Lucifers Hero

I think this is why... "In 2013, they traded away their first round pick to secure Jared Polec. In 2014 they spent both their first and second round picks on Paddy Ryder. In 2015, they spent their first rounder and their 2016 second rounder on Charlie Dixon, and shuffled down their 2015 second round pick to get Jimmy Toumpas". http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/09/02/afl-trade-rumours-port-give-hamish-hartlett-a-push/ So no rnd 1 pick over 3 years and only 2, 2nd rnd picks over 4 years. So, little highly rated young blood coming in. Looks a combination of the Lyon/Hardwick model of trading in players when in the 'premiership window', except they misjudged their list and where they are re premiership. I am just so glad we were 'forced' to the draft - I say 'forced' because we were not able to trade in an A-grader we had to take our picks to the draft.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-09-02/iselect-join-as-major-sponsor-of-womens-team Great news for the Club generally and the women's team in particular. Their logo will be on front and back of jumper. Peter Jackson: "It’s a great endorsement of the Melbourne Football Club and our pioneering efforts in helping to establish women’s football at the elite level. It also shows great foresight by iSelect, who in their own field are a pioneering company, to see the value and future potential of the National Women’s League." Great for the club to be the first (I think) to have a sponsor for the Women's Team. While previous administrations talked about our history as pioneers of the game PJ is creating a whole new pioneering history. He never fails to amaze and deliver. Thank God, we have him.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-hardwick-cant-hide-from-tiger-truth-20160901-gr6u3m.html Quite a 'bake' of Richmond and Hardwick by Caro. I think she is saying they are soft... "It is laughable that the commentary around Richmond occasionally still refers to it as a cut-throat, merciless club. If that was even half true Hardwick would not have survived after what the team dished up in 2016, a season which took a turn for the worse back in early March during a disastrous pre-season match at Etihad when injuries mounted and the coach attempted to put a stop to the game...The situation never really recovered from that night". I had forgotten that preseason game - Hardwick was so embarrassing when he tried to take his 'stars' off the field! I truly don't know how they can keep him - they should cut their losses or the Board will go down with Hardwick when the good ship SSTigers sinks into the Yarra next year.

Not quite 'Mad Monday' but 'Hawks' Hubris'. Watch the video: http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/hawthorn-fools-world-media-with-fake-video-of-hawk-dropping-snake-on-family-to-launch-finals-campaign/news-story/834fdeeadeb05a7356b869555f3bd67a Good ammo for Scott to inspire the Cats next week! Hope Hawks arrogance comes back to bite them big time.

He would be competing with Oscar (Same position, age, size). Caleb may be very good but I prefer Oscar thanks and use any chips available for Caleb for another position player.

No 'Abe' I wasn't. I find your comments objective and informative, not 'hopeful' and on various occasions have given your connection to the club and other AFL clubs while rightly not disclosing your sources, so I put you in the 'very highly credible' category.

Maybe it was just the figment of some hopeful Demonlander's imagination...and of some with so-called 'inside' info...

Sorry P. I've deleted my post as I cannot find the newspaper reference for the report. Maybe it was on the radio. Current reports are a possible 2nd rnd pick. Sorry for confusing or alarming.

Reading that made me nervous, then this... ...as you are usually a voice of reason 'Redleg' those few words put me in the 'hand wringing' category. Now, having seen the Open Mike interview, it was the 2nd time in a week Roos was asked about Hogan. Both responses were all about the lure of family. Neither time did he indicate the club and Hogan's management were in talks nor a timeline for talks. But, I would be very surprised if the club did not know his contract intentions. So at least it can make informed recruiting decisions this year. Right now I think that is the most important thing for the club.

Given the family reasons for going back, he would want to be there sooner rather than later. So he would be better off asking for a trade now than spending another year away from his family. No-one gains from that. Really, if he wants to go home why wait till next year? (I do not want him to go, just being pragmatic)

I suspect the development at Richmond has been very poor. He played some terrific games last year but for some inexplicable reason they dropped him for the Elim Final. He was looking to get out last year but they talked him into another contract. Didn't get many games this year. A surprise since recently Hardwick says he has been playing kids. Lennon probably figures he won't get many chances with Hardwick as coach. I think he will be a very good player, especially with some good development. Would take him at the Dees; just not sure he is any better than the young guys we have and we have more important needs to fill elsewhere.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-demons/chris-dawes-forced-to-wait-on-future-as-melbourne-consider-list-position/news-story/5fdd94383da84ff6596377ebe301dd40 Also, discusses Jesse contract status: "The 21-year-old is in no hurry to commit to the Demons as he assesses his future... He had postponed talks until the end of the season after a media circus over his future, but returns home to Perth next week happy to let his contract status rest...Hogan seems totally unfussed with the furore surrounding his future..." Yes, I know he has a year to run but by saying he would wait for end of the season and see if we improved he/his manager created the expectation of a decision (either way) about now. So, I am disappointed he is heading off for the break without fulfilling that expectation. What is he now waiting for? There were some strong reports in the media a month ago that he had committed to the club and contract talks were happening. Then a week ago the media reports were he is wavering. Now he heads to Perth and it doesn't sound like there is much talking happening. What has changed? Probably the greater disappointment is if we go into the trade period not knowing where we stand as it makes list management decisions much, much harder.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/lachie-whitfield-case-graeme-allan-faces-allegations-texts-were-deleted-20160830-gr4xi1.html Paraphrasing: Allen and Lambert are alleged to have deleted texts from their phones. The AFL widened its investigation and seized phones, records and laptops. The understanding of Fairfax Media that the evidence against both club officials and Whitfield is compelling The 'dog ate my homework' defence, again!

Quote from the Article: "When Whitfield spent those nights in the Lamberts' home, he did not follow drug policy protocols by informing the relevant authorities. There is a suggestion he was advised not to do so. The climate at the time was shrouded in some paranoia for players after Collingwood pair Josh Thomas and Lachlan Keeffe had tested positive to performance-enhancing substances as a result of illicit drug use". Pretty ordinary when club officials give kids poor advice. It seems no-one has learnt anything from all the different drug sagas of recent years. As an aside Collingwood were supposed to announce Grubby Allen's new job today but all is quite at the Holden Centre Me thinks this story has a bit to run still...

Jayden Hunt for the Harold Ball Memorial Trophy (Best Young Player)

Good points 'hemingway' as no mention is made of donation - only to find a suitable place to house and display it. Your points beg the question why the MFC or MFC plus AFL didn't buy the collection rather than let it fall into private hands, not even MFC supporter hands at that.

But if Jesse hadn't staged he would have kept his feet and could have shepperded for Jeffy to have a better chance at goal. Jesse is far more valuable if he doesn't stage nor stop playing when he thinks he should get a free. Its part of life for a power forward. We need him to keep making second and third efforts. Hopefully, staging is another thing that Jesse gets out of his game over the summer as it is happening too often.

Usually late October, AF. Keep next September free...

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-08-30/probe-into-greater-western-sydney-star-lachie-whitfield?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News Matthews from GWS very keen to say: 'nothing to see here, move on'. But its not whitewashed, yet. From the AFL: "The AFL will now forward its completed brief to the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA)." Looks like it was ASADA that started the investigation: "ASADA received information from a member of the public in July 2015 regarding this matter... we consulted with the AFL in August last year and both parties agreed that the AFL would be best placed to conduct the investigation into whether there was a breach of the AFL rules and/or of the AFL Anti-Doping Code." Anyone else feeling suspicious...?

Thank you, Nasher.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/open-mike-paul-roos-opens-up-on-his-meeting-with-simon-goodwin/news-story/d476a7218f5b17a6a8e92b3b06a60eba Tonight. Seems like Roos covers a lot of territory. Recruiting Goodwin, Time at Fitzroy, Pressure on Hogan etc. I don't have Foxtel so if anyone can give a rundown it would be gratefully appreciated.

Really? For all his faults, Little has a history of philanthropic work. And, he and RDB are great friends. I'm delighted he saved the collection intact.

Salem has been playing Wing/Fwd at Casey and had a similar role vs Geelong. He played (seniors) defence in 2015/early 2016 as we had no one else. Now we have Hunt and will soon have Melksham and Hibberd. I'm all for playing someone 'out of position' if the team needs that and it is good for their development. Salem in defence was exactly that - I don't think it was ever intended he continue in the backline. Will be a mid/fwd next year. As I said early in this thread, Christian is essential in our quest for finals in 2017.

Harrington is correct. The distinction she makes is players OOC this year (Dawes) and those that are contracted for later years (JKH and Dunn contracted to 2017). The article to me does not read as if written by one of the 'incompetent football media'. There are many other scribes who merit that label but not Harrington.

An excellent and objective view of our season. Good analysis and well supported with facts - it reads like she has actually watched our games and knows something about our club. http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/melbourne-2016-end-of-season-report-card/news-story/a7f4390765769108b98308616eb62181 with a B+ rating for the season which I think is a fair. Her summary of our List: THE LIST Elite: Max Gawn Big Improvers: Jayden Hunt, Jack Watts, Dean Kent, Billy Stretch, Oscar McDonald Going, going: Chris Dawes, Cam Pedersen, Ben Newton, Max King, Matt Jones Gone: Dean Terlich, Jack Grimes, Viv Michie Trade bait: Chris Dawes, Jay Kennedy-Harris (contracted), Lynden Dunn (contracted) Could have added a couple more to the 'Big Improvers' eg Tyson, Viney. A category of 'Future Exciting Players' would include: Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw, Weideman, Hogan. But I guess she couldn't include the whole list. PREMIERSHIP CLOCK THE Dees are still a fair way off that elusive premiership. That said, nobody was expecting them to be close this year. They’re trending the right way though. 8pm. Found myself agreeing with just about everything written and 8 pm on the Premiership Clock looks about right.