Lucifers Hero

Robert Walls buys into EFC coach. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/robert-walls-questions-the-chase-for-john-worsfold--an-ordinary-coach-20150920-gjqnp7.html About Worsfold he says: "Now Worsfold is an interesting case study. As a player he was very good. As a captain he was inspirational. As a person they say few are better, but as a coach I think he was ordinary. In 11 years as senior coach of one of the best-resourced clubs in the country, and with the best ever centre square combination (Cox, Cousins, Kerr, Judd) he finished with one premiership (by a point) and a 53 per cent winning rate. It was also on his watch that a drug culture festered that ultimately ruined the club's reputation. The people in high places at the Eagles at the time will always question whether enough was done to control a dangerous situation. When Worsfold left, the team sat 13th on the ladder. Now, less than two years later, with a progressive new coach, the Eagles are flag favourites." About McCartney he says: "McCartney looked to the future and played kids. In three seasons, 16 youngsters debuted under him. He put tough demands on them and started to set high standards as he knows what's required to build a premiership team. Problem was, some of the oldies couldn't cope. They started to [censored] and the younger ones became affected too. Macca was too tough, too defensive. It's no fun anymore, they whinged. When the captain walked out, the club panicked. McCartney, who had a couple of years on contract, read the play and fell on his sword for the good of the cause'. A fairly convincing set of arguments from Walls. However, I suspect EFC arrogance will make them go for a 'successful' coach. All to our good!

I guess Frawley drew the short straw to be the 'dummy' and model that yellow and brown monstrosity!!!! Here is our version of the 'Ugly Sweater'. How the AFL expects to sell them for $80 I will never know! Max doesn't look too happy about being the model either but at least our jumper looks decent!! I wonder how much Gawn was paid to agree to be photographed in that You can imagine the changeroom banter!!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-09-19/swans-champion-adam-goodes-calls-it-a-day?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News No fanfare, no fuss. No sign or wave to the crowd. He announced it to his teammates after the game. A football career doesn't get much better than this: Games: 372 Goals: 464, fourth on the goalkickers list for the club behind Bob Pratt, O'Loughlin and Barry Hall. Premierships: 2 (2005, 2012) Brownlow Medals: 2 (2003, 2006) Career Brownlow votes: 162 including 30 best-afield performances (to end of 2014 season) All-Australian: 4 (2003, 2006, 2009, 2011) Sydney Swans co-captain: 2009-2012 * Goodes holds the VFL/AFL games record for the Sydney Swans, and has played more matches than any other indigenous player. * Goodes also won the 1999 Rising Star Award, was named in the Indigenous Team of the Century and captained Australia in the International Rules Series. From the beginning he has excelled. Champion of the game. Adam Goodes deserved to be carried off last night. Best wishes Adam.

We may not need to worry 'Steve': '...West Coast Eagles' great Glen Jakovich - a former teammate and close friend of Worsfold - has declared Worsfold will join the Bombers, with Guy McKenna his deputy'. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-trade-news-its-now-patrick-dangerfields-decision-say-waiting-geelong-cats-20150919-gjqe2t.html#ixzz3mAfVgWB9 But I'm a bit worried that Crows or Blues might pinch Macca as their 'mentor coach' ala Roos/Goodwin. Keeping fingers crossed and waiting nervously...

The CB minimum senior player payments for 2016 are: - base pay $83,240 and match payments $3,605 per match - for 22 games = $162,550 pa. This will be a lot higher under the 2017 CB. How much more each player gets depends on experience, performance and perhaps incentives. Melksham is 24 with 6 years experience, played 114 games and has a good B & F record. Mahoney and Viney will make sure a WADA suspension is covered in the contract. In fact, I would expect the AFL has specific clauses included in all Ess player contracts who have changed clubs. I am happy Goodwin and Macca will make a good selection decision based on list requirements. I am happy that Taylor and Viney will make a fair trade with EFC. I am happy that Mahoney and Viney will negotiate a fair contract that is in sync with other MFC/AFL players of similar age/experience. Nothing to worry about folks!

Interesting that Clarkson didn't give Frawley so much credit. When asked about Frawley's 'great job on Tex', Clarkson said...well, our plan was for our mids to cut off supply to Tex and other forwards and that is how it panned out...or something like that. Frawley still has some way to go, I suggest to have the confidence of his coach!

That is how I read it. It is possible HL (for example) had several BOG but a lot of 0/40. But a BOG may not get 40/40 Maybe we have harsh markers. But the votes show all players have been a long way from coaches' expectations.

This is a table I posted last week after the B & F. It lead to some discussion on DL as to how the B&F is voted and different thoughts were posted so I contacted the club. Today I received this response, so am posting it for interest: "At the completion of each game, four members of the match committee rate the players performance from 0-10. The votes are then added together and the total is the votes awarded for that game. As such, a player can score between 0-40 votes per game." My take: If an average of 20 for the season is a 'pass', only Viney 'passed'. Really shows what the match committee thought of the year. Hopefully, next year we see the top 8-10 players in the B & F get an average of 20-30 votes per game. Is that too ambitious? We will then have a core of B grade players a few A-grade.

http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?/topic/38451-delistingstrades-at-end-of-the-season/page-101?hl=delistings Melbourne delists: Fitzy McKenzie Riley Bail No surprises I guess but always sad a demon player go. They did their best in tough circumstances. Wish them well. That makes at least 6 list changes.

Thought him to be 'serviceable' rather than 'successful'. Others may have a different view. I also put Petterd and Miller in the 'serviceable' category. Thompson & Jolly were 10+ years ago. I was referring to players supposedly 'scarred' from the Bailey/Neeld years that other clubs have given short shrift after taking them or have no interest in now. So it will be difficult to offload players. On a related note...I was glad to see Dawes as one of the players Denham mentioned as up for trade. Dawes may need to brush up his law studies for when his contract expires next year.

Traccin in the USA: Part Four This impressed me: "The challenging part of these exercises was that all my life, when I jump and then land, I land with a bent knee and drop really low. But all of these actions are about landing with stability around the knee and landing in a position that enables you to make a second move and play the next play. Would be good if this training routine could be given to other players as our weakness has been slow ball movement, often causing turnovers. Anything that reduces turnovers and improves our team's ability to 'play the next play' is a great advantage!

Pates, from the article above:, it seems Jones injured himself preseason and 'regretted playing' rnd 2 vs GWS so the club knew quite early in 2015: “The doctors’ reports and their assumptions was that I had [injured] it previously, but the things I did in the weekend before the season [started] aggravated it and inflamed the area – that’s why I got the real bad nerve pain.” An article on Jones and his captaincy: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-09-18/ill-be-a-better-captain-next-year-jones His injury aside, Jones has identified the two things he really needs to improve on: 1. "...two years in the role – albeit in varying situations – would allow him to have a greater understanding of the key playing leadership role next year". 2. “I was reasonably happy with how I went … but I found myself struggling at times with the tags and that’s something I’ll really work on over pre-season.” Our team needs better on field leadership so Jones improving this will really help us win/be more competitive in games. Looking forward to Jones achieving these goals in 2016.

Except for Martin, no Melb player has been successful at their new club and are usually de-listed not long after. Frawley has struggled to learn the Hawk's system. Sylvia trade went up in smoke. Now, reports are that clubs have gone cold on Howe and there is no interest in Watts. It seems clubs are 'gun shy' of taking MFC, pre Roos players. Has Roos made too much of the 'past mental scars' and the footy world believes him? The lack of takers for our players doesn't bode well for getting anything/anyone decent in return.

Ess offer the guy only 2 years and less $$ and they want A grade trade in return. If they truly valued him that highly surely they would better our offer! They start with such a ridiculously high ambit demand for trades that they get far too much in return. Given the reports on how we are handling Jeremy Howe's contract, I am confident TV and JT will not be conned!

I hope you are right SPR! He is getting a big, big rap from Tim Watson on SEN. -Said he was held in v high regard when last there. -That Beveridge inherited Macca's good work. -Would be good get for Ess. Tim is a big shaker and mover at Ess so I fear the odds of loosing Macca just went up. Macca turned down Ess Ass. Coach job last year to come to us so. Hope that whatever his reasons were then still hold, even tho Head Coach is a big, better gig.

The sentimentalist in me would like Worsfold to stay at the Crows. Now that Ess are after our Macca I have been jolted out of my sentimentality and desperately want Worsfold to coach Essendon!

Our skipper plans to be ok for rnd 1, 2016: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-09-17/jones-certain-hell-play-in-round-one A long recovery but he draws on Trengove and Petracca for inspiration during rehab. He has clearly been under enormous physical stress for the whole of 2015. In some games it showed but there were never excuses, never apologies. Great example to get in there and play each week. Warrior.

More likely, King read this thread on Demonland on Roos taking a back-seat: http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?/topic/38646-paul-roos-to-take-back-seat/?hl=roos. The week before this thread there was an article on the mfc website discussing the transition in 2016 One of my posts in that thread include these points: 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 2015 a 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. We have already seen the first of these points happening. I reckon King bookmarks stuff during the year only to regurgitate it at a time it suits and he makes out he is 'in the know'. He has nothing to add!

If Howe stays, media reports suggest it will be for around $400k pa. - not much above the AFL average (exlc rookies, draftees) of $350k. So, he is priced by the market as a 'slightly above average' player. If he has been able to get away with 'laziness' it is because there has been no pressure on top 22 spots. If he continues with 'laziness' he will find himself at Casey to fight his way back. I think Howe can lift his competitive game and be very valuable to the Dees! -Having no suitors may be a big reality check for him! -I noticed his 2nd and 3rd efforts were much better this year so he can be competitive. That 'stat' is not measured but it is undoubtedly important in turnovers for/against. -As we have more players with 'competitive edge' it will rub off on Jeremy (and hopefully Watts). If every player adopts Jesse's personal goal for 2015 we will quickly become an excellent team. Jesse's personal goal was? To not be dropped!! Hope Jeremy was listening!!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-09-16/watts-up-for-the-fight?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News '..."Watts said his exit interview this week "went very well" and he wants to stick with the Dees..." Watts, who has played 115 games since he was the top pick in 2008, said he didn't need any more certainty about his position for next season before he heads for an off-season break. "I'm very comfortable. I don't need anything more than what I've got. I'm looking forward to a little break, relax a little bit and get away from it all," he said. Many reading this will say Jack has had his chances which is true. But it seems to me that Roos has shifted his focus from valuing 'talent' to wanting "a team of competitors" which is great for us. I desperately hope Jack is given another chance to show his 'competitive edge'.

Gus came 2nd to Heeney in the 'Best 1st year player' at the MVP awards last night. Well Done! Gus has had a great year on the field. Showed real courage in every game, laid excellent tackles and showed serious fortitude to keep playing each week when he could have done with a rest. There were also some really special moments this year that I found particularly moving. -When he pulled Jones out of a scuffle at half time so his captain didn't get reported. -When he kicked his first goal (and several other times on the field) the bro love between he and Jones was terrific. -Carrying Cross's little boy (Tyler?) off the field, lifting his little hand up high, so he could celebrate with his Dad. He is already a star in my eyes!

The thread title scared the living daylights out of me!! Worried that it was his back Very relieved to see Jesse's #justafinger tag

Article about Christian's first day in the US:- Traccin in the USA An understandably low key start but I thought this was really intersting: "Billy said it is very easy to regain your slow twitch muscle fibres as endurance training only needs a few sessions to blow the cobwebs out and you are basically back to being fit again. But with sprint training, it takes a lot longer and you need time and patience to recover and regain that power and explosiveness that you once had". From the article it sounds like there is good communication between our physio, Joel Armes and the ACL rehab expert Billy Knowles. Hope they can weave their magic and get Christian back to where he needs to be to become a star for us

It sounds like Howe's manager is back-pedalling rapidly! Probably found that other clubs don't think he is worth a high price tag. I heard the interview with Niall on SEN and he went round in circles a bit on 'money not being important, Jeremy wants to enjoy his football' etc (not verbatim). After the interview Tim Watson made a good point along the lines that Jeremy would really like to settle into a position for a while and maybe would like a club to take him as a forward. Jeremy has been very adaptable but I think it is reasonable that he has some confidence in his role at MFC if he stays...just as he would from another club if he moved. Having heard the interview and noted the ramblings from Niall during this year, Jeremy should consider getting a new manager!

Jones had his neck surgery today. Melbourne FC ✔ @melbournefc Good luck, skipper! #myheartbeatstrue https://twitter.com/nathan2jones/status/643255066128982016 …