Lucifers Hero

Of course he will. Since FA was introduced very few top players have signed beyond their FA (8th) year. And then only for mega deals. He will get paid handsomely for the next two years. Then he can go to the club of choice and get a big payday, if that is what he wants. Unless a player is really unhappy all managers will advise them to contract until their 8th year.

And the difference in those two is...?

In the SEN interview, Pert said: “He’s not indicating that he wants to see how he’s playing or the team is performing, it’s more about that we’re having conversation (on a range of things) and there might be some talk around the financial packaging....we move on all these things as quickly as the player and manager wants. Ideally it never becomes a distraction throughout the year.” My take on this is that negotiations are some way down the track. No need for the dispondancy.

Very strange thread. Who cares what he earns. The only thing that matters is that he stays a demon, preferably long term..

All the more reason Danger should have the book thrown at him. ANB got 4 weeks in a 17 week season.

Its time the AFL made an example of a 'name' player like Danger and not just the ANB's of the world. In both cases the concussion occurred when the player's head hit the ground, after the infringement. In both cases the optics were very bad. In both cases the infringement was sent directly to the Tribunal. ANB got 4 weeks. Appeal rejected. Commentators said at the time that if ANB was 'name' player he wouldn't get the same treatment. Concussion is taken far more seriously now than as it should be. Time for the AFL to set down the law.

Woo Hoo! We are in the finals! Who we play probably depends on who wins the Crows vs Pies game. Unless we beat Brisbane and then a lot of dominoes get to fall as 5 of the top 6 teams play each other next week.

Could it be they had a run in the seniors practice game vs Bulldogs?

I meant to type GWS (not GCS) 'still have the remnants of a good side' so could beat Carlton. iirc GWS made the GF a few years ago? I have amended my post. Will certainly be barracking for a big win by GWS next week.

Yes, if Carlton can lift from 108.8% to 136%. Hence why I suggested we need to keep any losses to an absolute minimum margin so our % drop keeps us above Carlton. GWS still have the remnants of a good side so they could take it right up to Carlton so their % gain may not be great. For mine Carlton lifting their % sufficiently is a tall order for them but it could happen. And we can't afford a blowout loss. Agreed the only way to not miss finals on % again, is to win one of the games. Brisbane at Casey is our best chance. Should we miss finals on % to Carlton I will be filthy as they have had a really soft draw one deliberately crafted by the AFL so they had a 'successful' season. EDIT: I hadn't seen last night's result when I wrote the above. Carlton's is now on 128.1%. We now MUST WIN a game to make finals

While it is a minnow in the banking world it is really good to have a sponsor commit for three years.

I didn't blame Goodwin at all. Some on here do.

Are you sure? I thought it was reported that he did some training with their fwds. And he played fwd in their practice match a few weeks ago. Kicked a few goals if iirc. At MFC he was seen only as and used only as a Defender (except once or twice for a quarter when we shuffled the deck in desperation) and he had little chance of making an impact in a role he had not been prepared for. It seems to me that Carlton will use him as a swing-man rather than pigeon hole him as a fwd or a def and have trained him accordingly. Teague has a different view of Oscar's abilities than Goodwin did and developed him accordingly. It doesn't make Goodwin wrong or a poor coach like some (not yourself) are alluding to.. I'm rapt for Oscar. I loathed the abuse he received on here and am pleased to see that since last night many are wishing him well. As you say: Good luck to him. Deserved the second chance.

I wasn't disparaging Hibberd. I think his courage and committment last after losing his brother was enormous. All credit to him for the year he had. Not sure I want to go around in circles about our respective views of his 2020 season and where he fits into the team this year so I'll leave it at that. I just feel he is right at the end of his career and I think the one year contract shows that.

It will be interesting to see how long he is with us. Late last year he was delisted (even tho he had a one year contract) to help meet the sal cap so he was made a rookie. Having been delisted once makes him a Delisted Free Agent at the end of this year so he can go to a a club of his choice without being traded. We get an FA comp pick but I would think it would be so late we wouldn't use it. I know its a bit early to talk list management but if we want to keep him we may need to get in early.

An update: Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has confirmed they will be without three key players for their opening match against Fremantle. Hibberd was pushing for a round one return after being sidelined with an ankle injury during “We want to pick a fairly fit side,” Goodwin said on 3AW. “Hibberd played his first game for Casey and Melksham’s playing his first game this week. “Viney’s also playing his first game for Casey (this week) so those guys won’t be available. There was good news, however, for Steve May, who suffered a concussion during the AAMI Community Series “So far he’s passed everything. It’s 12 days of really strict protocols,” Goodwin said. “He did his contested work today and did full training. “Now he’s just got to wake up and not feel too bad and he’ll get the all clear to play.” Forwards Ben Brown and Sam Weideman will also both miss. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-round-1-team-whispers-exiled-cat-brought-in-from-the-cold-demons-massive-triple-blow/news-story/e6c1cabc19f1b937e49156b325e84961 Not fussed about Hibberd and Melksham missing - they need match practice. VFL for them this week. Great to hear that May will play. His call by the sound of it. Can't see him missing if he doesn't have to. Excellent news and a very pleasant surprise to see Viney is playing VFL this week. Earlier than expected.

He isn't. I believe a player cannot have played more than 10 games coming into a season. He played 14 last year.

Our latest Injury list: Angus Brayshaw Foot Test Ben Brown Knee 4-6 weeks Michael Hibberd Ankle Test Marty Hore Knee Season Jay Lockhart [censored] TBC Steven May Concussion Test Jake Melksham Hamstring Test Aaron Nietschke Knee Season Jack Viney Foot 1-2 weeks Sam Weideman Leg 4-6 weeks Updated: Tuesday, March 16 Freo latest Injury list: Bailey Banfield Ankle syndesmosis TBC Brett Bewley Quad Test Adam Cerra Calf Test Mitch Crowden Ankle 4-5 weeks Sean Darcy Knee Test Michael Frederick Calf 1-2 weeks Rory Lobb Knee 6-10 weeks Griffin Logue Hamstring Test Sam Sturt Ankle TBC Luke Valente Calf Test Michael Walters Hamstring 1-2 weeks Updated: Tuesday, March 16 Apology for formatting - its gone all weird!

Have a look at the respective injury lists. Freo, Saints and GWS will be missing some big name outs which offset our likely outs. Players on all 3 teams will have interrupted preseasons or lack match practice. https://www.afl.com.au/news/560504/medical-room-the-full-afl-injury-list-post-aami And, we beat Saints and GWS last year. Should have beaten Freo. They are absolutely must win games to make finals and 3-0 wins will be a confidence boost and keep the baying pack quiet for a while. If that set or circumstances isn't sufficient to motivate our 'angry' players to victory then I give up and will join the more pessimistic on this board.

Lions keeping Pies in the game. Qtr time score: 2.8 to 1.1. Straighten up Lions!

True, 3rd and 4th will get a Home final. Can't see us getting a Home Final unless we make it to the GF. Wouldn't mind playing the Pies in Vic for an Elim final. They've had only a moderately difficult fixture with no interstate games so their position flatters them a little. And we can't play as badly against them as we did recently.

I wasn't going to look too closely at who the top 4 play in the last 2 rounds. But given they will be critical to who ends up 3rd and 4th for the two Elimination Finals this is their forthcoming fixture: Fremantle Mel NM Brisbane Lions NM Mel Collingwood StK Ade Adelaide WB Col Anybody's guess at the order after round 9. From now on it looks like 2 rounds of finals before finals, given that all current top 6 teams play at least one top 6 team.

The finals have an unusual structure: Points to note: 1st and 2nd get a rest in wk 1 of finals. 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th play off in two sudden death, Elimination finals Essentially there is no advantage in finishing 3rd or 4th. Great opportunity for us.

We are 6th on %. The top 4: Freo, Pies, Lions and Crows are a lock to stay there (in some order). 5th and 6th for finals will be from: (Likely wins in Green) 5th: North: 5/2, 162.9%. Will play: Brisbane @ Gabba, Freo @ Arden St. 6th: Demons: 5/2, 136.4%. Will play: Freo @ Freo, Brisbane @ Casey 7th: Bulldogs: 4/3, 101.3%. Will play: Crows @ Norwood, Richmond @ Whitten 8th: Blues: 3/4, 108.8%. GCS @ Metricon, Giants @ ?? My thoughts: Carlton will beat GCS and Giants and will end up 5 wins/4 losses but unlikely to make up the % to get to 6th. North and Dees both play Freo and Lions with North the much better % Bulldogs will beat Richmond but lose to Crows and end up 5/4 but unlikely to make up the % to get to 6th. Even if we lose our last 2 games and minimise the losses to protect our % we should end up 6th Defence will be the name of the game for the last two rounds.

Mighty game b/w Carlton and Freo. Freo 4 pts up with 3 min to go. Come on Freo!