Lucifers Hero

The players got ahead of themselves. Roos in his press conf: "We know that we're not a finals team. We've got a fair way to go to become a finals team. Sometimes the players need to see that, because they don't necessarily believe it. I think today was a stark reality and exactly where we're at as a footy club." So we win 3 in a row with one mighty win over the Hawks and suddenly the players think they can just walz into the 8. Yesterday was (another) goddamn wake up call for them. Hope it burns in them all summer (along with losses to Saints, Blues, Ess). Not disappointed we did not make finals - we are no where near ready. Just disappointed the players started believing the 'finals' hype in the media when there were still games to be played.

Interesting. So EFC will most likely succeed in getting the #1 pick. EFC tanked vs Lions and now put the cue in the rack at 3/4 time vs the Blues. So bleeding obvious! And we can bet the AFL won't investigate them!!

What a great performance by Christian (relatively speaking). He is one of the few today who stood up and close to our best. Showed his class all day and worked hard - 7 tackles. Mighty effort after being ill for so long and losing so much weight. 2017 will be his year and with him we have some chance of making finals (today notwithstanding). Without him...? Can't believe that people keep putting his name up for trade!

True, can you save me the arithmetic and tell me 38.5% converts to in points, roughly?

I think you are. We have been playing Goodwin's game plan since just before the bye. We have gone so far into 'taking the game on' we have forgotten all the lessons of 'defence first' that Roos taught in his first year (when Goodwin wasn't at the Dees). I don't think we can pin it all on to Roos tbh. Roos has achieved what he promised. Today does not diminish that. Its terribly sad that this is the last game of his tenure and there is no chance to redeem the situation for him. Just so sad - he deserves so much better. I still tips my hat to Roos for everything he has done for our club. I will be eternally grateful.

Yes, Ess tried so hard to tank it! But Blues kicked so badly in final quarter! Final Qtr Score: Ess: 1. 2. 8 Blues: 4. 7. 31 Final Ess % 61.0 As it is, Lions lose to the Saints tomorrow and its hello #1 draft pick. Go Saints!!

At 3/4 time Ess lead Blues that gives them a % of 61.5. Lions on a % of 61.5 If that continues and Lions lose to StK, Lions get the #1 Draft pick (and 1st pick in the PSD). If Ess were wanting to walk O'Meara or another player into the PSD they won't be able to. I wonder how Worsfold is going to tank the game now!

Ess is about to play itself out of the first Draft Pick!! Worsfold will have to put a dozen players on the bench to make sure their %age doesn't go up too far or to lose. I would laugh and laugh if Ess give up pick 1...even better if Lions get a priority pick and Ess drop to pick 3!!

He could replace Clarrie Choo Choo...

Here are the final 2016 figures from the AFL http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-2016-membership-up-but-crowds-down-20160825-gr1b52.html Just goes to show how finals have helped North and Bulldogs. Our turn next year Massive effort by the Saints. Great result by us to break our previous record but we have slipped right down the Membership ladder. Massive effort from Dees supporters needed next year. Anyone like to hazard a guess as to where we might end up?

Roos was very passionate about Jayden deserving a nomination...said he will take care of it on Monday ...not to subtle pressure from Roos

Had a look at his 29 games and 2014 - 12 games, 5 of which were as a sub 2015 - 10 games as a defender, 3 of which were the last of the season coming back from hamstring injuries. 2016 - 7 games the last few of which he played under duress from illness. So he has played about 20 full games, fully fit. So if would be fair to say he hasn't had much of run at it to show what he can do. But there is a lot to get excited about. In addition to his silky skills the things that have stood out for me: Coolness under pressure eg the winning goal vs Ess in 2014. Roos said he was the guy he would always love to have the ball in those circumstances. So come to the crunch he is the guy who will deliver a goal when we most need it eg after the siren in a GF. He is equal to Jack Watts with his footy IQ. We don't have many of those. He can certainly find space which enables him to make the right decision nearly every time. Nearly always hits targets. Brings others into the game. Plays the role he is given and follows instructions. Can kick goals. He may not look fast as all his games have in a game plan that was defence focused and we had a shutdown/limit the scoreboard damage style. I think he will relish the 'take the game on' offensive game we now play and his speed of foot, hand and brain will make him a real asset. This is an edited version of Plapp's review 2 weeks ago: '...He played an inside mid role and spent some time forward...but the one thing that I was really pleased about his game on the weekend was his ability to fulfill and play his role. But when he got the ball in his hand, he really hurt the opposition and always seemed to manufacture an inside 50 or help set up a goal. Every time he touched the ball was huge for us on the weekend.' Sorry to be a bit long-winded, just wanted to put his 3 years in context. Understand why people have doubts but for mine he has shown enough brilliance to predict he will be a key factor in getting us into the finals in 2017.

James Harmes was just on the Mangarook Footy Show and they were discussing the 4 RS nominations and he said - we are a bit stiff that Jayden hasn't had one as well! He also said he doesn't want to change to lower number jumper - he is loyal to the 43 and wants to play in as many games he can in the 43! Another young player doing us proud.

I know it is not an MFC selection but delighted to see Jack Fitz has been selected for the Hawks. Always good to see ex MFC players getting a go. Has had a tough year so hope he has a good game!

Good point - finals experience, albeit @ VFL will be really good for him.

Over the moon to see Salem back in - pure silk!

I meant Ess could get O'Meara for a PSD pick and not their main draft #1 pick. Maybe not but he did the right thing by WCE to ensure they got a fair trade. If I recall - an early rnd 1 pick and Josh Kennedy. That showed some character and integrity in my book - a lot more than Luke Ball who just crapped on the Saints who got nothing.

Yes, that is what Luke Ball did. Or he could do the decent thing like Judd and Dangerfield and ensure GCS get fair trade value. How he plays it will say something about the character and integrity of O'Meara. The news wouldn't be a surprise but for some reason Eade sounded really angry. Something has blindsided him. Will be interesting if O'meara chooses Ess who have the 1st pick in the Preseason Draft and they pick him up there, for nothing. Given how the AFL are bending over backwards and changing rules to help the drug cheats climb the ladder quickly they would sit back and play it like 3 wise monkeys. I watch this trade with interest!

I may be wrong dc but I think it may not matter when the delisting is. We got Ben Newton towards the end of the 'List Update Submissions' (or whatever it is called) even tho we had been talking with him for months and Port had a contract in front of him. We sat back, didn't trade and Port had the good grace to delist him rather than force him to stay. So I'm assuming that other clubs have learnt that 'trick'.

Very moving and a far greater tribute that anything to do with football.

GCS have drawn a line in the sand, Big time. O'Meara has asked for a trade. GCS have said he is NOT and FA so does not have the right to nominate a club. Therefore they will entertain offers. Its about time a club stood up and said a player cannot call the shots and walk to where they want to go!

on what

That is what an interested club wants so they can get him as a DFA for nothing (ie no trade). Ditto for other players who are OOC and not in line for another contract. Interested clubs will just sit back and wait. A by-product of the FA rules.

While Lyon, Hardwick and Leppich have had terrible on-field results, Scott would have to be in the conversation as one of the worst performing coaches of 2016: Went from 9/0 mid year to 12/11 at the end with only 2 wins (from 11 games) vs top 8 teams. From 2 Prelim Finals to barely scraping into the 8. Poor media performer: PR disaster for his club when he mouthed off at umpires for their bias that cost himself and his club a bucket of money. Poor media performer: PR disaster yesterday when he 'Shot Bambi' aka Boomer. Poor media performer: His surly manner showed little compassion or empathy yesterday. Poor media performer: Always winging and surly in his post game press conferences Effectively, surrendered the 2016 Finals series by saying they are unlikely to play in Melbourne again this year. Has their supporters ready to riot. Lyon, Hardwick and Leppich teams have performed badly and the former 2 fallen way down the ladder but they have not damaged their club as Scott has - it will cost North a heap of members next year. Brayshaw must be having serious doubts about his coach as their front man. Won't be long before the media start baying for his blood. Lucky to see out next year as coach, I reckon (contracted to 2018).

Does this thread include coaches we may be chasing? Brenton Sanderson is said to be on the radar of several clubs as an Assistant Coach. Collingwood are the front runners (great mates with Buckley) and we are also interested. Sandeson worked with Macca at Geelong so is a known quantity to our coaching panel and I would be very happy to see them reunited at the Dees. Edit: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-08-24/sando-to-step-back-in-with-pies?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News