Lucifers Hero

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!

That is exactly my point. CHF seems his 'natural position' (with stints elsewhere) but we have about 6 players rotating thru those roles. Petracca looks a bit 'lost' roaming around like a high half forward/mid. I get what coaches are aiming for with 'flexibility'. Maybe 'flexibility' isn't for him. Some players are best suited to play a role, some players are best suited to play a position. I feel Petracca is the latter. I would really like to see him played as CHF for a few weeks, let him settle there and see how that works. He is so good we can build our whole forward line around him being our 'anchor' and have others rotate around him. I happen to think if we had a bit less 'flexibility' up forward there would be less i50's that ricochet straight back out as it would give the deliverers more certainty on who and where the forwards will be. So for a variety of reasons would really like to see Petracca settle at CHF for a while.

Not trying to be critical and not overly worried (altho 3 goals in 6 games is not a great return). To me he looks out of sorts and think it could be the position he is playing in (not playing in). Like Brayshaw and Salem - put them in their 'natural positions' and off they go! Just can't see what that position is for Petracca in our current line up. The four talls rotating forward take up his marking space and the small/mediums take up his crumbing space. Genuinely interested in folks thoughts of his position to get the best from him.

I noticed this article about our 'awesome foursome' forward line http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-05-12/melbournes-awesome-foursome-here-to-stay and immediately thought: Hogan, McDonald, Weideman and Petracca. But Petracca wasn't one of them - Max was the fourth. And the coach says the four are there to stay. Petracca's 'natural position' is forward often playing as the 'third' tall forward. Early this year he featured in an article about he, Hogan and Oliver rotating forward and midfield. With the return of Tom Mc and four talls rotating down forward that strategy has been turned on its head a bit (for the better). Not sure where it leaves Petracca... I never get overawed by stats so for Petracca they aren't a concern. But that he doesn't seem to impact his games this year on the scoreboard or around the field is worrying. So, With the four talls rotating forward and the bevy of small/medium forwards is it 'too crowded' down forward for him to excel? Is the blossoming of Brayshaw and Salem, brilliance of Oliver and pending return of Viney making the midfield space a bit 'too crowded'? By 'too crowded' I don't mean too many and I recognise we can never have too many terrific layers. I simple ask is he/the club struggling to find his best spot in our current line up. Or is it his work rate? Both? He has shown patches of brilliance and his potential is immense but something isn't working. Yesterday was one of his worst games for a long time. I've no doubt he will become a star and watch out when he does! But approaching 50 games he should be having a greater impact (ala Salem, Brayshaw, Oliver) in at least some games. My question is within our new line up what position is Christian's to own?

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.

Its click bait, folks! The article makes it clear the Club wants to sign him up and Gus wants to stay. If feeling doubtful listen to him as a guest on the AFL Exchange podcast. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-05-08/podcast-how-a-demon-got-his-mojo-back around the 15 minute mark. He says something like: It is a romantic idea to play your career at one club and it definitely is attractive to him...hopefully what the club is building is worth more than money". Listen to his tone of voice - very genuine. After two years of setbacks he deserves a few months to establish his credentials for a decent contract - same as Tom Mc is doing to establish his credentials as a forward before re-signing. Gus is mature enough to block out the media noise and just focus on his game. As an aside, on Tom's contract, Gus says: “Everyone knows Tom is Melbourne thru and thru. No one at the club concerned that he will leave. He loves the club and they love him.” The podcast is worth listening to, especially the first half as there is a bit of chat about the Dees. Gus is an engaging and articulate young man. He is a real asset to our club on and off the field.

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.

I'm a Redlegs member and have to suffer next to pie supporters on QB. The Dees supporting mate lends him and his kids Redleg passes his friends/families do not use. Also, our members buy guest passes for opp supporter friends. Technically guests are not allowed into the Redlegs/Trident (there is a separate area for them and their guests) but security let them in anyway. Have been a Redlegs member for nearly 20 years primarily so that I don't have to sit near opp supporters. Needless to say having opp supporters in our reserved areas is very off putting and really reduces enjoyment of the game, especially QB.

Membership is still creeping up: 40,444