Demon Dynasty

Should have rested the bottom 6 in experience/size and sent them on an early holiday straight after the West Coast match. Watts included. I'm referring to only those we decide to keep from here of course. Could have brought them back a little earlier than the rest and wacked them in the gym before the rest to get pumping earlier. Whatever it takes. Bring in biggest/toughest or just more senior players from Casey (yes even Juice if needed) for last 3 to allow this to have happened. Dunn etc. I wanted to see some bigger nastier men running out next year, instead of too many skinny boys. There's always going to be the odd one or 2 in any teams when you're bringing in the odd newby and giving them a try out. But we have way too many who just aren't up to a hard nosed physical stoush when the heat is on and the opposition starts to crack in. And.....we also allow too many players to get a look in too easily. Need to earn it big time in Casey unless there's injuries of course. If they don't earn it they shouldn't be getting an easy walk up gig. Unless they're a proven past performer coming back from an injury, a key part of the jigsaw and have fully regained their fitness and some form after a few Magoo games. Too late to do this now though. What a waste of 3 weeks.

Lol....is there a stat that captures 'Taps to the opposition's advantage' ?? And whatever happened to just thumping or punching the ball forward (or at least attempting to....even with say a 3rd man up) when your losing most of the middle clearances when trying to tap??

I watched this as well. My bro knows an ex player who played with the MFC in the early 70's. He asked him about what was missing back then at our club. Like why couldn't we match it with the better clubs in the early 70's like the Hawks, Richmond and Carlton. This bloke said, we just didn't have the mongrel/big brutish players to stand up against the oppositions meanest and nastiest players. We had some talent in Wells, Alves etc but not the grunt. I guess that's why the club decided to recruit Carl in 1973 and add some mongrel. Unfortunately that didn't work out too well either lol. But in many ways this is what's missing from this team and has over recent decades since the Northey years. There's just not enough big tough blokes in our team with enough talent to go with them to have an impact when the game's in the balance. We just don't stand up under any amount of physical/close checking pressure. Even against below average teams like Port. I fear we're going to be left way behind most teams (other than GWS in its first 2 years or so) going forward from here, given all the recruiting of skinny boys in the last 3 years, Tapscott and Howe excluded. Tapscott having some grunt and an AFL bod, and Howe (although skinny) a real goer who can take a mark and knows where the goals are and is willing to work his butt off when he doesn't have it. We also don't have a true forward who can take occasional contested pack marks throughout the game and kick goals consistently from inside or around 50. Especially given the way we bomb the ball in in straight lines most of the time. It mostly just rebounds straight out as we have no true crumbers/readers off the packs either. And then there's our midfield. Or should i call it our mildfield. Our basic skills around clearances under pressure (handballing to player's feet, at their heads at a million miles an hour or over their heads etc) is also woeful. And our decision making even IF we manage a clearance, is pretty p&@s poor the majority of the time. I can't see us improving much next year regardless of who the coach is. Maybe 2013 there might be some light finally but only IF we get it right coach and FD wise in 2012. My expectations for next year are zilch i'm afraid. This club has truly lost its way and its mojo for now. I'll believe any significant turnaround.....when i see it happen. And that means starting to win games away from home and against quality opposition and starting to win more of the close ones....period. Not just winning games we're expected to win at the G. Yet another year to forget.

I don't think one game is an appropriate time to judge anyone and certainly not taking any notice of individual performances these last 3 rounds as they mean absolutely zilch. Our season and that which we deserved to be judged on, was over after the West Coast game IMO. However, the worry for me lays with our performance off the field.....again. This club is as soft as marshmallows. How Fitzpatrick and Bennell were left on the ground after half time (other than for a few minutes at a time in order to rest other players) is just mind boggling. So in many ways i blame the FD for what went down today. If they can't see where the gaping holes were today they must be either blind or very dumb. But i certainly don't want to see yet another skinny inexperienced youngster in this team from here, Fitzpatrick or whoever, until they've truly earned their stripes in the magoos and actually have an AFL sized body a la Tappy. Regardless of today's performance, i'd be happy to never see him, Bennell or Morton in the MFC jumper again.....ever. We need big bodied boys from here, with talent and some agro/mongrel! And that was my view before the last meaningful game against West Coast. Thanks but no thanks to more guys 'like' Fitzpatrick.

This ^^ First time at the Borough ground in a bloody long time. No Barrasi or Skilton in sight this time lol. But i was looking forward to a contest, albeit it was a pretty daunting one with Port not losing a game all year. Having experienced the old cheese factory's wonderful wafty aromas floating over the ground the last time around, and a constant desire to add some of my own fertiliser to the turf as a result, I was relieved to see it was no longer maturing the yellow stuff 39 years on. That was my first VFA experience and it scarred me for life lol. Beautiful day but the wind was very unpredictable. At times it was just a strong constant breeze. Other times it would blow a gale for 10 to 15 seconds at a time and from different directions. Footy's always pretty ugly under those conditions. We were with them early but agreed, their midfield started smashing us with their clearances and run and spread from about the 5 to 10 minute mark in the 2nd. Gawn was pretty good but seemed to be tapping to no one in particular. For a big guy he is able to get to many contests which is impressive and held a few nice marks as well. The address at quarter time emphasised the mids cracking in and appIying the pressure to the contested footy. But seemed as if it was Port who stepped it up after then. I guess the Scorps have so many players coming in and out of their squad from week to week (in particular through the middle), it's hard to get the consistency and structure there for 4 quarters. McNamara (at least i think it was him) was real quiet in first half (not alone) but looked a little better from about half way through third, providing a little run off half back and around the edges. Stockdale ok in patches and at least worked hard to present and give an option. One terrible clanger down back in the 3rd though. Juice got a little but when under pressure seemed uncertain at times. Although this could have been the lack of presenting and space being made by his mates at times. But one run into 50 in particular, under no real pressure, should have resulted in him spotting up at least one target but he turned the ball over with a terrible attempted foot pass. Dunn took a few nice marks but seemed a little down on the day. There was one piece of play in the last where we took it from the back line all the way which was probably the highlight for me. Also who is No. 27 for the Scorps down back? Huge unit that boy and has a massive hoof on him. Fev had his kicking boots on and got the Scorps started. He also attempted 3 assists that i saw, none of which resulted in a goal unfortunately. He tends to just play from the goal square as a genuine old fashioned FF, or did today anyway, probably under instruction. This might be fine when there's no gale blowing and the mids aren't getting smashed by their opposition but i was particularly disappointed the coach didn't move him up the ground a little, maybe to a true CHF position in the 3rd just to give the boys a shorter option as a key big bodied target against the wind. Even for a 10 -15 minute stint maybe. Whether Fev has the tank, desire or ability/agility to play that position, even for a short period, i couldn't say. He was berated and abused by one Borough supporter right behind the goals early in the 2nd, who'd had more than his fill of Melbourne bitter...hic! The filth was flying. He actually got Fevs attention, more in amusement i think. He wasn't alone in giving it to Fev on the day, but some of the peeps on the boundary alongside this donk, one middle aged bloke in particular, told him to zip it at one point. Of course this didn't go down too well, and the fists started flying, with very few connecting on either side lol. Copper did his part to split them and at one point he was pushing this donk backwards so far that i thought me and my boy were about to be in amongst it haha. But the calvary came eventually and he was carted off in the Divy van lol. It was around about this point that i heard 'Billy Borough' up the back yell out "Stick him in the change room and give him a cold shower mate!!". Brought back memories of the good old days at pie park or windy hill Unfortunately it was all one way traffic after half time. The worst part however was hearing every other Port supporter yell out "BOROUGH" every time they got one. Which unfortunately for us was way too many times....arrgh. The best part of the day was the easy parking beforehand, being able to get out on the ground with son and have a kick during the breaks and getting right into the huddle to hear the coach's rant at quarter time. Hopefully the Demons can send a few senior bods into the guts and off half back for the next final. They're sure going to need it. Good luck to the boys in the Semi.

Haha... one of my first memories of watching the Demons was Greg Parke havin a drag before the start of the match (circa 1970)....and butting it out on the ground just before the bounce. That's the pinnacle of preparation for me. What a pro B) Boy could play though

Brilliant Rich..... thanks big time mate

Phew..... thanks dee ~ whipes brow

Darn it! And i thought i had everyone fooled! Lets just keep this between you and me ok!

KC...not that this is your domain i realise, and i've tried on the web.....but.... Any idea how much adult and kids entry fees are tomorrow please? And parking arrangements around there? Not expecting a response lol. Just asking as i can't seem to find anything on web. Maybe someone else would know on here pls?

Careful there Rhino, you might be about to out do Gareth in the laughable line stakes there mate So now the great RR has traveled through all VFL/AFL time and been there alongside every coach to witness every instruction issued by a coach to every player ever to have played the game.....and Fev was without doubt the worst of the lot you say?? Wow! That's some effort RR Me thinks mad Monday's arrived early at Demonland! Take it easy on that wacky stuff would you Rhino!B) So you're saying they weren't united off the field yeh? Ok, but doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise that. But are you also saying that everything was just dandy on the field of play and we were were a fully united playing group in losing by a record losing margin?? (2nd worst of all time behind our Fitzroy effort and the fourth largest winning total of all time) . Or you're saying we probably weren't a united playing group on the field either and that the off field accentuated this and didn't help matters? Please clarify....and please, make it quick would ya! Startin to get a bit buzzed readin' all this <<< not a rocket scientist!

OMG....lmao. Funniest line i've read in a long time. Thanks Gareth. Let me remind you of how united we were as a playing group at times this year, one game in particular....... GEELONG 8.3 20.4 28.8 37.11 (233) MELBOURNE 0.3 1.4 5.4 7.5 (47) United we stand........ I don't give a rats about whether we should or shouldn't as i know we wont.....but this particular line is up there with the funniest/looniest i've seen on here. But i agree to a point, lets wrap our boys in cotton wool and protect them at all costs from this cruel world....i'd just hate them to catch something so awful and nasty like a Feverla! Our precious boys! Save them somebody....save them from such a horrible fate would you! Please, I couldn't bare to watch....look away everyone, just look away

There's been plenty a hot head and sulk at VFL/AFL level that continued to get a game and others who've gone on to become stars or very good players. Some examples of players who are either serial sulks/hot heads, or occasional offenders (other than Fev that is lol): > Lynden Dunn. Seen him sulk as well as the hot head side on a number of occasions. Once i recall he sulked and did a Richo in our forward line, throwing his hands in the air in disgust as he wasn't on the end of a pass coming into our 50 even though he was open (and asking for it beforehand). He did the sulk/dummy spit rather than bother to chase/tackle nearby opponent who had since grabbed the ball on turn over and was running past him the other way (some might say, doing a Fev lol) He still got a game the week after. > Fraser Gehrig ..... > Adam Goodes ....Goodes on angry pill > Matthew Richardson (Biggest sulk of all time lol?) > Brian Taylor > Cameron Mooney > Greg Williams > Gary Ablett Jnr I'm sure there's others if i could be bothered with it Having said that, Fevs not going to play with the Demons so i'm not sure what all the fuss is STILL about on here.

He hits hard and busts packs when he's on. Anyone filling the hole down back would probably pay a price or at least be looking over their shoulder a little more often i'd think. Wont be coming to the MFC though. If you haven't seen some of the hits already.....

I think it's commonly referred to as 'Enlightened Self Interest' Old Dee. Something they might gain more of as the years roll on..... That and a few drops of urgency and aggression throughout the club. Maybe Garry's bringing that right now....i hope. And maybe a little of this.... Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero – "Seize the Day, putting as little trust as possible in the future" ~ A la Clarkson's sweet move bringing in Stewey Dew for one last season. Different circumstances in terms of where we're at development/talent wise i realise....but a good example of seizing the moment IMO.

A bit of a conundrum for us eh. We'd like to offer him a cracking deal, at least i'd hope we would at least consider it, and move with urgency if there's interest from the other end. But if he's manager puts up the coaching situation.....where do we go? Ummm....can Mark just hold off a few weeks and ignore offers from the Blues etc while we shore up a coach and support team...is that ok? Maybe if the deal's attractive enough...Port will just go for it provided Butcher's management see it as attractive ehough. Someone on here said offer them Jamar. A huge risk for us given that we don't have a truly established ruckman alternative.....yet. Martin looking good but not quite the tapping skills or the body on body capability of the big Russian Do we offer early round pick via Scully deal plus say Petterd .....or Sylvia? We could go Morton and early round pick as a sucker deal.....but doubt Port will go for that. Maybe we give them an early round from Scully and offer them Bate, Dunn & Maric as well lol. I'm not saying we offer any of these. Nor do i like the idea of trading our only part time A grader (Sylvia) or our key ruckman. But like Whispering said up there....when was the last time we snaffled someone like this from under the noses of the Blues.....or anyone for that matter? Is he worth a Sylvia, Petterd or Jamar type trade? Is the club even interested?

It all makes sense now.... Scully is a GWS secret agent..... I knew it! And here's the proof.... I was in the change rooms after the match last week and i found this in his locker!!! (etching on the disc read... Executive Producer: Gubby Enterprises!?)...

All in the context of this being a junk time match....so not taking much notice of anyone's performance... The Good - Bleases run and line breaking carry as well as eyes down delivery hitting up leading targets (something that most of the top clubs do quite a lot of but is strange to see at the MFC lol) - Bennell (as above but not as often and not necessarily hitting up targets as well as Blease) - Viney's attempt at a new forward defensive game plan...birth of 'The Vacuum'! - Jones, nice effort and contesting. In particular during first half when the heat was on. - Garland steady - Bartram's effort on Ablett and in general contested play - Moloney - The match up of Bennell on Moloney in the middle early (big win for us) - Frawley in the first half - Howe's movement and presenting up nicely when coming on as well as adding a little more inferred pressure to our forward line set up - Tom McDonald's first up effort - Jamar showing a little of his old self, in particular his tap work The Bad - Defence letting the ball out the back in the goal square a few times resulting in a few cheap GCS goals - Bombing the ball on top of target's heads when coming i50 almost always - Watts going to ground too often in general contested play - Watts getting under the ball and dropping a few relatively easy marks - Overdoing the handball in the first half (Mckenzie but not alone) - Losing the contested possession count to a first year club in the first half - Field kicking generally not the greatest. Huge amount of work needed over pre season here. - Lack of contested marks in the first half - Bartram not being awarded a free kick for a brilliant tackle on Ablett with 3:50 to go in the 2nd which eventualy resulted in a GCS goal The Ugly - Scully's & Morton's shade of whiteness....sunglasses a must!

....and this one! Beautiful work mate Sure you wouldn't wanna throw Morton in there as well? I've heard he's got a very nice voice!

Go old! Lovin' that post! I here you ... i mean....hear you! B)

Hell yeh bud! Geez.... you preferred Bailey?! I still don't get what you're trying to say. You're on one hand saying the process delivered us the best footy brain. So the process wasn't an issue....so.....ummm...don't worry about the process yeh? Then on the other hand you're saying it didn't pick the best head coach for us. Bit of this....bit of that. But it was all fine is what you're saying... i think. I would hope we need more than just a good footy brain. Plenty of those around. Not many of them are up to coaching at this level, and some just don't want to, eg. Garry, Dermie. Also, you wanna inform me as to how you believe Bailey was THE best footy brain lol? Big call RP. Like how did you arrive at that? You measured it with/how? You're taking that totally out of context mate. My Lloyd comment was in response to another poster who was responding to High Tower. Saying that IF we aren't able to pull off poaching an existing coach from someone with the present committee, then we'll be behind a few other clubs in getting a process together to go for other 'untried' alternatives and assess them. And under that scenario, he felt the present committee set up was too 'Lyon focussed'. I was just agreeing with that viewpoint. Certainly wasn't suggesting we need Lloyd for the present committee under a poaching scenario. Agree, the present committee is fine for that approach as it stands....that's if we can land an MM or a Lyon that is. Personally i don't see us landing either of those for 2012.

There's no way Fev will end up at Melbourne gang. I'd be happy to take any wagers on it. Garry stated this clearly when asked on SEN over the weekend. Garry doesn't speak double talk as someone else would have me believe on here. He's a straight talker when it comes to footy so i believe it when he says the MFC isn't interested and is more than comfortable with it's forward stocks atm. Short term contract with a behavioral clause or not... IMO it's way too risky for the MFC anyway. We're a very nice conservative club who takes very few risks outside of the accepted norm and this is no exception. Don't waste your breath guys. Hopefully this thread will be closed shortly. Time to move on to more salient issues.

Not saying we weren't. Although i'm not sure it was as wide as you're stating. Evidence? Regardless, personally i didn't think the outcome was favourable for us at the time, and i still don't. Sheedy was ready made, massive amount of experience/knowledge at the highest level. Came from a winning culture. Runs on the board. Regardless of whether he had any more success (or less) than Bailey, he would at least have been able to advise what was required in order to build this club into a winning culture within the FD, and more than likely on the field slowly as well. His record away from the G couldn't have been worse i wouldn't think. The amount of marketing $$, potentially extra members (even disgruntled flakey Bombre supporters in some cases) and the likelihood of snaring a few experienced players from other clubs out of contract with Sheeds being there, to me far outweighed whatever Bailey was able to bring (as a total package!). Maybe Sheeds' asking price was too high for us at the time given our finances, maybe he was too outspoken for the MFC to handle. Who knows. By securing Sheeds, success, progress or otherwise in the 4 years that followed, at least we would then have the foundations in place within the FD, for a successful climb up the ladder, and potentially in a better position right now to secure the Captain required to take us there. I've heard all the talk about Sheedy being a one man show and things had moved past him etc blah blah blah. But people change and i'm sure he's always learning and willing to change within reason. Not hung up on it. Just worried given the 'fail' of the last effort. Not alone either. Not sure what you're saying here. We apparently aren't going through such a process at this point, as we're looking to just poach someone. You mean other clubs? Or you referring to the last time we looked in 2007? If so, there wasn't an assistant chosen for us from that process that i'm aware of, so that theory doesn't apply to us last time around. Football Manager yes (and how has that panned out?) ...but not an assistant. Yep. No argument from me there re: hardness from whoever's coming in. Some mongrel and hardness big time for me pls! That's one major reason why i'm not too keen on Eade. Also his ability to motivate on match day....similar to my feelings on Bailey but IMO Eade a better match day tactician. Maybe as an assistant to help out on match day though if we could afford it IF recruiting a rookie who needs the support.

I'm with you on this dee. Lets hope it doesn't come to chasing a rookie. The board would surely have to change the make up of the present committee if it came to that wouldn't it? It's just too 'Lyon' focussed for mine as it sits now, which is fine for a poach situation. No issue there. I also appreciate what Garry's doing, but to think that one man's having so much influence on the outcome given his involvement/influence over the last rookie selection, wouldn't auger well for me. Need some additional expertise from outside surely. Maybe Lloyd. He's seen the very good in Sheedy along with what comes with it (ie., winning culture), and the not so good under Knights. Good football brain as well and up with the modern game given his recent departure and some high quality analysis/observations on SEN. Null and void i realise if we do snare a top coach before then.

Someone might wish to mention that to Garry. Was adamant that the MFC wouldn't be picking up Fev. When asked why, stated we were very comfortable with our forward stocks atm or something to that effect. I'm not sure how he arrives at that given the debacle this year. Maybe he was referring to what's to come eg., boys at Casey, development of Watts, Howe etc. Probably a throw away line anyway as Garry wont have to worry about any decisions or non-decisions on such matters once he's finished his short stint. Either way, if Garry (and possibly others) get their way, which they no doubt will, then no Fev at Demonland regardless of who the coach and hierarchy are. Watching him against Chip next year would be an interesting dual though. That's if he gets a gig somewhere which is looking more likely each week as you stated. Thanks for the great coverage this year btw.