Lucifers Hero

Roos on our better players yesterday: “I take joy because I’ve seen how much he (Watts) has got bashed in the three years I’ve been here,” Roos said of Melbourne’s much-maligned 2008 No.1 draft pick...I’m loving watching him play..." "...Jeff Garlett (four goals) had returned from a stint in the reserves to play a “cracking game” yesterday..." “He (Hunt) was just exceptional in the contest, exceptional getting across the ground, helping his teammates, creating scoring opportunities, kicked a goal himself,” Roos said. That sort of public praise must do wonders for their confidence. Last week Watts credited Roos with 'saving his career'. Jack is repaying the faith!

Suggesting they might go out was not because they had 'bad' games. It was in the context of the first sentence in the post: having 'fresh' players for the upcoming short breaks and long i/state trips and to rotate in Brayshaw and/or Oliver during that 3 weeks especially as Casey have a bye next week.

Rightly or wrongly, we need to show "measurable" improvement this year and a key measure will be more wins eg 8 to 10. So I think the club will wait till we have a few more wins before players like Weideman or Hullet get a 'taste of AFL'. We played Oscar, Hunt in the last few games of 2015 so would expect the same apply to this year's newbies (and maybe Grimes).

In the next 3 weeks we have trips to NT and WA both after 6 day breaks so need to pick 'fresh' players (which we didn't do for the Alice game under similar circumstances). In: Wagner (if fit will be fresh), Trengove (who didn't play yesterday should be fresh), Brayshaw, Oliver (statistics aside, the only 2 that looked sharp at Casey yesterday). Out: Vand (still looks troubled by injury), Dawes (must go), and 2 of Harmes/Kennedy/Kent. Unfortunately, it may be M Jones who makes way. Proviso: Casey have another bye next week which may affect selections as to who needs continuity eg we may see Lumumba in to get match fitness (yes I know it should happen at Casey but circumstances may not always allow that. Not saying H will get selected, just saying the Casey bye may affect selections).

Good news: Win, Loose or Draw our position on the ladder won't change! But how good would a win be to give us a win and % buffer on the other teams on 6/8!

I'm all for Jack getting a game and see an end to the weekly charade with his (non)selection. But all those teams are below us on the ladder so they are not a resounding endorsement.

Coaches talking with Jack after training today. Picture says it all - no one looks happy. Jack looks shattered. Feel for him.

Sam Newman may be out of a job. Fairfax are reporting that Nissan will pull the pin on The Footy Show at end of season. Sam has snookered himself and the show and they will need a new major sponsor. And, it seems no one is watching anymore! What a surprise, not!

Yes, wonderful news! Shows how loyal he is as he must have had other offers. Like this comment from Nev: “My children bleed red and blue as well so I don’t think they would let me leave if I wanted to.” Would have liked a longer term: 3 years, maybe 4 to push out the date when he becomes an FA again. Edit: A side bonus is that by signing up it takes him past the 100 games for Father/Son.

Last time Bernie did a glorious job of roughing up Dangerfield and taking him out of the game while having a cracking, attacking game himself. This time Sloane is the dangerman. Bernie or Bugg to take him out for us to have a chance! Crows forward 6 look downright scary! Our on-ballers need to work super hard defensively to stop the ball getting into Crows forward half - starve them of opportunities or we will be toast!

Richmond are fools for taking anything his manager says seriously. His manager, Peter Bulcher has form for devious behaviour: - was banned for 12 months for the Kurt Tippett contract fiasco - organised Tippett's reneging on the deal to go to GCS. - 'masterminded' the Scully defection. - organised Treloar's surgery unbeknown to his contracted club - Bulcher was investigated but cleared. Each involved massive lying and 'cloak and dagger' work by Bulcher. Richmond should have known better than believe anything this guy says. They only have themselves to blame!!

I'm hoping that Jack gets a few more games, not just for nostalgia reasons and to have his name on the great 31 locker. Since Neitz retired we have a terrible record of humiliating departures of club captains. -Junior was effectively 'sacked without warning'. -Brad Green was unceremoniously dumped as captain. -With Grimes we have the opportunity to show respect and dignity towards our former Captain. It would be a travesty of justice to just let him walk out the door with a full season in the reserves. Our last game at the MCG is rnd 22 vs Carlton. He should play that game, hopefully his 100th and be carried off the ground by his long suffering teammates.

Here is Jason Taylor's take http://www.sen.com.au/news/afl/06-16/dees-recruiter-talks-mid-year-trading-draft#UyzRIZugwYlwpHIy.97 “I’d be happy to go along with guidelines the AFL put in place with anything but the answer to that in short would be no,” said Taylor on SEN radio. I fear the AFL is playing this as a carrot to get the AFLPA over the line on the CBA , instead of agreeing to a fixed % of revenue. I don't think the AFL should use key features of the game as bargaining chips with AFLPA. Simply, I don't like the mid-season trade because it is more watering down of the game we know and love that was once called 'aussie rules'.

They want their cake and eat it, Saber! They have an Academy gun called Jack Bowes who will go very high in the draft 1 or 2 it seems. If they keep 3 and 9 they have to use those 'draft points' to get him once another club bids for him. But with pick 1 they can take the best player (cynical me thinks not the one EFC wants) and then use 'draft points' from their stockpiled high round 2 picks (from 2015 - Rich, Freo, Port and their own 2016 rnd 2 pick) for Jack Bowes and their other Academy players. So they end up with two of top 3 players!!! Of course EFC would be delighted to have 3 and 9!! Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-season-2016-gold-coast-suns-bombers-in-draft-intrigue-20160624-gpqu4v.html Cynical me says there is a high risk of draft tampering here.

Can't see North falling out of the 8 but won't make top 4. Wishing them to go out in the first final

I agree dc and if his preferred club we hold the upper hand. But if true that GCS want a top 10 pick in 2016, I was interested how AdamPleb would get one.

Without checking every game, Jack has found himself playing at Casey nearly every week (even tho named on the extended bench or the 'final' 25) and has not often made it to be the game day emergency so if someone falls ill he does not get the spot. I just think the clubs approach is wearing thin.

If he goes, GCS are said to want a top 10 pick. We can trade one in for 2016. AF, which player(s) and to who would you trade to get it? Based on current ladder positions the 2016 picks are: 1. EFC. 2 Lions. 3 GCS. 4. Freo. 5. GWS (Coll 2015 pick). 6. Carl. 7. StK. 8. Rich. 9. GCS (Melb 2015 pick). 10. Port Our 2017 1st rnd pick (hopefully) will not be top 10 pick and the more we improve the less attractive to GCS. On a related note, GCS are said to want 2016 pick 1 and are prepared to trade their pick 3 plus 9 (from mfc in 2015) for it. May well be very attractive to Ess or Lions, especially if they have quiet discussions as to who will go at pick 1 and 3...

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-06-28/former-captain-grimes-may-look-elsewhere-for-opportunities?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News However, McConville said that although he remained hopeful the door could open anytime soon he was aware his client was in a tough situation..."Obviously, I'm concerned Jack hasn't played all year and has been fit and healthy," McConville said..."I am concerned that his future at Melbourne looks limited." I am feeling uncomfortable at Jack's predicament. Too many times named in the squad only to find himself playing at Casey. It must be a see-saw of emotions for him each week. That he still goes out there and is among the best at Casey speaks volumes about his character. I am at the stage that unless the club has a genuine intent to play him they should leave him out of the squad. To do otherwise is looking cruel.

How embarrassing!! Its been a long week!! Too late to delete my post, eh? Will leave it to give everyone a good laugh The conclusion still stands tho' - that Sydney is unlikely to pay Tom 'overs' and if he leaves it will probably be for less than what MFC thinks he is worth.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-06-28/tom-rocklff-contract-negotiations-with-brisbane-lions-stall?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News 'It's believed (Rockcliff)...wants a five-year deal worth about $4 million'. Rockcliff is B&F winner, Captain, AA, face of the club, finished 5th in 2013 Brownlow and the Lions have baulked at $500k p.a! It is good insight into a players approx 'worth'. MFC will not pay 'overs' and I have no idea what Tom Mc wants but can't see Sydney paying 'overs' either. If Tom wants to go to a 'better' or 'successful' team he will be in the same boat as Frawley, Howe (Sylvia?) and go for 'unders' or stay at MFC for what we determine he is 'worth'...sneaky suspicion it is well under what Rockliff is asking for!

Tom Mitchell has put contract talks with Sydney on hold after getting very close to a deal. Swap him for our Tom Mc?

The pink jumper was in support of Cancer Council Tasmania...more personal to them this year because of Roughy. Really no different to when we wear pink on our jumper which looks only marginally better. Its the cause that counts!

I know. According to Jack, Bernie Vince has one hence my words like 'Bernie's mountain dog' and they showed a pic of Jack with the dog. I googled Bernese Mountain Dog to get the pic in my post. But I can see how my post could be read as you have.

Whether the team changes depends on how the club sees the two, 6 day breaks and interstate travel in the next 4 weeks. We play Adel, Freo (6 days, in Darwin), StK and WCE (6 days, in Perth). Lots of travel there! So I would expect Gus, Oliver, Harmes, Stretch, ANB and perhaps Hunt and Oscar to be rotated for those games. Would expect Garland to get some of the 4 games. Think Garlett will come in soon and stay in.