and including the injury). The other issue is Viney who has lost so much leg speed he is under a stack of pressure everytime he gets the ball, resulting in way too many turnovers or missed connections when he does win it. Lots of issues to consider going forward (amongst other factors eg; Picket's horrid field kicking and some forwards not leading up at the ball carrier or into open spaces often enough) for the incoming coach. It will take a pre-season and at least half a season or more just to iron out some of the woeful habits / non-habits that many of our forwards exhibit and some of the woeful field kicking that results in too many easy scores from turnovers to the opp and far too many losses in close games as a result. Windsor and Riv other examples of bog ordinary field kickers alot of the time.

That started last week. Albeit against the worst team in the comp. He's started driving his legs out of congestion again and tank to get from contest to contest plus hassle / tackle / pressure opponents has improved as the season's gone on. Not to 2017 - 2023 levels and plenty of work ahead to get back to that, but it's a start.

Team & Player Ratings to Rnd 21, 2025 vs H&A Season 2024 Season Team Rating % Change vs 2025 2021 67.23 -1.39 2022 69.48 1.91 2023 69.86 2.47 Player 2025 Rating 2025 Rank 2024 Rating % Change vs 2024 2024 Rank Change in Rank vs 2024 Max Gawn 4.458 1 4.132 7.9 2 1 C Oliver 4.138 2 3.364 23.0 6 4 C Petracca 3.849 3 4.476 -14.0 1 -2 J Bowey 3.729 4 2.755 35.4 13 9 C Salem 3.729 4 3.421 9.0 4 0 S May 3.588 6 3.741 -4.1 3 -3 K Pickett 3.532 7 2.433 45.2 16 9 T Rivers < 3.370 8 3.391 -0.6 5 -3 Ed Langdon 3.255 9 3.089 5.4 9 0 Jack Viney 3.243 10 3.178 2.0 7 -3 T McDonald 3.075 11 2.967 3.6 11 0 K Chandler 3.006 12 2.223 35.2 22 10 H Langford > 2.802 13 - - - - D Turner < 2.738 14 1.393 96.6 32 18 J Lever 2.672 15 3.103 -13.9 8 -7 J McVee 2.652 16 2.816 -5.8 12 -4 X Lindsay < > 2.591 17 - - - - B Howes < 2.542 18 2.341 8.6 20 2 B Fritsch > 2.515 19 1.746 44.0 29 10 C Windsor > < 2.316 20 2.275 1.8 21 1 T Sparrow 2.199 21 2.517 -12.6 15 -6 J Melksham > 2.180 22 1.850 17.8 27 5 J Billings* 2.100 23 2.430 -13.6 17 -6 C Spargo (vs 2023 Rating) > 1.978 24 1.886 4.9 29 5 H Sharp > < 1.848 25 - - - - J V Rooyen 1.846 26 2.026 -8.9 24 -2 H Petty 1.781 27 1.701 4.7 30 3 J Henderson < 1.726 28 - - - - K Tholstrup < > 1.681 29 1.898 -11.4 26 -3 T Woewodin* > 1.600 30 2.052 -22.0 23 -7 A Johnson 1.416 31 - - - - M Jefferson < 1.056 32 - - - - T Fullarton 0.925 33 - - - B Laurie* > -0.200 34 2.425 -108.2 18 -16 Team Rating 68.18 65.17 4.6 Top 6 23.49 22.53 4.3 Bottom 6 14.34 14.04 2.2 * Played less than two full matches < Subbed out at least once or more > Subbed in at least once or more Stats courtesy of footwire.com & wheeloratings.com

Yes from memory i think Rex was a big user of your name back in the day

I agree but he just doesn't get enough of the pill to impact. He plays a small forward role yet has no offensive scoring weapons other than the odd assist. He pops up once in a while and shows that he does have the ability to find time and space even without wheels but aside from that he does not have the weapons to see him ahead of the likes of Koz, Chin, Tracc Hard to argue with TU's assessment. Always a premiership player and MFC legend but i feel the game has well and truly past him by. He had his moment in the sun but injuries and the game see him well off the pace and superfluous to our needs from here imho. There has to be balance with a small forward, offensive balance. Not just dour defensive efforts and a few assists. Unfortunately Charlie doesn't have the offensive side / weapons / spreading ability (as per TU's summary) to justify his place from here. I wouldn't put my house on Sharp making it but he at least has speed and the ability to get from contest to contest quickly as well as closing speed to pressure opponents i50 and up the field that Spargo lacks. I'm not saying he'll be a massive improvement or a better alternative either. But he does have a few weapons you can work on. He also sharks well and kicks the odd goal.

No relation to daisythomas DC?

It's been 40 years since they kicked us off the G SPC. Hell will probably freeze over before the above me thinks

Waverley in the short term if Caulfield is on but 4 + years away can't be a bad thing yes? It's at least a home under one roof even if temporary and within reasonable striking distance for most. Better than the Casey marshlands surely.

Gerard hates the MFC. I'm not saying he's wrong but i can't see how he'd have much inside running on this.

As individuals the best 22 on our list is presently rating marginally ahead of the 2021 premiership team rating during the 2021 H&A season. That tells me, that we have a decent base to go on. Does it need tweaking, adjusting to suit the fast transition / skills side of the game and to address some of the pitfalls forward of center? Fitness possibly also an issue in terms of running out games plus capability of bringing AFL levels of pressure for three to four quarters? The bulk on this playing list haven't lost their ability.... yet. And for many that ability took us to the holy grail. The basic ingredients, no doubt with a few personnel additions/changes needed at player / FD level, are still there. Make no mistake.... with the right coach / coaching crew and some changes / additions per above, we can absolutely bounce back within two seasons and barnstorm our way into a prelim imho. And who knows from there. Never say never. Some new personnel, tweaks to game style, a return of confidence and belief. Change can be an amazing tonic.

I've heard they aren't so keen on nor'-nor' westerly hurricanes

Well said Andy ty

Round 21, 2025 Marvel Stadium - Demons vs Eagles Well a win's a win. Unfortunately too little too late to save the coach but that's the way footy goes sometimes. We had more than a few seasons of experience above that of the Eagles across the park which stood out at the end and we produced an efficient return on the scoreboard for a change. Great to see Jai come in and have an immediate impact. Hope we can see him cement a spot from here as a regular 22. Plenty of upside versatility here both as a strong big bodied mid and a medium-tall dangerous forward. His wing role also handy but that might change into the mid/forward role as his time in the seniors progresses and he gains more experience / confidence through the middle. That was our third best team rating for the season. Our best was Rnd 11 vs the Swans (77.6) and 2nd best Rnd 7 vs The Tigers (74.1) Viney appeared to be on a mission in this match. And even though we weren't playing much i thought that was a vintage performance from Clarry. He was in everything and his hands were so much cleaner, with more purpose / thought than we've seen of late. Old cool hands Clarry was back, running amok in and around the packs scooping up the loose ball and distributing to players in better positions with a bit less turnover and panic gives to players a few feet away under pressure etc. Let's hope he brings this level more often in 2026. The biggest worry for me on this performance is Sparrow. He's generally had a pretty 'meh' season as they say so far. What role is he playing for us now given that he seemingly under-performs a fair bit? Does the introduction of players like Cully and Lindsay make it harder for him to retain his spot going forward? Assuming those type of players are able to produce on a consistent basis going into 2026? While i'm not writing Sparrow off either he surely has to be on a bit of a 'watch this space' status yes? The other that has to be under even greater scrutiny for 2026 surely, especially now that Simon has departed, has to be Spargo. I'm just not sure what he brings to the table going forward. * Apologies for the poor formatting on these tables. Not sure why but they just haven't loaded / presented as they usually do. Scoring Efficiency Demons Eagles Disposals Per Goal 18.38 39.00 % In50s Goal 36.20 17.80 Conversion % 61.80 50.00 Average Attributes Melbourne Attribute West Coast 187.1cm Height 188.4cm 85.9kg Weight 84.3kg 26yr 1mth Age 24yr 0mth 123 Games 71.7 Total Games Played Melbourne Games West Coast 6 Less than 50 11 5 50 to 99 6 3 100 to 149 3 3 150 to 200 2 6 200 or more 1 Player Rating Rank 2024 Season Rating % Change vs 2024 J Viney 5.025 1 3.178 58.12 C Oliver 5.000 2 3.364 48.63 J Bowey 4.900 3 2.755 77.86 C Salem 4.625 4 3.421 35.19 C Petracca 4.475 5 4.476 -0.02 Max Gawn 4.250 6 4.132 2.86 K Pickett 3.650 7 2.433 50.02 K Chandler 3.575 8 2.223 60.82 T Rivers 3.525 9 3.391 3.95 J Culley 3.325 10 - 0.00 H Petty 3.325 10 1.701 95.47 J V Rooyen 3.250 12 2.026 60.41 B Fritsch 3.175 13 1.746 81.84 C Windsor 2.850 14 2.275 25.27 D Turner 2.825 15 1.393 102.80 H Langford 2.650 16 - 0.00 B Howes 2.425 17 2.341 3.59 T McDonald 2.375 18 2.967 -19.95 J McVee 2.200 19 2.816 -21.88 Ed Langdon 2.125 20 3.089 -31.21 T Sparrow 2.100 21 2.517 -16.57 J Melksham < 64% 2.050 22 1.850 10.81 H Sharp > 18% 0.450 23 - 0.00 Team Rating 73.70 65.17 13.09 Top 6 28.28 22.53 25.50 Bottom 6 13.28 14.04 -5.45 > Subbed out TOG % > Subbed in TOG % Stats courtesy of footywire.com and wheeloratings.com

So you are wanting our new coach to have a nervous breakdown on commencing? One thing i do know, if it's Horse then Kolts getting promoted into the middle!

Hard to go past Horse. Three GFs in 12 years. Almost always in finals Yes he had COLA & academy i realise but all you can do is get your team in to a granny. A bit of prep and strat leading into it of course but the rest is on the playing group to deliver on the day. There aint a heap of stuff the coach can change on the day to win it for them other than minor tweaks. That's IF he still has the fire in the belly? If not then fingers crossed the club gets this one right. There's still a prelim or two (or better) left in the bulk of this present group with a few tweaks i reckon.

Thank you for the flag and the amazing year that was 2021. And the amazing 2018 finals efforts / results. Forever a legend of the club and forever grateful for all that he and his team achieved during his tenure.

He was managed very well indeed. They helped build his tank and two running up in the early part of the season by playing him off a wing for the most part. He was then switched into the middle / pushing forward (similar to his work on the wing in this regard) a fair chunk of the time in the last 6 weeks or so (don't hold me to the exact timing or % of time spent in the middle vs the wing during). I believe the fitness / tank plus defensive focus on the wing plus the ability to push forward and impact there both in the air / and pressuring inside 50 really helped. He also looked much more at home (at Casey) when being played through the middle and whenever he pushed forward. His height and size a huge asset when playing forward. He's a big boy on the flesh and ready built for the riggers of AFL.

P.S. DZ We also can't handle much pressure once the oppo turns things up a notch And we seemingly are unable to sustain in for long enough periods either. That was something you could pretty much take as a given in most matches from 2021 - 2023 Now mostly vanished into a very brittle group. With some sustained individual efforts from a few on the day, the exception. Same can be said in the upstairs dept. As soon as we are looking like a fairly strong favorite to win, we appear to mostly turn our tails up and lose too many of those very gettable 'going in as favourites' matches, with some exceptions of course. Having said all that, maybe i am totally wrong on the reading of all this and we are about to miraculously turn things around from here and launch into next year storming our way up the ladder and into a serious finals stint. Simon might be correct. Mine is just one view / opinion and an amature keyboard one at that. Stranger things have happened but i won't be placing my hard earned on it. Love to see it though. Seen too many years / decades of MFC crappola in my lifetime.