Sam the man for the job: Demons

A FINGER injury to Luke Jackson has opened the door for Sam Weideman to walk into a winning Melbourne side and coach Simon Goodwin has confirmed he will face Carlton.

Despite kicking 14 goals in just three VFL games after a pre-season injury, Weideman (pictured) couldn’t break in to the unbeaten Demons line-up in recent weeks, with recruit Ben Brown preferred.

Goodwin said Weideman was well aware only the good form of those in the side was keeping him out, but was excited to bring him back for Sunday’s clash with the Blues.

“It is disappointing for Luke but it has opened the door and Sam will play. He’s ready to play AFL footy and we are excited by that,” Goodwin said.

“He’s kicked 14 goals in three weeks, he’s in really strong form. What’s been keeping him out is the form in the team.

“He’s a mature kid, he understands, we have had some good conversations. He’s a really important player to us.

“He knows he missed the opportunity through injury. He knows the team has performed well. He has had to wait, he’s got that opportunity now, we’ll see what we get.”

Weideman, who is off-contract at the end of this season and being courted by other clubs, is poised to take up some of the ruck duties Jackson had been performing, which allowed skipper Max Gawn to go forward more often.

Goodwin said Tom McDonald and even Ben Brown could be called on to help Gawn against the Blues.

“Whoever we use needs to come in, have an impact and allow Gawny to go forward,” he said.

The Demons haven’t won the opening nine games of the season since 1956.

Goodwin said his team has been building to its current position for three years, working as much on what his players do without the ball and forming an impenetrable defence.

He said the selfless attitude of his players had “gone to another level” in 2021.

“After 2018 we spoke about out next transition to being the club we want to be was what we do without the ball. You see the best teams defend without the ball to a really high level,” Goodwin said.

“The players’ commitment to that has been high and now we are seeing the reward. We are a harder team to play against.

“It’s not something that has bobbed up this year. The selfless attitude has taken our game to a new level.”