Lucifers Hero

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.

Thankfully he has Type 1 - http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-10-27/going-places-the-medical-diagnosis-that-almost-stopped-draft-prospect-paddy-mccartin-in-his-tracks It doesn't sound like they were on top of it at the time of the draft and he has had a few setbacks. Its probably a case of getting the medication/diet/exercise balance right. A different disease but the circumstances are not dissimilar to the situation we have with Salem and his Thyroid. Perseverance and patience but it must be tough on the player. Paddy needs time and I really hope he makes it and based on your comments there is every reason to think he will.

Am article with much high praise of Oliver http://www.theage.com.au/afl/melbourne-demon-oliver-leads-army-of-stars-20170407-gvgbek.html Some snippets: "He is like Cripps or Sydney's Josh Kennedy, a tall and strong midfielder who with longer arms have better reach to be able to get clear of a tackle and still get a handball out... The difference between Oliver and Cripps or Kennedy is that he is quick..." "He accelerates through the contest," Melbourne player/coach performance manager Brendan McCartney said. "He is electric. He just has great power". "Even for an AFL player Oliver has a fierce competitiveness in everything he does. Which means not just getting the ball and winning, but even making sure he gets the last word in an argument". Final word to Macca: "He was a really inspired pick by our recruiters,"

Watts can't take a trick on Demonland, Lord T. -Always criticised for lack of aggression. -Gets aggressive, is in a scap and gets criticised. I don't get why people are so upset about Jack not being at the bounce. Anyone had a look lately, at who Richmond, Geelong etc are nominating (not nominating for a bounce/throw in). And the umpires are confused: giving free kicks away for blocking a ruckman who didn't ruck, arbitrarily nominating a player to ruck, bounce/throw in with only one team's ruckman nominating, stopping a player from taking a bounce. Right now the umpires don't know how to manage the 'nominating ruckman'. So they were the cause as much as Jack. Any signs of aggression from Jack is a step forward. We lost nothing from the episode. I'm glad Oliver saw what was happening and took the initiative!

Interesting that Macca suggested he latch onto Viney and Stretch and learn from them - just shows how highly Stretch is thought of. If last weeks BOG performance was classified by Macca as 'just scratching the surface of what he was capable of...' then other teams had better watch out. For us: Happy Days Roos always did have a good eye for talent!

...and Roos knocked that out of him quick smart by making him 'pay' (ie wait and wait to debut) for injuring himself playing basketball in the preseason...

Finally, someone in the media wrote it: "Fairytale’ is not to be used when describing a Round 1 victory of a team that had six players return from their 12-month suspension for doping offences." http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-outsider-two-genuine-footy-heroes-prove-why-football-fairytale-term-cant-be-overused/news-story/e820d10556cc732b28d2bf2829f31cbb A Good story about real AFL heroes: Jason McCartney and Jarryd Roughead. It took someone outside the AFL media bubble to call out out the hypocrisy of the bomber players return fanfare. Those inside the bubble will never say it. (In fact I'm a bit surprised fox footy even published it!)

I've noticed that some mouthguards are transparent rather than white or coloured so he might be wearing one. ...and remove the AA Captain, currently the most marketable face of our football club and all round champion. Our colours were blazoned on tv during the weekend football coverage in the NAB ads with Daisy and little kids in mfc jumpers. Any idea what that will do to gain future supporters. Remove Daisy...Bad Call. Disrespectful call. If Oliver continues to earn his stripes, just add him...no need to remove anyone - unless you were making some other pointed point...

The EFC win just proves how badly they tanked last year. Their 2016 season and the #1 pick were a complete farce. Worsfold had form! In 2010 he tanked WCE to the bottom of the ladder collected the top draft pick then played the prelim final the next year! Only difference is last year he had the AFL's blessing. Didn't see much in the media after the game about Roughy's comeback! Nauseating media coverage of last nights game!

You are quite right about the issue really being PE drugs. My post that you quoted was in the context of the posts before it about the WCE grand final, not EFC saga.

I wonder how many clubs have won games, finals or premierships with players under the influence of illicit drugs? Maybe even won premierships with players on one or two strikes. Wasn't it Robbo who this week last year wrote an article about the high percentage of Collingwood players testing positive to illicit drugs. I saw a table posted on DL before it was taken down (appropriately) by moderators that showed some very prominent teams' players being right up there and higher than Collingwood on that list. And wasn't there a case where medical records were found strewn in an Ivanhoe street that implicated some neighbouring AFL players about 10 years ago? And who was the Sydney player around that time that claimed illicit drug use was rife in the AFL. Andy D canned him big time in the press and his reputation never recovered. Just can't recall the players name but I think it was around the time Sydney won the GF. I don't condone drug use at all. But the bluster in the press about WCE 'tainted' premiership is just bluster. It is naive to think it hasn't happened since. Unfortunately for WCE they have had some high profile, very tragic fallout from that era. I would bet my bottom dollar they aren't the only team to have won a premiership with players taking illicit drugs. The others have managed to fly under the radar.

Clearly I missed that little word 'not' but the context would have implied it .... Hird is still not contrite.

Your mate is dreaming DA! If a team ever needed a pp it was Brisbane last year. They got one but it was end of first round. That was the first pp since the new (at AFL discretion) pp system came in (to stop tanking). So can't see the AFL giving pick 2 to the bottom team, in a hurry. And, Carlton recent history: 2016: 7 wins (14th) 2015: 4 wins (18th) 2014: 7 wins, 1 draw (13th) 2013: 11 wins (played finals and finished 8th... 9th if Ess hadn't been dumped) Bottom 4 only once in last 4 years (...didn't they tank their last game vs Brisbane in 2015 to make sure of 18th...) They can tank again (after all they are the masters at it) and they might finish last but their recent history won't get them a pp and certainly not pick 2. And as Mike Fitzpatrick is no longer Chairman they won't have as much clout.

Bit of a surprise that Hird suddenly turns up in the media. The AFL pulling some strings? I don't begrudge him a path back to good health but I really hope he doesn't use his column to preach about the drugs saga - a column of 'Fake Facts! Interestingly, EFC have scaled back the round 1 comeback campaign of 'welcome back our 'heroes'', walk to the G, etc. Maybe they recognise they aren't the comeback story of the Haw vs Ess. That honour belongs to Roughhead. And/or, the fanfare last week around the Wallis/Elliot/Gatto allegations have forced them to pull their heads in!

Contrast that article with the real comeback story of Jarryd Roughead: “I don’t think it will be emotional. It is a little bit about me (coming back), but I don’t really want it about that either..." http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/jarryd-roughead-doesnt-want-the-attention-to-be-on-him-ahead-of-his-afl-comeback/news-story/b385bddf1ef71429d793533db02da1b5 Roughhead is humble. Hird is still contrite. WE all know who the real hero is! It is sickening that Ess are still harping on 'comeback'!

The gall of GWS! They: have benefited from some loose definition of GWS Academy for a number of years succeeded in making the AFL defer the draft penalties re Whitfield until after the 2016 draft then managed to get the Whitfield penalty watered down to 'draft points' rather than 'draft picks' want to continue to claim players with only vague connection to parts of the Murray region as 'Academy' players, even tho they have never put a penny into their development. have a generous (not!) plan should they lose these rights: Sydney should be '... forced to potentially sacrifice local talent altogether should it finish in the top four or even the top eight...' But no proposed penalty for GWS should they finish in that range! The hypocrisy in that...words escape me! Defer the loss of rights till after the 2017 draft. Where they just happen to have two top draftees in their sights. Probably no talented kids coming from that area after 2017 so having the removal of rights deferred is no detriment to GWS at all. Their list will be set up for the next 10-15 years. How very generous of them! Probably setting up an ambit claim to AFL House: "Give us claim 2 and we will drop claim 1" (which could never have had any credibility in the first place). GWS can no longer be allowed to call the shots at AFL House like they have over the last 12 months! Otherwise the perpetual cycle of: Step 1. draft in top 10 talent, Step 2. keep the cream of the crop, Step 3. trade out the others for top 10/1st round draft picks. Step 4. Repeat from Step 1, will continue. Take this 'zone' from GWS this year! Good to see all the interstate clubs support the Vic clubs on this.