Lucifers Hero

Some of his apparent reticence to attack/pressure the ground ball/player could be physical in that he has had a a few hip issues which may make it difficult to bend down. I agree that there may be a psychological component (I'm no pyschologist), regarding injury not so much the injury/hurt per se but the consequence is that he misses more games, something he would desperately not want. The dilemma for us is that we can only carry one tall forward with poor defensive/pressure and ground abilities and that is B Brown. So Sam needs to play more like TMac (not in position necessarily but in pressure applied). As an aside, I would like to see Sam stay as TMac and B Brown are edging onto 30. Whether we can keep him if he doesn't get senior games who knows. There are a lot of teams who would be keen for a young tall fwd: Pies, Ess, Cats, Rich. Sam may look at offers where he can get more senior games. Like us other teams can carry a tall fwd with poor defensive and ground abilities so could more easily fit him into their structures.

Read my post again. I said Lever is better than Rance at the same age. He was an AA in his early 20's before cruelled by injuries for several years and and will have more AA's before he retires. Compare them then and I won't be the one looking like a fool.

If correct, this has a Dusty type deal written all over it: 7 years with very significant dollars. Dusty signed during the finals of 2017, before he won 3 premiership and 3 Norm Smith medals. Not suggesting the Dees or Petracca will achieve the same but he could be that player if we make the GF's. Dusty's manager shopped him around to extract every last dollar from Richmond. Going on media reports Grundy played hard ball and extracted a 7 year rather than 4- years the pies wanted.Have no reason for thinking this but I don't see Petracca or his manager as those types. I'm confident a fair and fanfare less deal will be struck I would be ok with 7 years on whatever the club decides/agrees with Christian. They won't compromise the list or the sal cap for one player, no matter how good he is. I just hope we aren't doing much 'back-ending' of contracts to keep everyone.

Lever isn't a sniper like Rance, nor does he spit the dummy like Rance. Much better than Rance at the same age. Give me Jake any day.

Given another posters comment that Rivers needs resting I'm wondering if he might be the medisub. Then slightly different roles for Jones and Melksham.

I really like playing Brisbane in Alice. Local folks don't have an allegiance to them like they did to the SA or WA teams which didn't feel like 'Home' games. I would expect they will be madly in love with Kozzie and he may even win some over to become long term Dees fans. I can see lots of Dees jumpers with 36 on the back!

Another of my 'priority' signing locked away: Updated for James Jordon re-signing till 2023. Edit: Correction for duplication of Spargo and Sparrow as advised by @whatwhat say what

Very pleased. Because we delisted him and made him a rookie in 2020 he would have been an FA this year and gone anywhere. Great to see our investment in and support through injury of another youngster yielding rewards for him and the club.

I wasn't referring to political risk. My point was about payment of the match fee. If they lock them North out they should still pay them the money, whatever the reason.

Votes 10 Christian Salem (MELB) 7 Christian Petracca (MELB) 6 Jake Lever (MELB) 3 Clayton Oliver (MELB) 2 Max Gawn (MELB) 2 Tom McDonald (MELB) Good to see Hardwick didn't favour one of his own. Huge endorsement for our team. Split by Coach 5/5 Salem 4/3 Petracca 4/2 Lever 3/0 Oliver 2/0 or 1/1 Gawn or McDonald LeaderBoard Four demons in the top 10 38 David Mundy FRE 34 Max Gawn MELB 33 Jack Macrae WB 31 Ollie Wines PORT 28 Christian Salem MELB 28 Taylor Walker ADEL 26 Clayton Oliver MELB 25 Hugh McCluggage BL 25 Christian Petracca MELB 24 Jaeger O'Meara HAW

You are very quick NC! I moved the post to the Post Game thread. Unfortunately, Max is no longer in the lead. Decided to be a bit humble and left out e that mischievous line. They have a few more players in the 11-20 range

I moved the post on the Coaches votes to the Post Game thread.

Definitely the optics. That is why I think they should still pay North the money.

Last year there were very good reasons why AFL couldn't be played in Tassie. But not this time. If the Tassie gov't chooses to lock the Roos out, they should still pay the Roos the money. Its not the Roos fault if their premier can't assess risk.

Despite the headline the game will go ahead at 1.10 pm Sunday /covid-chaos-kangaroos-demons-clash-in-hobart-in-doubt The only question is Hobart or Marvel. While sympathetic to the Demon Tassie based fans if it is moved to Victoria, I'm just pleased it happens this week and not postponed giving (taking) our bye to be wedged in somewhere later in the season.

Wrong thread

Richmond had an extra 3 days rest and couldn't keep up with us after the first 20 minutes (even before their injuries in the 3rd/4th qtr). They didn't give a meow let alone a roar. Our fitness and ability to run out games is astounding. And I like the new ruthlessness we have.

Quote: "Tiger veteran Shane Edwards will come under match review scrutiny for a late bump on Dees’ midfield bull Oliver. The out of character moment happened at the 12-minute mark of the second term as Melbourne worked the ball around the member’s wing. Oliver lofted a handball over the top of a number of players as the Dees looked to attack. But after giving the handball Oliver was confronted by Edwards who chose to bump once the ball was out of the area, shirtfronting the 23-year-old and appearing to collect him high. The hit floored Oliver and upon returning to his feet went straight to the bench playing with his jaw". The writer doesn't watch much football or is a Richmond supporter - that was not out of character for Edwards. He is a serial offender of rough stuff. Does anyone have vision of Edwards bump on Oliver?

Some priceless moments of spontaneous brotherly love: Petracca and Oliver hug after Petracca's goal Max's nonchalant but ever-so-proud sideways glance at that hug Big Max and Big Luke flanking Kozzie after the cowardly Mansell and mates got into Kozzie Gus's gusto at the end of the team song.

His gusto in the last few seconds singing the song are priceless. Worth a another look. Or if someone can post the last few seconds it would be great.

Without getting ahead of ourselves, the next 3 games are an ideal opportunity to try out different ideas - nothing drastic just one or max of two at at time. At some stage we need to get Brown into the side so vs North is the ideal time, then let him settle into the team dynamics vs Sydney and Carlton before facing Bulldogs and beyond. Ditto the next three weeks is a good time to rotate any young or sore players or to try out players in the VFL knocking on the door. So a few changes in the next few weeks will strengthen our selection flexibility.

And geelong mauling of the eagle smakes the Bulldogs wins look less meritorious: Wins: Pies +16, WCE, +7, NM +128, BL +19, Suns +62 all at Mars/Marvel excdept Pies at the G. Yet to play a team inside the 8. No doubt the Bulldogs are good but not as good as their undefeated run suggests. Downhill skiers, beating up on the lesser teams; small wins vs last year's finalists. Their test is yet to come.

I like Toby?

That looks like the Ess game where Salem kicked the winning goal with 19 seconds to go - his 3rd game I think. A very special win. Is your boy wearing Salem's # 3? He knows how to pick a winner!

Why isn't Toby getting some frees! Wood is going after him head high and umpires ignore it.