Lucifers Hero

Is that good?

Very thoughtful of our Cheer Squad. The non-player side of our banner today.

We didn't get the chocolates but a great team effort today. Our much maligned youngsters in defence were fantastic! Hawks kicked 11.16.82. The 16 behinds were often a result of pressure by our defenders on the ball carrier or rushed behinds. Compare to Hawks' 2015 score: Hawk 24.15.155. For those wanting Dunn and Grimes back, have another look at those scores. Which defence leaked like a sieve? And, have a look at both replays. The kids gave it their all and did a mammoth job on far more experienced opponents. I think Roos was firmly in control of the game plan today!! Old fashioned defence and no Hawks player got out the back today! Can't wait for the return match on Sat Aug 6!

VFL form means zip if it is not playing the way the coaches want!! Dunn has known for at least 6 months what coaches want and for some reason he isn't or can't do it.

If anything it may spur him to greater heights to honour his ancestral namesake...Bernie may need to shut him down early...

I had a look at the Club's Annual 'Heartbeat' booklet and for Dunn, Roos said: "He showed last year - and what we're looking for again - is consistency. He's showed he can play some really good footy as he did against Tom Hawkings. It's really now about him grasping what we want him to do with regards the game plan and making simple decisions. When he does that, he's a very good player. Can Roos be any clearer on what Dunn has to do to get a game!? So while his form may look good in the VFL, the big questions are: - Is he consistent (in the AFL games he has played this year)? - Does he grasp the game plan? - Is he making the simple decsions? - Can he play 'good footy' when there is no 'power forward', like Hawkins, to match up against? Obviously the coaches think 'No' to all or most of those questions. What more do people want to know? Edit: The booklet was issued during the pre season, so Dunn has known for a long time what he needs to do.

I bought a ticket just so I can see Jack run onto the MCG again. Hope I'm not sitting amongst a trillion Hawks supporters!

Your question had me thinking as to which teams the pre finals Bye will help the most. Traditionally a win by the top 4 teams in the first week of finals gives them a week off (a Bye) before the Prelim. But now, for them the sequence to the GF is: pre finals Bye, 1st final Win, Bye, Prelim Win, Grand Final. I wonder how many coaches actually want 2 byes in 3 weeks? Hardly ideal preparation for the GF. The pre finals Bye may actually help other teams more. The extra Bye looked like another knee- jerk reaction by the AFL. The Prelim games will be interesting to see which team is actually 'fresher' with better 'touch'. The one with 2 Byes or the one with one Bye.

Loathe North. Reluctantly, the Tigers.

Did we read the same article, od Like you, I have a strong sense of dejavu to the Bailey years when it was: play the kids and play freewheeling, attacking football and bug.er defence. So a fair amount of trepidation in my support of current coaches but I see the shape of our future defence. Nonetheless, if Salem, H and Matt Jones were fit I doubt we would have so many kids on the ground. Hold my breath and trust!

This year the week after rnd 23 is a bye so the AFL may 'float' round 23 across Fri to Mon, or even later into the week (so the AFL can milk the bye). The higher up the ladder Geelong finish the earlier they will play as the top finishing teams get the longest break. I suspect if the AFL float it over a week rather than just the weekend they will announce it sooner rather than later so people can make travel/annual leave arrangements. Even if not announced you may have a good idea by mid/late July where Geelong will finish...but please allow for the fact we might beat them pushing them further down the finals ladder!

How is this encouragement from Dan Menzel. Daniel Menzel Verified account ‏@DanielMenzel10 Daniel Menzel Retweeted Jack Trengove Your turn mate! So wrapped to see you back this week @jtren9 - enjoy it, you deserve this, hard work pays off! Daniel Menzel added, Jack Trengove @jtren9 Couldn't be more pumped for @DanielMenzel10 making his return tonight. Resilience. Patience. Desire. Anything is possible with positivity Love those words from Jack to DM. Resilience. Patience. Desire. Anything is possible with positivity. Hope Hawks supporters tomorrow, get what is going on and stand and cheer Jack when he runs onto the ground, gets his first touch etc.

I would bet my bottom dollar that the coaches have let Dunn know exactly "what's required from him to get back". To my mind Dunn (and Grimes) are our two defenders that haven't really shown improvement in their game. I think of our 'established' defenders and their games: Matt Jones must be doing some really, really, good things to be selected for every game this year ('til injured). Jetta has added new strings to his bow: a great 'side step' and ability to attack. Tom Mc has shown AA form at times. Garland is getting the hang of attacking football. H is playing the attacking back role required by the game plan. Dunn's (and Grimes') improvement seem to have stagnated relative to the rest of the defenders. Edit: Thinking a little more about this, M Jones and Jetta are two of Roos's real success stories. Two players of apparent limited ability and deemed NQR by observers (before Roos) have become solid, reliable, first pick defenders. As much a credit to them as it is Roos.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-06-03/defence-remains-a-work-in-progress If anyone is still asking why OMc, Hunt and Wagner are getting games ahead of Dunn and Grimes here is the answer: Rawlings said: "...he had been pleased with the development of youngsters Jayden Hunt, Josh Wagner and Oscar McDonald...“They’ve earned their positions as well, and with young players you’re going to get some moments in games - and even games - which aren’t to the standard, but we’d like to see what they can do, rather than what they can’t do... “There are a lot of positives in what they are doing at the moment and I think the future at the footy club, in relation to the three young players, who have integrated into our backline this year has been really positive for the future.” I don't think there is going to be any club explanation on why Dunn and Grimes aren't being selected. The above extract tells anyone who wants to really read and understand it, the explanation. Posters may disagree with Rawlings comments or may be baffled by selections but there is no turning back to the 'old school' defenders who have not been able to adapt, for whatever reason, to the coaches requirements.

To me, our list management of recent years looks like this: 2014 Roos' first year - everyone gets a fair go to show their wares, in particular their attitudes, behaviours and willingness to learn and follow coaches instructions. Those that clearly faulted on these went first. 2015 Goodwin's (and McCartney's) arrive - Now time for players (especially senior) to buy into coaches requirements. Those that clearly faulted on these went. Dunn (and Grimes) were VC and LG in 2015. If they showed the leadership required they would still be there. So I suspect it is not what they have done wrong but that they failed to do what was required. They might be loyal, great characters for the club but they need to play the right football the right way. Roos clearly stated to all and sundry that he was all about teaching defence first. It seems no coincidence that, of the more senior players, it was key defenders (Frawley, Dunn, Grimes, Howe etc) that Roos traded or dropped. Those that bought in to the new regime are still in best 22 when fit: Tom McD, Jettta, M. Jones - not necessarily the most talented but willing to do what coaches require and get the best out of themselves. Hard to see Dunn (and Grimes) getting back into the team (altho I would like to see Grimes play his 100th game).

Happened to stumble on the first page of this thread and saw this pic: He has come so far. Inspirational! Well done, young man. Would someone like to change the title of this thread saying Jack is back, please!

He will, the kid has only played 6 games! He is a defender - if he stops the opp with tackles like that, he is doing his job, he doesn't need to rack up stats!!

If we beat the Hawkes or even play as we did vs North in rnd 3, there will be a massive crowd at the QB game anyway. For Jack any AFL game will be like winning the lottery.' That the game is on the MCG will be a bonus. I'm with Pro Dee - pick the best team. If Trenners is ready and there is a role, play him.

If the release is this one http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-06-01/trio-set-to-return-this-weekend it was about players returning from injury. Last year Pedersen seemed to be preferred over Dawes until he was out for the season, injured. I don't think we can play both in the side now that we have Petracca and Watts in the forward line so it is either Pedersen or Dawes. Like you I am a fan of Pedersen and prefer him to Dawes. However, Dawes will be allowed games as he is OOC and needs to show if he deserves another. While DL's prefer we pick the best team it is likely the club will select some of the team on what I call 'List Management' reasons eg games into kids, OOC players getting a run, testing players in different positions, player development etc. So Dawes will get a run ahead of Pedersen at some stage. However, to increase our chances of winning more games, we have reached the stage where we must select the best team to win; 'List Management' selections can wait till later in the year! So hopefully, Pedersen plays before Dawes. Btw, you may like to change the spelling of Pedersen's name in the thread title.

This is Misson's injury report this week. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-06-01/trio-set-to-return-this-weekend JKH appears to be available for VFL this week. Great to see him playing again and hope he has a solid injury free run to show his wares again. H is listed as 'indefinite'. Even allowing for the necessary caution it seems really serious. Can anyone remember the incident when the injury happened. A terrible injury to deal with so will be good just to see him on the foot field again. Gus is tracking well and may be back before the bye but I would imagine it will be in the VFL.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/video-jayden-hunt-completes-chase-down-tackle-on-port-adelaides-karl-amon/news-story/ac8930838f600c92338f43988e4bf79f A great video of Jayden running down Amon. He gives him at least 4mt head start and lays a perfect tackle to drag him down. Look forward to seeing those after burners in a lot more games over the next few years.

Integrity? Did I mention that? The timeslots I was referring were not TV times it was the prime 2.10 start on a Sat afternoon (and Saturday afternoons in general) which are highly attractive to football followers thus helping increase EFC membership and gate takings. Also, have a look at the MCG games, their Home games there, who they play and at what time and you will see it undoubtedly helps their revenue via gate takings. All these give Ess and extra leg up in my view. Venue, time and opponents are all in AFL control.

...plus Picket

rjay, someone read your op!! Here is an article about a new system the AFL is said to be considering. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/fremantle-dockers/brad-hardie-what-if-all-the-losses-dont-give-the-dockers-the-no1-draft-pick-20160531-gp7uij.html Can't see the AFL changing the system for this year (if for no other reason they want Ess in the finals next year and then stay there). I quite like the system which averages a team's ladder position over 3 years. Would certainly fix the tanking problem and the Eagles, Pies and now Dockers 'one year bottom out' then bounce back to play in finals the next year.

Yes he is a Dees supporter. 'Adam Woolcock is a Melbourne sport writer. He is a Melbourne Demons obsessive and operates demonwiki.org ' He probably posts on DL. However, the Guardian article has been edited today (note it was published yesterday). The original article had a bit of emotive language and hyperbole. He crossed the line with this about the Viney/Ebert incident: ‘Only on Monday, one was found guilty of murder. No, the scale is not nearly the same, and yes, the rules are different on the football ground. But they are not suspended altogether. By ever so few degrees, the sight of one footballer belting another in the head legitimises the act more broadly’. For a 'journalist' to draw a comparison with murder (I assume he means where a 'king hit' was involved) was I thought, appalling. Fortunately, his editors saw the light and have removed that very offensive paragraph in today's version.