Lucifers Hero

Presumably Mahoney and Jackson are aware of the divisions and favouritism - are they working with or mentoring Goodwin to rectify or is it being left to fester.

Its the teams below us we need to beat first! This is our draw for the next 11 weeks: 5 are vs teams below us and 3 vs those immediately above us. If we don't win those 8 it doesn't matter how many of the top 10 we beat. Ideally we win 9/10 of the 11 because 4 of rnds 18 to 23 will be tough to win. Our poor %'age may well be what keeps us out of the finals. Again.

If we can keep Daniher in his current rut we will most likely win. Our game plan is much better suited to Etihad (as it is 20m narrow than the MCG) so its much harder for a team to find an outside player from a stoppage and stream forward. We have had good success at Etihad and we find it easier to defend. It may well be a Bradbury game - last team standing depending on when the fatigue of a short break sets in. I think we will win!

Quite nauseating to see and hear James Hird narrate the pre-game 'tribute'. Couldn't tell if it was shown at the game or just to the TV audience. It seemed more about him and his connection to the ANZAC day game than those the day is commemorating. I get the AFL wants to bring him back into the fold but gobsmacked this day was chosen to showcase him.

That is a really good example of what we as supporters don't see in a player's game: Neal-Bullen had an equal game-high (alongside Liam Shiels) 32 pressure acts against the Hawks, which Misson said was an indicator of his desire and effort. Neal-Bullen finished the game against Hawthorn with 22 disposals, six tackles and a goal (the drought-breaking major in the final term and one of only six Demons goals for the afternoon). "He's just become a really reliable teammate. He plays to all the structures, whatever role he's given he plays that role," Misson said. Clearly he is a player who follows coaching instructions and plays to the 'team first' ethos. Based on the Hawks game he deserves to keep his spot.

Very astute observations. He didn't look happy. This is an interesting pic. From the angle its hard to tell if Max is 10m or 30m from the play. Maybe Max has run a mile and is exhausted or there are other teammates closer to the play but it looks like Lever could do with some help. Max looks like he is taking a stroll in the park.

For those calling for Harmes, ANB, Frost, Melksham as out, they haven't been named in the Casey squad. As I understand the rules, if they are not named they cannot play with Casey this weekend...can someone confirm? If my belief is correct they either are in the senior team/emergencies or they sit out the week. Sitting the week out for them (or some other players) is conceivable if the mc want fresh legs for the Ess game, altho I doubt it.

Could easily add Ricky Petterd and Frosty Miller. And talking of history, yes we do have a very rich history with the Tigers. So this annual game could be the Checker Hughes Cup. Particularly as the game was conceived to honour his distinguished war service and his role at both clubs: A star midfielder for Richmond in three successive Grand Finals, including the 1920-21 triumphs Hughes coached the Tigers into the finals in each of his six seasons, for five Grand Finals and one flag He then took Melbourne to September seven times, culminating in six Grand Finals for four premierships and the first draw (against Essendon). And, re named us from Fuschias to the Demons we are today. To read more of his life and the ANZAC Eve dedication see this article. It is a long read but really worth it. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-04-24/frank-checker-hughes-war-hero-and-giant-of-two-clubs A photo from the article: Demon Royalty, right there. 20 plus Demon Premierships between them. Oh, those were the days... If our team on Tuesday can harness a fraction of the competitiveness and courage of those guys, we will win.

Some good insights and a very nice first contribution. Thank you.

Membership is still creeping up: 40,444

A good request from Jones to be patient with Lever http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-04-18/levers-start-with-dees-has-been-rocky Interestingly he says: "Judge him in another five, six or seven weeks when he starts to become the general down there..." I wonder how our AA players, Hibberd and Jetta feel about Lever being the 'General' so quickly and if it is affecting their games? It will be a big responsibility being put on Lever's shoulders while he is learning a new role in a new team with a different game plan. Perhaps, they should just let the kid settle into the backline, develop cohesion with the other back men for the season. He can watch how Lewis works, and plenty of time to ramp up the responsibility after Lewis moves out of the backline.

A really good insight into how Clarkson brilliantly neutralised our center bounce strategy: "Against the Hawks, Melbourne started centre bounces without players lining up in the traditional wing position. Angus Brayshaw and Jordan Lewis lined up off the back of the square, with James Harmes or Neal-Bullen regularly charged with playing as Melbourne's seventh forward...Hawthorn's Isaac Smith and Harry Morrison originally started in traditional wing positions in the first term, before the Hawks made the call to man up Lewis/Brayshaw and Harmes/Neal-Bullen". http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-04-18/how-wingless-hawks-strangled-dees Its no wonder they roved brilliantly to Max's hitouts and won the clearance count. Unfortunately, we didn't have a counter plan and they led us a merry dance for three quarters.

Could have my hunch about 'Docklands Park' or 'Gosch's Paddock' been correct? Caroline Wilson is quoted as saying: '...What I think has happened is the AFL asked for $300m... but they ended up getting $225m to redevelop the Docklands ground and some precinct around it,” Wilson said ... A parcel of land has been virtually given to the AFL... ' . https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/report-afl-set-to-move-headquarters-as-part-of-deal-with-victorian-state-government/news-story/4207e7f52f339404e81bcd5dc2cfdbbe There isn't much public land around either Etihad or the MCG. So could it be 'Docklands Park' (or one of the smaller park lands nearby). The article speculates the land could be close to the MCG (but less likely) which effectively means part of the carpark or 'Gosch's Paddock'. Interesting that the government has gone all secret on which parcel of land has been gifted... Still can't help but think that our facilities are involved in this deal...Leighoak sale was strategic and no mere accident of timing and PJ said they will have found a spot this year. Lets hope this our facilities are part of this land deal

Agreed. Our 2017 jumper had on the back, the silhouette of the lone bugler standing in a battle field which was very moving. It seems Richmond have copied the idea. This year they have a silhouette of a lone soldier standing in a poppy field. Not quite as moving as the bugler tho. I like that again the club has captured the spirit of ANZAC by having the silhouette of a soldier carrying his fallen mate. A tingling image.

I would have thought so. But 'match fitness' no longer seems a major consideration for players who have been in the system for a few years. eg J Kennedy Eagles, Tex Walker, G Ablett. Of course, the risk is they can't contribute enough at AFL level or overdo it and breakdown again.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-04-17/lewis-to-miss-richmond-clash-with-injury Neville Jetta (ankle) – test Jordan Lewis (hand) – 1-2 weeks Tom McDonald (foot) – 2-3 weeks Pat McKenna (hamstring) – indefinite Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) – 8-10 weeks Jack Viney (foot) – 3-4 weeks Extracts: "Tom McDonald (foot) – 2-3 weeks He’ll actually train with the group a little bit on Saturday morning. We actually expect Tom to potentially be available for the Essendon game.” And, "We think Aaron will probably get a couple of VFL games in before the bye and then we’ll see what happens after that bye week.” The Ess game is less than 2 weeks away so it will be a huge effort if Tom gets up for it. I'm torn between saying we need him to play and hoping we don't bring him back too early.

Out for one to two weeks with a broken hand suffered in the 2nd qtr on Sunday. Probably, explains why he payed poorly after. I guess it means there will be no need to drop him to Casey...

So do I od but for different reasons. In the last trade period clubs watched us cave in on both the Lever and Watts deals where we gave up to much for Lever and didn't get enough for Watts. Don't wish to revisit the pros and cons of those deals. Suffice to say the perception would be that mfc will blink first so clubs reckon they can get overs for their players and get ours on the cheap.

Didn't take long for other clubs to come sniffing - "Angus Brayshaw’s non-selection for the first three rounds of the season has also led to seven rival clubs showing various levels of interest in the out-of-contract ball-winner, whose brothers — Hamish and Andrew — live in Perth and play for West Coast and Fremantle respectively....The Dockers are believed to be one of these clubs keeping a close eye on the concussion-plagued Brayshaw. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/fremantle-poised-to-make-bigmoney-moves-for-jeremy-mcgovern-and-jesse-hogan-with-an-eye-on-angus-brayshaw/news-story/e1b90ef950ed62a9db2ee841a96000c4 The writer does add that "... there is no suggestion Brayshaw wants out but...the lure of consistent opportunities could prove to be a decisive factor in weighing up his future". It was good to see Gus play a really good first up game yesterday. Let's hope the coaches keep playing him to give him some consistency, which he hasn't had for several years for a variety of reasons. Note - I have ignored the speculation about Hogan in that article. It is a repeat of the same stuff year after year and Freo will continue to ask.

Good post. Apologies for selective quoting - those highlights show the essence of the problem. 1) The best coaches develop game plans to suit their team so even the weakest player can effectively play his role. But Goodwin seems determined to stick to a game plan that doesn't match our squad so our lesser players perform poorly and the better players look average. I totally agree with your comment that we don't have the players for an aggressive zone. Even if we don't go back entirely to one on one defending we must stop pushing all our defenders up to the midfield. It is no accident other teams play with a 'press' but keep a formation in their back half. 2) More than that. I question whether the aggressive zone (or any zone) is suited to the width of the MCG. It is 12 to 30 meters wider than other major AFL ovals. This makes it too easy for opp to get the ball to the outside and out the back. Of the 15 games we have played at the G under Goodwin we have won only 7: In 2017 - Carlton (x2), Coll, Saints, Power, Lions. In 2018 - North. So we might win at the G against lesser teams but the aggressive zone just won't stand up against the better drilled teams or the better game day coaches. That is a shocking record on our Home deck. Most teams have pared back their use of zones. Even the Eagles tempered their 'web' after they were demolished in the GF by Hawthorn, a few years ago. We need a game plan that will win on the G! We have enough history to show our current game plan with our current squad does not work there. 3) I fear that Goodwin is so committed to his game plan that he won’t change it regardless. It could be lacks humility or doesn’t know how to fix the problems. Both are a worry.

His aerial work is excellent and we know he is learning one on one defence. But today was the first time I had noticed how very poor he is below the knees and doesn't bend down for the ground ball. And when he does he loses his balance and falls over while the ball sails post. I agree with others that trying to fit him into our backline has meant we have lost the best of Jetta, Hibberd and Hunt. But Lever isn't the sole reason for that. Our new defence coach has changed things a bit and that would also contribute to Jetta, Hibberd and Hunt losing their edge. At the mo they all look confused and I have real doubts that Chaplin has any answers. The backline needs to work as a team and re-find its mojo for Lever to reach his potential - he can't (nor should he be expected to) improve on his own.

you are such a romantic ET... ...Tennyson would be proud of your ability to play on his words...

Very true. 1-8-6 is indelibly written on my soul... ...which only a premiership can erase

We were 186 bad!

Lions seem to have had a rough draw to start the year. - The 4 games so far vs Saints, Demons, Port and Tigers and - 3 of 4 games intertsteate: 2 trips to Victoria and 1 to Adelaide. No wonder they've run out of puff. Would like to see them win a few especially against the teams I really hate (have only moderate dislike for Lions which is the best I can give to any AFL side).