Lucifers Hero

A bright spot to a sad and sorry day - Goodwin says Jesse is recovering at home in Perth and will be back at the club the week after next (ie last week of May, merely a fortnight after the procedure) then starts some training. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2017-05-21/rd-9-simon-goodwin-postmatch Regardless of when Jesse plays again its great that he is recovering quickly and wants to get back to footy.

Scott is sooking over jumper punches and has laid the ground work to make sure the MRP don't site his players. North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says the match review panel must now be consistent and tolerate 'jumper punches" after a volatile win over Melbourne was marked by a succession of fiery incidents in the second quarter. Several players, including North's Ben Cunnington, could be scrutinised after the spiteful encounter. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/north-melbourne-kangaroos-coach-fires-up-over-nasty-game-20170521-gw9rdd.html As an aside the Ch7 News Sports report said that Bernie had over acted when he was hit in the stomach. Its one thing for real time game commentators to be biased, its another for News editors and reporters to be pedalling such rubbish.

The game report only talked about the players who did well. Trengove wasn't mentioned so I don't think he is banging the door down. I desperately hope he isn't finished as I would love to see him play in the seniors again. Based on the Casey game report only Melksham (and maybe Stretch) sound like they might have earnt a return to the seniors. Any other moves I think is just deck chairs on the titanic stuff.

I'm not a fan of Melksham. But I am less a fan of Kent and in the last few weeks he has given us for nothing. We simply can't carry Kent. OUT: Kent IN: Melksham Going on the Casey game report no else did enough to get noticed.

Last week I think Goodwin said we make 100 tackles we win. We made 90 something. We won. This week we make 78, North make 94. End of story.

I'm not sure DN9. Not sure how many, if any 'marquee' players will be allowed for each club. Last year the salary for each class of player was fixed and I think it will be again this year. The structure and figures have not been announced yet by the AFL. We did try and get Tayla as a marquee player last time round but she decided to play in Queensland. Clubs are allowed to offer work and/or marketing opportunities to players so that could be an opportunity. Certainly having Tayla on board would be a great high profile duo with Daisy from a Marketing view.

What made it worst was he was joking and laughing with a north player as they walked off at 3/4 time!! Appalling stuff and a terrible look especially after giving them all the 50/50 and soft calls and not giving us any of the obvious ones let alone the 50/50.

I also thought they would bring in Libber but Beveridge has held his nerve. Very gutsy move by him. Last year it was Stringer, now Libber. Just shows no-one at the kennel is an automatic start. As an aside, they should have rested Libber a few weeks ago after a serious concussion episode when he came off second best from a Mummy tackle. He would probably be performing to his usual self by now if they had. rather than now having to drop him.

No change! Players fought hard for Adel win and deserve to have another go together.

I just scan the websites of the main newspapers and the afl site and post articles that look of interest.

The new teams won't come in before 2019 so Carlton's picks this year are full value. Next year's draft (for 2019) may be a different story. Not sure what Carlton are up to...maybe they thought they could get Tayla cheaply once they traded out their early picks. That is what usually happens in the male game - once a player nominates a club, the losing club almost has to accept what is offered. Good on Lions for rejecting Carlton's offer. The Demons getting in on the act has put a spanner in the works for Carlton. I would think the club have spoken with Tayla to ensure she would be happy to join us.

Demons make their move on Tayla Harris: "Melbourne look to have emerged as a serious player for Tayla Harris' services after the Brisbane Lions turned down Carlton's offer for the marquee forward". http://www.theage.com.au/afl/womens-afl/aflw-trades-demons-enter-tayla-harris-fray-as-brisbane-reject-carlton-offer-20170519-gw8itk.html What a great get if it happens. Makings of a formidable forward line with Mifsud et al! Hopefully, we can get it done for a pick rather than one of our budding or star players.

I especially like this part: Luff was steadfast in his view, even when SEN footy analyst David King questioned how a player that averages 10 disposals per game could be the AFL’s best small forward....“He averages 2.5 groundball gets inside 50 per game, his pressure is number one in the competition, he forces the most turnovers from his pressure in the game, he has an accuracy of 74% and he’s kicking 2.5 goals per game,” Luff replied. Given the number of very good small forwards this is quite a feather in Jeffy's cap. Even if people don't like the stats approach there is no doubting Jeffy's game has gone up a few notches this year. Not only that he is performing consistently at that higher level rather than his cameos of last year.

I know that the announced team line up doesn't mean a lot but showing Tom Mc as the ruckman will give Brad Scott something to mull over or lose sleep over Unpredictability is one of our greatest weapons right now. Great to see that Hunt is well enough to play (altho he could still be a late out).

Reading the AFL article it sounds like they want to 'host' esports events at Etihad, with big screens and lots of bells and whistles. Do you think people will go to a stadium to watch them eg if the event is a world championship? Or will they stay home and watch on the big screen TV's?

Thanks guys. Good to know there is a weird and wonderful other world out there. Not sure that watching people play video games is my thing...might just stick to watching live football.

Hey guys! For an 'esports' luddite, I'm getting lost in the jargon! For example what does 'Team Legacy' do and what is an Overwatch League License or an LoL team and what is CoD or CS or DoD ? For my education- are the 'esports' video games of sports that we know, or war games or something else entirely? Last question, what benefit is 'Team Legacy' going to be for Adelaide and why should other clubs get involved, other than the AFL saying it is a good idea. Thanks

A list spot and salary cap space for Ty Vickery

For a player who gets so many possessions Oliver DE is awesome! No wonder he is leading or in the top 5 of so many media/coaches voting.

It will be interesting to see how the new teams are set up. Geelong and St Kilda are looking for GCS/GWS type draft and 'poaching' concessions. Terrible if that happens in a competition that is only embryonic. Hopefully, we can continue our reputation in AFLW that Melbourne is a great club to be at and keep our talent and as you say stockpile some.

I would like a win for obvious reasons. And, to prove a point to the critics who say we are 'mentally brittle' and can't win when expected to. It will take more than a win vs North to quieten said critics but it will be good start to getting that monkey off our backs. The only doubt I have about a win is the emotional toll of last weeks stirring win for Jesse. But maybe last week taught the team that having beaten the best at the time, they can do it again. I'm confident the coaches will rest anyone who is looking tired altho I suspect each player will be raring to go again. Dees to reclaim the G with a win.

Higgins is North's Sloane.

The AFL will allow a Father/Daughter selection if the father has played one AFL game at the club. Not sure how the drafting works tho. The draft is in October so by then we should know the rules. But I haven't seen any mention of names yet.

I was also amazed as a lot of people at the club and maybe their families would have known over the weekend and no leaks - as you say a strong club. And like you, Viney has gone up in my estimation and his position as captain, especially after I read this article http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/jordan-lewis-has-revealed-how-melbourne-responded-to-news-of-jesse-hogans-cancer/news-story/6e4082d3609c47e08756c4f1d47ab41e According to Jordan Lewis, It was Viney who revved up the guys as they were about to play and said "...to just go out and enjoy it. You know, play hard. One of our own is at home who is sick, who would love to be out here so take the opportunity and enjoy it. ... It was certainly mentioned going into the game that one of ours was hurting at home so if you’re going through a tough time tonight, dig deep.” Inspirational by the young captain. He led from the front in every way. And the team delivered for him and for Jesse. Equally inspirational.

A new recruit from the Demons: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-05-16/hore-joins-melbourne-as-aflw-rookie Kate Hore comes from a basketball background as was 'recruited' by a few of our existing AFLW team: "Despite growing up a Carlton supporter, Hore said her St Kilda teammates, Meg Downie and Mia-Rae Clifford, who both played for Melbourne in the 2017 AFLW season, convinced her the red and blue was the way to go. ... “They helped me make my decision and they both couldn’t speak more highly of the club,” she said".