Lucifers Hero

Rule #1 of football: On any given day either team can win. So if 'perfect' means winning every game, it won't happen. On that definition 2021 was far from perfect: we lost a few games. And on an emotional level we missed some favourite sons playing in the Grand Final. Rule #2 of football: We don't need to be the best team of the season, just the best team in September. For mine, it was as perfect as I could have hoped. Max said it best: After 57 years of pain it 🏆 is coming home!

I so clearly remember this game. They were the reigning 3-peat Premiers. We had been 'their bunny' for soooo long. They were one of the 'Big' clubs that a few years earlier had said they didn't want to play their Home games vs us at the G because their fans won't go. We lost to them earlier in the season. There was a lot of hurt tangled up in all that. We beat them 17.8 to 11.15. It felt like a cathartic win. On the siren I cried as some of the past hurt was released. It felt like a turning point. As it turns out that game marked a changing of the guard. The Hawks did not make a PF again (we took care of that in 2018) and here we are Premiers. I looked for reports of that game and The Age wrote: "No football fan wants to hear their team is rebuilding, but today Demons supporters glimpsed a future filled with speed, talent and dare, and must have started to believe it had all been worthwhile...This may not be the Demons' year, but all signs suggest they would have one, and soon. Prescient.

So you think Josh Hunt will put his boots on again!! Age profile fits...😉

Good bump. As there is still 2 years to go on that plan, every chance we will meet or better every one of them!

Under normal circumstances 2021 would have been their Home games. Rich would have played with a meagre crowd on ANZAC Eve and in Pies in Sydney. In 'normal' circumstances 2022 is the Dees turn for 'Home' games. Really we have all missed out on the best part of 4 games of Home crowds due to covid. Hence why starting alternate Home games for the blockbusters would be good from next year.

Then lets go for option 2: Alternate with Rich and Collingwood to smooth our revenue from year to year.

We can now genuinely lay claim to being an: anyone, anywhere, anytime team. We have 'walked the talk.' We dee fans can now approach every game expecting us to win so it doesn't matter who we play.

Hoping we get ANZAC Eve and QB as Home games as all we had the past two years was a restricted 2020 ANZAC Eve crowd. Or maybe it is a good time to alternate with Richmond and Collingwood so we don't have the 'feast/famine' affect on our financials every other year. Wouldn't be happy if they are both Away games in 2022. Would love it if the QB game becomes the Pies Grand Final

This may seem a bit odd but would Melksham back at Ess work? They have a very young team with only Hurley over 30. I don't know their team very well but not sure they have many experienced forwards or forward depth. Melksham would have less competition for games at Ess than the Dees. Their rebuild is a few years behind ours so it would be like us bringing in Cross, Vince, Lewis.to support the younger teammates. At this stage they have picks 11, 48 and 53. By some accounts they have a bit of sal cap space. So they might give up a late pick and take over his salary. Win, win, win. Just a thought bubble

Predict all Grand Final Guarantee memberships already sold out! Unless those sold in WA just before the PF aren't renewed. Anyone wanting a GFG should get one (or on the waiting list) asap.

Thanks for all that. I'll keep an eye on club website and when announced I'll update the table. On those reports we will have only Dore as Senior list player uncontracted. Great work by Lamb and Richardson to get so many players signed during the year.

Glad you keep me on my toes! I'll make the typo changes with the next update ;-) I haven't seen an upgrade for Turner from the rookie list - Is there a reference somewhere?

Its pretty good: 2020: 6 wins, 3 losses. 2021: 20 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw.

This article is about our finals $ windfall. demons-sold-three-years-worth-of-merchandise-before-grand-final-glory But this caught my eye: "The grand final has inspired many of Melbourne’s high wealth supporters...to contact the club asking if they can help. These rich benefactors are ready to sign large cheques to commit substantial funds to the proposed development of the club’s new facilities off Punt Road around Gosch’s Paddock and AAMI Park. The plans for the redevelopment...are with the state government awaiting final approval". Exciting!!

The rule is we need to use at least 3 draft pics which can be either taking a player from the draft or upgrading a rookie. We also have pick 91 in round 5 and 109 in round 6 which can be used to upgrade rookies. We have 4 list spots so we can keep Melksham, upgrade a rookie and take 3 picks to the draft or trade in players.

How often does a player leave for money? Why would a player leave now when there are finals on the horizon for quite a few years. Playing with their mates at the MCG. The time to cash is in when they have a few medals around their neck. A bit like Richmond and Hawks players have been in demand.

Qui! 'Tis moi! I changed the name and avatar straight after the game for a bit of fun for a day or two. When I went to change it back I learnt there can be only one change a month. The 'real' me will return!

Bartlett did a lot of good for our club. This thread is about how Roffey supported Goodwin, gave him belief and helped drive the values the club has espoused this year. Last year I recall Bartlett scorching Goodwin and the players publicly and by all accounts completely blindsided them. Deserved? Possibly. But that behaviour was the antithesis of building teamwork, support and to engender belief in people. Last year Bartlett put a real dent in our culture. Roffey, as outlined in the Offsiders, has repaired it.

Cheers!

Kate was asked when will Melbourne fans get to see the players and the cup. She said her dream would be to have an event at the G, replay the game and re-present the medals (hoping I heard that right). Then I saw this mcc-keen-to-welcome-dees-for-fans-celebration Kate's dream may not come to fruition and any event may depend on covid restrictions and MCC prep for the cricket season. The article reminded me of our DL angst over recent years of where would we go to celebrate a GF the day after? It won't be the day after but we have the answer: Our spiritual home: The MCG. Imagine the MCG full of only Demon supporters!

There are so many threads I could post this in but I feel it deserves its own It gives me goose bumps and brings tears to my eyes. I'm not sure which of the two expressions moves me the most. Both say so much. The caption 'Youre a good man, the players love you' is what Roffey said to Goodwin at the start of the season to help him build belief in himself. What beautiful, quite and inspiring words. Another thing she said to him was: 'Be yourself', which became Goodwin's mantra/advice to the players through the finals. Keep in mind that at the time externally, Goodwin's job was seen as being in jeopardy. If ever a man needed support and belief, that was it. Kate stepped up to the plate. If you would like to see the whole interview it is the 'Offisders'. The whole program is about our win. There are some good insights that haven't been discussed in the general media. The interview with Roffey starts @ 14.30 https://iview.abc.net.au/video/RS2008V037S00 This year our club has been built on 'Team', 'Support', 'Belief, and 'Selflessness'. And it starts right at the top with our President. My admiration for her and her wisdom has gone through the roof.

I think it was more than the spray. There was a good interview last night with Goodwin on OTC. He made a lot of tactical changes after half time to get the contest back on our terms and take the heat out of Daniel and Bontempelli games. The changes took 15 minutes to kick in but once they did there was no stopping us.

These are posts from the Post Match thread but thought they are relevant here also. Then I found more info:

Apologies for quoting myself. I just wanted to elaborate on the above. The Choco interview I was referring to is in this. what-chocco-said-to-trac? Choco's reflection on his 'whispering' to Petracca is in this article and starts @ 3.20. Love Choco's cheeky expression when asked the question. This is the fierce expression I'm referring to in the above post. We then kicked 3 goals in less than a minute. it was not long after Choco's 'whispering'. Thanks to @Chookfor posting it in the favourite GF thread.

Thank you. I have a curiosity question. May I ask why you prefer Lucifer's Hero to Premiers?