
Everything posted by Lucifers Hero
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The Way Gawn is Umpired
I love Max but is he playing 'too nice'? It looks like he just takes it. Maybe he should get into a scuffle every now and them. Even if he gives away a free, I feel he needs to get more physical and let the ops know it isn't on. Or cause a melee, wear a few fines. The umpires won't protect him so Max and his teammates have to do it. In the video only once did a player (good on you Jonesy) stand up for Max. Even JV7 didn't remonstrate when a player ran 100 meters away from the ball to crash into Max. No-one remonstrated with Lynch or Walker when they hit Max in the upper back and back of the head. Players in Max's vicinity need to help him to stop 'faux tough guy-has beens' like Walker and first year pipsqueaks like McHenry targetting him. Max, time to get physical! Stop them pushing you around.
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Nibbler Suspended for 4 Weeks
In his pre-game press conf it was pretty clear Goodwin and the club aren't happy. Said it was up to commentators to say whether a 'name' player would have got the same penalty, that it was only the 2nd time a 4 week penalty had been imposed for a tackle (not sure the time frame he referred to) and that we have to cop it. Given the chat around 'sling' tackles there isn't much more the club could say, at least not publicly.
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GAMEDAY: Rd 11 vs North Melbourne
Just saw the match preview article on nfc website: McDonald has been in stellar form in the defensive half, could a return to a tagging role he was so successful in earlier in the year be on the cards? McDonald shut down Dustin Martin and Marcus Bontempelli among several big-bodied midfielders, so Oliver could be the perfect matchup.Oliver was brilliant in the Demons’ win over Adelaide, racking up 34 disposals, 11 clearances and six tackles, so North will no doubt be looking to quell his impact. Oliver is in for a tough day. We will need VdB to ride shotgun for him!
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GAMEDAY: Rd 11 vs North Melbourne
I hope its Tomlinson that helps TMac in the ruck rather than Jacko. Jacko doesn't yet have the body nor the strength to go up against Goldstein or Majak. And I recall a coach saying something like you don't put a thoroughbred in the ruck, which to me is what is. It may have Roos about Goodes after he did his knee playing in the ruck. And the Tomlinson and TMac ruck pair allows Jacko to stay fwd and develop his relationship with Weideman and other fwds. Am rapt we have stopped playing Weideman in different positions and allowing him to settle into FF. If the coaches let him he will own that spot for the next decade. Just hope the umpires are on the looking out for the brutal off the ball tactics North use. Nonetheless, I'm confident we will win.
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Malthouse’s Damning Assessment of Another Wasted Year
Many thanks EG. Most points are rubbish or ancient history. I've highlighted the ones that imv have validity. Malthouse doesn't like nor respect us. Nonetheless he was the only commentator that predicted we wouldn't make finals and crash badly in 2019. Whatever drove that prediction he has a better grasp on what it takes to be a premiership contender than many of us care to admit. Would love to make and have some success in finals this year, just to prove him wrong.
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Malthouse’s Damning Assessment of Another Wasted Year
A precis of the article, please...
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2020 Membership Figures
Spill the beans, DJ
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CHANGES: Rd 11 vs North Melbourne
Is it possible that we might fly other players to SA on the same flight as North (to abide the AFL covid protocols)...just a thought...
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2020 Membership Figures
The AFL has extended the official cut off date to Aug 30 so we won't see club figures for 4 - 6 weeks. Here is an early insight: afl-fans-to-the-rescue Key Points: only 1 per cent of members across the competition have requested refunds, albeit with significant numbers pledging their money through to 2021. 5 clubs have membership records: Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Gold Coast, St Kilda and West Coast The Western Bulldogs membership is also up, 12 per cent ahead of 2019 with that club one of several rewarding members' loyalty not only with club merchandise but also an automatic upgrade in 2021. Emphasis is mine On DL we compare our memberships to Carlton, Saints, Bulldogs, North so I created a little table from various sources We are a smidgeon behind North as the smallest Vic club The only reason I can think of for the 24 % decline is our disastrous 2019 and our ordinary start to 2020. Maybe Melbourne members didn't buy into the off season hype. Lord knows how many years it will take to get back to 52,000+. That we have dropped off so much more than our contemporaries must be very worrying for the club. The last time we had 39,000ish members was 2016. Not much to add really... Edit: were we one of the clubs that offered 'club merchandise or an automatic 2021 upgrade?
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Nibbler Suspended for 4 Weeks
Alex Neal-Bullen has pled guilty to rough conduct, but the case is being made the incident should be deemed 'high' impact rather than 'severe'. Crikey, the Adelaide medical report doesn't help at all! "Immediate treatment for concussion, Hamill will miss likely 7 days of training and will miss at least one game. Hamill "will not play for at minimum two weeks" according to the club doctor". It must be the same lot of docs that condemned Jack T a few years back for the Danger tackle. Played the next week!
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CHANGES: Rd 11 vs North Melbourne
We had a crushing win over North in rnd 3, 2018 at the G. They will really work us over. Even if they lose they will make sure we will be sore and sorry making it harder to win games in this compressed schedule to increase the value of their demon draft pick. Still expecting to win. They have no game plan.
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Fixture 2020 (COVID Edition)
Yes, there will be 18 rounds. 8 rounds to go. I agree we won't play an 'extra' game, per se, it is the 'catch up' game for our 'bye' months ago. My issue is the 'catch up' game is said to be during rounds 14 -16. By my calcs that is a game every 4.2 days. A gruelling schedule. Am I missing something... By the end of rnd 16 all teams have played 15 games.
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Fixture 2020 (COVID Edition)
The way I read it, our ess game is during round 14-16. ie 4 games over 2 to 3 weeks. At best a game every 4.2 days.
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Fixture 2020 (COVID Edition)
That is awful for us. Compressed rnd 14 - 16 means 3 games in about 2 weeks. But we will have to play an extra game with Ess in that time. 4 games in 2 weeks without...just don't see it. Nah, not on. Not fair on the players. And, potentially a game at Alice during that time. Ess were lucky to get their NT game in a rnd 13 ie a 'normal' week. All the more reason we circumspect with selections and not burn-out players.
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CHANGES: Rd 11 vs North Melbourne
Of the North games I've seen they are playing 'trench warfare'. Zero game plan. No intention to win. Play to hurt. Throw in that 4-5 of their best players are out injured and if Majak doesn't play, they don't have much of a fwd line or ruck support. Expect them to double down on the 'trench warfare'. Forget playing 'our way'. They will drag us down into the trenches for arm-to-arm combat. In terms of selections this week. given that we have a game 6 days later we should: not confirm speculation on who has an injury; a mistake with Gawn as it allowed Crows to target that shoulder. rest someone with and injury; not worth the risk to make it worse. look at resting players with recent high game time especially mid-fielders. I note that Petracca has played (most recent first) 92%, 90%, 95%, 91%, 89% in the last 6 games; the most recent on short breaks. He is a strong lad but gee I'd hate to seem him worked into the ground. I want us to win and I think we will but player welfare is important, especially as the AFL is likely to condense rounds 13 to 15. Its one thing for Burgess and co to condition players for a condensed season but 7 rounds compacted into 4 weeks is gruelling. Throw in a future trip to Alice and no bye like other clubs get and I think we have to be more circumspect in team selections. Edit: AFL to condense rnds 14-16 and we play Ess during that time! All the more reason to select fresh, fit players now and avoid players burn out.
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Fixture 2020 (COVID Edition)
My first reaction is Boooooooooo to finals at 'Boo Stadium' because of the obvious advantage it gives WCE. But then Tigers, Hawks and Pies have had that advantage with little travel and 'Home' finals at the G for eons. I just hope that Eagles get eliminated early in the finals series so we don't have to listen to their supporters and watch the biased umpiring. And that the AFL negotiate a deal that if finals are in WA that they make adjustments to quarantine rules so that opp fans can attend.
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CHANGES: Rd 11 vs North Melbourne
Not by the coaches. Scored 6 in the AFLCA votes. Split 4/2. Thankfully the coaches don't look at Player Ratings or stats. They look at Impact and playing their role.
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POSTGAME: Rd 10 vs Adelaide
Clean sweep of the Coaches votes: 10 Oliver 7 Viney 6 May 3 Petracca 2 Weideman 2 Salem No surprises. Rapt for Sam for the recognition. It was a mature game. Petracca 2nd on the Leader Board with a game in hand. They may as well give the Brownlow to Neale now. But in terms of other podium finishes we are at the stage where our players will start taking votes from each other. My guess on vote split: 5/5 Oliver 4/3 Vine 4/2 May 3 Petracca 2 or 1/1 Weideman/Salem Salem's votes might surprise some who were quite critical of his game.
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Jennings on Gawn
Yeah, I saw your post and chuckled a bit wondering if you would open this thread... Salem is one of my faves so I can't fault him. But even I was surprised to hear how valued he is and how much work op coaches put into him. Unfortunately not having our people at the ground the only feedback we get is what the camera or commentators show. From what I saw last night quite a few hits or plays involving us weren't replayed. So its hard to tell how much pressure is on players to dispose of the ball. Even harder as there seems to be little overhead camera vision.
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Woo-who Mystery Man
I have a vague recollection that woo hoo man outed himself after that Adelaide game - there might be a post in the PostGame thread.
- POSTGAME: Rd 10 vs Adelaide
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Fixture 2020 (COVID Edition)
Another Qld game for the Saints! Very comfortably settled up there. Looks like the AFL have made the Gabba their 'Home' ground. Finals advantage perhaps?
- POSTGAME: Rd 10 vs Adelaide
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COVID Breaches by Clubs Could Derail Season
"Its all about me", perhaps?
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Jennings on Gawn
He makes some interesting comments about Salem. He likes how Melb put the ball into his hands as he is our best user. And that Jade Rawlings knows his game and North will come after Salem to minimise his impact. And he said watch out if they go after Salem dees players will come out swinging as they absolutely love that guy! Just shows how much we don't know about the value of a player within club land and behind the scenes stuff. Maybe we should look more closely at how much attention Salem gets as he tends to go under the radar for fans and not appreciated for what he does.