Lucifers Hero

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.

I saw that from Gil. Yes, I am cynical when it comes to do the AFL. The Essendon saga and the incestuous of the industry has worn me down. My reference to 'back in the industry' did not mean I thought he would be back in the AFL per se. It was a more generic reference based on things like when Fahour was in strife in 2012 it was Demetriou that helped him. AFL tentacles and influence spread far and wide. Fahour may not work directly in the AFL sphere again, I just wouldn't be surprised to see him turn up in a satellite non-AFL organisation but still in the industry, in a multicultural/liasion role of some sort. Cynical? Yes. Realistic? Yes.

1) Yes, people have a choice but if they break any rules, they wear the consequences, as Ess players eventually did... and as our players did. 2) Jesse was not injured at the time his father sadly passed away. He played a game vs Hawthorn, after his father's funeral and before his cancer diagnosis. Check facts before posting! 3) See item 1)

He has 'stepped down'. He has not resigned. His actual resignation will be the indicator of his integrity and genuineness. For all we know he may still be being paid eg sick leave, compassionate leave, annual leave. The AFL precedent of paying an employee while suspended was set with James Hird. It looks like a smokescreen and when the dust settles then it is business as usual and he will be back in the industry.

The Northern Football League has ended the playing career of AFL diversity manager Ali Fahour, handing him a lifetime ban effective immediately. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/fahour-faces-tribunal-over-striking-incident-20170705-gx5eog.html Justice has been done and seen to be done. Now over to the AFL to cut its ties with him.

No typo. Hmm, very odd for a QC to go all defensive like that. He said it literally in the middle of last night's hearing. It was after the lawyers had had their say about the Bugg incident and before the jury deliberated on the penalty. Very strange.

Has Beveridge gone soft: "Beveridge has been concerned by some of the treatment (to JJ) and on Wednesday criticised Hutchings for bumping Johannisen in the back during the first quarter..."Hutchings ran off the bench without him looking. It's cowardly and we got a free kick from it," he said. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-05/simpson-hits-back-over-cowardly-comment I didn't see the incident so can't comment about its cowardliness. But to hear an AFL coach use it to deflect attention from his player who stands there like a dummy with head cowed is quite astonishing. Maybe JJ needs to learn to niggle back a bit. He is like a sitting duck at the moment. Its no wonder the bulldogs have lost there way this season. Last year they were fast and slick but never played unsociable football and now complain when it the going gets tough. This further confirms my view that the bulldogs will miss the finals!

Did anyone else think it odd that during the Bugg hearing the Tribunal Chairman David Jones QC "...took the unprecedented step of making a spirited defence of the tribunal. He called for balanced analysis and criticism and, in particular, expressed his frustration that the decision in the Essendon doping case had never been made public..." ... " The AFL's successful appeal in the Bachar Houli case last week and the criticism the tribunal copped as a result, prompted Jones to reflect on his 13 years in charge. He pointed out that there had only ever been three successful appeals." ... "I do not think it is unreasonable that where there is criticism, it be informed and balanced and not personal," . http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tomas-bugg-suspended-for-six-matches-for-punch-on-sydneys-callum-mills-20170704-gx4ijy.html If he wants to defend his Tribunal and in particular its decisions in the Houli and Essendon doping case surely there are other and far better forums in which to do it. I am quite perplexed that he chose last night to defend his 13 years in charge. Perhaps he was sending a message: Any players coming before me - you will get the full force of the law, in future. That is a bit tongue in cheek on my part. But very odd for a QC to publicly be so defensive.

Good grief! Fahour says how great a guy Houli is, then next week Houli is saying how great a guy Fahour is. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/bachar-houli-defends-ali-fahour-ahead-of-afl-tribunal-hearing-20170705-gx58ol.html Reminds me of the old adage 'birds of a feather stick together'! I would have thought Houli would keep his head down given he is serving a 4 week suspension for knocking a player unconscious. Neither of them are looking like great guys!

I would like to set aside the on-field acts and their penalties and just look at the behaviours of the 3 players in the aftermath: Houli: Apologised on the field to Carlton leaders and later to Lamb. As far as I recall he did not front the media. His club called in people from high places to help mitigate the penalties. His lawyer played the racial abuse card during the Tribunal No one from his club apologies to their counterparts at the Club and simply ignored it. No after Tribunal/Appeal interview by Houli. Bugg: Apologised on field to Mills Apologised immediately after the game and immediately faced the media and took responsibility for action Coach and Leaders personally apologised to their Sydney counterparts Our captain came out and condemned the action. Did not call in friends from high places. Manfully and courageously fronted the media immediately after the Tribunal finding and took responsibility for the consequences. Fahour: As far as I can tell no apology to Saddington until after the sh**t hit the fan in the media. Played the 'pity' card with faux tears after the event Is hiding behind the apron strings of the AFL. Regardless of what people think of the 3 events and the penalties, I hope all can agree our club has handled this with dignity and maturity. Very proud of mfc for their handling of this. They are setting an example for our team to learn what constitutes humility and respect. Can't say the same for Rich or the AFL.

Bugg's door stop interview http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2017-07-04/statement-tomas-bugg He handled himself exceptionally well. Very genuine. Managed to side step media questions that would attract more contentious headlines, like: was 6 weeks fair, impact of this on his career. I noticed Mahoney wasn't in the frame. The club clearly decided that he had to man up and publicly take full responsibility for the consequences. But he isn't on his own - Jones said Bugg messed up but he is one of us and we will get around him and support him. Maybe this event will be what 'maketh the man'.

Much less pressure on Jesse to ease back into the limelight especially as Misson highlighted that it is up to Jesse and his 'mindset'. While I would love to see Jesse at the G on Sunday, it will be fantastic to see him anywhere having a kick after all he has been through. Go Jesse!

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-07-04/jeffy-jesse-and-dom-face-tests “Dom is touch and go,” “Jesse is training really well...but it’s more about his mindset than anything, so we’ll make a decision on that later in the week. “Jeff did a great session today; he ran really fast. Essentially, he just needs to train with the group on Friday and get through and pull up well.” Reading that in order of likelihood to play: Jeff, Jesse, Dom. Fingers crossed they make it for Sunday.

Jimmy Bartel doesn't hold back: "He sought him out. It wasn't spur of the moment, it wasn't a brain fade. It was calculated. He ran 30 metres, he skimmed the edges and he sucker punched someone like a coward. "And he has got history. This is not just a one-off; he has already been reported this year for striking – go back a couple of years [2012] and he belted a spectator. "He should be deregistered. If you get 16 weeks in local football you are deregistered. "The apology falls on deaf ears for me." http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ali-fahour-guilty-of-cowardice-at-best-hang-up-the-boots-at-worst-sacked-20170704-gx4gh0.html Anyone who thinks that was the same as the Bugg incident needs to have another look at it and their own value system..

This is a bit off topic but I would like to see us win more than the minimum 12 and scrape into 8th spot. The others in the bottom 4 are likely to be Port, WCE and Sydney. So I would like enough wins to get us to 5th or 6th for a home final...ideally not against Sydney. A little voice in my head says one-week-at-a-time and if we get there we can beat anyone, anywhere, anytime... ...but in my heart I would be shattered if our first final in eons is interstate and I can't get there!