Lucifers Hero

Gold!! Very clever play on words S!

Basically agree with the comments. One question though - why was our 2015 win vs Geelong an anomaly but Carlton's win has 'done wonders for their development, for their ability to evolve that "how to win" mentality'. My recollection of our Geelong win was that Max arrived and has never looked back. It was also the day when the seeds of belief were sown with our players. The seeds are growing slowly but that win was monumental for us moving forward, imo. Not sure how Carlton can be praised but our identical achievement dismissed.

The top 8 is now set and top 4 is nearly set: Geel, Syd, North, Hawks (GWS could replace North as they will play 2 of top 8 while North will play 6 of top 8). Hawks, Geel and Syd have won 9 of the last 11 Premierships! And sadly, trade, draft and FA rules keep them entrenched at or near the top. While I dream of a Dees Premiership I struggle to see how a team is going to break the stranglehold they have. They seem to be able to constantly reinvent themselves. I truly don't know what the answer is. It is so disappointing to see the same teams up there again. And, its getting boring!

Bump. A rule interpretation which has had some attention on DL: When is a handball a throw? Tim Lane has outed that elephant in the room in this article on the impact of rule changes http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tim-lane-modern-tackling-and-handballing-pose-questions-for-afl-rule-makers-20160618-gpmfwv.html Quote: "In the search for speed and flexibility, coaches and players have changed the nature of handball to an extent that the line between what's legal and what's not has again become blurred...{and} those responsible for the game's management have acquiesced". I suspect we would all agree with his conclusion: 'The rule-makers, if they are serious, have two options: they can crack down on illegal handball or change the rules and permit the throw.' What is frustrating is that the AFL waits until a topic gets a decent amount of public protest before they do anything. Undoubtedly, if umpires were told to crack down (pay free kicks) on throws another blight on our game would get the flick!

Its hard to imagine an umpire actually saying that. More likely: Lindsay won't get a free kick because he ducked (...meaning in this instance). Scott said they won't lodge a complaint! If he has a legitimate case then take it to the AFL...don't just bleat on TV about it, stirring up a frenzy and more headlines!!

It was yesterday that Daisy said she would consider hanging up her boots if she couldn't play for the Dees. Gritty lady!! Later on Gil says he would be very surprised if she didn't get to play for the Dees. Not sure if 'nominated' marquee player means AFL has to approve...maybe that is why Daisy came out and said she only wanted to play for the Dees...a warning shot across Gil's bow, so to speak. Given the Ch 7 pre-game banter it seems a foregone conclusion she will be playing as a Demon.

Still the case. Daisy is one of our two nominated marquee players.

Daisy is guest-hosting the pre-game Ch 7 telelcast. Hamish announced she would be wearing #31. To which Daisy replied (grinning) while nothing is cast in stone she thought she would be playing for the Dees and... She is amazing. Slid straight into the role of guest-host as if she has been on prime time TV all her life. She is a terrific ambassador for our club, all gender considerations aside.

Daisy will wear #31 for the Demons!

Demons: Unchanged. Swans: four changes. Kurt Tippett (hamstring), Harry Marsh (hamstring) and Jeremy Laidler (knee) to injury while Harry Cunningham has been omitted. So after several pages of banter about tall coming in for a short player, Cunningham and Laidler are both out! While there will be rain the SCG may not be a cow paddock. Grounds drain pretty well these days and the wind will dry the surface off a little. Will definitely play damp but not necessarily the Casey-like bogs that some seem to think. Just hope we learnt from the Hawks game that the ball doesn't bounce and to play off the ground! I reckon there might just be an upset!

An aspect of the game that seems to have escaped DL attention is that Nat Jones plays against little bro Zac for the first time ever http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-06-17/big-brother-nath-ready-for-little-bro-zak He is looking forward to it: “We’re both really competitive, and our Mum and Dad will be up there watching, but we haven’t spoken much about footy this week on the phone. I think we’re both looking forward to it – and hopefully I’ll get one up on him...The main thing is that we get the job done, so I’ve got all of the bragging rights" Some nice bro love: “I’ve actually already warned him [about wrestling me],” he said...“He’s staying at my house for four days, so if he engages in any kind of wrestle and I get fined out of it, he’ll be paying for it. Should be fun to watch their contests!

Agreed. Also, I thought Hunt was very good in damp conditions vs Hawks. He thru himself at everything and kept the ball on the ground. That doesn't count in his stats as he attacked the ball not (tackled) a player. Think he knows how to play on a damp surface. Keep him in. Talking of the Hawks game, hope our guys remember to not bounce the ball - it doesn't bounce on damp surface! The poor bounce Hogan got in the goal square while comical would have been tragic had Kent (I think) not come along and kicked it through.

Understood Rusty. Wanted to mention JV's first class performance somewhere on DL and this thread title looked a good place. Just remembered, JV also mentioned JKH...said he had a bad run of luck with injuries but when fit would be in best 22. Good vote of confidence for JKH.

For once I agree with Barrett's 'Sliding Doors': Essendon IF...you represent the Bombers and you start bemoaning the actions of another club for acting "outside the laws of the game" by having a chat with one of your drug-banned players ... ...THEN we have to remind you: for the foreseeable future you have fully relinquished any right to question the morals and ethics of others.

Sounds like Gil is not prepared to take Daisy on! He just said: "while it is not her decision, I would be very surprised if she doesn't play for Melbourne! For once the AFL's worry about 'brand damage' has worked in our favour. A public stand-off would have been interesting...I reckon she could have stared Gil down if he had taken her on!! Now they need to back this up with fixturing the Bulldogs and Demons for the Inaugural Opening Game.

As JV said it, I groaned for that reason. I guess if that is what the club thinks is best and it keeps Jesse happy so be it

Jack Viney on the Mangarook Footy Show tonight. Very composed. Captain worthy performance! He said: - Hogan loves playing with Dawes - His pre season scuffle with TMc was because he thought Tommy was being a bit soft...could have been joking - On the hunt for a puppy...like Bernie's mountain dog-----> Cute, eh? - Agreed with the singing of Wagner's praises. - They accept making a few mistakes while learning and practice of 'our way of playing'. - Roos pushed defence for 2 years and once we got that sorted we started an attacking game style in this pre-season That is all I can remember...

Correct! It seems that Coll and Carl have already filed their claim to play the Inaugural Opening Game as a special fixture! http://www.theage.com.au/sport/old-rivals-carlton-and-collingwood-want-to-open-womens-season-at-the-mcg-20160615-gpjx6d.html (Of course, then keep it as the Opening Round Blockbuster, forever more). A month ago Eddie was proposing a Coll vs Rich opening blockbuster but the latter missed out on a licence. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmond-to-play-collingwood-on-australia-day-to-launch-womens-league-20160429-goicvp.html Eddie says: Traditional rivals (apparently)! Big Collingwood anniversary year, (apparently)! Two Big clubs, Big crowds, (apparently)! Last time I looked Eddie's 75,000 members stopped going to their AFL games, even home, daylight games at the G! And Carl have an exceptionally low rate of female members, about 30% well below the goal of 50%. Not really a convincing case for the Inaugural Opening Round game!! Lets hope you are right and PJ and Gordon get in Gil's ear to reward MFC and WBFC for the vision and years of investment. And just for once for the AFL do the right thing!

How EFC can exploit salary cap http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/06/16/how-essendon-can-exploit-salary-cap-constraints-in-2017-2020/ In summary it says pay higher compensation (not in sal cap) and lower contracts (in sal cap). The AFL said they wouldn't allow that...but for the sake of PR they will likely turn a blind eye. The only losers? Any clubs hoping to poach Essendon players. (And Paul Little's bank account, apparently...) Money talks! And knowing where the skeletons are buried! EFC has gone from the black sheep in recent years to the 'teflon coated favourite son'!! Sickening!

That is why 'loyal' was in quotation marks, guys.

That is old, old, news dd36...AFL a bit slow on the uptake See the 'Roos on SEN Fri June 10' thread for the same info and more context. But with the high likelihood of Hurley signing with EFC, and if as some have reported, he and Hibberd go or stay as a package, Hibberd could also be staying at EFC. We move on. I'm sure MFC have a backup plan.

Hate to be bearer of disappointing news. Channel 7 is reporting that Hurley has started training with the core banned players, (which he has refrained from up til now). A significant development suggesting he will re-sign with EFC. If he and Hibberd are a 'package' and will stay together or go together then we could almost cross him off the list as well. If true good on them for being 'loyal'. We all move on. I am sure mfc will strengthen our defence with an experienced player. Full confidence!

...and we already have about 8-10 of those. Mahoney said during last year's draft period that we had 6-8 potential A - graders and a couple of potential elite on our list. We can always do with more but your assessment is spot on imho.

Good pick up RN. On that basis we have a good case for better fixturing: larger Home game opps, fan friendly time slots, more MCG games. Maybe even a Fri night game. All those things are big for attracting sponsors! The argument against that better fixturing has been we don't have a large membership/enough wins. That may be true but at least we consistently turn up to our games!!.

The same place it comes from for auskick, GWS and GCS etc. AFL has said it is reserving some of the TV rights billions for game development. If they want to attract women to the game starting at $10,000 and maxing at $25,000 won't be much of a carrot for the years of work a player needs to put in. So there is a bit of a catch 22 in having to prove they can 'make money' before increasing salaries. If that was the criteria some AFL clubs wouldn't exist. Edit: just saw your post bb - Diamonds and HockeyRoos don't have a multi billion dollar Franchisor aka AFL