Lucifers Hero

To 'fix our midfield' we need 'ball-extractors' which we don't have right now (except maybe Tyson). Jones and Viney are 'ball-getters', in and under types who too often get caught with the ball before getting it to the outside, running types eg Toumpas. Our best prospect for a 'ball-extractor' is Salem: has footy smarts, getting stronger, has 'soft hands', quick decision maker, calm under pressure, silky kick. The whole package. Can't wait to see him in the 'engine room' from time to time. Hopefully, one or more of Petracca, ANB, Brayshaw or Stretch can join the Salem 'extractor' type of midfielder. I think those 8 players can give us the right mix in our midfield but most are a few years away from having the experience. And, I'm not sure that getting a gun midfielder is going to speed up the process of 'fixing the midfield' very much. We just have to wait while the kids get games.

Is Mark Neeld back!!

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.

Except that he recently had ankle surgery and can't get into training till after Xmas. Same ole, same ole for poor Col.

With the recruiting of Ben Newton confirmed the club has decided that: - Ben is better than anyone at pick 40 and we will go to the draft with just picks 2 and 3, or - We will use pick 40 if a really good player is still there and we then delist a contracted player. Either way a really good result for us.

Any wonder that we wanted to keep pick 23 so much...some highly rated players in top 10 or so will be sliding to 20+

Something new...who we will take with pick 2 and 3, perhaps!

does anyone know when Rangey is due back? He must be chaffing at the bit to get back to DL.

An article about Russell Howcroft...didn't realise his passion for the Dees was this high. Another strong Board Member...we are in good hands! Life on Planet Howcroft

Can you speed up the clock H-T...I don't think I can wait that long to know if the tanking thing affects the draft and our Viney pick...I don't trust the AFL to not manipulate the rules to suit themselves...

Easy peasy BB: http://www.taste.com.au/holding.html

Hmmm...not a bad outcome when all the dealing is done and the fun and games been had!

Totally agree Redleg. We may have got who we wanted but we lacked negotiating smarts and savviness! In the immortal words of Kenny Rogers '...you've got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them and know when to walk away.' MFC have shown they don't know how to finesse the game. Showing our hand too early and getting poor returns for players smacked of desperation while other clubs played hardball (and won). Just saying, don't want us to be seen as easybeats at the negotiating table. This year sets the tone for future years so hope we get some smarts quickly. Won't be asking any MFC negotiators to bid on a house at auction!

Both are Gold!! Made me LOL!!

OK, so that falls into 'don't work category'! By the way, where is Rangey lately?

Having enjoyed a morning of reading lots of posts on DL threads I've concluded that a lot of DL's either don't work or have lots of time at work to read/post on DL.

Machiavelli without the finesse, eh!