Lucifers Hero

Again, their danger player is Higgins! Bernie took care of him last time. No Bernie this time. No Bugg either. I think in this game we will miss both of those outs. Others need to shadow Higgins and neutralise Cunnington and Zeibell in some way. Hopefully, our midfield can be first at the ball and stop those guys doing any damage.

Lots of high draft picks or contracted players - we do not have any OOC players with reasonable currency - only Frost and ANB

Something really weird happened to my last post

Thanks guys but neither function appears as an option for 'Reply' . Admittedly, they disappeared a few weeks prior to the software upgrade so not sure where they went or why.

I noticed that when writing a 'reply' the options for fort size and font colour no longer appear. They were quite useful. Also, is the standard font of the new software supposed to be super big size (especially on the 'forum' page) or is it just my computer/screen? Thanks.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/kevin-sheedy-takes-aim-at-paul-roos-in-defence-of-gws-giants-20170726-gxjl4r.html Typical of Sheedy - can't handle some GWS home truths so plays the man, not the ball! He said "Paul Roos is the person who won one premiership by a kick in his whole career," Ouch! Water of a ducks back for Roos, I reckon. At least Roos' comments about GWS are sensible. Sheedy's comments are personal and stupid. Roos is not representing Sydney or anyone else, he is a commentator, like many of Sheedy's ex players but the latter make many idiotic comments in the media. At the top of that list is Tim Watson! Roos' always played the ball. He is 10 times the man Sheedy will ever be. Never thought Sheedy could find new ways for me to dislike him!

AFL Team of the Weehttp://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-25/team-of-the-week-r18-did-we-get-it-right Hibberd on the team and Viney on the bench. Well done guys! What I especially liked was that Viney was the 'fan choice' and won out over Cotchin: "Instrumental in helping set up victory in the opening quarter and beat Richmond's Trent Cotchin with 59 per cent of the Twitter fan vote". Cotchin is faux tough with all his sniper punches. Jack makes players 'cry'. And, he is a far better player. A small victory for Jack to get a spot over Cotchin but in my book any victory over Richmond is a good victory!!

PJ has made a strong commitment to the Dees and I think he will stay till he finishes what he started. Also, he is at the tail end of his career and is more of a 'trouble shooter' than a 'career' placement. I'm more worried that the AFL or another club will pinch Josh Mahoney. He is maklng a fine name for himself and well deserved accolades come his way. He is starting his career and it is always good to get experience in different environments. His non-playing experience is all at the MFC. I do hope he also stays the distance with us but at some time he might just get an offer he can't refuse.

Greg Denham also 'smells a rat' http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/smell-of-a-rat-around-north-melbournes-pregame-planning/news-story/e0e61f969c419970b1a48884ffe2c8d2 North desperately want Kelly from GWS. Consider this: they are second bottom on %, Lions are on the rise and could win another game or two. If not, the last game is Lions vs North. It could become the clincher for North to get the wooden spoon. They tank again with playing kids and putting other players in for surgery. Then they can offer GWS (pick 1 + whatever) and if GWS balk Kelly can walk into the preseason draft and North get him for zip. So the wooden spoon gives North a huge upper hand in a deal with GWS for Kelly! Scott is cunning and has form when it comes to using selection to manipulate the result he wants - remember 2015 round 23 when he tanked to get a home final instead of facing Adelaide in Adelaide. Yes, tanking is alive and well but as Denham said it is now called 'list mangement'.

At risk of being unpatriotic to the demon cause and wanting Greene suspended, I thought it was the forearm that slid up to Rance's chin and Rance milked it for all it was worth. His staging was as obvious as Dangerfield's on Friday night. If Greene is suspended Rance should get a fine for staging. Maybe Rance should get a fine regardless.

I actually wanted WCE to win to make it harder for the drug cheating club to make the 8. Now we have to rely on the bulldogs beating them next week and even then they may still get there as they have an easy run. And WCE will be easier to beat than Ess in a final! Ess simply do not deserve to make the finals because of all the concessions the AFL gave them after bringing the game into dispute. Note: my gripe is against Ess and the AFL, not the suspended players - they did their time.

Great pic 'markc'! Out of interest which player does your family sponsor? It must be a real thrill for your kids to have a player they have a special connection with.

The hubris on this thread is a laugh: If Richmond win today, they are equal third with a (potentially % boosting) game vs GCS next week. That will all but guarantee them a position in the 8. The Dees on the other hand will end the round 7th with a nail biting game each week to hold a position in the 8. We are not over the line and it may come down to the last game of the season for us as other teams in the running (Port, WCE, Ess and WB) have an 'easier' draw. Cool the jets folks, one week at a time...

A big factor in Port's wins has been Robbie Gray. He has averaged 2.4 goals per game. And he has had some big hauls of 4+ goals in some games. His tally yesterday: 0 goals, 0 points!!! He did play on the ball for some of the game. But him going scoreless was huge for us. He is Port's danger player and the difference between winning and losing. Our defence, especially Jetta and Hibberd did a superb job of keeping him on a leash when he was down there.

That is a weird plan! They have a better chance of beating Ess today than us next week: We almost beat them in Tassie last year when Goldstein was BOG and is now struggling where ever he plays. We took it up to them a few months ago and even North supporters say they won because they had a 19th player on their side who was dressed in yellow. I would love that to be Scott's plan and watch it backfire spectacularly when we thrash them. We are no longer someone's 'bunny'!

Anyone else wondering if North are tanking? They have rested/dropped Zeibell/Goldstein. Now Tarrant is 'injured' in the warm up and a debutante is coming in. I find the gifting a game to Ess nauseating.

A very nice Jack highlights video: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2017-07-21/jack-watts-150th A bit surprised his goal earlier this year vs Geelong (@1.40 minute mark of video) wasn't nominated for GOTW. He got the ball to spill free from danger, made a great second effort to get back behind the ball then made a very slick one handed pick up and goaled from about 70mts. I still tear up at his superb goal on QB vs Pies a few months ago - that may become the defining image of his career. In every way have a great day , Jack!

And I don't think anyone has a problem with it if it is one of the smaller interstate team. The problem is the carte blanche Geelong want to play all their finals at SS regardless of who the opp is. Supporters of Vic team and probably Adelaide/Sydney/Port, who have good sized memberships and members who will take an hour flight, will want to see their team in a final. Its at times like this I think it is great for Eddie to use his pulpit to protect the interests of all teams.

Good call bb! You must have been eavesdropping! https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/eddie-mcguire-disagrees-with-geelong-president-colin-carters-call-for-cats-finals-to-be-played-at-simonds-stadium/news-story/05592a370a55c24374419f0b53031e26 Thankfully, Eddie has slammed it. A few weeks ago, Scott went so far to say Clubs should decide where their in season Home games should be played. That would be nice for all of us but then he added 'locking out fans should not be factored in! Yeah, so he gets 11 games at SS with a 95% parochial crowd. I just can't get over the sense of entitlement of some teams. Geelong, Essendon and Carlton are the worst in the league.

Well, Danger should get a fine for staging! https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/reverse-free-was-soft-but-patrick-dangerfield-didnt-dive-says-peter-bell/news-story/ca54fab2768bbf5ed74f4ebc7eacb199 So, when is 'diving' not 'diving'? Saying it was cleaver tactics is skirting round the issue for a protected species. If the AFL want to stamp out staging and diving, then penalise the big names like Rance and Danger, instead of allowing kids like Oliver to be pilloried in the press for far less!

The latest: This weeks changes: Stretch signed up for 2 more years. T Smith signed up for 1 more year. Note: Smith's contract extension is as a Rookie. Of the 2017 OOC I would expect Vince, King, Van d, Frost (if he wants it) and ANB to be signed up before too long. Just leaves Kennedy, Trengove, Pedersen, Spencer and Hulett as unsigned. Then some decisions on the rookies who may all be kept for another year. Interesting trade period coming up. If my predictions are right, we won't have OOC players with 'trade currency'. So, unless we trade out recently signed players (which I doubt) we will be trading picks to get the players we have been linked with.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-20/viney-trains-with-main-group-set-to-play Wonder if being 'greeted warmly by his teammates' when given the ok to join the main group at training is a sign Jack v will play. Edit: Some good side to side running in this video https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/fox-footy-podcast-jack-viney-could-be-one-of-melbournes-great-captains-says-cameron-mooney/news-story/5b3c23604822fc9e4e0c7f23c521ad4c It seems he has a few more things to tick off tomorrow but gee he sounds confident... Here's hoping!

Very fair and insightful comments.

Wayne Carey was charged in the USA for violence against his wife. He has been forgiven and embraced by the AFL who has even nominated him for Legend status of the HOF. Other AFL footballers have had charges laid for similar offences and they are not shunned by their old clubs or the AFL. For mine, including Jarrah in a community program is a reconciling gesture in itself and seems consistent with the plan.

Hope you are enjoying the view from your 'high horse'. If you can't contribute why bother posting...on second thoughts don't answer!