Lucifers Hero

For those asking how Goodwin might go here is a take from Bernie and Jack Watts :http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/simon-goodwin-shows-similar-traits-to-melbourne-coach-paul-roos-says-bernie-vince/story-e6frf3e3-1227422365467 Goodwin seems to be the yin to the Roos yan introducing a more attacking game to complement Roos defensive game. And Goodwin is doing great work with player development. This is exactly how year 1 of Goodwin's development as a coach was described when he joined the club. As Roos stated when Goodwin joined and again last week, he will do more as time goes on. But Roos is smart enough not to rush it. A big job for Roos is to take the heat from the press when we go thru a loosing patch, which we will. Roos will stick to the original plan when he signed up for the 3rd year: he will be our senior coach thru 2016. And, he will continue to give more to Goodwin behind the scenes and on game day. That is as it should be.

Anyone can be right 5 days after the club puts the story on the website!! Maybe 'partyboy' has been on vacation, heard the news and thought it was a scoop. The transition will probably be: - Goodwin to do less player development and take more training/coaching sessions this year. - Goodwin to play a big role in the 2015a trade/draft process - Goodwin takes a chunk of the pre-season coaching work. - Goodwin to probably coach the NAB games in his own right, without Roos in the box (or even at the game). - Roos starts coaching from the boundary for part/all of some games towards the middle of 2016 (depending on our wins/losses) - Goodwin does more work with the board, sponsors and the press in 2016. - In Sept 2016 Roos walks away. Roos has made it clear he will not be at the Demons when his contract expires. He will make damn sure he leaves the players, the list and the coaches in the best possible situation he can. He will have done the job he was recruited for. No crystal ball, grapevine contacts are needed when posters read our website regularly.

Not sure what all the fuss is about. Its been on the club web site for a few days: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-06-25/goodwins-role-could-increase-this-year and was discussed in the 'Roos stop making excuses' thread. http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?/topic/38437-paul-roos-dont-give-us-more-excuses/page-13?hl=%20roos%20%20excuses So nothing to talk about folks! My prediction in that thread was that Goodwin would coach NAB games. Then Roos would start to take a step back as the season goes on in line with the article on the website. Can't imagine Roos stepping back when we are still losing games and at the bottom part of the ladder.

The final installment: Mid-season Review: Spencer to White Another frank, no frills assessment from Roos. If all the players in this report (except Terlich and White) play at least to their recent standard, we are in for some good football for the last 10 games!

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.