Lucifers Hero

Nothing on AFL website yet on pricing, ticket selling times etc etc. Very, very poor by the AFL. Its not like they didn't know there would be two Semi's next week. Staggered they didn't have a template for each of the 4 possible outcomes from this week and just lift off the relevant ones and post on Friday night and last night. Kudos to MFC which had its act together: an email arrived before I got home from the game. I assume they are waiting on the AFL to email to members details of ticket purchasing, not the least of which is how many tickets per member and the price. Thanks to the AFL members now won't have much time to work out their ticket needs. Pity if people need to book flights and accommodation but don't know if they will have tickets!! AFL: It. Is. Not. Rocket. Science.

vs Hawthorn Round 4: Players: In: TMac, Viney, Tyson, Vandenberg, Weideman, Spargo Out: Lever, Vince, Hogan, Bugg, Garlett, Kent, Wagner Game Plan/Tactics Players were played out of their normal position eg Salem in the middle; and in the name of flexibility mids became forwards and forwards became mids. They looked like Brown's cows and were getting in each others way. Now players are in their best position making the most of their strengths. Forwards are forwards and mids are mids. Forwards have developed their craft and work as a cohesive unit rather than confused individuals. We had no midfield that day: Jones tagged Mitchell all day which took him out of the game. Without Viney and Tyson we had no real grunt. It was Gus' first game so it was pretty much Oliver playing a lone hand. Now we have a master tagger who also gets plenty of the ball: Harmes. And our midfield is close to the best in the league. Then we had players off the back of the square. For the last month we have played mainly 6 x 6 x 6 and we no longer allow them a spare in defence Then we played a very high press and left their fwds behind us with lots of easy goals out the back. Now it is much more man on man and we stay behind their forwards and/or keep a sweeper down back. Other More belief and confidence in themselves and each other. Players and coaches have developed with 6 months experience. Much more team oriented Our tackling has become ferocious. Lots and lots of reasons for optimism folks! We simply aren't the same team. The Semi will be very different to that game! I reckon for the first time in many a year the Hawks will genuinely fear us. If not it will be at their peril.

How embarrassing were the Swans? 4.6.30 losing to 10.19.79. WOW! 10 scoring shots to 29. So, two recent AFL 'heavyweights' now out of the finals race. Up to us to eliminate the remaining 'heavyweight' next week. Very confident we will get the job done.

I note that @Dante has two tickets lined up but wonder whether that applies only to MFC Foundation Heroes as last week Hawk/Rich members could get only one ticket per member because of the combined total member numbers. The prices will be here (when announced): http://www.afl.com.au/tickets/seat-pricing-guide As tickets go on sale at 9.00am Monday I assume the club sends an email to members in the next 24 hours on the rules. On a related note. If Pies win, our game vs Hawks will be the only one for Ticketek. If Pies lose I would hope the AFL stagger the ticket selling times for the two Semis. Edit: I just noticed this on the Ticketek website: When do tickets go on sale? 2018 AFL Finals Series - Week 2 CLUB MEMBERS: Mon Sep 10 9am Game 1 10:30am Game 2 MCC MEMBERS: Mon Sep 10 12noon Game 1 12noon Game 2 GENERAL PUBLIC: Mon Sep 10 2pm Game 1 3:30pm Game 2 AFL MEMBERS: Tue Sep 11 2pm Game 1 2pm Game 2 It looks like ticket sales for the two Semis will be staggered. As our Semi is Friday night I assume it is 'Game 1'. TBC.

Seeing the crowd last night and how we played, all I could think of after the game was the corny, jingoistic Monkey's song "I'm a Believer'! The lyrics are: I thought love was only true in fairy tales Meant for someone else but not for me Love was out to get me That's the way it seemed Disappointment haunted all of my dreams Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer Not a trace of doubt in my mind I'm in love I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried I thought love was more or less a giving thing Seems the more I gave the less I got What's the use in tryin' All you get is pain? When I needed sunshine, I got rain Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer Not a trace of doubt in my mind I'm in love I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried Oh Oh, love was out to get me Now, that's the way it seemed Disappointment haunted all of my dreams Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer Not a trace of doubt in my mind I'm in love I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried Yes, I saw her face, now I'm a believer For those who don't know the song: Such apt words for the ever faithful demon supporter. After so much pain and heartache. In Goodwin's words: we have a team everyone can now believe in. Last night was epic - one for the true believers!

From the 1.30 minute mark. Great Roosy chant! https://www.foxsports.com.au/video/afl

Thanks for all the videos! Fleeting moments telling an awesome story of Bruising, unrelenting football. All fair bumps. We clearly targeted Selwood. Both teams came to play we were simply better.

I would rather the camera roaming the rooms without Brian!

Funny you say that. I nearly wrote 3 down, 3 to go! But a lingering tinge of MFCSS stopped me - you know the counting chickens thing... ...but I'm with you all the way FF!

My favourite anti Geelong moments was all the booing directed at Ablett in the second half. Doubt he has heard that before! #Timetohanguptheboots

I know that is rhetorical but just for the record: 3 in the last 3 weeks! If we add a small loss to Syd that would be 4 from 4! Can't beat a top 8 side they say! Well that and all the other negative narratives from the empty brained media commentators will no longer see the light of day. A new day has dawned!

I also thought we stood united and would win when I saw our boys with arms linked and Geelong standing half a metre apart for the national anthem. But the moment of really believing was when Hannan waltzed into goal and Jones kicked a ripper. The guy behind me kindly said to relax and remember to breathe!

That was a huge moment. That little gem happened on the Member's side in front of the i/change bench. Hawkins was lining up for goal in front of the Southern stand from a spot where he had kicked one earlier. Umpire took the ball off Hawkins and paid a free against Selwood. They had the momentum by keeping us goalless in the second quarter and if Hawkins kicked that goal the lead would have been just 15 points with nearly a half of footy still to play. Selwood cost them the momentum and thereafter they lost structure and composure. They looked like the Finals Rookies!! Yep, a real Captain's game from Selwood! In the past he got away with that stuff but not last night! A very late edit: Apparently, the free kick against Selwood was paid by the Emergency Umpire. Didn't know that was allowed. The guy deserves a medal. Hope he umpires our games in future!

For Geelong the top 3 'AF' points scorers were: Ablett 110. Selwood 89. Dangerfield 89. Has there ever been a more telling game of getting stats means zip if you have no impact on the game... For Melbourne the top 3 were: Harmes 118. Weideman 118. ANB 109, Salem 102. Oliver 89. Brayshaw 94. Our Holy Trinity clearly won the day with a bit of help from their friends. I doubt we will hear much about their 'Holy Trinity' any more - except speculation about when they retire?

Just popped over to read the Geelong bigfooty page. I expected a lot of animosity. Not a bit of it, In fact, here is a selection from the first few pages: -good luck to the dees, their supporters deserve it. -But both teams played rubbish and we were flogged. I hope the demons can now get momentum. -Melbourne should go deep, I'm actually going for them now in this Finals series, they play a good style of footy. Plenty of talent, their list was bound to explode. -Congratulations to Melbourne! The best performing team won. Now, I'm on the Melbourne bandwagon! I think I mentioned my darling Dad was a Melbourne supporter! While I'm devo for my Geelong Cats, I'm delighted for Melbourne! Go Dees! Very gacious of them. They saved their angst for their players and their coach. My favourite comment from them is: Oh well. Hope the Dees belt the p.ss and sh.t next week.

Of course they have. I was alerting fellow posters to the possibility...

Scott has made late team changes in most games this year. I noticed Zac Smith is an emergency. Scott is as sneaky as they come so wouldn't be surprised to see Smith in for Abbott - just to throw Max and our preparation.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-07/aflw-league-to-adopt-conference-system In a nutshell. Five teams per 'Conference'. Then: Then the top two teams in each conference host the second-placed sides in the other conference, with the winners playing off in the Grand Final. Not ideal as each team does not play all other teams at least once. But I think it is a big improvement of the initial proposal so expertly critiqued as 'gimmicky', by Daisy. And having a 'Finals Series' is far better than the sudden death we have now with the two top teams playing off in the GF.

Petracca has had a bit of flak thrown his way on DL this year. This caught my eye in the article: "Only Brownlow medallists Dustin Martin and Patrick Dangerfield averaged at least 25 disposals, one goal and 1.5 score assists per game in the home and away season. Petracca's respective numbers this year are 20.4, 0.9 and 1.4, which are bumped up to 21.1, one and 2.1 since round 16". He is pretty good company! With Brayshaw and Oliver starring they have taken the limelight off Petracca a bit allowing him to put together a string of games in the second half of 2017 without too much fanfare. I can't help but think our youthful Holy Trinity (average age 21) will quash their aging trio with average age of 31!

A somewhat small thing - we need to be switched on to their 'tricks'. In the last game, I have little doubt the Dangerfield ruck nomination then staging for a free by pushing Brayshaw forward was determined before the game, to be played out for a ball up within 20m of their goal. There is a reason no other Geelong player nominated for the ruck and why J Selwood clapped the free kick - it was a total ambush. Cost us the game. Doesn't matter now as there is no other team I would rather play - I want payback for 186, for 111pt loss rnd 23 2016, for their two lucky wins this year, for their cheating, free kick staging players. I could go on but you get the drift. A win by just a point will do! Except my anxiety will be through the roof if the game is that close...

So easily won over... ?

An amazing turnaround really. From basket case to finals in just 5 years. Many have had a hand in this but Roos' delivered the midfield he promised by recruiting Brayshaw, Oliver, Salem, Harmes, Tyson and Petracca. He also turned Gawn into an AA ruckman and Jones into a better leader and team player. That midfield will carry us for a long time to come. He also did the heavy lifting and made the tough calls on many players in particular two captains. For that and everything else. Thank you . Love it that you are now a Demon supporter! Edit: And he delivered a successful succession by selecting Goodwin as our coach!

I'm only hearing happiness for us. Even relative strangers are pleased to see us come good and be in finals. Yes, even Collingwood supporters of which sadly I know quite a few. We are the Cinderella of the AFL. We finally get to go the Ball! Any neutrals at our finals will be barracking for us. Wait and hear the roar!!

The AFLPA tried for 6 years instead of 8 as part of last years CBA. They failed. Case was closed. It is still 8 years. Jesse will be an UFA in 2021

Headlines like this were predictable: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/divisive-demons-days-in-afl-are-revisited-20180905-p501vt.html Mike could have waited till our finals campaign was over before broadcasting it. After all he is a Demon fan. We really don't need ancient history to be dredged up. If ex players and demon media folk really love the club they should just pipe down for a few weeks. Give the team some clear air to do their thing.