Lucifers Hero

I have no particular knowledge of how many concussions it takes for a club to be really cautious with a young player. But it must put a lot of pressure on the player to keep playing when the coach (Richardson) says: "Paddy would've played this week if he had have pulled up well but the reality is he's still a little bit off and so he won't play this week," http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-26/six-and-out-for-concussed-st-kilda-forward-mccartin The kid has had 6 concussions in a 2 years. I hope the AFL doctor's monitor this sort of stuff. I can't help compare how mfc is going about an almost identical situation with Gus. We pulled him out altogether and told him to take his time physically and psychologically. Every week Misson says he is coming along fine but there is no time frame for his return. If I was a parent i know which club I would want my son at

A really good insight into where Oscar is at http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-06-16/mcdonald-making-strong-strides Highly regarded by the club and he seems well aware of his weaknesses and what he needs to improve. I've been wondering whether his improvement has been faster recently when big brother isn't in the backline. They do tend to look for each other a bit and when Tom isn't there Oscar has to make the play more often and goes forward more often. Oscar may yet become the better McD player!

A very balanced assessment by Lyon. I can see a time when Lewis plays about 60-70% game time. We do this with young players and players coming back from injury so no reason to not apply that principle to Lewis, or say Jones in a year or two. Bring Lewis on when there is a momentum swing, late in quarters 1, 2, 3 and for most of the 4th. That is when we need him the most. He can coach off the bench when not on the ground. This will be infinitely better than not having him on at all. We can also manage his playing time/energy by resting him for the long-haul games eg Perth and Darwin.

I remember when Roos said that and thought he was bluffing. In part because he is a master at playing with a straight bat and in part because I thought McCartin was a strong, burly (lesser) Hogan type and and we didn't need two of the same. I thought we would be better off with a different type of forward eg 2 meter Pete (or later a Weideman type). So if StK had taken Petracca at #1, I would not have been surprised to see us pick Brayshaw and either Lever or Wright.

I also think Dusty will stay. Shopping him around is a ploy by his manager (Carr??) to flush out the best offer for leverage with Richmond. He did this with Dusty's last contract except Richmond didn't take the bait and declared they would let him go. The ploy backfired and the Dusty camp was left with egg on face. Carr now has Richmond over a barrel and they will pay dearly for 'embarrassing' the Dusty camp last time...altho' it was of Carr's own doing. This time Carr will laugh all the way to the bank...

No problem Wise. At least you gave us a summary of the article. I only find it frustrating when someone posts a link and gives no idea as to what it is about.

Do you know that as a fact. The media report I saw around trade time said the Sydney offer was around $350k - they couldn't afford anymore because of salary cap pressure. If a fact I will go back and amend my post.

Jack Niall reported our interest a few days ago. Caroline Wilson reported that Zak is earning under the AFL 'median' pay which is the range of $230k to $250k. Yes, I was shocked at how low it is but she is rarely wrong with her info One thing in their favour is that the new CBA tips $2m into their salary cap next year and the Buddy contract does not have escalation clauses - his contracted annual amounts are fixed. But if Zak wants to come to Melbourne we can beat any $ Sydney offer without breaching the faith with our players or abandoning the club's mantra of not paying 'overs'. Zak really fits our 'run and carry' game style and is as tough as so would be rapt to see him in our colours.

While somewhat reluctant to raise this thread a significant development is happening: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/sports-court-would-level-playing-field-for-athletes/news-story/1ee6a6359f11184b6096db438c60b8a3 "Sports Minister Greg Hunt has proposed an Australian sports court as part of a national sports plan being developed by the federal government, the Australian Sports Commission and other peak sporting bodies". A long time coming but never to late. I fully expect the AFL to activate its lobby machine to get that quelled or watered down in some way so they can continue to play to their own rules. Time will tell if a Sports Court does happen.

bb, l assume by 'gorilla' forwards you mean the solid types eg Buddy, Hawkins, Kennedy, Walker, Cloke. These guys are around 195-197m, 95+kg and are getting older. The next gen are more likely to be the mobile, 200cm, lithe types eg Brown, Daniher, Scache, Moore, Lynch. So for mine the backline you outline will be too short. The FF has kicked a bag on us in nearly every game this year in part because we are too short or our players don't have the leap. We need to structure up to compete with the 200cm forwards of the future.

Jack Nial is reporting Demons are interested in 'reuniting' Zak with Nathan North, Ess and StK also interested (but they seem to be linked with all and sundry). Zak fits Goodwin's run and carry game style and we can do with his speed thru the midfield. Its a key ingredient we still lack.

Great call, RaBe! Apparently he wants to stay at Port but Port may value the high compensation draft pick they will get for him and let him go. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/port-adelaides-mr-fixit-jackson-trengove-could-face-an-afl-freeagency-dilemma/news-story/4d3f0472ae39ab356ddfa29d8bdcb128 The article mentions Demons, Essendon and North as clubs who might make an offer he can't refuse but then Hawks and Cats also need a key defender so there may well be a bit of competition for Trengove. I would love to see us be on the receiving end of attracting a good FA. And I reckon he is almost as good as May and as you say offers an on-ground ruck option. He would also be our second tallest player behind Gawn. And we desperately need talls around the ground. With the CBA we have the sal cap to substantially front end his contract and we keep our draft picks. I say get him!

Higgins is North's Sloane.

Just for you! http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/brownlow-tracker-round-8-melbourne-youngster-clayton-oliver-begins-to-make-serious-run/news-story/0c0d03cb6875ee81848716319b47c310 Summary: HS - not in top 7 The Age - leads voting Triple M - 6th SEN - not in top 10...(what games are their vote givers watching!!) 3AW - leads voting Crownbet (Brownlow) - 7th on $21 Their voters must watch the 'name' players rather than who is performing and impacting games to not see what Clarrie is doing. Also there is an 'East Coast' bias - Elliot Yeo is leading the Coaches voting. The only one of the above to have him in their top vote getters is SEN where is 7th. Lets hope the umpires don't suffer the same biases as the media. On Clarrie's winning prospects, now that Viney has hit form he will start taking votes from him. Maybe they can be 1st and 2nd in everything!!

Goodwin was interviewed on SEN on Friday night and was asked where he thought Petracca would be in about 5 years (who will then have just turned 26). Goodwin said he would be like Dusty Martin is now (who will be 26 this June). That is something to savour As Christian seems a more settled character I wouldn't be surprised if he fulfills Goodwin's prediction a few years earlier!

Goodwin said on SEN tonight the club contacted the AFL umpires department to find out why he is being pinned for throws when the club think he is handballing. I wonder if the umpires are reacting to some commentators narrative a few weeks ago that Oliver throws and are just guessing. Good to see the club being proactive and hopefully the chat with AFL sorts the problem.

When Brayshaw is well again I think he is a much better option in the middle than Tyson. Gus can do all the things Dom can plus some.

Lewis brings on field 'footy smarts' the lack of has cost us dearly the last three weeks. And his role is to pass on his experience to our young players. So I am rapt we have him. Both our co-capts went into their 'leadership shells' while he wasn't playing. And I didn't see signs of co-capts communicating very much on field in recent weeks when the game was on the line. So we are very reliant on Lewis playing. But what happens in a year or two when Lewis plays less and less? It doesn't worry me that Jones lacks them if Viney had them. Viney is a champ and a bull and he will make better decisions with experience but I don't think 'footy smarts' can be taught. So who do we have with 'footy smarts' that can step up when Lewis stops playing. For mine (no order): Watts, Salem, Hunt and potentially Brayshaw. The most likely to step up I think is Hunt. He made a brilliant, articulate and humble speech at our B & F - leader stamped all over him. He is inspirational in how he plays and will lead from the front - fights to the last minute. He has footy smarts and understands the state of play: last week in the last minutes asked Jones for a defensive structure at the stoppage but Jones decided to set up to go direct to goal. Don't know if it would have changed the result but it was the right idea. He is a thinking player who makes no excuses - have a read of this interview on our website. He desperately wants to win and won't settle for less. Have I convinced anyone yet? So Lewis is an asset and when he stops playing I would be delighted to see Hunt become a Vice Cap then a Co Cap with Viney. A formidable pair. The yin and the yan.

Those comments don't change the fact that as a group they are struggling to get on the park or perform to the AFL standard, according to their coach. Similar to that are the other returning Ess players: Crameri, Carlisle, Monfires, Ryder, Melksham and Hibberd - they are also struggling with either injury or form (except maybe Ryder). (Yet to see how Hibberd goes at AFL level. Hope for our sake he is the exception. Also hope that Melksham starts to have an impact soon because so far he has just fiddle around with the ball). Yes, all clubs have under performing players, but as a group of 16 there is little evidence that their bodies are standing up to the rigor of AFL football either not getting on or not performing on the park. And yes, there could be any number of reasons. It is good that you give them the benefit of the doubt - it is something I struggle with for all those involved with that sorry mess.

Their coach says the returning players have 'hit the wall'. An interesting rundown on the 10 at Essendon. The 6/7 at other AFL clubs have been injured or similarly flat. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/report-card-for-returned-essendon-players-not-great-reading-20170419-gvo2nh.html Perhaps its just that the drugs have worn off and their bodies can't cope with 'normality'. Just hope Melksham and Hibberd are exceptions...

Oliver scored more AFLCA votes last week: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-04-18/aflca-votes-round-four With 20 votes he sits 6th, 4 behind the leader (Wines) and slightly ahead of the captains of the current top 3 teams on the ladder. The top 10 players is a roll call of the best AFL players. Huge achievement for Oliver. As Macca said a few weeks ago Oliver was an inspired choice by recruiters. Can we please sign him up for a 10 year contract extension

Young Paddy is going to find it hard going: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-04-17/geary-pleads-for-patience-on-underperforming-mccartin His captain, Greary describes him as "He's more of a stay-at-home forward who's going to eventually be able to out-muscle defenders …' However, the game is moving away from this type of forward to the agile, mobile player. Not sure Richardson did him any favours when truthfully answering a Paddy vs Nick question and saying how professional Riewoldt is with this training.

Totally agree 100%! Players need to find their feet and gain confidence in their strengths. That 'system' sounds like Hawthorn: 'one soldier out another soldier in'. The difference is Clarkson implemented that system over many years and skill development with an established and effective game plan. We are nowhere near that point yet.

Yes, that is what I am suggesting. I would also hazard a guess that Roos would give Weid a rest at Casey as he did with Oliver last year when he lost form. It is a long year in the seniors and Weid could easily get burnt out. Goodwin is doing things his way which is his right. I haven't seen enough of him and how he operates to see how he rates players or what his 'system' really is.

Last year Roos let Goodwin take the reins from time to time. I suspect Gus on the flanks in 2016 was one of those times. As time goes on we learn more and more from both Goodwin and Roos as to their respective influences in the last year of Roos' tenure.