Lucifers Hero

I think he was having problems vs Port - after the game the camera panned to the rooms and Jack appeared in real discomfort taking his boot off and there was a trainer already there with an ice pack for him. That could be the normal process for him after every game but at the time I wondered if he was having problems again. One would think that if he noticed it was worse leading into the Freo/Darwin game we would have rested him for the game or at least the last quarter/half and not trained last week - just to be cautions. Sensible injury risk management to my mind...

Yes, Jack needs to learn that we are not a one man team and missing finals games might just do it. And that is quite likely: Gus and Oliver are doing a superb job in the midfield. We have Tyson who like Viney can get the ball and has a dominant left side (might also be their weakness). And Vand who might get a call up in a few weeks to add a bit more muscle around the ball. So with everyone doing a bit extra (like on Saturday) we can cover his absence as our midfield success is based on the communication and the 'connection' between Max and whoever he is going to tap the ball to. If Viney is there he gets tapped the ball in his direction. If he isn't there it gets tapped to someone else. I actually wonder if not having Viney helps. It gives Gus and Oliver more say in what happens at center bounces and I reckon they have better footy smarts than young Jack.

Here is the latest view of the run home for the top 10 teams. This week I have included Lions as one of the teams opponents will need to show extra respect. The Port loss to Freo shows there are absolutely no gimmies. I reckon we can make the top 4!! Yes the pressure is on us to win enough games but there is equal pressure on Magpies and Swans who also have a nasty draw. They each might easily drop 3 or 4 of the last 6. The most likely to drop from the top 4 is Magpies?. They play 4 of the winning teams from the weekend and the other 2 lost by a kick. Demons and the Giants are in the box seat to pinch their top 4 spot. My confidence comes from our 3rd qtr on Saturday. Reading Oliver and Brayshaw comments on their talk around the ground and with Max before center bounces and watching how they played was inspired. I reckon that quarter was galvanising for the team. We have played our most consistent and our best footy over the last month with two small losses and two huge wins. That consistency also gives me confidence in what we can do. Last year 15 games made it to top 4. This year 14 plus a good percentage may do the trick. Yes, one week at a time but I now dare to dream!

Oliver: "Melbourne star Clayton Oliver says he and Angus Brayshaw can help fill some of the leadership void left by Jack Viney...[Angus and I] try just get the boys going and say what we need to say.” https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/demon-driver-oliver-gets-more-vocal-in-viney-s-absence-20180715-p4zrnj.html Shows how much our youth is maturing to be ready and willing to take on the extra responsibility. We will miss JV no end but we are in a better position to cover him this year than last. We have Gus in and everyone has another year of development behind them. Hopefully, Jack will be back soon.

Two 8-point games today could really shuffle the top 8 deck. Pies vs WCE and North vs Syd. Would love to see the tables turn a bit and have Richmond face an i/state First final, then a Home Semi and potentially an i/state Prelim. Its the only way to avoid all their finals being at the G. So barracking for WCE today. Then hoping Syd win and keep North a game behind us to give us a tiny amount of breathing space now that Cats and Hawks lost this week.

Not sure about the tone of that post... Ok, so I used the wrong acronym. Should be DOB not OOBF. No reason to get narky about it. I'm sure you knew what I was referring to - there was only one smiling high 5 between Gus and Razor. Were you not watching.

We were clinical in the second half. And we didn't run out of legs which is something as bulldogs play a fast game. The end to end play that Oliver had three possessions in the chain that ended in a Petracca goal was the play of the day. It was good to see that we stopped competing with ourselves on the ground and in the air especially i50. Our forward lead patterns and movement were the best I've seen us play. For the record, Jesse had no trouble at all kicking a goal from outside 50! And, we scored 8 goals from 10 inside 50's in the 3rd. One for the record books! I got a real chuckle from Gus' 'accidental' DOB (not paid by Razor) when they had a laugh and a high five! Edit: Corrected OOBF to DOB

True their injury list is a problem but I suspect they wouldn't make much difference. The bigger problem is they traded away their better players: Betts, Garlett, Waite, Gibbs, Robinson, Touey, Henderson and I'm sure there are others. It was very deliberate to get picks for SOS to take to the draft so they now have a bunch of talented kids who are suffering. Tyson would take a lot of the load off Cripps. He would be really good for them. I have to say I really admire Cripps. Reportedly he is playing with a number of injuries. He is playing so well that he is regularly BOG and second on the Coaches vote table.

Sadly, some of our past players might have him on that pre Roos. Don't want to mention names as they did their best but we consistently handballed in circles and backward to a player under pressure until we turned it over. Painful. As an aside, there are so many similarities Bolton to Neeld: lauded as a teacher, talked up by their premiership winning coach, acid tongue when under pressure demoralising players (altho Bolton hides it better behind his childish smile). Rubbish game plan. Both clubs shambolic off field with poor player development. And they play 'bruise free' football? It amazes me how they had a template of what not to do (MFC) yet they have copied it to a T. Two consecutive 10 goal floggins from bottom 4 clubs and players aren't playing for him. He will really feel the blowtorch now. So glad it isn't us anymore.

Correct, he played the first round 2016 and he played enough VFL games in 2016 to play in the finals.

If it doesn't apply to Sloane (Free Agent) it would give Adelaide an unfair advantage on number of contract years offered. Not sure about the detail on this.

Such bad luck for him. Puts in his best game for the Dees, then this. Hope he hasn't been playing with a 'hot spot' ala Tom Mc early this year... We have a bit of experience treating foot injuries. So hope he is up and about quickly. Edit. Just read the Training thread and it seems he is out for the year ?

Yes. AFL made a ruling when Swans signed Buddy on 9 year deal to ensure the contract $ stay are in sal cap for contract duration even if player retires/cashes out early @ discounted value. Hawks have carried Vickery $ this year and I'm pretty sure we carried Lumumba $ last year.

Clubs aren't going to leave themselves exposed, I would: - be very surprised if year 5 (and maybe year 4) weren't conditional eg minimum of games played to go on in the next year. - expect his contract to be fronted somewhat (use money they saved from not having Lever) so years 4 and 5 won't cost them so much in salary cap terms. And with these sort of deals who knows what has been promised post playing career. Similar was said re Geelong about Danger's post game career, when he moved for a seemingly low contract. And who knows what post playing tricks Carlton have pulled out of their brown paper bag to keep Murphy.

Ease him in Round 20 vs GCS maybe? Will be very handy for the last 3 games vs WCE, Syd and GWS. He may just make the difference to winning one or more of those, to secure a finals birth.

Not sure I can cope with the stress of a repeat of 2017 rnd 23. All hell will break lose among supporters if that scenario happens again. Lets hope the club does not send members the 'Get your Finals Tickets' memos before the final siren of the last rnd 23 game. 'Raise Hell' will be nothing compared to the member's wrath that will be wrought on the club if they do that again.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-07-11/goodwin-rapt-with-vandenbergs-return Goodwin: “He was outstanding (vs Casey)... we’ve still got to get some game time into him. We’ve got to give him three or four weeks of really solid VFL footy and then I’m sure he’ll be putting his hand up for selection.” Ease him in Round 20 vs GCS maybe? Will be very handy for the last 3 games vs WCE, Syd and GWS. He may just make the difference in helping us win one or more of those 3, which we need to secure a finals birth.

Yes, something smells: Football Manager leaving ('fall guy'); President won't do interviews atm; CEO has categorically rejected asking for a priority pick (but have the media lobbying for them); Harry McKay can't get a game and they are spinning an 'official line' why; some players selected but injured or like Cripps all beaten up; coach with no game plan and keeps changing his tune after every loss. And they play 'bruise free' football...had to get that line in somewhere ? Not all on the same page, I suspect. They are a mess. Entirely of their own making. While draft recruits look pretty good their player development and trading in/out have failed miserably.

Great news on Hunt. Look forward to seeing him in the team soon. Terrific write-ups. Thanks.

Sloane is off the table! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-07-11/deal-done-sloane-stays-with-the-crows Signed a 5 year deal. Not really on our radar so no loss to us. But will set the perennial 'bridesmaids' (North, Blues, StK) scrambling for their next 'big fish' target. I am so very glad that we are no longer in the discussion for every 'big fish' and focus on specific needs/targets.

Snap!!!

Great...I can hear the sigh of relief in the demon camp, the players thinking it will be a walk in the park, ala St Kilda and they all forget to turn up. Yes, a bit of MFCSS on my part but it is just so Melbourne to repeat the (lack of StKilda) effort and not be switched on. They will probably have McCrae back who is in Brownlow form and very damaging. We must bring our A game and not let up.

@WERRIDEEMethinks you have too much time on your hands and wearing red and blue tinged 'rose coloured glasses'. ??

1. My comment about 'fairy tale team' meant biggest improvement not finals. If you really doubt the prime time fta slots are not based on supporter numbers go back and look at the prime fta games for Pies, Ess, Carlton, Rich for the last 3 years when they were all crap. 2. I meant when matches are played not who is playing. Ch7 has the choice broadcast picks - Foxtel had to lobby hard to get some of the better games into their monopoly time slots in the most recent broadcast agreement. My posts weren't 'rubbish' nor was I being critical of your posts - simply presenting some information to shed light on what seemed illogical. Feel free to believe what you want. Anyway, that is it from me on this subject. Don't wish to derail thread further.

Cripps had an extra preseason and played 9/10 games in his first year and is now 23 for 67 games. Clarrie is 21 next week for 50 games. So, I'm pretty sure Clarrie has Cripps covered in terms of performance at the same age. It is petty to use his performance for 'metres gained' as a possible reason for 2017 non AA selection. More likely, the selectors looked at his so called 'staging' and run-in with a Carlton supporter. The selection panel: Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Andrew Dillon, Danny Frawley, Glen Jakovich, Chris Johnson, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson and Warren Tredrea. Some of those were very vocal about Clarrie 'diving' when hit by Schofield. They won't dare leave him out this year!