Lucifers Hero

Gil washed his hands of it six months ago: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/essendon/afl-boss-gillon-mclachlan-says-jobe-watsons-2012-brownlow-presents-afl-commission-with-its-most-difficult-decision-ever/news-story/f31c498b2bc4d7546ac6228df0f7a30c Gil says: “I’ve made it clear to a number of people that I would not sit on that decision. Hopefully no one will think I’m trying to shirk that dreadful responsibility, but because to perform my function as the CEO in the lead-up and during I need to have conversations that would look like I wouldn’t necessarily come in with clean hands.” What else would we think! He is just totally incapable of making a decision and a strong need to be the 'good guy' and has hand balled it to the Commission. No respect at all for him.

I think we can all come up with alternative scenarios but that wasn't what your earlier posts said. No I don't think we would say it is next years 2nd round or it doesn't happen, nor did I say anything of the sort. I wasn't doubting you or the club Saty, just asking for clarification on the 2nd alternative as you mentioned it in several posts and it sounded like you knew of 2 specific offers on the table.

Saty, what are the two alternatives. We have offered next year's 2nd round pick. Did I miss the other offer?

Many players are have nominated the club they want to go to. Hibberd requested a trade weeks ago but yet to nominate a club (us). Goodwin was non-committal about it in his interview the other day. It seems to me that when a player nominates a club, usually the trade is agreed in principle. Anyone know what the nominating a club, hold up is?

Abe, seriously? For someone they are keen to off load because they have given his sal cap to other players? So you really think we need to give up our 3rd round pick as well to get back their crappy 4th rnd pick? Surely they have no leverage here and if we do that deal we are bending over.

Welcome back. Kudos to you for fronting up again. Thanks for earlier info you gave us on the EFC players. Tip: post on other threads as well.

Good news. Thanks for the reassurance. I think I let my loathing and distrust of everything EFC does cloud my thinking! Edit: Just noticed GCS have picks: 21,23,24,27 in rnd 2. Given they will have at least 3 top 10 picks they may be willing to trade away one the early rnd 2 picks especially as they will want draft points rather than draft picks. eg if Grimes goes as an FA we might get a 3rd rnd compo pick which can go to GCS with some later picks (or other such combo's) for one of 21,23,24.

I fear that as well! It just sickens me that we would help them climb the ladder by being muscled into overpaying for their players. And at some point we need to take a stand or we will forever be done over on trade deals.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-demons-will-ramp-up-michael-hibberd-interest-at-end-of-season-20160821-gqxvmj.html Not to sure what to make of this: "Goodwin... said it was too early to say Hibberd would wind up under his purview once more...He hasn't made the decision where he wants to go yet...We'll have those discussions at the end of the year...If he fits and he wants to come and wants to be a part of it, he'd be a good asset." I'm glad Goodwin's comment is non-committal as I smell a rat! I reckon Paul Connors advised Hibberd to not nominate a club so he can involve another club and force us to offer a higher trade to EFC than we want. (Connors did a deal with EFC to not take his players away as DFA's). I heard Lloyd say yesterday (because we paid 23 for Melksham) Hibberd is worth pick 20, effectively a 1st rnd pick (aft Academy player picks). I'm expecting all the Ess media fan boys to trot out the same line, again with the intent to force our hand to offer a higher trade than we want. They know we overpaid for Melksham last year and are trying to strong-arm us into the same for Hibberd. The pressure is building. Stay strong Dees - 'Take It Or Leave It' has to be our stand!

That has to be rubbish. We do not have any player on $700k and for Hibbered to come in anywhere near that is an insult to our whole team! Just can't imagine Mahoney and co agreeing to that when they have worked so hard to 'pay what a player is worth'. If we have offered that, it makes a mockery of our paying 'what a player is worth' policy. Total loss of cred with the players would result and the likes of Tom Mc would have every reason to be might pi--ed off.

Yes, it seems like there is a mutiny of sorts. With Ballantyne considering a transfer to any club even the arch enemy, Eagles it sounds serious. Pavlich was probably the glue that held players together. Lose him and the cracks start to appear. Add Ross's (reported) iron fisted style and trouble brews. Lyons is not a 'rebuild' coach, nor is he a developer of people (eg assistant coaches). Many people think they will do a 'Phoenix' like the Eagles and Pies, instead they may be wallowing at the bottom of the ladder for a while. Ross is talking up their new $100m sporting facility and cashed up sponsors but they don't mean much if players don't play for their coach. Fyfe is pretty smart he may have just seen the writing on the wall!

Well said hemingway and totally share your views. Undoubtedly, he has many strengths that he brings to the club/team. The parts underlined are those on which he has a bit of work to do, imo. He has some ?marks on his values in decision making which hopefully don't come back and bite him when it comes to earning respect. While he will have a honeymoon period early success is essential to keep the media wolves at bay and to feed the optimism Roos has sown. The club has done everything possible to 'set him up for success'. We just have to wait and let it unfold.

LOL, bb My high school end of year bash was at the Espy with Shirley Bassey the star performer. She called for a volunteer to sit on the stool next to her while she sang 'Big Spender'. One of my class mates obliged. When she did her hip flick, he and the stool went flying. It was hysterical and to this day gives me a great laugh. Dawson went flying last night, just as easily as my inebriated class mate. Dawson was equally hysterical!!

And their was no sulking and he made more 'second efforts'. Showing growth and maturity as a 'team' player. Loved the 'Shirley Bassey' type move where a gentle flick of his hips nudged his op (Dawson?) out of the contest to take an easy mark!

This week Ross Lyon has said that if they can't make Nat believe he may not stay. Today Barlow (who is now out for Sunday's game) has added fuel to the fire: "...if Nat doesn't see the club improving and the direction going the way he expects to and wants it to, then he's got to be able to look at options elsewhere." So, I did some hunting and came across this: http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/fremantle/dockers-prepare-to-offer-injured-brownlow-medallist-nat-fyfe-a-monster-longterm-deal/news-story/80e5f67942f627eda7e02664aa5f7f41 According to the article, Fyfe is: -OOC in 2017 -Will be a RFA in 2017 -Has put contract talks on hold -Is awaiting the new CBA before negotiating with Freo It all sounds eerily similar to one of our own, unfortunately A lot to play out here. It will be the Dangerfield circus all over again! I doubt we will be close enough to top 4/serious finals next year for him to choose the Dees so another elite player will end up at a top 4 finals type club, if he leaves...sigh... Freo should have made him captain and locked him away last year when they had the chance with the post Brownlow euphoria and looking at top 4 again this year!

As PJ has many good working years ahead of him I choose to interpret that as he will be at MFC for many a year! . Along with Mahoney PJ makes our club rock solid off the field.

Update on Roos plans. In a 3AW interiview, Roos has said: - he and Tammy will start a Leadership and Wellness company - thinks Simon will be a fantastic coach - looking forward to the Dees doing well and will be a Dees fan after he leaves - he and PJ have had chats about next year but decided to focus on the next 8 weeks - would enjoy coaching our women's team. - his prior role at Sydney Academy was discussed (...we have a Multicultural Academy waiting to be developed) - doesn't see him self going to another club - you become wedded to a club eg watching players like Watts and Jones develop Would love to see Roos still be involved with the club, somehow.

Bump. In an article: We'll be respectful of situation on MFC 'mobile' website it discussed the Roos/Goodwin changeover. (Can't find the article on club 'desktop' website) Roos said: "Mahoney and I discussed it (Goodwin staying in current senior coach position) with Goodwin last week and he's really comfortable with the role...and he is really looking forward to the next week and getting as much out of it". That seems different to the Roos/Longmire handover where he left the box to Longmire and retreated to the bench. Interpret that as you will: Protecting Goodwin from media if we don't win many more games? Not quite ready? Roos just loves coaching? I think the first. Goodwin touches on the handover (or lack of) in this article: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-07-01/building-consistency-the-focus-goodwin He seems to be accepting of the situation. “I’m looking forward to the role, but now my role is to help Roosy (Paul Roos) and generate a really strong footy team over a nine-week period.” While many on DL and media have speculated on Goodwin's influence it seems to me Roos has been firmly in control especially after the St kilda and Port games. I am very happy to see Roos coach from the box for the rest of the year. Maybe if we win a few more games he might give the box to Goodwin for the last few games. I will be very sad to see Roos go.

Saw this pic on club website of Ollie taunting his off-field best mate. If I can put words in Jack's mouth he would be saying: 'yep, you'll keep mate!

Deemed intentional, low impact so 2 weeks is a bit stiff! Probably not worth the challenge...he needs a rest anyway - took a heavy knock a few weeks ago (vs brisbane (?) went off and didn't come back on) and has carried a heavy load so far this year.

A well deserved rap for Hogan http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/jesse-hogan-on-track-to-better-2015-output-after-another-starring-display-for-melbourne/news-story/861c3e28baf69de23a86bf700107eb86 "In 2016, he ranks inside the top six in the entire competition for marks, contested marks, marks inside 50 and goals. They’re statistical indicators for the quintessential key forward, let alone for one that has proved he can also roam higher up the field". Also 9 games in he has 23 goals; 50% of his 2015 total of 44. Will easily beat that and on track for a 60 to 70 goal season. Good enough to win the Coleman in past years. He has silenced his critics! Big time!

This critcism is rubbish. It seems Jesse went homethis week for personal family reasons. In that case he did damn well today. Judge him at the end of the year not week by week!

The losses would be easier to take if they were against the bettet teams. Perish the thought that we become like Nth and Rich who get themselves up for big games but forget to turn up for the 'easy' ones.

I can't get behind the HS paywall to link or quote from the article so have no context but this appears on their site, as the first line: 'PAUL Roos is confident Melbourne will keep its promise to Jesse Hogan to become an elite club, believing he will sign on despite speculation about a return to Western Australia'. Sounds positive! Just hope we deliver. Doubt Roos would stick his neck out if he wasn't quite confident Jesse will sign. However, I would like at the club to stop talking about it to the media at every interview. Of course they will ask but its time to play with a straight bat and tell them there is nothing new to say so stop asking about it! No point feeding the frenzy and keeping it in the news every other day. Let the kid play, enjoy the year and help us win a few more games. Let the media speculate but time for the club, players and coaches to shut the conversation down from their end. It certainly seems Jesse's manager is keeping mum we should do the same.

Looks like he is going to get a soft tap on the wrist for his social media 'work': http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-confidential-demon-clayton-olivers-facebook-slam-kieran-collins-nickname-nab-challenge-ladder/news-story/a83c43d17b7a20c85d4d6fd8b4014e58 He has a good sense of humour! But "AFL Confidential hears the club may be putting a stop to his frequent comments in the near future. So enjoy them while they last." I guess the club has little choice...keep him out of the limelight and the headlines or it might backfire on him. No need to invite media criticisms of Dees players!