Lucifers Hero

Roos would already know Howe's trade value and exactly if/where he is going. No need to wait till the end of the year! Recruiters talk to each other all the time. By now the cards for Howe are on the table. The best thing to increase price is his performance...actions speak louder than words. By playing his role (and showing discipline and another string to his bow) his price would be enhanced. Doesn't need Roos to add spin. Roos' mid-season reviews on all players has been refreshingly honest without spin. Roos is neither a genius nor seem to have Machiavellian tendencies!! You guys seem to believe your own spin!!

Except that P E D's are a no-no!

Its good to see some highly respected people (eg Mitchell, Brown) call Hird and the players out for the hypocrites they are. I recall 14 of the other 17 coaches did not attend an AFL arranged dinner late last year to welcome Hird back. No love lost with other clubs, clearly. To top it off they keep losing! This is sporting theatre at its best!!

Howe turned a corner in the Geelong game...Roos said it was his best game since he joined. What he left unsaid it was Howe's most unselfish, team oriented game ever! Hence the high praise in is press conf for Howe's no touches in the first half. Seems like Howe was told: don't even try to mark, let alone take a speccie! Howe (finally) listened, sacrificed 'his own game' and brought the ball to ground! Howe may look lazy but it may well be he plays to have fun doing his own thing. ie rather selfish If he and the rest of the team play unselfish football and we win a few more Howe might want to stay. Altho if Sir Paul Roos is right the orange people to our north may get to finals faster than us and he may go. Either way, if Howe continues to help us win games rather than play his own game, I will wish him well.

Here is installment 3: Mid-season Review: Lumumba to Salem Roos seriously rates Lumumba and gives him a big wrap. Along with the Garlett for steak knives trade the 3 way transfer to get Lumumba is great for us especially as Mitch has had injury problems again. I fear we may not see Pederson again...Roos' comments were short but not too sweet. "Pedos season has finished, due to injury, which is really disappointing. He played a couple of important games and really good games, but unfortunately were not going to see him for the rest of the year." Not critical but I just didn't see much hope in there for a contract extension. Other comments from Roos are as would be expected.

Everyone has their own view which is fine. Kevin Bartlett and Patrick Smith just said on radio the AFL should look at it so it may not be so silly. They are usually neutral and have well reasoned views on general footy matters. The point was if offensive behaviour happens on field it is appropriate the AFL be consistent. There are other recent examples eg alleged sledging of Mitch Clark, the Dusty cross-arm prison gesture etc. etc. Whether there is any action or penalty is an entirely different issue. I didn't suggest that any penalty should apply. Consistency was the point of the post.

The press reports that the AFL is investigating Mitchell's offensive gesture to Ess players? Shouldn't the AFL/MRP investigate Goodes' equally offensive squeeze on Hunt? The Stevie J swing on McVeigh was looked at by the MRP (no action taken). Goodes' incident of similar intention but looked even more deliberate. Caught red handed, you might say. Should be looked at by AFL/MRP, IMO

After 10 years of not being in finals, I don't get how anyone would want to wait a minute longer than necessary! In 2016 p l e a s e! 2017 could be a fizzer for Goodwin whether we make finals in 2016 or not. 2017 being pretty or not, it is for him to take his opportunity. ps 2015 finals would be even better but I know I'm dreaming there.

The Age reports that GCS players are to be re-interviewed in light of Hunt's comments. If those lads have lied to their club they in deep, deep sh..! Its one thing to muck up. But a whole different ball game to lie about it. Shaw bros, Didak, Robinson and Garlett come to mind. Collingwood retired or traded out its 'troubled' players. GCS may well have to do the same to break up the 'cliques'.

This is an excellent article by Tim Lane and looks at what the 'administrators' were up to during the ASADA/AFL investigation. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-media-is-the-massage-the-mindboggling-truth-on-the-supplements-scandal-20150627-ghz7gx.html The AFL, Mike Fitzpatrick, John Wylie and the Canberra bureaucrats do not come out of it looking too good! Adruska comes out of it squeaky clean. My favourite line in the article: "Modern politicians, on the other hand, are pathological practitioners of spin". Of course, the same can be said of the AFL, Hird and EFC.

WC are 2nd on the ladder as they have played only 3 of current top 8 sides (lost 2 of the 3). That is the typical 'flat track bully' win/loss profile. So, WC yet to be truly tested against 'top' sides. They might fall into 4th spot but doubt they will be top 2 after rnd 22. We can give them a run for their money if we play as we did vs Geelong

I'm wondering whether WC are the biggest pretender! They sit 2nd on the ladder with 153.5% which suggests they are hot. However, they have played only 3 of the current top 8 and lost 2 of those 3: Freo, WB. So how good are they really? Gee, can't help think that if we bring our A game we will beat them next week!

The next installment: Mid-season review: Harmes to King Roos is talking up the recent performances of players which reflects how much they have improved. He doesn't shirk away from stating where players need to get better...he even gives an insight into where Jesse lapses are: "As a young player does, he goes through lulls in games, but he allows himself to get back into contests, because he works so hard and hes such a good competitor." Its good to get the coach's view of the world.

I cant post the fox footy subscriber link (not a subscriber) but Bomber Thompson is quoted as saying that "Hird's coaching career at Essendon is doomed." Music to my ears! CAS will deal with the players but for mine Hird getting his just desserts is the main game. Being sacked for 'incompetence' as a coach would be poetic justice....a mighty fall from grace for the smug one. I don't care how Hird falls as long as he leaves AFL forever.

You are probably right. Hawks only need one of the 3 to go to fit Danger into sal cap...back end Danger's contract etc. Mitchell will be 33 this year and must be close to the end, depending on if they win GF. Could offer Mitchell a min contract to fit in Danger. I'm guessing Just can't help but feel all the Danger 'noise' is a smokescreen and wouldn't be surprised to see him the Hawks.

As a Captain/Leader: Judd = 9/10, Ablett = 6/10. Judd sets example. Ablett selfish, sets his own rules. For Inspiration: Judd = 9/10, Ablett = 6/10. Judd leads/develops his players. Ablett relies on them for possessions/goals/ego, hasn't developed them. For Courage: Judd = 9/10, Ablett = 4/10. Judd: "was often ill at having to play sore". Ablett refuses to play with sore shoulder (while his team is wallowing at the bottom of the ladder). Brownlow = 2 each They breakeven as players but for the above Judd is by far the better footballer and value to his club, IMO. Why on earth am I posting this in a Gus thread. I don't know! Can only justify it by saying if Gus is to be a champ I'd rather he be like Judd rather than Ablett.

That means Dangerfield to Hawthorn, right! Not joking...retirements to Mitchell, Hodge, Lewis creates a few spots and a big bucket of $$$ His manager's 'only the Cats/Crows' chat and all the noise = smokescreen, similar to Buddy to GWS/Swans

- Chance at a few more premierships! - One club champion! - Not having to uproot his life to a new city to chase a few $ These things mean something occasionally. Also, by the time the manager and the taxman take their cut the difference in offers may not be so large.

Here is Roos' assessment of the season so far for the team: Weve improved across the board: Roos He comes across as being really proud of the boys and I think this comment: ...when guys are really sticking to their roles, and really listening to their leaders and listening to their coaches, we seem to be a pretty good team, regardless of personnel.... is what every coach hopes for. Here on DL we have admired (with some envy) clubs that can just bring in players that 'perform a role', that can win regardless who is on the park. Last Sunday showed we are capable of doing the same. I like Roos' 'commercial' about players listening to leaders and coaches. I would say almost every player on our list has improved in some way, this year! May it continue.

There seems to be a few mid-season review articles being published so thought I would start a thread. Here is the first in a series of Roos' assessment of players: Mid-season review: Bail to Grimes The comments are typical Roos: honest and matter of fact. They are not that different to what DL's say (at least the objective posters). In some cases, if you read between the lines you can see where the players may sit at eos.

Dank is all huff and puff! He has been threatening to sue (someone, anyone) for a long time and has done nothing. He did not attend theTribunal, nor 'defend' himself when he had the chance and now is squealling! This is more bluster...as you say he has no case to go to the supreme court. His only option is to appeal...to the AFL Tribunal no less!!! Ironic isn't it! He is snookered whatever he does!

Back to the topic! Dank has has been handed a life ban by the AFL anti-doping tribunal for his role in Essendon’s supplement saga. One down one more to go...with the initials JH!

Agree C&B. Bulldogs and Nth are on 6 wins and have an easier run home than we do, not to mention a healthier %age. Easier in the sense that they play only 2 top 8 teams. We are on 4 wins and play 4 of top 8 teams. I know that isn't the only criteria but we need to catch up 2 games + %age vs those teams ie win 3 more games than them. Also, Port and Geelong are lurking. We won't make the 8 in 2015! But 2016 is a whole different story!!

Mid season review: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-06-25/midseason-reviews-haw-to-wb-inc-melb is a fair summary. Some key points: Story of the Season: Angus Brayshaw - shapes as a mid-field star! Say no more! Best Individual Performance: Bernie for the job he did on Danger (could add: Pendlebury, Blicvas, Bontempelli & a few more) Best Player: Our Captain, in AA contention The Revelation: Jeffery, has kicked 25 goals already. On track to better his past season high. I think we would all agree with those selections. Nominated Key 2nd half games: R15, Ess R 18, Coll R 20, WB It looks like they have left out the 'obvious' wins and losses and these look like the 50/50 games. To me all games (except maybe Eagles and Freo) are there for the taking. I look at each season not so much in how many games we win but who we beat and how be beat them. A real sign of improvement is beating the 'better' clubs and not just 'fluking' a win here and there. Add a few more 'scalps' to GCS, Rich, WB and Geelong and 2015 will be a very good year!

Here is a great summary of where our club is at off the field. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-06-25/goodwins-role-could-increase-this-year The great thing is that the off field team is really stable and kicking goals. As usual Roos is letting people enjoy themselves and plays to their strengths: “Simon is just a great student of the game and he’s fanatical about footy. At the moment it’s just about letting him do what he is really passionate about and loves [doing] – and that’s helping us as a team, helping our contest and helping our ball movement pattern...As we move further into the back end of this year and into next year, things will change slightly.” I wouldn't be surprised to see Goodwin coach thru next years NAB games as part of his development. I'm chuckling at the title of this thread! Regardless of the number of wins in the Roos era he will go down as the guy who rebuilt the football side of our club!