Lucifers Hero

I've noticed that when I receive a PM I don't receive a notification to my personal email address. Is this anything to do with the new server? Thanks

The whole article http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-05-28/we-can-compete-with-the-best-gawn "{the crows win}... was another example of the new-found killer instinct Simon Goodwin demanded after he sensed his players were happy to coast to wins". That is the most stunning part of our last five wins! This is the steely resolve we have been waiting for; no longer mentally weak. If the team keeps that 'killer instinct', changing the players' headspace may go down as Goodwin's major achievement this year as without it we wouldn't get the on-field results.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-05-28/initial-expectations-got-to-me-says-lever The article is about Lever but his comment about Jones made me laugh: "But I can see Nathan Jones – I hear he was a bit of a grumpy bastard before I came and now he's smiling every day. "I think this is the first time in his career he's won five in a row, so for him to be a part of that is fantastic and he's really driving the standards around the club."

...and they gave him SIX free kicks! I reckon the umpires were well aware of the tough talk in Adelaide media and the likes of Wallace stirring the pot, so were very watchful of Crows play on Lever. Goodwin said the only conversation with Lever pre game was to remind him 'to be aggressive at the ball'. Lever is a smart young man he knew what that meant. Credit to him for keeping his cool and didn't give away a single free. He let his actions do the talking, as did the whole team.

Not only have we won 18 consecutive quarters but no team has had a run of goals against us since the Rich game: 5 games ago! That was the big bogey last year and early this year - that bogey has been slain!! Also, we played it out to the very end and never let up - grit and determination right there. This was an outstanding win! Dare I say it: The day we announce ourselves to the footy world!

Carlton also did us a favour by denying Geelong a huge percentage boost. Vs Carlton, ours went up by 14% last week but Geelong's went up by just 3% last night. Could be very important for the final ladder positions.

He would be a terrible choice. Firstly, he got the sack from the AFL. Showed very poor judgement. A CEO needs to set standards and he would come with a bit of baggage. Apparently, he turned down the Bulldogs CEO job because they are a lowly club. He thought he would just walk into the Carlton job or the Collingwood CEO jobs but there Boards looked elsewhere. Eventually he took the lower job as Football Manager job at a 'lowly', St Kilda (Gil's club). Hopefully, our Board is strong enough to resist any overtures by Gil on behalf of his mate Lethlean. He probably sees us as potentially successful so wants to jump on the band wagon but he would come to the Demons for the wrong reasons - his status and ego. No thanks. A backward step. Keep him away from our club.

Yes atm we play ok at Marvel. But the MCG is our home. That should be our fortress. Carlton play 5 or 6 of their Home games at the G. Their Home ground is Marvel - send them back there.

This has often been discussed on Demonland. It makes so much sense - the long haul flight, the humidity etc. At last that is being discussed by the club: “We need the AFL to address the fixture. At the moment it’s played at a time that doesn’t allow you to provide an adequate recovery period in the form of byes.” said Peter Jackson. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/demons-want-bye-after-darwin-game-20180525-p4zhla.html Jackson is even hinting that we may not play in Darwin beyond this year. But it would probably mean playing the Home game at Marvel stadium (Etihad) as we are contracted to play only nine games at the G. (I must admit the nine games was a surprise - we've been bumped out by Carlton and Essendon and i/state teams). If Jackson gets us out of Darwin as his parting 'gift' we will all be very happy!

...Wallace was bending the knees to milk a 'head high' free, ala Selwood...wasn't he ?

Having thought a bit more about mfc courting Alistair Nicholson to replace PJ, I feel a bit underwhelmed. If he gets the CEO gig, I hope it doesn't ruffle too many feathers with possible internal candidates. Also, a bit surprised that our moves have leaked to the media. Very unlike mfc of the Jackson era. Maybe it was from the cricket world which tends to leak like a sieve.

Not sure how I feel about this... "Fairfax Media understands Alistair Nicholson has been sounded out by the Demons to replace outgoing chief executive Peter Jackson, who announced earlier this month he would be stepping down at the end of the year". Bit of a homecoming, I guess. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-s-players-boss-in-line-to-be-demons-chief-20180523-p4zh22.html He has the football player experience and the sporting management experience, albeit on the player side. Not dissimilar background to Gale at Richmond and Finnis at St Kilda who both went into CEO Club roles from player Associations. If he is the club's choice then I'm behind him.

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.

Love listening to him talk about the Dees. He praises eagerly and is measured in criticisms. And, he is not shy to openly support players. In that article he talks of Tom Mc and Jesse. Numerous times, even when both were injured and most on here had doubts, he talked up Salem and Brayshaw, if played in position. (Both now are and we are seeing the benefits). I really like that every now and then he lets slip 'we' when talking about one of games. He genuinely wants to see us do well and is like a proud dad when players or the team perform.

Every chance that Garlett, if not selected will be the traveling emergency. I don't mind that outcome.

While we wouldn't want to lose Mahoney, it might be good for his career to work in a different role in the AFL world, be it at another club or in AFL House. Or even another sporting code. I mentioned in the earlier PJ thread that in my experience, to be really ready for a CEO role (in any type of organisation) the person needs a variety of experience in different parts of their industry and across disciplines (perhaps in the same or different industry). For mine, Mahoney does not yet have enough experience to move into a CEO role. I doubt missing out on our CEO role would be the catalyst for him to go. He doesn't seem the 'spit the dummy type'. But he may leave before too long to further his career. If/when he does, I would say: Great job, well done for the Demons and all the best for the future. Go with every Dees supporter's thanks and blessing.

Agree a person from within: George De Crespigny, currently our Chief Commercial Officer and I reckon he was brought in to understudy Jackson - no info, just my guess. The AFL aren't going to let go its oversight of mfc to quickly and GDeC is an ex AFL person. Re Lethlean - doesn't pass the NDH test, altho Gil would be very keen to see his 'great mate' in a CEO job. Re Trigg - doubt he would leave SA again. He has just taken a role with Adelaide 36er's I really hope it is De Crespigny. He has been with PJ thru all the major asset, financial and sponsorship decisions. He is on the same page as the Board in club direction. He would have his own ideas on how to take the club further and could weave them into our strategy. For mine, it is not a time to 'rock the boat' with a new outside person who would want to make 'their mark' and start reinventing stuff. Given that the club has preached 'stability' on and off the filed since PJ and Roos arrived I would be very surprised if we went outside the club - with the proviso of no meddling from the AFL.

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

All based on some flaky concept of "whether the loss of players would damage a club enough to compromise competitive balance". which could mean you loose your best player but if you are perceived to have a 'strong' team or a handful of other good players the loss won't damage the club so no compensation. 4th round is exactly that, no compensation. Explains why the AFL wanted to wait til the poaching was done to decide on compensation. Cranston alone was worth a decent comp pic, not to mention our marquis player/vice captain Hickey.

An article today about Tom Lynch (Adelaide variety) described Melbourne as being 'cashed up' ie have salary cap space. This is really no surprise as: The salary cap went up by $2.0m per annum last year. That is a lot of extra bikkies to spread around. More than half our list would be well below the average AFL contract of about $350K because they are new to AFL football or had considerable time out for injuries. And a fair few would not be that much higher. The club would have earmarked the money for these guys when their contracts expire. Our 3 players over 30 will free up a fair amount of cap space in a year or two as will players we lose at the end of the year. So I can see that we can pay Tom and get an FA. I am very, very confidant the club has salary cap management well under control. I'm not sure why people worry about what $$ we pay Tom, Oscar or anyone else. The club will strike fair deals with players they want to keep and who want to stay. That includes Tom and Oscar and hopefully Gus, Nev and a few others out of contract this year...and a future FA.

Similar thinking. While it was Tyson that was dropped to bring in Viney, I think it is Harmes who has ousted Tyson from the starting 22. In addition to the traits you mention Harmes is very good as a run-by and link up player, has a bit of aggro and as he says in the article above he is now being tackled and caught HTB less often. Tyson really has one string to his bow: in and under work, so he may find it very hard to get back into the team. Harmes has gone past him in the same role. I recall an interview with Harmes when he came off the rookie list onto the seniors and he said something like 'I know I'm a fringe player but I'm going to give it my best shot'. It would be true to say that now he is not a fringe player nor is he depth - he is a bona fide starting 22. Well done, he is doing it the hard way. His determination and hard work is paying dividends for him.

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?

Agreed. We are a flexible team now and can adapt to different ground shapes. It was always going to be and still is how much the players want finals and beyond. On that note, Viney seems to have taken last year's missed finals to heart more than any other player. In last week's interviews I noticed a serious and very steely resolve. He will make sure teammates want finals as badly as he does and he is desperate.

Our finals (and top 4 chances) took quite a leap this weekend. Not only from our own fine efforts but thanks to Ess and Lions taking care of Cats and Hawks (and some of their percentage) - two of our competitors for those slots. Of our remaining 13 games only 6 are against current top 8 teams: Crows * 2, Port, Cats, Syd, WCE. Obviously they are all 8 point games - there are some challenges but we will win some of them. Of the 7 games vs teams outside the 8, the main threat is GWS in the last round by which time they will have their injured and elite players back. Lesser threats are Bulldogs * 2 and Pies. We have stopped drinking our bath water, sorted out our defence, play out 4 quarters, and put teams to the sword so it is hard to see us not making the 8 and pushing for top 4. WCE don't play the G well and Richmond don't win away from the G. Final ladder positions and 'home ground' will be crucial to a teams chances of making it through to GF. So, it will be another wide open finals series. And to pinch the 2016 Bulldog's mantra: Why not us!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-05-21/talks-ongoing-but-dee-happy-with-contract-status#/ Talks started early this year but stalled when he was injured and missed games so that he/the club could see how he performed as a forward week in and week out. He and the club would have set their ambits when talks started and the article quotes Tom "I don't think one game changes much. I've been playing football for Melbourne for seven years, this is my eighth year, it is what it is," McDonald said. The club has indicated we have salary cap room to attract a very, very good player. If that is the case we have enough salary cap to keep Tom. All indications are he wants to stay and it would be very hard to see the let him get away. In an earlier interview he said long-term tenure was important to him, so the negotiations could be around the length of contract. I'm confident he will stay a Demon (and that Oscar will).