Lucifers Hero

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/port-adelaide-v-melbourne-demons-keep-slim-finals-hopes-alive-with-win-over-power-20160813-gqrxv7.html How long have we waited to hear/see these words about our club: "After stunning Hawthorn the previous week, they were under pressure to at long last show some consistency, and to win again in a hostile environment proves they really deserve respect" R E S P E C T Can't be bought, must be earnt. And we are; more to do but no turning back now! We are on the verge of ending opposition supporter's pity...to be replaced by their envy!!

Good sport! In the votes this week!! I have bookmarked this thread and started looking for your new avatar...the day when you will need it is coming faster than I thought!

Yes, it seems like there is a mutiny of sorts. With Ballantyne considering a transfer to any club even the arch enemy, Eagles it sounds serious. Pavlich was probably the glue that held players together. Lose him and the cracks start to appear. Add Ross's (reported) iron fisted style and trouble brews. Lyons is not a 'rebuild' coach, nor is he a developer of people (eg assistant coaches). Many people think they will do a 'Phoenix' like the Eagles and Pies, instead they may be wallowing at the bottom of the ladder for a while. Ross is talking up their new $100m sporting facility and cashed up sponsors but they don't mean much if players don't play for their coach. Fyfe is pretty smart he may have just seen the writing on the wall!

There always seems to be confusion on rules eg Future Picks, Academy/Father Son picks, Draft Points etc so thought we could put it all in one place. To start the ball rolling here is an AFL article about Future Pick rules: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-08-12/future-pick-the-trading-rules-explained There is a bit of discussion in it about MFC position as we traded our 2017 pick last year. Because we had two first round picks last year we are not disadvantage re the 'having at least 2 first round picks in 4 years' rule. Quite different to clubs who traded their 2017 1st round pick for a player. In practice it may not make much difference but it is an important distinction. Edit: Mods - is it worth 'pinning' this thread so it upfront for posters to refer to? Saves other threads getting bogged down with the rules...on second thoughts that will happen anyway...

Increasingly I am sensing that after the Geelong game Roos will not be with us at all. After the bye he said he and PJ had chatted about what the future held and decided to focus on the rest of the year. Earlier this week he said he is no longer involved with list management meetings. Then in this article http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-08-11/roos-lauds-2016-as-a-success "Roos reiterated that he wouldn’t get involved in any post-season off-field trades, unless asked...“From my point-of-view, I’ve bowed out of all of those discussions...“I’m looking forward to the three weeks and [I’m] really excited about where the club’s heading and [I’m] excited about Goody (Simon Goodwin) taking over and the coaching group that’s been assembled...“I’m equally excited about riding off into the sunset.” Am happy that PJ may think the club is solid and mature enough to have no role for him at the club. But I am incredibly sad that in a few weeks he will be gone. I just hope someone finds a fitting way (in addition to the team winning) to farewell him at his last game in Geelong where opp teams get about 1% of the tickets so we supporters won't be able to do anything there or be part of it.

Posturing by Diodoro! Nonetheless the AFL, player managers and players want a 'fuss free' transfer of players. PR, AFL image, manager commissions, player contract $ will win the day. (BTW Paul Connors is manager for Hurley, Hibberd, Melksham and Ryder.) Let's face it no-one really cares about the destination club. From that article I reckon a deal has been done where the AFL and Connors have agreed to not go for the DFA/Grievance process but EFC had to agree to accept 'reasonable trades' and not drag it out like they did Ryder. The AFL does not want that stalemate again so will be pulling the strings in the background to get the trades done. EFC don't hold any key cards and they know it! I would like our club to play hardball with Hibberd but our round 2 pick (26 to 30) is probably a fair deal. Would rather give that up than one of our budding youngsters.

Weideman may not play - Roos views: "...Weideman would be monitored after copping a corkie on debut...He got that corkie in the first quarter, so he was a bit sore at training [on Wednesday], so we’ll need to make sure [he’s OK] because you don’t want to take any risks with young players.” Would be a shame if he didn't play but Pedo played well so could stay in and give Weideman the chance to be raring to go at the MCG vs Carlton the following week. Did anyone see how he got the corkie? Did Mitchell or one of the snipers put their knee into him? Mitchell has a habit of doing that!

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!