Lucifers Hero

Not really. He was in and out of the pies side and not always because of injury. He wasn't ever a key forward - Cloke and Brown were ahead of him. Dawes was a 3rd forward decoy. His best goal kicking was 30 in 2010, and 27 in 2011. Those included finals and the GF replay in 2011. He has had a calf problem since 2011. His effort and attitude are great. But there isn't anything in his career that suggests he is or will come good. For us he has been an expensive 1st or 2nd forward decoy. Jesse will be a champ but he doesn't need a decoy he needs real help up forward. IMO Dawes isn't that person as yesterday showed.

Probably watched more football than you over the last 50 years! Hogan was thrashed no matter how you look at it: in the air, on the ground, in contests and in hunger! You don't want to see it well that is up to you. But as I said he is a kid and he will learn.

Very good point! Forgot Leuy is an FA.

Great wrap for Leuenberger yesterday. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-05/ruck-dilemma-looms-for-lions-after-leuenberger-finds-form?utm_medium=RSS Heard somewhere the Lions are interested in Howe. Straight swap, anyone?

I would cancel my membership!

Not meaning to criticise but the way Max King is going he is a very similar type. Max, soon to be 20, 200cm, can kick a goal. (Kicked 5 today with Scoprions) Just needs some experience! Max can be our Mitch Clark, or Kurt Tippet or ...

Harmes and King playing well at Casey so at this rate we may need to upgrade 3 rookies: Vandenberg, King and Harmes! Each is certainly making a case for upgrade. Otherwise another team might pinch King and Harmes!

He played under Neeld for half a season for a handful of games. Hopefully we can trade him but his value is limited: Is 27 with a calf injury since 2011 so can't play a full season. Has averaged 1 goal/game with MFC (1.2 at Pies)...poor for even for the 3rd forward. Being paid over $500K pa (unless contract front-ended). Works very, very hard but for very little impact. So, can we get anything for him? Doubt it...steak knives maybe (and we would still have to pay part of his salary). We are stuck with him...a depth player till end of contract in 2016.

Pretty much agree. Grimes, Terlich and Spencer are contracted till 2017. Grimes has probably done enough to stay as depth. He may request a trade to play more seniors. Tigers, Ess, Bulldogs might be interested. Spencer has trade currency as a few clubs looking for ruckman eg Ess and Bulldogs Howe may opt to go. Garland may be gone as UFA. Would add Dawes for a trade (admit to my bias here). Riley (and maybe Mitchie) is OOC this year so they are vulnerable. That is 10-12 changes before any serious trading.

Interesting reading Rusty. Thanks. Shows up some of the comments (biases) on DL as being inaccurate or partially complete. What struck me is the performance of Cross: top 5 in contested poss, uncontested poss and effective disposals. If he keeps that up in the 2nd half he is still a required player IMO. Wouldn't be retiring him just yet!

Roos' thoughts on delistings: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-06-01/paul-roos-flags-delistings-at-melbourne-after-port-disappointment?utm_medium=RSS Pertinent comments: -"Roos told Fox Footy on Monday night he was using the most brutal of motivational techniques to try to lift his players' efforts. Perform - or find somewhere else to play...After years in the AFL's bottom half, Roos said he believed there are some players that cannot shake the mental demons of their past." "We know what's wrong...We're yet to convince the player group of some of the things we know that work." So who still have 'mental demons'? I'm reading Roos comments as those players who can't/won't change, can't/won't be coached, players who give up too easily or play as individuals. The 186 game 'mental demon' players: Not Safe Jordie McKenzie 2015 Rohan Bail 2015 Max Gawn 2015 Mark Jamar 2015 Jack Fitzpatrick 2015 Jeremy Howe 2015 Jack Watts 2016 Jack Grimes 2016 Jake Spencer 2016 Safe: Colin Garland 2015 Jack Trengove 2016 Tom McDonald 2017 Lynden Dunn 2017 Nathan Jones 2019 Of those the last 5 I think are safe. -Jones and McDonald have overcome their 'mental demons' -Garland plays his heart out but when the backs are bombarded it gets to him. If he wants to stay he would be safe -Dunn seems to have overcome his demons but seems to not care too much. But being VC and contract length keeps him sort of safe. -Trengove safe due to injury Grimes plays his heart out but seems heavily burdened by past demons; not safe. Some of the others may stay but only because they are needed for depth (eg Spencer if we can't trade in a ruckman). The Neeld era 'mental demons' players: - Terlich, M Jones, Dawes, Pedersen are contracted till 2016 and probably 'less scarred' than the 186 players. They will be needed as depth players so are probably safe till the end of their contracts. - Jimmy Toumpas 2015, Dean Kent 2016, Jack Viney 2017, Jesse Hogan 2017. They are all safe. Yes, even Jimmy! All other players have been recruited by Roos BTW the above does not reflect who I would like to see go or stay, it is my assessment of who carries the most 'mental demons' and therefore in the gun.

No RS but he is in the AFL 'team of the week'! And he got AFLCA votes from both coaches. Far better. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-05-26/team-of-the-week-round-eight?utm_medium=RSS

Thanks OD...I wait with baited breath and hope and pray that he stays. Cheers.

Phew! Yes, I was aware he is an OOC RFA this year. I thought your post said he had put off talks to the end of the year and that worried me.

Can you provide a bit more info or a link please OD. I have been following him closely as I think he is a real asset in our back line so would like to read more. Cheers.

Really? Are you thinking Howe?

On a brighter note: "Demons young gun Jesse Hogan is planning to stay put when his current contract expires at the end of 2017. Both his family and management yesterday denied he would consider moving home to Western Australia, as reported in Perth last weekend". http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/demon-jesse-hogan-has-no-plans-to-leave-melbourne/story-fnca0u4y-1227339416389 That report I like

Sorry to put a dampner on the Freo not being so good after the older guys retire. Ross learnt his lesson at St K and at Freo has been quietly stockpiling talent! Have a read of this:http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-04-30/no-kids-allowed-ross-lyons-masterplan-mark-ii Extracts: "....(Freo) have not only recruited well but have developed their recruits along the way...The Dockers’ little known and little utilised players outside the main 22 have been well sourced. We don’t know much about them now, but we will in years to come. Lachie Weller, Connor Blakely, Hayden Crozier, who was keeping Matt de Boer out of the senior team last year, Max Duffy, Tommy Sheridan and rookie Jacob Ballard would be getting games for a lot of other AFL clubs right now....the composition of Fremantle’s list makes for interesting reading. Again using last weekend’s (Peel Thunder) team, three players were top 10 in the national draft and a further four were taken between picks No.19 and 25". Freo will be a power club for many years and will be scary good on and off the field. I doubt we will match them on either. Every club will make salary cap room to get Jesse. We (and other clubs) will also need to counter the go home factor and the pull of winning a premiership with the club he supported all his life. He will need to want to stay. If we don't consistently win and climb the ladder so he can have confidence of real success with us, no amount of money will keep him. I'm glad the club is doing all it can to make Jesse happy and settled off field. If he is happy the contract extension will take care of itself. We will know by end of next year whether or not he extends. I fear for my (and Dee supporters) health if he doesn't and a pandemic of MFCSS sets in.

This should be music to all our ears: "Hogan, 20, is not out of contract until 2017, but the Demons are likely to move next year to re-sign the West Australian, with the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle expected to pitch major offers to lure him home." Read the story here: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/demons-wary-of-making-hogan-a-young-hero-says-chief-20150506-ggvmll.html Great to see the club will be on the front foot to sign up Jesse.

Fancy footwork and not just on the footy field!! They have cool skate parks in WA!

I recall that we extended Hogan's contract and the figure in the press was $500k pa. Agreed setting up a star for life is fraught with danger but the following have received 5+ years: Scully, Ablett, Franklin, Jones, Crotchin, Hawkins, Boyd and I guess there are others. Sad to say but that is the risk assessment clubs need to now make: long, substantial $ contract vs risk of injury vs losing the player to FA. Not saying I like it but that seems to be an outcome of various AFL rules. I wasn't suggesting Wines get a long contract now but when his current contract expires (possibly in 3 years). He will then be 23 and 1 year from UFA and 3 years from FA. It is then that a long contract is likely to be offered to keep him at the club. Similar to what we just did with Jones.

I live in the world that has seen Nat Jones, Trent Cotchin, Tom Hawkins (soon) Joel Selwood etc forsake the potential open market $. Not to mention those that go to a club for finals on lower $ offers - Lake, Frawley, Rivers (maybe). Just as many in this world as there is in the $ chaser's world you mention. Keep in mind that Judd, Franklin, Ablett, Goddard probably didn't earn a hell of lot early in their careers. Different landscape now. Port has probably already started to stack Ollie's contract with $, do the same (in say 3 years) then more $ at the end of that to lock him for another6-8 years. ie they can spread the $ over his career if money is his prime motivator. IMO clubs will really start to be creative with their star players very early in their careers rather than wait till they get near the 6-8 year point. This is especially so now that 'star' players can get tax breaks for up to 30% of their contract value http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-02-11/players-tax-win Clubs can set them up for life early on so less incentive to chase the FA $. It may only happen for the top echelon players at each club but I suggest this is the way of the future. We are doing it with Hogan.

I assume that is your humour at work there ET. In six years (UFA time) Ollie will probably have a brownlow, be a premiership player and be Port's captain. When his next contract expires (3yrs maybe) they will sign him up for 6-8 years. Port player for life!!

Yes, on the surface they look the same because of age. But differences for mine are: - Wines has established his playing credentials consistently for 2 years and has had several match winning performances. Love all 3 players but neither Tyson, Viney or McD have achieved either of these. - Wines has been identified as future captain material and is being groomed for that. T/V/McD may not be viewed as LG material by the club (notwithstanding we on DL think they are) just yet. - Roos has consistently said he wants to stop this 'kid will be our saviour' mentality. Just let them enjoy the game and focus on their role. - Not all good players want to be in a LG. Examples: Dane Swan, Ryan Griffin Wouldn't be surprised to see one of T/V/McD in our leadership group next year. So their day will come. I'm happy to let them learn from our experienced LG group before they are asked to step up. To Ollie, good on him. Port don't seem a gratuitous club so he must be doing something very special on and off the field.

Great video! While watching I thought the music was perfect - gave the video extra beauty and in some parts poignancy. Surprised then to read it came from someone so young! So huge kudos to: '...Jasper, a boy in year 8, composed and played the music track'. Beautiful job.