Lucifers Hero

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!

At the B&F PJ flagged that AHG would sign on for another contract. It seems to be getting close to finalisation: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-in-advanced-talks-for-new-deal-with-major-sponsor-ahg-20161027-gsc9kv.html "An extension of the partnership with AHG would continue a strong month for the club. The Demons began October by securing the contract extension of young spearhead Jesse Hogan until the end of 2019...Melbourne were then a key player during the recent trade period, stunningly landing the signature of Hawthorn veteran Jordan Lewis..." Another element of off-field stability to help strengthen our club. I really like how all the off-field teams from PJ, to admin to recruiting etc are quietly going about their business. So, no distractions for the players. Just let them be the best they can be (and get us to finals!)

Gil barracks for the Saints!

Here is each club's 'Wish Llist'. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-10-26/your-clubs-fixture-wish-list They actually all look reasonable - except Essendon wanting 4 HOME games at the G. It is NOT their HOME ground!! I bet they will be against other Vic power clubs with lots of members so Ess can get great revenue. Meanwhile, we will get i/state clubs and low member clubs to our home games. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Agree AF. I suspect his nose is out of joint that we chose Pederson to do the 'heavy lifting and absorb the physical pressure' next year. But it would have been nice for him to be gracious and acknowledge all the support he received over the 4 years rather than have a winge on the way out.

So Gazza asked for a trade back to Victoria for 'family reasons'. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/gold-coast-captain-and-excat-gary-ablett-requested-a-trade-back-to-geelong-20161026-gsbdsn.html While he is a brilliant football, he is also a player that has hardly been on the park for the best part of 2.5 years, collecting over a million $ per year. He has not set a off field example at any stage since going up there and it looks like he isn't about to start now. His medals will immortalise him as a great of the game but he is not someone I have had a lot of respect for (other than for his football skills).

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/chris-dawes-isnt-shocked-by-his-delisting-at-melbourne-but-believes-he-had-a-role-to-play-in-2017/news-story/e0f296b02ad61822ecf9d36a38166318 While Dawes acknowledges he was not able to get on the park, he said: “I could never really imagine myself getting to the point where the club would want to get rid of me...I reckon they really are on the cusp of finals, particularly with the list that they’ve built and I saw a spot for myself there as a senior player who is able to do a lot of the heavy lifting and help these young players if I can absorb some physical pressure for them,” he told RSN. “But obviously the club saw it differently.” I'm a little sad that a guy who seems a really good bloke leaves with negative comments about our club. He does not seem to be aware of his shortcomings and that there is no room for a player whose role is to absorb some physical pressure.

That is nothing like what the Hawks did. We did not break the future pick rules nor did we do any shady deals to manipulate outcomes for other clubs ie the 'deal' to get Richmond a low 20's pick for Vickery. Have a closer look at the Hawks trading activity.

From beginning to end the Hawks 'manipulated' the draft. It started on day 1 when they got Vickery as an FA. Initially reported on their website as a 3yr contract. It was hurriedly changed to 2yr. but at the same dollars making it seem a bigger contract. The 2 year deal quallified Richmond to get a round 2 AFL compensation pick, the 3 year deal, with the same dollars did not. Otherwise Richmond could have matched the offer and forced Hawks to trade for Vickery which clearly they did not want to do. That is blatant draft manipulation by both Richmond and Hawthorn. Apparently the AFL 'looked into' it but no known outcome as yet. They did a dodgy deal with Carlton to get the O'Meara deal over the line. Carlton the big losers on the deal - there was chat that Bolton was trying to help his old boss. Wonder when that favour will get called in by Carlton! It ended on the last day when Hawks traded their 2017 2nd rnd pick which as others have stated above, they were not entitled to do. And it looks like the AFL will turn a blind eye to it all, as always when it involves favoured clubs!! It backfired a bit on the Hawks when GCS stood their ground on O'meara and they gave StK a draft pick windfall for their 2016 pick 10 and the dodgy deal with Carlton meant their first pick this year is 88 and next year is around 25 to 30. The AFL should look very closely at all the Hawks draft activity because they have been fast and loose with the rules. And that little Vickery FA manoeuvre opens a hornets nest of dubious FA and trade transactions in the future.

The full 2017 AFL fixture comes out on Thursday. New opponents in NT for us: We play GCS as a twilight game in Alice in round 10 and Adelaide in round 17 in Darwin. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-25/new-nt-foes-for-demons Given that our club has deemed that we play there, I don't mind those opponents. If the AFL change our opponents each year it gives us a better chance at a home ground advantage and having the majority of the people at the game supporting us on the night.