Lucifers Hero

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!

Roy Morgan poll as at Sept 2017: http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/7345-roy-morgan-afl-supporter-ladder-2017-201709210118 ...if any team has the right to feel cheated out of prime FTA spots it is Sydney but again they don't carry to much weight...

Carlton have a very high supporter base: So ch7 want those (almost) half a million people. But they want Carlton kicking goals so they can run lots of sponsor ads. And, the AFL are desperate to make Carlton a powerhouse again so lots of Fri nights was a good plan especially for Carlton sponsors and membership growth. When the schedule was set Carlton was expected to be the fairy tale team of 2018. I bet my bottom dollar that if Carlton were kicking goals/were competitive/close games ch7 wouldn't care too much about the general afl audience. But the plan backfired because Carlton are rubbish and the game overall has generally become a low scoring snooze fest. (The latter part is why Ch7 are pushing the AFL to change the rules so more goals are scored ie more ads for ch7 sponsors). Make no mistake, ch7 have a huge amount of influence on the broadcast schedule. They would have the high supporter Vic clubs: Carlton/Ess/Coll/Hawks/Rich every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night if they could as long as they kick goals so they can run their ads. This then becomes a self-fulling prophecy ie More supporters = prime FTA = more supporters = prime FTA etc etc etc Of course the opposite is true for the smaller clubs who forever will be caught in the resultant catch-22. Even winning games or maybe a premiership won't help - look at the bulldogs. Bottom line: the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Carlton may get less prime tv games next year, but the underlying agendas won't change. I see little point us complaining - no one will listen.

Get ready for lots of frees to Ess this week. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-07-10/woosha-wants-a-meeting-with-the-umpires "Richardson has spoken to Hocking twice about the Dons' concerns over the past fortnight, while Worsfold called Kennedy last week about the 11-21 free kick count in the win against North Melbourne" And "We're not suggesting that umpiring is the reason why we win or lose, you just want clarification on consistency," Richardson said. Maybe not but they sure want more favourable treatment! I reckon the old adage: 'the squeaky wheel gets the oil' applies especially for the 'powerhouse' clubs. Damn shame we don't do the same when significantly disadvantaged by umpiring eg after the Port, Pies and Saints games.

Is there anyway of knowing when each will be on? Pleased to see Petracca isn't featuring - will be good for him to lie low for a while.

It is now the 'Clarkson' free after he complained to Gil over a morning coffee. Might add Hawks were/are one of the worst offenders. Sometimes umpires pay it sometimes they don't. Remember the first rule of umpiring: If it is a 50/50 call penalise Melbourne!!

Leave it at that!? Anything specific, SF? Its hard not to think umpires are not influenced! This from Channel 7 CEO re TV audience size and scoring: "If we can get Collingwood firing, that helps.'' I haven't followed Pies' frees but they certainly gained big adv vs mfc and yesterday vs Ess. Umpire influences can be very subtle be it fans, AFL, Ch7 but they are there. Every chance the Pies will get an arm chair ride to the GF (and maybe a Premiership) just as the bulldogs did two years ago.

Sydney has a novel solution to a training base - put the oval in the middle of the Randwick Race Course!!! "... the facility will also be used by the Swans NEAFL side, its academy as well as for junior participation". https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-field-to-be-built-in-middle-of-royal-randwick-20180709-p4zqbi.html The article doesn't say it, I would think the training oval will have the same dimensions as the MCG. An MCG sized training oval seems to be the solution for i/state teams and teams to whom the MCG isn't their Home ground. Its no mean feat to find create a training oval in the middle of inner Sydney. Good on them for being innovative.