Lucifers Hero

Whatever the illness is I feel we should not speculate as it could be a personal matter. The more speculation on here the more likely the press will take the innuendo and make a story about it. Or in interviews, push the club or players for explanations. All it does is put more pressure on Jesse. The club is protecting Jesse and his privacy, I feel we should do the same and just let it go. That includes the posters who make 'he won't be back for a while' type comments. I am so glad we won without him - it helps take any pressure off him to hurry back to help the team win. He will play when he is well.

It seemed that Jacobs tapped the ball to where Sloane was supposed to be (Bernie knew where that would be from days of old). So Viney and co knowing where that tap would go and that Sloane was being stopped went straight to that spot. Result a clean clearance. The other crows mid fielders expecting Sloane to get the tap down didn't fill the space or back up. Nor did they do what the Hawks did: let us get the clearance, attack the ball carrier and run away with the spilt balled. So last week we won the clearances but couldn't get the ball out but this week we did. My conclusion is the Crows mid field isn't very smart. They didn't adjust during the game.

Plapp paints a darkish picture. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-05-14/brayshaw-suffers-another-head-knock I wonder if he should just say 'we need to wait for a medical assessment' and leave it at that. It doesn't serve any purpose to say 'its not good', 'its not good' a number of times because he probably doesn't really know. And if he does know a post game interview isn't the right time to say it.

They played the Port club song instead of the Australian National Anthem. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/port-adelaide-song-played-instead-of-australian-national-anthem-at-shanghai-match-20170514-gw4ixk.html Farce on Farce!

AFL had lots of chest beating saying the China game was a sell out! Well, the stadium looks half empty. Did the tickets go to rent-a-crowd who couldn't be bothered or did the alcohol ban to the masses keep them away? I assume Gil and co are enjoying their wines and beers in their corporate boxes!! So hypocritical. So AFL!

In Bernie's interview he was asked about Jack Watts singing 'Sweet Caroline'. He said the boys love singing that song, especially Jack. The Hawks sang 'Horses' away from the cameras after special wins. 'Sweet Caroline' might be our equivalent. Has anyone heard of the boys singing it before? In case anyone needs reminding of it: I suspect it is the chorus that seems so apt. Certainly Jack knows what the dark times are like and why the 'good times never seemed so good'! Glad to here the boys might have their own 'special song' a bit of extra bonding.

I was going to be rather humble about my pre-game comments but you give me the perfect segway to bask in a little sunshine. I don't know how to quote a post from another (Match Preview) thread but here is my post #274: "When we played StKilda round 1, a turning point was when we stopped trying to take possession of the ball and moved it forward at all costs by any means eg push, tap, kick off the ground. It was very successful for us and a good way to get the ball out of the pack. Since then we have predominantly relied on handballs which results in overusing the ball. Hawks and Bulldogs are masters at moving the ball without taking possession - after all without possession you can't be tackled. Circular handball will play into the Crows' hands so I would like to see us move the ball without taking possession more often as it works to our advantage being the shorter side and allows our speedier players to go to work". OK I am showing off so will see myself out now...

Goodwin would be quietly chaffed about beating his old team on their home turf. Fair to say that he and Bernie had some inside knowledge on how to play that ground and many Crow players strengths and weaknesses. This game may the one people will look back and say 'Goodwin announced himself as a coach'. Awesome play by a coach who has been in the hot seat for a few months. Shows a steely resolve and confidence. He is doing so much right. I especially like that in many games this year he has made a lot of moves at half time. Makes it really unpredictable for op coaches to reset during the game. Loved the way the team really played for him last night. Proud night for all concerned.

Can we send a humble pie to SEN for Garry's enjoyment. With 'Not Mentally Brittle' iced on top. Hope he has the good grace to pump the team's tyres, this week!! Awesome win. One for the true believers! Go Dees!

That is true but in a season where the top 8 is wide open they will probably make it because they have won games they should have and thrashed the bottom teams to get a good %. Whether they deserve to make the 8 is a moot point. The cards are falling their way. I just wish it was us.

In 2015, coming 11th in the Bluey as a 19 yo first year player doesn't show anything at AFL level? Some people are hard to please!!

When we played StKilda round 1, a turning point was when we stopped trying to take possession of the ball and moved it forward at all costs by any means eg push, tap, kick off the ground. It was very successful for us and a good way to get the ball out of the pack. Since then we have predominantly relied on handballs which results in overusing the ball. Hawks and Bulldogs are masters at moving the ball without taking possession - after all without possession you can't be tackled. Circular handball will play into the Crows' hands so I would like to see us move the ball without taking possession more often as it works to our advantage being the shorter side and allows our speedier players to go to work.

Do you have more info? Not sure how to ask this delicately...is this part of the grieving process? Understandable if it is. Wish him well.

Not looking good: "Hogan missed training on Thursday through illness and did not show up with teammates at Melbourne Airport today ahead of Saturday night's clash against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval". (AFL website) My heart sank reading that. Grrrrrrr! Will the NSC never leave our club!

A very entertaining read! http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-05-12/vince-raises-the-bat-for-double-ton Bernie is a very funny fella! It seems that Bernie would not have joined the Dees if it hadn't been for Roos, who Bernie describes as 'perfect'. And gives Goodwin his due: He was the perfect guy for the job after Roosy finished his three years here. I think he’s doing a great job... I really liked the article that Risciutto wrote earlier in the week. He is still 'god' in Adelaide, Adelaide radio and Adelaide FC and it looked like he was saying to their supporters to not boo Bernie as they all still love him over there. But then, I don't think a bit of booing will bother Bernie! Might just spur him on! Go Bernie, go Dees!

Fitzy gets a game this week, (somewhat at Vickery's expense. Crickey, Richmond sure cleaned up on that deal: pick 26 as the FA comp pick, after some shenanigans between the two clubs). http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-12/vickery-will-get-his-chance-says-clarkson Clarkson: "In this case 'Fitzy' put together six or seven great games of footy that just meant we had to reward the player who had been the better of the bigger fellas". I've always liked Fitzy (tunnel ball notwithstanding) so its good to see he is getting another go at the Hawks.

And StK sold a mountain of memberships on $1 deposit. While North has 3,000 t0 5,000 members in Tassie. And we are not too far off Carlton who have 46,426. For some ungodly reason they are considered one of the Vic 'powerhouse clubs'. This false status gives them umpteen home games at the G (at our expense) against the high membership clubs like Ess, Rich, Haw, Coll. It also gives them numerous FTA games in some prime time slots. It sure helps to have friends in high places and an ex captain head of the AFL.

Great report, thanks Earl. Re Hogan. I wonder if some of his family is still in Adelaide and he has gone over early. Or maybe just having a day off. The 'special' work Trengove was doing may be why Saty thinks he will be selected. Wouldn't be surprised, Goodwin has said several times that he is very close. Trengove is pretty good at forward pressure.

I need to come to young Gus' defence. If those comments are based on 2016/2017 its rather harsh...he played only 12 games of the possible 29, The 10 in 2016 were interrupted by injury. Roos said later they brought him back too quickly after injury early in 2016. In 2017 he took a hit in the 2nd game, dropped, then injured. The valid body of work is 2015 when he played 21 of 22 games and touted as a gun. From what I recall he was often in the thick of the contest and a very good kick. He is a much better kick than the likes of Viney, Jones, Tyson etc He is also a smarter player than those guys...how often in 2015 did he perfectly place the ball for Jeffy to run onto, race in to kick a goal... @Grand New Flag reported a few weeks ago (paraphrasing) that Gus was physically ok but needed to get his head space right regarding putting his head over the ball. I think we can all understand that. Regarding the concussions, Salem has had a few and he has bounced back and I think Gus can too, then he will recover his 2015 form and be the gun some of us think he will be. Give him time to recover, DA.

That is what I thought deebug! If any of the players named by Craig B or the team felt deflated by his letter and the heavy handed criticism by club legends (Lyon and Ox) then Goodwin can give them a pep talk with the new memebership numbers saying: '...Supporters are right behind you and the team, and that is what counts... go out there and reward them and give your all...' Go Dees!!

Only when playing the Demons

Somehow we are now a lot more! 40,358 Clearly, a lot of supporters were not as disappointed with the Hawks game as many here on Demonland. 300+ have put up their money since the weekend! Good on them for backing the Dees!!

Thats good news and good timing as Carlton's major sponsor has pulled out so they will be seeking a new one also http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/blues-face-1-million-black-hole-as-sponsor-pulls-out-20170510-gw20yl.html. As an aside, the sponsor was Career One which is associated with Andrew Demitriou...you have to wonder how much back room, 'quid pro quo' was happening in that deal!! Any coincidence that he and Mike Fitzpatrick were heading up the AFL? I don't think so!!

Looks like Tayla is a chance to come to us http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/brisbane-marquee-tayla-harris-set-to-test-aflw-trade-period/news-story/fb490adab204761acfe962a535d49538 Carlton are keen on her but she doesn't seem so keen on them. She has a strong connection with the Dees. Given she is only about 20 I reckon we should give up what we need to - imagine Harris and Mifsud in our forward line. Happy days!

Here are the rules: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/ Fortunately, they have slightly increased the size of the list. It will help overcome L-T injuries. There will be a father/daughter draft option next year. (Father will need to have played 1 game for a club). Draft is on mid October. I assume the draft order is from the bottom up. We had a core group of 12-15 players this season who played consistently well and we noticeably improved as they played more games together. Hoping we can keep them all. We will start hearing of contract re-signings from next Monday.