Lucifers Hero

Other: Connor McKenna broke his contract and went back to Ireland. Fantasia has had medicals with SA teams and will likely be traded. Hurley and Hooker are upset that Bellchambers didn't get a farewell game. Merrett is upset he was dumped from the leadership group after being VC. Add Daniher and Saad departures and it is clear they are falling apart. It is even better than watching them squirm their way thru the drug saga.

Just received an email from Pert. In part it said: "From a broader program perspective, due to the $3 million cut in the soft cap and our inconsistent performances this season, I'm conducting a review of the football program, with a deep dive into the coaching program. The outcome of this review will ensure we have the right leadership, resources and programs to maximise our potential in 2021 and beyond. All changes will be communicated to members when appropriate, over the pre-season period". It isn't an external review like many of us had hoped. But I live in hope we get a high calibre coaching group that is the equal of top 4 teams. Our players and supporters deserve nothing less. I'm glad he acknowledges that our 'inconsistent performances' is a reason for the review.

Yes, I know. As a rookie he was most likely on base plus match payments so in all, well under the average AFL salary package. And the pies have had the extra benefit of the first $80,000 not included in their sal cap.

He seems to be behind Moore, De Goey and Daicos for the priority signing. He wants to stay but the 'modest' offer isn't acceptable. By one report he is looking for $500k and 4 years. This seems reasonable as he will soon be 28 and has been in the AFL for only 3 years and this is the only chance to earn some reasonable coin. Interestingly, he has been a Rookie for all of those 3 years so on absolute minimum wages. That is a very good wicket for the pies. Think its time for them to pay him what he is worth. If not wouldn't mind him at the dees.

Thanks. Thought these comments were interesting: "...Unless you can somehow get Melbourne to release him and Adelaide to pay him really good money I don’t think it would happen, but hey, stranger things have happened in sport...I did hear a whisper that he’s managed by Rob Snowdon who also manages one Crows coach… he’d be a good get". And: “Melbourne won a bidding war to get Alan Richardson and he was on very good coin, so when you take 30 per cent off the soft cap you wonder whether that might need to be massaged.” Would much rather lose Richardson than Burgess. I really hope the club makes decisions on who is the best person for a position rather than who is under contract that we need to 'find a job for'. The AFL has given clubs the chance to pay out FD contracts with no impact on soft cap. I hope the club takes that opportunity to create a top 4 FD team.

I wonder if that was a 'set play' by Tim and Garry to generate caller frenzy to sen? Ess gave up a 2nd round pick for him (mid-late 20's) just a few years ago and the Carlton offer is the same as the Ess off. Not a strong case for paying overs in draft picks. Carlton should approach Geelong and trade their #7 for Geelongs #13 and the yet to be determined #15 to #18 and offer that to Ess and cheekily ask for something back in return.

He signed a 4 year contract in 2018. Expires 2022.

This update is for you Delicious! Updated for Viney's 5 year contract ?

Of late, the club has tried to sign up key players a long way out from contract expiration so maybe talks are in progress or will start once the sal cap is known. Oliver has a big decision to make. He either signs for an extra 2 years to his FA year when his options are open. Or, he signs a mega 5-6 year extension that takes him to the latter stages of his career and then becomes a demon for life ?. I suspect this is what the club would want. If he follows Petracca, Brayshaw and many other AFL 'young guns he will sign for two years. There is no reason for these guys to sign up beyong their FA year. Of course, he could put off contract negotiations but that would surprise.

They drastically front-end Martin's salary for year 1 so no-one else would take him in the preseason draft last year. I believe next year it drops back to average levels. So at face value that saving pays for either Saad or Williams. Also, Simpson and Kreuzer have retired so that probably pays for the other. What is unclear is how they are going to fit them into the much lower sal cap.

You could be right. Brown has a knee injury s so we are no wiser about its severity and how it affects his main assets: running speed or leap. At 28 they both have only a few years left and are injury risks. Tbh, I would prefer others.

If it is some consolation many of us feel the same. Hopefully the weeks ahead are much brighter.

The GM Football structure split, I referred to was Neil Balme's role at Richmond. Simon Lloyd is at Geelong. Can we just leave it that there are a variety of structures and reporting lines. Mine was but one example to focus on football outcomes/performance. Richmond has another. Other clubs might have something else. This is where it would be very valuable for an external consultant to do our review: Review the structure first and determine roles and job requirements before appointing someone.

I didn't think to much about the title (GM or Manager), it was more an example of a structural split to make the FD more focused on football outcomes. I just looked at Richmond and found that last year they split Neil Balme's GM Football role into two parts: "Tim Livingstone... General Manager – Football Performance and Blair Hartley ...General Manager – Football Talent. Both Tim and Blair will be a part of the Club’s senior management team. I haven't found what the two involve to compare to my theoretical functional structure but it shows there is a precedent for suggesting the GM FD role is too big for one person and needs to be split to give the right focus on Football /OutcomesPerformance.

I was being a little facetious. To be fair to the coaches the votes were very close from 3rd to 5th. 3rd: Viney, 311 4th: Langdon, 296 5th: Oliver, 291 I really think 5th being an issue for Oliver is a furphy

4 coaches vote each week. Maybe one coach consistently gave Viney more votes than other coaches.

Good comments. Perhaps I was a bit vague. The idea was to split the GM Football role into two Managers. The Manager Football would be responsible for all things football of which the coach is a part of. If the coach becomes too powerful it hasn't been set up well. Not sure how other sports are structured.

I've reflected on the list in my earlier post and believe The GM's 'Span of Control' is too wide. There is a real case to restructure the GM department and separate roles into those directly related to football outcomes (The Coalface) and those that support those outcomes (The Back Office): eg To reclassify the list in my earlier post: Football (The Coalface): List Manager - Lamb (incl recruitment) Coach (and Player Development) - Goodwin Sports Science & Medical - Burgess Technology - ? AFLW Coach - Stinear Football Support (The Back Office): Football Admin - Academy - ? Sports Psychologist - ? Player Development (Admin) - ? Casey Football Manager - Maynard (I think) This structure creates a real focus on the reason we exist: to regularly contend for the premiership and win some. The Football Manager (The Coalface) role is where we need a new person. One who can ensure we have the right coaches and development staff to maximise the players capabilities.

Hard to think that 5th in the BnF on its own, would prompt him to look elsewhere The impact of 5th is disappointment and he gets a lower $ bonus than finishing higher, which could be enough to concern him. I would guess at least half a dozen players earn more than he does so a big package elsewhere could be attractive. There could be any number of other issues: pace of his development, the blowtorch from the media and no-one at the club stood up for him, other players get lots more than him but contributing less, other players not working as hard as he does on and off the field, relationships with teammate(s) etc. @Demons11and @Demon3usually have good mail and don't post on a whim. So if they are saying Oliver is restless I believe them. I also believe their view that he won't be traded this year and next year is critical to keeping him (as it is to keeping many others).

Unfortunately, the club no longer publishes a staff list so don't have all the latest names. The FD structure is: GM Football - Mahoney. His director reports are: List Manager - Lamb (incl recruitment) Coach (and Player Development) - Goodwin Sports Science & Medical - Burgess Football Admin - AFLW Coach - Stinear Casey Football Manager - Maynard (I think) Technology - ? Academy - ? Sports Psychologist - ? Player Development - ?

The alternative is to change the people that keep making the wrong decisions and those that are 'round pegs in square holes'. I've lost faith in the FD department. I'm looking to Pert to take decisive action to ensure all parts of the FD are functioning effectively.

I'm all for regular reviews and changes for the better. My question was how many chances is someone given to' get it right' if they regularly don't and we don't improve. On your basis we could get it wrong, learn, adjust, get it wrong, learn, adjust ad infinitum. It has been happening for too long and it isn't acceptable any longer.

Huh!! Maybe to Melbourne (and its supporters) making the 8 is the goal. Other clubs are chasing their next piece of silverware! For some anything less than top 4 is a failed season. In terms of review after review after review 'until you get the mix right': how many chances do people get if they regularly get it wrong?

Updated for the very important re-signings of Fritsch for 2 years and Rivers for 3 years. I will update the # Games Played when the final 2021 list is known.

Because he isn't as tall and because he doesn't have the help: Our ruckman rests in defence. And we don't have another effective tall fwd. Also the bulldogs defence was very poor yesterday. Steven May took King to the cleaners so it shows what a decent defender can do. Max will be a champion. Sam perhaps not but he will still be a very good player if developed properly.