Lucifers Hero

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-26/mrp-houli-straight-to-tribunal-eagle-banned-for-oliver-hit The Carlton doctors strike again: "RICHMOND defender Bachar Houli has been sent straight to the Tribunal for his strike on Carlton's Jed Lamb after the Match Review Panel graded the hit as intentional and high impact...with a medical report from Carlton crucial in the finding against the Tigers defender". The hit on Lamb looked pretty serious so the MRP probably reached the right decision. But can't help feel that the Carlton medical reports in this case and those on Hogan and Lewis are sending a message that any opp player that dares touch a blue boy will find themselves out on a limb.

Schofield gets 2 down to 1. Deemed intentional. The right call IMV. So rubbish to all the media who tried to make it a Clayton story!

That may be so but that still image in an AFL article is what the wider public sees, not the video and easily misinterpreted as I did. True, but replays usually sow the actual time/quarter. Overall, I didn't like it. Ch 7 have form - they edited their post game telecast of the Sydney rooms last Friday night to portray them as being uncooperative and disruptive. https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/swans-hit-back-at-roaming-bt-spray-following-friday-night-controversy-ng-b88517428z Ch7 have their agendas and their favourite teams. We aren't on that list.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-25/clayton-oliver-former-test-cricketer-in-twitter-spat-over-dive There is a ch 7 twitter image at the bottom of that article. Is it doctored? The image is a few frames before Schofield hit Oliver (which was at half time siren). It shows the 'Full Time' Final Score. It shows the time clock as 43 seconds to go when in fact we hit the front with 24 seconds left. If it is doctored it is reprehensible by Ch 7 and they have stooped to a new low. Adds weight to my earlier point that Darcy and Richo set out to bait him in their interview. Lets out the real villains in all this - it certainly isn't Oliver! A 'Please Explain' is warranted!

Great post! I had the Lid ajar but now it is off. On a related note - its great to see Roos supporting the Dees vs Sydney: "...Friday night will be like Roos watching his sons, Dylan and Tyler, playing against each other...When you go to any footy club you make emotional attachments,” Roos said. ... Now I’m very attached to Melbourne. The lack of success is part of it and I’m sympathetic to their plight. It’s exciting for Melbourne, they’ve been kicked for so long. I’m happy for Jack Watts and Nathan Jones and Max Gawn. I’m going for the Demons.” http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/paul-roos-says-more-afl-clubs-should-look-at-coaching-succession-plans/news-story/9cf348d7c2b963491e604ff5b0868b70 As you say Roos and Goodwin have cooked up something special. If (when) we win the premiership Roos will have played a key role in two clubs breaking their longest premiership drought of more than half a decade! I like knowing he has a soft spot for us.

Didn't take long for the media to latch on to it http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-25/clayton-oliver-former-test-cricketer-in-twitter-spat-over-dive Martyn is from Perth and probable an Eagles supporter. Like you I think Oliver might need to cool his jets. He should lie low and let the club leaders defend him. This will be another week where our great win will be overshadowed by trivial side issues and twitter. Sigh. If there was no post game interview the story would have petered out very quickly. Lesson for the club - don't let a 19 yo be interviewed after a controversial incident during the game. He is cannon fodder to commentators looking for a story. They set out to bait him and have created shiiit storm out of it.

Oh, the irony! Apparently, shot clock countdown was removed for the last 2 minutes of a game when: "North Melbourne’s Mason Wood watched time expire until the final siren as his side held a one-point lead over St Kilda". He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword! Based on that I wouldn't like to see the shot clock come back for the last few minutes. Yesterday, it could have cost us the game!

We were lucky we didn't have the WB vs North umpires. They paid a similar block as an 'illegal shepherd' against Mason Wood and Brown's goal was disallowed in the dying seconds!

The umpires are back on the Bulldogs bandwagon: "LET’S clear this up straight away — the Western Bulldogs aren’t back, they’re just extremely lucky...The premier got the four points against North Melbourne, but also got the rub of the green from the umpires in a drama-packed night under the lights." http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/western-bulldogs/western-bulldogs-get-out-of-jail-with-onepoint-win-against-north-melbourne/news-story/696c77322f24a66e522c5f64e26c9c9b Frees WB 26- North 13, at one stage 15:3. Two of the WB frees directly cost North a goal and maybe a second. Higgins was penalised for not starting run up for goal within the allowed 30 seconds (by the non-officiating umpire no less) - problem is there was no shot clock for him to look at. Now, I loathe Higgins and North with a passion but fair is fair. This time I wouldn't blame Scott for squealing about the umpire - his problem is he is now like the 'boy who cried wolf' - no-one listens. When WB don't get the benefit of umpiring they struggle to play their run on game, very evident this year when free kicks have been more consistent as they had been in the last few weeks. Lots of vested interests want WB to back up in the finals again. Edit: insert not in 3rd para

I just can't rate Hardwick. The only top 8 teams they have beaten are WCE and an undermanned and injured Demons. But they have lost to other top 8 teams: Adel, WB, GWS, Freo (when they were in the 8), and an in inform Syd. That is their 5 losses right there - downhill skiers!! And lack of coaching has given them 3 losses in the dying seconds when their players didn't have a clue on how to win/defend. Nope, not a good coaching record for mine. Shock of shocks - 'Purple' Barrett just said on Ch 9 that Goodwin would have to be coach of the year so far. Must have choked him to say that

What is embarrassing is the media getting all excited and trying to blow it up as a big deal. They go after a 19yo kid but treat the Rance stage last week with kit gloves. In the ch7 post game interview by Darcy and Richo they appeared to bait him by asking if the hit connected or if it hurt. Terrible thing to do to a 19yo on national televison. They should be ashamed. To his credit Clarrie took it on the chin (no pun intended) and stood up for himself really well.

Two big things I've noticed in the last few weeks: - our players aren't all going for the ball at once so there is (nearly) always someone running past to receive. I was amazed at how much space we found last night, especially in the last quarter, when the ball seemed locked up and heading for a ball up. Caught eagles flat footed! - we don't seem to use the 'zone' defence quite so much. There is a lot more one-one-one. Also a player or two is staying back so there haven't been many 'out the back' goals. It seems we are getting better at knowing when to zone and when not to zone. I suspect Lewis has a lot to do with ensuring this happens. These show how we have refined the execution of our game plan from last year and earlier this year as our players mature and gain experience. And there is more maturing to happen. Exciting times.

After the game Darcy and Richo interviewed Oliver and asked if the hit connected or if it did, did it hurt. It sounded like they were trying to bait him into saying it was nothing, effectively that he was staging. (This was after their in game commentary where they said there was nothing in it). I thought it was unfair to put a 19 year old under that scrutiny on national tv. To his credit Oliver said he wasn't expecting it so it knocked him over and yes, the doctors did check him out at half time. Well done, Oliver!

Last week 'expert' commentators were saying it was Hardwick- go figure! Laughable. Hardwick is a long way behind a few others!

Looks like it was 'The heart beats true'. Going by these posts he sure lived up to his name! He is a brave man to weather the Weagles supporters. He did all of us proud. On a side note - Goodwin's reaction on the siren was also priceless - especially for a guy who oozes calm regardless of circumstances!

In his press conf Goodwin said Jesse won't play next week but will most probably play the week after! That will be round 16 vs Carlton game @ MCG. Remembering the game earlier this year when their doctor's dodgy medical reports that cost Jesse and Lewis extra weeks of suspensions! Our best revenge is to thrash them! How good will it be to see Jesse running around the G again!

Agreed re forwards. I think we will miss Watts more than most realise. He is our link man and sets up so many plays. He was also our only genuine tall forward. Very much a makeshift forward line this week and we will need a bit of Garlett and Petracca magic to kick a winning score.

Some damning stats for the pies supposedly 'elite ' midfield. Disposals: Pendlebury 32, Treloar 35, Sidebottom 32 and Adams 29. Not a solitary score between them and very few inside 50's. They are playing in circles! Terrible trading for Adams, Aish, Treloar (and Hoskin-Elliot) - used up lots of first and 2nd round picks. Took what looked like the easy road to finals and now its all falling part. Maybe Bugg can send his ex team mate, Adams a tweet on how it feels to play for a 'successful club'!!!

Paddy McCartin can't take a trick. Was knocked out again in a contest in their VFL game. That is about his 5th concussion since being drafted. He is too brave for his own good (reminds me a bit of our Gus). Feel for the lad. Never like to see a talented player continuously being set back. Hope Paddy takes the same option that Gus has and take some time out to fully recover.

No Nicholls! Umpires: 8. Rosebury from WA by far the most senior of the three with 331 games. 12. Stephens from Qld with 30 games 31. Mitchell from Vic. with 69 games. Hope Rosebury doesn't dominate or get carried away with crowd noise. I do think that local umpires should not be the senior guy for any game.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-06-24/posts-and-personality-a-buggs-life- Not sure if I'm misreading Bugg's comments but is he really taking notice of Goodwin's comments: “{The tweet} was all in good fun – a bit of playful stuff, but it was light hearted. I have a good relationship with Jason [Johannisen] but my conversation with Goody (Simon Goodwin) is that we don’t want it to be the topic of conversation...“We played a really good game and all of a sudden it becomes a three or four-day talking point. I’ll learn to do it at a more appropriate time, but I still want to show my character and I still want to portray things the way I am.” Also, does he have an inflated opinion of himself and his impact on the team and players? Last time I looked Watts didn't need Bugg to 'come out of himself'. Jack is a personality in his own right and its great that Bugg is also. But he may need to pay attention to Goodwin's comments about the club being humble! Finally, this comment: “We’re sitting fifth – everyone’s excited. The supporters are excited, the club’s excited, the players are excited and I’m excited. I’m all about embracing the position you’re in and we’ve done so much hard work to get where we are, so I think we should be celebrating the little wins,” he said. make me really, really nervous. Was it Lewis that said wins should be expected rather than celebrated?. Someone should remind Bugg about not getting ahead of ourselves. Hope Bugg and the team back up last week's win, tonight. Otherwise it is just hot air.

But no talk of him leaving: "Frost appears unlikely to seek a move to a third AFL home, especially when he seems established in a Melbourne team on the rise, but opposition clubs will monitor his contractual situation with interest". http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-20/demon-frost-keeps-cool-on-contract-resigning Frost appears unlikely to seek a move to a third AFL home, especially when he seems established in a Melbourne team on the rise, but opposition clubs will monitor his contractual situation with interest. Think he wants to consolidate his form to earn a better contract. Good on him for backing himself in. But as you say risky if he gets injured or form drops off. May he have many more milestones with the Dees and hope the team make this memorable for him with a win!

When the captain, Heppell thinks they have it in the bag and 'stop playing' then lose they get what they deserve! A 1 point, after the siren win is a great way to shut down that smug team and supporters; even better than seeing them thrashed! Its even better when their most experienced and arrogant player stuffs up to cost them the game.

Not too worried about meeting Sydney in the finals as neither team may yet make it and depending where teams finish we may not play them until the Prelim. 5 of our next 7 games are against current top 8 teams. All classic 8 point games. Plus a game vs our nemesis North, in Tassie. We need at least 3 or 4 wins from that lot to play finals. Then hope we don't relax or run out of puff in the last 3 rounds when we play currently lower placed teams. I'm confident we will make the finals but a few tests to pass in the meantime. Then I'll worry about who we play in September.

That is just the best news! He showed his skill and talent in his first season when he won the game vs Ess with a goal after the siren. Cool, composed and deadly accurate. I knew then we had someone special. He is know getting the recognition he deserves.