Lucifers Hero

Not a delisting and not about a player but Sam McClure is reporting Collingwood is making a big play for Craig Jennings. I think he is still contracted to us but is very highly regarded in the industry. He was hand picked by Goodwin and McCartney so I sure hope Jennings stays the distance with us!

I wonder about that. Could it be that our players aren't in the position they are supposed to be. Hawthorn were brilliant at making position and it looked easy. Sometimes it his kicking but often I think it is because our players are not disciplined enough or work hard enough to get to the designated spot and keep the space open and it looks like the kicker's problem.

Sorry to ask but are you really a Demon fan? Is it an accident that this thread is on the 'General' Board not the Main Board? What Demon fan gives a damn about the finals let alone think about those questions? We were the 'dark horse'!!! To paraphrase Marlon Brando I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody. We let it slip. It hurts. It hurts really bad. Sorry about the rant to a newcomer to Demonland. But, its all a bit too raw right now. Time might heal but the trust has been broken once too often. I will get back on the Demon bandwagon but it will take a while, long after the finals are over.

It is on this Saturday night. Free Entry. FTA on Ch7. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-31/take-no-prisoners-in-aflw-state-of-origin-clash The Demons have two players in the Allies team: Elise O’Dea and Bianca Jakobsson We have four plays in the Big V. including the Vic Captain, our Daisy. The others are: Karen Paxman, Melissa Hickey, Lily Mithen Most on here are over football but it might be a good distraction from our recent debacle. It would be great if the mods leave this thread on the main board so DL can be aware it and post to it during and post game. Should be a good spectacle. Go Vics!

On SEN I heard a review of our season. Things that stood out: We had the 4th youngest squad but no consolation Richmond have the 5th youngest. (I think our youth is something we look for as an out when we lose) We have lost 11 1st quarters - negative 126 points. ie we have had to catch up a total of 21 goals. It is no wonder we can't run out games. Unsurprisingly we were 4th for quarters won. This one is really damning: 16th for 'ball movement' behind only Carlton and Freo. Not entirely sure how they measure it but I think it was related to inside 50's to scores or scoring shots. However, it is measured it is horrible. Are we the only club that does not have a 'ball movement' coach? We all want the team to bury clubs but we won't as long as we keep losing 1st quarters so badly as we simply run out of puff and can't put them to the sword. Someone needs to unlock the mystery of why we have such slow starts! Unless we fix those fundamentals we aren't going anywhere and we will wear out kids our digging us our of a hole each game to scrounge out a win.

That is exceptionally sad. It is not their job to be the 'voice' of the club at such a time. The club should not put them in that position if they have not been trained in crisis management. This was a crisis for which the whole club seems poorly equipped to deal with. As to the vibe? It sounds like the 'Veil of Negativity' that Roos said permeated the whole club has returned with a vengeance. It certainly has with supporters. Perhaps the club should have had the coaches and leadership team on the phones!

Go to your first post and click on 'Edit'. At the top you should see a tab with 'Poll'. Click on it and fill in the gaps. I think only the thread originator (or mods) can do this.

#4 Watts stunning run and stirring goal vs the pies on QB to win us the game

#2 Oliver kicked the impossible goal (from 'Eddie's pocket' no less) that was a key in the momentum to overtake the Crows lead and win a great game.

I think they do that. But that is my point. Who sits slightly outside the group to challenge their direction, decisions and hold them/head coach to account. I don't think McCartney can wear both hats. I think McCartney is very good but I don't think anyone, anywhere can be part of a group day to day decision making and then hold himself of the head of the group (Senior Coach) to account. Somewhere along the way objectivity gets lost.

Who are they? He doesn't have a Roos, a Balme, a Hocking, a Fagan (when at Hawthorn) etc to mentor or challenge him. McCartney is a coach and reports to Goodwin. I don't think it is Mahoney who is excellent in the football admin role but doesn't have the breadth of experience (or I suspect authority to question the coach). It is no coincidence that Sydney, Hawthorn, Geelong and now Richmond are reaping the success of those senior guys mentoring and challenging their coaches. For example who is there who will challenge Goodwin on his selection of coaches or game plan. We still have a very, very inexperienced football department! The Roos, Balme and Fagans of the world ask the hard questions of the coach on list strategy, team selection, game plan, game day tactics, (importantly) assistant coach selection, player management, public persona etc. Anyone know who Goodwin officially reports to? I think Goodwin has been has been given too much latitude before he is ready for it and there is no-one to guide him and importantly to hold him to account.

And what is with the school boy blazers. Cameron Schwab must be advising them! They look hideous! How they left out Sloane...but included Selwood. And Rance being captain... Clearly, they 'reward' the name not the performance. #ditchtheblazer, better still #ditchtheAA Edit: Daniher for Brown...? Anything to keep the "$4m profit Ess" juggernaut in the limelight. #ditchtheAFL

Excellent! He only played 18 games this season and was still AA. Somewhat of a quiet achiever. Always gets the job done. Gone unnoticed in the aftermath of Saturday but he was also nominated for MOTY on Saturday. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2017-08-29/michael-hibberd Well done on a great first year with the Dees.

I heard the podcast and I think the spray was at 3/4 time probably for taking a kick in, which seems against team rules; it isn't his job. The Cox mark proved why it isn't! The leaders were off doing their own thing all game. Gawn and Jones were the main culprits with TMc. If the torpedo cost Dunn his position in the team that kick in should cost TMc his spot in the leadership team. As a group the leaders (except Lewis) cost us that game by playing selfish football. They were so busy getting stats and playing their own game they forgot Team First and forgot to follow and enforce team rules! Terrible example to set to the young guys.

To be fair to the club and its staff lots of info goes to members directly from the AFL. Clubs hand over their member contact details and the AFL use it as it sees fit. eg The Draft Order article, Finals Tickets package. Check other club websites and they have the same general info and articles. The problem is the other contending clubs made the finals so their members appreciate the early advice. We on the other hand ... I think we need to cut the club some slack on communications to members and what gets dumped onto our website. It is usually outside their control.

I agree, I was referring to the his particular 'comfort zone' when he does go missing or is ineffective which wasn't Saturday.

What went wrong on Saturday? Obviously a lot! But I noticed a major flaw in how we played: We forgot 'Team First'! From the get go we were 'selfish' like in years past when self-preservation, stats, being the hero etc was what mattered. This resulted in tackling, positioning, disposal, structures, team rules etc going out the window. So Collingwood scored 6.3 from our turnovers in the first quarter. Unfortunately our leaders (and not coincidentally the pre Roos players): Jones, TMac, Gawn were the worst at selfish play, virtually for the whole day. So we ended up with no or little leadership. That selfish play lingered until a few kids like Petracca, Oliver etc took over. Why? My theory is 'Comfort Zone Syndrome' (a made up phrase). It has been mentioned in other threads that under pressure players revert to their 'comfort zones' eg Jones, TMac, Gawn become selfish, Watts withdraws, Viney takes everyone on, Tyson kicks the ball nowhere, Hunt forgets to slow just before kicking etc. Sometimes the pressure is physical and real. But often it is not and that is when they revert to their 'comfort zones'. Our problem is players do not snap out of their comfort zones until the end of a quarter and often it is too late. Our leaders don't act because they can't see it as they themselves are engulfed by their own 'comfort zone'. Not a problem when it is one or two players but a huge problem when it afflicts most of the team like it did on Saturday. This 'comfort zone syndrome' is undoubtedly subconscious and highly individual therefore a major, major problem. Probably, it is the reverting to one's 'comfort zone' when under pressure that makes us look mentally weak. But 'mental weakness does not exist in a vaccum. When expectations are highest, the pressure goes up and the more likely comfort zones will kick in. I can think of no other reason why we crack under expectations. Somewhere, this week a poster suggested a sports psychologist. If my theory is correct then we need a bunch of them.

Yes, that is how I read it. Lewis said something similar recently; that not all players prepare as well as they should. Elsewhere Oliver has been complimented on how professional he is in his recovery, diet and his preparation. So it is no coincidence that the he has been our most consistent player and will probably take out the bluey. A player can train the house down but if not keeping up with recovery and preparation then they aren't physically or perhaps mentally at the level required to play. I don't know whose job it is to get recovery and preparation right but someone had better get onto it, quick smart!

Much of the dialogue on this thread has 'saviour' written all over it and the salivating is a bit OTT! He plays his role very well but he isn't the major cog in the Crows defence. So I'm not sure he is a Key Position Player. He might be one day but not right now. Will he be the defender we need to play on Brown, Daniher, Moore, Hipwood etc? I am a little cautious in assuming he will be. TBH I am skeptical of the $850K being bandied around. That is the sort of money paid to a match winner and I don't see Lever being a match winner. Don't get me wrong. I am glad we are chasing him. But I hope we don't pay overs in $ to him or trade value to Crows.

I saw that and wondered if it was reported correctly. Its a big win for us if we keep the gate from our Home QB game and share the gate with Coll for the opening round which would always be their Home game. It would make more sense if we shared the gate from both 'Blockbuster' games. Otherwise we make out like bandits financially and Eddie isn't about to give us another free kick. We may need to wait till it comes from the AFL or the clubs themselves. As reported it seems odd...

That list is not up to date. Go to this thread for all contracts:

He won't. Petracca cares. Petracca was truly gutted when the siren went. Col would have gone and joked and laughed with Howe and Dunn.

A ban is a bit dramatic... Anyway, the 'damage' is done. For what it is worth the platter also had avocado, prosciutto etc. Brighton? Now you are buying into the silvertail myth about Melbourne supporters...

Up early this morning, the dust has settled and I'm ready to move on. Well, I thought I was until I saw this article https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-confidential-melbournes-early-email-to-members-about-finals-tickets-backfires-spectacularly/news-story/fcbc24b7907cd845bf747d2f7143e915 I struggle with the ridicule in this article. I think every club that was in the running for finals were sent the 'Finals Ticket' email. The 'cheese platter' taunt will go down as folklore along with 'snowfields'. Taunts to be thrown at us at every opportunity by media, friends and family. Perhaps what we lost more than the game on Saturday was Respect. We lost the Respect a hard fought season had earnt. From the @Older demonpost in the Nathan Jones thread, unsurprisingly it is taking a toll on players. Its sad that one of our 'prominent players' wants to leave town and be alone. Not even wanting the solace team mates can bring. While I want the lost opportunity to motivate I certainly don't want it to scar. Players must hear the 'mentally weak' accusations, especially when a club great leads the charge (which is his right and his job). They must also hear the ridicule. It is a small step to go from 'mentally weak' to 'mentally scarred'. I just hope the last few games of 2016 and 2017 don't cause a new round of 'mental scars' for players. Hopefully, there is good support around the players, especially the young ones.

A lot of people did and their response is in this post: