Lucifers Hero

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

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.

Didn't take long for other clubs to come sniffing - "Angus Brayshaw’s non-selection for the first three rounds of the season has also led to seven rival clubs showing various levels of interest in the out-of-contract ball-winner, whose brothers — Hamish and Andrew — live in Perth and play for West Coast and Fremantle respectively....The Dockers are believed to be one of these clubs keeping a close eye on the concussion-plagued Brayshaw. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/fremantle-poised-to-make-bigmoney-moves-for-jeremy-mcgovern-and-jesse-hogan-with-an-eye-on-angus-brayshaw/news-story/e1b90ef950ed62a9db2ee841a96000c4 The writer does add that "... there is no suggestion Brayshaw wants out but...the lure of consistent opportunities could prove to be a decisive factor in weighing up his future". It was good to see Gus play a really good first up game yesterday. Let's hope the coaches keep playing him to give him some consistency, which he hasn't had for several years for a variety of reasons. Note - I have ignored the speculation about Hogan in that article. It is a repeat of the same stuff year after year and Freo will continue to ask.

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...

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

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.

This thread gives a running tally vs prior years. It is pinned to the top of the Forum page The figure at this time last year was 38,554 so we are about 850 up.