Lucifers Hero

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.

An article about the stars teams cannot afford to lose. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-05-16/aflw-players-your-team-cant-afford-to-lose "The star: Karen Paxman: The general of Melbourne's star-studded midfield and capable of hitting the scoreboard if required. The role-player: Meg Downie: Injury robbed her of a chance to play properly in the first season but she impressed on tall and small opponents. Even more important now, given the loss of Mel Hickey to Geelong. The young star: Katherine Smith: Emerging leader who is also an incredibly consistent lock-down defender". Obviously the author hasn't heard of Daisy Pearce... She is an out and out star. Fabulous captain and leader. Never gives up. Her teammates stand taller with Daisy in the lead. Love Paxman but instead I would name Daisy as 'The Star' of our show.

"Ebony Marinoff is weighing up a shock move to Melbourne" https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/melbourne-is-aggressively-pursuing-young-adelaide-aflw-star-ebony-marinoff-who-is-weighing-up-her-options/news-story/96785b39401a9249a0660d4404a1e743 She won the 2017 Rising Star and would be an excellent replacement in the midfield for Cranston and is reportedly good friends with Daisy and Paxman as she played with them in the Darebin premiership last year. Not sure when the Trade period officially opens/closes but it happens by the end of May.

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?

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-05-09/mcdonald-brothers-keen-to-stay- Oscar: “We’ve had talks [going] back and forth, and at the moment we’re still talking,” he said...“I’m pretty confident that can happen". Glad his contract is getting sorted. Oscar is rapt with his game and with Goodwin: “In saying that he trusts me to do that role, and he’s identified me as the reliable guy to do that, I take a lot of confidence from that,” Oscar said...I love it.” With Gus, Tom and Oscar in contract talks it leaves only Nev as the 'must sign'. Suspect discussions with him are also underway. EDIT (13/9):

Sage advice from Max to JV: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-05-09/gawns-viney-warning-dont-rush-back-to-afl "But if I could give advice to Jack – I definitely regret not getting a couple of games in the VFL before I came into the AFL." If ever there was a time for a player to get match fitness at a VFL game (or two) this is it as the next next game(s) are vs GCS (and Carlton) which are very winnable without Jack. On the other hand his time could be managed in both those games and he play just 65% for example. An interesting team release tomorrow night. Wouldn't be surprised if Jack plays at Casey this week.

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...

Having improved so much last year it is understandable that he would plateau for a while. But, you make a good point about extra attention. Its not just Viney missing but also Tyson and Jones not being played much in the middle means Clarrie is the only target. In the middle they take some of the load/attention so Clarrie can weave his magic which then allows Salem to add polish on the outside. Clarrie weaving his magic would also help improve the clearance rate from Max's hit out dominance. Win, win all round! So Viney back in will help Clarrie but in the meantime so will Jones and/or Tyson playing in the middle.

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.

Ch7 are reporting Petracca still in hospital having had more surgery on his finger.? Edit - added this Ch 7 update. Get well quickly! Club is confident he will play vs Saints on Sunday.?

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. ?

That is what irks me about this thread. It is nearly always 'bumped' by people to put him down and to bait other posters to defend him. It is not very becoming of them. I no longer discuss Jack's games as it is just feeds the trolls. If this thread was locked a new one would pop up within a few days or the weekly 'Non MFC Games' thread would be derailed. Best to contain the spitefulness to one thread.

JR, each week this thread is nearly always 'bumped' by those who get some weird joy from bagging Watts. They set the bait then lurk for posters to come out and defend him. Some are more open with their bait than others. If the trolls are ignored they will eventually have only themselves and their supporters to wallow with in spite.

He was pushing his luck after the 'Goodwin/camp fiasco' and 'McCartney banished from the coach's box' stories. 'Leaking' the Petracca omission story yesterday was probably the final straw. Let's hope that whoever inside the club is feeding him stories, stops! Or he will still get stuff to write.

Membership is still creeping up: 40,444

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.