Lucifers Hero

Thanks goodness Watts is up there! He has earnt the recognition and am sure he will improve on last year. Like the rest of the team he seems to be really enjoying himself - great place from which to do his best work.

I will barrack for every team that plays Essendon. I would like them to lose as many games as possible so will be going for the Hawks, albeit through gritted teeth! The lesser of two evils so to speak!

2016 Melbourne leadership group Nathan Jones (captain) Colin Garland Max Gawn Tom McDonald Bernie Vince Jack Viney Garland will go out. We might have Vince or Lewis, both or neither. Lewis has had a significant impact and will play an even greater leadership role (especially as on filed General) when games start whether he is official in the LG or not. Vince, I think is similar. While we have a lot of good young players there aren't any who are pushing the door down to be in the official leadership group. Watts has always been one of my favourite players but not sure the leadership group is for him.

Absolutely delighted that Hunt is there! Probably the best of the up and comers last year! Has earnt his spot on the banner!

Here is Hird snr response to Patrick Smith's articles: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/opinion/patrick-smith-ignores-the-truth-in-his-articles-on-my-son-james-hird/news-story/722b0db398c399c6fc82b7dac1ff7cff Nothing worth quoting - it is a rehash of the whole saga from go to whoa. Full of should've, could've, would've. Calling for a Senate enquiry. He didn't mention whether he had been to see his son, James; one doubts that he has - it would have been all over the news if he had. Or he would have made a comment about James's wellbeing/progress somewhere in the article. One would think visiting your son when unwell would be a far better way to support him and his family than a rant. Interesting, that Cronulla (who just happened to win the 2016 premiership) are not joining the band wagon to have a Senate enquiry into ASADA etc. Cronulla are winners; Essendon et al are sore losers - still bellyaching about the umpires decsion.

Not only has Roughy overcome his dreaded disease, and will be back playing football, he will also captain the Hawkes. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/comeback-kid-jarryd-roughead-to-captain-hawthorn-hawks-in-2017-20170119-gtv54f.html It looked quite dire when he bowed out last year. Getting well and getting fit are herculean efforts. Good on him and I wish him well as Captain (except when they play the Dees). I also hope he gets this: "I want to potentially live to be a dad or grandad..." If there was ever a nice guy in football who deserved all that life has to offer, it is Roughy. Edit: wondering if mods would like to change title of thread to include Roughy has made a comeback

Would like to sway Hogan and Viney around. So - Hogan 3rd from the left and then Viney. Still no idea who is 2nd from the right, if not Lewis!

No worries! So, if games played are the criteria I assume the likes of Clarrie and Petracca aren't there either... FWIW for me Lewis is now 'one of us' just as much as any other player.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2017/01/18/sheedy-hird-should-never-have-coached-without-prior-experience/ I rarely agree with Sheedy but I do this time when he says Hird '...should never have been allowed to coach without having acquired experience as an assistant beforehand.' Shame he said the exact opposite when Hird was appointed. If he had spoken up back then he could have saved everyone a lot of grief! On SEN Sheedy was rewriting history, again!

@SatyriconhomeSaty, just in case you go AWOL from work, Friday training is now at Gosch's. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-01-19/location-change-for-friday-training-session

Gawn, Jones, Viney, Hogan, Goodwin, Daisey, Gus, Tom McD, Lewis, Watts. Shame there isn't room for Hunt - maybe next year!

Is it just my view of DL that has no players in the banner? Or are we gearing up for a change of faces? If so its a very tough decision for mods on who will make it!

Love that Lewis is teaching the players how to kick better (and while we knew we needed it, its still a bit startling to hear it from a player). Lewis seems a humble guy with no airs and graces which (could have come from his 4 premiership medals). McDonald says: "He picks his places when he wants to talk, he doesn't want to be overbearing and feel like he's pushing himself on to other guys..." Can't wait to see him as an on-field general (along with Jones) marshalling the troops. I can see Lewis being the one who looks for potential momentum changes, has a quick word to Jonesy and nipping them in the bud - the lack of which cost us a few games last year. I can also see him keeping the players to structures and playing to team rules; again something we fell down on last year. Lewis and Jones will make a fine pair of generals, along with their apostles, Maxy and Viney For years we have yearned for a playing coach and to think that Lewis literally just fell into our lap!

Fair comments, x. I also applaud Smith for exposing the mistruths, the blaming and the rewriting of history in recent weeks. It irked me that he used the inanimate 'this column' to express 'its' concern rather than the more humane 'I'. So, I would have preferred he said nothing at all about concern rather than make insincere platitudes. His exposure of the mistruths would have been just as powerful without that last line, afterthought. I guess, I feel that anyone who has reached the end of the line, regardless of the enormity of their sins or being the master of their own demise, is deserving of some compassion simply because they are human and in a very dark place. Just my feelings tho'. Not sure how much support Hird will get from his family and friends. He seems to have burnt them off over recent years. He is a lonely man in a dark place; yes of his own making. I for one, wish him well in getting his life back together again.

It looks like a lot of people took Smith to task over that article http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/opinion/patrick-smith/column-did-not-trivialise-mental-health-merely-corrected-mistruths/news-story/8bf3e8994292acd11efdb6f3260d85bc A few more truths from Smith: Between Hird’s hospitalisation and (Smith's) Monday’s column, history was rewritten. No one seemed to think this regurgitation of Hird’s fall from grace and good health was inappropriate or could be a hindrance to his recovery. Hird was not bullied but given poor advice and made misjudgments of his own. That is why he is under expert treatment, his life spiralling down a dark hole of his and others’ making. This column again expresses its great concern for Hird and his family. Just as it repeatedly did last Monday. While I agree with the truths, Smith's lack of empathy and compassion is a disappointing position by a senior journalist eg 'This column expresses its great concern..." as the only words of support are rather feeble for Hird or others in a similar situation, even one of their own making.

Somewhere, in one of the training threads the Sunshine Coast training dates were asked about. Club announcement: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-01-17/sunshine-coast-session-on-the-horizon Open training "will take place on Saturday, February 4 at the Maroochydore Multi-Sports Complex. Merchandise will be available to purchase and supporters will have the opportunity to meet the players and get autographs after the training has concluded".

Yep, we have a good chance of making the finals, this year! Why? - We can go into every game and believe we can win! Not dread, not hope but believe! - Various positions will be up for grabs. So generally players will need to earn their selection and play consistently well. We now have options! - Hunger! I think there is a genuine will to win and succeed among the players. These intangibles will help us to pinch a few games, against the odds...might just be enough to get us over the line. But to be honest, if we get to finals I would like us to win one - I think our young players tiring at season's end will be the main obstacle.

Latest Macca update: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-01-16/list-update-petracca-salem-and-smith Christian Salem "He’s been terrific this summer. Christian arrived back from his post-season break very fit. You just see him at training at times and his pure class comes out. All Melbourne people have seen enough snippets of Christian at his best to know that we’ve got a special young player on our hands". He will be the Dees' surprise packet this year! Long thought he is up there with Watts on footy IQ and pure skill. We have players with other special talents but few with silky skills. Christian has them.

Now it is Sheedy keeping Hird on the front page: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/essendon-bombers/kevin-sheedy-launches-defence-of-james-hird-says-he-is-loved-20170113-gtqrn4.html His (ex) lawyer, his father and now his mentor - all keeping him in the news. All intent in pointing the finger at the 'drugs saga'/AFL. All profess to care about his welfare and that of his family. Whatever the causes of his illness this has become an incredibly sad saga. His family are the innocent parties and the ones being hurt the most. That his three sons have (apparently) stopped playing aussie rules is really sad. They now play soccer. I would hate for my child to go to school, sport etc and be taunted in a way only kids can. An attempted suicide is terrible enough for a family to deal with, without having it splashed in the news every 5 minutes. All the people who profess to care should just stop and think about the kids before they say anything. Then they should keep quiet.

What struck me about the article is there is not one ounce of bitterness towards the club. Not that I would expect any from a top bloke like Jack. In fact the closing lines say it all about Jack: "Despite what he has been through, Grimes’ heart still beats true for the red and blue...I’m sure Melbourne is on the brink of having a really successful period, he said...I’ll still on the sidelines cheering for them and wishing my mates well.” Pure class.

That is because they accepted responsibility because 'it happened on their watch' even if they didn't know/weren't involved. They did the honourable thing, fell on their sword and resigned. They and their families have moved on without stigma. James did not accept the 'it happened on my watch' principle, disclaimed any responsibility and decided to fight it tooth and nail. That was is right and his choice. And he has paid a heavy price for that choice but it was his choice. He and his family have not moved on.

I doubt it will be while Gil is at the helm...unless Gil starts to worry about the 'bad look' from the AFL being blamed for Hird's ill health. Or some Essendon people in high places (eg Victoria Premier, Victoria Governor) might start leaning on Gil. And as we all know Gil can be quite 'flexible' when it suits him or when his precious image/government funding are at stake.

As it is the team's senior leaders who are into him: Gawn, Jones and Lewis I would say 'yes'! Letting him know what they expect and what to expect if he doesn't follow the rules. A good lesson to learn and learn it early. Its these little things that show how far our leadership team has come. A far cry from the days when players didn't feel like training so cancelled it (related in Jim Styne's book).

Really like the 'Not so professional' pics - you captured all the action! Particularly like the one of Petracca doing fancy footwork with the footy!

Another 3 years takes the sponsorship to a continuous 9 years. Another tick for off-field stability and financial stability! Now we just need the back of jumper sponsor!