Lucifers Hero

We all agree! Problem it is that it is at the umpires discretion and the AFL are not going to change that. I fear what an 'unfriendly' umpire will do in circumstances like Sunday. Just look at unfriendly umpiring in last year's GF. As I said players need to get smarter at disguising it like they have with DOOB and deliberate rushed behinds.

I couldn't get to the game so was one of those screaming at the tv! The camera was focused on ANB and he was very fidgety and seemed to look at the clock every other second. I held my breath hoping the umpire wouldn't call him on 'time wasting'. Still 35 secs to play. I wasn't so nervous with Lewis as when he it was obvious he was running down the clock there was about 15 sec to play. Two weeks ago, Higgins was told to play-on when the 30 seconds expired. Problem was there was no shot clock for him to see. The AFL policy at the time was no shot clock in the last 2 minutes of a quarter. Thereafter the AFL revisited the shot clock and decided to keep it up for the whole game. To answer your question: They also reinforced the umpires right to call play on before the 30 secs expires: "AFL football operations manager Simon Lethlean confirmed umpires will have the power to call 'play on' if a player is clearly seeking to delay the resumption of play by running the clock down". http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-29/afl-backflip-on-the-shot-clock On tv it seemed obvious what ANB was doing but the umpires let him have the full 30 sec. It was the right thing to do given the delicate balance of the game. Had the Carlton players been more alert and gestured to the umpire the ball may never have got to Lewis and they would have had about 35 seconds to score the goal and win by 4 points. I got the impression that while everyone is aware of the 30 sec rule they are not as aware that the umpire can reduce it if player is deemed to be time wasting. For mine that is dangerous because umpires make mistakes and I would hate to see a game decided by it. Nonetheless, players need to be smarter: put the ball down, do up their laces, pull up socks. Going forward I think umpires will be more alert to ANB somewhat poorly disguised (but brilliantly effective) tactics.

While players have 30 seconds, if umpires think they are running down the clock they can call play on before the 30 seconds is up. It was pretty obvious what ANB and Lewis were doing but we got away with it. It would take a brave umpire to call play-on in such a tight game in the last minute but I think they will be be reminded of the rule at their weekly meetings. That aside it was a delight to hear the siren. That is 3 recent games we have won from being aware and clever in the last minutes of play. Edit: part in itallics.

Clarrie has apologised. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-10/afl-probing-olivers-verbal-stoush-with-fan "I shouldn't have reacted the way that I did and I apologise for that because I've taken some polish off the team's win," Oliver said. "Moving forward I'll learn from this and it won't happen ever again." It is understood Oliver has conceded the Blues fan did not use a profanity in his comments to the player Please don't shoot the messenger, I am just reporting from press releases. If Clarrie embellished what the guy said, that is poor form. I love Clarrie as much as everyone on this site but he does need to let his football do the talking. Speaking of which he received 4 Coaches votes

It seems the club has apologised. I doubt it would have if Clayton hadn't overstepped the mark in some way. https://www.triplem.com.au/sport/afl/news/melbourne-football-club-apologise-to-carlton-blues-fan-over-clayton-oliver-verbal-altercation There is a lot of abuse in the last few pages based on assumptions, the guy's appearance and his fb page. Maybe we should wait for more info before people take their angst out against the club for apologising. Lets just hope that counselling is the only thing that happens to Clarrie.

Thank you. And fully agree with your comments about injuries to young players and the stress it causes them and their families.

Bit of an over reaction there. My comment was a tongue-in-cheek response to dc's cheeky comment, which I quoted. Maybe be I should have put the icons in to show it wasn't serious.

karma dc eye for an eye 3 weeks for 3 weeks

So many deserved tributes to Nev in this article: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/neville-jettas-clutch-performance-against-carlton-underlines-his-2017-allaustralian-credentials/news-story/d4e78c96c035c174d2ca12f8dd34eae0 Just a few: -"That entire passage of play (yesterday)— from Jetta contesting the aerial ball with Thomas to Neal-Bullen marking — took 22 seconds. Jetta’s involvement — from contest, to fall, to recovery, to winning the ball and dishing it off — took just eight." -" has made his mark with his combination of smarts, skills and toughness, becoming a consistent steadying presence for the Demons across half back". -"his impact now goes beyond his role as a lockdown defender.. it’s how he impacts the play that matters": averaged 1.7 intercept marks per match — rated elite for a half back notched up an average of 5.9 intercept possessions across his 15 games. This season, Jetta has the seventh-best kick rating of the 265 players to have recorded 100 kicks this year. since 2010, Jetta has the third-best kick rating of the 400 players to have recorded 500 kicks. The two players with higher kick ratings? Bulldogs skipper Robert Murphy and games record holder Brent Harvey. Not bad company at all. And the conclusion we would all agree with: Jetta’s name floated in this year’s All-Australian discussion. Hope someone on the AFL AA committee reads that article. Continue like this and his name should be in the conversation at least for the AA squad. (I would say the AA team but selectors tend to stack the back-line with all the mids they don't know what to do with).

Hogan dropped or rested? Seriously? None of the posters criticising Hogan are calling for Max to be dropped and he has had 3 ok games. Max should not be dropped...just saying the double standard applied to Hogan. Realistically, our good players (Gawn and Hogan) are coming directly into the seniors after long absences rather than a run at Casey. The same will happen with Jones, Viney, Watts and Salem who also will need a few games to blow out the cobwebs! Or do the Hogan critics want them dropped after one not so good game. Get a grip and perspective, Hogan critics!

That is why Nibbler will continue to get a game - he does the team things. Other players might have been selfish and tried to be the hero. Nibbler followed the 'team first' rules. The trust that gets from teammates cannot be overestimated. Its amazing how quick some posters are to put down our middle of the road players. This from TMc: “Some of the smalls like [Alex] Neal-Bullen is doing a great job down there and they’re putting me in the right spots...". There is just so much we don't see that players and coaches value. Anyone notice how Nibbler rarely blazes away at goal these days and even when inside 50 looks for a team mate in a better position. I reckon he has quite a bit of 'footy smarts' about him. This stuff is what would get his name on the board pretty early in selection meetings each week.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2017-07-09/rd-16-simon-goodwin-postmatch The bit on culture was a real 'don't mess with me' speech. The reporters must have been spellbound as there was a hush afterwards for a few seconds where you could hear a pin drop. Huge respect earnt by Goodwin from the media today.

In the video his mate's hand is in front of the guy having a go at Clarrie, virtually saying 'steady on mate'. There is also a lack of reaction from others. They are having a laugh and sit down as as Clarrie calmly runs off. So oubt what Clarrie said was really bad let alone threatening. Also on the video, the umpire is right behind Clarrie. Just more media histrionics. As an aside, Goodwin didn't sound too happy about the working over Clarrie got from Carlton players. Maybe the media should write up how they went after Clarrie who got no protection whatsoever from the umpires. The media are just stupid people who like the sound of their own voices.

Goodwin's response to the culture and discipline question was priceless and showed that he has a very steely resolve. I was in awe listening to him. A class act in every way. Compare that to the pithy, sanctimonious cheap shots by Bolton before the game. He said: "...We haven't crossed the edge there and had ridiculous reports or anything...Our players are human and they understand what went on last time, but our players are not only disciplined, they are professionals..."We need our team to play on the edge, but just as importantly we need our team to stay disciplined, which they have all year." Complete lack of class by Bolton. And stupid for a coach to buy into media histrionics. I don't know whether Goodwin saw Bolton's comments. But beating Bolton's so called 'disciplined and professional', sniping marshmallows and Goodwin's staunch and passionate comments were a perfect response.

Surprised to see Petracca on the starting bench: Christian Petracca, Billy Stretch, Cameron Pedersen, Josh Wagner Hope he doesn't get stuck there for 12 minutes like Clarrie did at the start of the Sydney game. Would prefer he starts on the field - we need the best possible start from the first bounce.

Won't happen - Saints are this year's fairy tale team ala Bulldogs last year. And, Gil barracks for the Saints.

Richmond are so lazy tonight and making StK look good: Contested possessions: STK 84 and Rich 55. Clearances: StK 23, Rich 9. Inside 50: STK 43, Rich 14 Rich thrashed in the midfield and Saints are walking it into the fwd line or forwards are taking uncontested marks. Saints playing on adrenaline. They aren't that good. But then neither are Richmond.

This week Goodwin says we want to play on the edge but need to be more disciplined. And Bolton takes the moral high ground: "...We haven't crossed the edge there and had ridiculous reports or anything...Our players are human and they understand what went on last time, but our players are not only disciplined, they are professionals..."We need our team to play on the edge, but just as importantly we need our team to stay disciplined, which they have all year." http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-08/blues-can-keep-their-cool-under-fire-bolton Hmmm...not sure I like the holier-than-thou attitude from Bolton. Clearly, he has a team of little angels! They will be out to taunt us again and the umpires will be looking out for 'undisciplined' acts from us. Our players need to keep their hands down and elbows tucked in. Let their football do the talking!!

Liam Jones will need to be more accountable with Marchbank out and Weitering and Ploughman suffering in game injuries last week. I doubt Jones will be able to run free all day with our talls Jesse, Tom and Cam or Max running around up forward. The Carlton defence also need to deal with Garlett and an inform Hannan at the feet or our tall guys. If we can keep up the forward pressure and keep the ball in our half it will make life a lot harder for their defence and a lot easier for our undermanned midfield. Also, Ed Curnow is still out and their midfield isn't as good without him. Murphy and Gibbs will need to work harder. Demons to win.

Fahour may no longer be an AFL employee but they will subsidise his anger management/counselling costs. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/afl-to-subsidise-ali-fahours-anger-management-counselling/news-story/c607320672d2be2c4c7f2187578b1ffc So to some extent the AFL are still providing him with funds. At what point do the AFL actually cut ties? I hope the AFL support the victim and his family in the same way, as Saddington is yet to return to work and they were traumatised by seeing him go down before their eyes. I suspect they haven't and probably won't.

I thought it was poor form to take Jack to Perth on the bench in the pre season game vs Eagles and then not give him a run. If ever the club wanted to assess him at something close to AFL level that was the game - really not much at stake. It amazes me how he keeps his chin up sometimes. All credit to him. Last year the club kept nominating Grimes in the squad but rarely got a game. It became embarrassing. Hope the same doesn't happen to Trengove - he deserves better, I wish the club would play him or not nominate him in the squad.

With Jesse and Garlett in, it will keep the Blues defence honest! Especially as Marchbank is out for the Blues

Joel is mfc's 'nominated rookie' for the rest of the season. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-07-06/smith-named-nominated-rookie "It means that Smith, although a rookie, is eligible for selection in the AFL for the rest of the season." I'm guessing he will be in the team sooner rather than later. Edit: that story looks a bit weird as Joel Smith signed a 2 year deal a few months ago http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-04-05/fifteen-minutes-of-fame-enough-to-earn-dee-joel-smith-new-deal ...I wonder if it means Tim Smith... Edit 2: It is Joel, see 'Nascent's post below.

Are you sure? That link goes to You Tube. ...and I can't see an article on mfc or afl website...I'm missing something.

Excellent post. Because I love Jack, I wanted to 'like' the opening post but I didn't as at some level it sat uneasy with me. I wasn't sure why. You have identified the reason in your last line. By exalting Jack there was a lessening of Boyd because 'Jack coped but Boyd doesn't' sort of thing. I believe there are many reasons for Boyd's depression beside the pressure of being the number one pick and being in the media spotlight. Jack is a champion person for his resilience, loyalty and other traits. Boyd is also a champion person for having the courage to take ownership of his condition. They are both great role models on how to deal with adversity.