Lucifers Hero

'Being dropped' is such an emotive term (and old fashioned!) To have a chance to work on a weakness away from the spotlight is not such a bad thing, surely, especially with such a young team. Its all part of the improvement process for each player (and avoids them becoming complacent). And no-one is so indispensable that they can't learn in the seconds. (After all, WBD have just dropped Stringer. I kid you not!!) BTW, not in anyway suggesting Hogan should go to Casey and certainly not with a couple of games to play and certainly not until he has signed his next contract!

Vickery is a Restricted Free Agent. ie no trade required - he comes free! Richmond know he has a good deal on the table so they have put him on ice to protect their FA compensation pick from the AFL. I wouldn't be surprised if they got an early 2nd rnd pick from the AFL. Given they don't have a 2nd rnd pick it will come in very handy. Even for free, I wouldn't take him. He might be handy right now but don't see a permanent role in our team.

Very serious players at training today - from club website: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-08-19/photo-gallery-friday-august-19 According to foxfooty Hogan trained today. Garlett didn't. Both to be assessed again later. If either/both can't play I have full confidence in the extended bench that who ever comes in will step up.

We all make mistakes, Stuie. No need to rub it in altho I will give you the benefit of the doubt and take your post, as in jest. But the second post you quoted (of yesterday) isn't related to anything I've posted in this thread...a mistake by your good self, perhaps.

My bad, F-5. I miss read the last part of the 'Playing Career' section of that wikipedia page as 'three years' rather than 'three-club'. ''Stuie' mentions a 3 year deal with a one year option was the contract.

I'm not sure The Age is right saying Lumumba is contracted for two more years...'Rfpc' in the Contracts thread has him listed as OOC in 2017 and Wikipedia has him on a 3 year contract ie OOC 2017. I don't know who is right but would be leaning to one more year. Whatever the issues are with H I'm glad the club is doing what it can to support him. It sets a good example to our list that player welfare is important. If he sees out his contract and gets back into the seniors all kudos to him. If he plays it out at Casey so be it - he will be a good mentor there. If all agree to part ways, well and good. I don't see a downside here and am very confident the club will make a decision that is fair for all. Edit: Correction of Wikipedia reference.

Paul Connors was just on SEN and said Hibberd is still overseas! So much for Barrett's comments that he was at the game last week and in the rooms!! Connors also said he will talk when Hibberd gets back next week and "he is really close to Hurley so that will help". Very happy to see Hibberd stay with his mates! The fewer players we have from that toxic culture the better!

Not only that he also said Stanton would re-sign. Stanton did that a few days after braysure made this post: So far he was 100% right. He also posted that Hibberd's father wanted him to stay at Ess. since backed up by several other reports. Just maybe he is a Dees supporter and was passing on info. I will confess I thought he was legit as we had exchanged some pm's on his earlier predictions and he didn't sound like a troll in those. Maybe I'm gullible...

In 2015 Freo rested rnd 23 because of energy draining travel. Their ladder position was unaffected. However, the 'resting' by North had a sinister touch. They new if they won rnd 23 they would play Adelaide in SA for the 1st elim final. If they lost they would play Richmond in Victoria - a far more palatable prospect. So they 'rested' players and lost. It was all a smokescreen. http://www.foxsports.com.au/breaking-news/vote-does-north-melbournes-decision-to-rest-players-for-round-23-constitute-tanking/news-story/6d646a9125a4a21aa318d3355f471653 The AFL approved North's resting on the basis that it was unlikely results would fall in such a way to affect North's ladder position. Well guess what, the results did the 'unlikely' and North succeeded in 'tanking' all the way to a Prelim Final... In true comical AFL style they have fixed a problem that didn't exist! A bye after rnd 23 may rest players but it does not stop the real problem - a team tanking rnd 23 to give them a preferential draw for the finals.

Dawes, unfortunately. I think Salem will play - Roos: "There'll be some tough decisions but Christian's someone you'd love to get back in because we know he's a quality player but it'll be based on form and who we can push in and out," Christian is our silkiest player, (second only to Jack Watts) so I reckon he will 'push someone out'. I reckon it will be for Harmes or Bugg only because Christian is a far better player and he needs AFL level match fitness before we take on Geelong and he is needed for the finals).

Thanks D_J. In that case the 20 in 2020 is fairly meaningless as it excludes about 75% of players drafted. Are Sanderson and Sheehan just pumping up their own tyres as they are associated with that Academy? It would be more meaningful if they at least included the NAB draft combine players. Or better still the whole draft!! It would help if they better explained the basis of selection as I imagine most people would react as I did and think: what about X and what about Y. Like, how confusing misleading is the first line of the article: "Rising Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli headlines an all-star team made up of young players picked in recent drafts".

Its a quiet day on Demonland so thought I would put this in for discussion to keep us amused for a day or two: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-08-17/marcus-bontempelli-headlines-20-in-2020-all-star-team?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News Kevin Sheehan and Brenton Sanderson have picked their best team in 2020 from draftees in the last 4 drafts: DEFENDERS: Nick Vlastuin (Rich), Jake Lever (Adel), Nathan Wilson (GWS), Callum Mills (Syd), Jacob Weitering (Carl), Jack Martin (GC) MIDFIELDERS: Marcus Bontempelli (WB), Lachie Whitfield (GWS), Jaeger O'Meara (GC), Ollie Wines (PA), Jack Viney (Melb), Brodie Grundy (Coll) FORWARDS: Jake Stinger (WB), Jeremy Cameron (GWS), Isaac Heeney (Syd), Josh Kelly (GWS), Jesse Hogan (Melb), Joe Daniher (Ess) I/C: Darcy Parish (Ess), Stephen Coniglio (GWS) Now that is guaranteed to be controversial! Setting aside my Demon bias: The doubtful inclusions for me are: Daniher, Parish, Grundy, maybe Vlastuin. The glaring omissions for me are: Darcy Moore (Wayne Carey's pick for the best of current young forwards), Christian Petracca, Lachie Neale (as small forward). Don't know the non-Dees young ruckman and defenders well enough to make suggestions but is Grundy the best their is/will be?

Interesting discussion on players and 'pressure acts' ("The analysis goes well beyond just tackles, spoils and smothers, with Champion Data introducing pressure points in 2011. Points are awarded for corralling (1.2), chasing (1.5), closing (2.75) and physical pressure (3.75))": http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-08-17/under-pressure-who-applies-the-heat-at-melbourne No surprise that Viney is our no 1 for pressure acts. (7th in AFL) A couple of 'not so obvious' are: Josh Wagner has been the Demons' best pressure player with 10.8 points per game, (13th in AFL) Jeff Garlett was dropped earlier in the season for his lack of forward pressure. But he has adjusted his attitude (No.20 in the AFL). Helps explain why a particular player even gets a game when to us they shouldn't! Yes, stats don't always mean much but 'pressure acts' is one the coaches hugely value but not easily visible to us. I'm especially glad that Garlett turned his defensive game around after being dropped.

Max isn't in the top 10 because he has shared BOG with Viney with the likes of Jones, Tyson etc Other consistent good performances - Watts, Vince. Those in the top 10 haven't had much consistent, competition from teammates for votes. He will get his deserved recognition when selected as AA team (and should poll well in the Brownlow). On a more frivolous note: given the number of times Max's bearded face appears in the newspapers he is streets ahead of everyone in the league as this year's 'pin up' boy. Can't think of any other AFL player in the news week in/week out. Didn't Petracca mention players have a go at a teammater who gets their mug shot in the news a lot? Max would be winning that game!

Jayden is older than most and just scraped into eligibility on age. He is into his 3rd year so the judges may be expecting more from him than a first or second year player. Not saying that is valid thinking but understandable to have higher expectations. Anyway - still two chances left so hope he gets it.

Quite right DA, my bad. I misread the Media Release. Have edited my post.

Barrett made some interesting comments on FC last night on Hibberd: Was at the game with an EFC official on Sunday Went down to the rooms after the game Family really wants him to stay. The win vs GCS has encouraged EFC that they will keep him etc. TBH I am delighted with our back six and our depth: The stalwarts: Tom, Oscar, Nev, Sam, Jayden. (I laugh at calling them stalwarts given their average age is about 22!!) To come in: Melksham and Salem. Backups: Wagner, Bugg, M. Jones. Floaters: N. Jones, Vince. Even if Hunt and Salem move into the midfield that is a pretty exciting group to choose 6 each week. They are proving they can do the job and there is heaps of improvement to come. Our defence has gone ahead in leaps and bounds since Hibberd was first mooted. I think we have gone past needing him. And, it sounds like Hibberd is still emotionally committed EFC. Don't want a half-hearted player joining our team. I hope he stays at EFC. We can use our chips elsewhere!

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/melbourne-youngster-oscar-mcdonald-earns-round-21-rising-star-nomination/news-story/bd0a5a57457556909a611e69ded76a66 A delightful exchange between Oscar and Roos: As Melbourne coach Paul Roos began Monday’s review of the win against Port Adelaide, a distracted McDonald was sprung chatting with Bernie Vince. R: “...‘Oi, you right there, Oscar?’" O: “I’ve gone, ‘Oh, sorry, sorry, I’ll concentrate’ and he goes": R: ‘By the way, congratulations. You’re the rising star for this week’. O: “So I thought I was going to get in a bit of trouble and then he’s backed up with that.” “I thought that he was joking, and then after about five seconds he continued on with the review, doing all our trademark sort of stuff...“So I’ve thought, ‘Hang on. He’s not actually joking’. It was a surprise but I’ll take it. But what was so important about the Vince chat which simply couldn’t wait? “We were organising a game of golf for (Tuesday),” McDonald said.

Well done Oscar. Very exciting times. 4 RS nominees from the Dees. Huge endorsement of our recruiting and development.

Except we are loyal masochists and would stay till the end and suffer through it

First thought was 'finders, keepers'. It could have belonged to any passer by and not anyone at the school Then I read the early posts and felt really guilty. So if you feel really really bad, report it to the police (hold on to the money if that is allowed), and give them contact details so if someone reports it they can call you. After a reasonable wait eg 1 weeks revert to first thought: 'finders, keepers'.

10 Max Gawn (Melb) 7 Dom Tyson (Melb) 4 Nathan Jones (Melb) 4 Tom McDonald (Melb) 3 Bernie Vince (Melb) 1 Jared Polec (PA) 1 Ollie Wines (PA) Another perfect 10 for Max from the Coaches!! Split view on Nathan and Tom. Max must be a shoe in for the Bluey now.

I doubt Oscar would have developed so much if he played most of the year at Casey. With Frost, I believe the club had little choice - we had no available forwards. Also, it probably helped Frost's game as defender by playing as a forward. Not the first time it has happened for a defender to learn forward running patterns, body positioning etc. Again, Frost may not be as good as he now is without the forward experience. Its no longer realistic to single out defenders one way or the other as it is now a defensive unit not 6 individual players and synergy happens where the result is greater than sum of its parts. The back 6 had to grow and develop together and that has happened. We will never know but I believe it is most unlikely we would have got to this point if Oscar and Frost didn't have the experiences of this season.

Hey Wise, love your posts and your support of mfc but Jesse is almost 22 and has been in the system for 4 years Injuries aside that gives him 3 - 4 AFL preseasons. He should be getting close to his best work. He will be a star for us but his contemporaries are jumping ahead of him. That is neither good nor bad but it is worth being realistic as to where Jesse sits on the totem pole.

We are blessed with small forwards so no shame in not being able to break into our best 22. Love JKH's attitude and hate to lose him but if he can't break into best 22 he deserves to go where he can. Would say thanks for loving the Dees and enjoy your career.