Lucifers Hero

Did anyone else hear John Ralph talk about this last night on Fox? He said good progress had been made and the extension would be a 3 year extension until 2025. Then he waffled something about us being a 'tied' to the AFL club so we have to abide their rules, so 2 years were fixed and 1 'floating' (my word not his). I thought the club went to some length in the last two years to not be a 'tied' to the AFL club ie one that did not need or receive AFL special, covid related financial assistance, so we could run the club and make contracts without being beholden to the AFL's approval. We are now a very well run club, certainly in the top 5 of the AFL. It strikes me as odd that the AFL would be involved if we are not a 'tied' club. I guess In practice it probably doesn't matter whether the contract is 3 years or 2+1 years but 3 years give a stronger endorsement of our Premiership coach than 2+1 years. Ralph isn't always a reliable reporter.

I would guess TMc takes Brown's role in the fwd line and Sam replaces TMc roaming further upfield.

The Port game is in Adelaide so the latest Brown could fly out of Melbourne is next Thursday morning. Unless his iso started Wednesday night/yesterday morning, which is unlikely as he was named in today's team, I'm sorry to say he won't play vs Port.

That is a handy analysis. Looks like the umpires threw away the whistle for 'dissent ' against WB players and they missed a number of frees/50m, most of them at critical times in the game or in critical spots on the ground.

Last week Buckley said coaches train players to go two handed when near the ground. He and other commentators then talked about scooping the ball out but they didn't/wouldn't call it a throw. He also complemented a Pies player for being adept at lowering his centre of gravity to get a free. Such action is is illegal and is more like ducking. Some teams get away with it more often. Cue the Bulldogs.

Don't be fixated on 'diving' for frees. You are right, he rarely does it. But he does just about everything else to get a free. Watch the Ess EF again..

what-can-i-say-swans-coach-speechless-as-fans-stunned-by-dogs-free-kick-edge “This is getting out of hand,” Gerard Whateley said on AFL Nation after Chad Warner was pinged for a dangerous tackle in the third term. Former Collingwood star and Brownlow medallist Dane Swan tweeted: “An unbiased opinion (mine) would say that dogs getting the rub of the green with the umps.” Football commentator Brenton Speed said: “Umpiring tonight …? Oh boy!” Sports reporter Andrew Wu said: “Swans fans feeling ripped off by the umpires in a game against the Bulldogs. Where have we heard that one before?” Journalist Scott Murphy said: “Imagine how sad the umpires will be if the Swans win this.” Comedian Titus O’Reilly joked: “Find someone who loves you like the umpires love the Bulldogs.” Sports journalist Bulldogs fan Luke McGarry added: “I’m glad the umps are helping us tonight, many of our goal kickers aren’t.” I think the free kick tally for 2nd and 3rd quarter was 17:3. Whenever the Swans started to get going during that time a free kick would turn the tide. Not saying all frees were undeserved but they sure are a momentum killer when there are that many to the opp and so many are missed for the team trying to get going. The frees were even for the final quarter but the damage was done. As often is the case it is when and where the frees are paid that can make be difference: 17:3 in two critical quarters is just WOW!

I don't hold hope for AFL action. They didn't do anything after the 2016 Prelim and worse the 2016 GF. They and Beveridge even acknowledged the one side umpiring in the GF. There has been plenty of time to 're-train' the umpires. Crickets!

I heard that podcast. It was very insightful. The bandaging and the heavy knocks to the players I mentioned (btw meant to say Bowey not Spargo) looked more than 'stiffness and soreness'. My comment was in the context of back to back i/state trips, simultaneously with back to back 6 day breaks.

Going on your reactions, you've been vomiting quite a lot! A visit to a doctor might help.

The media hesitate to discuss the WB frees as it will be seen as criticising the umpires. A no-no for the AFL It wouldn't be so bad if umpires were consistent. Last night WB got all the 50/50's some 80/20's while the Swans got zip of those. The number of blocks of Swans fwds not paid was horrendous. Talking of umpires we have #2 tonight. He tends to treat us like the Swans were treated last night.

Back off. od has health issues and there are risks for him going to a football game/stadium.

od, regardless of which membership you have, how many games you go to, you will always be a Demon at heart. Sometimes that is enough.

While it takes a lot for Goodwin & co to change a winning team, I'm a little surprised there are no changes. Petracca, Brayshaw, Rivers and Spargo took some big hits last week. Rivers was heavily bandaged last week and Petracca was at training on Monday. We are coming off a 6 day break from an interstate trip and we play Port next week with an interstate trip on a 6 day break. (Before anyone complains just be aware that they bookended with 10 and 9 day breaks). I read in another thread that we had a light training week. So, wouldn't be surprised if we closely manage playing time especially for those above to preserve them for next week. Or could we make a late change? One thing is for sure if we get a good lead we will shut down the game pretty quickly and defend. We only need the 4 pts and keep injuries to a minimum

We haven't used the 'current facilities' for two years. We have been at Casey where the ground is almost MCG size, they have very good workout facilities and we don't share it with anyone. But admin staff were still at AAMI. Yes, we won a flag from Casey but it is no reason to not push forward to get AFL standard facilities for football and admin.

We use several techniques: Complete shutdown from go to woe: Harmes took Lliberatore out of the first game vs Bulldogs last year. He has said before he likes tagging the best because they lead him to the ball. I don't think we use that one too often. Mind the mid at CB and hand over to a defender when they go forward: A mid usually stands with Dusty then hand him over to Hibberd. We do the same with Bontempelli. Stop at CB only. Can't recall which game but Viney did this a few times last year. Also, In the finals at CB he would sometimes leave his man as the umpire stepped in to bounce the ball and by the time the ball hit the ground he was minding an unsuspecting opp mid or cutting off his running space. Stoppages: Man them only at around the ground at the stoppages. So 'tagging' is a bit of a misnomer. Goodwin has said he has no qualms tagging for all pr part of a game if needed. We are fortunate we have mids we can use in these roles without giving up too much attacking capability. If most clubs don't so if they employ a tagger or minder at CB they need to take an attacking player out. For this week, I wouldn't bother tagging Parish, just have Viney, Sparrow or Harmes cut out his space at CB. Springer may need a tag to start the game so they don't get off to a fast start but he will run out of puff by half time. But if Max and Luke tap the ball to our mids we won't need to mind anyone.

Oouchy! Even 'Uncle' could be entitled to feel offended. He might be nothing like his DL persona, could be a nice guy in real life. After all he has good taste in Shiraz🍷, has a good, albeit slightly twisted sense of humour, can afford a Trident membership and barracks for the dees. See, not that bad...

What daisy is saying is because the club links a GFG to a reserved seat, the reserved seat sales are limited to the number of GFG available. If that link did not exist we could sell a lot more reserved seat add-ons to GA members; a with a nice little boost to revenue. There may be a lot of people who want a reserved seat but not an (expensive) GFG but we no longer offer such a membership which many clubs do.

In contrast here is a lengthy discussion mainly by Mooney and Lewis who are encouraging him to sacrifice the big $ for now as they will come in time. luke-jackson-analysis-out-of-contract. It is one of the more considered articles I've seen on his contract. Goodwin said in his press conf the club is comfortable with the contract talks and Jackson 'will be paid what he is worth over time...' (or words to that effect). I have little doubt he will stay and will not get the big bucks in this contract.

Extract from AFL article: "Spargo's hard running, tackling pressure, toughness and smarts with the ball are highly rated by the Demons and he was a valuable cog in their flag machine last year when he played in every game for the season. A three-year contract would take Spargo through to his free agency after he was selected by the Demons in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft. Spargo started his career with 18 games and three finals in his debut season in 2018 but managed eight games in each of the 2019-2020 campaigns before his excellent 2021 season saw him cement his place in the Demons' side. – Callum Twomey" Love Charlie. Such a cool cat. And, already a seasoned finals campaigner. Not sure if the 3 years is a guess but makes sense as it takes him to FA at the end of 2025.

Every time I see your avatar it makes me smile 🙃🙂 She wears a priceless yet typical feline expression: somewhere between disinterest and disdain. An appropriate response to being made to pose for a photo!

In addition to his on-field work there were some great off-field things. Two I vividly recall: 1. Immediately after we beat Geelong in the 2018 Elim final, when the player excitement would have been right up there, he took them aside with no coaches and no staff present and told them 'you've achieved nothing yet'. They went on to beat his Hawks in the next final only to fall in the Prelim. In 2021 they got it!!. 2. He helped instill in the players a sense of selflessness, in an off-field sense, by saying the Hawks were successful because players forfeited the big $ for the ultimate prize. The signing of our star players last year is testament that they were paying attention. Regarding what the players thought. I doubt the club would have kept him as a (part-time) development coach if players weren't happy with him. Not sure if he is still.

Huge news that we have already passed our last year's July 31 record of 53,188. Now a few days on from the 54,164 we will have passed last year's final record of 54,495 a full 5 months earlier!! I would expect to see a big announcement about the new record from the club any day now. A huge effort by dees fans. And, a very proud time for our beloved club. Very happy to say this post will not age well: Sky's the limit!

Wrapped around his left leg

They will be revved up and perhaps come out all guns blazing but not many have shown a bit of aggro/physicality in the past: Stringer and maybe McGrath or Heppell. Certainly not the medieval page boy! Whatever fire they bring will peter out by half time. I recall after this match last year Goodwin was asked about the possessions racked up by Merret and Parish. His response was along the lines of they were mostly centre/back of centre. Translate as they can't hurt us from there. Not sure they have the skill to weave thru our defence, the courage to kick long to our def talls nor the stamina to charge our def as Adelaide did last year.