Lucifers Hero

LOL, bb My high school end of year bash was at the Espy with Shirley Bassey the star performer. She called for a volunteer to sit on the stool next to her while she sang 'Big Spender'. One of my class mates obliged. When she did her hip flick, he and the stool went flying. It was hysterical and to this day gives me a great laugh. Dawson went flying last night, just as easily as my inebriated class mate. Dawson was equally hysterical!!

And their was no sulking and he made more 'second efforts'. Showing growth and maturity as a 'team' player. Loved the 'Shirley Bassey' type move where a gentle flick of his hips nudged his op (Dawson?) out of the contest to take an easy mark!

This week Ross Lyon has said that if they can't make Nat believe he may not stay. Today Barlow (who is now out for Sunday's game) has added fuel to the fire: "...if Nat doesn't see the club improving and the direction going the way he expects to and wants it to, then he's got to be able to look at options elsewhere." So, I did some hunting and came across this: http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/fremantle/dockers-prepare-to-offer-injured-brownlow-medallist-nat-fyfe-a-monster-longterm-deal/news-story/80e5f67942f627eda7e02664aa5f7f41 According to the article, Fyfe is: -OOC in 2017 -Will be a RFA in 2017 -Has put contract talks on hold -Is awaiting the new CBA before negotiating with Freo It all sounds eerily similar to one of our own, unfortunately A lot to play out here. It will be the Dangerfield circus all over again! I doubt we will be close enough to top 4/serious finals next year for him to choose the Dees so another elite player will end up at a top 4 finals type club, if he leaves...sigh... Freo should have made him captain and locked him away last year when they had the chance with the post Brownlow euphoria and looking at top 4 again this year!

As PJ has many good working years ahead of him I choose to interpret that as he will be at MFC for many a year! . Along with Mahoney PJ makes our club rock solid off the field.

Update on Roos plans. In a 3AW interiview, Roos has said: - he and Tammy will start a Leadership and Wellness company - thinks Simon will be a fantastic coach - looking forward to the Dees doing well and will be a Dees fan after he leaves - he and PJ have had chats about next year but decided to focus on the next 8 weeks - would enjoy coaching our women's team. - his prior role at Sydney Academy was discussed (...we have a Multicultural Academy waiting to be developed) - doesn't see him self going to another club - you become wedded to a club eg watching players like Watts and Jones develop Would love to see Roos still be involved with the club, somehow.

Bump. In an article: We'll be respectful of situation on MFC 'mobile' website it discussed the Roos/Goodwin changeover. (Can't find the article on club 'desktop' website) Roos said: "Mahoney and I discussed it (Goodwin staying in current senior coach position) with Goodwin last week and he's really comfortable with the role...and he is really looking forward to the next week and getting as much out of it". That seems different to the Roos/Longmire handover where he left the box to Longmire and retreated to the bench. Interpret that as you will: Protecting Goodwin from media if we don't win many more games? Not quite ready? Roos just loves coaching? I think the first. Goodwin touches on the handover (or lack of) in this article: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-07-01/building-consistency-the-focus-goodwin He seems to be accepting of the situation. “I’m looking forward to the role, but now my role is to help Roosy (Paul Roos) and generate a really strong footy team over a nine-week period.” While many on DL and media have speculated on Goodwin's influence it seems to me Roos has been firmly in control especially after the St kilda and Port games. I am very happy to see Roos coach from the box for the rest of the year. Maybe if we win a few more games he might give the box to Goodwin for the last few games. I will be very sad to see Roos go.

I know. According to Jack, Bernie Vince has one hence my words like 'Bernie's mountain dog' and they showed a pic of Jack with the dog. I googled Bernese Mountain Dog to get the pic in my post. But I can see how my post could be read as you have.

Understood Rusty. Wanted to mention JV's first class performance somewhere on DL and this thread title looked a good place. Just remembered, JV also mentioned JKH...said he had a bad run of luck with injuries but when fit would be in best 22. Good vote of confidence for JKH.

As JV said it, I groaned for that reason. I guess if that is what the club thinks is best and it keeps Jesse happy so be it

Jack Viney on the Mangarook Footy Show tonight. Very composed. Captain worthy performance! He said: - Hogan loves playing with Dawes - His pre season scuffle with TMc was because he thought Tommy was being a bit soft...could have been joking - On the hunt for a puppy...like Bernie's mountain dog-----> Cute, eh? - Agreed with the singing of Wagner's praises. - They accept making a few mistakes while learning and practice of 'our way of playing'. - Roos pushed defence for 2 years and once we got that sorted we started an attacking game style in this pre-season That is all I can remember...

I had a look at the Club's Annual 'Heartbeat' booklet and for Dunn, Roos said: "He showed last year - and what we're looking for again - is consistency. He's showed he can play some really good footy as he did against Tom Hawkings. It's really now about him grasping what we want him to do with regards the game plan and making simple decisions. When he does that, he's a very good player. Can Roos be any clearer on what Dunn has to do to get a game!? So while his form may look good in the VFL, the big questions are: - Is he consistent (in the AFL games he has played this year)? - Does he grasp the game plan? - Is he making the simple decsions? - Can he play 'good footy' when there is no 'power forward', like Hawkins, to match up against? Obviously the coaches think 'No' to all or most of those questions. What more do people want to know? Edit: The booklet was issued during the pre season, so Dunn has known for a long time what he needs to do.

I would bet my bottom dollar that the coaches have let Dunn know exactly "what's required from him to get back". To my mind Dunn (and Grimes) are our two defenders that haven't really shown improvement in their game. I think of our 'established' defenders and their games: Matt Jones must be doing some really, really, good things to be selected for every game this year ('til injured). Jetta has added new strings to his bow: a great 'side step' and ability to attack. Tom Mc has shown AA form at times. Garland is getting the hang of attacking football. H is playing the attacking back role required by the game plan. Dunn's (and Grimes') improvement seem to have stagnated relative to the rest of the defenders. Edit: Thinking a little more about this, M Jones and Jetta are two of Roos's real success stories. Two players of apparent limited ability and deemed NQR by observers (before Roos) have become solid, reliable, first pick defenders. As much a credit to them as it is Roos.

To me, our list management of recent years looks like this: 2014 Roos' first year - everyone gets a fair go to show their wares, in particular their attitudes, behaviours and willingness to learn and follow coaches instructions. Those that clearly faulted on these went first. 2015 Goodwin's (and McCartney's) arrive - Now time for players (especially senior) to buy into coaches requirements. Those that clearly faulted on these went. Dunn (and Grimes) were VC and LG in 2015. If they showed the leadership required they would still be there. So I suspect it is not what they have done wrong but that they failed to do what was required. They might be loyal, great characters for the club but they need to play the right football the right way. Roos clearly stated to all and sundry that he was all about teaching defence first. It seems no coincidence that, of the more senior players, it was key defenders (Frawley, Dunn, Grimes, Howe etc) that Roos traded or dropped. Those that bought in to the new regime are still in best 22 when fit: Tom McD, Jettta, M. Jones - not necessarily the most talented but willing to do what coaches require and get the best out of themselves. Hard to see Dunn (and Grimes) getting back into the team (altho I would like to see Grimes play his 100th game).

Saw this pic on club website of Ollie taunting his off-field best mate. If I can put words in Jack's mouth he would be saying: 'yep, you'll keep mate!

Deemed intentional, low impact so 2 weeks is a bit stiff! Probably not worth the challenge...he needs a rest anyway - took a heavy knock a few weeks ago (vs brisbane (?) went off and didn't come back on) and has carried a heavy load so far this year.

A well deserved rap for Hogan http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/jesse-hogan-on-track-to-better-2015-output-after-another-starring-display-for-melbourne/news-story/861c3e28baf69de23a86bf700107eb86 "In 2016, he ranks inside the top six in the entire competition for marks, contested marks, marks inside 50 and goals. They’re statistical indicators for the quintessential key forward, let alone for one that has proved he can also roam higher up the field". Also 9 games in he has 23 goals; 50% of his 2015 total of 44. Will easily beat that and on track for a 60 to 70 goal season. Good enough to win the Coleman in past years. He has silenced his critics! Big time!

This critcism is rubbish. It seems Jesse went homethis week for personal family reasons. In that case he did damn well today. Judge him at the end of the year not week by week!

The losses would be easier to take if they were against the bettet teams. Perish the thought that we become like Nth and Rich who get themselves up for big games but forget to turn up for the 'easy' ones.

Good pick up. Much easier to have that structure now that our forwards and mids have a defensive mindset. No more 'brown's cows'!

I can't get behind the HS paywall to link or quote from the article so have no context but this appears on their site, as the first line: 'PAUL Roos is confident Melbourne will keep its promise to Jesse Hogan to become an elite club, believing he will sign on despite speculation about a return to Western Australia'. Sounds positive! Just hope we deliver. Doubt Roos would stick his neck out if he wasn't quite confident Jesse will sign. However, I would like at the club to stop talking about it to the media at every interview. Of course they will ask but its time to play with a straight bat and tell them there is nothing new to say so stop asking about it! No point feeding the frenzy and keeping it in the news every other day. Let the kid play, enjoy the year and help us win a few more games. Let the media speculate but time for the club, players and coaches to shut the conversation down from their end. It certainly seems Jesse's manager is keeping mum we should do the same.

Looks like he is going to get a soft tap on the wrist for his social media 'work': http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-confidential-demon-clayton-olivers-facebook-slam-kieran-collins-nickname-nab-challenge-ladder/news-story/a83c43d17b7a20c85d4d6fd8b4014e58 He has a good sense of humour! But "AFL Confidential hears the club may be putting a stop to his frequent comments in the near future. So enjoy them while they last." I guess the club has little choice...keep him out of the limelight and the headlines or it might backfire on him. No need to invite media criticisms of Dees players!

That is a good point. Many many other club players are also signing. While I am not worried about McDonald or Hogan waiting for the CBA I find it disconcerting that we seem to the only club whose players see it as an issue. It is also disconcerting that our captain and our current B&F holder have come out and stated they believe our players should wait...effectively encouraging teammates to not sign. No other club's leaders (or players for that matter) are saying anything like this. I would prefer our leaders didn't publicly encourage contract deferral. It would be terrible if all our OOC players wait for the CBA before signing while other clubs are shoring up their playing lists.

Discussed at length in the 'Bombers' thread, a few days ago. In summary, the benefit to mfc is likely to be around $200k.

Everyone is assuming that Hogan put off the talks. But I heard the Ox say mfc offered Hogan 3 years and then 5 years (to 2020 and 2022 respectively). And tbh I think this is responsible by the club - who knows his back problems may recur big time. At the minimum he will require managing. Maybe Hogan wanted a longer term, risk free deal? Also, who knows what else was on the table: Leadership role. B&F results. Performance criteria. Injury protection for the club. Marquis player payments (which have tax benefits), sponsorship opportunities. And on the CBA. There are a lot of potential changes to player conditions and benefits - any delay by players isn't necessarily about $. So tbh it is very simplistic to say delays with Hogan are about $ or making finals in 2 years. It ignores all the other factors that are part of contract negotiations. I am really wary of 'journos' looking for a headline. While I am also besotted with Hogan I still want the club to manage all the risks and do the right thing by all. So perhaps the delay was mutual, as reported.

I like Bernie's humour when talking about Hogan's contract: "He's contracted for next year still, so I think he'd be silly to sign now. He loves it around the place," Vince said...(He) might be able to squeeze a bit more money out of the club if he has another good year, so I can see why he's done it...Hopefully he doesn't take any money off me though. I haven't got much left at the moment." Typical Bernie! I like this as well: Vince wasn't afraid to mention September action as a possibility for the Dees. "We're not shying away from that (time for the Demons to get results). From last year to this year has been a massive step up," he said...If we can step up just as much as we did the year before – which I think we're in front of that – you only need to win a few more… and we'll be knocking on the finals door." I haven't heard this talk around our club for ever so long. I'm no longer hearing the platitudes and half-hearted but unfounded optimism of prior years. From every player interviewed I'm hearing belief and intent. And its significance that this is coming from players rather than coaches or football department - it means the players are taking ownership of results. Reminds me of the wise words from Barassi: If it is to be, it is up to me! 2016 might be a bumpy ride due to our young group but it sure will be worthwhile!