Lucifers Hero

Ernest, hope this gives some reassurance: "...Melbourne's coaching staff took the opportunity to teach and work with him on his technique when approaching contests...Brayshaw was predisposed to leading with his head and they have been trying to alter his approach to ensure he leads more with his body to absorb the contact coming his way..." http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-18/demon-angus-brayshaw-to-return-in-vfl-after-concussions I know there are no guarantees. But the kid clearly wants to play and it seems he and his family have weighed up the risks. So, I would love to see him fulfill his potential.

I've noticed that Angus hasn't worn his helmet yet at training. (Paraphrasing). His mum, Debra was just on SEN saying he hasn't yet decided yet whether to wear it in 2018. It sounded like she would get a bit of emotional comfort if he did. She then said Angus was managed very cautiously with baby steps and he had to meet certain targets before the next step and at times it seemed doctors were too cautious. He had a lot of tests done and there is no evidence that there were any problems when he came back to play. She said he is now 100% and sounded very confident. Given the distress she went thru during the year it was fantastic to hear her sound so positive about him and his game. Gus had a fabulous 1st year then year two and three marred with injuries. He will now have four preseasons and with a bit of luck on the injury front 2018 could be his breakout year!

I've extracted the Age and Game profiles: For the 'Playing Team' stats I've left out the 14 players who have played less than 10 games because our starting 22 will generally come form the top 30, especially in the first half of the year. Also if some of those 14 get games it is not going to change the average (unless Vince, Jones and Lewis don't play in the same game and youngsters replace them). To counter the impact of Vince, Jones and Lewis on the profiles the 'Median' is a better indicator than the 'Average'. Leaving out the 14 will help keep claims like the 'youngest team' and the 'least experienced team' in perspective. I am really pleased with our list profile! It is a long time (decades?) since we have had a core group around 25 years of age. Now the majority of our list is in that range. Ditto the experience profile - the majority of our players will be in the 50 to 150 game range next year. While there is still growth and experience to happen, at last we have a well balanced team with a lot of talent. At last the coaches can work with a team that will grow together. At last we have a list with some stars and a fair amount of depth and competition for spots. At last we can look forward with confidence!

On a side note, I noticed in the Financial Report last week that: '$1.847m was attributable to the growth in player payments limits following the finalisation of the industry’s Collective Bargaining Agreement'. Given that the CBA increase was about $2.1m pa I hadn’t expected the club to be able to spend most of it straight away. So, I would think Mahoney has been busy negotiating contract $ without changing contract length eg - - Big increase in contract $ for high performers like Oliver, Hibberd and Jetta with the increase being a large ‘upfront’ payment in 2017. - - Other players may not have received much of an increase in their overall contract $ but agreed to bring forward their payments to 2017. Also, players that renewed their contracts later in the season would likely have included a large ‘upfront’ payment in 2017 eg Hunt and Gawn. On this basis it is clear how we were able to fit Lever’s contract into our salary cap.

Now that our List is complete I've started a new thread for 2018 Contracts etc: I've merged the 'A' Rookies with the Seniors list as 'A' Rookies can now play at AFL level from round one without the need for promotion or upgrade or relying on a Long Term Injury. If you see any changes required please let me know. If you want to know full details on any player go to: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/Team/players/senior Interesting that of 21 players that are OOC in 2018 the high priority ones for me are Petracca and Jetta. Then the McD brothers and Brayshaw. I can't see Jetta and Brayshaw going anywhere. I wouldn't like to see the McD's go but we have good coverage for them at both ends of the ground. And, I recall reading that discussions are happening with Petracca on a new contract so wouldn't be surprised if there is an announcement before too long - maybe a little Christmas present for us .

By all reports some highly touted players slid down the order. I figure this is because 'best available' was hard to determine as the players ranked 6 to 20/25 were seen to be relatively similar, some clubs tried to minimize the 'go home' risk, while others drafted for 'need' earlier. The next few years will throw up more surprises than usual in the draft 'winners' and 'losers'. I reckon we will be a draft winner with Spargo. He turned 18 yesterday so he may well grow a few more cms. Even if he doesn't he seems set to be a real dynamo in a year or two, something we lack up forward - Garlett the exception.

Fantastic that Hamish Brayshaw has a gig with WCE so will be in WA with his brother, Andy at Freo. Very happy for the Brayshaw family.

Absolutely rapt that we have him! Was top of my 'wish list' '

Yeh! Bayley Fritsch stays in the red and blue!

Freo have thrown the draft order wide open by selecting Andrew Brayshaw at pick 2. Good luck to him in his career. We will be waiting if he wants to come home and join Gus

While it is hard to compare in detail at the macro level indicative comparisons work ok. Our operating profit was $2.7m so the Pies $1.65m isn't great given their membership and asset base. I thought about 'pullling apart' the financials but decided it would do my head in - mainly because each club has different levels of detail and different categories. Some give very little away. Decided there were better things to do... It would be great if the AFL introduced a standard format for Annual Reports, then it would be easy to do meaningful comparisons

Collingwood and Richmond have announced their results so i did a little comparison: Given Collingwood's off field staff dramas and changes it would be fair to say it is not well managed. Nonetheless, a loss on revenue of over $77 million is a mind bogglingly poor result...Everything money can buy and they have an average list and an uphill battle on and off the field. They made a similar loss last year...maybe they have some creative accounting happening They are of similar size to Richmond yet so far behind them, in every aspect on and off the field. We don't have the might and the clout of those clubs but we sure are well run.

It seems training support has gone up a few notches: "A countdown clock with siren for skill drills, music blaring from loudspeakers behind the southern end goals and even a drone filming running patterns weren't the only changes to Melbourne's first night back". http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-24/aflw-dees-bond-over-impromptu-sydney-trip Kudos to Daisy and the other 19 players who self-funded a five-day camp in Sydney. Shows real commitment to the team and to each other. That can't help but impact teamwork on game day. And some pics from Tuesday's training http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-11-22/photo-gallery-tuesday-november-21

25,028 as of Nov 22. Out of curiosity, I asked the club if the AFLW memberships were counted in the published count. They are. Now I wonder how much of last year's 3,000 increase was for AFLW memberships. Any increase in membership is great - just note that comparisons prior to 2017 are not quite apples and apples.

Couldn't agree more. His contract expires @ end of 2018. Not really confident about he extending it or for how long if he does. I suspect not long as I recall a recent interview where he talked succession, in a general sense. He is big on grooming successors and hinted that he will do so with his position. He may already have that process in train. What he has built is sustainable. When he goes, I am very confident he will choose someone he trusts to build on that and who will not let us go backwards again.

Financial basket case may have been a tad colourful but I suggest we weren't in a good place financially when Jackson et al took over. Certainly Jimmy deserves great accolades for saving our club and turning the ship around. But sadly it wasn't sustained. While huge work went into fund raising/selling games (Brisbane then NT) our 'core revenue' was in decline. And I suggest that one of the main reasons we posted profits in 2009 to 2012 (the 'minor miracles' as you put it) was because we grossly underfunded the football department, football facilities and player development. This under funding wasn't sustainable. When Jackson et al took over we didn't have a major sponsor(s). We had very low and decreasing membership . People didn't come to our games. So 3 of the 'core revenue' streams were on heart support post Jimmy/McLardy. The precious fund raising during Jimmy's reign, while desperately needed had papered over the financial cracks. I'm with you in praising the work Jimmy did but I hold a different view to the years that followed. The business model and spending priorities we have now is vastly different to that pre Jackson/Barlett. This 're-engineered' business is now a sustainable and financially stable club. FWIW, my view is we would not be where we are without Jackson. He had a vision and slowly put the building blocks in place to fulfill it.

LOL - just a brain fade... Fixed the title...

...and the tell sign is...? To answer your question - Melbourne born to Italian parents so I guess that sort of makes me European and an Aussie - equally proud of both.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-11-23/melbourne-makes-fourth-consecutive-profit Key Stats: Profit of $1.3m Debt reduced by $1.3m to $4.1m (Was $8.1m when Barlett and Jackson arrived) Revenue up by $2.m over 2016 ie 9% “A key factor in the financial result was the support of members. A Club record 42,233 signed up for the 2017 season, with the Club also breaking its attendance record with over 830,000 people watching the team play this year – an increase of more than 146,000 from 2016. An incredible turnaround in 4 years to go from a financial basket case to one that is financially stable, thanks primarily to Jackson. Fair to say In-Jackson-We-Trust

I doubt it - a lot of pick trades (2017 and 2018) happened in the latter part of trade week so no one knew where the cards would fall. To me it looked like: get the trades done and then play the hand we end up with the draft. On the multiple picks: Geelong and West Coast also have 3 picks between 20 and 40. Richmond has 2 (20 and 25) and if someone bids early for Naish those picks are off the table. (I read somewhere that Richmond has been aggressive bidding for Academy or F/S players in recent times so there might be some 'payback' and force them to go early on Naish). WC have a strategy on which players they want as they gave up their 1st round pick to get a handful of good 2nd round picks. Fair chance they and Geelong will use some picks for 'need'. So some very good players may unexpectedly slide. Would be very happy if we got Sam Hayes (the best ruckman in the draft; genuine ruckman, not a 'project' player - touted as top 20 so could go high up the draft if a club is prepared to spend that for him) and Oskar Baker.

Sounds like a good match up with Clarrie - could do not better than learning from him!! A story about him from early last year when he won the RS nomination http://neafl.com.au/round-6-rising-star-nominee-oskar-baker/ Sounds determined! Here is a little video of the 2017 NEAFL game when he received a RS nomination. Looks ready built and fit, has a nice side step, bit of a fend-off happening and seems a clever player. If we draft him I can see him getting a game early in the season.

I've been following him in the media and one article said he was surprised to be released from the Brisbane Academy player so put his head down to do some hard work this year. That is a good sign about attitude and application. Turning his game around and doing the hardwork was a feature that impressed our recruiters with Clarrie last year so Baker may have impressed for the same reason. He would be a good get. Bit more of a known quantity than other draftees even tho is just 19. (LOL, one article had him listed as a mature age recruit - probably because it is his second draft). With the year in the NEAFL he could be an early starter in the seniors (if good enough) as there seems to be a spot for his type of player. Would be interesting to see who gets a game first - Baker or Balic. I would bet on Baker - seems hungry!

Great pics. Thanks 'hardtack'. I noticed there were a couple of players practicing 'the fend off' - also noticed it in club video. I wonder if this is a new feature of our training/intent to play as it isn't something our players use often (Harmes a notable exception). Perhaps the training is a reaction to Dusty's success with it. Anyway, good to see it from our players; its another way of being aggressive and getting into opp faces, so to speak.

I would say PJ has done a fantastic job of bringing financial stability to the club through a variety of means: Membership, sponsorship, gate takings etc. Of course, the more $ the better. But it is difficult for supporters to chip in more, after 15 years of ungrudgingly taking memberships which were effectively donations. And for some of us making donations in addition to memberships. To improve our financial position, nothing beats sponsorships. This is where we struggle. We started 2017 without a back of jumper sponsor. iselect came on board well into the season, on the back of their sponsoship of our AFLW team. Our front of jumper sponsorship with AHG has ended, after a 3 + 1 year deal. Sadly, we have rarely (if ever) had a 'household name' type sponsor (which most other clubs have) who are in it for the long haul. So, despite eveyone's fine efforts we struggle to get sponsors and we struggle to keep them. The best way to 'stabilize' mfc is to get some sponsors that come on board for the long hall. Of course, that is easier said than done. Hopefully, PJ has an announcement at the AGM otherwise we start another year without a name on the front of our jumper.

'The Roar' guide to the draft. http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/11/22/club-club-guide-2017-afl-draft/ For the Demons: "The Dees come in late, but then have three picks in a fairly short space of time, so they’re in a good position to clean up any players who slip through later than expected. Sam Hayes could be a great apprentice ruckman to Max Gawn for a few years, hence be selected without any need to rush his development. A small forward would have to appeal too and there’s bound to be one of some quality available at their picks here. Jack Petrucelle is every chance to be available in this range as well and the Demons could do a lot worse than punting on his raw speed. He and Jayden Hunt tearing it up off halfback would be scary-fun to watch". Its a good analysis of needs and likely availability. Fully concur with the last sentence. A very tantalising prospect!