Lucifers Hero

The likely basis for contracts: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/aflpa-not-happy-with-1011-per-cent-offer-to-players/news-story/f29e3bbff423f052356dbf05e939c6ae "Total player payments per club this year are $10.37 million, not including additional services per club of $1.022m. The average AFL player wage last year was about $300,000". That means the salary cap incl (ASA's) will be in the around $12.5m per club (which the AFL will fund) Clubs were informed this in the last few weeks. The new average appears to be around $330k-$350k. . Sounds like the AFL is playing hard ball with AFLPA demands: "The union still haven’t got to first base on their initial three phases of the pay talks. The league have not agreed to the principle of paying players a percentage share, nor has the AFL identified what revenues might be excluded such as government grants. And it certainly has not entertained an exact percentage number, which has yet to be provided by the AFLPA". Marsh put back in his place by the look of it! After all, the AFLPA is owned by the AFL!

Mahoney was just interviewed on SEN and said the club wanted more than 2 years with Tom. The club is confident we will improve further over the next few years and then they look at it again. (paraphrasing). While the 2 years coincides with his FA it doesn't worry me too much as the 2 years may have been the only way to bridge the (reported) gap in $$$. eg "Tom, take our offer of what we think you are worth now and if you really perform over the next few years we will up the $$" type of conversation. ie the compromise is the club gives up years on the contract and Tom gives up $$. Tom backs himself in to improve and signs up! Good on him - it shows he is committed to getting better and has a real incentive to improve.

Having looked at some of the draft predictions there are only a couple of tall forward types in the top 20. While technically we don't have a 2017 1st rnd pick, I think of Weideman as that pick - its just that we got him a year early and as a 'bonus' he has a year of development under his belt. Had we not traded the pick out we would be scrambling like everyone else to find a KPF to line up with Jesse. The trade out of the 2017 pick was a brilliant move by our team!! Obviously, they knew we wouldn't draft a player like Weideman this year! So I'm not at all fussed that we don't have a 1st rnd. I always enjoy draft/trade period and am again looking forward to see what creative maneuverings our team can conjure up!

Here is the list of 2016 FA's http://www.afl.com.au/trade/free-agency No-one there who would draw a 1st rnd comp pick. However, Freo or Richmond may get an early 2nd rnd which would be in the range of pick 20 to 25. Freo traded out their 2nd rnd pick (#21) but I would imagine if they do get a 2nd rnd FA comp pick it would still be pick 22? I wonder if the AFL has thought that thru? Make it up on the run, I guess. Not entirely sure, I don't think the Academy (and Father/son) player picks (under the new 'draft points' system ) affect the draft order per se - they dilute the 'quality' of player(s) available to the following bidder(s).

Really? With your moniker I thought you would already have one...

Is it my love of everything to do with the Demons or should Oscar get a Rising Star nomination. Pretty difficult as a defender, I guess. But he has had a terrific year compared to some of the mid-fielders being nominated. Would top off the year very nicely for him!

As rfpc hasn't logged on for a while, thought I might update the contract status If anyone can see errors please let me know. (not sure about Garlett and Kent in particular) Wouldn't mind if we saw some 2017 OOC players wrapped up this year eg Tyson, Stretch, Salem and of course Jesse!

Now Official! http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-08-10/two-big-macs-order-a-couple-more

Jay Clark Verified account ‏@ClarkyHeraldSun Big news @melbournefc McDonald brothers re-sign Exclusive here Fabulous news. Can the week get any better than this!! Edit: to answer my own question - yes Jesse could sign but for now I'm happy to have the two Macs signed up

Jay Clark Verified account ‏@ClarkyHeraldSun Bi g news @melbournefc McDonald brothers re-sign Exclusive here They look very happy...well done guys!

He certainly did, Abe'! See quote below. Very reliable is 'Mach5' Given that comment, it looks like Oscar isn't too far away from signing as well!

Good news - Hogan is ok to play http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-08-10/hogan-declared-fit-for-round-21 No new injuries from last week. Wagner and Dawes available after being rested. Like others, for mine it is Hogan for Pedersen - Tough on Pedo but given he came in as emergency he should be ok about it. I just hope they don't decide to play Dawes because he is rested. He plays with concrete hands and concrete feet!

I came across this article a little while back and bookmarked it for this very occassion! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-06-15/midyear-best-and-fairest?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News The method of voting for the Dees was described as: " The votes are cast by four members of Melbourne's match committee who give players a score from 0-10 for each game". It is unclear whether that means the maximum score for each game is 40 (10 from each voter) or 10 (if the four voters agree on a score per player in toto). It is technically possible to win the B&F and not ever be BOG. Max and Jack V have been the most consistent so they would be best placed to win.

A great article about the three years with Roos. It is a great tribute to him. I guess we expect quite a few more in the next few weeks. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-08-10/how-paul-roos-finally-led-the-recovery Roos steadied the ship, preached patience, sold hope, turned over the playing list and support staff, and taught basics-first to the club's emerging stars. Starting at ground zero (2014), he stripped back the game-plan and put the emphasis on contested football to relieve an under-siege backline. Solid foundations were set in stone. Next, attack had to be built on top..."We were a team that could defend, but we were exhausted when we got the ball and we'd struggle to get it forward," Roos told AFL.com.au leading into the 2015 campaign. In 2015, long-suffering fans started to see the first glimpses of the hard-running offence that overwhelmed the Hawks. This year (2016) was all about balance...The Demons have tightened up defensively once again, and their attack is becoming deadly... But, crucially, the fundamentals of contested ball – the Demons are ranked fifth in the AFL – haven't been forgotten. And the moving part for me: "It will be one of the highlights of my football career if they can get to September and go deep into September, and me sitting in the grandstand watching," Roos told 3AW on Sunday..."I'd be the first one to congratulate Simon and the players, because it is pretty exciting for the club." While everyone, Macca, Goodwin et al have done their bit to improve us on field it is Roos who mastermind the recovery plan and ensured it has been followed. To me he is nothing short of genius to get the best out of players, give his subordinates authority althewhile not losing sight of his 3 year plan: 1. Defend, 2.Contest, 3. Attack As I said in my op above: 'my dream vision is Barassi and Roos presenting the Premiership Cup to Jones and or Viney!'

The AFL spin: http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/match-review-panel-member-nathan-burke-explains-cyril-rioli-fine-after-bump-on-clayton-oliver/news-story/8c5c77a2922deb898deeb4187a7d3742 Nathan Burke: “The player (Clayton Oliver) didn’t go off the ground and didn’t require any medical treatment out on the ground. That all leads up to the low impact to the head grading.” Sorry, but Hawkins got 1 week for his tap on Davis's chin...'the charge was graded as intentional conduct with low impact to the head'. Davis barely flinched yet Olliver went down hard. Burke would have been on firmer ground if he had have said Cyril got off because it was classed as 'careless conduct' (the Hawkins one was classed as 'deliberate') as that is the only difference in the two situations.

TMac is the most underrated Dees player on Demonland. Media commentators are full of bs but each that I have heard have spoken glowing of Tom now and how good he will become. They have him in the same conversation as Rance, Talia and Hurley. It is no coincidence today was the second time Watson has stated their interest in Tom. Watson is the EFC media mouthpiece. He is their 'good cop'! Clearly they are talking to Tom. And they have the big $$ to throw at him and will pay overs which we have said we won't. Tom has at least 8 years of A+ performance ahead of him with a few AA's. We might get Hibberd and/or picks but there is no equivalent (except Talia) to Tom. Because we have shown our hand on Hibberd, I fear we will get shafted if Tom decides to go and nominates EFC. I just hope Tom tells them to GAGS!

It is a shame the Brownlow has become a 'midfiellders' medal. Otherwise, another season like that and M.Gawn11 would give it a decent shake. (And follow in the steps of the last ruckman to win it, J.Stynes11).

And they got a whole bunch of Academy players quite cheaply in the last few years (and will get more this year). In 2014 under the old system they got three highly rated players with their ordinary late picks. Don't know what they have done with them all. To worsen their problems after the mass youth exodus they put in a rookie senior coach - not a good idea especially when the club is a basket case. The AFL said last week they are tipping in a few mill to help them play their full cap and get better facilities. And will get more (extra) for debt next year as part of new TV Rights. That is enough extra help!

Gawn, Tyson and Viney in Team of the Week http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-08-09/afl-team-of-the-week-round-20 I haven't kept track but we have had quite a few TOW nominations this year!

A nice and deserved accolade of Max http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/max-gawn-set-out-to-be-the-afls-best-ruckman-in-november-2015-now-hes-achieved-his-goal/news-story/0993a5c7a2638889442d31ed71d26f5d Essentially, its about him not being shy about saying he wants to be up there with the best ruckman in the league. And he has 'walked the talk' by actually achieving this.

I read somewhere EFC expect to hear in next few weeks which of the (remaining) 12 will stay. So an interesting article http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/matthew-lloyd-says-essendon-would-want-alex-rance-type-for-michael-hurley-20160808-gqo41b.html Sounds like Lloyd and Watson are preparing the footy world for Hurley leaving: Lloyd: "If he is to leave, Essendon don't want any draft picks..."Essendon want a player of his quality (from) across the competition... "Alex Rance is one. I know he won't leave Richmond, but that's the type of player that Essendon will be going to the death hour of trade period to get...." Watson: Melbourne key defender Tom McDonald could fit the criteria. But given Essendon pleaded guilty earlier this year to WorkSafe breaches relating to their ill-fated supplement program, Hurley may have legal grounds to exit his contract if he wanted to. Watson agreed it would be an ugly situation if it got to that: "I don't think anyone wants to push it to that, I don't think Essendon wants to push it to that with a player," Its going to be a long draft period! I'm confident Tom will sign but that he is being talked about as part of a mega deal makes me feel ill. We will get shafted and end up with someone's second round pick, Hibberd and steak knives and another club gets Hurley!

Reposting this from the 'structure' thread: The teams that have done well against Hawks are those that run, denying them the ability to set up their defensive structures. That was also our game plan and our team delivered on the 'get ball and run and run' tactic perfectly. Clarkson said in his press conf that our rebound goals (from deep in their fwd line) was at 50% - he had never heard of anything that good! The Hawks expected us to play 'crowd the contest' at stoppages (our usual game) where they stand off then tackle the player who gets the clearance spilling the ball out or getting a free. Instead we opened up space at ball ups for Max and whoever was at his feet (usually Viney) who got the ball and stepped into the 'uncrowded' space (Hawks found flat footed) and our player got the ball to another player running past. The overlap continues and bingo we are off to the racesl! The Hawks didn't wake up to what was happening, thinking they could pull a rabbit out of the hat, again! In his press conf. Roos said we focused on getting the ball to within 20-30 mtrs of goal where we can dominate. When it goes to the 40-50 mtr area the Hawks dominate. It worked. We have also modified our so called 'Diamond Defence' denying Hawks the easy goals (I think they had 2). My conclusion: Clarkson was comprehensively out coached!! This season's attacking game plan has not changed but has been significantly refined as our players have become educated enough (Roos favourite word for our young team) to play different game plans for different opponents. Our game plan is fine. Our team is at a level of maturity where the it can be modified week to week for the opposition so to answer your last question: I doubt we will here it complained about again!

Maybe picketfence can redeem himself his doubts and criticism (as ProDee graciously did with Jack Watts) when Oscar has his breakout season and agree to change his avatar to Oscar. I am happy to volunteer to choose one. I can guarantee it won't take 7 years for picket's new avatar to be needed!!!

I noticed that also. The teams that have done well against Hawks are those that run, denying them the ability to set up their defensive structures. That was also our game plan and our team delivered on the 'get ball and run and run' tactic perfectly. Clarkson said in his press conf that our rebound goals (from deep in their fwd line) was at 50% - he had never heard of anything that good! The Hawks expected us to play 'crowd the contest' at stoppages (our usual game) where they stand off then tackle the player who gets the clearance spilling the ball out or getting a free. Instead we opened up space at ball ups for Max and whoever was at his feet (usually Viney) who got the ball and stepped into the 'uncrowded' space (Hawks found flat footed) and our player got the ball to another player running past. The overlap continues and bingo we are off to the racesl! The Hawks didn't wake up to what was happening, thinking they could pull a rabbit out of the hat, again! In his press conf. Roos said we focused on getting the ball to within 20-30 mtrs of goal where we can dominate. When it goes to the 40-50 mtr area the Hawks dominate. It worked. We have also modified our so called 'Diamond Defence' denying Hawks the easy goals (I think they had 2). My conclusion: Clarkson was comprehensively out coached!! This season's attacking game plan has not changed but has been significantly refined as our players have become educated enough (Roos favourite word for our young team) to play different game plans for different opponents. We have come a long way.

If that happens Mahoney and co will lose credibility with the players because they have consistently said they pay what a player is worth, not overs. They have worked so hard to create a good culture and reinforce required behaviours. Making exceptions to their policy would not be good for team morale whether it is Hurley or anyone else especially if some players have accepted said policy and settled on a contract figure less than they may have liked.