Lucifers Hero

Thanks 'fork' Great advice ‘McQ’…a very worthy read. I can’t imagine how tough times were for working folk during the war years but this: “During the 1916 season, the club (Collingwood) disguised gifts to players and committeemen as presents to soldiers. But Collingwood was not alone. Carlton chose to pay off debt rather than contribute to the (war) Fund” is astounding! The article puts into a new perspective for me, the feats of our club heroes honoured by our B&F awards. I felt very, very proud of my football club reading that article.

What a cheek! Quote: 'However, the Magpies opposed the new fixture, describing the Anzac Day calendar as already over-subscribed . Club president Eddie McGuire likened the April 24 night game at the MCG to "having Christmas twice." ' On the whole Eddie is good for football but he sure is galling at times!! Glad the AFL backed the Dees and Tiges to deliver on the showcase game. Last year's Anzac Eve game was a highlight of the season: Great occassion, moving ceremony and we won.

Lets hope we get a bye after the Darwin game so we have time to freshen up because usually the bye is before Darwin...crazy stuff!

Browsing the club website I noticed membership to date is 19,026. Thought you might like some approximate comparisons so I have created this table from several sources. Past: Date/Members Final # Mbrs Year 2 Dec 2010 - 17,541 36,937 2011 2 Dec 2011 - 18,747 35,428 2012 3 Dec 2012 - 18,217 30,372 2013 11 Dec 2013 - 22,105 35,911 2014 10 Nov 2014 -19,124 35,953 2015 We are ahead of last years Nov 10 figure by 2 weeks. Our best year was 2011 with 36,937! 2015 could have been a lot better and hopefully, the fixture early next year is a bit kinder - playing Freo, Swans and Hawks in consecutive weeks was a membership killer. If we have to play all of them in the first half hopefully they are scattered so we can sneak in a few wins between them and keep supporters optimistic and enthusiastic. PJ's goal of 50,000 for 2017 isn't looking too flash. Lets hope we get 40,000+ for 2016. Of course, winning a few games early will work wonders!! Get the supporters back to the 'G'. Imagine the crowd if Trengove, Petracca and Hogan all line up for Rnd 1. Imagine the roar! Go Dees 2016!!!

...or he is starting an investment portfolio...well he has to spend the squillions we will pay him for the next 10 years, on something!

I'm not too worried about trading next year's 1st rnd pick. The club would know exactly who will be in the top 20. So for mine, it was more than a bargaining chip. It was a very considered decision knowing what is needed and who will be available. eg If we could fulfill our need this year why wait till next year, type thinking. Of course we can always trade up into rnd 1 as we so as astutely did this year. eg we may lose 1 or two FA's which gives 2nd/3rd rnd comp picks...exactly what academy, F/S clubs want. Effectivey, 2 FA's + another pick become a 1st rnd pick...probably equal to where we finish on the ladder in 2016. Even if FA comp picks are scrapped we can still trade pics for a 1st rnd but losing FA's eg Grimes, Spencer will make it easier. All teams will copy-cat our innovative 'trade up pick' strategy next year but that we have good rapport with GWS and GCS bodes well for us to do it again. .

One of the draft reports in the Weideman thread mentioned he had missed most of the season with a stress fracture in his foot. Does anyone know if he played many games after he recovered to see how his foot fared in match situations? Given how foot problems are notoriously difficult to fully recover from (Clark, Trengove, S. Frost) he could be too high a risk to take early in the draft.

Shaun Smith was just interviewed on SEN and his comments about Joel were: - Played under 16's football; - Dropped footy to focus on VCE and basketball; - In the Dees' sights for nearly a year; - Dees liked his athleticism; - Last year he did some trials and kicking with the Dees; - Being son of a former player appealed; - MFC left it up to Joel to think about it for a year; - with Jeremy Howe going, it provided an opportunity for someone like Joel ... he alluded to maybe taking high marks like Howe; - Joel is 6'3" and Shaun sees him as a forward, has endurance and a tank. Sounds very good ... I'm dreaming that he could be the forward buddy we are looking for Jesse. Long way to go but he will be another Son of ... to enjoy watching in red and blue!

Josh Mahoney's summary: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-10-22/we-achieved-trade-targets-mahoney Interesting that he says we could have 8-10 potential A-graders after this draft. Even if half of those turn into A-graders it will be super awesome.

Reading the points play first was the best thing about our drafting! Some clubs came late to the party and today there was a lot of pick exchange with Academy clubs. Some clubs missed the boat, including the Pies who could have been much smarter with the Treloar and Aish trades if they had woken up to the points play. Eddie pushed so hard to change the Academy system to force those clubs to use their early picks. But Sydney will get Callum Mills without using a 1st or early/mid 2nd rnd pick! Its a loophole the AFL didn't foresee! I doubt Eddie would be too impressed right now. I like our drafting creativity (also recalling the Tyson/Salem/pick trade) and that we had a 'grand plan' which was executed beautifully! Ratings: Trading Smarts: A++++ Draft Position: A++++ Player Trades: Time will tell

Good pick-up!!! Thanks. The discount will cover the difference. Ignore my prior post, folks. In fact I will delete it.

Its surprising he didn't wait till back on Australian soil to make his 'confession'. Confessing to illicit drug possession and use in the USA runs the risk of the long arm of the law knocking on his door! What a dope he is!

The AFL decided to ignore the Treloar 'secret surgery' which ostensibly his manager, Bulcher arranged and paid for. Apparently, Collingwood knew nothing! Very Sgt Schultz like . Bulcher has form...was Scully and Tippetts manager when they 'conned' their clubs. (He was suspended for a year and Tippett for 6 months.) GWS have asked AFLPA association to investigate: "Greater Western Sydney has written to the association, which is responsible for the conduct of player agents, asking it to examine the role played by Peter Blucher in arranging the secret operation". http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-10-22/aflpa-to-investigate-treloars-manager-after-hip-surgery?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News Will Bulcher take the fall or will he dob in Collingwood! Kudos to GWS for lodging the complaint.

The ACA report said he filmed himself then sent it 'snapchat' to a mate who filmed it on another mobile. They rang his manager yesterday (ie before the trade) to tell him what was in the video. StK apparently said the manager failed to tell them it was going public (not sure if it means the manager told them of its existence or told them nothing at all). Naive of StK to think it wouldn't get out if ACA had it. ACA gave Carlisle an out saying it could be a hoax. http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/?ocid=ninemsndynamic Have to agree with Neil Mitchell: the man (Carlisle) must be stupid!

Mahoney has said we will definitely take the picks to the draft http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-10-21/we-wont-trade-picks-no3-no10-mahoneyas that is where our A-grade players will come from (same as other DL's have said). As an aside kudos to GCS for honouring the pick upgrade trade even after they didn't get Howe.

Rightly or wrongly, I have been criticised for my comments about Mahoney. So because my cred on DL is important to me I have gone back thru my posts mentioning him. They have been positive, neutral or supportive. One comment that offended some (not you) was when I said I would like him and Roos to stop saying we ‘are not a destination club' because even if true it talks the club down. I still hold that view. But, if you think that is 'anti-Mahoney' I put my hand up. Back on topic. The Age has reported Mahoney as saying: "It was an important deal. We've had a strategy of the last few years, we wanted to add two players in the top 10. We want to make the most of the time we're down the end of the ladder. We don't plan to be down here for too long." This is a strategy that has been held close inside the club. Love the 'no leaks' it reflects. Also, love the optimism for the future, of the last line. Edit: added 'for the future'

The full story from the club http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-10-21/dees-secure-picks-no3-and-no10"It means Melbourne now has picks No.3, No.10, No.43, No.46 and No.50 in this year’s draft, as opposed to No.6, No.29, No.46, No.50 and No.64", Not to mention the player trades. Agree with Mahoney - it is a great deal! So apparently we didn't get screw-ed by Howe leaving for the pies not GCS. Mahoney says: “Importantly, the deal signed this morning was the original deal proposed with Gold Coast involving Jeremy Howe. We have just replaced the Howe to Gold Coast component with pick No.29 – the pick we received from Collingwood in the Howe trade.

Dees Trade Pick 6 and 2016 1st round for Picks 3 and 10 SEN just reported this trade with GCS. Maybe just put spanner in works for Essendon with Picks 4 & 5.

I didn't say that...go back and read the post.

Its understandable that we all feel let down by the way Howe has handled the year. But he was our leading goal kicker in 2013 (28 I think) - a year where our forwards were starved of i50's. He will be getting plenty of supply at the pies so I'm one who thinks he will do well. I wouldn't be surprised if he kicks 30 - 40 goals for them if he plays as a permanent forward. I certainly won't enjoy seeing it.

You missed the point Wise...their mutterings are talking the club down in public. My comments (many are positive) on DL are confined to readers of this forum they are not public. By the way what you see as negative others see as realistic and constructive. It would be useful if you weren't so quick to pot posters who have a different view to you. I love the mfc just as much as you do but it doesn't make me blind to its shortcomings.

I would like to see people at the club stop saying we 'are not a destination club'. While it may be true I see no point in publicly reinforcing that perception. Its creates such a negative impression. And, if we believe that about ourselves its no surprise outsiders believe it and that 'Big Fish' type players believe it. We don't hear other low ladder clubs say that and it would be equally true. DL posters will say if we win games things will change and I agree. But in the meantime our spokespeople, namely Roos, Mahoney need to stop saying negative stuff like that.

If he is to chose mfc next year, why don't we just trade next years 1st rnd pick plus something/someone and take him now? The price will be the same...only diff is we get him a year early. Not doubting your mail but I just wonder why he or GCS want him to stay one more year when they could be giving someone else games who will be part of their long term future.

Probably that GWS are busy tying up the Treloar deal and the 4 players for 2nd rnd pick with Carlton. The theme of our trades being the end of the line continues...

...that would be a nice comeuppence to the pies for the 'sting' they pulled off on Howe! Howe/Pies seem to have hatched their plan some time ago but 'forgot' to tell MFC! Aish would be a good get! And Brisbane could do with an extra early 1st rnd pick for their Academy players then swap other picks...beats pies 2016 2nd pick ie somewhere around 30-35... What a delight it would be if we swooped and pinched Aish out from under their noses!! Go MFC