Lucifers Hero

Priddis - 2014 Is their a prize? By the way, Roos has said Jack has been cleared to play by the medicos; its just a matter of having a look at his 'functionality' today ie handballs, pick up.

Looks like the announcement on licences will be made on Wed. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-questions-plans-for-eight-teams-in-afl-womens-league-20160610-gpgq0n.html And it seems we will get one: The submissions of Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs stood out among the 13 the AFL received from clubs making their best case for a female team...' and '...The jury remains out on the other Victorian applicants: Richmond, Geelong, St Kilda, Collingwood, North Melbourne and Carlton, but the strong likelihood is that only two of those will join the Demons and Dogs'. Will be interesting to see which Vic clubs miss out. My only worry is that the AFL will use the licences for 'horse-trading' and conferring of fixture/venue favours to those clubs. The favours will be subtle eg more MCG games, better home game opponents, FTA games, fan friendly start times etc etc It may be my MFCSS but I can't help but feel that even if we do get a licence we will lose out somewhere else... Edit: Another example of PJ putting our club out there and positioning us for the future. Well done mfc!

And we wake up to this: http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/essendon-coach-john-worsfold-says-channel-7-would-be-the-loser-if-afl-banishes-bombers-from-friday-night-footy/news-story/845aec9a14aef5bb923af623dd4e0af3 'John Worsfold says host broadcaster Channel 7 would be the loser if the AFL banishes Essendon from the Friday night stage in 2017 because of its uncompetitive season'. Then: 'The Friday night fizzer drew the smallest Dons-Hawks crowd since 1990 and gave Essendon its worst home attendance against a Victorian club since 1995'. If their own fans don't go to games how can they expect general footy fans (who like to relax watching Fri night games) to watch last night's rubbish!

Here we go again! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-06-10/tom-mcdonald-in-no-rush-to-resign-with-demons?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News Tom is quoted: "I just hope they don't see me in a different light because I haven't got a contract sorted yet. I'm not too worried about what others are saying about me on the outside," McDonald said. "I hope the club rates me and thinks of me as a long-term player at the club, but that's to be done behind closed doors. "I'm loving playing at Melbourne this year and I've got such great mates here. That (contract situation) can be worked out at a later date." I don't know why he would doubt the club sees him as a 'long-term player at the club'. The last report was he had been offered a contract out to 2020. This sort of stuff is just fueling doubt by everyone, even tho Roos said recently he would be staggered if TMc didn't sign. If TMc isn't prepared to sign, fine, but I wish he would shut up about it!

Fixed!

DubDee, are you not paying attention or just being mischievous: Dunn injured, Cloke dropped.

Freo is on the prowl to rebuild their team and will chase anyone from WA. I don't know where Nev's wife's family are but if they are in WA then Freo can entice him back with more than just money. He seems ideal to anchor their small defender troupe for a quite a few years. To a lesser extent Kent may also be in their sights and also OOC this year. Will rest easier when Nev signs.

Yes, Bugg could 'test' Pendles ribs to see if they are still sore, while giving him some lip about McQuan's claim he should be dumped as captain. Bugg can really ruffle his feathers physically and mentally!!

Bernie is the man for the job!

My recollection is that once the ball went over his head he didn't try to get back to contest the ground ball, leaving it to the two Hawk defenders to do what they like. Misjudging is one thing, not contesting is another. Yes, there were 2, yes they were bigger but he didn't even give chase to put some pressure on. They just waltzed it out... Jeff could take a leaf out of Eddie Betts book...his goal last week (maybe GOTY) was the result of desperate ground work. Is Jeff happy to kick a few goals running out the back and from opportunistic plays or does he want to get down and dirty and like Eddie sometimes kick a bag of 4,5,6 goals? Jeff can be as good as Eddie if he wants. His choice.

Wayne Carey looks at the next generation of superstars: The ones who've really caught my eye this year are all on-ballers, all elite decision makers and all tough competitors. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-afls-next-generation-of-stars-20160609-gpfiil.html#ixzz4B7vp9EHc They are: Bontempelli, Schiel, Cripps, Heeney and our own Jack Viney! About Viney: He's a captain-in-waiting and will give Melbourne the leadership they need as they attempt to become a force in the game again. In that regard, he's also like Selwood: wanting to lead from the front. He might have to harness some of that youthful aggression, though, if he's going to be of maximum value to his team. Those 5 players will share a few Brownlows in the next decade. It will be interesting to see this year, how the umpires vote re Viney vs say the AFLPA votes. Umpires tend to be attracted to the flashier mid-fielders so they may not rate Viney's games so highly. But then what do they know!

I think it was Gibson competing with Hogan in the 1st qtr. Wasn't watching their players too closely. Jeff is starting to look a bit 'too individual' in that he doesn't support or look for team mates for support, at least that is how it looked to me last week. I think that individual vs team is one thing that has been a non-negotiable since the day Roos arrived. Jeff will get the message and be a better player for it.

Jeff had 3 major brain fades last week: -when he misjudged the flight of Dawes' kick and ran under it. -rather than make it a 2 on 1 contest and help Hogan, Jeff waited to run into an open goal assuming Jesse would win the contest. He didn't. Ball went straight down the other end. (Ist qtr I think). - in the last quarter he had the ball outside our 50. Only 1 player near him, a few metres behind. A paddock in front of him to an open goal. He clearly didn't want to bounce it because of the conditions. Fair enough. But instead of doing it the hard way and run and bend to touch the ball to ground, he took a wild kick. It went out on the full. I wouldn't say any of those plays cost us the game. But all those were at critical times in the game and they cost us. Love watching him play so wish he was there on QB but not unhappy the coaches enforcing required behaviours.

Big. Statement being made.

Don't know Vagg. The source for the Cloke change appears to be Cloke himself to a a reporter. If true, not always the Club's at fault. But I think the coaches do interviews on Wed/Thur and its a bit hard for them to answer no questions. Btw, Roos also said Dawes is playing.

SEN saying Cloke has been dropped~

My bad, dc. It is his right hand. Viney saw his surgeon on Monday and received a positive report on his right hand. I guess this means he can handball: splint and bandage around his middle fingers - nice platform to hold the ball to handball with his left. I'm sure nothing fazes FIGJAM but I like that he has something extra to think about. To really mess with his head we can name Viney in the final 22 and when final lists are submitted 1hr before the game, replace him with an emergency, if necessary. Edit: Don't know what to say dc. Just saw this pic on our website. It shows his left hand strapped. So I was right the first time... Maybe this is a case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing...

It seems she was nailed by her (deliberate?) concealment: "If she had not concealed her use of Mildronate from the anti-doping authorities, members of her own support team and the doctors whom she consulted, but had sought advice, then the contravention would have been avoided," it (the report) said. That is the same hook that hung the EFC players: concealment from drug testers, doctors, managers etc. and didn't seek advice (from anti doping authority). Its simple: Athlete responsible!!

And it is only his left hand. Doesn't stop him kicking, running, harassing etc etc. Roos is probably messing with Buckley's head!! Buckley can't ignore the possibility in his planning. Diversionary tactic by Roos! We will find out on Sunday/Monday.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-06-09/your-clubs-midyear-report-card-part-two?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News Here it Ben Guthrie's assessment of the Demons: What’s worked: Melbourne has vastly improved the attacking element of its game, averaging 101.6 points per game this season compared with 71.5 points per game in 2015. What hasn’t: The Demons' 'diamond defence' (the club's form of the zone defence) has been a work in progress. Melbourne's inconsistency has also been costly in games. Who haven’t we seen enough of yet: Angus Brayshaw has had a tough second season in the AFL, with a pre-season knee injury and concussion issues holding his progress back. Indispensable: Max Gawn. The big ruckman's outstanding form has been a clear highlight for the Demons. Without Gawn, Melbourne's ruck stocks are very thin with Jake Spencer, the injured Mitch King and developing Max King in place as backup. Coach Score: Despite talk that Simon Goodwin should take over before the year was out, you could not fault Paul Roos' commitment. Roos will hand over a Melbourne list that is in good shape when he finishes his tenure at the end of the season. 7/10 Big improver: Jack Viney is now an elite midfielder of the competition, ranking No.1 in the AFL for centre clearances through the first half of the season. Didn’t see that coming: The loss to Essendon in round two is a stain on Melbourne's season. It's actually hard to fathom how the Demons could have lost that game when you compare the teams' form lines since then. Non-negotiable: The Demons lost three of their last 10 matches after the bye in 2015. Melbourne can't afford to have a similar late season slump this season. Pass mark for the rest of the year: Keep pushing the teams above them on the ladder for eighth spot. Continue to develop their youngsters, getting games into Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver, James Harmes, Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald and Josh Wagner. The Demons should bank on winning at least five of their next 11 games. Can't fault much of that! Will be very disappointed if we don't win another 5 (and desperate to end up higher than Carlton).

SEN have just quoted Roos as saying that Viney will be in the squad of 25 for QB. Apparently is 50/50. Miraculous recovery! Or is it Roos messing with Buckley's currently vulnerable mind! Hope he plays!!!

A timely and interesting article about broadcasting AFL games played in Australia, into China http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/staggering-growth-in-chinese-afl-audience/news-story/948ae22861ab75f12e42671311256934 The viewing audience in China for the 2 Port Adelaide games broadcast this year are quite staggering. What caught my eye was this: As part of the new agreement between Port Adelaide, the AFL and CCTV, one in every three games broadcast in China will feature the Power, giving other clubs and stadiums the opportunity to reach a new audience. Hats off to Port for being creative in their vision for playing and broadcasting games into China. Its a real shame we weren't able to capitalise on our pioneering work there 5 years ago. I bet that the Big Vic clubs will be the 'other clubs' to be fixtured for broadcasting into China...Eddie for one will be flying the flag. Sigh...

While the AFL says: win more games to get Fri night (& other prime TV) times it simply isn't true (see no. of Carl and Ess over the last 3 years). The reality is prime FTA time slots (and the whole fixture on venues, Home game opponents, start times etc) favour the Big Vic clubs. The 'system' keeps the strong clubs strong, and b....er the rest!! Will be interesting to see how many how many Thur. Fri. Sat night FTA time slots Rich, Carl. Ess. Hawth. Coll have next year!! Unfortunately, we missed the boat in the early 2000's when those clubs were setting up training and club facilities cheaply and marketing their clubs very successfully, building memberships. Even in our successful years (2000 to 2006) our admin sat on its laurels. Now we are stuck in a 'Catch 22' relying on the largesse of the AFL. PJ and Co are working hard to get us back onto the radar eg Anzac Eve, record membership, good sponsors. As always, we need to win more games to get more members. Then even if we don't get many prime FTA gigs at least PJ can rally to have the big Vic as our Home game opponents, to increase our revenues. Then the wheel starts turning in our favour. Are we irrelevant? Less so than a few years ago. But we are pushing uphill to get noticed.

Enjoy it G. I figure the closer one is to the 'winding down stage' the closer is 'The Big Sleep'!

It first happened to me in early May so not from software upgrade. Wondering if it could piggy-back on one of the ads...I'm not always logged in on phone, so get heaps of ads.