Lucifers Hero

He played only 69% of the game so he is still being managed. It is now 2 years of managing his injuries by not playing or managed game time. Will he ever consistently play 75-80% like other mids? I now wonder whether he will ever get to anywhere near his best or his potential. And, at the risk of being shot down, I sometimes wonder if his name wasn't Viney whether he would be co-capt at such an early age and whether posters would cut him so much slack in his poor performances which sadly are becoming more frequent.

I foreshadowed in the Pre Game thread that we needed to control Yeo and Shuey who are the supply lines to their fwds. Instead, they stopped us dead in our tracks with 16 and 12 tackles respectively! What's more we let them have a free run at the ball with 10 and 11 uncontested possessions, respectively. WCE momentum in the last was built on Yeo and Shuey's work. We were 3 goals up in a very low scoring game just before 3/4 time. We needed to shut them down then and there to help protect our lead. We didn't. Paid the price. 6 goals to 1 in the last qtr says it all! Yes, a couple were from frees not paid but imv we should have gone ultra defensive in the last which would have stopped some of their easy ball movement to goals.

A bit surprised so many on here are bagging so many of our players for mistakes. It was a fast, high pressure game and mistakes will happen. And, how many players did we have with more than 100 games experience? 3 maybe 4. With a bit more experience, Petty would have been animated that he touched the ball, giving the umpire enough doubt to not call it a goal straight off. With a bit more experience, Smith may have played on and kicked the goal rather than stand there waiting. With a bit more experience... you get my drift. But we aren't experienced so lets factor that into our reactions. Each and every one of our players played their hearts out for four full quarters! That is enough for me to look forward to games and enjoy the rest of the season. We won't make finals but by golly we will have a big say in the shape of the final 8. Go Dees!

There is still time for a very late change for a player who is sore/injured during the warm-up eg Oscar if he is sore from last week. It really can't be Petty as it wouldn't be fair to select him and drop him at the last minute. The thing is it was just so obvious WCE would bring in Hickey at the last minute. If Preuss doesn't come in Goodwin has a good reason. If we don't bring in Preuss and WCE tag and work Max over again I hope Goodwin has a very big flack jacket as fans (DL's) will have mega meltdowns be they warranted or not.

A new name to put in the mix: Cody Hirst in Demon's sights "Returning to the Ranges as a 19-year-old has been hugely beneficial for the ex-Lilydale junior, who supports the Demons and lists Nathan Jones as his favourite player. Champion Data rates Hirst elite for uncontested possessions and above average for ranking points, disposals, contested possessions, goals, score assists and tackles in 2019. He’s been used on a wing this season, where the clever 180cm prospect has been his team’s most influential player on at least two occasions already and among the best in three other matches. But insiders say he’s far more likely to be drafted as an agile forward-flanker rather than an out-and-out midfielder. He’s got a lot of tricks, he’s a very smart player, he’s been able to build a bit of a tank to be able to play up the ground,” Eastern coach Darren Bewick told the Herald Sun recently. “He’s just very smart with his footy knowledge and his ability to use the ball by foot.” Not sure we need another contested type but I like that he is a demon supporter, has good footy IQ, has above average or elite rating this season, plays on the wing and has ability to use the ball by foot. On paper he sound better than the other prospects we have been linked to. The four clubs interested are: Sydney, Richmond, Melbourne and Carlton.

Beveridge on Tom's Retirement "He lashed out at the media for the scrutiny over Boyd’s seven-year contract and $1 million-per-year salary, with a particular reference one journalist, who he chose not to name. That will never be forgiven by anyone at our football club...” Anyone know who he is referring to? Can't help but wonder whether the Bulldogs themselves contributed to Boyd's unhappiness and mental struggles. Didn't Boyd have a dust up with a team mate over his salary a few years ago? And by some accounts 2017 was not a good time at the Kennel with some high profile players falling out of favour with the coach; some since traded. A huge amount of inferred pressure (from internal sources) on someone in Boyd's position who for various reasons struggled to play many games let alone perform at the level of a $1m a year player. Really feel for the guy.

Can't see 16.5 or the like, happening B-BP. The first three were when we played our 2018 'brand' and before we reverted to 'defence first' game style. Since then teams have found it harder to score against us. The last 2 were more goals to pts but at much lower level and in both cases we won the games...just ?

1) I edited Hickey for Lycett 10 minutes ago. 2) Comment was about a new look, rather than worry for Simpson. 3) My key point was the need to neutralise Shuey and Yeo less so who and how. 4) For mine Preuss is in only if Hickey comes in.

Chris Scott has made a mockery of selections by changing his line up an hour before the game or during the warm ups for nearly every game last season and last week's Selwood last minute in then out selection were a joke. If Hickey is a late in and Oscar is carrying an injury I would be all for Goodwin pulling a Scott like stunt and bringing Preuss in at the last minute. On a different note, I like that we have a few new faces (Hore, Lockhart, Petty, Baker) since the prelim so it gives us a different look and Simpson something to think about. Also, our style of play has changed. For mine their dangerous players are Yeo and Shuey. Neutralise them and it cuts off supply to the fwd line. So, Harmes to Shuey and ? to Yeo. Have really looked fwd to this game to see our strategies against them. Great experience and challenge for the coaching panel. Goodwin won't be caught by surprise again. Even with the new faces, I still think we can win!

A young man of integrity: "It is to Boyd's great credit that he has walked away from about $2 million and that he did not haggle or attempt to gouge anything from the club..." Tom Boyd's Unfulfilled Career Not a player that will have 'mercenary' attached to his name forevermore, unlike another #1 pick I can think of. Integrity, match winner, premiership hero is how Boyd will be remembered. At 23 he isn't even at the age where big guys reach their peak. Who knows in a few years of being carefree in football terms and recovered from back injury, he may come back to the game. Worth keeping a watch on. Under AFL rules if he comes back (even as early as next year) he can nominate the club he wants to play with in the eos supplementary draft. While he hasn't fulfilled his career he has fulfilled every football player's dream.

Have really looked forward to The Ginger Ninja playing. Hope he isn't too nervous under the friday night lights. Doesn't need to have a blinder, If he just plays his role all will be happy.

With the retirement of Shaun Grigg and Tom Boyd raises a new recruiting channel, effectively an extra pick. If a player retires at EOS a club gets no additional picks to replace him. But if a play retires before mid season the club gets a new, effectively an extra pick; a pick that can be used on a recent non-drafted player a club had their eyes on who has improved. A good case to hold over retirements until the following year.

He lived the dream. Reached the top. AFL is a tough gig. Better to go out now than wallow miserably in the Reserves out West. Good luck for his future.

Presumably we take 22 players + 2 emergencies. Anyone at Tulla to see who was on the plane! Its always fun to get a bit of advance info...

Having predicted the Hawks and GCS win I'm prepared to stick my neck out again and say we can win this!! In 2017 we went there with injuries to a lot of key players and a few underdone (eg Gawn and Viney). Below is our winning 2017 team showing a replacement for those now missing. Jetta is the one I couldn't find someone to replace him. But moving a few players around and bringing in Wagner or Smith will round up the 22. The point is we can field a very competitive team. And, we are much better than the exhausted team that played in the Prelim! My prediction: A repeat of the 2017 game where we win by 3 pts after a miracle goal from T.Mac in the dying moments of the game. Go Dees!

Using the torp without a licence from the coach during play cost Dunne his career at the dees (kick in after a point). iirc he didn't play for us again. So agree, it would be a brave player to try it in play. A time and place for it and Hunt chose it perfectly. Was very surprised Myers didn't try it vs Swans to win the match last week!

Another $20m promised to Geelong Today ??

I'm guessing Hunt (and most players) have licence to use it only after the siren and when a long way out. Nothing to lose so15% is good odds in the circumstances.

The best was from Hunt after the siren (3qtr time) with the pressure of a real game result to worry about. In case someone needs reminding: It will be a long time before someone beats it in my book.

I agree it is what the coaches want(ed): Oliver has said several times (even a month ago) that his instructions are "see ball, get ball". That is how he was trained from the day he arrived 2016 Interview. And, like all our players he has been trained to play 'ballistic' football and play on, relying on sheer quantity of i50 to win rather than i50 quality. We now see the results of that training/style, especially that all teams have gone super defensive this year. I think it is too late to retrain Jones and maybe even Viney. But I hope that Brayshaw and Oliver are not beyond redemption. As and aside, Harmes is pretty good at picking out targets and delivering the ball low.

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As North play Syd this week and us having difficult games vs WCE and Adel before the draft, it is quite probable we will be 2nd or 3rd bottom in two weeks. Carlton and Sydney also interested in Dunkley (Syd passed on him as F/S but now want him) so we have a good chance of getting Lowson (or the next best). Edit: Just saw this Kyle Dunkley Interest from Sydney, Carlton, Gold Coast and Richmond believed to be keeping tabs on the son of ex-Swan Andrew. As a hard it mid-fielder I can see why we aren't a suitor. So Lowson might slip thru to us.

No wonder the game looks like ping-pong played between the 50m arcs! This highlights how bad our midfield is at kicking forward. They all bomb it into no-man's land. Most teams know that and play an extra defender to intercept or mark it. An interesting stat would be the # of opp marks in our fwd 50. I bet we would be one of the highest (badly) ranked teams. Our fwds don't stand much of a chance. For Oliver, only 1 kick in every 2 games stays i50 That is an indictment on his game. He works very hard for every possession so its such a shame that 41 of 45 are 'wasted'! Just shows that while his stats are great his impact is less so. Most of Oliver's i50 kicks seem to be around the body or at right angles to the fwd 50, he doesn't even try to look so he has no idea where the ball is going. Because they are high lobs it gives defenders too much time to get to the flight of the ball and intercept. Time to slow down a tad and straighten up. Then we will see a real champion.

The Latest: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2019-05-14/injury-update-five-dees-to-prove-fitness The list is looking decidedly healthier! The five players listed as 'Test' are expected to be available this week? Pleased that Sam is one of them and has avoided hip surgery?, at least for now. KK is aiming to play a game before the bye. No detail on AvB status.

I saw something similar. Don't have the stats. The explanation was something like: A long, high kick from the backline to the middle gives defending players extra time to read the flight of the ball, run to the drop and set up defensively. They get a stoppage, boundary throw in or a spoil and if their players are front and square they just turn and get it back into their fwd line. If the kick-in team has moved into attacking positions it is easier for the defending team to score. Another unexpected consequence of the new rule.