Lucifers Hero

I read that Lever's manager is Ned Guy so I googled him and sure enough works for McDonaldSports and Lever is on their talent list: http://mcdonaldsports.com.au/talent/adelaide/ Connors may be right about Lever coming to the dees, but he is not his manager. So there is the possibility he doesn't know for sure. One can only guess why Connors is talking about someone else's client at an Old Xavs function. Maybe be he wanted to talk up Petracca's asking price next year or those of his other Demon clients.

Here is the confirmation, DJ. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-13/gun-giant-extends-his-deal-until-2020 He has extended to end of 2020.

Only when they refer to your comments that are OTT, insulting to a poster or are high horsed about something. Don't know why you signalled me out - others respond the same way to similar posts but whatever. ..tbh I'm surprised anyone tracks the likes to their own posts, let alone likes to other people's posts about them but whatever.

Hope that isn't correct! Especially as earlier this year Lewis was encouraging the young guys to stick together as a team even if it means forfeiting some money along the way. We have quite a few top end players to accommodate: Petracca, Oliver, Gawn, Viney, McD, Hogan who will all be looking for big $$ in the next two years. There will be clubs out there making big offers to those guys even if they don't have elite years. Will be hard to keep the team together if they are all looking for near $1m contracts! And our next tier (Tyson, Brayshaw, Hunt, ANB, Garlett etc) need to be looked after as well.

So sad to see Jack go. He fought so hard to come back and play. A testament to his dedication. Good luck, Jack. You'll always be a demon favourite. My favourite Jack moment was the tackle on Danger!

Updated for loss of Spencer, Hulett, White and Trengove. Especially sad to see Jack go :-( Table now shows our position re list spots and draft picks. Table has also been updated to show games played as at end of 2017. Note: The list spot available from Lumumba's departure is allocated to J. Smiths senior's appointment and a late draft pick (eg #82) will be used. So we have 3 Seniors List spots and at least 1 Rookie Spot. Given Maynard's game at the weekend I wouldn't be surprised to see him upgraded to the seniors list, depending on how many trades we do. As a minimum he would be re-rookied. Edit: Ignore the table below - Can't seem to delete it. It is superseded by the one above. Edit: Image deleted

Misson's EOS http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-09-12/end-of-season-injury-summary So many foot injuries! Smith, Vand, Viney! Viney's sounds serious. Why they brought him back after only two weeks is beyond me. Not to sure what to make of the report on Jesse. "Jesse, with that hamstring [injury], was pretty close to coming back and actually playing again after half-time [against Collingwood in round 23]. He wasn’t really confident with his flat-out sprinting, so he didn’t want to risk that. He would’ve been pretty close to playing [in the first week of the finals], if we had have made it. " Is that contradictory? TBH, even if he wasn't confident with 'sprinting flat out', surely parking him in the goal square was preferable to the bench making us down a player and rotations in rnd 23. Dangerfield kicked 5 a few months ago in similar circumstances. Were we saving Jesse for the Elim final...the one that never came...

Lack of currency will hurt as they don't have a 1st rnd pick. Their picks: 20, 34, 52. They might get some OK FA compensation picks from the AFL if Motop or Menzel go. I don't think they have taken a 1st round pick to the draft since 2014 so doubt the AFL will let them use their 2018 pick. Essendon are reported to be making a big play for Stringer so it will be interesting to see how it all plays out and where it leaves Ablett... With the list structure and talent problems you've mentioned, Geelong could slide down the ladder fairly rapidly! Win the SS games and struggle elsewhere. Chris can join Brad in the lower half of the ladder...

Sure it removed the immediate pressure but will make it harder to get to club of his choice. The old adage of "Cutting off the nose to spite the face" comes to mind.

One would think Collingwood, St Kilda, North, Carlton and even Geelong are crying out for a KPF. Whether he gets to Rich depends how generous Lions feel to get him to the club of his choice rather than just back to Victoria, as he is under contract. The kid did himself no favours by re-signing mid year. Feel for him - very poorly advised.

Re @Demonlandquestion in the opening post on whether Goodwin spoke about the Dees. I picked up two things: 1. That Gus is fine and long term will play as an inside mid-fielder. 2. When asked about Lever he played with a very straight bat and in Roos style said nothing. Am quoting this so people can read it again. As you say he is doing a job for RSN. His finals segments went for about 45 minutes. If people listen to it they will see there is no reason to criticise him for commenting on finals teams and games.

It wasn't leaked! It was deliberate and calculating. From the op's article link: PORT Adelaide chairman David Koch has put his AFL club’s players on notice — play for premierships or play somewhere else...The Power chairman spoke of his blunt warning at a supporters’ function after the Power’s heartbreaking extra-time elimination final loss to West Coast at Adelaide Oval. Koch has form on this: Last year he publicly chastised and embarrassed his captain and club leaders. He continually puts a bunsen burner under his coach. I have no problem with clubs turning up the heat on players (ours included) but his 'play for premiership or hit the road' motto doesn't need to shouted from the treetops. More likely to demotivate than otherwise. Unfortunately for Port he is as entrenched as President as Eddie is for the pies. The difference is, in public Eddie backs his players, his coach and his club to the death. (The only exceptions I can think of is if a player has lied to Eddie then he deals out appropriate punishment for that deed. Then he backs them in again). Koch can learn a lot from Eddie.

I didn't mean to say he 'only wants money' more that he may be 'bought' (ie attracted) by the best package - he has said: “It is not just about team success. And it is not just about money. It’s not just about your family. It is a combination of three or four things...“For me, when I make my decision, it is going to be about a whole range of things I need to think about.” So in addition to 'team success', 'money' and 'family' what are the other things. He is touted as a future Crows captain, so lets add 'club captain. He has a guest spot on Adelaide radio so perhaps 'public profile' can be added especially if future career ambitions are media related. And Premiership medal would certainly be on his list. If he wants finals he should stay with Adelaide. If he wants money any number of Vic clubs can give him that. A number of clubs can offer him captaincy (Carlton, Hawks, Pies, StK). Fewer clubs can offer him a public profile. I really hope we get him but I 'm trying not to get my hopes until the deal is done as he wouldn't be the first player in recent years (think Clarke, Tippett, Buddy) to do a list minute about face to a verbal deal, which at best is all mfc have right now.

With Pendlebury earnings potential near the end Collingwood would throw 'Marquis Player' type incentives into the deal. Lever has a spot on an Adelaide radio show - Eddie can offer him that and offer him TV spots as well. They would all be legit 3rd party deals. If young Jake still wants a public profile then that deal would be hard to beat. On a side note, last week I thought we might be outbid by another Vic club. Yesterday @Abe said the Crows were surprised at the $ we offered Lever. If he is coming to us for the big $ then Lever can be 'bought'. North, Coll, StK all have the potential to outbid us with $ to Lever and a trade package to Crows. We are better placed to progress than those clubs so there is every reason for him to chose us. But clearly there are other factors in his decision. I just hope we don't pay significant overs - we aren't a destination club if we have to do that. There is enough noise around to say that Lever is 'playing the trading game' so I'll wait for the announcement with him in a Dees jumper before believing he will be one of us.

I'm glad David Koch isn't our President! He has paid out big time on the players for losing last night. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/port-adelaide-chairman-david-koch-puts-power-players-on-notice-20170910-gyekx4.html This gives the tenor of his decree "If they're not prepared to win a premiership for this club, we basically don't want them. Let us know and we'll trade them”. Ouch! There are lots of reasons why they lost so a bit rough for players to hear that stuff straight after a heartbreaking game. Port take 'tough love' to a whole new level. Koch is making a habit of giving his coach, leaders and players a public dressing down but that stuff should stay private, in my book.

If you would like to watch more semi-finals the VFLW semi's are on today. We have the following players in the semi's. Meg Downie and Kate Hore (St Kilda Sharks) in the elimination final. Mel Hickey, Elise O’Dea, Karen Paxman, Daisy Pearce and Lauren Pearce (Darebin) and Laura Duryea (Diamond Creek) will play in the qualifying final. @Dees_In_Octoberhas posted a link to the live stream here:

2015 showed how good a footballer he will be. 2016 and 2017 have shown what a strong person he is. Has shown phenomenal resilience to overcome injuries, health issues and loss. Its now time to rest his young body and soul. Comeback in 2018 to take the Dees onward and upward.

Yes, Curnow will make most taken before him look 'inferior'. He should have gone higher but his indiscretion a few days before the draft saw him slide to pick 12. He was certainly on our radar for an earlier pick. As an aside it is worth noting that several clubs bypassed him as a tall forward/utillity. Essendon took Aaron Francis @ pick 6 who hasn't worked hard enough to be fit. Has played 5 games for 2 goals. Carlton took Harry McKay @ pick 10 (ie before Curnow). Has played 2 games for 2 goals. Brisbane took Josh Schache @ pick 2. Has played 27 games for 10 goals but is really struggling. Weideman compares very well to all three, especially in attitude and committment. Has played 10 games for 7 goals. He is showing the most progress and the best signs of succeeding. He may not become a star but I doubt he will be the dud of the talls in the top 10 of his year. I am confident we will look back on that draft and will be very happy with the players available at our picks: Oliver over Parish and Weideman over Francis and McKay.

Probably explains why Barrett says: 'not a happy camp...carnage on and off the field'... ...Those guys may be satisfied with their history making premiership and will know they will forever be immortalised in Bulldogs folklore... People assume they will rise from the ashes and become a dynasty as Hawkes did post 2009. But Beveridge will have his hands full getting that team back on track.

To add to that, here is a story on Bianca's move to the Dees. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/bianca-jakobsson-opens-up-on-her-move-from-carlton-to-melbourne-and-a-huge-first-year-of-aflw/news-story/2b948ccfb26eb255bf47463519f8d0ed She is going to be a terrific addition for us as last year our kicking for goal let us down in a few games causing us to miss the finals and we were the in form team at the end. We are an AA midfield so am expecting good things in 2018: “I’m really looking forward to playing with the likes of ‘Junior’ (Elise O’Dea), Daisy and Paxy (Karen Paxman) and even young Lily Mithen as well — she’s a young up and coming midfielder,” Jakobsson said. On a different note, the article says: "The Demons recently took over the licence of Jakobsson’s VFLW side, Cranbourne, with the team to be rebadged as the Casey Demons from 2018 onwards". Having both the men's and women's team in that region aligned to the Dees, wearing the red and blue and carrying the Demons moniker will really help solidify that area as mfc territory and develop a supporter base. It may take a decade but strong foundations are being put in place. Really good work by Jackson and Co.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-09-09/caseys-campaign-comes-to-an-end Angus Brayshaw left the ground after just five minutes of action with yet another injury concern, which landed him in hospital. “It was a neck injury,” Plapp said. “They took him to hospital just for precautionary reasons, but I haven’t heard yet. “I think a little bit around the head too … but he certainly had an issue wrong with his neck. Going to hospital explains why he didn't watch the game from the bench. Hope he has a long rest before putting the boots on again. And really hope he doesn't hang them up altho his well being comes first.

Here is an interesting article estimating how much some key players might benefit from the CBA windfall on their contract renewal. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/show-me-the-money-afl-players-seeking-pay-days-in-2018-20170907-gycjyw.html Summary: TOM LYNCH - $1.3 million BEN BROWN - worth more than $700,000 CHRISTIAN PETRACCA - between $550,000 to $600,000 TOBY GREENE - up to $700,000 SAM DOCHERTY - more than $600,000 PATRICK CRIPPS - $600,000 a year is within reach MAX GAWN - over $700,000 MARCUS BONTEMPELLI - around $800,000 OTHERS TO WATCH: Rory Sloane, Marc Murphy, Cam Guthrie, Lachie Whitfield, Jamie Elliott, Phil Davis, Oscar McDonald, Luke McDonald That suggests a player needs to be a potential match winner/champion to earn over $600,00. It makes me wonder if we on DL sometimes overestimate a targeted player's package. Having said that I'm sure clubs would pay a lot more to lure them away. If we get Lever and if reports of $800,000+ are correct I would imagine Maxy would be rather put out! Lever would become our second highest paid player behind Hogan. Won't be easy keeping all our talent if rumours on Lever's package are correct and if we get him.

How ordinary is Parish...11 disposals @ 45.5% eff'y. Overwhelmed by the occasion, perhaps. We certainly made the right call taking Oliver ahead of Parish! Nothing would overwhelm him.

Had we won rnd 23, we would be there instead of Ess...a scary thought...and we would not have Viney or Hogan. Not feeling so bad about our rnd 23 loss...sorry if that sounds sacrilegious but I don't think I could bear another annihilation at Sydney's hands. It was the loss to them that derailed our season...the infamous round 15! ...and, I'm certainly enjoying the bombers crash landing

I'd rather Ess were knocked out now! Let Cats or Crows take care of Sydney. There is more than enough smug arrogance about Ess with 'premierships are their destiny'! Couldn't bear it if they were to win a final after all the AFL benevolence in the last few years.