Demon Dynasty

8 hours ago, Sydee said:

Anyone see how this is a holding free kick to Greene - he has a fist full of his opponents jumper but somehow gets a free kick and goals 

Astonishing imo 

 

Not that astonishing if it was Ump No.38

Some amazing stuff being pulled out of his behind on the day

The boys should have been furious at some of those calls.

Especially the one on the point post that was called deliberate!

Is the club bringing these up with the AFL post match?  If not why not?

7 hours ago, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

What about the handball on the goal-line that was straight to a Melbourne team-mate, but the behind post got in the way?

Given as deliberate OOB. Goal to Cadman….wrong decision, ultimately that goal won the match.

I agree JJC but also if you watch Langdon's reaction to that hamdball, he pulled his arms back at the last second as if to say "i'm not near that or wanting that handball".

Other team's players would just run towards the receive with hands out stretched as if they wanted it or were close to receiving, evem if they weren't, to try and fool the umps.

I'm not sure why but we too often play "too nice and fair" when the bulk of opponents rarely if ever do so.

Another great example was Bowey calling his shot at goal touched after the goal was given.  Then i think Rick followed, as if to tell everyone to prepare for a kick in as it was a behind.

Yet watching the replay it was not clear at all!   I can't recall any other players from other teams pulling this rubbish.  In fact they're the exact opposite.

Look at the ghost touch call on the goal line by the Blues against us which cost us the match not long ago.

Also the touched mark they took against Freo last season that resulted in their win.  Ok maybe the player taking the mark didn't realise, but one or two Blues players around him must have seen it and said nothing.

The shaking of Mayturd's hand before the match last year.   WTF was that.

Sadly we just don't play unsociable footy, nor look to max out every potential free or try to deceive the men in white like other teams do once we cross the white line.

We also don't punch, kick or tap the 'in dispute' bouncing ball on and run on to it (or towards our general player advantage / colours) like some of the better clubs tend to do a fair bit.  Don't get me wrong we do it occasionally but most of the time we try and pick the ball up and end up either under alot of pressure when attempting to dispose and/or getting caught.

We just don't seem to play instinctive footy very often or well from where i sit anyway.

On 17/03/2025 at 21:16, Macca said:

They don't need to take marks ... just punch it out of bounds will do

Or punch it to ground and then gather the ground ball. No need to worry about our front & square crumbers ... we don't have them

That's spot on.  We more often than not don't get those basics right consistently.

Either up forward or around the ground at down the line marking contests.

Unfortunately it's just not happening alot under Simon's watch.  Not since 2021 anyway.

I'm starting to wonder if some past Premiership players' decisions moving on and rumblings from other key players recently, such as Claz, have had something to do (partially or to a large extent) with the way Simon coaches now.

6 hours ago, Macca said:

In all seriousness, losing these games we should win is getting annoying

We had their measure yesterday but found a way to lose (again)

And my point about forward line pressure stands.  We were too tall and slow for their runners

On transition, they did it too easily

That was very predictable even pre game Macca.

Not that we had many alternatives with Kozzy out as the first option small pressure forward.  Melk too, but we are still bereft of one more quality pressure small forward who knows where the goals are.

Chandler was it yesterday but just not at the level to impact which has become a fairly common theme now.  He does pop up on occasions but too few and far between.  Time to look elsewhere imho.

Same with the speedier transition teams.  We're getting burned far too often here.  Especially near the end of quarters or a match.

We need a much larger sample size and need to give the boys a chance to turn these aspects on and/or around.

8 - 10 weeks in should give us a decent indication of how we're fairing or whether we're progressing beyond the glass ceiling and disappointments of 2022 - 2024.

3 hours ago, Singa said:

Still gutted today. I think the weather conditions actually suited us but we just can't seem to win these close games and our ground ball game particularly in defences will be the death of us.

Frustrating how often other teams 'find a way to win' these close games and we don't

2 hours ago, Mouseymoo said:

Feel like we're playing one short with Fritsch if he's not kicking goals. Drop him for Turner. 

I'd rather have Roy George out there.

Crazy that we are STILL trialling backmen as forwards when there's a natural just sitting there waiting to be plucked from obscurity and could also potentially bring some increased pressure at ground level i50, more assists and potentially play some mid minutes also.

9 hours ago, Macca said:

10 kicks (not bad) 4 Goals (good) 9 Tackles (good) 3 Marks (below par)

Not a bad day out for a forward (one forward)

But combined numbers for 3 different tall forwards? 

I doubt we'll be going in with that combo again.  Turner for Jeffo or AJ or maybe Turner & Jeffo (or AJ) misses out

 

And only one multiple goal scorer on the day and that was a debutante.

Too early to judge yet but after 7 seasons and 1 match i'm still waiting for the footy dept & Simon to solve our forward line woes.

Fritta has to be on notice this week surely.  That was a terrible first up game from such an experienced forward.

8 hours ago, Brownie said:

I agree with the Max observation.

He's showing a bit of ego trying to land those 50m plus goals.

He's just a terrible shot for goal in general

Dish it off and let Windsor or Salem deliver it inside 50

100%.   A.bit dfferent if it's just inside 50 or less but even then.  He almost always shanks to the left.

I didn't watch the replay of his first miss from 30 but it would be interesting to see if he's still planting that last step in the way he used to before trying to correct the shank.

On other occasions that i've slow mowed his shanks, his last step on the left foot, his foot is angled out to the left (effectively pointing to the left goal post or thereabouts) and invariably that's where his right leg / foot follows on the kick and the ball too of course.

Gonna tale a look today on Kayo's.slow mo highlights and see if that was the case (again).  If so, then it's the same technical glitch he's had for years.  

He should be looking to dish off in most cases though.  Even just to eat up the clock a little more and give someone with the ability a better chance of finishing.  Also allows mids and defenders a chance to recover a little more and set up correctly behind the ball for a potential kick in offf the point.  Plus interchange options to take place if required.

7 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

Yep, I noticed the umpires were particularly focused on the 15m rule today. Gawn’s mark on the 50m line not paid either. Both his and Salem’s marks stood a much better chance of being paid in 2024. All for it, as long as it’s consistent across all future matches. 

It won't be.  We are far too often the bunnies, i mean the lucky recipients, of such rules of the week / fortnight while others seemingly get the rub of the green both on match day and in the weeks / months following.

I still remember the pre-season praccy against the baggers where the umps paid a record 12 descent frees against us (or thereabouts) and continued to do so (to a lessor degree) early in the season proper.  Before seeing it pretty much disappear off the radar about half way through the season or so.

I'd be interested to hear from Bin if he was sitting in his oft usual spot top of the Ponsford (kudos if he did in that weather!) as to whether we are (were) still pushing too high up the ground to try and lock the ball in during red time and got caught again out the back on the rebound!??

If so, something i feel has been an issue for us for quite some time now and we are often paying the penalty as a result with teams coming from behind far too often for the narrow come back win.

1 hour ago, frankie_d said:

surely we should be able to defend in the last 30 seconds?

 

fitness, skills or coaching? 

Coaching.

Left Maxy and Claz on the bench for 3 to 5 mins too long in the last quarter.

Couldn't organise numbers behind the ball with only a few minutes to go..... AGAIN!

It's been the same redline play book under Simon since 2022.  Ie,  a losing more often than not.  Unable to protect a small lead or not winning enough close ones coming from behind.

Subbed Langford for Howes when it was clear that Chin was our worst player all day.  Yes Howes was beaten also but at least had a defensive run with mindset on Toby.

After taking him off, Toby got off the leash and pretty much won the match for them single handedly in the final term, with a few cameos from others such as Tom Greene.

Max was solid but boy he played some dumb footy in between and to think he is going to kick every one of those big roosts from 50+!?  Especially late in a match.

Windsor asking for the give on at least two occasions but Max wouldn't when that probably gives us at least a fair option coming inside given he's a decent ball user and / or goal kicker inside the paint.

Viney Involved but disposals mostly up & under or scrubby hacks / handballs to no one.

Great effort from T-Mac to cover off for May.

Hendo looked at home.

Jeffo played his role.

AJ looked out of sorts at times in the ruck chop out role but gave us something up forward.

Roohey looks to be a mile off it at times.  Other times involved in getting ball to ground and giving some assists plus his opportune goal off the ground was nice.  But STILL running under the ball far too often for mine and pretty ordinary at ground level.

The weak links for mine are Chandler, Fritsch (since 2024), Roohey (today not a great day for talls but just looks too far off it even so) & Howes.  The sooner we get Melky, Kozzy (2 weeks to go) & knuckles back the better.

Can't see us higher than about 9th/10th with those last three coming in and staying in.

With the likes of Melk & Kozzy out that forward line continues to serve us up a dog's breakfast.

I'd consider bringing in big Campbell for Roohey at this point (not on days like today obviously) and having him cover off the chop out role for Max.

Then swapping TC and AJ up forward at other times to really test the oppo's tall defensive capabilities.  This would allow a few more breaks for Max also, hopefully keeping him more fresh for a big second half finish.

16 minutes ago, 640MD said:

Good luck to the demonland faithful 

may the good ship AFL

bestow good luck fair seas and lots of wins 

Me thinks you might be living on the good ship lollipop 640

31 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Unconfirmed rumour from a mate that Steven May is out. No other info. Take with a grain of salt at the moment. 

I believe he's running late

On 11/03/2025 at 22:32, Nasher said:

Myki CEO after 5 years of contactless payment trials

58 minutes ago, picket fence said:

His brother..... Tib!

Ah ok thanks Picket

Hasn't Baldi played with Casey before?

Or was that another Baldi?

This team just has the ploddy feels about it without Kozzy and AMW in.

Yes i realise Moniz wasn'y / isn't a stalwart regular to this point but he did show some serious zip in the lead ups and in patches last season.

We are also devoid of ground ball getting ability inside 50 and the same with pressure i50 it seems.

I hope im proven wrong but i think we'll be chasing tail all day and watching a fair bit of the oppo's rear ends as they waltz the ball from our forward 50 into theirs with relative ease.

I know there's more to footy than just the few aspects mentioned above.  Including areas like team defence, effort, how you set up behind the ball etc but i dunno.

Just feels like there's a few too many holes to take the chocolates this week against a pretty formidable Giants outfit.

49 minutes ago, DubDee said:

If no AJ that means JVR in the ruck?

No thanks. 

You have my vote Dub

37 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Some new faces this week.  Goodwin: 

“I think we’ve probably got four or five guys that are new to our footy club that are pressing for selection. But I think we’ll end up having three or four guys come Friday, that’ll find their way into the team for the first time, which I think is exciting for the Melbourne supporters,” Goodwin said on Thursday.

“We’ve got Aidan Johnson, [Matt] Jefferson, you know, then [Harvey] Langford and [Xavier] Lindsay are all in the mix for selection.

That should give Kingsley something to think about!  If nothing else we won't be predictable

new-look-demons-to-play-three-or-four-debutants-in-round-one

 

Despite the weather hope everyone gets to the G to give those guys a roaring welcome to our club.

And to the debutantes:  Have fun guys, do us proud!

I'll eat my Akubra if Goody seriously has Jeffo "in the mix" for the opening round.

Maybe he meant as in later rounds depending on how he fares at VFL level / on the track but wouldn't be in there this week surely.

1 hour ago, demoncat said:

I don’t think it’s likely that the trade happens BUT just remember Jackson was ‘happy’ at Melbourne too before requesting a trade, just as Kozzy is ‘happy’ at Melbourne despite his interest in going home 

Two things can be true at once and it wouldn’t surprise me that if push comes to shove at the end of the season a trade is explored by both clubs

It’s the only way they’re getting Kozzy, just as it’s the only way we’d give him up (short of Freo miraculously conjuring up three quality first round picks)   

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

That’s what Dan Houston told Port last year…

The Door is definitely open for a good deal

It better be a good deal and hoping we hold our nerve.

Gut feel says this is his last year so we absolutely MUST get something super special in return.

All the media nonsense is just click bait guys. 

Barring injury, Claz has set himself for a big year.

The media chimps are just chumps.

The champ is back and chomping at the bit!

30 minutes ago, sisso said:

MAFS style

On 01/03/2025 at 00:33, whatwhat say what said:

current one is excellent

schwab's monstrosity was horrific

The Maroon years!  I'm sure Schwab was a closet Fitzroy supporter.

Almost that whole era (2008 - 2013) of scarves went in the bin alongside Cam's white board.

43 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

Biggest issue was how we got cut up by their pace and method off their hb line, leading to easy shots on goal.  Do we have plans on how to defend it, apart from dominating clearance and not turning it over in space??

BN i felt a fair chunk of that was to do with a combo of...

> Some poor / mostly shallow entries i50.  Many of our attacking forays inside were kicks from mid field falling in the 40 - 50 meter zones.  To me that's a groundhog issue from recent years that was on show yet again in the praccy.  Old habbits die hard it seems.

> Lack of pressure on the ball carrier i50.  This is also an issue due to a lack of pace in general amongst most of our forwards, bar Kozzy (when played there) and to a lessor degree Chin.  Chin also having little to no impact in any facet of the game last night was disappointing.

Sharp might be able to add something here and i'd be seriously looking to progress him into the 22 as a mid who pushes up into a medium - small forward role at times to add some zest and pressure when Kozzy is spending time at CBs (in preference to Chandler).

This is another reason i am all for Kozzy playing the bulk of time in a small forward goal sneak / pressure role.  He's our best pressure & small forward and by a fair margin.  Take him out for big chunks of time and you are robbing Peter.

> Some absolute butchering of the ball coming inside by both hand and foot.  In some cases with little to no pressure at all.  Some horrid turnovers that left everyone out of position forward of the ball, exposing us to the sling shot.

Regardless of whether it was Freo, most teams would've punished us here.

Yes Kozzy coming out of the middle to help curb the inside 50 delivery prob is handy, but surely we can find at least two others to bring some sort of return here.  Or maybe not!  But if we could this would  allow us the luxury of playing Kozzy in a mostly small forward / pressure role where his assets should have more impact in terms of scores from turnover inside our forward half.

> Lastly a lack of genuine contested or big marking options up forward with JVR out.  AJ was admirable but we look all at sea here without Roo and there ain't alot of danger elsewhere in the short term unless Disco has a pretty big year or AJ finds some serious mojo.

1 hour ago, Demon Dynasty said:

FWIW after one praccy and noting that it's just one pre-season warm up so not casting anyone in the bin at this point.  Comments purely relate to this game in isolation...

POSITIVES:

Clarry ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tracc ⭐️⭐️⭐

Salem ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big M  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Windsor but more dangerous and effective when he pushed higher up the ground.  Back to the wing for mine.  ⭐️⭐️⭐️

AJ - Early jitters but improved as the match went on.  I like ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kozzy - only one quarter to go by but electrifying from the get go.  Needs to play 80 / 20 Small Forward / CBAs (or thereabouts) once he returns though imo.  We need his goal kicking smarts and ability to convert.  Our constant inaccuracy is a momentum / coach killer.

Sparrow ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - has shown VG early pre-season and in-seaaon form before though.  Needs to bring this level or so most weeks.

PASS MARK

Langdon but like others i feel he needs to get back to the wing pronto for Billings

NQRS THAT WEREN'T AT THE LEVEL

Billings

Howes

Bowey

Chandler

Woe - albeit with limited TOG.  Needs a bigger hit out to see where he's really at.  Looks slow both across the ground and with decision making though and will need to start showing off other assets this season if he's to gain some traction and a regular spot in the 22.

Edit:  Forgot to add Salem as one of the positives.  Thought he was solid for the majority.