Lucifers Hero

I agree the $2.5m of the Leighoak sale was used to pay down debt. My read of the article is we still have debt so to be debt free in 2021 we need to use more of the remaining $7.5 Leigoak/investment portfolio The article also says we will make a loss of $3.5m this year so I am assuming that another chunk of the remaining $7.5 Leighoak/investment portfolio will be used to fund that shortfall. Very good question about the Bentleigh and Leighoak lost revenue. My recollection of the sale announcements was that we would get commercial income from our new facilities (rental, signage etc etc) and growth in memberships. My concern is if we use proceeds from their sale to pay down debt and fund operating losses we won't have the money for the new facilities to get that commercial income that was hoped for. I don't mind paying down debt but don't see a lot of value if interest rates are near zero. I'm more worried about asset sales being used to fund operating losses. So from that view I would like to see the Bentleigh club site not sold until we have a concrete new facilities project to fund.

Not sure what that refers to. More info, please...

Agreed. The figures may be distorted a little because Viney didn't play round 11 so Sparrow filled in there a bit. Over the last few weeks I've noticed our midfield becoming more about roles (when not attending centre bounces/not resting in another position) than names: Wingmen 1 & 2 (AvB and Langdon) play up and down their respective wings and help defend by floating into the backline, sometimes really deep. Midfield 1 (Gus) being parked virtually in the middle (see heat map above) where he patrols the corridor stopping their attacking forays which keep them out wide and helping our attacking forays thru the corridor by acting as a link man. Midfielder 2 (Petracca) drifts fwd of centre both sides of the ground. Midfielder 3 & 4 (Viney and Oliver) - not sure yet what there non CBA/non resting role is. Will be watching closely today to see if I can work it out. Midfielder 5 (Sparrow) rotates with above to the bench or other roles Ruckman (Gawn/Preuss) - sit in hole in defence (Wish I had access to heat maps to test these observations). Its like the ground has been carved up and each has been allocated sections. They don't all need to run both ways all day long. Makes good sense, keeps our ball movement structures in tack while supporting defenders and fwds. Not to mention it conserves energy and it means that a heap of players aren't all going for the same ball stacks-on-the-mill style. So we are close to 'one soldier out, one soldier in' be it within a game or week to week. A strong position to be in.

Yes, it does. imv being debt free isn't such a big deal with near zero interest rates. Would much rather we use any revenue from sale of assets to invest in new facilities than pay down debt or worse use it for operating expenses/avoid making a loss. But I think we are in good financial hands and hopefully the club doesn't trade off our long-term financial position for the short-term.

Looks like the club finally found the formula to keep our top 4 midfielders (plus others) in the middle. AvB is now on a wing and Harmes in defence. The new roles work a treat. MELBOURNE INSIDE MIDFIELD TIME Player R1-9 R10-12 Change Angus Brayshaw 67% 96% +29% Jack Viney 93% 90% -3% Clayton Oliver 96% 93% -3% Aaron vandenBerg 7% 1% -6% Christian Petracca 70% 60% -10% Tom Sparrow 73% 55% -18% James Harmes 27% 0% -27%

In 2020: Loss: -52 vs Carl Win: +42 vs Ess Win: +5 vs GCS Loss: -41 vs Rich Win: +57 vs Adel Mixed bag. Big wins vs the poorer teams with big losses vs the better teams. Nonetheless, they have played a lot at the ground so should know it better than us. Someone posted that it will be windy and that won't help them being so used to playing with a closed roof.

carlton-david-teague-tom-lynch-blues-latest-news "Carlton coach David Teague has implemented a team-wide anti-taunting policy, as debate rages over on-field player behaviour across the AFL" John Ralph reports “...Cain Liddle (CEO Carlton)...said ‘I think Teaguey’s one of those coaches who says toughness and courage is putting your head over the footy and getting it done for your mates, as opposed to banging into people when they’re not looking or slamming people’s heads into the ground". A nice little backhander for Dimmawit and Lynch. I wouldn't be surprised if he got a 'please explain' from management at the Tigers, after all someone there removed his insults to Ox from the interview on their website.

On FC Caro said Richard Goyder, AFL Chairman, wants it in Perth (where coincidentally (or not) is where he lives). Being Chairman of Woodside Petroleum he would be very cosy with Premier McGowan. Lobbying over a fine bottle of red? Mates scratching backs, perhaps... Lots to play out behind the scenes.

Sorry, I didn't this thread earlier so missed your post. Just half an hour ago I started a new thread for this. The mods may want to merge that thread into this one.

Very impressed with this: Pert said fewer than 100 members had sought refunds and remarkably it had seen more than $100,000 flow into the club in membership and donations since they demolished Collingwood last Saturday. The Demons are believed to have had the fewest membership refunds of any club. Nothing like beating Collingwood to fire up demon supporters!

What do folks think? After reading this: WA Premier Mark McGowan on the @AFL Grand Final. Says he has advised the AFL in person that Optus should host it - if they meet health guidelines. "Queensland have teams of people working on it, we haven't acted like that. We've played hard to get". — Ryan Daniels (@FootyRhino) August 21, 2020 I would say have it at the Gabba! McGowan has made it difficult for the AFL to run the season and now wants the GF to be delivered on a silver platter! They don't deserve it.

Mitch Brown, Mitch Hannan, Trent Rivers and Joel Smith have missed selection, but will be the team's emergencies for Saturday’s game.

Hope you noticed the ?(vomiting emojis) for both Ess and Rich... ... I just want to see that smug look wiped off Dimwit's face...

GCS d Carl Dees d Bulldogs Port d Hawks Ess ??? d Rich ??? because I don't want Tigers to make top 4 and have double chance Syd d Freo Crows d Cats Lions d Saints Eagles d Giants North d Pies Based on dislike of the other team or these winners help our finals chances

Demons to be free of debt and AFL control Key Points: Melbourne's surprising financial position included the following factors: The sale of the Leighoak gaming venue – following the 2018 decision of president Glen Bartlett's board to withdraw from gaming – had netted more than $10 million, which was used to create a $7.5 million investment portfolio that the club can draw down on. The club had the huge asset of the Bentleigh Club (gaming) venue freehold, which could be worth more than $20 million according to industry sources when revalued. This had been acquired in 2011, when the Bentleigh Club was indebted and was merged with the Melbourne Football Club (effectively a takeover) – a little-known transaction from the Jim Stynes board that has proven significant. The Bentleigh Club is slated to cease gaming operations in 2022, and the club had to decide what to do with what was now valuable land and their main asset. The Demons have saved close to $500,000 in rent at their AAMI Park base, according to Pert, having renegotiated that deal for this pandemic-hit season while forced to train at Casey. The club had launched its "Proud to belong, proud to give'' fundraising campaign, which Pert said would reap close to $1 million. The MCC's payments to MCG tenants, despite the loss games, would provide upwards of $400,000 to the club this year. The retention of the Alice Springs game – scheduled next weekend against St Kilda – would provide more than $600,000. Of their major sponsors, the Demons had lost only China Southern Airlines, which could no longer fly into Australia. They have retained key sponsors Zurich, Jaguar, Hertz, IG Investments and Furphy Beer. "They've also re-committed for next year,'' said Pert. The club had re-engaged a working party, which was backed by the AFL and state government, to look at the club's proposed new training/administrative base. For me the most important thing is the last line. So hopefully we can keep the asset revenue for that base. Well done to all.

For those that were thinking of 'trading' Viney ie letting him go as an FA, it isn't happening. Goodwin said in his press conf today that the club and Jack have been talking contracts for a while and he will be with the club for a long time to come. ?

Their mids taking a 'running start' at stoppages if the ball is tapped to the outside. Our ruckman needs to ensure the ball taps go to the inside by either getting the tap first or by body position. That will help stop their forward momentum. My guess is they will try this really early in the game to get a few quick goals and build scoreboard pressure from the get go. So we need to be switched on from the first bounce as early leads are proving hard to pin back with shorter quarters/games.

Personal insult to the Ox. Professional insult to fellow coach, Horse a few weeks ago. Leopards don't change their spots: once a thug, always a thug. He has simply changed his weapon.

He oozes integrity, leader and respect. Love that he didn't blink when de-listed then given a lifeline as a rookie by Roos who saw 'something' in him and he went on to become the player and the man he is today. Shows character. Went on to be in the AA squad in 2017. Repaid the faith in spades. I sometimes wonder how different things could have been for Jurrah and Wonaemirri if Jetta was the senior player and club man he is today when they came to the club. As it was he was also just starting out. If a career in football is what Jetta aspires to I hope mfc give him that opportunity when he hangs up his boots. Hope he gets a gig in the seniors again soon.

See 'Edits' in posts #223 and #225

We aren't the same team, jr. Feeling very positive about this game.

I reckon Ox will go ballistic when he hears the comments. It is a low insulting blow from Hardwick, to a player that was as tough as they come both physically and mentally to play thru his injuries. Edit: classy response by the Ox: “For Dimma to get personal, that’s his decision if he wants to do that... “I’m a big boy. I stand by what I said and I didn’t take it personally what Dimma said. He might have remembered the Grand Final differently because he was a winner. It’s a long time ago and I haven’t watched it back... https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-damien-hardwick-richmond-tom-lynch-david-schwarz-comments-melbourne-vs-essendon-2000-grand-final/news-story/89d4e2e642b5c2b0d4a356a872bf576

More players break the rules: covid-breach-port-stars-set-to-cop-bans-after-entertaining-visitors Should get the same suspension as young Elijah Taylor of the Swans: out for the season (plus solitary confinement in his room for 14 days to quarantine). Throw the book at them. If they miss playing in finals bad luck! Idiots for risking the competition.

Hardwick is taking over from C. Scott on the coaches whinging ladder. If its not ops free kicks, its offensive remarks about Syd ? defence tactics and now its shooting off because the media dares take his protected little darlings to task hardwick-lashes-out-at-lynch-critics-says-richmond-targeting-should-stop He takes quite a swipe at our Schwartz: "They should have a good, hard look at themselves as I guarantee a few guys making comments, and I'm looking at David Schwarz here – I played a grand final against this bloke and 20 minutes into the game he was crying, so he should have a look at himself at some stage." Nasty, Nasty, Mr Hadwick. I guess a leopard never changes its spots. Tbh, that is pretty stupid and pretty low for an AFL coach to shoot off at the mouth like that. They have become mighty smug and entitled at Tiger land. IHope they go out in the Elimination Final. Edit: Update: damien-hardwick-richmond-tom-lynch-david-schwarz-comments-melbourne-vs-essendon-2000-grand-final "But Schwarz told Foxfooty.com.au he wasn’t concerned with the comments, which were cut out of the press conference video clip on Richmond’s website". Club embarrased by their coaches comments.

What is even better is that pick 10-13 will be pushed back to 15-20 after all the top academy and aligned players are taken. Can't imagine we would get the likes of Kozzie with that sort of a pick this year. Kozzie is a bit of a bargain really. And we get a year of experience into him.