Lucifers Hero

I don't think it is about tagging Whitfield but keeping him in honest and accountable for his forward - Melksham to him for mine.

If making a negative comment or saying something critical of a player or coach means 'jumping off' the club we love, have supported all our lives then we may as well shut down DL or stipulate it is only for the fanboys and fangirls.

A few points, if I may: 1) What supporters have jumped off? In the last 5 years our membership has been growing. We had record attendances at games last year. To me that shows great support for the current generation of players, coaches and staff who in the main have arrived during those 5 years. So imo supporters don't deserve the label of burdening the current players with 'posionous negativity'. 2) Some have volunteered, bought memberships and made donations for decades regardless of our on-field performance. Some go to every single game. All of us stick up for our beloved Demons when anyone outside the 'demon family' criticise us or our club. We proudly wear our colours even after we lose/get thrashed. So, I would say demon fans have shown incredible resilience and loyalty for our beloved Demons. 3) Re the last para. Everyone on this board has supported the club and will continue to support 'through thick and thin'. In recent times through a lot more thick than thin, really. Why do you think they will stop supporting the club? 4) Perhaps you want DL posters to write only jolly stuff? Maybe you want them to never question? TBH I find the constant optimistic posts as boring and robotic as the constant negative ones. Neither group of posters will change nor be objective and it is really annoying when they bog down threads in [censored]-for-tat insults. Both groups give as good as they get. I enjoy the posts of reasoned commentary, reasonable questions and yes at times criticisms when done respectfully. Along with the humourous ones is what brings me back to DL. And DL helps people vent once in a while. If you would like to see Demonland sanitised then maybe the moderators can delete relevant threads and posts. Not that it matters as players wouldn't read DL anyway. When Paul Roos was on DL podcoast he had never heard of it! Mostly, I would like to understand what type of supporter behaviour you are looking for. Edit: didn't know t*t-for-tat was banned on here ?

I assume the 'Minor Premiership' is ending the H&A season on top of the ladder? So, is it time to add 'Win a Premiership'?

They didn't even look at the Crisp 'incident' nor should they. Probably because a heap of commentators called it out as: bizarre, ridiculous, worst free kick of the season, umpire clanger. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2018-strange-decision-against-aaron-vandenberg-costs-melbourne-a-goal-v-west-coast/news-story/e0ccf00f994635e97d6fa13f713e7c00

Yes, can buy on line. To get both tickets simultaneously during the member priority purchase period: 1) Use finals ticket details from a member not going. 2) buy him a 3-game (or higher) membership before August 24 (Cost $105+). Or, buy both when tickets go on sale to the general public ie after member priority period closes.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/sunday-session-afl-open-to-four-mcg-finals-in-week-one-20180820-p4zyjv.html "... it’s understood the AFL are contemplating playing one final on each of Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday if the four MCG tenant clubs finish 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th. This would allow the MCG to host all four week one finals. The AFL won’t confirm its week one finals fixture until after the top eight finishing order is confirmed. ... The Hawks are aware they would be the likely candidate to again host a final at Docklands if the AFL opted to head down that path. We have won on every stadium (except Geelong) we played on this year so I don't fear any arena. But how good to see the red and blue at the G in September.

I think the rule changed last year: if a player does not play in the last H&A game they can play VFL in the bye week. Viney has barely played in 18 months so I reckon it would be a good idea to give him a VFL run, even for 10 minutes a quarter. Partly to get a bit of match fitness and partly to see how the foot goes. If he is going to break down again I would rather it be at Casey than in an Elimination Final. Edit: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-24/prefinals-bye-forces-vfl-into-new-eligibility-rule Quote: The relevant clause states that 'if an AFL club's VFL team is playing on the bye weekend, any AFL-listed player who did not play in the AFL club's AFL team in the final round of the home and away season will be eligible to play in the club's VFL team.' The provision is only applies to the VFL final on the bye round and not subsequent finals.

Some fair comments from a member view. I suspect the club is happy to get the revenue and importantly have another member to sell next year's membership.

I just bought my niece as a membership so I can take her to finals?. Regarding finals ticket purchase the club email said: " We will be sending an email to members with their barcodes and full details about how to purchase finals tickets on Sunday, so as long as she has that email it will have the barcode she needs to use on it. The barcode is different to the member number, it is on the back of the card but we will confirm it via email as well. I also need to let you know that all new memberships need to be purchased by 5pm on Friday, 24 August". Clearly the club was taking no chances of repeating last years trauma of finals ticket details sent before we made it. Good move to wait till our last game. But importantly, if anyone wants to ensure a finals ticket then it is worth getting a membership. A 3-game membership will be sufficient to have member priority ticket purchase ie before the general public. Priority purchase may be important if we end up playing at a smaller ground or at the MCG vs a big member club like Rich/Coll/Hawth. Go Dees!

What 12 years means to past and current Demons: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-08-20/the-social-media-reaction Examples: I like September ?? — Jeff White (@JeffWhite34) August 19, 2018 Love the Demons #finalsbound ❤️? @melbournefc — Brad Green (@bradgreen18) August 19, 201 I love my big friend Max ? #cuties claytonoliver13 (Accompanied by a delightful pic of Clarrie crying on Max's shoulder. Happy tears ??

That would be an almost dream run. We avoid the teams that had the best game plan to beat us: Hawks, Rich, Pies. We have improved a lot since those three losses but it would still be a dream to avoid them until the last Saturday in Sept. As an aside, did anyone notice we effectively knocked Port out of the finals race? They need to win and the Cats to lose. Don't like the odds so its bye bye Port!

Good thread. I am absolutely rapt that we made finals during Jackson's tenure. Many have contributed but undoubtedly, he is the architect of where we are today. I can imagine him smiling within but saying: Well done, the jobs not finished yet boys! But where ever we end up in September he will leave brim full of pride and satisfaction. Endless thank you, Mr Jackson. The team have set up a fitting farewell for you: Finals. It is what you promised us and you delivered. Forever a Demon

Close to that after quarter time: 15 - 8. Almost double after quarter time - the umpires did their bit to overcome Darling being off...

The Rev was the last coach to take us to finals so very fitting that he gets to enjoy seeing us in Sept again. I always like it on QB that he does his duty addressing the Pies team but shows his emotion and love for the Dees when he addresses our boys...and proudly wears his Demons scarf.

I posted this in another thread but it also deserves to be here: It says so much and it says everything we all feel. 12 years of hurting wrapped up in one image.

A bit rich of Bevo to say priority picks shouldn't be before their first pick!! "We'll be pretty disappointed if these compensation picks come in before us in the draft, because our demographic as far as youth versus mature age isn't dissimilar," Beveridge said ...Conveniently ignoring that they not longer won a flag! A bit hypocritical really.

Choked up again see that?. I hope no one on here ever again claims the jumper and finals don't mean much to the team. These two have ridden just about every wave of the last 12 years with us supporters. A beautiful day for them.

Goodwin says it best: "I am so happy for our supporters right now...They have had 12 years of misery, but now they have a team they can really get in behind and support and build some momentum from here." I look forward to a new narrative from all the media 'experts' harping on about 'can't be trusted' and 'mentally weak'. The guys showed today, how badly they want finals. Very proud day for every demon fan.

I'm worried about the report from a reputable poster that Sam may ask for a trade to Geelong because he can't get enough opportunities in the seniors. Can see his point with Hogan and Tommy in front of the sticks. But Crikey, I hope we find a regular spot for young Sam as would hate for him to go. A terrific fighting game from him today. And great back up for Max.

So many spots can still change we won't know until our GWS game next Sunday. (We won't need to wait till the last game as neither North nor Saints can make finals?).

Dees in the finals. Yeah! Crows did the right thing and knocked North out of the running. Essendon also out of the running. Yes...a very, very good weekend!

Finally! Finally! Finally! Demons are in the finals!! Emotional moment. Now, look forward to receiving mfc invitation Finals tickets?. Next week we can relax and enjoy the game - no need to rely on any other results. Only thing to work out is where our 1st final is held. Go Dees

You've moved the goal posts from our 26-29 year olds being 'way off' those of other teams, to their 25 to 30 ish players being around the mark or higher than ours. Anyway, I still think our 26-29 year olds: Gawn (AA), Hibberd (AA), Jetta (AA), Melksham and Tom McD are as good as nearly all other teams of the same age group named in your post and certainly better than most. But happy to agree to disagree.

Such as? Off the top of my head Richmond, GWS, WCE maybe; Geel and Syd 26-29 are ??? but their over 30 are still good. Leave it to you to prove your point about the 26-29 groups.