Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Almost paniced that Oliver was a late withdrawal when I saw the headline pop up. Great article. Based on Oliver's and Pedo's performance this season, I think the standard recommendation over the off season should be for all our players to eat well, get on the Pi [censored] (act of drinking beer) and stack on the kgs. http://m.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-20/dee-hits-delete-oliver-moves-on-from-social-media

The Hawks being a mathematical impossiblity of making finals is almost as good as us being a mathematical impossiblity of missing them. Let's hope that after this afternoon, both statements are true.

Love the Bear. Very happy Pedo and the club got this done. Had we not signed him up, I dare say he could have gone looking and probably finding another suiter club post season on the basis of what he has produced this year. Glad to see him getting a fair deal at selection this season as well. Probably a fair criticism of his performance has been his consistency and tendency to fade in and out of having an impact over a number of weeks. Great that he responded to the challenge set by Goody earlier in the year and stepped up his fitness and intensity another level. Whist he probably doesn't match it with the likes of Weid and Watts in terms of talent and long term prospectives, his current worst is better than the average game for the Weid and he always has a bigger physical presence than Watts. What Pedo has been able to achieve this season should be an inspiration to mature age, recycled fringe players everywhere. Let's hope that rubs off on a few others that we have at present.

RBG said: That all said, anyone who throes Eddie under a bus has my support. ...yeah, except the f###ing auto correct throes for throws! Didn't notice until now. Is that the point you were actually making lol.

Exactly. I hope the coaching staff has consulted some good psychologists for match preperation, our bad habits against low ranked teams is the only thing standing between us and finals. Get the job done boys. GO DEMONS!

Excited with some trepidation for today's game. We have waited over ten years to be in this position again. The Lions are no push over, but we are a much better side and should be even hungryer than they are for the win. Will be in a semi euphoric state if we come away with the 4 points today like we should.

Isn't Matty Wheelan now actually employed by the MFC? I actually thought it occurred during H's time at the club as well. I actually think H is going off a little half cooked here as again I think the club has treated it's indigenous stars pretty well and encouraged them to make a contribution to the club's culture when they reach a point of maturity to do so, i.e Arron Davey, Matty Wheelan, Nev Jetta and even Garlett have all been well embraced and reconized as making important leadership contributions to the club.

On another note, whilst I don't nessasrily disagree with some of Lumumba's claims and attacks on racism, there were some ways in which I recon he built a rod for his own back and brought trouble on himself: It became something of a sport among the football fraternity to make light of Lumumba's passionate stand on his own identity, his private demons and his stand against racism in which he was often accused of becoming blinded by political correctness. Probably this happened from the time he changed his name from Harry O'Brien back to his birth name and underlined by his farewell speech to the Magpies at the 2014 Copeland presentation, when he told the assembled that his given name Heritier meant prince. "The one who will have the last laugh and the one who is gifted." He finished fourth in the best and fairest that season. It certainly doesn't excuse racism, but Australian culture doesn't react well to this kind of behavior of people having tickets on themselves/elitist behavior and I don't think there is anything wrong with that as it emphasises humility and equality amounst peers that Australian's do generally like to hold up as a quintessential part of our culture. Lumumba certainly wouldn't have endeared himself to anyone with this kind of behavior. Conversely it does also expose somewhat of a hypocracy in Australian culture, that we don't like anyone to view themselves as above others, yet many are also prepared to excuse and tolerate racisim.

There is also another article: Heritier Lumumba says he was accused of throwing Collingwood president Eddie McGuire 'under the bus' http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/afl/afl-news/heritier-lumumba-says-he-was-accused-of-throwing-collingwood-president-eddie-mcguire-under-the-bus-20170818-gxz433.html From reading it ealier this morning, it relates to Lumumba publicly calling out Eddie over the Goodes incident. Now with the knowledge of this previous 'chimp' nickname issue, it is fully understandable how and why Lumumba would have reacted. There is nothing casual about racism. That all said, anyone who throes Eddie under a bus has my support.

Agree. I don't think there is an upper limit for the number of players who compete and pressure the opposition in Goody's game plan.

I had a nice mullet going at one stage, but I'm not sure I'd call it a mane. The girls did use to like the mane, but yes as you say, there are rules on this site prohibiting it's use by posters here, so sorry lads.

Definitely not the impression I get from Jones's comments: http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-08-16/depth-has-grown-at-the-club-jones Meanwhile, Jones said utility Tom Bugg hadn’t put a foot wrong during his time on the sidelines, following a six-match suspension. “It was a difficult period for him earlier, but I could not question his commitment to the team or his own preparation in performance,” he said. “He was well aware of having to earn some respect and some trust and he has not put a foot wrong in six weeks that he’s been out. “He’s really led the way with the way he’s performed on the training track and he’s got really involved in each player and some of our younger players – and taking on some new leadership roles and opportunities. “I’m excited for him and the chance to get back out there and perform. I think that’s all he’s going to be looking forward to and preparing himself for. From there, he’ll let his actions do the talking on the field and hopefully find himself back in contention.”

He might 'him' them? I don't want to know what that might involve ;-)

Depending on how he and the other hopefuls at Casey go, he could be a good exchange to give Petracca a spell for a week, should Trac's performance against the Lions not be at full intensity. A fully fit and focused Bugg could be the perfect player against the Pies. Hope he has practiced his goal kicking in his time off.

Some good performances at Casey and or a few lack luster/tired injuried players in the seniors and he could quickly find his way back in. He should be fresh as a daisy, hungry and out to prove a point which could make him a good inclusion against Collingwood and or first week of finals.

Ahhhh, yes Grasshopper, channel his inner Cougar he should. As an asides, I'm sure there are a few cougars down Smith street with indy tastes fantasizing about getting their claws into Big Max...

So seeing the other ruling from the AFL today, the correction that Max needs to make to his technique is to lead with a straight leg, roundhouse kick to the head, that being well within the rules.

I recon JKH would also be up there pace wise. The other and probably more important aspect to consider of course is agility which allows players to get out of tight spaces and actually use that pace. I think this is where there is most consistently a clear gap between Hunt and the rest of the pack.

Such a good user of the ball inside 50, which we desperately need at the moment. Doesn't need huge possessions to be dangerous. Great pass to set up Gawn's shot on goal in the first qtr if I recall correctly. But generally agree he has been down of late. Could probably rotate him with Maynard back in, Trac out.

6. PEDDO!! (Who said he's not an AFL player - come on who?); 5. Jones; 4. Harmes; 3. Nibler; 2. Gus (Head nocks) Brashaw; 1. Oli.

No mercy today Demons. I want us in the box seat at quarter time and never look back. Have the result beyond doubt by three quarter time and pulverize them in the final quarter. There is the game plan for today Goody. CAR'N THE MIGHTY DEMONS

Happy for the Lions to have their bit of euphoria this week. The Suns can be their one game out of 5 or 6 that they gee them selves up for. We need to smash them next week.

The problem is that for the most part, even heavy set strong bodied kids don't have the mature, conditioned bodies to match it with battle hardened AFL midfields without burning them out. That said Angus is a few years into the system now and should be able to handle being amongst the action. That is where we want and need him, as with the aging of Bernie our midfield is crying out for more grunt, thoughness and class, which Gus has in spades. This whole issue really does make me think that Paul Roos has it right when he suggests that the draft age should be lifted.

You left out the two or three clever goal assists the Watts had as well. I actually think Watts's endevor was ok. On numerous times last week he was double teamed and whilst that's generally the lot of a key forward, our disposal going into the foward line last week (directionless high bombs) was an utter shambles. Bar small bursts and passages of play, our ball movement and the game in general represented a moving rugby maul. If the team can better execute, take risks and find space around the ground back at the MCG we should dominate the Saints.

One thing I like about this is that most of the pundit's have Carlton picking up the spoon. Just a pitty the AFL doesn't have that bottom 4 draft lottery in place yet, so they weren't garrenteed the No.1 draft pick.