Lucifers Hero

Our coaches didn't anticipate their tactics to take out our danger players (May, Oliver, Kozzie) and how they would cover their two missing tall forwards. Their remaining danger forward was Stringer and based on Goodwin's mid week interview he was our focus. Not sure we had the resources to do much to counter their tactics during the game. Nonetheless, I'm surprised we do not yet have a system to counteract the 'running at our defence through the corridor' strategy which has been so successful by a lot of teams in the last few years. Last word: Not enough 'being a good team mate' that we prided ourselves on in 2021. Team work and care for team mates went missing.

Two things that were distressing: The umpire making Spargo stand the mark when he was not even able to stand, Draper running at speed 20 mtrs from the ball drop to deliberately launch a knee into TMc's back, Wouldn't have minded if a team mate had gone to the aid of our two fallen clearly distressed players. Spargo won't play next week and will be surprised if TMc does. Chris Scott is right: ruckman launching a knee into the ribs (or back) of other ruckman has to be stamped out of the game. It was that horror person Cox who did it to Max on QB last year and set Max back for the whole season.

As much as I hate to say it, not enough credit is being given to Scott's tactics, taking out our danger players, especially in the first half. Langford/Stringer used as decoys to get May away from the goals leaving us with an inexperienced makeshift defence and a lone ruckman. (Was Petty injured early?) Ran the ball through the corridor. A great tactic at any time let alone when there is no Lever or May to defend. Kicked the ball to their tall timber close to goal. Two ruckman. Tagged Oliver (Setterfield and Snelling). Can't believe he didn't get more frees from holding/blocking Tagged Kozzie (Kelly) The stupid frees Tomlinson gave away early, gave them goals that upped their confidence and they didn't look back. It was a repeat of his game vs Reid last year where he gave away early frees resulting in 2/3 goals. Like yesterday it gave Sydney belief and momentum He didn't get another game last year and shouldn't this year. Add their work rate which we couldn't match and the game was theirs for the taking.

I was really surprised at the lack of media coverage of his 150th game. Nothing like the fawning over milestones for players like: Stringer, Cripps, Bontepelli, De Goey etc etc. But I came across this by Barrett: IF ... true greatness can sometimes be present long before we fully appreciate it ... THEN ... embrace the remainder of Clayton Oliver's already extraordinary career. Still just 25, reached game 150 last weekend. Won a best and fairest in his second season (2017), and has won three more since. Three times All-Australian, twice the AFL Coaches Association's player of the year. If only fellow all-time Demon greats Christian Petracca and Maxxy Gawn stopped taking Brownlow votes off him, he would've won a couple of those, too. High praise and much deserved but I didn't expect it from 'Purple'. The media know how good Oliver but won't give him the respect and recognition he deserves. Doubt it phases Oliver, he likes things to be low key.

I hope that when the pity runs out you will hate them again.

An odd question🤔. Unless Scott pulls some late changes neither are selected or emergencies...

Through gritted teeth!😬

I reckon we are giving him a good rest before the ANZAC Eve game in 10 days time. Lever won't miss that game.

I had to wade through dross to the equivalent of about 25 DL pages to extract this weeks contributions. Any idea what that is like 🤮 given they are my most hated team! The things I do for my fellow DL's😉

Bomberbliz/Bigfooty A bit more to offer in the last few days. As usual I've left out most of the repetiveness. Not sounding like fans of a team that is in the eight! Yeah, im optimistic we progressing!! Cant help being glass half full, comes with the Territory! ... its an illness, im hoping the therapy will help. We need fwds who will lead against melbourne. Lever and may will distroy us if we bomb it in like we have been. Dees onball division is still a scary proposition in wet. Got a big task ahead of us Reckon wet weather footy also favours older stronger bodies. It will be a hard slog. I’ll give you the tip, every supporter base reckons they get screwed by the umps. I think game plan is only half the story for wet weather. The other half is skill level. We have relatively poor ball handling skills in dry weather - fumbling, not being able to pick the ball up of the ground, double grabbing etc. it gets magnified in wet weather. Hirdy wouldn’t have picked such an appalling team. Boring selections but I supppse finals is still a live proposition. Hard 6 games coming up but pinch a couple and we would be certain to play finals. We’ve gone away from stacking the forward line with resting midfielders because they don’t provide enough defensive pressure. This will be the start of a long losing streak. The changes don’t really matter. We will get smashed and probably for the next 6 weeks or so. Should just forefeit the next month. Who does May go to without VOSS, May will monster Jones or nullify Stringer. If it’s absolutely hosing down rain both sides might struggle to kick a score. The upside as i see it is Melbourne are less likely to get away from us. 10 goal plus thumpings dont tend to happen in torrential rain and upsets do happen. Both positives even if i cant remember essendon playing great wet weather football Anyone thinking this isn’t heading towards a blow out beyond 7-8 goal margin is probably in for a reality check. If nothing else this game is the first real test against the elite of the comp. Will be fascinating to see if our structures hold up. Hope it rains all night and their beanpole forward line have to play on the deck. Strange they brought in Brown. He will be borderline useless in the forecasted conditions My Favourites: You’re getting worse on here lately. You should take a break and reach out to someone who can support you during these tough times. People that are giving us a chance…don’t do it to yourself. Brown is like a giraffe on an ice rink in the wet! Love the analogy - Watching that would be worth the admission fee alone….. Margin too difficult to predict in wet weather so happy to win by enough to keep or better our percentage of 150%.

What would I do without you; you are my ever reliable backstop! I'll leave McVee as if he is signed up. Will fix the formatting.

Haha! I was just about to post: Whatever he doesn't get from Freo his WA sponsors will make up for it.

SA get the bragging rights! Who knows what that is worth to a politician. 😉

I wish people would actually read the article...🙄 @daisycuttergot it!

That Luke Jackson looks miserable, perhaps? Rivers doesn't want a bar of that. They were good mates when drafted together; maybe they have had a good chat!!

Thanks. I forgot to update for McVee. Will do shortly. His new contract is as a rookie for 2024 then promoted to the seniors list for 2025. Re the draft pick question. I'd be surprised if we take all four picks to the draft. More likely we do pick swaps to get us up the order, especially if there is a player we are keen on. How those four picks and our future 2024 picks might be used to go up the order is anyone's guess at this stage.

The article I read says the $500k is a once-off and split evenly across all players based on their 2023 earnings. But the on going sal cap is under review so hopefully that helps us keep a few players, including Kozzie. As an a side, a fair chunk of the remaining $250 once off, the AFL says is for the FD should go to Goodwin as he took unders in his last contract to keep FD staff at the club. Given his history he will probably want to share it or use it for more FD staff.

Updated for: Inclusion of Kye Turner as an A rookie Correction to Schache's contract status to 2024. McVee's contract. Continue as a Rookie for 2024. Promote to Seniors for 2025 Rivers new 4 year contract taking him to the end of 2027!! Now for Kozzie!!

Time to update the Contracts Thread!!

2027 takes him to when he qualifies for free agency. Very happy with an 8 year commitment to the club. Can't ask for anything more than that. Hopefully, he will have a few more premierships. People can relax about the 'Go Home' factor!!

Typical Essendon: want their cake and eat it too!! DONS’ CAP PLANS FLAGGED Essendon reportedly has about $2 million of salary cap space, but is reluctant to trade away any of its top draft selections to lure rival players to the club. The Bombers’ stance - reported by the Herald Sun - comes as the side makes an impressive start to the season under new coach Brad Scott, winning three of its opening four games. Given the side is reluctant to trade its high-end draft picks, it leaves the door ajar for the pursuit of free agents. The Bombers are the only club with multiple restricted free agents this season, with midfielder Darcy Parish and defender Mason Redman yet to be re-signed beyond 2023. The decision of both will likely have a significant impact on the club’s salary cap. Well I hope they lose Parish so any compensation pick they get is diluted by the value of the FA they get in. They would be hoping for a 1st round pick for Parish. They might change the strategy outlined above if that gets watered down!! An insufferable club in every respect!!

Freo are probably thinking they should have let us have North's 2023 2nd rnd pick, rather than their own, in the Jackson trade.. Keep going as they are and will finish higher or near North. We end up with the better of the 2nd round picks!!!

Reported this morning that he is in contract talks with Freo. Freo letting their captain, 2 X brownlow medalist walk would be a crime far greater than what we did to Junior. It would take a long time for their culture to recover from letting Fyfe go.

I'm sure they will come to life. Last year they were one of the nastiest lot of comments of all the clubs.

That is because the Victorian big or successful clubs didn't want to play another Victorian big or successful club interstate. They want their fans/crowds at those marquis games back home. So the games this week are either 2022 finalists vs 2022 non finalists or Vic team vs i/state team! There was never an intention to have a marquee game in Adelaide. By quirk of the current ladder three games feature teams currently in the top 8.