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The Kalani White Thread

olisik
in Melbourne Demons

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2 minutes ago, Nietaphart said:

I hope we get him for cheap RTG. If the potential is there. You would know more than me. Iā€™m going of what is said on DL

I'm not sure about knowing more Nietaphart. I'm just a bit of a nerd when it comes to father-son stuff and have kept tabs on him.

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    1 hour ago, whatwhat say what said:

    Any report on how he went today?

    Didn't do much.

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    Kalani will likely take at least 2 pre seasons to be AFL ready. Athletically gifted and he has been around footy a long time.

    I am looking forward to seeing him in action with the Dees in 2026.

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    8 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    Why wouldnā€™t he just choose Gold Coast.

    Wonā€™t have to move cities and the Suns obviously have a much brighter future.

    Pretty sure the Suns will prioritise their more talented academy players over White to the point where I wouldn't be surprised if they overlook him.

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    Being in the AIS squad is a good start but the kid still has a lot to prove to earn a spot on an AFL list. Early days but I'm not convinced yet.

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    29 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    Why wouldnā€™t he just choose Gold Coast.

    Wonā€™t have to move cities and the Suns obviously have a much brighter future.

    grown up supporting the club, immediate opportunity to be part of long-term future, significantly behind the pecking order at gc17

    18 minutes ago, Random Task said:

    Being in the AIS squad is a good start but the kid still has a lot to prove to earn a spot on an AFL list. Early days but I'm not convinced yet.

    isn't that always the case tho? being part of the ais squad is a great start

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    8 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

    grown up supporting the club, immediate opportunity to be part of long-term future, significantly behind the pecking order at gc17

    isn't that always the case tho? being part of the ais squad is a great start

    It is. Just think some people need to rein in their expectations. There's a decent chance he doesn't end up on any AFL list.

    Edited by Random Task

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    50 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    Why wouldnā€™t he just choose Gold Coast.

    Wonā€™t have to move cities and the Suns obviously have a much brighter future.

    the afl have given them 5 other first round players this year, atm they are probably looking better then him, they are good for talls aswell

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    2 minutes ago, Random Task said:

    It is. Just think some people need to reign in their expectations. There's a decent chance he doesn't end up on any AFL list.

    he was an u16 or 18 all australian as a bottom ager he will end up on a list 100% hopefully ours

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    5 minutes ago, jaydenh10 said:

    he was an u16 or 18 all australian as a bottom ager he will end up on a list 100% hopefully ours

    He was AA in the u16s as a top ager. Featured in the first u18 allies championship game as a bottom ager in last year but didn't play any more games.

    Hope he has a ripper year and chooses us, I just don't think its a certainty yet.

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    20 minutes ago, Random Task said:

    He was AA in the u16s as a top ager. Featured in the first u18 allies championship game as a bottom ager in last year but didn't play any more games.

    Hope he has a ripper year and chooses us, I just don't think its a certainty yet.

    he will take a while to get up to afl level as is the case with most rucks. we need all the help we can get atm

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    • 2 weeks later...

    write-up from rookie me central

    Stats: 7 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles

    Swapping positions with Curtin at half time, White was arguably more impressive in the defensive half where he was able to win more of the ball and demonstrate his clean ball use by hand and foot. White has a knack for being in the right spot, but currently lacks of little polish to hold all the marks heā€™s in the area for, almost getting mark of the year early on as the Academy exited defensive 50. To make up for this, White took a one-handed chest mark whilst jumping on his opponents head in the defensive goalsquare in the third quarter.

    https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2025/04/28/scouting-notes-afl-academy-vs-coburg-vfl-2/

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    Shifter Sheehanā€™s write up today in the Herald Sun of the top 75 junior prospects:

    KALANI WHITE

    Club: Queensland/Gold Coast Suns Academy/ Broadbeach FC

    Height: 199 cm

    DOB: 05/05/07

    A tall defender who has also shown he can go forward, White excites with his athleticism and outstanding overhead marking. He has a supernatural leap and the size to win contests in the air or bring the ball to ground to the benefit of his team. At the under-16 national championships in 2023 he was rarely beaten one-on-one and averaged seven disposals and two marks playing predominately deep in defence, earning All-Australian honours. White continued his development as a bottom-age player last year, which included 10 games in the pathway programs for the Suns Academy, Allies, Queenslandā€™s under-17s and Team Sloane in the under-17 Futures game. He has continued his education early this year, playing forward and ruck as he expands his experiences. A member of the AFL Academy, he is still growing into his rangy body but showed glimpses of his potential with his strong marking in two matches against VFL opponents in April. The son of former No.1 draft pick and 236-game player Jeff White, he will have a decision to make later this year given he is father-son eligible for the Demons as well as being eligible to join the Suns through Academy rules.IMG_0668.jpeg

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    sliding...

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    Heā€™s got a lot of talent. If he could stick his marks heā€™d be more highly rated.

    If you look at his overall package, he could be anything. Elite athlete, good user of the ball, high character, reads the play well and has been exposed to elite pathways for years.

    On the downside, he is super skinny and doesnā€™t accumulate a lot of footy. He also seems to lack positional versatility.

    Iā€™d be super happy to have him. Regardless of his form this season and I think JT and his team would be too.

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    • 2 weeks later...
    On 13/04/2025 at 20:24, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    Why wouldnā€™t he just choose Gold Coast.

    Wonā€™t have to move cities and the Suns obviously have a much brighter future.

    Ryan Reid, Ned Moyle and Jed Walter are just 3 reasons

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    4 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

    On 13/04/2025 at 19:24, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    Why wouldnā€™t he just choose Gold Coast.

    Wonā€™t have to move cities and the Suns obviously have a much brighter future.

    The choice between playing 13 games a year at Carrara or 13-16 games at the MCG is a no brainer.

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    10 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

    Ryan Reid, Ned Moyle and Jed Walter are just 3 reasons

    Reality is Kalani has played a fair a bit of time as a ruck and full back. Witts is 34 and Collins is 30. They may eye him to fill one of those roles.

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    9 minutes ago, Ollie fan said:

    I don't understand the academy system. Can someone explain why he is in it?

    Similar to the F/S rule, if a player is in the Suns academy they get priority to them but must match the points applied to that player with the picks they have.

    Kalani is part of the Suns academy so could nominate to go to them and then when he is bid on they would have to use their next picks allocated points to acquire him.

    There are two things in our favour with this:

    • The suns have two other academy players who are expected to be top 10-15 picks, so they will need to allocate a decent amount of points to acquire those two.

    • The AFL has tightened the points system by allocating less points as the picks go on (pick 54 is the last pick that has points applied which used to be pick 73).

    On this basis I think there is a decent chance Kalani will nominate Melbourne as we are very likely to have the points to match, while the Suns may not have him in their plans. The other thing he needs to consider are the players on each list. With Ethan Read, Mac Andrew, Jed Walter, Ben King and Ned Moyle all on the Suns list it makes his prospects of getting a game early with the Suns lower.

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    On 13/04/2025 at 23:14, Random Task said:

    It is. Just think some people need to rein in their expectations. There's a decent chance he doesn't end up on any AFL list.

    And there is a very decent chance that your opinion is totally wrong.

    What do you base your negativity on Kalani on? His height and thin frame?

    Only need to see his progress and form in junior levels and his footy upbringing by his father and teams and coaches do far.

    A Club would be foolish to not give Kalani on opportunity at AFL level.

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