Lucifers Hero

I'll pretend to be 'old dee' and say: "maybe, if we don't lose them to other clubs after a few more years being a cellar team".

A quote from Howe that made me sit bolt upright~ “It’s not something you look into, but the last effort that led up to that Montagna goal wasn’t good enough. Even if we had numbers behind the ball, like we should’ve in the first place, there was every chance they still would’ve kicked it. Honest but what an indictment on the team! Then I realised he was right! The terrible effort, lack of support to Toumpas and lack of desperation by Viney, Cross, Lumumba, McD, Dunn and others which let StK stroll the ball forward into an unguarded goal square and yes they would have still kicked it. And if 'its not something you look into' how on earth are they going to learn from it. That line scares me a little. Yes, it may be for public consumption but I would prefer he didn't say it at all. Even if they didn't know the clock you don't just let a team walk their way to an unguarded goal at any stage of the match! The players got what they deserved. Sadly its us supporters that keep suffering.

An update on Howe's contract talks. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-06-16/howe-focused-on-footy-not-new-deal Doesn't add to what we already know. I'm no more optimistic of him staying now than early this year. He talks of playing 'consistent' football. I just wish it was consistently better and more energised than what he has been this year. Even if he is going, he still owes us good service for his money. Love Howe but I don't think he is giving us that.

Gee, Pedersen being out for the season is bad luck for him and us. His contract runs out this year so he won't have another chance to cement his spot. I was really hoping he would be re-sgined soon as he played well and has good chemistry with Hogan. Hope we still sign him. Gutsy effort by Grimes (like Garland last week) to play out the game with a broken thumb.

I wonder how much is from our poor development and we haven't taught players 'game sense' - not sure how to define that but it is different to skills, positioning, ball movement, game plan etc etc. More to do with strategies and awareness of ebbs & flows within a game and how counter-strategies. Maybe this is what Roos meant when he said Watts: "has some of the best 'footy IQ' he has seen". Rodney Eade put it well when he said he was shocked to see the very poor understanding the GCS players had of 'how footy is played' and he had to start from scratch. So, it can be taught. The last 2 games certainly show our players don't understand this either. I don't think it is just poor/inexperienced leadership. It is lack of 'footy IQ'/'game sense' As scary as it may sound, maybe our development has been worse than we thought.

And that is why WADA are appealing!

Not sure if this has been mentioned - Tommy Mc has been nominated for 'Goal of the Year'! A bit of a surprise but it was an exciting goal. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-06-16/mcdonald-nominated-for-goal-of-the-year If you want to vote, vote here: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-06-16/mcdonald-nominated-for-goal-of-the-year Jack Watts can share the credit for the beautiful way he got the ball to Tommy. Well done to TMc!

Not sure this was the worst Iva. Toumpas was running with Montagna but he had to leave him to tackle Lonie (who Cross was supposed to be on). Steven ran fast to the flank but his opponent, Viney didn't go with him, he just jogged forward but went to neither Lonie or Montagna to help Toumpas. As I said in post above that there were 5/6 players who 'misstepped', without any sign of desperation...Toumpas tried but he received no back up. A lot of players at fault but Toumpas was low on that list.

That was Cross, after Roos had been bellowing into the phone to the bench to 'get them back'. Either the bench didn't tell Cross (a sackable offence). Or Cross ignored bench/coach instructions (a retireable offence?) On 360 last night Roos was asked if Cross knew. Roos waited about 3 secs and eventually said: 'you have to ask Crossy'. Roos could have said: 'I haven't asked him yet' or 'we review the game tomorrow' on any other 'fluff' comment. Cross knew!! Unbelievably disappointing in a senior player who has played finals! What happened next was a calamity of missteps by 5 dees players lacking any sort of desperation. Unbelievably heartbreaking!

Bernie voted BOG by both coaches! 10 Bernie Vince (Melb) 8 Leigh Montagna (StK) 5 Jesse Hogan (Melb) 5 Nick Riewoldt (StK) 2 Sean Dempster (StK Bernie is 2 players in 1: Can close down champs while getting fair bit of the ball and a few goals. Looks like Jesse got 2 and 3. Happy for both getting this recognition.

AFLCA Votes- Rnd 11 10 Bernie Vince (Melb) 8 Leigh Montagna (StK) 5 Jesse Hogan (Melb) 5 Nick Riewoldt (StK) 2 Sean Dempster (StK Looks like both coaches agree about with this thread! Bernie is 2 players in 1: Can close down champs while getting fair bit of the ball and a few goals. Looks like Jesse got 2 and 3. Happy for both getting this recognition.

Tuesday, May 19 was the cut off day for 'nominated' rookie elevation. ie one elevated regardless of # of players on senior list. As we did not use that option nor put Trengove on the LTI it seems unlikely that any rookies upgrades will happen this season. In keeping with good development of our youth I prefer it this way. BTW not only are Stanley and Clark out, Kelly is out and Bartel will not be returning this week. Not that it will help our cause much...too much talent at the cattery for us to counter. Lets hope we stay in touch with them.

Gee, that was a long time ago...don't know what I was thinking! Maybe the AFL should introduce one at the ground!

Players train for this. Roos realised at the centre bounce that the players had goofed their set-ups. He screamed down the phone to get back. But alas the runner was already on the field. This is a perfect example of why Roos criticised the 'one runner at a time rule' change last year. It penalises an inexperienced team. If I recall he said he could do with 2 or 3 runners sometimes. Roos' hands were tied. The leadership team deserves to be hauled over the coals, privately!

Bernie's comments on time left and Roos saying the coaches 'couldn't get it done' were to keep the media wolves at bay. Last week was terrible to hear the media go on and on about 'the players didn't listen'. This week it should die down quickly, I hope. Nonetheless, I would like a week where the news isn't about the dumb things we did/didn't do to lose the game. More lessons learnt this week. As long as they aren't repeated I can, reluctantly live with them.

Did anyone hear the '5 mins to go' siren warning.. It still happens at the MCG and thought it mandatory at all grounds. If it went off then players have no excuse for thinking there was 4/5 min on the clock. Surely one of the leaders heard it.

I would cancel my membership!

Winner of the word of the year contest!

He also looked shattered! It took all his control to not say something stupid about the players again. He and the coaches took the rap (which he should in public). But I sure hope he burns the ears off our leadership team...everyone one of them!!!! He gave much deserved high praise for Toumpas, Watts, Hogan and Brayshaw.

No guys. The culprit was Viney who let Stevens get the ball so easily down to Montagna. Viney was lazy. Stevens was desperate.

WOW. Both Stretch and ANB start on the ground. A vote of confidence in the young lads! Hope they have fun, listen to the coaches and have really good games.

Interesting. If Carlton end up 18th they could take him in the preseason draft with their first pick, so no trade value for us. I get that he wants more AFL game time. But he would be going from the 'frying pan to the fire' and spend another 5 years at a bottom of the ladder team. If that is what he wants so be it. Hopefully, he would do the right thing by us and ask to be traded to Carlton. His recent AFL games may be to say 'ok, this is what you wanted; he is your chance to show what you can do'. But it may be to 'showcase' him to other teams that generates trade competition at eos. (eg WB, EFC need a ruckman) It would really peeve me tho if he went to Carlton and we get zip in return.

Not meaning to criticise but the way Max King is going he is a very similar type. Max, soon to be 20, 200cm, can kick a goal. (Kicked 5 today with Scoprions) Just needs some experience! Max can be our Mitch Clark, or Kurt Tippet or ...

Looks like King and Harmes are well on the way to earning an upgrade from rookies to the main list at eos! It might take a couple of years but King could be the Clark replacement to line up with Hogan. These two have huge upside so both bode well for the future! All the others have reached or gone past their peak.

Harmes and King playing well at Casey so at this rate we may need to upgrade 3 rookies: Vandenberg, King and Harmes! Each is certainly making a case for upgrade. Otherwise another team might pinch King and Harmes!