Ted Lasso

I think we're still definitely capable of doing some damage at the end of the season but we'd have to improve a lot, the gap between our best and worst footy is widening, the form of some of our really important players is still a long way off their best and we're relying on a 21 year old and a 24 year old to carry our forward line when one has always been a defender and one is still finding his feet at AFL level, we're asking a fair bit. The loss of Gus has been profound on the team. The big positive is that at the end of the season and moving forward we will have considerable salary cap space open and some assets to trade so we can plug some holes and look to re-load for 2025 if we don't get there this year. a gun key forward would be very very handy

absolutely. i'm unsure who we have that's actually capable of going with them though, perhaps it's a case of whoever is on them needs to make themselves dangerous, you don't mind Hill getting 25 cheap touches on the wing if his opponent kicks 4 goals

It's going to be a grind this one, i am concerned about the Saints running power and their half backs on the MCG. if we lose this game i think it'll be really challenging to finish top 4 this season, Time for Viney, Oliver, Salem, May and all the other really good players who haven't been quite at their best to step up and find their best form because we desperately need them if 2024 is going to bring any sort of meaningful success.

that explains ALOT!

You'd have to imagine we would identify our lack of midfield depth and look to address that, i am sure if the club knew Gus would be forced to retire we may have retained Harmes, or fought harder to keep Jordan, the outcome ultimately is that we lose 3 AFL level mids from our depth and look a bit thin behind the big names. Unsure who specifically we might target but i'd guess we will at the very least be looking at the available mature age midfielders

I did feel dirty typing it. i'll show myself out! haha

I like the Dons, i think they're a team that can surprise a few come the end of the season, it looks like the Swans flag to lose but i wouldn't be at all surprised if the Dons are there abouts in Prelim week

are you suggesting Simon Goodwin the AFL premiership coach might know more about what he's doing than some of the fans on Demonland!?! outrageous

I don't think Goodwin is single focused on any one week or even the 2024 season, i think his goal is implement a game style that's consistent and has us there abouts year in year out, and keeps us towards the pointy end as long as we can. On the weekend we had Kade Chandler (24) Harry Petty (24) Tom Sparrow (23) Kozzie pickett (22) Caleb Windsor (18) Judd McVee (20) Jake Bowey (21) Trent Rivers (23) Blake Howes (21) Taj Woewodin (21) I personally think it's pretty impressive when nearly 50% of our best 22 is 24 and under and we're playing at the level we are, it's a good indication that the team is not only going to be hard to beat now, but will continue to get better. Our profile, age wise wasn't too dissimilar to West Coast on the weekend, a lot of youth and some good senior players. Normally we'd also have Turner and Van Rooyen in the side, so as long as we're playing a team that's anywhere near the 50% mark in terms of youth, we will be at times inconsistent, we will have down days and they'll find it harder to handle the pressure of big games and moments than senior players will, this is clearly a conscious decision by the footy department to go down the live re-set path.

JVR in for Brown seems like a logical one, i'd probably like to see Woewodin start and Billing as the sub.

Really missing Lingers

they're outworking us all over the ground. the fix is easy, we need to up our intensity and effort.

Maybe not the best player, but Bernie Vince is one of the most underrated and significant recruits we've had, he played a huge role in changing our culture

It's absolutely amazing that the injury prone kid caught smoking on the way to training has developed not only into a wonderful young man, but a premiership captain, possibly the best ruckman in the history of the game and arguably the best captain and player the MFC has ever produced.

I would say with Turner and Van Rooyen out it would likely be McAdams and BBB into the team, unless Salem is fit and ready to go

The one that gets me is when Curnow comes flying through, collects Rivers high and he has to go off with the blood rule bleeding from the head and it's no free kick to Rivers. The AFL are supposed to be protecting the head, not their favourite players.

I suspect McQualter would know a fair bit about him

This is an underrated call, i am a Knicks fan in the NBA and that's been bad enough with every single playoff being a nail biter, but it's hard to imagine the margin tonight is more than 10 points either way.

If their previous form is anything to go by, Kozzie, Fritsch and Chandler will be massive threats. I'm not sure they have a really good match up for any of them.

Fair bit riding on this one with some recent shaky form for the Blues, i reckon they'll come out breathing fire and throw everything at us. they'll have a HUGE, feral following as well Dees by 187

Thank you for your contribution WCW and i am glad that you kept Fritta on his toes, i am expecting at least 3 better goals this weekend.

Wow. zero need for that picket, and Dazzle clapping you. Not cool gentleman

I'd say it's Laurie out, Taj Sub and Bowey into the team. I think Billings has a role that he's playing pretty well, when he's subbed it seems more tactical than anything else to add a bit of run

Wow i feel old on Demonland, come onto the training thread and suddenly there are all these nicnames for players! @WalkingCivilWar i assume this is your influence? haha

I'm very surprised any real AFL fan would have found that hard to watch, it was like being treated to a nail biting prelim in May. I honestly think the only people who wouldn't have enjoyed it were Chris Scott and Geelong who probably didn't think anyone was a serious threat to them this season and just got a very rude shock.