Lucifers Hero

We will win at least 5 of the last 9 and make top 4. The finals will be wide open from there. In the top 4 will most likely be Freo, Lions and Cats. Happy to play any of them anywhere. In fact happy to play any team, anywhere. Still think Dees and Lions in the GF!

I didn't have the heart to tell him that! When is your brain teaser coming?

Tomorrow night will be the 'litmus test' for winter Thursday nights at the G! Two big Melbourne clubs. Lions Tigers vs Blues. Nearly 200,000 members between them. Both teams up and about. Tigers home game. Lets see how many turn up. I'm guessing 30K- 35K

The silver lining is Max's body needs a good rest. Also a chance to get his back issues sorted.

Other than lip service, the acknowledgement of other significant factors has been very recent - as in the last few days... Has any poster said '... players are on mass suddenly not fit, etc etc...' I don't think I have. I thought Sydney 'out worked' us. Without going back over old territory and example was they were miles ahead of us on tackles half way through the 2nd qtr. I don't think Freo's and to a lesser extent Coll's tactics were successful enough to win the game. Their in-game tactics worked when they exploited our loss of tall players. Without those losses we most likely would have won both games with or without 'loading'. It was Sydney's tactics that imv worked from the get go. Only their poor kicking prevented the game being over at half time. imv that is the only game in which we have actually been beaten by the opp rather than absentees and in-game injuries. I reckon they would have won with or without 'loading'.

Some of us have been highlighting absent players, illness, in game injuries and opp tactics for weeks only for them to be given lip service with 'loading' proposed as the major cause of our recent performances. Glad to see they are now being given at least equal recognition with 'loading'.

I saw a snippet of an interview with Max last night. He was very unhappy with the short bye. It was in the context of recovery from injuries. It is not like him to take aim at AFL boffins so it must be a real sore point with players and/or the club. He said something like: "...thanks everyone for the shortest bye in history..." No guessing who 'everyone' is!!

Just to clarify, iirc Brown didn't get covid, he was a close contact. The 7 day isolation rule for close contacts was abolished a few days after his iso ended. He didn't play when he came out of iso because he had had no training and the team had already flown to Adelaide. Had he flown when allowed out of iso he would have arrived just a few hours before the game. To be sure I reckon quite a few of our players are still suffering the affects of illness or injuries.

Goodwin said they were thinking of subbing Max out but Turner was already out and Petty was getting medical attention so Max stayed on. I sometimes wonder at the wisdom of keeping players on especially someone like Max who is constantly being crashed into and Petty who has now had 3 weeks or physical 'assaults or breakdowns. It would mean going with less rotations tiring other players. I would prefer that than risk the likes of Gawn and Petty who are critical to or structures and we have few replacements for.

On a 3AW interview yesterday Kate Roffey was asked: if the AFL sanctioned May/Melksham further (apparently they thought not all the info was given to them) would the club appeal?. Roffey replied the club believes the AFL was given all the info, the club wasn't expecting further sanctions and if there were, they would look at the detail before considering an appeal. No mention was made of what further sanctions might be, if there were any. imv, the 'would you appeal' sounded like a 'gotcha' question. Kate didn't take the bail. I reckon if the AFL found the need for more sanctions, they would discuss/negotiate with the club first and there would be a mutually acceptable outcome. Kate handled all the questions about the May/Melksham incident and leaked 2020 Director texts calmly and firmly.

Votes: Looks like the commentators had it right: Cox for the Daniher BOG trophy. But so glad he didn't get it. 10 Mason Cox (COLL) 8 Clayton Oliver (MELB) 4 Brody Mihocek (COLL) 3 Jack Crisp (COLL) 3 Angus Brayshaw (MELB) 2 Darcy Moore (COLL) Coaches Split 5/5 - Cox 4/4 - Oliver 3/1 - Mihocek 3/0 or 2/1 Brayshaw or Crisp 2/0 - Moore Leader board Oliver back on top. Have shown only the top 5 as some teams have a bye next week, including the top 3 ranked players. 71 Clayton Oliver (MELB) 65 Lachie Neale (BL) 64 Andrew Brayshaw (FRE) 59 Patrick Cripps (CARL) 52 Jeremy Cameron (GEEL)

In my trawling of fan forums for our own 'what they...' thread I haven't seen any. Bigfooty in particular seems to have limited new threads so a preview' thread covers 'team changes, opps commentory etc. I will shortly have a look at the Lions fan sites but suspect there won't be much comment just yet as we played only yesterday and the game is 9 days away.

Agreed Gawn and a number of our players are banged up but we don't have replacements for most of them. We don't really get a bye this week but lets hope the 9 day break gives them some respite. It may be time to rest the most injured players. Not all at once but alternate one per week or similar.

On AFL 360 last night Goodwin said Max was sore at training - I think he said it was a back issue but difficult to make out the audio. Then Cox crashed him with this knee. ... who were the morons on the bench giving him cheek - from the tv vision they looked more like supporters than support staff!

Bevo this morning says as much: "And essentially any player with a clinically diagnosed mental health challenge will never be exposed to the policy anyway." ie won't get a strike. none-of-us-are-really-sure-it-works And apparently, when a player admits to drug use they don't get a strike.

Thank you. I was wrong about Geelong.

That is fine but play Thursday night at Marvel where there is a roof or in Perth, Brisbane or Sydney where it is warmer. As I mentioned our game v Brisbane in a few weeks would get 40,000+ at the Gabba but lucky to get 25,000 at the G. Ch 7 would be unaffected. I would go to the Gabba for that game and make a holiday of the trip catching up with friends in Toowoomba, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast while there.

That is what I was saying the AFL ban is: no reporting of events around a player with mental health issues so new evidence won't get out. Caroline Wilson discussed this 'ban' at the time of the Jack Stevens stabbing.

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@whatwhat say whatis saying there is other evidence out there. Unless the AFL gags mainstream media that evidence of other occasions will get out. Anyway, as I said a few days ago I feel sorry for Smith; it could be any of our players going through this. I wish him well. Seems a decent guy.

Maybe this week but the bye rounds aren't over yet! If we lose today, with the bye next week and Cats and Blues likely to win round 14 there will be 5 teams on 10 wins when the byes are over! And heaven forbid, the Cats on top as they play the Eagles next week and will show no mercy to get a big % boost. Then the top 4 spots are going to be a bun fight. We need to win today!

Well he is a fool for lying about it. And the club is culpable if they knowingly let him do so. They are risking his well being. Unless the AFL activates its media ban of reporting events of players with mental health issues those instances will spread like wildfire. He is 20 and with all the trauma of the last few days he needs protecting from the spin doctors around him. Hope he has a decent manager as not sure he can rely on his club and the AFL to give him unbiased advice.

It would be beyond stupid for him to go so full on 'it was a once off' if it wasn't true. Their would be social media out there of other occasions. If it wasn't a once off best he just didn't say anything than risk being branded as a 'liar' spinner of the truth.

If AFL bad boy behaviour that hits the headlines is the tip of the iceberg the Bulldogs must bat very deep. Headlines: Libba found under the influence of drugs in the city some years ago Stringer behaviour leading to his trade Tom Boyd, Zaine Cordy fight in 2018 2020 Hunter crashing his car and aided after the event by Bailey Smith and Billy Gowers Smith in a brawl on the GC last Oct. Smith outing for drug use It is no wonder Dunkley wanted a trade in 2020 for what he thought was unprofessional off field behaviour at the club. Add those with mental health issues: Travis Cloak, Tom Boyd, Bailey Smith and players taking 'personal' leave ranging from 2 weeks to 6 weeks and one wonders what is going on at the kennel. All clubs have bad boy events with players. Either the Bulldogs have a lot more than most or they aren't very good at keeping things in house.

I was on the flip side ie being asked for money. In March I was in the city and instead of giving money I suggested I buy the person the food they wanted - we were outside the Macro store in Flinders St. She took up the offer buying biscuits, drinks and lollies. My good Samaritan deed was rewarded the next day when I saw Gus and his partner Danielle having coffee in Desgrave St. I broke all my rules about not approaching well known people but couldn't resist congratulating Gus for the team's great win the previous night; the night we unfurled our flag. Then last Sunday, walking into the Hampton St supermarket a girl asked me for $5 to buy food. Again I invited her into the store to choose what she wanted and I would pay for it. She exceeded the $5 by a fair margin but I let it go. Of course I expect nothing in return but it would be nice if the karma fairy brought us a demon win today.