Lucifers Hero

Maybe we should cut Jesse some slack. He got a bad knock in the back last week. Remember he missed a whole year with a bad back. He was also ill during the week.

Not really. Jeffy kept going and going. It was his repeat efforts that got the ball to Fristch.

Were there some moist eyes from Goodwin, just then? Big game for him and the club so some emotion is understandable if there were. We have come back well and that goal from Fristch was a beauty.

As if we hadn't had enough evidence that 'running out a foot/toe injury' is extremely risky. To re-cap: Clark, Trengove, Vandenberg, Viney, T Mcdonald. After all that we risk Billy Stretch. Beggars belief.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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'.

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.

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.

No change for nearly two weeks?. Either staff are on holidays or prospective members saw the writing on the wall after the Port game... Just a few weeks till the cut off date. Its good to break last years record but oh, what might have been...