Lucifers Hero

Not sure where that idea comes from. Jesse won't be a free agent until the END of 2021!!!! He was pre-listed for 2013. Joined the AFL list for 2014. After 8 years on AFL list, player becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent. Other than media musings there is no indication at all that he wants to leave the Dees. Only if he wants to go will he get traded. There is no reason for the club to push him into a trade.

I have a ticket for sale: Olympic Stand. Level 1. M53. Row W. @ cost price of $82 It is for sale as I was able to get a seat on Level 2.

I have a ticket for sale: Olympic Stand. Level 1. M53. Row W. @ cost price of $82 It is for sale as I was able to get a seat on Level 2.

I wasn't suggesting leave him out, altho I do agree our midfield is purring along just nicely. I suspect that is why Goodwin is going to play him fwd/mid. Scott will use every bit of tactical nouse so being one-sided is a weakness for Viney and ripe for the taking. I'm just hoping he has practiced his right side - turn the tables and catch the cats by surprise.

This is the beauty of the ANZAC Eve match. When it started Roos said it was great preparation for when we play finals: Under lights, Big Crowd, Lots of fanfare. Lots of noise. So not too worried.

Collingwood seriously exposed Viney not having a 'right side'. Wherever Viney went they plonked a player on his left so he struggled getting the ball out or if he did it wasn't cleanly (DE 60.9%) which led to many turnovers. Would it be too much to hope that Viney has learnt to play a bit with his right side while out of action? If not, hopefully he is awake to that tactic and figured out a way to counter it.

Thanks DS. That is just as emotional as watching the video. We have a great club. Kudos that you have engendered such love of the Demons in young Sam from interstate and through all the heartache in his whole lifetime. What a great reward and experience for him to meet the players and coaches!

From the Bernie Vince video: "We have this spirit at Melbourne. It embraces loyalty to the team, to the coach and to teammates. It is the spirit essential for success". Norm Smith. I assume that is behind the hs article. I can't get behind the paywall but reports I've heard include: - past players invited back to the club to tell current players of their experiences. eg Bluey Adams tells the story of Norm Smith remembering player's families names. - this 'esprit de corps' is reminiscent of Paul Roos resurrecting the South Melbourne 'Bloods' name and culture at Sydney. If anyone can post more about the article it would be much appreciated. We do have a proud history. We have quite a few of the '64 premiership players still with us so there is a rich personal memory bank to draw on. I really, really like that Goodwin is embracing our successful past. That players of our golden years are participating. What a terrific way to help rid the baggage since then that the current team has been burned with.

The article says McLardy returns from overseas this week. I wouldn't read too much into it. Journo looking for 'sound bites'. Unfortunately, it is the headline that gives a biased slant. If the headline was 'McLardy remembers Stynes and Flower', I suggest the article would be interpreted differently. It sounds like McLardy is simply reflecting on our journey. It is true that we were all excited when Jimmy took over. It is true that it takes a long time to build/rebuild a club. He has credited everyone since Jimmy (eg Jackson, Bartlett) and especially recognised those who have stuck with the club through the hard times (eg supporters, Jones, Gawn, Mahoney, T. Viney). My take is McLardy is musing on how special this week would be for Stynes and Flower, how special it is for those that endured the hard times and how much it means to Neale Daniher with whom he will watch the game. I have no problem with them being included in this week's excitement and sentiments.

Kudos @Dr.Dfor being a good sport and accepting that avatar. Unlike another poster who reneged on a similar deal to accept an Oscar Mc avatar when Oscar came good and said poster praised Oscar last year. I won't out said poster (others might) but he knows who he is...

No wonder they lost the grand final: "... it does go back to around about this time last year were they ostracizied the man who was going to play centre half back in a Grand Final team to the point where, as Sam Newman revealed on the Footy Show, he wasn’t even sitting with teammates in the airport coming to Melbourne for the grand final..." (Extract from that article). But Tex gives his buddy, Dangerfield hi5's! Hypocrite. First Lever then the camp, Tex is almost singlehandedly bringing that club to its knees. I wonder how long it will take bookmakers to take odds on his departure as Captain...

I'm happy with Clarrie on the bench. Just as happy that media darlings Crotchin, and De Goey aren't in the team. Yeo and Macrae unlucky to miss.

I'm guessing 70k max. They are fickle folk down the highway - They don't like traveling up the road for Friday night games - Last year they didn't turn out for Friday night finals vs Richmond and Sydney. About 30,000 tickets were sold today to mfc/gfc members so about 5-10k to still be sold to general public. And the MCC will probably be quite full. BUT, AFL members, Corporates and 'Finals Series Package' holders have rights to the rest of the G and I wouldn't be surprised if those areas are relatively empty. I can imagine there will be more Demon fans than Cats fans - a good thing really!

His dad's health issues may have been know and stressing Gaff when he had the rare brain snap. So his dad and family may be the clincher to bring him back. Then Dees vs North? Surely, its a no-brainer: play for Goodwin or Mr Sourpuss Scott!!

Lewis may not be tossing the coin over the next week(s) but he will be leading from the front. We know he sent player emaisl after WCE win to say: 'we play to win finals, not just to make the finals'. Then it was reported that players asked coaches and staff to leave the meeting room after the GWS win. Unsurprisingly it was Lewis who drove that. Michael Hibberd today said: '...(Lewis)... is a good guy to ask about the situation we’re in. He spoke to us in the rooms about the week coming up, [telling us] to prepare well.” I've also heard Viney, Oliver and Gawn say something like he is the one they are turn to and are listening to. When he says something seriously, players know to take it seriously. Lewis is fast-tracking their finals experience and development that may otherwise have taken several years to learn/experience. It would be more trial and error than a clear road map on what to do. We might just get to the big dance earlier than many expect!!. What a great right-hand man for Goodwin particularly in September. And role model for players.

After much ado I got tickets - Bay M53!! Rocked up to local Ticketek outlet. Just had a look at Ticketek MCG availability map. Still a few seats in M Bays in Olympic Stand and some in various nosebleed sections. Reckon it will be sold out long before the general public (and non-member supporters) log in tomorrow afternoon. A good reason to become a member!

From Ticketek twitter: The last one is important as I saw this on a Richmond fan site: "... if you have the Ticketek mobile app open and other browsers open with you logged into your account multiple times it can determine you are scalping and block the app..." Following on from that quote it could be those who 'bought' tickets yesterday but didn't finish the process and if the tickets are still allocated to you it may reject the same barcodes today. So if that happens check 'My Order' tab. Good luck folks!

The AFL has enough skin in this game to demand staggered start times. But they didn't think it through. Two games at the MCG with huge memberships should have set red lights flashing at AFL House. No one had the foresight to see that 340,000 people on multiple devices would bring the system down. But that is as obvious as the day is long. All parties need to share responsibility. No buck passing. In many businesses this crippling experience for huge numbers of Ticketek customers would be enough to justify cancelling their contract. But we have a duopoly. Fix the human incompetence and it may not be such a big problem. Then fix the Ticketek technology and it should be a breeze.

I've read all thru this thread and it is really sad that much of the excitement on here a few days ago has morphed into anger and frustration. I said to a friend on Monday evening - it felt like waiting for Santa when I was a kid and just couldn't wait for Ticketek to open at 9.00! Yesterday at 9.00 I went thru the same angst on-line, experienced by others. At 9.30 I went to the closest Ticketek outlet (and was 81st in the queue). Stood there until 1.30pm!!! The worst part was having to listen to Tiger idiots who kept playing their theme song on their phones. Very grating, indeed! Came home disillusioned and disappointed. Will go back there today. Have a new queue spot #21. Hopefully I get a reasonable seat as one in the nosebleed section isn't really an option. To think we waited 12 years to get to finals and within a few days that initial joy has been taken from us. Hopefully, we all get the tickets we prefer and the happiness comes back for at least week or two.

Played 15 games. Shame he didn't get a Rising Star nomination.

The empty seats will be in the AFL Members stands. It makes a compelling case to be able to on-sell them thru an authorised outlet (not the somewhat dodgy 3rd party re-sellers around atm.)

Just received official email from the club. Additional info: "TRANSACTION FEE WAIVED Club Members will not be charged the Ticketek transaction fee of $7.25 for Week 1 Finals games at the MCG." A small gesture. Still a bitter experience.

Rich/Hawks game on sale from 11.00 so hopefully they are all done by 1.00pm Would have liked our game first as it will have the less demand on the system. But hey, they aren't too smart when it comes to common sense... AFL members go on sale on Thursday again at staggered times.

Looks like Wednesday - Update from AFL website: " TICKETS for week one finals at the MCG and SCG are set to go back on sale for members of competing clubs at staggered times... It had been hoped sales could re-open beginning Tuesday afternoon, but as talks between the AFL, venues and Ticketek continued it was looking increasingly likely fans would have to wait until Wednesday morning. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-28/huge-demand-sees-ticketek-call-halt-to-sales Lets hope they stagger start times by at least three hours so that each event member's are sold before next lot of members start. And that all public ticket sales start after the last lot of members sales ends. Not rocket science. And could Ticketek eliminate that stupid Time Out of a session or at least increase it to a sensible time frame to give people a chance to get to the end of the process!

There is a decent amount of human error stupidity in this. 3 of Week 1 finals tickets are sold thru Ticketek: Rich/Haw have over 180,000 paid up members. Demons/Cats have total of about 100,000+. Sydney/GWS have total of about 60,000. Blind Freddy could see the system would crash if about 340,000 members log on at 9.00am - many logged-in on multiple devices compounding the system problems. So totally stupid of the AFL/Ticketek to not consider the #of members and demands on the system, once the participating teams were known. Don't need a crystal ball to predict the meltdown. Ticketek is selling tickets for 3 of the 4 games. So, is it too hard to stagger sales to start on 3 consecutive days!!! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! to start all at the same time!