Lucifers Hero

Came across this table in an article about Weitering vis a vis his contemporaries after each had played 45 games. Green = very good, Red = very poor. Lever played his 45th game around the middle of 2017 so stats are still current. Lever's weaknesses are Pressure Points, Tackles and especially one-on-one contest losses ie those things that require close work on the opp player/contest. He is an elite interceptor but not yet an elite defender. He will be when he overcomes those three weaknesses. I have no doubt he will.

...and no prizes for guessing who is on Ch 7 tonight? Yep, Carlton!! Not quite a marquee time slot but a premium time nonetheless, with more Sat night broadcasts to come. This favouritism is plain wrong! And guess who is playing them - North. Channel 7 may need to use pretend crowd noise as I can't see many supporters from either team going. Enthralling viewing. Not!

A few clubs drinking own bathwater this year: Blues, Ess, Crows, Saints. All thought the 2017 season (or rnd 1, 2018) has set them up for a good year. In the words of Gomer Pyle: Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

@Leoncelli_36 Wondering if it is worth changing thread title to show it is about AFL venue upgrades...your call.

Brayshaw in http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-04-13/brayshaw-back-for-first-game-of-season The emergencies are Billy Stretch, Mitch Hannan, Sam Weideman and Jayden Hunt.

Is that good mail? If it is, Salem should be Off legs immediately and should not play. We just can't risk another of our top talents being out for months by playing them when we shouldn't. Refer Trengove, Viney and McDonald! It would be a cruel twist of fate if Salem is grounded just as he was finding really good form. But better out for a few games now than risk more injury and having him out for months.

od, it is being discussed on this thread

...and the Pies have gone all quiet "The club is the only one in the AFL yet to reveal its numbers publicly this year... Collingwood recorded 75,000 members last year but is now believed to be trailing that by around 10,000 "!! https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/collingwood-may-be-keeping-2018-membership-total-secret-due-to-sliding-numbers-says-garry-lyon/news-story/ee7a5db72ccc18a248217924fcc9f4b2 Not sure Eddie's ego could cope for his club to go from the biggest to the 4th biggest...

Here is an updated article: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/andrews-government-set-to-splash-cash-on-footy-stadiums-20180412-p4z9bg.html The 'cash splash' has the makings of classic 'pork-barelling'!! Nonetheless mfc could get involved: 1) The Etihad precint earmarked to get $225 million. Could we piggy back that? The Docklands area has been on our radar in the past. There is 'Docklands Park', a rather barren looking grassed area. It could be put to much better use for many sports/community uses while keeping its 'open space' aspect. Plenty of room for a footy oval, MFC trainining and admin facilities etc. And cbd and southbank dwellers could use good community sporting/recreational facilities. 2) Part of the broader plan is for major development of the MCG, including revamp of the Southern Stand - not sure if this means just the arena itself or includes the wider precinct. Is it feasible that part of Gosch's paddock be converted to a proper oval and facilities befitting an AFL club, with other community and commercial facilities? The article says this has been two years in the making. Suspect it is no coincidence that we have sold Leighoak to get some capital and put our 'chips on the table'. Also, Peter Jackson seemed upbeat about finding 'a spot' with commercial facilities (in or around the cbd) this year. Would be shattered if 1/2 billion dollars is spent in around AFL cbd venues and we don't feature. Edit: Just saw this quoting Eddie: “A concourse will be built and a redevelopment of Richmond station ... so that you’ll never have to put your foot on the road again at Brunton Avenue or Punt Road....There’ll be cafes, there’ll be food trucks, there’ll be all sorts of areas. You know what we saw on grand final night in Swan Street, that’s what it’ll be like at the MCG and Etihad (Stadium).” My hopes of MFC being involved are looking futile

Surprised to see all of ANB, Harmes and Melksham in the starting 18 and IMO should consider themselves lucky given who the i/change players are. Tyson out due to illness. I/change from: Angus Brayshaw, Billy Stretch, Bayley Fritsch, Mitch Hannan, Sam Weideman, Jayden Hunt, Jeff Garlett, Josh Wagner You would think that Garlett is definitely in - then ???? Depends on speed needed and match ups. Also, its a replacement for an NT game so members get in free: Looking ahead to this round’s clash, Goodwin urged the Melbourne faithful to come out in force for what promises to be a fascinating encounter.

Not if we subtract the number of Saints members that have handed back their memberships ...want their money back!

This is going to be a blockbuster which is great for our revenue as it is our Home game. But it also means tickets may be hard to come by. Over on 'bigfooty' there is a thread and on Monday afternoon this was posted: "Continuing to sell out the top bays. Q49 completely sold out, Q50 and 51 on sale. Only one bay left on the wing on level 1 and the goal bays are selling too...Get on so you can go on the night!" And it seems the club may have some ticket upgrades available for members. Also on big footy thread: "Just got on board $10 upgrade to premium seating area (level 1 wing) available for GA members. Good viewing areas selling out fast. GA members will be nosebleeds (and not on the wing)". Also read in DL's '2018 Membership' thread that MCC reserved seats are sold out. (By the by we tipped over the 40,000 member level yesterday, almost a month earlier than in 2017 so heading for a new membership record). Without a reserved seat members and non-members will need to queue up early, especially if family and friends want to sit together. But if it is a sell out may have trouble getting in.

I would like to see Eddie's face when that happens!!!

We have reached the 40,000 mark!! Must have taken the club a few days to process the weekend membership signings. As of this evening the tally is: 40,012 Almost a month ahead of last year. We reached 40,083 on May 7, 2017.

Yes, Worsfold is a clever coach/tactitian. At Ess he just has dumb players who get lazy and who can't or won't carry out instructions!

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/jake-lever-adding-new-dimension-to-melbournes-defence-says-teammate-neville-jetta/news-story/cae88833a283c5785af2cc0a51e1faf6 In that article, Jetta talks about Lever's role/impact. Of course he will be upbeat but I found this significant: "...Lever finally showed glimpses of his best form in Melbourne’s 37-point win over North Melbourne on Saturday...He racked up 20 disposals and took six marks, re-finding his voice to marshal and organise ...[the] Demons backline". Jetta said: “The way he’s able to see the game and help blokes around him...". Therein are the 'intangibles' that supporters, commentators etc not on the field cannot see/hear and will never see/hear so its a bit rich judging him from afar. For now, Lever has a job to learn and kudos to him for how he is applying himself to the craft of one-on-one defending. In time he will become our backline general. I reckon one of Lewis' jobs is to teach Lever everything he knows about defence structures, tempo, positioning etc etc as each game unfolds. I will go with Goodwin - give Lever 6-8 weeks before judging.

Votes from the game: 3 - Balic 2 - Weideman 1 - Pederson Vote 'apologies' to Brayshaw and Hannan. Not in the votes but a good rap for Petty: "who was among the best. Despite his stats reading just 12 disposals and three marks, Petty’s influence in marking contests and ability to read the ball in defence was elite. At just 18 years of age, Petty looked comfortable at VFL level and is certainly one to watch this season". It is great to now have the 'luxury' of letting these talents develop at VFL before rushing them into the seniors.

AFLCA - Max is 3rd overall LEADERBOARD 26 Tom Mitchell (Haw) 23 Rory Laird (Adel) 19 Max Gawn (Melb) 18 Stephen Coniglio (GWS) 18 Nat Fyfe (Frem) 16 Lance Franklin (Syd) 15 Stefan Martin (Bris) 15 Steele Sidebottom (Coll) 14 Gary Ablett (Geel) 14 Brodie Grundy (Coll) 14 Jesse Hogan (Melb) 14 Dustin Martin (Rich) Good to see Jesse also among the leaders, equal 10th.

Not sure we should assume that the NM votes were from Scott. I thought Cunnington deserved votes. Bit surprised one coach gave him zero The big surprise was that one coach gave Petracca zero. He was certainly ahead of Brown (2) and Kent (2) who I thought were both lucky to be in the votes. Petracca should have got one of those (2) from the coach that gave him zero.

Looks like Jetta and Frost are in the clear: "Only one other player faces suspension from the weekend's games, with Bulldog Zaine Cordy offered a week for striking Cale Hooker of the Dons...Richmond's Alex Rance can accept a $2000 fine for striking Hawthorn's Luke Breust...Nine other players have also been fined, while a match day report on Greater Western Sydney's Matt de Boer was thrown out". I'm guessing they are fined or completely exonerated https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/bomber-could-be-in-hot-water-over-alleged-bite-20180409-p4z8i9.html Dog act by McKenna to bite another player.

You were quick to see that post before I realised I had miscounted the days and edited it all out! I need to learn to count. I think we on the same page re player selections/management. Will be an interesting few weeks.

Yep, my bad...I missed the extra days between Hawks and Tigers games. So selections will be business as usual.

IMHO selections will be all about 'match-ups' for short/tall forward lines and for player management as we play 3 critical games in just 8 days: Sunday aft: Hawks (MCG) Tuesday night (Anzac Eve): Tigers (MCG) Sunday aft: Bombers (EH) I wouldn't be surprised if some on-ballers are rotated in/out for those games. Will be a fascinating week of football. A real test for selectors and players.

If we want to 'change the narrative around our club' (Goodwin's words) 'money ball' is a good phrase to not trot out in public! Too easily attached to our very recent but darkest, darkest days and worst ever coach. I cringe whenever I hear it.

What I took from that article was more about Clarrie: “I think the most impressive thing from yesterday was the way Clayton Oliver got through the heavy tag from Ben Jacobs yesterday,” Adam Cooney said. “It was really smart the way he went about it, he wasn’t his usual prolific self in the midfield, but he just kept trying and working and when you’re a young player it’s hard mentally to deal with a tag and he just showed great maturity. “That’s what Aaron Hall didn’t do at the Gold Coast yesterday, he raised the white flag as soon as Bailey Banfield went to him.” Clarrie never takes a backward step! Can't see him ever raising a white flag to a tagger. Going on Adam Cooney's comment quoted above he dealt with the tag just fine! Hopefully, he will soon get the same reward Adam Cooney did. We could do with another Brownlow medalist