Lucifers Hero

Pick 12 which we gave to Geelong for Beamer

His team mate, Tom Lynch did exactly that two years ago when there was strong talk he was leaving (and if I recall the Dees were a long way down the track with him). As soon as the Crows blinked and gave him the term and $ he wanted, he couldn't sign fast enough. After the Crows blinked Lynch said: “I’ve got a young family ...I’m happy to stay at the Club – the intention was always to stay here at the Adelaide Crows". Its a game players and managers indulge. Maybe Lever is touring a few clubs...didn't his father recently connect with the bulldogs? To me Lever is still a young player with potential. Yes, potential to be elite (like many other players in our team) but doesn't really have runs on the board so I'm not yet as enamoured with him as some DL's . I would be reluctant for us to pay an 'elite' level trade value to the Crows or pay Lever an 'elite' level contract. If the reported $850K p.a. the Bulldogs are offering is true then I would walk away from the table. The only Dee player earning more than that would be Hogan (maybe Viney). Lever has a lot to prove before he gets to that level in my book.

Its hanging on his grandparents mantle according to cousin Jeb Ross of StK, even tho Gil was adamant in was in his draw! Of course we know Gil has mastered the arts of spin, red herrings and camouflage!! See post below.

It seems Lever is very gettable! Apparently, Crows have a very strict pay scale and structure. eg reportedly offered McGovern $350,000 for 2 years (barely above the average). Offers from Freo are reported to be around $600,000 for 5 years. Unlike us where our policy is to pay around the market but not overs. The Crows offer to Lever is reportedly also well below market increasing the likelihood of him returning to Victoria!

Lots of high draft picks or contracted players - we do not have any OOC players with reasonable currency - only Frost and ANB

If Lever decides to go it will be interesting to see what Adelaide want for him. Their best offer for Gibbs was '2016 year's first-round pick (pick #15), a small slide of an early future draft pick and former rookie Jake Kelly'. Lever and Gibbs are at different stages of their careers but it would be hard for Adelaide to demand more than they offered for Gibbs. And technically they had to offer overs for Gibbs as he was under contract. So on Adelaide's 2016 value system a good first round pick and steak knives should do it!

As of this year the AFL does for Etihad tenants. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afls-etihad-stadium-bonuses-for-clubs-20170330-gvaewt.html Not fair in my book. Its not as if Carlton and Essendon or even the Bulldogs need an extra recurring money leg up given they are running record memberships.

Dynamic pricing doesn't really work when there is a low chance of a sell out. It works when Demand is greater than the Supply so they can increase the price and the tickets will still sell. Those that raise prices when that isn't the case have low(er) attendances as my post above has highlighted.

That is why the recent Nth vs Sk game had only 26,000 and StK had 15,000 at the weekend. Their members won't pay the extra so voted with their feet! And rightly so!

Its somewhat of a dubious honour as 'dynamic pricing' is used when they expect a full house. Which we never do at Home games. We don't have enough supporters to fill the G and the Home games we play there are vs interstate teams or Etihad tenants with low members (Nth. StK. WB) so our Home game attendance is low. I suspect if mfc had the opportunity to use 'dynamic pricing' we would as we can ill afford to give up extra revenue. Having said that, what Essendon did to increase the price of ANZAC day tickets by over 40% was blatant exploitation of footy goers. Completely unethical especially in light of the occassion on which the game is held.

I have no particular knowledge of how many concussions it takes for a club to be really cautious with a young player. But it must put a lot of pressure on the player to keep playing when the coach (Richardson) says: "Paddy would've played this week if he had have pulled up well but the reality is he's still a little bit off and so he won't play this week," http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-26/six-and-out-for-concussed-st-kilda-forward-mccartin The kid has had 6 concussions in a 2 years. I hope the AFL doctor's monitor this sort of stuff. I can't help compare how mfc is going about an almost identical situation with Gus. We pulled him out altogether and told him to take his time physically and psychologically. Every week Misson says he is coming along fine but there is no time frame for his return. If I was a parent i know which club I would want my son at

A really good insight into where Oscar is at http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-06-16/mcdonald-making-strong-strides Highly regarded by the club and he seems well aware of his weaknesses and what he needs to improve. I've been wondering whether his improvement has been faster recently when big brother isn't in the backline. They do tend to look for each other a bit and when Tom isn't there Oscar has to make the play more often and goes forward more often. Oscar may yet become the better McD player!

I remember when Roos said that and thought he was bluffing. In part because he is a master at playing with a straight bat and in part because I thought McCartin was a strong, burly (lesser) Hogan type and and we didn't need two of the same. I thought we would be better off with a different type of forward eg 2 meter Pete (or later a Weideman type). So if StK had taken Petracca at #1, I would not have been surprised to see us pick Brayshaw and either Lever or Wright.

I also think Dusty will stay. Shopping him around is a ploy by his manager (Carr??) to flush out the best offer for leverage with Richmond. He did this with Dusty's last contract except Richmond didn't take the bait and declared they would let him go. The ploy backfired and the Dusty camp was left with egg on face. Carr now has Richmond over a barrel and they will pay dearly for 'embarrassing' the Dusty camp last time...altho' it was of Carr's own doing. This time Carr will laugh all the way to the bank...

No problem Wise. At least you gave us a summary of the article. I only find it frustrating when someone posts a link and gives no idea as to what it is about.

Do you know that as a fact. The media report I saw around trade time said the Sydney offer was around $350k - they couldn't afford anymore because of salary cap pressure. If a fact I will go back and amend my post.

Jack Niall reported our interest a few days ago. Caroline Wilson reported that Zak is earning under the AFL 'median' pay which is the range of $230k to $250k. Yes, I was shocked at how low it is but she is rarely wrong with her info One thing in their favour is that the new CBA tips $2m into their salary cap next year and the Buddy contract does not have escalation clauses - his contracted annual amounts are fixed. But if Zak wants to come to Melbourne we can beat any $ Sydney offer without breaching the faith with our players or abandoning the club's mantra of not paying 'overs'. Zak really fits our 'run and carry' game style and is as tough as so would be rapt to see him in our colours.

While somewhat reluctant to raise this thread a significant development is happening: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/sports-court-would-level-playing-field-for-athletes/news-story/1ee6a6359f11184b6096db438c60b8a3 "Sports Minister Greg Hunt has proposed an Australian sports court as part of a national sports plan being developed by the federal government, the Australian Sports Commission and other peak sporting bodies". A long time coming but never to late. I fully expect the AFL to activate its lobby machine to get that quelled or watered down in some way so they can continue to play to their own rules. Time will tell if a Sports Court does happen.

bb, l assume by 'gorilla' forwards you mean the solid types eg Buddy, Hawkins, Kennedy, Walker, Cloke. These guys are around 195-197m, 95+kg and are getting older. The next gen are more likely to be the mobile, 200cm, lithe types eg Brown, Daniher, Scache, Moore, Lynch. So for mine the backline you outline will be too short. The FF has kicked a bag on us in nearly every game this year in part because we are too short or our players don't have the leap. We need to structure up to compete with the 200cm forwards of the future.

Jack Nial is reporting Demons are interested in 'reuniting' Zak with Nathan North, Ess and StK also interested (but they seem to be linked with all and sundry). Zak fits Goodwin's run and carry game style and we can do with his speed thru the midfield. Its a key ingredient we still lack.

Great call, RaBe! Apparently he wants to stay at Port but Port may value the high compensation draft pick they will get for him and let him go. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/port-adelaides-mr-fixit-jackson-trengove-could-face-an-afl-freeagency-dilemma/news-story/4d3f0472ae39ab356ddfa29d8bdcb128 The article mentions Demons, Essendon and North as clubs who might make an offer he can't refuse but then Hawks and Cats also need a key defender so there may well be a bit of competition for Trengove. I would love to see us be on the receiving end of attracting a good FA. And I reckon he is almost as good as May and as you say offers an on-ground ruck option. He would also be our second tallest player behind Gawn. And we desperately need talls around the ground. With the CBA we have the sal cap to substantially front end his contract and we keep our draft picks. I say get him!

Goodwin was interviewed on SEN on Friday night and was asked where he thought Petracca would be in about 5 years (who will then have just turned 26). Goodwin said he would be like Dusty Martin is now (who will be 26 this June). That is something to savour As Christian seems a more settled character I wouldn't be surprised if he fulfills Goodwin's prediction a few years earlier!

Those comments don't change the fact that as a group they are struggling to get on the park or perform to the AFL standard, according to their coach. Similar to that are the other returning Ess players: Crameri, Carlisle, Monfires, Ryder, Melksham and Hibberd - they are also struggling with either injury or form (except maybe Ryder). (Yet to see how Hibberd goes at AFL level. Hope for our sake he is the exception. Also hope that Melksham starts to have an impact soon because so far he has just fiddle around with the ball). Yes, all clubs have under performing players, but as a group of 16 there is little evidence that their bodies are standing up to the rigor of AFL football either not getting on or not performing on the park. And yes, there could be any number of reasons. It is good that you give them the benefit of the doubt - it is something I struggle with for all those involved with that sorry mess.

Their coach says the returning players have 'hit the wall'. An interesting rundown on the 10 at Essendon. The 6/7 at other AFL clubs have been injured or similarly flat. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/report-card-for-returned-essendon-players-not-great-reading-20170419-gvo2nh.html Perhaps its just that the drugs have worn off and their bodies can't cope with 'normality'. Just hope Melksham and Hibberd are exceptions...