Lucifers Hero

I have a horrible feeling that might be Tyson. He doesn't draw the attention Watts did so the media don't ask too many questions but their are some unsettling similarities.

I guess it wouldn't surprise to know that 2016 was his last OOC year. I have little confidence that he will do the hard work consistently. Seems to like flashy, cameos too much.

Yes, check my post above - I named the more important OOC players to retain: Bugg, Balic, Keilty, Harmes, Johnstone. We shopped Kent around last year. No takers so it isn't a matter of being 'squeezed' out this year as he is probably a better player than most of those I've named. Simply, there is no place for DH's on our list or most AFL lists.

Thanks for giving the gist of the article, Wb. Kent fails the NDH test and is not a team player. There were no takers for him last year. His manager (correctly) is canvassing the options early, this year. Given how Freo and Eagles are playing he would struggle to get a trade to back 'home'. But GCS might take him, maybe even Carlton or StKilda. But I think he has limited options. When it comes down to other players who are OOC this year, I would rather we keep the likes of Bugg, Balic, Keilty, Harmes, Johnstone. We may see more of these articles if players have had a 'mid-season review'. Edit @poitaI'm guessing the 'midfield minutes' is the saving face pitch his manager is putting out there.

Once it was decided to play Tom Mc forward Lewis' job during the preseason was to tutor Lever. Early this year Lewis said "One of the gaps was a little bit of leadership down back...That's not to say that I'll play there next year but certainly throughout the pre-season, I think I'll train the majority of the time in the backline." Once the season started, Lever was marshalling the backs under Lewis' wise eye - watching but not interfering (and I'm guessing there was a bit of post game debriefing). Now that Lever is out the marshalling role has reverted to Lewis and he did a fine job of it yesterday. Very obvious at the ground not sure if so obvious on tv. Yes, Lewis' weaknesses will be exposed but every player has some and every opp coach will work to exploit them. Lewis has more positives than negatives so for me he stays until Lever returns. @DeeSpenceryou are a fine reporter of training sessions and they are much appreciated. From what you've seen if Lewis is dropped who takes over the marshalling role?

When he was drafted Taylor seemed a bit surprised Petty had fallen through to pick 37 and said something like "we have a fair bit of talent in our defence but he is so good we just had to take him".? Clearly our recruiters were impressed with him and I bet everyone is now very pleased that we took him! Given the training and Casey reports he has done everything asked of him. He isn't Jake Lever but he can certainly come in and play a role. He won't be gifted games (no one does anymore, thank goodness) so when he comes in he will be deemed to be ready. Edit: Just saw this in a Team Selection article: Petty modelled his game on Lever before the Demons plucked him with Pick 37 last November". What a game to debut in, if selected this week!

The AFL has lost the hearing to just have failed in their attempt to just have a 'preliminary hearing' (mini trial). It means that McLachlan and Fitzpatrick end up facing trial and could end up giving evidence in court. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/court-ruling-on-essendon-drugs-saga-edges-afl-boss-nearer-to-trial-20180606-p4zjr8.html They may finally learn that the AFL is not a law unto itself. But the cynic in me thinks they will wheel and deal their way out of it.

1) Not in the eyes of the AFL and Ch7: membership/supporter numbers are the basis of their fixtures (despite their protestations to the contrary) for FTA premium time slots - Count the Thur, Fri and Sat night FTA slots for Ess, Coll, Rich, Carlt, Hawks even in their non-performing years. Simply, Ch 7 want numbers to sell adv time to their sponsors. Also, check out the venues those clubs play at - you rarely see them at low capacity grounds like Kardinia Park or Docklands when they play each other. They play at our home ground while we have to sell games interstate or play at Docklands. 2) Not in the eyes of sponsors: club sponsors want numbers to market their products to. The more the merrier. The profitability of the members is of little interest to them. We make a lot more more money from sponsors than members so they are critical to our financial well being. Again, look at the sponsorship revenue for the aforementioned clubs. It is big because they have a lot of members! 3) Not in the eyes of clubs: once they have you as a member, even as an Armchair, or 3 gamer they can work to make you a full member and get your family on board. (Without those membership options we may not have any country or interstate members). Also, members buy merchandise, adding revenue to the club and revenue and advertising to our sponsors- anyone buy New Balance gear recently? 4) The more members we have the more people at games and so gate revenue goes up. Looking at 'Net Profit' is a very limited view, especially as club costs are 'fixed' - effectively, any additional member is almost 100% profit (after allowing for making up and mailing membership packs). The club would be ecstatic to break last years record so early and grow our membership by over 30% in 4 years. We fans should share that excitement. So, I don't see the point of introducing 'Net Profit' to this thread. imv it simply isn't relevant to the thread nor to the value of increased membership numbers. Enjoy the ride on and off the field!

A few might already know - Hang on a second, I'll call them ☺️ @Roost It@Grand New Flag@Pennant St Dee @Chook in Perth

Taylor has done a fantastic job, no doubt. In an interview a few years ago he said something like - list management is to build the list over the long term, within the context of the coach's game plan and short term list deficiencies. eg Roos said a a competitive, elite mid-field was a top priority so that is where Taylor put his best chips in the first few years: Salem, Tyson, Petracca, Brayshaw, Oliver, Vince, (Cross free as an UFA). Lesser chips on Harmes, ANB, Stretch, Garlett, Hunt, Vandenberg, Bugg. Lifeline to Jetta. With the midfield sorted they were able to add some KPP's - Weideman and Oscar. At this point we had the core list...we weren't able to get the chip for Lever (but eventually we got our man!). When Goodwin started inputting list requirements he was able to specify players to fill out the core list eg more forwards and backs: Melksham, Hibberd, Lewis and the 2017 recruits. So, like other successful clubs it is a team effort, when there is a cohesive plan. That cohesive plan is the key difference pre and post Taylor. Before that it was random recruiting based on power struggles between CEO, Football Manager, Recruiters and Coach. And we ended up with a dog's breakfast of a list. Jackson, Roos and Taylor all came from premiership clubs and they knew what success looks like. The cohesive plan that all bought into was the foundation for Taylor and co's successes.

Funny how those most able to do something blame some else- A few weeks ago Hird blamed Ess for lack of support Thompson blames Evans for not stopping it all Now Jobe blames Ess - says the club were negligent, which is true. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/watson-whacks-bombers-over-supplements-saga-20180523-p4zh2f.html The more people that were involved go back over it (incl Fitzpatrick, Crameri recently) the more likely the truth will trickle out, especially when someone starts defending their patch.

42,218 15 to go! Tomorrow will be the day to break the record. More than two months ahead of last year...

Yep, 48 to go! Definitely countdown time! At this time last year we had 40,549 members then added 1,684 in the following months to reach the 42,233 record by the end of July. Can we add a similar amount in the next months to get to around 44,000? Given how slow membership renewals were late last year, I reckon the club would be quite pleased with that. Edit: 45 to go with @pineapple dee3 membership renewals tomorrow?

Revenue is important to Clubs but Sponsors and TV Broadcasters care about the Numbers. The more members the better FTA broadcast time slots, more profitable opp at the G, more merchandising, more match attendances and more attractive to sponsors etc etc etc.

Thanks for those figures. We've come a long way since the PJ/Roos era started and added some 10,000 members. But disappointingly we are still at the bottom of the Vic teams. I suspect North is somewhere near the same level. Even, Carlton are now 51,860 Anyway, we are moving along slowly and today we are 42,057. Just 178 to go to beat last years record. But sadly I don't think we will reach any great heights this year. I'm at a loss to understand why our membership is not increasing rapidly. One wonders whether, even if we win a Premiership, we will reach the 'dizzy' heights of 50,000 members let alone the fantasy land 70,000 to 90,000 levels of the big clubs.

Just when Ess thought their season could not get any worse: "My point of view is that it was almost certainly performance enhancing," Fitzpatrick said of the injected substances" https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/retired-afl-chairman-adds-to-bombers-woes-20180515-p4zfb1.html Doesn't get any more damning than! Fitzpatrick would know! The doping saga will haunt them forever and a day!

July 31, Saty

The tally was quietly sitting in the 'Membership' part of the website. I'm thinking it is now writ big on the Home page as the club are confident of breaking the 42,233 record. Perhaps some doubt earlier. Count is 41,803, so 430 to go. Time to start 'countdown' clock?

My bad. I misread an article on FA's. Will go back and edit my post. Cheers,

Up to a point Steve. While Gaff may choose us, WCE can match the offer and force a trade ala Dangerfield from Adelaide. It would probably mean us trading out a top player to WCE (or to some else to get the required pick) as I don't think we can trade the 2019 1st round pick. WCE would make a call once they know where they finish on the ladder. The higher up the more likely to force a trade as their 1st round compensation pick would likely be in the mid to late teens. Saints are touted as being very keen altho can't imagine he would go there. As someone else mentioned Jackson flagged we have the salary cap space to go after an FA but finding the currency might get tricky if we are forced into a trade...who/what would we be prepared to give up? Edit: Reckon WCE would ask for Jesse as Kennedy will be 31 this year. To quote @daisycutter phrase: 'computer says no' on such a deal.

Interesting article. I wonder what Sheedy means with this cryptic comment: "I think the supplements saga at Essendon didn't help him [Thompson], it definitely didn't help James Hird so I think that's going to play out in the next five, six years, particularly with the players that got banned and also with Jobe losing his Brownlow Medal," he said on The Footy Show. "I reckon after 10 years it will be interesting to see what happens there." Law suits? Mental health issues? Medical issues? This has become such a mess of so many lives and it need not have been.

The items in the locked room are reported to have Bomber's DNA on them. The largest item seized during the raid was 839.7 grams of MDMA which reportedly was not in the locked room. Re this item: "Senior Constable Bourke said the 839.7 grams of MDMA was contaminated by the clandestine drug unit so DNA could not be found but police were still investigating a connection between these drugs and the 54-year-old". https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/bomb-tatts-and-bang-bang-police-allege-large-money-exchanges-between-thompson-and-drug-accused-20180502-p4zcwr.html It beggars belief that a specialised group of cops could contaminate evidence but somehow they did...

Now 41,438. About 1,500 ahead of this time last year. And need just 795 to better last year's record of 42,233.? Easily by the end of May...

One of Hird's assistant coaches at the time is now our senior coach...just saying... In the Bigger Boardroom of our State the two highest public office bearers are die hard Essendon supporters. And I recall a shady character 'convincing' witnesses not to show up at the ASADA hearing. And another anonymous character paid Hird's very hefty legal bills/damages. So the tentacles of possible influence extend far and wide.

The Spargo family makes history https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/spargo-family-makes-history-in-charlie-s-impressive-demons-debut-20180430-p4zcfj.html "His debut meant the Spargo family was the first to produce four league footballers - in a direct line - through four successive generations". Terriffic achievement by the family. Liked his dad's advice on presenting Charlie with his demon jumper: play hard for your teammates, play hard for your jumper. He seems like a feisty puppy with a bit of bite, not unlike Jack Viney. I suspect it won't be long before we have a 'Spargo Made Me Cry' thread. ?