Lucifers Hero

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.

Nathan Schmook's verdict: Brilliant. The Demons used the incoming points system to perfection to gain picks No.3 and No.7 in this year's draft. They read the play quicker than other clubs, working well with GWS to secure pick No.7 and Bugg. Pick No.25 seemed to be a high price to pay for Melksham, but he could quickly disprove that if he slots into the midfield and adds needed hardness. Now the club needs to draft well, having worked into such a strong position.

Rating A+

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

Did I read somewhere that Sydney get a discount?

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.

BTW, if you are one of the many who have prattled on about what we did and failed to do and how Mahoney sucks...this would be a good time to stick your hand up

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.

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.

Excuse me?

I don't think he was handled poorly. He didn't set the forward line on fire and Roos tried to salvage something for him back. He played his best games back but makes mistakes and you can't have a HBF that makes mistakes - they are there to kick it so McDonald does that less.

So, yeah, I don't fell let down by the club...

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.

Maybe you should set an example instead of doing what you perceive them to be doing, which is saying negative stuff all the time. Kind of ironic to see you have a go at them for what you do on here constantly.

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.

We are getting Prestia next year if my mail is correct.

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.

I am getting more convinced with each passing hour, that we are trying to do another deal with Bugg involved.

It is a simple deal for probably our pick 50, yet it is not being done and there appears no angst from anyone about it, nor is it being reported on.

We now have only 1.5 days left of the trade period and it doesn't make sense to me otherwise.

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...

Fingers crossed we pull off a miracle with Aish.. All depends on the pitching skills from here!

...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

i don't think the club should say anything publicly about their intentions (or privately to reporters) during the whole trade period, except obviously for completed deals

Speaking publicly about intentions creates expectations and when they don't happen we go negative, as is our want.

At eos Roos said:

-we would go after an A grade midfielder (we may still get one)

- he also said we would trade aggressively

On 1st trade day Mahoney said we had two goals:

- 1 improve our list

- 2 improve our trade order

Last week Mahoney said Kennedy and Howe would not be in the same trade.

We may achieve these by Thursday who knows but atmo I can't see that we can give any of those 5 statements a tick.

When I hear other club's trade speakers they give very little away when interviewed.

MFC can learn much from them.

If nothing else learn to manage supporter expectations!

Well. Well. The HS is reporting: "Howe will play for around $350,000 a year on a three-season deal".

That is even less than we were said to have offered him.

Such a come down from the $600+ his manager was touting!

So he will play for the AFL average salary (excluding rookies and draftees).

He has been bedazzled by the pizzazz that Eddie and co talk up.

Can't help but think Howie has made a big mistake going to the pies.

Anyway, he is gone: an average salary for an average player.

Well, Howe almost certainly cost us Prestia at the GCS. What a [censored].

I've been wondering about that 'Adam'.

If we want Prestia next year we will have to give up our 1st rnd pick plus some.

If he wants to come to us why don't we just do that deal now ie next year's 1st rnd pick plus whatever it takes.

We get him now pay for him later, sort of.

I have concluded either he isn't the one we are after or he hasn't decided to come to us.

Otherwise we coould do the deal now.

Jimmy just tweeted.....

@JToumpas: I am so excited though to start fresh at the @PAFC! A club that is based around hard work. It's a journey I can't wait to begin!

The hard work comment?

Are we not based around it?

Concerning?

I am going to give Jimmy the benefit of the doubt on that and say he didn't mean it as a slight on the Dees...

Earlier on he had tweeted this:

Jimmy Toumpas ‏@JToumpas 32m32 minutes ago

Will always hold the MFC close to me! Gave me an opportunity to live my dream and I'll be forever in debt to them for every memory!

I think he goes with a lot of goodwill and would it surprise me if he didn't feel the same towards MFC.

Jimmy deserves to be seen out with dignity and our good wishes.

He wore the red and blue with pride and he gave his best every time he wore it.

He hasn't met some people's standards and definitely not his own.

But I hope he goes on to have a fabulous career at Port.

Thanks Jimmy, always enjoyed watching you play.

Really sad to see you go Jimmy.

You tried so hard sometimes too hard and gave everything you had for the red and blue.

Will always be one of my favourite players.

Hope you have a great career...will cheer for you.

Good Luck, young man!

There are no grounds in the rules for penalties to be negotiated. There are specific circumstances where they can be reduced.

Just the way it is.

You sound quite authouritative 'bing' and I respect that.

Looks like we lose Jake Melksham for 2 years then!

Sad really, I was looking forward to seeing him play and helping us move up the ladder in the next few years.