Lucifers Hero

If North (vs Adel/StK), Geel (vs Feo/GCS) or Ess (vs Rich/PA) win both games they will have 13 wins. If we lose both we drop out of the 8 and stranded on 12 wins. Same for Port. In fact both Demons and Port could drop out of the 8 and replaced (most likely) by the Scott bros. If Port win one and Geel/North win two we are out. So, on my reckoning we must win a game to ensure we make it. Hopefully, this week otherwise it will be a truly nail biting rnd 23, again. It would cut me to the core to drop out of the 8 to make way for a sooky Scott coached team (or heaven forbid TWSNBN).

Hang on a second, I certainly did not say nor did I imply doctors leaked. Herpes? Good Lord! Get a grip! Anyway, I think people on here should not speculate doctors (or who) did leak like your post implies. And no, from where I sit I don't care who leaked it - that is up to the club to sort out. If he has a foot injury that puts out him for 2018 that is for medicos to work with. I care about Jesse's welfare like I said in my post but as far as 2018 is concerned if he is not available he is not available. Who leaked it is really irrelevant to our season.

Jesse said last night that he had a scan yesterday then had to have a second one in the afternoon and was meeting doctors today. There is every chance (note I am surmising) they knew the problem with the second scan and today's doctor meeting was/is to work thru options. Good on Jesse for not letting on suspicions or confirmations of the issues on national television. What is said behind the scenes to/ by managers, friends etc etc who knows Whoever leaked isn't really important to me. I just care about having 22 fit players to get us a win or two in the next few games. And of course if true, I wish Jesse a speedy and trouble free recovery. Note: Reports are he was not wearing a moon boot at training this morning but then again nor did he train.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-14/boost-for-demons-with-key-duo-firming-for-perth I'm not at training but just came across that report. Summary: Viney continued his recovery away from the main group, but importantly ran in runners and did some light kicking with rehab coach Cross Max Gawn (corked calf), Clayton Oliver and Tom McDonald were among a group of players who were on light duties, but it is not uncommon for a light one-hour session less than 48 hours after a game. Max says his calf is better this week than last week. Hogan and Hunt (ankle) did not train with the team as they await the results on scans. Jesse Hogan is expected to find out the results of scans on his injured foot sometime on Tuesday morning, but positively was not sporting a moon boot as he arrived at the club. Hibberd looks to be a very good chance of playing against the Eagles Melksham jogged laps at the end of the session and will have to prove that he is right to go during Thursday's main training Interestingly, Max said Sam Weideman was ready to play vs Sydney had Max not been ready in time. Good news, in case Jesse doesn't make it for WCE game. Overall, while there are some recovering from niggles it doesn't sound too bad. Would love for Melksham to be available. He adds a bit of class fwd of the centre. Edit: Just saw the thread saying Hogan's season is over ? Weideman's day has arrived.

Shame that Weideman isn't coming along as we had all hoped. Talls take longer than other plalyres but most of the other 'Talls' in his draft year have made or starting to make an impact. Even McKay (Carlton) and Francis (Ess) are getting regular games. So I'm getting a bit worried about whether he will get there to replace McD or Hogan when needed. Edit: Just saw 'chook fowler's' post on Weideman. Totally agree but he doesn't seem ready.

Something to think about: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-13/demon-hogan-set-for-scans-on-foot-injury Hogan injury?: Apparently went in to the game ok. Noticed a problem in the second quarter. Played out the match. Scans today. Hoping for the best. He did well to play out the match - no wonder he couldn't kick straight or very far. Based on prior week reports he was carrying some sort of injury anyway. And, "Ruckman Max Gawn was one of several players who arrived for recovery, admitting he had completed extra rehab overnight as he battles a lingering calf complaint". "Defender Jayden Hunt was also sent for scans after he re-injured the same right ankle he damaged while playing in the VFL in June". Do we have anyone that can ruck! Did someone say we have good depth? Maybe but is it in the right places. Selections this week may be a case of 'rob Peter, to pay Paul'!

Look for last night's post and you will find that I am not. Well done for retracting other comments.

I didn't say anything about drinking or being out really late so you need to retract those comments before they become folklore and spread like wild fire. It was your interpretation at fault here and I won't wear responsibility for that. My reference to the engagement party was as much about its timing which Lever has a right to do anytime he likes. Perhaps a Fri night rather than Sat night before a game would be a touch wiser. There was a post last night talking about Petracca, Jones, Gawn and others enjoying the party. Nothing wrong with that but not a good look. Post said pictures have been deleted from instagram accounts. Someone, somewhere was concerned that instragram pics of co-cap, vice cap etc out the night befoe the game was not a good look or why else delete them. You can go back thru this thread and find it for yourself. I repeat no-one has alluded to alcohol or being out really late.

I didn't say anything about them drinking alcohol - you made that up. Nor anything about being 'really' late. So you are the one alluding to rumours. Take a look at your own thought processes.

Off the top of my head: Geelong * 2 Saints North Richmond Can't be bothered looking for others but I'm sure there are.

Maybe he was tired from attending Jake Lever's engagement party the night before... ...which is weird by Lever as he proposed to his bride to be on his O/S trip after last year's GF. He could have chosen a better day to involve his teammates.

Thanks guys. You've given me a much needed laugh. I'll settle for a well tuned car with no passengers!

Gee, 'suspect when pressured' is really tough on Salem. He had 22 possessions @ 95.5%. 5 marks. 6 R50's. 4 Tackles. He ran and he bounced and he kicked true. Am genuinely curious as to what you saw to think he was suspect.

WOW....Granted he has a right to have his engagement when it suits but the night before a critical game. I wonder would he have chosen last night if he was playing today?

You just don't get it!! That is an oversimplification that ignores all the things I mentioned in my post and ignores how the game was played. We didn't compete enough, we didn't tackle enough, we didn't control the ball hardly at all. Our structures broke down badly. But sure if you want to keep pushing kick straight and we win, good on you. I know you like to always have the last word so go it, this is the last from me.

Poor kicking for goal is not why we lost! Thinking like that is an easy out for those who want to play ostrich or just make excuses. We lost the game in the 2nd quarter. Early in they kicked 3 or 4 goals because we had no-one guarding the goal square and the ball just bounced through. Don't know leaving the goal square open was a coaching decision or poor on field leadership but it cost us big time. They should not have got such easy goals. Those easy goals got their tails up and they started to play 'tempo' football brilliantly controlling the ball. Time and Time again they would get the ball in their back 50 and with precision short kicks they had uncontested marks all they way to goal. We didn't even touch it or get close to laying a tackle. They got a few more goals that way. Before we knew it they had 7 unanswered goals. Note the # of marks: Syd: 120. Melb: 82. I can't find how many were uncontested but it would be a large percentage for them. They laid 77 tackles to our 69. Poor kicking has little to do with those stats and a lot to do with work rate, game sense and back up plans. We were comprehensively outplayed in the 2nd and 3rd quarter when our structures broke down. Our forward structures broke down as badly as our defensive structures. The big issue for me was that we were not even come close to countering their 'tempo' game. They wouldn't let us play 'our way' and we were lost and flat footed. That is why they won.

Glad that even tho AVB wasn't seen at training yesterday he is playing. We need him bullocking his way around the forward line - help keep the likes of McVeigh honest. Also, rapt that Hunt is back. Can't wait to see him do his 'road-runner' routine out of the backline. Now that Bernie is out for the season the defence role is Hunt's to own.

Barracking for the Bulldogs today and hope the umpires continue to treat them as their favourites! Double barrel benefit if doggies win. Knocks one Scott bro out of finals and improves our chances of staying in the 8!!

Whichever has us by-passing the Hawks in subsequent games which of course we have no way of knowing in advance. They are our nemesis. Anything to avoid them until the last Saturday of September.

After the game Pyke said: "...he hadn't thought about...how to handle the next fortnight..." They play North and Pies. Will Crows put the cue in the rack and consolidate their spot for a better draft pick for those talented SA draftees or will they play for pride. That can have a massive impact on the final 8, including our chances, if it comes down to the wire. With Tex likely to be out I reckon they will shut up shop.?

Is it bye-bye Tex for this season? He must get a few weeks for that half-sling/half-driving tackle on Kelly. Commentators were quick to play it down (as they do with better known player) arguing that Tex couldn't know the ball had fallen free. Dangerfield got a week last year even tho he couldn't have known the ball had fallen free. His tackle was far less malicious than Tex's. Likes being the tough guy but nothing tough about that tackle.

They Who Shall Not Be Named. In this case refers to the 3 amigos: My Egotist, Mr Ducker and Mr Sook that make up the 'elite' midfield at Geelong. Occasionally modified to HWSNBN ie He Who Shall Not Be Named. When used on DL it is exclusively for the No 1 p_ick who took his 30 pieces of silver and went to GWS. Edit: Just saw Dalenska's reply - for got about the drug cheats!

To put those scores in context (our score in brackets): 2017: 11.19.85 (7.8.50) 2016: 12.14.86 (4.7.31) 2015: 12.16.88 (7.8.58) 2014: 9.15.69 (5.8.38) Only their inaccuracy has stopped the result being a complete bloodbath. Last year it was embarrassing - our only Friday night at the G. 30 scoring shots to 15. It was like watching a training drill. Sydney are a notoriously low scoring side (not often more than 90pts and rarely over 100) relying on their defence to keep opp to a lower score. We are a vastly better side than in the past four years but we are still 'the easiest team to score against' so I'm not pinning my hopes on keeping them to a low score to get us over the line, especially if they have their straight kicking boots on. And, lets not underestimate Longmire - he is right up there with Clarkson as a smart coach.

Great news. Coming from you, this fills me with a lot of confidence. Thank you.

It isn't just their well known players we have to watch out for. Last week George Hewett had 25 disposals @ 80%, 10 Clearances and they have a bunch of handy, young small forwards. Not sure we have a bunch of small defenders. We aren't good at wet weather football and Sydney have exploited that in the past so lets hope for a dry day. Not feeling confident. Edit: more confident now that Jane02 has reported Max a likely starter. Will help neutralise Syd midfield