Lucifers Hero

You want Pedersen in the team I take it? You could add, Pedersen can protect Hogan just as well as Dawes (not that he needs it) It was very telling this week when Dawes described Hogan as "the No 1 forward"! By his own admission he sees his role as a 'back-up' or a decoy for a kid who had played 6 games! Doesn't deserve to be in the leadership team if that is idea of leadership and setting an example! Edit: Even Sam Mitchell thought it was dumb for Dawes to come out and say the Hawks were 'gettable': "If I was playing against us I probably would have said the same thing, maybe not publicly. I think it was a fair enough comment. I didn't use it to drive me." I always thought Dawes was fairly smart, now I have serious doubts given his comments this week.

People wanting Goodwin in now have short memories. Look at what the press did to Neeld when the team consistently played like this. Goodwin wouldn't last 5 mins while the team plays like this. Roos is using his brownie points with the media to shelter Goodwin from the sh-- storm. Those calling for Goodwin are looking for the magic wand to fix everything at once, now! It is still the 'saviour' mentality. I rarely blame the players and almost never an individual player but yesterday was beyond the pale. They must have looked at the Hawks and decided they couldn't be bothered, before the first bounce. Embarrassing! Shameful! No point blaming Roos.

It is extremely disgraceful and distasteful of a recent past president to write that about a club his have just thrashed by 100+ points. It is beyond rubbing salt into the wound. Gloating in a most disgusting manner.

Triple M give 'the worst player' votes: Most Worst: 3 Howe 2nd worst 2 Dawes 1 Lumbumba Looks right. Shameful for all of them

Big mistake of Roos to disclose that Watts asked to be dropped! Roos exposed him further - that's all commentators are talking about. They are putting a terrible spin on it. Jack is in for another beating in the media and he didn't even play Can't make sense of a few of Roos decisions in the past week

Can we please invoke the 'mercy' rule and sound the siren

Membership killer! Edit: Hope killer!!

Go Jack!

Hamstring...Stretch now on. This game is like a death of a thousand cuts...

Salem still in the rooms with physios...maybe we should all just pack up now

Garry Lyon just suggested anyone in the players rooms should give Jesse a wide berth as he is like a bear being stalked. I think he wanted to play

You wonder why the coaching panel 'agreed' to drop Jack, given they had doubts about Hogan's fitness. A pep talk from the coaches to Jack about how much the team needed him might have been the incentive he needed. It worries me, since when do players call the shots.

Good intel 'stuie'...well done

Melbourne FCVerified account ‏@melbournefc and we have decided to rest him for today's game. 2/2 Melbourne FC @melbournefc · 3m 3 minutes ago We have been managing Jesse through the year, after training on Friday he wasn't fully recovered from last week 1/2 2 retweets 0 favorites There is no God All for looking after Jesse but if we raised the white flag before the game even starts its a bad message to players.

To 'fix our midfield' we need 'ball-extractors' which we don't have right now (except maybe Tyson). Jones and Viney are 'ball-getters', in and under types who too often get caught with the ball before getting it to the outside, running types eg Toumpas. Our best prospect for a 'ball-extractor' is Salem: has footy smarts, getting stronger, has 'soft hands', quick decision maker, calm under pressure, silky kick. The whole package. Can't wait to see him in the 'engine room' from time to time. Hopefully, one or more of Petracca, ANB, Brayshaw or Stretch can join the Salem 'extractor' type of midfielder. I think those 8 players can give us the right mix in our midfield but most are a few years away from having the experience. And, I'm not sure that getting a gun midfielder is going to speed up the process of 'fixing the midfield' very much. We just have to wait while the kids get games.

For some reason that line conjured up the image of the 'Everyready' battery man who's power never runs out!! I wonder what is in the bomber's power-aid!!

Jack Viney does the same. We have 'ball-getters' but we don't have 'ball-extractors' in our midfield (or around the stoppages) Tyson when he is on song is ok at it but tends to just try and kick it out. Until we have 'extractors' it will limit the work any of our 'outside' players as the ball doesn't get to them. Maybe one or more of Brayshaw, Petracca, ANB or Stretch can become an 'extractor'.

Is Mark Neeld back!!

I think we are singing from the same song book, rpfc. I just hope the coaches haven't run out of ideas on how to get the senior players to pull their weight. They are the ones letting the team down atmo.

All true rpfc. The problem is 9 of our best dozen just haven't fired a shot most of the season and right now I have little faith they will. Cameo's here and there maybe but not AFL standard football week in week out. This shouldn't be left up to our talented 'newbies'.

Interesting thread title: 'Ready for the kill'! Shocked that we have brought in 4 supposed NQR players all at once. 2 maybe but 4! Yep, ready to get slaughted. What I wasn't ready for was my hopes for a good season being killed off. This team is comprised of: walking wounded, has beens, non-tryers and talented newbies The only experienced players who have been valuable each week are McDonald, Garlett, Salem and maybe Vince Shocked that this is the best we can put up against the reigning premiers Shocked that this is what our team amounts to after 6 games. Can't bear to watch the carnage tomorrow.

Something about 'biting the hand that feeds you comes to mind' so it would never happen. Not only do AFL determine handouts they also have a huge say in who gets jobs in the football world. Not only is the AFL highly controlled it is also highly nepotistic - job for the boys stuff. Some clubs might make noises but no-one would go to bat for the admirable principle you raise of" the AFL might bring the AFL into disrepute"

Totally agree...in the rest of this country 'employees' have to contribute to their union...and that is all AFLPA is - a players union. However, the AFL is happy to fund it (and the AFL Coaches Association) to keep them as puppets on it's strings.

Because they are funded by the AFL so they tow the party line...its all politics.

Agree about careful what you wish for. But: A. I don't care if Hird/EFC admit responsibility (I do care if they admit guilt). I don't care if they apologise to anyone or no-one. I do want Hird punished. B. On Life Bans: Most of Hird's staff at the time are gone as are most of Little's then board and a new governance regime is already in place. To ban Hird's then staff is only going to penalise a lot of people who have gone on with their lives, had little to do with the 2012 program and are at other clubs eg our very own Simon Goodwin...I want him coaching at the Dees not on the sidelines, watching. So, yes I agree with the careful what you wish for sentiment but don't share your 'wishes.' Plenty of good has already come out of it and the AFL game will be stronger regardless. Having said that nothing will change the AFL's penchant for controlling, pulling strings and favours. FWIW. I think the players will be found guilty and will receive suspensions (< 1yr) which will be backdated so they will not miss games. I am ok with such an outcome as the players aren't the real villains here. I doubt EFC will be punished from the WADA appeal. (Can't speak for the Worksafe review) So Esssendon will continue as a viable entity. As for Hird, throw the book at him!!