Lucifers Hero

Hawks had more to lose last night as now they are 2 games behind Syd. An early hold on 2nd spot of the final ladder was at stake. It means the Hawks won't be able to rest/rotate their aging players later in the season. That has been a vital part of their strategy in the last 2 premiership wins. Good chance they will finish 2nd/3rd but which way round? It will probably come down to percentage. Neither wants to finish 4th as it is off to Freo for their first final. Given the current ladder if Hawks don't finish top 2 their 1st final will be interstate. It will be a must win final as they will need the weeks rest for their aging team. So, a lot more at stake for the Hawks last night than first meets the eye. They may well rue last night's inaccurate kicking, come season's end. Their rematch in rnd 16 will be a beauty. It maybe one of the few highlights to come given how one sided most games are.

Don't care! Just hope they keep away from McCartney! He has a great reputation as a development coach and that is what they need. But so do we!

The AFL may applaud the success of GWS. BUT, they should be worried by all the one-sided games. Last week 6 of the 9 games were never in doubt from the beginning. Big winning margins. This week: Geel d Carl: 140 to 63 WC d StK: 131 to 78 GWS d Adel: 108 to 84 (after GWS started to cruise in the last allowing Adel to kick a few) Coll seems to be off to a smashing start vs GCS. Are the AFL worried? I doubt it. They want 9 games per week for their tv rights. Then the tv networks dictate what games get telecast FTA and time slots. Good teams get good time slots, poor teams...well...you know the drill. AFL footy is becoming dead set boring.

Saints catching up in the 2nd qtr. Good fightback kicked 5.2 to 1.1 in the 2nd to trail by only 12 pts Interesting to see if they can keep it going. Even if Saints don't win their fight and resilience is growing with each game.

Along with all the friday night games their draw in the first part has been highly winnable games. All stage managed to get them off to a fantastic start. Fill the coffers etc The opposite to us but then I'm just jealous. They have come down with a thud and now the day of reckoning arrives: They are yet to play the top 8 and the contenders for the top 8. A world of pain is yet to come their way. Re Carlton board connections, I assume you mean the AFL variety rather than shady ones with persuasive means, that lurk around its neighbourhood!

I saw the pre game interview with MM and he looked and sounded completely shot. There was not one iota of confidence in anything he said. There wasn't even any sense of any hope in his team or the game. Whatever his faults its a bit sad to see a doyen of the game go out this way.

That post is probably where Barrett got his material. Disgraceful! Clearly Jack was dropped. Why Roos went thru the 'he dropped himself' charade I will never know. It has backfired badly and Jack is paying the price with more negative publicity. Jack is an easy target and Barrett has stooped to a new low as he knows Jack was dropped. I have just developed a new loathing for Barrett. I hope Roos figures out a way to get this back on track and starts protecting Jack.

Have just clarified the Mitchie inclusioin - he is in the squad. The onfield replacement to be decided. Whoever comes into the 22, the points everyone has made re a fit player is better than an injured Tyson and its an opportunity for replacement to stand up are still valid.

http://www.news.com.au/national/dean-robinson-key-figure-in-essendon-supplements-scandal-lands-top-job-with-kpmg/story-e6frfkp9-1227364221641 I am speechless!: "DEAN Robinson, a key figure in the Essendon supplements scandal, has landed a plum job with financial services giant KPMG — the AFL’s official auditor. Armed with a new MBA, Robinson started with the multinational firm on Wednesday, working in its agribusiness division. It’s believed some staff are concerned at how the appointment might look, given the AFL is an important client." The implication of the last sentence is that the AFL might be upset by the appointment but I wonder? Some people might think the opposite: Have the AFL used their influence to get him this job! I wonder what he is going to do in the agribusiness division? Inject supplements to cattle and sheep!!

Sorry to be bearer of bad news: Tyson out Mitchie in. Edit: Maybe Mitchie can shut down Cory Dickson who kicked 7 last week. I hope someone can as their on-ballers are kicking a lot of goals lately

Roy Masters is well known for being exceptionally meticulous in his research so I'm not sure its fair to accuse him of being 'quite absurd'. He doesn't list all those that are not eligible to sit on the panel but he does list the 3 that are and so far there has been no contradiction of his assessment. He may even have got the list from the CAS Sydney office. Its one thing to poor scorn on some of the journos reporting of EFC/ASADA saga but Masters isn't one of them.

You could be right there. Had thought he had pinch hit in the ruck at Richmond as they used him all over the place. Not sure tho. Even as 'just a forward' I would be happy. Much better option than Dawes to line up along side Jesse.

Anyone for Schulz, a forward who can ruck. Has my vote! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-05-21/power-star-jay-schulz-in-contract-limbo-amid-salary-cap-squeeze?utm_medium=RSS

You're so right! Voss, Malthouse and others all said how great our list was. And it did look good on paper. What no-one could see was the damage between the ears. Therein was the list problem.

Did anyone say they would? Posters here all saying they won't/shouldn't.

I just had a mischievous thought: The other eligible, Australian CAS listed judges are probably rugby fans. And, Cronulla went down but not Essendon, the club with buckets of money. While they would be as equally impartial as any AFL or EFC judge, I doubt it would sit comfortably in the AFL/EFC suspicious camps! Helps explain why they are trying for an 'off CAS list' judge

They may try for an Essendon supporting judge but I suspect Roy Masters will research any 'off CAS list' nominee. He may then casually mention their Essendon fanship in an article as he has with Justice Hayne. Unfair on the judge but it subtly lets WADA/CAS know the lay of the land should CAS be asked to add him to their list. That the defence are even looking at Australian, pro Ess 'off CAS list' judges looks desperate at best, incriminating at worst. Anyway, Essendon players should choose a judge from the CAS list as everyone else in the world does. If AFL et al had not been filled with so much hubris, foreseen a WADA appeal and understood how CAS works then they could have not involved a preferred judge in the earlier legal processes. Keep a card up their sleeve so to speak. They have themselves to blame for not having a favourite CAS listed judge being ineligble to sit the panel

Its hard to imagine that we run out of puff this early in the season. If so, heaven help us in July/August! In a club story on the paleo diet, I recall the carbs would be increased in season to give players that energy boost on game day. I'm guessing we don't have the balance right between protein/fat/carbs just yet. So lethargy sets in (should be towards the end of a game, not before the first bounce!). 'Tapering', young players getting tired or some/all players affected by the protein/fats/carbs balance, could be 20% of the lethargy/tiredness last Saturday but IMO 80% was a complete lack of effort!

This is a quote from the team article on mfc website: “We were really keen for Jack to go back to Casey and go and get his hands on the football and win some of his own footy, which he was able to do,” Mahoney said. Clearly Jack was dropped. Why Roos protrayed it as Jack 'dropping himself' is beyond me. Did the kid a disservice as it made him look weak. I'm glad he is back!

I found that really interesting as Roos and to some extent McCartney are doing similar. I guess it would also be a great benefit to Daniher to be involved with footy. Very happy that he is helping us rather than the mob out near the airport

James Hird gets a parking fine...a great laugh. Arrogant and defiant to the end!! Moral of the story: The good guys win!!

Roy Masters: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/essendon-bombers/australia-may-not-have-representative-at-cas-hearing-into-essendon-case-20150520-gh5tbz.html Some quotes ( in itallics): In a nutsell: - "Essendon may even struggle to find a non-conflicted Australian advocate to appear in the court and argue their defence." - Essendon are struggling to find a judge to be one of the three arbitors who will make the decision.The gall and hubris continues: "...In order to guarantee the presence of one AFL-minded person in a jurisdiction of European lawyers, legal sources claim Essendon have suggested a recently retired Australian High Court judge, Justice Ken Hayne, as their nominated judge on the three-person panel. Justice Hayne is an Essendon supporter and is hugely respected for his independence and clarity of thinking. However, he is not on the CAS list so they simply wanted him added ie change the CAS rule so they can an Essendon supporter on the panel!! -The venue is definitely in Switzerland: "CAS's Sydney office has been in contact with the Swiss registry in Lausanne asking whether the case would be held in Australia and the answer has been a definitive no". If only they had not been so cocky and confident of WADA not appealing to CAS they would have had more time to get their ducks in order. Now they are doing everything on the run. While WADA is looking very cool, calm and collected having nominated their defence counsel and their preferred panel member. Who looks inefficient and incompetent now. WADA are going after the AFL with all guns blazing!

Young knows what he is taking on as: '...no stranger to the case having previously advised ASADA throughout the investigations into suspected doping at the Bombers and Cronulla in the NRL, will prosecute the case against Essendon before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport...' He must be very confident of success otherwise why would he risk his reputation on some two-bit group down under.

BUMP. I despair! AFL may lower FA elibility to 5 or 6 years to 'fringe players' (ie not 'stars'). http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-flags-prospect-of-a-lessrestrictive-free-agency-system-20150520-gh5t69.html - Definition of fringe: # of games, salary position in the team - Receiving club gets the player for free. - Giving club gets zip in return! Effectively, development of that player is worth nothing! Players currently can virtually go to club of choice be they in or out of contract but at least a trade needs to occur, so I'm not a fan of the proposal. Feeling pessimistic atmo but the proposal just looks like a recipe for more pillage of lower clubs IMO.

This made me chuckle! The AFL et al must be getting desparate! This is the same Eddie that has been totally silent for the last 2 years! All of a sudden he is flying the flag (as none of the participants can be seen to publicly complain) The extent to which AFL et al treat the public like fools and WADA with contempt is beyond belief... ...as if everyone can't see thru this 'Eddie' charade!! The cynic in me wonders if Collingwood will get some favourable treatment down the track, in return for Eddie's support.