Lucifers Hero

Little Big Mouth, Smart Alec, Adams is still at it: "I would like to see more of it to be honest, like in the NBA. It's almost cocky but it's just confidence," Adams said. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/no-harm-in-afl-trash-talk-says-magpie-taylor-adams-20170607-gwmb5n.html "Collingwood midfielder Taylor Adams has not backed down from his Demons barb before their Queen's Birthday clash, saying he would like to see more "honest and raw" commentary from AFL players, mimicking the trash talk often heard in American sports". Who cares what happens in American sports! And who cares what an up-himself footballer who has achieved nothing says! Nonetheless, I hope we have a team strategy for any player to (fairly) bump and crash into him at every opportunity - just to let him know not to go insulting our club!

Agreed Robbie57. Normally this thread pops up when our season is a write-off with nothing to look forward to except the draft and the trade period. We are still well and truly in this season. Lets save the delist/trades/draft threads for another few months please. We still have a lot too look forward to! Go Dees.

Bernie returns Adams' serve: "It might be (used as a motivating factor). What is he (Dunn) at a successful club now, is he? That's the first I've heard of it but we might be able to use that one as a bit of motivation. Not sure what he's done at Collingwood yet though." http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-06/is-he-at-a-successful-club-now-bernies-swipe Straight to the point! Adams has dropped Dunne right it in. The flack is directed at Dunne and he hasn't said a word. Ah well, glad Bernie fired it up a bit.

It seems the football world is slowly waking up to the fact that the beneficiaries of the $2m windfall are elite players, FA's and those with contract escalation clauses. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-cba-fears-many-players-could-miss-out-on-pay-bonanza-20170601-gwi19j.html It doesn't make sense to me that some clubs 'have resisted putting escalation clauses' in player contracts. Sure it helps the club but If good players don't keep up with the market they will look elsewhere and if the 'journeyman' players aren't looked after they will get left behind and perhaps feel exploited. For reasons mentioned in the o.p I feel Mahoney and Co have this under control and will treat the whole group fairly ie stick to the 'pay in line with the market' policy. This especially caught my eye: "...a senior football department figure at another Victorian club has privately queried whether the AFL Players' board – which includes...Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield and club captains Phil Davis and Scott Pendlebury – contained a fair cross-section of players to ensure their interests were best looked after in pay talks." A thinly veiled hint at some players feathering their own nest,perhaps!. Its worth remembering that at least half the players in the AFL get less than $250k. But really, it is up to the AFLPA to make sure ALL player's interests are protected. I think they have failed badly on that one.

Fully agree. Also big fan. I suspect that after many years of off-field dramas the club would be quite happy for the 'back office' go quietly about its business and not get too much attention (if they do it would usually be for the wrong reasons). I think Mahoney is being noticed by a few externally. On FC a few weeks ago Caro referred to a club (I think Hawthorn) needing to improve its football management with someone good or 'who can grow into the role like Josh Mahoney has'. In a way I'm glad he flies under the public radar as he may get offers he can't refuse. I would imagine PJ applies the same principle off field to 'pay the market' (+ premium where necessary).

The new CBA gives all clubs a 20% increase in the sal cap - a massive windfall of about $2m p.a. Clubs can go out and splurge on a few marquis players (or overpay players who they are desperate to keep/get). Not sure the AFLPA have really helped 95% of players - it just inflates the price of a handful players and makes it easier for clubs to get Free Agents in (but that is a separate subject). How much money a club has to throw around next year depends on how many players have 'escalation' clauses in their contract. North appear to want to spend it all this year on 2 players; St Kilda seem more likely to spend on a $1m player this year and a $1m player next year. Others will spread it around a bit over the next two years. So how might this affect us? My distant observations are: Our club has stated it will pay the market rate and not allow our player salary structure to get out of whack again. Jesse and others who have re-signed in the last year or two would have escalation clauses built into their contracts. This would take up a decent part of the $2m over the next few years. Mahoney has done a great job of 'insulating' us against this new CBA windfall as all our 'young guns' (except Salem) are signed up till 2018 or 2019. This takes the urgency out of of scrambling to sign up players now. On Salem - I wouldn't be surprised if he has a few offers on the table so hope he is signed up asap. Other 'guns' would have offers but leaving would involve breaking contracts. The important one is the extra $2m makes it a lot easier to keep our 'young guns' in the sense of fulfilling their $ expectations prior to knowing their is a $2m windfall. Some will get outrageous offers from other clubs. Only time will tell whether they want to stick together. With Lumumba leaving we have an extra amount in our salary cap, say $2.5 to 'spend'. I wouldn't be surprised if contracts are being revisited as we speak to ensure we keep and reward players appropriately. I think the club will keep the faith with players and reward them fairly according to the market. If stories are believed we resisted throwing a bucket of cash at Prestia (wisely). The truly elite (eg Hogan, Oliver) will get a premium. With PJ and Mahoney managing this, we are in good, steady hands with wise heads.

I also think Dusty will stay. Shopping him around is a ploy by his manager (Carr??) to flush out the best offer for leverage with Richmond. He did this with Dusty's last contract except Richmond didn't take the bait and declared they would let him go. The ploy backfired and the Dusty camp was left with egg on face. Carr now has Richmond over a barrel and they will pay dearly for 'embarrassing' the Dusty camp last time...altho' it was of Carr's own doing. This time Carr will laugh all the way to the bank...

Don't bet on it Pates. A few years ago the AFL declared 'win games and you get FTA broadcasts and the Prime time slots'. BUT: The FTA schedule for those teams in 2017 for 10 rounds have been: Collingwood, 7 telecasts with 4 in Prime Time Richmond, 5 telecasts with 4 in Prime Time Carlton, 5 telecasts with 2 in Prime Time Essendon, 7 telecasts with 6 in Prime Time (Nice reward for the drug cheats - Finish last, get the # 1 pick, get all their players back and clean up on the FTA time slots. Sickening, really). Last year their ladder positions were: Collingwood,12th, Richmond, 13th. Carlton 14th, Essendon 18th. So I call BS on the AFL comment that 'win games and get FTA and prime slots'. (Note: The AFL have delivered to the Bulldogs but they had to win a Premiership). They all have a heap more FTA prime time slots in the second half but I can't be bothered counting them - you get the picture! The big club dominance of the FTA schedule has happened by stealth with the AFL fully complicit! The big clubs get prime FTA time slots early in the season so it helps them build memberships...top of mind stuff. And its really important clubs get their members signed up early in the season. Of course it sets those clubs up for the FTA schedule the following year regardless of how many games they win. Cycle repeats. FTA is all based on Membership numbers (except Carlton - not sure what the deal is there).

Tom Mc said he is still pretty sore from the surgery but he is keen to get back and play again. Watts said he spoke with him last night and also said Jesse is keen to get back '...whether that is after the bye or a week or two later, we'll see'. QB looking less likely.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-30/demons-sign-brownlow-medallists-granddaughter Harriet has been recruited as a Free Agent. Was really surprised to see her delisted last week. Can only assume it was to meet AFL list management rules. Delighted she is back as I thought she put in some really good performances and improved as the season went on.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-29/demons-star-hogan-set-to-return-to-the-club It confirms the club is hopeful Jesse is available for the QB game but predictably " ...Hogan's comeback will be dictated by how well the wound heals and how is feeling. ... Demons are keen to ensure the power forward has the appropriate level of conditioning after an interrupted start to the season that saw him play just four matches..." He will have played 4 occasional games in 12 weeks, had surgery and had a tough time. I guess the club won't know about his conditioning till after a few training sessions. So its a case of watch this space... Of course, like eveyone else on here...can't wait till the #1 runs in red and blue again!

He had bone bruising a month ago which is usually a few games out. I said in this weeks Post Game thread that had we not had so many injured talls and forwards out he would have been rested. At the time of the bone bruising I expected him to not play for a week or two as it was the reconstructed knee and it wasn't worth the risk but that we may not have too much choice. He wasn't a patch of his normal self on Saturday so really hope the 2.2 weeks off is enough. The last thing we need is to get Hogan back but lose Trac.

Congratulations Mitch for being nominate for MOTY. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-05-29/hannan-nominated-for-mark-of-the-year The 3 nominees are almost identical but vote for Mitch!

Channel 7 just reported that Jesse flew back yesterday. They said MFC is hoping he will play on QB. They didn't give a source so it could be speculation. But tbh I think the club will continue to be low key about it. So, looking fwd to Goodwin's mid week press conference when we might get a clear picture. Edit: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-29/demons-star-hogan-set-to-return-to-the-club It confirms the club is hopeful he is available for the QB game but predictably "... Demons are keen to ensure the power forward has the appropriate level of conditioning after an interrupted start to the season that saw him play just four matches..."

That is a fair assessment! It quotes another feat for Oliver which hadn't had much exposure: He ranks No.1 in the league for ground-ball gets (118). Add to that these stats: ...has averaged 30.9 disposals, 14.9 contested possessions, 6.7 clearances and 6.8 tackles per game... from this article - another fair assessment of our season http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/midseason-report-card-melbourne-in-midtable-position-despite-loss-of-key-players-through-injury/news-story/2f3b01e4afae837d947d5912e5abb441 ...and it is no wonder they have him in the AA conversation (along with Garlett and Jetta for the squad).

Interesting that someone who has gone under the radar this week is Petracca. I was happy with his game but then I was ok to happy with everyone's game. But he had bone bruising a few weeks back and played on each week whereas players from other teams with same ailment have missed games. If we didn't have so many talls/forwards out there is every chance Watts and Petracca would have missed a game to recover. The bye couldn't come fast enough for them and the likes of Viney.

Q.1. Given the draw 6w and 4l was a reasonable expectation. Q2. Yes, 5-5 is a good result. I think had Hibberd not been out injured we would definitely have beaten Freo and Richmond and maybe even Geelong. Hibberd's absence hurt as much as Max, Jordan and Jesse. Q3. Yes we can! Of the pretenders, Freo won't stay in the 8 and Richmond and WCE may also drop out. Of the contenders we are the best and most consistent performer.

Of those in the 8: Freo will drop out at some stage. Richmond is no certainty to stay. They have just hung in there for most games and the only convincing wins were vs Brisb & Carl. Playing with a relatively injury free team. But they do have an easy draw. Anyway, 9th is where they belong... WCE is no certainty to stay. They have only 6 games at Subiaco (incl Geel, Demons, Port Adelaide) and they don't travel well. So at least one maybe two spots available. Of the contenders: St Kilda is similar to Richmond. Good wins over Carlton, Hawks and GWS when the latter two had depleted teams. No real claims. Essendon could sneak in as have good draw, mostly in Melbourne. North have a very very easy draw and a very well balanced side and they are bruising the opposition. Collingwood have a lot of very winnable games but performances are all over the shop. Not reliable. Melbourne. We have a good %age advantage on all 7 of above teams (except Rich). If we win 6/7 very well and the others are close games we will make it even if only on %age. Like last year the finals are in our own hands - depends how badly the players want it. It may come down to us or North.

Yes, some people just want to be negative or find any little thing to beat up on their favourite whipping boys. This week it was Oscar, Watts, Tom and Lewis. I thought the first half was ok. In the first qtr we were kicking against a very strong breeze - Petracca's kick for goal went 40m caught by the wind. Whereas GCS were kicking them from 55. We had more i/50 but were battling the wind. In the second qtr we had a lot of the ball and a lot of i50's but couldn't kick goals. The wind had died down so no real advantage to us. In the 3rd qtr we got our act together and no wind to speak of. In the 4th we went on with it. Overall, I thought we played well. Not everyone had their best game, in fact few did. But we found a way to win and as Goodwin said a few weeks ago - that is what good teams do. If nothing else, games like this build resilience and belief.

The blinkers seem to be on today. Of the possible 714 votes cast, Lewis gets 8 and Watts gets 1. They were as instrumental in turning the game in the 3rd qtr as was Jones.

Agreed. As an aside, would you consider a new moniker avatar? I know its disrespectful to ask that of a poster but it is upsetting to see Daisy's face smashed in like that. She is such a delightful, intelligent person, player and our captain so not sure why someone would choose that pic.

Our track record vs those teams: MCG games: Coll, Syd, Carl, Port, StK, Bris, Coll. Beat them all in the 2016/17 except Sydney. Sydney are a young side and inconsistent, like us. If we can fix our record at the G this year and adapt our game style to the bigger ground we will win all of them. Bulldogs - We have multiple wins at Etihad and the Bulldogs are far from a settled side. Adelaide - We won in Darwin (2016) and beat them a few weeks ago. They thrashed Freo last night but it wasn't a convincing win. Eagles - We nearly beat them in WA last year and could have won with a bit more luck from umpires. North - We nearly beat them in Hobart last year and could have won with a bit more luck from umpires. GWS - They're best players will be back by then - tough one. The only one I think is a definite loss is GWS. The others are all winnable, if the team turns up before quarter time. And, we must find a way to win at the G - 7 scalps up for grabs if we do!

Semi-Massacre at Adelaide Oval. Crows 9.18 to 2.1 and Crows kicking at 51% Effy! Crows are not playing like a top of the ladder team. If Adelaide kicked straight it would be a total wipe out for Freo. If they kicked straight Freo would wear the dubious title of the biggest loss in AFL history and we could relinquish the 186 tag. We will rue the loss to Freo as much as we did rnd 2 vs Ess in 2016

Wish they could both lose! But if one has to win let it be Richmond. Can't bear it if Ess go into the 8 partly because it would be a reward for their cheating over recent years and partly because I can't bear their smug supporters and arrogant club.

This and posts by @titan_uranus and @rjay highlight what a fantastic commentator Daisy is. She knows football and does a lot of research. For example on Friday night she said Geelong had never lost a match when they led at 3/4 time since 20xx (I think it was 2013, not sure). Bruce etal were genuinely taken aback by her knowledge. She is a clever interviewer, not in a smart alec way but in a way that gets an interesting response. So much better than the banal stuff many of her colleagues dish up.