Lucifers Hero

Is anyone else worried about Viney's tackle on Steele? The mood the Tribunal is in they may try and cite him for a sling tackle - just to set an example. I have the defence just in case: The momentum of my falling to ground meant he fell with me and as he is 9cm taller than I am the momentum caused his head to hit the ground. If I was taller my shoulder would have prevented that. Will that do?

At Metricon: GCS 68pts vs EFC 25pts near end of 2nd qtr. 18 scoring shots to 5. Its going to be a long, ugly winter for the bombers. Can't wait to see their fans race to get off the bandwagon. Their rally to the G next week may just be one great big fizzer!!

Decent crowd today: 28,505 Bodes well!

Great game # 50 for JV7!! An amazing game from him. He has been so good for so long its hard to believe it is only 50 games. Champion.

Brave and Bold footy is the new motto! And a few more wins

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/give-us-a-chance-on-footballs-drug-problem-says-afl-players-association-ceo-paul-marsh-20160324-gnqwwo.html#ixzz43xPyxGdZ I found this comment by AFLPA's Paul Marsh quite staggering: "It's predictable that some people are going to be taking a stab at how many players may be testing positive. "It's not the main issue - the main issue is we're looking to effect long-term behavioural change within the playing group. "This new policy was agreed too late last year, it hasn't even taken affect yet. Give it a chance". No Mr Marsh, the issue is not a bunch of words written in a policy. The issue is what is happening to the lives of young men at AFL clubs. AFLPA should be investigating possible links between player drug use and the increasing reports of anxiety and depression of players. That is the current and long term issue. Developing strategies on how to help them is the current and long term issue. The issue is not the 'toothless tiger' new policy and wait and see what happens. This is head-in-the-sand stuff.

An excellent, objective article on Roos' 2 years at mfc. While other (not so smart) commentators are calling for Roos to stand aside Carro praises Roos for the achievements, many invisible to those outside the club. AFL Season 2016: Paul Roos' legacy should not be questioned On the call to hand the reins to Goodwin, Roos says: "I don't worry too much about it," said Roos. "If anything, I see it as a positive that we're on the right track. The initial commentary was 'Why doesn't he stay for longer?' Then it was 'This won't work.' Now I see it as a big tick for a lot of people here, for Josh (Mahoney), for Peter (Jackson), for Simon and for the longer-term platform we're building." Looking back, Roos initially pledged to hand over the reins to a promoted and ultimately ready-made coach. He aimed to build a list capable of playing finals and promised to lead the building of a culture of self-belief and stability along with setting a new behavioural standard. Roos would be the first to acknowledge the transformation has been a team effort but I'm sure if he had not been our coach we would not be anywhere near where we are today. Everyone walked taller the moment he stepped in the door. If (when) our club becomes a 'Destination Club' that reputation will be on the back of what Roos has built. Sure Roos has made some mistakes but on any measure I rate his 2 years (yes, only 2 years) a resounding success and as Carro says "...his legacy should not be questioned".

Not sure why ppl are think Oscar is replacement for Dunn...he could just as easily be in for H and no one here is complaining about that. Its too simplistic to say Oscar is a replacement for X or Y player! Regarding Dunn -the way the team plays has changed and just maybe he hasn't been able to change with it. He hasn't been the most disciplined of players on game day and tbh he is a C+ to B player at best. If he could add a 'rebounding' element to his game we wouldn't need to tie up Salem and Vince in the backline. Its up to him to secure his place in the team.

It seems the horses tonight have been scratched for 'veering off course'! Good excuse - since when are highly, highly trained horses not able to do a circuit of an oval. Suspect it is just a good excuse to scrap a rather silly idea that only attracted ridicule. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/horses-scratched-from-richmond-v-carlton-prematch-afl-entertainment-20160324-gnqmjp.html

Good point SaberFang. Now that you mention it I do recall the Delisted FA 'decision'. I have a feeling that was before the 12 were suspended and can't recall whether it was a ruling or just 'musings'. A bit like the musings that Port, StK, WB and Melb could have a top-up player and when other clubs ganged up and 'vehemently' objected the AFL stopped 'musing' and ruled against it! I do hope you are right and they are Delisted FA's. I fear the AFL could just change their mind with the 'changed circumstances'. The AFL will probably wait and see how many are going to leave before they give a definitive ruling. They seem to be bending over backwards to get EFC up and running for 'the good of the game'! I hope the other 17 clubs 'vehemently' object if the usual FA comp picks rules are applied and result in top draft picks falling into EFC's lap.

I can't get behind the HS paywall to link or quote from the article so have no context but this appears on their site, as the first line: 'PAUL Roos is confident Melbourne will keep its promise to Jesse Hogan to become an elite club, believing he will sign on despite speculation about a return to Western Australia'. Sounds positive! Just hope we deliver. Doubt Roos would stick his neck out if he wasn't quite confident Jesse will sign. However, I would like at the club to stop talking about it to the media at every interview. Of course they will ask but its time to play with a straight bat and tell them there is nothing new to say so stop asking about it! No point feeding the frenzy and keeping it in the news every other day. Let the kid play, enjoy the year and help us win a few more games. Let the media speculate but time for the club, players and coaches to shut the conversation down from their end. It certainly seems Jesse's manager is keeping mum we should do the same.

And Ess will get comp draft picks 1, 2, 3, 4 if Hooker, Heppell and Hurley go and they finish last. Then a whole heap of round 2 and 3 picks. Lots of high draft picks is exactly what they want because the 12 (except Heppell) probably won't be there when they vie for the flag again. And tragically the AFL will stand back and let them get the spoils of their illegal activities. There was talk of scrapping the FA comp picks this year but I think the AFL will put it off till Ess get their fill. I would hope that at some stage the other club Presidents rally and call 'foul' over this and not allow it to happen. Unlike Melb, Brisb, Carlton, StK. Ess will be last because of cheating not poor performance or poor playing list. They should not get rewarded for cheating. They have had more than enough rewards already.

Simple, cancel that session and invite some Demon players instead! EFC clean players are still no-names whereas we have: Watts, Brayshaw, Viney, Hogan, Salem - all young guys going places.

We may not need the money bags 13th! He has been dumpedd from the leadership team so he may not be in the GWS team that we beat for the 13thFlag (to honour you moniker)! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-22/scully-dumped-as-giants-add-new-blood-to-leadership-group?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News Wouldn't that be a sweet victory and great poetic justice...the team he shunted defeats the team he ran to in their first GF. Just hope he is in their team so we can rub his nose into the hallowed MCG turf! Jimmy's memory would be truly honoured in more ways than one!!

Great News: Jack will play in the Casey intra club game on Friday. http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/jack-trengove-is-finally-ready-to-play-his-first-game-in-two-years/news-story/30ce613a2da02abcf21069bf8f268292 Will be a special moment when he runs onto the ground!

Its a new revelation! Apparently, AFL Chairman, Fitzpatrick told it to Kochie about 3 months ago. The AFL was looking at putting a team in the NT instead of 2 in SA.

Looks doable! 30,029 on March 19, 2015 so today's figure of 33,146 is well up! 40,000 looks a good target! If nothing else we will beat our all time record of 36,937

A fascinating look behind the scenes as to how 'Kochie' turned Port Adelaid around: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/david-kochie-saved-afls-port-adelaide-from-death/news-story/92a57f9af603113e6696459f4eb956d8 For those who can't get behind the pay wall, key points are: -When Port Adelaide tragic David Koch agreed to become the chairman of his beloved footy club in 2012, he had no idea AFL chiefs had crisis contingency plans to kill off the 146-year-old institution. -In a bid to lift the club’s profile, broaden its skill set and attract the attention of an east-coast audience, Koch began reshaping the board by appointing a Melbourne-based director, Cos Cardone, chief executive of McGuire Media, the production firm operated by ­Collingwood president and AFL powerbroker Eddie McGuire. -Koch also wooed another new director by recruiting Amanda Vanstone, former senator for South Australia and ambassador to Italy, and a former member of the World Anti-Doping Agency. -With Cardone’s help, Koch set about engaging “Port Adelaide business expats” in Sydney and Melbourne to develop an “eastern advisory board” of “like-minded mad passionate supporters” with high-level connections, commercial skills and media savvy to endorse the club’s new credentials. -On the field, the boardroom revolution was mirrored by a clean-out of backroom staff capped off by three key hires: senior coach Ken Hinkley, director of coaching and strategy Alan Richardson, and former Liverpool Football Club high performance coach Darren Burgess. -“When we first started planning the Adelaide Oval, I said to everyone ‘Let’s look at the best marketing organisation in history: the church’,’’ Koch said...“When people go to church, they feel part of a congregation. They feel special. They have rituals; when the fans sing (INXS’) Never Tear Us Apart, it’s spine-­tingling stuff.” -After returning the club to profit, Koch is now determined to reduce a $6.675m debt partly by ramping up a “China strategy”. He expects to tap into one of the world’s richest economies for sponsorship deals and to take ­official AFL games, at least pre-season matches, to China. Haven't heard anything in recent times of MFC wanting to play in China - we have had bigger fish to fry in our own back yard, I guess. It may be a race between Port and MFC as to which club is more successful at tapping the sponsorship market from China and playing games in China. 'Kochie' seems to have some grand plans afoot and as a club they are a few years ahead of us. Maybe the market is big enough for two! Maybe the China games can be an annual Power vs Dees? After all they need two teams. However, I fear the presence of Eddie's media coy CEO on the Port Board will ensure Collingwood get first dibs. They always do...sigh...

Bit of an update in this article: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-supplements-scandal-hal-hunter-says-disrespectful-bombers-brushed-him-off-20160320-gnmp7w.html "Essendon has advised that it will take no further steps regarding the enforcement of the costs order and will continue to hold ongoing discussions with Hal and his family". I bet that is only because 4Corners is going to air with the story and the AFL fears the bad PR. I would imagine they tried very hard to have the story pulled and once that failed, last week handed over more documents and dropped the enforcement of costs. The AFL must gave got heavy with EFC and will continue to: "The AFL will ensure that the Essendon Football Club delivers on its responsibility to players, and will ensure that the medical protocol agreed to by the Players Association and the football club is fully delivered." All too little, too late. One wonders what Hunter and other efc players thought when they saw the court case last week that the supplements Dank had given NRL players had allegedly played a role in the spread of John Mannah's cancer from which he subsequently died. Kudos to Hal Hunter for staying the course. Must be tough to take on the might of City Hall - a modern day 'David and Goliath'.

Very clever! The cash injection will probably come from the same anonymous source that paid $750,000 of Hird's legal bills recently! They are all in an incestuous, self preserving cesspool...

It is surprising Rich let their players be seen in such an ad (even if photo shopped). The image screams 'weakness': white is the colour of surrender! It is worth noting that the Hawks request to wear their dark jumper vs Freo in last years prelim rather than the 'white' away strip was for a very good reason: psychological impact. Contrast that white, soft image to our new 2016 commercial: Dark. A touch Sinister. Strong. Purposeful - a 'don't mess with us' look! Wouldn't be surprised if Richmond are the big sliders of 2016.

Here is another outstanding article by Martin Flanagan, this time about Big Max. Big Max a true Demon believer There are too many wonderful parts to quote them all but these especially caught my eye: - He is just beginning his career in earnest, but what he does have in common with Stynes is a certain sinewy strength and unqualified commitment. Of his time at Melbourne, Big Max says: "First, I fell in love with the club." He was sidelined by a knee reconstruction for the whole of 2009. "I watched a lot. I became a supporter. Then I became a real big supporter." -"I just want to see this club be great again." And these made me laugh: -"As a sledger, I'm gaining confidence. I was poor to begin with." - He's had three coaches...Roos? "He brought excellence to the club." He was a great player at Fitzroy, I remark. "Yes," says Big Max. "He's told us." Clearly Stynes had a big impact on how Max feels about the mfc. ditto Jr Mac as his first captain. Also Interesting to read the transformation in Nat Jones - The captaincy has sat well with him - he is set to go to new heights this year. Think he would be very proud to captain his young band of merry men. Great read.

It is so Melbourne! Every major icon of this city features: Trams, Fed Sq, Flinders St Station, Alleys, City skyline, MCG. All strongly, fronted by a Red and Blue jumper!! We want to identify with Melbourne the City. This ad does it! Thumbs up from me!

The surprise for me was this: 'The classy wingman will be a great addition to the side next season, but the Melbourne faithful will have to be patient before watching Melksham strut his stuff on the MCG. A new, objective take on what Melksham brings to the team.

Why do people assume that without NT, mfc would play two more (total) games at the G? Yes, two more 'Home' games but lose two 'Away' games at the G. Net gain: zip! I heard Peter Jackson discussing NT yesterday. I'm paraphrasing but the equation is like this: Sell 2 games to NT and members get two offset games at the G OR probably play more games at Etihad (especially once the AFL buys it and will be looking for more games to play there. Low crowd Vic games would be the targets). For him right now it was important to get the club into good commercial shape and said he was pretty sure which members would prefer (NT vs Etihad) as we sure don't like going to Etihad! PJ didn't say this but the AFL could also fixture our 'Away' MCG games to Etihad. Notice how interstate finalists want more games at the G. Notice how Carlton and Essendon are asking (and getting) more games at the G. The only way we will get more games at the G and better fixtures (venues, teams, time slots etc) is if more people come to our games. The only way we have some bargaining power with the AFL on these is if we are stronger financially, with memberships and crowds. So, if I read the tea leaves correctly PJ is laying the financial foundation for MFC to get back some bargaining power with the AFL. At the moment we are still a bit like 'Oliver Twist' - not quite beggar status but certainly with cap-in-hand mode. So careful what we wish for...