Lucifers Hero

Pert was glowing in his comments on Goodwin and Mahoney. Pert Interview He sounded very genuine. On Goodwin: “This was a leader of the club, more than just the player group, this is someone who understands the influence that he has in a broader sense" On Mahoney: "Josh was there when Roosy (Paul Roos) come on board rolling into Simon, so he’s been the one that culturally has been a constant as our program has been developing. He’s going to play a bigger role down the track.” Pert flagged Josh would be more involved in commercial activities and oversee the Casey program. All good to broaden his experience to take the next step in his career: be it to AFL HQ or a Club CEO. I would daresay in a few years Josh will leave mfc to take that next career step. It will be an opportunity he has earnt and deserves. By then I hope we have a flag for him!

SEN interview yesterday, summarised here: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-12-04/a-great-time-to-be-a-melbourne-fan-pert “We need to build a facility where the club can get together and to create a meeting place for our members and supporters before and after games. That’s what great clubs are about." Full interview

I was delightfully surprised to hear Pert say that the new facilities would have social areas for members/supporters to go before/after games. Most of us had thought this was unlikely to be included. So it narrows down the options to be somewhere around the MCG. He was instrumental in getting the dedicated areas for Pie supporters at their MCG games so he has a good idea of what is required.

Gary Pert just said on SEN there are 22,000 MCC members who list MFC as their club but only 50% buy an MFC membership. If Pert is even semi successful in that quest we will exceed 50,000!

On face value an impressive interview. He has a clear view of his role and his priorities are to grow the club and get the new facilities in place. Seems to have worked hard to engage existing managers and stakeholders. Time will tell how it works out but if he achieves those goals, I won't get too hung up on the odd issue that might arise.

30,096 a 8% increase on Nov 30, 2017. I wouldn't be surprised to see this rise substantially before Christmas - we have already exceeded last year's Christmas Eve total. We are on the way to reach 50,000!

His job is backroom stuff and to state the obvious it is off-season. Anyway, not sure what could be said at this stage. Wait 12 months. If he takes a leaf from Jackson's songbook he will keep a low profile and let the football do the talking. So we probably won't here much at all about him or from him. Assume: no-news-is good-news.

28,663 Have been keenly awaiting an update! 1,053 (3.8%) up on same time last year: 27,610 on Nov 30, 2017. Thought we would have had a bigger leap on the back of the finals attendances but a good start, nonetheless.

No need to delete - its a good time to clarify the player's age shown is as at the end of their contract. Thanks to all for changes. I will do them when next I update the table, which probably won't be long since the club would want to sign up a few players soon rather than later.

Yes, I meant Median. Have gone back and edited post. Thanks.

The Roar has produced player list analysis: Team Profiles The Average isn't the best measure; I prefer The Mean Median. Nonetheless, the Roar tables are a good indicator of each team. I was a bit surprised to see Collingwood so high in the age profiles. The likes of Lewis and Jones are raising our age profile somewhat. For us to finish 4th in 2018 when on average age we were 9th and average experience we were 12th shows what a mighty effort it was by the club. An interesting comment from the article: "Overall the numbers hint at a few possible conclusions, one being that putting heavy 2019 expectations on the likes of Melbourne, Fremantle and Essendon because of their notable trade period recruits might be a little premature. Of these three sides, only one – Essendon – is in the top eight for age, and they are eighth. None is in the top eight for experience. That’s not to say that these lists aren’t capable of achieving great things in 2019, but instead that they are still some distance from hitting their high-water mark in terms of talent maturity". Nonetheless, the expectations on us will indeed be 'heavy' and we will rise to the occasion! Edit: change 'Mean' to 'Median'

The club has officially locked in our list: "The Demons will have 39 primary listed players and six rookies for the upcoming season" Demon List The updated player details are: I've assumed Corey Maynard and Kade Chandler contracts are for one year. If anyone has any other info or corrections to above please advise. Its great to see so many of our young guns reach the 50-100 game range. Bodes well for us as they can only improve with more games under their belt and cohesion from playing together. Mods, could you please unpin the 2018 thread and replace it with this. Thanks.

Sorry, I can't find written sources for the 9 contracted MCG games and the 2 'compulsory' Away games at Eithad. Based on memory of what I've read or heard. I'm not entirely sure how the Stadium deals work but each stadium tenant club (ie Home ground) is contracted to play X 'Home' games at said ground. eg I think Carlton is contracted to play 7 games at Eithad, Adelaide and Port have 11 each at Adelaide Oval etc. I recall reading somewhere that Victorian non Etihad clubs had to play two games there to ensure AFL fulfilled its committed no of games. This is relaxed for big clubs, when it suits the AFL or when joint memberships don't fit in the stadium. Whatever the contracts and policies, my post was directed to the assumption that if we give up NT games that they will revert to the G. As I noted there are a variety of reasons why this may not happen; they could be Eithad 'Home' games and we get extra 'Away' i/state games so we still travel a lot. You are right 9 games is the minimum. Nonetheless, with all clubs wanting to play more games at the G I am skeptical of our chances of getting more Home games there. But it is a moot point as we are committed to NT.

Its worth remembering we are contracted to play only 9 Home games at the G. So the extra two 'Home' games will almost certainly be at Marvel Stadium. Plus the two 'compulsory', 'Away' games there it totals 4. Not so good for members. Without NT members gain only if there are more (total) games in Vic but lose because we will no longer get the 2 NT substitute games at the G. It will be only the 9 contracted 'Home' MCG games. What could be worse, the AFL could change other aspects of the fixture: oh, gee whiz the Dees go i/state only 5 times lets even it up with other teams and give Dees extra 'Away' game(s) i/state'. Two annual trips to Perth, anyone? Lets be careful what we wish for.

Source: Champion Data Fixture Summary The Bulldogs have gone 'under the radar' in terms of media review of the fixture. They have an absolutely dream run re who they play twice, 5/6 day breaks, i/state trips etc. If someone ran an analysis of all the variables I reckon they could come out with the 'easiest' draw of the lot! The AFL is giving the Bulldogs every chance of be relevant again. Ditto Adelaide, they have a dream draw but travelling i/state makes it a bit harder. Both clubs have fared well given there recent successes in finals. Coll doesn't travel so much but lucks out with 8 six day breaks. Essendon is also up there with 7 six day breaks. Who is played twice is not a measure of how difficult 2019 becomes; some top teams slide, others come up. I expect Cats, Swans, Hawks to slide a bit. Question is who rises to take their spots - Crows? Bombers? Power? Our draw is very reasonable. I like that we play Sydney and Ess early in the season and if we win those we are off to a good start re potentially difficult teams. One thing is certain, it will be a very open season again.

Home games at the G vs Ess, Hawks, Tigers and Pies is huge for us financially. Also huge for fans to see us play some really big games at the G. Will be good for memberships. Lots of good value games to watch - a few may be sell out games! Edit: Not fussed that ANZAC and QB are 'Away' as we only miss out on hosting rights - the 'return' games will still get good crowds as fans come to the G to watch some damn good games.

Travis Auld: “We want to bolster Friday nights, we want to make sure that Thursday and Fridays are really strong that those feature events are there.” "We want to reward teams that have been playing really good football...West Coast and Collingwood are the two obvious ones but Melbourne and Essendon look quite exciting after trade period...So we want to feature them in the right spots as often as we can.” Melbourne and Essendon set to take centre stage Thursday and Friday nights here we come!! Hopefully a few are home games at the G as better for our sponsors and members!

Not sure if this is guesswork but here is a view of the Easter - Anzac weeks. Thursday 18 April: Easter Thursday (Brisbane v Collingwood?) Friday 19 April: Good Friday game (North Melbourne v Essendon?) Saturday 20 April: Four games Sunday 21 April: Easter Sunday, two games Monday 22 April: Easter Monday (Geelong v Hawthorn) Tuesday 23 April: No footy Wednesday 24 April: Anzac Eve (Richmond v Melbourne) Thursday 25 April: Anzac Day (Collingwood v Essendon) Friday 26 April: Friday Night Footy Saturday 27 April: Four games Sunday 28 April: Two games Easter and Anzac Logjam Presumably the AFL will keep the Rich vs Coll and Demons vs Ess as the games post ANZAC day. Hopefully, Melb and Richmond play their Pre Anzac games on the same day, ideally Sat April 20, altho the article suggests Rich could play North on Good Friday. I just hope we are not disadvantaged by having the shortest breaks during that 3 week period relative to our opps. Will put my hand up as being wrong about an Ess vs Carlton Good Friday Eve match. It was requested by Ess and endorsed by Carlton but fortunately the AFL had different ideas.

Heard the news? The AFL wants 'Carlton to be Great Again'!!! AFL general manager...Travis Auld: the Blues were never going to be stripped of the fixture privilege despite their struggles in recent seasons. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-10-27/afl-reveals-opening-round-fixture-for-2019 Carlton will get other favours one way or another: The new Good Friday Eve vs Ess game, also a stand alone, marquee Thur night game. They may have less Fri nights but will still get some, will have lots of Home games at the G vs big Vic clubs (good for revenue) and will get more than their fair share of FTA broadcast time slots eg Saturday night and Sun afternoons. Yes, some sour grapes on my part when it comes to Carlton's many privileges but mostly I feel for the likes of North, Bulldogs and Saints who are small and get few favours to help grow: Catch -22!!

Fair comments by those that suggest a crowd of 25K+ will break even/make money. But this for the majority of the season from smallish crowds vs i/state and small Vic clubs is not financially beneficial. But, my comment re financial impact of Home game opponents was that if the majority are vs 1/state or small Vic teams we are being disadvantaged. Imagine the difference to our bottom line if we played Ess, Hawth, Rich or even Carlton at Home at least once each season. Anyway, I feel we have earnt the right to host those clubs at the G. Will eagerly await the fixture to see how we fare. I bet Carlton do better than us at the G and they aren't even a tenant! Ditto Essendon but to a lesser extent.

The AGE: "The AFL...is set to reveal the full fixture on Wednesday" The Easter/ANZAC fixturing will be interesting to see which of the 4 ANZAC game teams get advantaged. Ess have pushed for a new time slot - Good Friday Eve game vs Carlton. So Ess will have the biggest advantage over that period. As we play them after ANZAC Eve I'm preparing for disappointing news on length of our breaks between games. Hopefully, we play Easter Saturday afternoon.

I'm not so sure it will. Remember we are now out of pokies so that revenue is gone. Sure, winning games will bring out our demon fans but not i/state fans and we need big crowds to boost revenue and to keep Home games at the G which means a decent number of opposition fans. Home games vs Port, GWS, GCS, Freo, StK, North, Syd, Brisb just aren't going to fill the seats and help us financially (and fund things like new facilities). We have now earnt the right to get a decent fixture that will help us financially and our Home game opponents is a key part of that.

Port is not a good start to the season financially. We will probably lose money or barely break even. Last year the majority of our Home games at the G were against i/state teams or small Vic teams both of which are terrible for our Revenue. Add to that our two Home games in NT and our revenue from Home games becomes rather meagre. In 2019 we will be relying on the QB vs Coll games to top up the coffers (ANZAC Eve is Away). Oh, and please no more gifting Carlton and Essendon 4 - 6 Home games each at the G. It is not their home ground. Let them play at Marvel!!

Yes, 5kg heavier (96 kilos) but 5cm shorter. That in itself tells a story. I have a niggling doubt - that he might be of the Watts, Hogan mould. Talent to burn, lauded as a star before time but struggles with motivation to do the difficult things to be the best he can be eg diet, fitness. Jessie leaving really opens up the forward line for Trac to kick more goals and find space. Hope that is enough motivation to step up: He would be aware that his contemporaries at the dees and elsewhere ie JDG have moved well past him. Time for him to shine, to cast away the doubts.

Unfortunately, Essendon has already earmarked the Good Friday Eve game but against Carlton and to make it an annual event. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/essendon-proposes-good-friday-eve-blockbuster-against-carlton-for-2019-20180809-p4zwlb.html It is yet to be ok'd by AFL but wouldn't be surprised if it happens - AFL is still trying to get Carlton 'successful again...' As we will play Ess the week after Anzac Eve/Day - it gives them a big advantage by having a longer break before the Anzac games. Hopefully we get Saturday afternoon to even it up a bit. Will be filthy if we get Sunday twilight. As an aside, I just don't get this fixation of including Carlton in big games. They do not deserve the permanent opening season fixture and certainly don't deserve the Good Friday Eve game.