Lucifers Hero

In an article last week Chip Le Grand wrote that in the evidence Jobe gave CAS he said his injections ceased in May (later changed to maybe early July). It is interesting that Jobe received 26 of his 30 votes in the first 13 rounds of the 2012 season. Of the last 9 rounds (ie after the injections stopped) he polled only 4 votes in just 2 games!! Now, I have no idea what Dank gave him or whether Jobe knew what he was getting but it sure looks odd that once the injections stopped his form fell off the cliff. So yes, the 2012 voting looks tarnished and removing Jobe's votes (as they would any other suspended, ineligible player in any other year) does not and should not deny Cotchin and Mitchell their right to the medal. The AFL fear giving them the medal as to do so it effectively accepts Jobe's suspension was as a drug cheat; that he won it unfairly. It enables them to maintain some pretense about legal necessities and window dressing ie some anonymous, international body 'forced' him to give it back, we didn't strip him of it, we did not suspend him etc. Until they award it to Mitchell and Crotchin - Watson will remain the notional winner. That cannot stand in the record books.

The Age is reporting that Allen will likely lose his job at the Pies and not return after the suspension. Apparently he signed a 'stat declaration over his role in the Whitfield matter' (the Age didn't say what it said). I recall Eddie went ballistic when the Shaw brothers and Didak lied to him to him over some off-field matter. Eddie doesn't take being lied to very well which is quite admirable. It was rather smart of the Pies getting that stat dec and really, really dumb of Allen to sign it.

A very genuine interview. I have been slow to warm to Goodwin but articles like that take me a long way to being a big fan. He has more in common with Roos than some think: a personal journey of self-awareness/self discovery (via different methods), coaching is about understanding the players and managing them fairly but individually and trusting the people round him. He highlighted the experience around him: Jackson, Misson, Viney, Taylor, Mahoney, McCartney. Must say, that is as good as any off-field team in the league, if not the best in every role, certainly up there with the best team! As each day passes, I look forward to the 2017 season more and more.

New Balance invested a lot in designing the jumpers and shorts with state of the art technology: "On top of its new deal, New Balance has also redeveloped Melbourne’s guernsey to a lightweight performance with patented New Balance dry moisture wicking technology for players’ jumpers and shorts." So it is hard to see NB (or any sponsor) jumping off the Demon bandwagon; especially now when we are on the cusp of success and they can reap the rewards of their loyalty and their investment.

WOW. That would be disappointing. We can have 3 B rookies. We have Smith and Maynard. So unless we have someone else in mind for the 3rd spot I see little risk in taking Allsop, especially as we have already nominated him. I can't imagine mfc going back on that without a very good reason. How confident are you in the source that mfc may waiver?

Yes, hard to believe but it may just happen: 'Whitfield, Allan and Lambert all want assurances from ASADA and theWorld Anti-Doping Agency that they would not face separate charges under the anti-doping code if they pleaded guilty to the conduct unbecoming charge". GWS face loss of draft picks over Lachie Whitfield affair Its a slippery slope when ASADA start doing deals like this. To my mind it is one thing for ASADA to deal on penalties related to an anti-doping violation and a totally different thing for them to substitute lesser non anti-doping charges to avoid applying their rules. As I've said above - if they were guilty apply the regulated penalties, if not let them go scott free. BTW - not sure where 'conduct unbecoming' came from - Is that a watered down version of 'bringing the game into disrepute'? Sounds like the convoluted wording the MRP comes up with when it suits them. Just very sad if ASADA/WADA would be a party to this.

Just opened this thread with some trepidation. I can only say what a delight it is to just read training reports and tidbits and see how much great info posters collect, especially Saty. Thanks folks. I'm getting a clear picture that just about all players have come back in great nick. They heeded Roos challenge at the BnF '...success starts now - not when preseason begins...' It bodes very well!

As I said I think the penalties are fair (but overkill for an 'In Dispute' charge). It is ASADA's apparent agreement to the 'In Dispute' charge that is the issue here. They either broke the code or they didn't. Punish them or let them off. ASADA may find such a compromise (if in fact they did/do) will come back and bite them, big time!

Looks like the AFL has done what it does best - struck a deal! http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/demons-coach-goodwin-impressed-with-jesse-hogans-attitude/news-story/324b0735d10834ee945bd3a66e57100d "... the AFL executive and ASADA ... believes it can charge Whitfield, ...Graeme Allan and ...Craig Lambert with bringing the game into disrepute...'' The Australlian understands: 'that a six-month ban on Whitfield...and one-season suspensions to Allan and Lambert would be seen as appropriate by ASADA if the trio were found guilty'. These penalties would more than likely avert any further action from Australia’s anti-doping body in the form of show-cause notices". So the AFL slaps a drug code breach level penalty on a 'Disrepute' charge! BTW, I don't see how GWS can escape a penalty for the sins of its staff as per Crows (Tippett storm in a tea cup), MFC (not tanking), EFC (the 34 drug cheats). If there is one it will be a fine, not draft sanctions. Gets the AFL out of a sticky situation with their baby, GWS! I do think the penalties are fair but it is the manipulation of the charges that gets me: They breached the drug code or they didn't!! If they did - apply the rules. If they didn't let them go. Simple! That ASADA would allow an innocuous charge of 'Disrepute' be brought over the far more serious charge of drug code breaches is just astounding!

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-coach-simon-goodwin-says-jesse-hogan-max-gawn-are-leading-the-way-20161108-gsl0ec.html Goodwin: "He {Jesse} ran a personal best time, he's come back with his body in elite condition. You know he's really set himself for a really strong season." Jesse on the rampage will be a sight to behold! Goodwin: '...big man Max Gawn was also keen to continue his improvement and was now in the club's top five best trainers...' This reminds me on an article on mfc website a few weeks ago where he said 'Jordan Lewis didn't need to go 3rd man up anymore, he (Max) had it covered'!!! (paraphrasing from memory). Love his confidence and the ownership he takes for his game. Max going up a notch or two will be stupendous.

Looks like the AFL is listening http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-closer-to-announcing-a-fair-deal-for-womens-pay-in-aflw-20161109-gslfsl.html "I think a really fair deal and really rewarding and a deal working closely with players and the AFLPA to ensure a sustainable start to this comp. The girls will be well rewarded, not just for playing but for marketing and ambassadorial roles." A fair deal is all that was being asked. I'm guessing it will be in the $10,000 to $15,000 pp range - a vast improvement on $5,000 for a 22 week season (preseason and games). And it is good to see them recognise the importance of a 'sustainable start'.

The AFL spend mega millions on 'staging' peripheral events eg draft night, Hall of Fame night, AA night etc and AFL CEO/Commission travel/overseas 'study' trips, and other marketing indulgences. The travel/accommodation budgets alone for those events would be staggering. Then add venue high, security, catering etc etc. Mega Millions!! So if the AFL need more money than NAB and other sponsors and TV rights to fund a minimum wage (approx $14,000 pp or $3.5m in total) then let it find the funds its own backyard! Then I for one might take the AFL and other people a bit more seriously when they say the game can't afford it or words to that effect. Here is something novel, let fans in to Women's games free for the first year and the AFL fund it by cutting back on their 'Events/Marketing' spend!! Give fans a taste of it so that next season they sign up as members (then the actual Clubs benefit) and pay to go to games.

The AFL are directly earning extra: NAB is sponsoring the Women's game directly to the AFL, not the clubs and not the players. The AFL also gets direct income from the TV rights, additional to the AFL normal season TV rights income. Obviously the AFL won't disclose what the $ value of these are but I bet it will be many, many times the $1.5 in salaries to ALL the Women players for a season. BTW the Women's season will be stand alone, played February to March so they will attract crowds, TV rights and sponsors, in their own right and not as pre-game entertainment for the AFL 'main' games. The money is there, it is a matter of the AFL doing the right thing.

Buckle up folks, it could be a long ride! http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/fears-lachie-whitfield-case-may-drag-on-for-years-20161108-gsku6f.html "The Australian Sports Anti-doping Authority has asked the AFL for every text message, email, document and record of interview from its Lachie Whitfield investigation amid fears the case is destined to become an Essendon-like saga, dragging on for years via the courts". The AFL should have handed over all the evidence in the beginning rather than 'negotiate' for months over 'key documents'. They just don't learn! Ironically, the AFL seem to have dug a deep hole for all concerned: 'What could have been a minor infraction in May last year has become a major conspiracy with the sports world watching to establish precedent'. Seriously, tho the AFL are looking increasingly incompetent as they allow their obsession with 'image' to override common sense!

Yesterday the AFL says ASADA is holding things up! Today ASADA let the cat out of the bag and say they are awaiting for the full file from the AFL. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-11-08/asada-waits-on-afl-regarding-whitfield-case Lo and behold the AFL have unearthed ASADA's request for more info from ASADA which they are clearly ignoring/dragging their heels on. As draft penalties are being strongly mooted as a punishment for GWS the AFL is desperately trying to stretch this out past draft night so GWS can use all those juicy picks on top end talent and their Academy kids. AFL are sooooo transparent! Next years draft picks/Academy players may not be so juicy so 2017 draft penalties will be a lot more palatable.

Stuie, I asked a question: If... I did not assert anything. Last time I looked 'assertion' meant a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief. I can see whose coment is closer to an assertion.

This might be of interest: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/afl/coaches Brendan McCartney - player/coach performance manager Regarded as one of the game’s best development coaches, McCartney joined Melbourne in February 2015, after coaching the Western Bulldogs from 2012-14. He was initially appointed development and strategy coach, but in September 2016 was named player/coach performance manager in line with Simon Goodwin’s elevation to senior coach. The role oversees the development of Melbourne’s coaches, along with driving the performance of the club’s player group. McCartney continues to work closely in player development with Matthew Egan. I don't think we do have a 'head senior assistant' per se as it was really a 'senior coach in waiting' role but we have lost 2 (Roos and ???) from the coaching group and recruited 3 (Egan, Chaplin, Rooke) so the emphasis has changed.

Its your info I T and you do a great job of keeping us up to date on this. I have just emailed the table to you via a pm

And I agree with yours od Given the little amount of football he played last year and as a sign of commitment it would have been good for him to have started his preseason today rather than in 4 weeks time. His situation is not unlike Hibberd and Melksham ie a year out and they fronted up today...maybe he has also moved on...

With Lumumba's concussion history and competition for spots he has his work cut out for him. He is a proud guy and it may just be enough of a challenge for him for us to see his very best work. But if this comment from Ralph is correct: "Ultimately he chose not to return to football in the last months of the year despite medicos clearing him to return to the game if he felt he was ready" Lumumba may need to work extra hard on his motivation. And I wonder if that has cost him respect among his teammates or make them wonder whether they can rely on him 'in the trenches'. The ball is in his court.

Thanks for collecting all that info, I T. Hope you don't mind - I've put all your data into a table to have a 'ready reckoner' so to speak. I've not used the exact date as they rarely match up from year to year - so I've used month and week so comparisons will close enough. Hope it helps posters/readers do easy comparisons of trends and where we are at. In recent years there has been quite a leap in the lead up to Christmas (Xmas presents...and then another leap around the time of Family Day. Hopefully this year we can add a few more leaps after winning some pre-season games and early rounds in 2017. 45,000+ in 2017 is very doable

After only one year as a development coach he has the top VFL gig - he has obviously really impressed Buckley, which I suspect isn't easy. Always a big fan of Rivers as he gave his all thru the toughest of times. Didn't begrudge him leaving when he did. If coaching your own team is a key to being an AFL senior coach he is well on the way. In that respect he has a bit of a jump on his demon teammates now in coaching: Green, Neitz, Bruce, Yze. I wonder if any if them will ever be the Demons senior coach... Wish Rivers lots of success, except when they play Casey!

One would think he learnt his lesson last preseason and would follow coaching and fitness staffing instructions! If he comes back out of shape, it will be interesting to see if he has to serve time at Casey again as a 'lesson'. Roos had no qualms about doing that last year.

Obviously Dee supporters are not the only ones that do not like Etihad: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-trying-to-reinvent-etihad-stadium-as-a-fanfriendly-venue-20161028-gsdaeh.html The AFL plan to make it more 'fan friendly'. I was dubious at first, then I read '...the AFL seconding Melbourne Football Club's marketing boss to work over the summer to help transform the venue in time for 2017...Jennifer Watt, who has led the rebranding of the Demons over the past two years, has been given the task of reinventing Etihad as a fan-friendly venue more closely aligned with its home clubs". Quite a feather in Ms Watt's cap to be selected for this role. Its good to see an MFC person chosen. We are being noticed in more ways than one! Also, another feather in PJ's cap to have selected another excellent person at at MFC. He has clearly overhauled our beloved club in more ways than we can see or will ever know.

After the bye this year we had an unkind run of interstate games and 6 day breaks. The coaches did a great job of rotating/resting young players and we won in Darwin (Freo), MCG (GCS and Hawks) and almost beat WCE in Perth. So, I think we can rely on the fitness and game coaches managing those nasty 6 day breaks next year. On the fixture overall, it is disappointing that so many of our Home games are on a Sunday and vs interstate teams which isn't good for crowd size and gate revenue. But at least we have avoided the 'graveyard' time slot and quite a few games are @ 3.20 on FTA ch 7 so our sponsors get some airtime and supporters/potential members get to see our young team play and then might sign up as members!