Lucifers Hero

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.

The past is done and dusted. The St Kilda loss is the most glaring hiccup on this year's finals charge but other winnable losses also hurt. Bottom line is making the 8 is still in our control.

We aren't the only ones with a difficult run to make finals. How the contenders shape up: The Pies and Sydney have the toughest run. Both have quite a few injuries and I'm counting 5 of their 7 games to be 8 point games. So I reckon spots 2 to 5 could change quite a bit. While Adelaide and Ess are effectively out of the running they can still mess up the Wins/Losses for the contenders. Wouldn't mind it if the young Lions pinch a game here or there! I reckon we will make it: wins vs WB, Adel, GCS. Geelong is 50/50. They are playing poorly and their narrow ground suits our game plan (altho they will have an extra two days rest). WCE and GWS are also 50/50 depending on how many of their injured players are back at the time we play them. Sydney is a loss for mine. Unless North completely lose the plot their very easy run will get them in. Ditto Hawks. Who drops out of the 8 for North. Demons or Cats? We must beat Geelong to get a game up on them.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-07-06/comment-blues-roos-and-saints-should-shift-focus-to-class-of-2019-mids " If the 26-year-old re-signs with the Eagles – or if he enters free agency and signs with the Demons..." Its part of a wider story on the bottom teams chasing a 'big fish'.

That was in just 3 quarters as he was held back from the first. As soon as he is ready I would say anyone of ANB, Harmes or Stretch may have trouble staying in the first 22. Especially, ANB - really, really disappointing. May run a lot and fast but has no impact on the game.

BUMP Aaron has received much love in the Casey thread;. Nonetheless thought it worth highlighting his return game yesterday after nearly two years out injured. His stats were: 23 disposals (most of which were contested), 16 tackles and 1 behind. Even more impressive given he played only 3 quarters and the ground was like a very wet sponge. A real credit to his perseverance! Continue this from and he will earn himself a contract extension. And how good will it be to see him in the seniors again - terrific at keeping the ball in our fwd half which is what our game plan is based on.

Oliver has leather poisoning again: a game-high 35 disposals, 19 contested possessions, seven tackles, seven inside 50s and two goals. Only half way thru his 3rd year! Not yet 21. A star on the way to becoming an elite superstar!

Agree, and 14 of those 17 were contested. Great comeback by him. Terrific reward for all his hard work and perseverance.

TBH, I get more pleasure seeing them at the bottom of the ladder than any amount of $$$ fine the AFL could dispense. All I care about is Demon success. I'm over everyone else. Edit: I just saw the score in the 4th - Lions 17.12.114. Blues 6.10.46. Blues aren't tanking they are simply rubbish!!

TBH, I don't care that Carlton tank. Lions are getting experience into their very talented list and practicing/fine tuning their game plan. Lions will be the winners in more ways than on the scoreboard. Look on the bright side - if Carlton keep tanking/chasing draft picks they will be anchored to the bottom of the ladder for the next 10 years! . Let them tank I say!

After enduring all this: Fritsch’s story is one of courage and perseverance. Not only was he constantly overlooked by recruiters, but he had to chase his AFL dream while working as an apprentice electrician and while dealing with serious injuries. After three games for Casey in the VFL in 2015, Fritsch began to suffer from stress fractures in his back and was ruled out for the rest of the season. While rehabilitating his back, he tore the meniscus in his knee and didn’t play football again until late 2016, where he only featured in the VFL’s development team. It is most unlikely he will let it go to his head. He has done it the hard way and doesn't seem the type to drink his own bath water. All credit to him for sticking with his passion and working very hard to get drafted. Has proven his worth already.

Very, very damning of the anti-ageing doctor at the heart of this saga. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/essendon-saga-doctor-acted-at-highest-end-of-unprofessional-conduct-20180705-p4zpry.html VCAT found “... Dr Willcourt’s conduct to be at the ‘highest end’ of unprofessional conduct,”. Yet, the penalty was just $7,000! And VCAT rejected the Medical Board's bid "... to force Dr Willcourt to undertake education and be required to practice under supervision." Should have been banned!! Instrumental in damaging the lives of 34 young men.

Update for re-signing of Harmes till 2020 and Wagner till 2019. Nev and Oscar are in contract discussions with the club. A bit concerned that no word of Gus contract talks starting. Given some selections/non-selections of late, I would be very surprised if we don't trade out a contracted player/s. Especially, if we want to upgrade our Draft position. GCS need experienced players and will have plenty of draft picks to play with. We have had good draft relations with them (pick trade to get Oliver, even after Howe pulled out of the trade at the last minute) so could easily see trading with them, if any of our players agree to go there.

Stretch is in, ernest! In: Frost, Garlett, Stretch, Spargo Out: Hannan, Harry Petty, Dom Tyson, Weideman http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-07-05/round-16-team

Tough on Petty and Weideman to come in and go straight out. But the replacements are much better suited for the humid/slippery conditions which will favour small and speedy players.

Big games this weekend to influence final 8 and positions therein. Tonight: The heavyweight game - Syd vs Cats. Friday night: The revenge match: Tigers vs Crows Sunday: The hopeful vs the injured: Ess vs Pies A few potential % boosters: Power, North and Demons. Last week I was hoping for a % boost for us and other upsets to solidify our spot in the 8...well, the upsets happened...? This week, I worry that certain upsets might knock us out of the 8. At this stage I'm just hoping we win...

Last year we set the precedent to trade out player/s in contract. So not sure our trade options are only OOC players. The lack of love for Tyson, Garlett, Frost, and Hunt (when not injured) suggests they might be the trade bait that would have some currency. Agree every player is tradeable but still not sure what type of player/s we would be going after that justify giving up OMac and Gus. ...this might be a discussion best in another thread...

Trade bait for ...? Can't see us trading in better players than them for the positions they play. A higher draft pick perhaps...not sure how that will help us...if we lose OMac and Gus.

Congratulations to them. - Harmes 2 years till 2020 Harmes: “I didn’t consider any other options, even though my manager spoke to a few other clubs, but I wanted to stay as a Dee, as I was a Melbourne supporter as a kid". - Wagner 1 year for 2019 Wagner: “I wanted to stay at Melbourne. I’ve got some really good friends here and I’m very happy here, so it was great to sign.” Given they both started as rookies they have done very well to earn several contract renewals.

Absolute gold! Gave me a big LOL!

One of Petracca's best games that I can recall was vs Ess 2017. He took Hurley out of play by leading him away from the corridor then doubling back. Far too smart for Hurley and kicked 4 goals. Like others have said play him deep in the forward line, make the opp put a good defender or he roams free if they don't. If he can beat Hurley, he can beat anyone. Right now he isn't fit or fast enough to play as a mid so play to his strengths as a forward at least for a few games.