VelvetSledge
Moderator
- May 24, 2007
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- #1
MELBOURNE DEMONS
The writing was well and truly on the wall for the Eagles after they were forced into 7 changes after a bruising WA derby loss to the Dockers.
The Demons showed that they are absolutely one of the contenders for the flag this year, even whilst missing their captain and star ruckman Max Gawn.
The Eagles held on in the first half but were broken in the second, with the Demons experience and flair overpowering the hapless West Coast in a 6-goal to 2 third term.
Tom McDonald returned to the side after his axing with a game-high 4 goals, whilst Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca were their outstanding best once again.
Oliver was the true powerhouse in the midfield, finishing with 34 touches and a ridiculous 10 tackles, whilst Petracca ended up with 29 touches and 3 goals in his forays forward.
Ruckman Brodie Grundy was immense around the ground, finishing with 22 touches and seven clearances whilst smashing Bailey Williams in the ruck, winning the hit-outs 48-26.
Jacob van Rooyen is looking like yet another find for the Dees, continuing his stellar start to his career with another multiple goal showing. Kosi Pickett popped up with three goals on his return from suspension and managed to avoid catapulting himself into another blokes jaw this time.
Our old mate Piggy Hibberd copped a sore achilles in the win, and won't be available to face his old side today.
This was as comfortable a win as you'll see, and the bruise-free footy certainly isn't going to tire the Dees out for us.
Just have to hope the travel from Melbourne - Perth - Melbourne - Adelaide does it for us.
WEST COAST EAGLES 9.9 63
def. by
MELBOURNE DEMONS 19.12 126
BEST: Oliver, Petracca, Grundy, Viney, McDonald, Rivers, May
GOALS: McDonald 4, Fritsch, Petracca 3, Pickett, Spargo, Van Rooyen 2, Chandler, Neal-Bullen, Viney
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ESSENDON BOMBERS
I wrote last week that I thought the Giants were lucky to have not lost by more considering Carlton's woeful kicking for goal, and history ended up repeating itself whilst our Dons recorded their first win against the Giants in four years.
All hail Jake Stringer, who's return to form couldn't have come at a better time. The Package was dominant, scoring four goals, and could have ended up with ten had his shots been more accurate.
Parish, Merrett and Shiel were prolific as always in the guts, and pushed hard throughout the entire game to continue their brilliant starts to the year.
Mason Redman recovered from his absolute mare of a game against the Saints to be one of our best on field, constantly providing a steady head and pressure across half back, whilst still managing to get forward and score one of his trademark running goals from outside 50. We'll ignore the brain fade where he basically gifted Callan Ward a goal.
Another slow start saw the Dons behind within the first 20 seconds, and this will be something that will be frustrating Brad Scott to no end.
Sam Weideman got the absolute piss knocked out of him after colliding with Nick Hayne's hip, and he was subbed out to bring on ex-skipper Dyson Heppell, who had been in the targets of many people all week.
His form so far this year has been nothing short of dismal, but he turned it right around against the Giants, finishing with 19 touches at 100% disposal efficiency.
How good is Nic Martin going to be once he gets his confidence up in front of goal? Kid is absolute silk.
Andrew Phillips could well be the most underrated ruck in the game. Solid at every contest, runs all day, and has arms the size of prime Jay Cutler.
That Stringer torpedo from 60m on the run should be taken down for being absolute pr0n. Ooft.
ESSENDON BOMBERS 11.22 88
def.
GWS GIANTS 11.9 75
BEST: Stringer, Redman, Parish, Merrett, Kelly, Draper
GOALS: Stringer 4, Martin 2, Langford, Merrett, Draper, Redman, Perkins
MELBOURNE EMERGENCIES: Bailey Laurie, Jake Melksham, James Jordon, Daniel Turner
ESSENDON EMERGENCIES: Ben Hobbs, Nick Hind, Patrick Voss, Massimo D'Ambrosio
MELBOURNE OUTS: Lever (Injured), Hibberd (Managed), Jordon (Sub)
MELBOURNE INS: Brown, Tomlinson
ESSENDON OUTS: Davey Jnr (Managed), Weideman (Injured)
ESSENDON INS: Snelling
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Sub to be chosen from the emergency list one hour prior to bounce.
There would be a few of us wondering what else players like Ben Hobbs and Pat Voss need to do to get back into the AFL side, that's for sure. Whilst I understand not wanting to put Voss in when he's a big tall forward in a game where it's meant to rain 30mm that same day, the non-selection of Hobbs is puzzling, to say the least. The kid is too good for VFL.
Regardless, a tough tackling nugget may be what the doctor ordered, so Will Snelling makes his first appearance in the seniors for 2023.
Despite Brad Scott declaring that Alwyn Davey Jnr was in the side and ready to play on Thursday, he's been managed in a game where you'd think he would thrive. Sam Weideman picked up a huge hit last week in the form of Nick Hayes' hip, and won't be fit to play his former side.
Piggy Hibberd also won't play against his former side after picking up a minor Achilles issue last week, whilst Jake Lever has also succumbed to injury. This is great news for our forwards, as the team of May and Lever has destroyed us for years at this point. The Demons have brought in two big units for both forward and back, with Ben Brown and Adam Tomlinson returning to take on the Dons.
ROUND 3, 2022
MCG
1/4/22
MELBOURNE DEMONS 14.15 99
def.
ESSENDON BOMBERS 10.10 70
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MELBOURNE GOALS: Weideman 4, Harmes, Fritsch 2, Langdon, McDonald, Petracca, Spargo, Sparrow, Viney
ESSENDON GOALS: Wright 4, Stringer 2, Cutler, McGrath, Perkins, Wanganeen
MELBOURNE BEST: Oliver, Brayshaw, Weideman, Langdon, Harmes, May
ESSENDON BEST: Shiel, Parish, Wright, Ridley, Heppell
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CHANGES SINCE LAST TIME:
MELBOURNE OUTS: Weideman, Gawn, Harmes, Hunt, Jordon, Jackson, Smith, Bedford (Unused sub)
MELBOURNE INS: McVee, Petty, Hunter, Chandler, Brown, Grundy, van Rooyen
ESSENDON OUTS: Hind, Cutler, Guelfi, Ham, Wright, Stewart, Wanganeen, Smith (Unused sub)
ESSENDON INS: Zerk-Thatcher, Merrett, Menzie, Jones, Langford, Snelling, Setterfield
Rough stretch of games coming up. It'll be a great test of where we are compared to the real contenders, but I think we're quite a way off it. We're young, we're learning, and we're in the first year with a new coach. We'll get there, but it'll take time. Four weeks isn't quite enough of it, unfortunately.
Demons by 32.
Waiting for the game to start? Have a listen to the pod...
Last edited:
Forgot to listen the other day when I was looking at my podcasts 
better do it before the game or there'll be no point...
