Lucifers Hero

An interesting picture from this article: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dyson-heppell-renovated-rejuvenated-and-ready-to-captain-essendon-20161124-gsx1vl.html On the captaincy: "I feel I'm ready," he says." Call me cynical but it cannot be a coincidence that Heppell is standing in front of Jobe's locker - a message for Jobe - time to move on pal...!! Sure the photographer set it up but Heppell would have known exactly where he was and the significance of it. Combined with Worsfold's commetns about Jobe doubting his passion, it looks like Jobe is being eased out, none too subtly either. No wonder Jobe is disillusioned. That club would have imploded without him. Deserves to keep the captaincy.

Short and 'sweet' from ASADA: "...This man {Dank} should not be allowed near any athlete, anywhere in the world, ever," McDevitt said. Here, Here!! http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-throws-out-stephen-dank-appeal-after-noshow-20161128-gsz99f.html

Lots of articles this morning about Jobe losing his passion to play after 'losing' his brownlow. An odd reaction if he voluntarily surrendered it. Of course here on Demonland we figure the AFL backed him into a corner, with promises of hero type headlines and some future sweeteners. Bitter taste in Jobe's mouth one would think. Maybe being back at Bomberland and in the thick of it again brought back the reality of playing for that dodgy club again... Bitter taste in Jobe's mouth one would think. Whatever, it was he is clearly disillusioned and probably won't play again! Of course the millions he gets as EFC settlement may have something to do with it. He would be asking himself - why put himself thru the grueling work and probably not even make finals in his likely last season. He can go and live in the Big Apple for a while and come back to take up those AFL sweeteners. Crikey, if the culprit, Hird is being lined up for media work imagine the offers coming the way of Hero Jobe.

Correct. Which is why the only plausible reason Dank has to call Cox as a witness is to discredit CAS. Whether he gets past first base is another matter. Yes, I also said it and Cox are irrelevant to Dank's ban.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/stephen-dank-to-be-questioned-in-open-court-over-doping-allegations/news-story/39bcb88f6f7aaff12c28d879bf96fd59 The appeal for his life time ban will be held in open court and is effectively a 'de novo' hearing. Interestingly: "The first witness in Dank’s appeal is expected to be Dr James Cox, a biochemist from the University of Utah who provided scientific analysis for the World Anti-Doping Agency in its case against the Essendon players argued last November before the Court of Arbitration for Sport" Not sure why that is relevant as Dank's life time ban was imposed before the CAS hearing took place. It looks more like a Dank ploy to discredit CAS! And the AFL thought the saga was over! It seems the 'Fat Lady' has an encore!

They are just paving the way for him to be admitted to the Hall of Fame after he retires. After all he is such a good bloke and he saved them the trouble of stripping him of it... The AFL has not accepted he cheated. They would would say they did not ban him, nor take away the medal - its those nasty CAS people (and their stupid forfeiture rules) who have no idea about AFL and how things work down here. AFL would point to the AFL Tribunal findings exonerating the players therefore according to their logic, on matters to which CAS has no jurisdiction, they apply their Tribunal findings: Innocent!!. The AFL - a law unto themselves!

A great decision! No way could Watson stay as the notional winner, with or without an asterisk!! The integrity of the Brownlow 'Best and Fairest' has been restored.

In an article last week Chip Le Grand wrote that in the evidence Jobe gave CAS he said his injections ceased in May (later changed to maybe early July). It is interesting that Jobe received 26 of his 30 votes in the first 13 rounds of the 2012 season. Of the last 9 rounds (ie after the injections stopped) he polled only 4 votes in just 2 games!! Now, I have no idea what Dank gave him or whether Jobe knew what he was getting but it sure looks odd that once the injections stopped his form fell off the cliff. So yes, the 2012 voting looks tarnished and removing Jobe's votes (as they would any other suspended, ineligible player in any other year) does not and should not deny Cotchin and Mitchell their right to the medal. The AFL fear giving them the medal as to do so it effectively accepts Jobe's suspension was as a drug cheat; that he won it unfairly. It enables them to maintain some pretense about legal necessities and window dressing ie some anonymous, international body 'forced' him to give it back, we didn't strip him of it, we did not suspend him etc. Until they award it to Mitchell and Crotchin - Watson will remain the notional winner. That cannot stand in the record books.

I think Newton's fate was sealed before we got Lewis but don't want to update info until these things are said by the club (Ditto Dawes, rookies etc) I was simply answering your question about pick 84 and the number of vacancies we may have.

All those interpretations are correct. Re pick 84 - Newton's future is also in the balance and would can give us another list spot to fill - then we can use #84 at the draft... Another general comment: I am keeping the 2016 Contract thread upto date with all changes re demons. People should look at it before positing scenarios.

Collingwood will not give up 47 +/- high picks for Dunn...they need all the draft points they can get for their father/sons The following comments don't relate to your posts stuie its for the people who put up all sorts of hypothetical pick trades. NOTE: draft points are a sliding scale and read this: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-19/indicative-2016-afl-draft-order ie #28 = 703 points # 47 = 316 points # 57 = 182 points # 59 = 158 points And, hopefully for the last time, a club (with some exceptions) cannot have more draft picks than vacant list spots!! Edit: we can use picks 102 and 120 to upgrade Wagner/Smith.

I hear what everyone is saying about not going to the draft this year which on face value is a fair argument. Getting more young players wasn't why I feel our remaining picks don't give us much to work with. All along, I've thought our biggest need and what I was really hoping for is a backup for Max in this trade period who is ready to play in 2017. I was not expecting using #29 at the draft to deliver this. My remaining hope for a ruck/forward type is someone who becomes a DFA that we can pick up for zip. Will be quite disappointed if we go into 2017 without a real Max backup (and not just Watts or Pedersen who ruck while Max is resting)!

Hibberd + #59 for #29 and #68 As it stands our picks are 57, 59, 84, 102, 120 Can't say that is a good outcome. ok for upgrading rookies but not much else

True. But, our 2016 #26 was pushed out to #29 because of AFL allocated picks. Not many FA's to command similar picks in 2017 or a pp, so if we are just inside the 8 our 2017 2nd rnd pick will still be around pick #29. Just outside the 8 it is even better. MFC have worked very hard to keep # 29 presumably for a reason (other than playing hardball) so I hope they don't give up now. EFC must trade Hibberd out as they do not have the salary cap and next year he will be out of contract so their bargaining power then goes down a bit.

Awesome if true - we stared down Essendon down! Dodoro blinked first, for a change! tbh I wouldn't care whether it was year or next year 2nd rnd but its good to not let them 'win'!!

Maybe, if Ess are hearing the scuttlebut about Rockcliff and Lewis they might be getting worried they will have to keep Hibberd, after all he said he is happy to stay. Ess had better hurry up and accept our offer - or it might be gone or diluted by the time trade period is over. Let them sweat, I say - they have no leaverage at all.

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?

Sadly, it looks like there is not much interest in Jack Grimes at this stage. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-06/shattered-grimes-not-giving-up-afl-career-yet Its interesting that Jack made these comments: "I know that if I get the opportunity, I am the sort of person who will have a 100 per cent crack and put absolutely everything into it." and "I still do feel, moving forward, that I have a bit to offer. I feel confident in my own game and ability and know I have a lot of improvement left in me." I'm not sure he realises that effort isn't enough; skills count, playing the team game counts and most clubs will put their development resources into a youngster rather than improving a 27 yo. Hope his manager gives him another narrative and promotes him properly to other clubs. Despite being fairly shattered there is no hint of criticism of the club. Integrity plus, Jack.

The rules around the different rookie categories are the same: 1 or 2 or 3 years on the rookie list then either promoted to main list or delisted. A player can't move from one rookie category to another. Wondering if the bigfooty guy being quoted as the source meant Wagner is staying rather than Mitchie? Goodwin said recently that when Melksham comes in he will probably spend time on the wing as Wagner and Hunt have done so well this year. So would expect Wagner to stay either as a rookie again or promoted to the main list.

The mfc release said the 3 players will not be offered a contract. Trades can still happen eg Fitzy last year, for a nominal pick. Clubs can also take Jack as an FA for free. Not sure if we get an AFL allocated comp pick...I doubt it. Their delisting will only happen if neither of those things occur. Even then they can get to anorher club as DFA, as we did with Newton. It is now up to their managers to find them a new hope. By telling the players today they have the maximum amount of time to gond a new club.

Club website: "THE MELBOURNE Football Club has today advised Jack Grimes, Matt Jones and Dean Terlich that they will not be offered playing contracts for the 2017 season". Melbourne makes first list changes Really surprised at the loss of Matt Jones. All the best to all three players: they wore the red and blue with pride.

I did a bit of checking on HL's contract and I think it is a 3 year deal (ie OOC 2017) with an 'optional' year for 2018. I'm guessing this is like the Cloke, Bartell contracts where the 'optional' year is based on certain triggers. Unless, H retires (and there is no indication of that) I can't see him being delisted.

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?