Lucifers Hero

Maybe Oliver is a late bolter only to the media and football watchers!! In a recent interview Taylor said we have a scout (whose name I have forgotten) who watches players from under12 onwards!!! Taylor would also have the benefit of scouts for underage players from his days at Collingwood. So Taylor has been watching him (and other draftees) for a very long time. If Taylor takes Oliver @ 3 he will have a damn good reason. And, it won't be because Oliver is suddenly making the headlines! I for one won't be doubting Taylor's choice.

EQ's list is her opinion of 'quality'...I think of it as her view of 'best available'. Emma watches a great deal of underage football so her opinion on quality is worth noting. Her mock draft in a week, is predicted order of players which is where club/recruiter research comes in...club's view of 'best available'/'needs' It will be interesting to compare the two.

There has been a shift in the narrative. A month ago indications were strong from Jesse and the club of an extension happening over summer. Now it seems that won't happen. The words 'contract on hold', or 'wait and see' are like a stick of dynamite to supporters and the press. Jesse has every right to wait. We just need to enjoy him and be patient. Nonetheless, the shift in the narrative is the worrying bit.

surplus a graders...what a wonderful day that will be

Love this comment from him: “For me to run out on the G and play for Melbourne would mean the world to me and I’d make the most of the opportunity,” he said. Hope he gets a run in the seniors this year (2016) and have that dream come true! Line him up next to Jesse!

Shaun Smith was just interviewed on SEN and his comments about Joel were: - Played under 16's football; - Dropped footy to focus on VCE and basketball; - In the Dees' sights for nearly a year; - Dees liked his athleticism; - Last year he did some trials and kicking with the Dees; - Being son of a former player appealed; - MFC left it up to Joel to think about it for a year; - with Jeremy Howe going, it provided an opportunity for someone like Joel ... he alluded to maybe taking high marks like Howe; - Joel is 6'3" and Shaun sees him as a forward, has endurance and a tank. Sounds very good ... I'm dreaming that he could be the forward buddy we are looking for Jesse. Long way to go but he will be another Son of ... to enjoy watching in red and blue!

Wise, do you really think we don't understand that!! We are outraged because that could have been done on Monday! It wasn't - strongly suggesting we were not prepared to give up 25 on its own. We have! We rolled over - to that crap lot near the airport. That is the issue.

Peanuts?

The Age reporting the deal is done for pick 25! Can't believe we rolled over. At some point we need to take a stand during Trade week and show some mettle and play hardball otherwise we will always be seen as suckers and wimps.

As one of those 'junkies' the CAS hearing starts Nov 16 but most unlikely the verdict will be known before the psd (Dec 3). So it is still 'buyer beware''

That is not even funny!

Did we say a 2nd rnd pick or our 2nd rnd pick? Even if the latter, by the time FA comp picks for Leuenberger, Selwood and Academy selections happen pick 25 will be closer to pick 28-30. That seems ok.

Looks like an offer has been made to Jesse. Mahoney: "We’ve already met with Jesse and we’ve gone through our plan as a club and we’ve presented that to him and made an offer for an extension for Jesse." http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-10-11/we-want-hogan-longterm-mahoney Not a gambler but would take a big bet that Jesse signs an extension beyond 2017! A pre Xmas announcement would be nice...a present from Santa

Its a 'Personal Message'. If you click on your name 'chook fowler' at the top right of the of the page you will see the words 'Personal Messager'. Click on it and its like an email system within the Demonland Family. (copies of PM's go to your 'real' email address as well. Hope this helps. Edit: I have just sent you a PM as an example, you should see a '1' lit up on the envelope icon at the top right of any Demonland page.

Thanks 'Adam', you've been a great sport sending all the PM's...and prompted some fun posts as well. Cheers.

Not really Song. Most of us got the PM yesterday!!

A good throwaway line 'ManDee'...obviously its not possible to make a future event fact. My hypothesis was: there is a miniscule chance JM will not be available for rnd 1, 2016 because: - Not all 34 players will get the same ban...some will get a lighter ban eg 6/12 mnths - JM is one with a lighter ban (MFC would have checked if he was one of the 2 with 'abnormal' TB4) - He has served 6 months already. - He can serve 6 more months if he takes another 'voluntary' suspension thru this off-season. Where is the fault in the rationale? The point really is that the CAS related risk of taking JM is very low. Not saying it applies to you but lots of generalisations on here about player suspensions often based on wishful thinking and are looking at time banned rather than games missed. Out of interest, how many games do you think JM will miss?

I wonder why the 34 EFC players haven't taken another 'voluntary' suspension, just in case. Added to the 6 months already it means a 1 year 'voluntary' suspension would have been served pre rnd 1 2016. (Maybe they have/will and EFC/AFL will make it public after the GF). Note: players can still train with their club while in 'voluntary' suspension. Those on here that assume the 'worst possible case' ie all 34 will get (the same) 2 years with no backdating and no credit for any 'voluntary' suspension are unrealistic. Here is my rationale as to why:- - 2 of 34 players were found to have 'abnormal' levels of TB4. - I can see these 2 players getting a 1 or 2 year ban and the others getting a lighter 6mnth/1 year ban. - Any ban may include backdating and will include credit for 'voluntary' suspension served. People may not like that suspensions are served in the off-season but those are the rules. I trust MFC to know if JM is 1 of the 2 with 'abnormal' TB4...safe to think he is not. So if my rationale is correct he would get a lighter penalty (if any at all). The backdating and credits would see him available for rnd 1 2016. If he comes to us I hope MFC encourage him to take another 6 month 'voluntary'. Even so, IMHO there is a miniscule risk that he will not be available to line up in round 1 2016. If you think otherwise, please read this post again.

Agree Dom, Kennedy is an A grader but next year he turns 28. There aren't many A graders of that age who continue A grade performance if not surrounded by equivalent players. Our players aren't at that level (yet) and by the time they are the JK's of the world will be well past their prime. Not sure using a high 1st rnd pick for a player who gives us 2-3 good years is very good value.

So their 'A' players are off limits but they want to off load an 'older' B' player who at 27+yo is probably past his prime, for a high 1st rnd pick? No thanks!!

Some significant names still OOC: Garland 26 (RFA), Hunt19, Michie 23, Howe 24, Toumpas21, Harmes® 19 The longer they are OOC the less likely they will be at the Dees. However, Harmes is a 'must re-sign'...we need to keep Jesse's buddies at the Club!! Jokes aside, he had some terrific games this year and he has bucket loads of what Jesse calls 'competitive edge! So he has earnt a contract and promotion to the senior list. Probably waiting to see how the list and # of places pan out before finalizing it. Fully expect him to be in the Red and Blue next year! While its always sad to see Dees players go I am slowly accepting departures are necessary to significantly improve.

'I'va Worn Smith' has foreshadowed this in another thread. He rated his source a 7/10. So it is worth getting a little excited! He tells us we will know more after the GF but then this could mean at the end of Trade Week Hoping it is sooner rather than later. It could be that Barrett has been reading i'va's posts here on DL...it pleases me a great deal that the likes of Purple cannot find out what is going on at the Dees... The thing that is also good about the 'silence' is that the relevant player manager is also keeping 'mum'...it is often these guys that leak rather than the clubs or players.

Thanks iv'a...does that mean he is be playing this weekend ...rhetorical question! Whoever it is we are doing a damn good job of keeping it quiet! BTW I did hesitate posing that rhetorical question for fear it will set all the DL's player wishes off the scale. Then I thought 'what the heck' it gives people a new line of speculation for the next few weeks!

i'va, you mentioned earlier the 'big fish' player responsible for Roos' 'cheshire cat' type smile will be revealed when the time is right. Can you tell us roughly when that will be...the anticipation is killing me!

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-09-24/im-rapt-the-supporters-want-me-hogan Extracts: The Western Australian-born Hogan, who is contracted until at least the end of 2017, says he is rapt that the Melbourne faithful have taken to him and want to see him in red and blue colours for the rest of his playing days. ...Looking ahead to 2016, Hogan said he was excited about gaining some teammates back from injury to create a revamped forward line, including Sam Frost and Dean Kent...“I can’t wait to develop myself to another level and not get complacent and just really strive to be part of the collective.” Yep, a forward line of Frost, Kent, Hogan and Garlett sounds pretty good. He doesn't give anything away re a contract but he sounds very happy with life over here, his footy and his teammates. Have to love his honesty in saying how hard it has been to settle on the other side of the country. I hope his enthusiasm infects some of his more laid back teammates that have been around a while if they survive the trade season.