Lucifers Hero

Stevens got the op news here: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-13/luxury-of-riches-at-dees?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News On Dunn and vdB it says: 'Dunn (groin) and vandenBerg (ankle) missed the win against St Kilda after minor injuries against the Western Bulldogs last week and may play in the practice match. The Casey season doesn't start till April 9 so does anyone know what practice/VFL games they are talking about and where they are?

Stevens is a bit slow with the news...that all came from the AFL article in the post above yours...

The Ox got a bit carried away with this: Former Melbourne forward David Schwarz has hit out at young gun Jesse Hogan, calling his kicking for a goal "a disgrace" and saying that it could cost the young forward "$400,000 a year" http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-demons-jesse-hogans-goalkicking-a-disgrace-david-schwarz-20160313-gni1ys.html#ixzz42q0gR2je Disgrace? Really? Sure Jesse's technique could be more effective but to think it will affect his contract is a bit of OTT hyperbole from the Ox!

I could be wrong but I think the top ups had to come from players who had played for an AFL team in the last 2 years. That's not to say that there weren't better and younger choices. And your conclusion Some more balance of those players might have been a better way to go is right on the money. Like beelzebub I'm very happy to see them wallow at the bottom of the ladder for a very long time.

From the man himself: -"We've been having open chats with the club. It's not 'contract talks are on hold', like the newspaper said a couple of weeks ago," McDonald said. -"That's happening in the background. It's definitely moving on, but not anywhere near finalised just yet. -"I don't really know (when he will re-sign). My manager and the club are always talking. He gives me a call every now and then. -"It will happen. It's slowly coming on, so I'm not too fazed." -McDonald dismissed the suggestion that he would only re-sign if gun forward Jesse Hogan signed a deal to stay at Melbourne. He is staying!

I'm not sure their losing Cameron will hurt them so much. Early last year their mids tore us apart when their forwards went off injured or led our backmen into the pockets, opening up the forward corridor. And they ran straight down the middle and goaled time after time. Yes, they can win without Cameron especially if Patton plays! But one thing for sure, they will have to bring their 'A' game to beat us!

Problem is dd which of our recruits would you give up for the back-up/insurance ruckman? (Please don't say Melksham as we have not seen him play yet and from what I can see he is needed in the backline as that is our other weakness atmo.) We just have to accept the club's recruiting priorities and accept that this is a development/growth year for the team. Hopefully, Max stays fit and his game time is managed and that Spencer comes good fairly soon.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/nab-challenge-clash-shows-melbourne-and-st-kilda-are-both-on-the-rise/news-story/8ad9160cbad586777364f6fdbc6ad4bb Quotes: -“We stayed way too straight today,” he added as he praised Melbourne’s bravery with the footy. (Richardson) -Four of their (Demons) six leading possession-getters for the match were under the age of 23, with Christian Salem, Jack Viney, Dom Tyson and Tomas Bugg contributing on all corners of the ground. -...the Dees are blessed with a number of players in the 21 to 25-year-old bracket who could potentially make the move into the elite...Jack Viney (21), Jesse Hogan (21) and Angus Brayshaw (20) are obvious contenders while Max Gawn (24) and Tom McDonald (23) already rate in the top 35 per cent of their positions and could rise even higher this season. -Throw in 20-year-old Christian Salem who appears set for a big season as well as top-five picks yet to debut with Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver and you can see the core of a flag contender coming together. No longer the laughing stock of the league! Respect is building! A Final quote from the article" -The club and its supporters can see it on the horizon — their banner for Sunday’s clash read ‘heading in the right direction, prepare for a Demon resurrection’.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/melbourne-beginning-to-look-like-a-simon-goodwin-team-after-two-years-of-paul-roos/news-story/708c2557c2fa1de1bcc54cbb617ef788 Quote: Five of Melbourne’s eight first-half goals came from defensive half chains as they produced ball movement that a well-regarded footy analyst praised as “Hawthorn-like”. No greater praise possible! For those on here who criticised Salem: '...Salem made a case for best on ground with 26 disposals, four marks, four inside 50s, six rebound 50s and a SuperGoal.' Not sure what people expect tbh. Re the mistakes. Goodwin said in his interview that “We want our players to be brave and bold so we have to cop the turnovers..." Fans have called for players to be 'instinctive', to not hesitate - something we lost pre Roos. Well it is happening: 'Brave and Bold'! Soon, most fans won't even notice the mistakes and they will become fewer and fewer as the team masters 'Brave and Bold' football. And as our victories mount! On Jesse's goal kicking style Goodwin said he just got his foot movement wrong one time...we won't see that to often from Jess. Said with a wry grin!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-13/luxury-of-riches-at-dees?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News "AFL.com.au understands...Jack Trengove may play...with a return over Easter in the VFL possible". I recall Roos saying early 2015 the only expectation they had was just to have Jack able to walk normally again. I was quite shocked to hear the injury was so debilitating. That Jack is close to playing again is a stunning achievement! Speaks volumes about the young man's character. Grit and Determination come to mind. Can't wait to cheer him on!

Goodwin hinted in his post game interview that Wagner might be the rookie that is upgraded. Given that he is a rookie player he did pretty well today, I thought! Some tough task masters on here.

Tyson sums it perfectly: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-03-13/we-achieved-what-we-wanted-tyson -The midfielder said Melbourne’s good form had come off the back of strong contributions across the board. -“We’re just getting a nice, even contribution,” he said -“We’re sharing the load and playing pretty well as a group of 22 on the field at the moment. -“I guess everywhere you look at the moment you’ve got confidence, which is a good feeling to have.” In a word: TEAMWORK

Hogan may be having problems with his back and if so should be taken off soon. If lack of rotations prevent that, park him in the goal square and tell him not to move!! Winning a NAB game isn't worth taking any risks with him.

Don't know ET, but whatever it is it will be about 70% Stk fans...sigh Our fans won't come back to watch games until we start winning in the season proper. Its mainly die hard fans who pay attention to off-season training and NAB games. And, its a long weekend...our non-diehard fans will be holidaying somewhere!

1) They are moving back to Moorabbin 2) They still have a large latent supporter base from when they were constantly a top 4/GF team 5-10 years ago. 3) Their young guns have been around a bit longer than ours so supporters can see earlier potential to rise up the ladder. 4) They beat bottom sides! TBH outside of diehard Demon fans and DL's I doubt the outside world knows much about us or follow what our team does outside of season proper (and may not even then) so most outsiders would say STk prospects are better than ours. Of course, all will learn otherwise during this season!

Interview with Tom Mc: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-03-11/were-attacking-it-right-way-mcdonald- At last the message is getting across on what on-field leadership is all about: “...need to be more vocal on the field with teammates, especially when it gets late in games and you’re tired. Sometimes you start thinking about where you need to be, but now in the leadership position, you need to be thinking about others and how they’re setting up.” Not having this cost us several games in 2015. The most notable one was the last 45 seconds of the St Kilda game. The Collingwood game also comes to mind. And all the games where our leaders go missing when we get behind and played as individuals not a team. 2016 will be different.

Is it entirely that NT is unhappy with mfc or is it, at least in part, because: '...three clubs have expressed an interest to play in the Territory — these clubs are Melbourne Demons, Essendon and Port Adelaide,” Barrett told NT News'? I would have thought the new Multicultural Zones (all 3 clubs have a zone in NT) are designed to deliver all the things the Minister is looking for. Call me cynical but I reckon the other clubs are piggy backing off the AFL funding they will get to sweeten a deal with NT and oust us in the process. Have we been slow off the mark to tap into the Multicultural Zone negotiations? We will be involved in NT zones whether they sponsor us or not so we may have some fences to mend. But if there is a God, please do not less us lose the sponsorship to the Windy Hill cheats!

The AFL is looking to close the 'draft loophole' that allows clubs to trade up picks by trading with Academy clubs who just want the points and are happy to take lower picks. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-03-08/draft-loophole-under-threat "The new father-son and academy bidding system drew the ire of some clubs last year when canny rivals downgraded earlier draft selections to accumulate more points with multiple back-end picks". It has Eddie all over it - motivated by smarting because his club was caught flat-footed and missed the 'trade-up' party altogether and by his hatred for Academy clubs especially the Swans. The stupid thing is that the proposed change penalises all the clubs who want to trade up! Like us! Its a knee-jerk reaction by the AFL to a squeaky wheel. They should leave the rule alone and stop trying to appease Eddie. Back to O'meara and Prestia. With no rnd 1 pick in 2016 if the 'loophole' changes happen and we can't trade up for one, it may makes us much more reluctant to trade away our 1st rnd 2017 pick for Prestia, O'meara or anyone else. What we now need is more outside speed and it will be interesting to see if either of them have that after extensive leg injuries. TBH, I don't see either of them getting to the Dees and I doubt we will go after either.

Apparently, Hardwick pulled players off the ground with nearly 10 minutes to play and played it out with only 15 players! Few rotations left at this point. Not good duty of care and player welfare management for the 15 left on the field. While it may be well intentioned, he threw a match! A match on which there was betting. Bringing the game into disrepute fine may be coming his way? Well, if not for throwing a match then for disobeying the AFL directive to play on, for being a poor sport and doing a hissy fit because he didn't get his way. He may have just watched his contract renewal go down the gurgler!

The benefit of a few wins,eh. We now might just beat our prior record of 32,451 before round 1. Need 1,433 in 2 weeks! Quite doable!! Especially if we win vs StK on Sunday.

Not at all satisfied with a loss od. Just saying there are other goals in NAB games. Obviously from NAB 1 and 2 there are parts of our game/team that are just not working. NAB 3 is a chance to try ideas out and wear the consequences. eg I wouldn't mind seeing different structures tried in our backline to protect against and minimise turnovers close to their goal. If we take a 'win at all costs' approach for a NAB game we miss the opportunity to fine tune our game/team.

This round gets closer to real season. Six player bench but only 90 i/changes. NAB 1 was about 120 i/c (on a hot day on a big oval). NAB 2 i/c were 'closer to match conditions' (Viney interview) but don't know how many. NAB 3 will be 90 rotations (in mild conditions). Whether we have a 4 or 6 bench, 90 will be a good guide to our stamina. I'm not fussed about the result - just hope for a good work out, that we play the game out, not run out of puff and no injuries on an surface that has never been kind to us. ps would be rapt if we also win...

If WADA (or whoever) had been able to charge her use over the last 10 years they would have. They must have decided the rules do not allow the to do it. An important thing is whether she declared it as a medication whenever she was tested by drug testers. Athletes are required to disclose everything. If she thought it to be legal she would have, no? If she has not she may be in real strife ala the 34 EFC players who chose to not disclose/conceal what was being taken to routine drug testers. I just heard on SEN that her lawyers are going to try to get her off on a 'technicality' - sound familiar The technicality is 'used for therapeutic reasons' and they will apply for a retrospective exemption. I assume they did not apply for one over the 10 years as the substance was not banned. So it comes back to whether it was disclosed at the time of testing. Looks like another round of appeals on the horizon! CAS will be busy!

Reading the tweets last night there is a sense of a strong, steely resolve at the club epitomised by these words from Bartlett: Bartlett said that “whilst progress is being made, we won’t rest for even a minute”. “Whilst there is still noise from time to time about our club, we’re not listening and we won’t be distracted. “I am personally more fiercely determined than ever to carry out our vision for the club. Bring on the season and go Melbourne.” I know it is preseason but I've not noticed such resolve before and the determination is significant as it is consistent and genuine from the top to the bottom of the MFC. Belief starts here! It will grow with every win, with every time we come back during a game. Losses won't send everyone into the pits. We are developing the mental fortitude of our club and our players. How far will it take us? I reckon if that resolve is carried onto the field and we play out every game with that fierce determination it might sneak us over the line to pinch a few extra wins! An interesting reference to 'noise' by Bartlett. I very much doubt we will hear the words 'mental scars' or 'veil of negativity' ever again! Already the word I am hearing in the media is 'fierce' eg for Gawn, Viney, Hogan, Vince, Jones. Soon they will talk about Petracca, Vandenberg, Oliver also being fierce! If we become the most fierce team to play against in 2016 I will be very, very happy! Yep, hungry and fierce for 2016!

Our leadership during games last year was exceptionally poor. The Collingwood and St Kilda games stand out as glaring examples. We just couldn't back the same group this year. I am surprised at the extent of the change but I don't believe any of the 'outs' earnt the right to be there again. That 4 of the 6 were replaced signals that we are serious about success. The club is willing to make difficult decisions. It would not have been easy to drop the 4 as each of the players dropped strike me as being very proud men. From your last few posts I take it you don't like the new LG. Your solution to our on-field leadership vacuum is...?