Lucifers Hero

From the article: "Forget about Rioli's own sophomore campaign in 2009, it's more illustrative to compare Pickett's first seven games of this season to Rioli's best seasons – his All-Australian years of 2015 and 2016. That's where a picture of Pickett's true impact can best be painted. The beauty of Rioli was that he sustained such a level of greatness over a longer period than just these two years. Even still, the two years is a significantly larger sample size than Pickett's first seven games of this season. But for the 19-year-old Pickett to already be reaching such a gifted standard over a sizeable period, even if that period is barely two months of footy, still bears highlighting and exemplifies exactly the sort of talent Melbourne has at its disposal". Awesome comparison and stats. He does all the hard defensive stuff and not just the flashy stuff. I believe he lives with Petracca and Spargo so I doubt articles like this will go to his head. No better role model than Petracca to learn professionalism and the hard work required. And while late to humbleness, Petracca has a lot to offer Kozzie (and Charlie) in that regard.

Talking of Melbourne footy commentators/fans, haven't heard from Schwartz lately. He would be rapt about our 2021.

I couldn't find any comment from Cornes about Ollie's contract extension. A relevant aspect is that Olllie will be 32 when his contract expires and Petracca 33. Not a lot of difference regarding longevity. I may be wrong but Cornes has a habit of being selective. I actually feel a bit bad saying he is a 'dope'. It is very rare for me to make a personal criticism but he is one commentator I cannot abide and it got the better of me.

If the media come out with that line they don't understand adversity: it isn't 3 coaches working remotely. If Rampie and Buddy play they will be at almost full strength so in a better injury position than us. So, agree we really need to take care of business. I'm half expecting us to lose. Their book ends are back, Parker and Kennedy are very strong in the middle, Hickey is in fine form and their small/medium players (Heeney, Papley, Florient) are extremely dangerous around goals. We can match those strengths but Sydney have a well drilled game style that regularly beats us; beats us on the inside and beats us on the outside. It will be interesting to see how our system stands up. Should be a very good game. May go down to the wire.

Worth starting a new thread on this as folks have been keen to hear from roffey. I'm relieved to hear we are unlikely to end up with a back-ended contract/sal cap problem like the Pies.

ollie-wines-contract "Foxfooty.com.au can exclusively reveal that Wines has inked a new deal that ties him to the club until the end of 2026. He will be 32 by the time the contract expires". At the time, (Nov 2020) Wines had 2 years left on his contract which they extended by 4 years, to 2026 ie a 6 year contract until age 32.

Coll also traded out their second round pick - currently pick 21. So picks 2 and 21 have gone down the gurgler for 5 -6 picks in 2020 that were in the mid teens to mid 30's range. All to protect their Daicos position this year. Huge own goal. Double own goal if they have to go into points deficit this year and chew up part of their 2022 first round pick. They will probably trade it out but it just prolongs the pain. Their first pick this year is the Bulldogs second - currently pick 35. Add in any F/S, Academy picks and that goes out to mid 40's. World of pain for years.

Not sure if it is spin. The Age gives a different angle: list-manager-ned-guy-quits "Guy arrived at the end of 2017 and inherited a salary cap that had for years back-ended and extended contracts to push problems down the road with large, long-term deals. That (2 first round draft picks for Beams) deal was done on the basis that Beams was a top-10 midfield talent in the league coming into a side that was a kick off a premiership, but also with significant pressure from the board to bring the former Magpies premiership player back to the club from Brisbane. He also signed Brodie Grundy to a seven-year deal worth about $925,000 a year amid strong pressure from the board to retain the ruckman and in a climate of a hemorrhaging salary cap where the only way to retain Grundy was to commit to a long-term deal." The article goes on and it sounds to me they really wanted to keep him. I'm guessing the mess he inherited, the Board interference in Beams/Grundy and maybe other list management, being made to trade 3 required players and its spin going terribly wrong, through no fault of his made him realise what a mess he was in. Also the realisation that it would take years to repair the list and before it started to perform again. I would walk to.

Did he carry on when Port gave Ollie a 6 year contract until he is 32? No! And I bet if Port had secured Petracca's signature on a 7 year contract until he is 33 he would say it was a great coup. Cornes is a dope.

I doubt the 3 assistants not being at the ground will make much difference. They will get all the usual vision and instant stats on whatever digital device they use, as if they were in the box. They will relay/talk with Longmire, as if they were in the box. The only difference is personally addressing players and lines at the breaks. As someone else mentioned addresses in the rooms can be done by zoom. Not ideal. Just a hiccup I suggest and they have 3 days to set up whatever is needed. If we win we win on our merits.

Doubt he was pushed as he resigned at the end of last year but was asked to stay on and they tried to talk him out of leaving. list-manager-ned-guy-quits It reads more like he got a bit fed up with the board making key list decisions, in particular Board pressure for Beams' return and pressure to give 7 years to Grundy, two of the main reasons they got into the sal cap mess.

Yes, Viney is inspirational. Max took over the captaincy because he was he could be everybody's mate, with a serious side and a light side. And Max presented very well for sponsors and the club in the media. I would have thought that someone with the best quality of Viney and the best of Gawn would be an ideal captain. Petracca has all their qualities covered, plus he can and has won games off his own boot. The ideal might be Petracca (c). Lever (vc). Anyway it is a bit academic as I expect Max and Jack to keep their roles for a few years yet. We may add another vc at some stage but that is about it as I see it.

The problem would be if Victoria declares Sydney a 'red zone' and anyone who has been there since (insert a date) goes into quarantine if they come to Victoria. The AFL has been pretty good at negotiating exceptions with the Vic government eg allowing North back from WA. So I don't think it is up to them. The Vic government is the key.

Watched his interview on AFL360. Very impressed. A far cry from the joker and pest of his early days. Captain material. Wouldn't be surprised if he succeeds Max.

I'm guessing the round 1 - 7 is based on 2020 ladder position of the opp, maybe the 2021 ladder position of opp and possibly travel. Looking at us and Bulldogs I just can't see 18th and 14th given the minimal travel and the very few top teams the bulldogs have played. I can see how we would have the hardest fixture going forward as we play Port, Bulldogs twice, Eagles at Optus, Cats again, Lions (all 2020 finalists) and we have lots of interstate travel. But who knows. Could well be HS don't know how it was compiled...

Of the Vic teams Cats and Rich would be interested to replace Hawkins and Riewoldt resepectively, Ess, Pies and Hawks to fill a current void and North because they chase everyone. I think he will stay.

No idea who those guys are. That it is a man is still a disturbing image. No more comment from me - don't want to derail a great thread.

Rusty, I know it is meant in jest but I have a problem with that image. A man spanking a defenceless woman isn't funny to me.

Not sure if this deserves it sown thread - mods can find a new home for it. Just received an email from the club that from Round 9 we can have our reserved seats at games! Yippee!

Hard to believe it is less than 2 years ago that many DL's were saying De Goey was a champ in comparison to our Christian and criticising so many little things about him. Well doubters look at both of them now!

Yep. To 2029 was very satisfying. Removing the 'RFA' status after his name was the best part; untouchable now.

Yes, lets celebrate! Updated for Petracca's show of great faith! Well done Christian! All I can say is WOW!

Enough said!!

Not putting a dampener on it for me. I've paid for a GF guarantee for the last 20 years! Always thought of it as a donation. The 'Limited Availablity' means there isn't many of that finite number still available. The only time I saw 'Limited Availablity' was post 2018 so it means that demand fluctuates. Bad years not in demand. Good years lots are in demand. My read is that this year there aren't many GF gaurantee memberships left because the demand has been high enough to use up the number we can have.

Has anyone other than Robbo and Whateley talked about an appeal? Robbo is a buffoon. Whateley is trying hard for consistency in MRO/Tibunal decisions but they keep moving the goal posts. Having said that they have a valid point in that if someone is going to tackle they should not expect the player with the ball to put his elbow up. What they missed was that Powell was moving downward and was pushed toward Fritsch who couldn't fend off with his broken hand.. Can't see an appeal. I should never have been cited in the first place.