On 21/03/2024 at 03:35, Its Time for Another said:

Agree with you that the purpose of the northern academy's was to find players who wouldn't otherwise play AFL. Heeney is the poster boy for the success for this. Blakey and Mills who already played AFL in a junior club are not. But how you police that I don't know. 

Don't agree with you at all on COLA. I live in Sydney and there is a very clearly identifiable difference in COL up here compared to any other city in Australia. Especially compared to somewhere like Geelong who get a massive COL advantage. The whole COLA outrage and the Buddy deal was a scurrilous beat up by Eddie Everywhere. The COLA component of the salary cap was audited by the AFL every year. It was allocated per rata to each player on the list. There was no pooling of the money and giving it to just one player, Buddy. Swans and GWS will always run with a substantial disadvantage at. attracting players because of this disparity. It has had a significant effect on their trading since it was taken away. 

Sidney at a disadvantage at  attracting players they've never had a problem

  On 01/05/2024 at 12:02, Deelectable said:

It will really test my loyalty to this game and following AFL should Kalani end up at the Suns. On one hand the AFL, media and football world spruik the romanticism of the notion of a son following in his father's footsteps at his beloved club. On the other, a contrived academy rule can gazump this  notion to rob a club the opportunity of recruiting a 'favourite son'. Read Nick Blakey. Make up your mind! It's an absolute farce. To lose a 10+ year potential KP is unpalatable. If the AFL really want F/S to remain it should always take precedence over gluttonous northern academies.

That says something more about north then the system, his father obviously didn't really love  North, 

  On 01/05/2024 at 23:57, Demon trucker said:

Sidney at a disadvantage at  attracting players they've never had a problem

Sidney who?

Academies are meant to generate interest to those who wouldn't otherwise play the game.

Should not apply to F/S. Makes a mockery of the intent.

  On 02/05/2024 at 03:52, Purple77 said:

Academies are meant to generate interest to those who wouldn't otherwise play the game.

Should not apply to F/S. Makes a mockery of the intent.

mockery is one of the many synonyms for afl

  On 01/05/2024 at 23:24, Gawndy the Great said:

How old are his twin brothers? Can we possibly break a record and have 3 White's playing at the one time for the same club? All KPP (CHB, Ruc, CHF)!

3 Whites and 2 Browns???

Sounding a bit like like Reservoir Dogs!

  On 03/05/2024 at 08:46, Moonshadow said:

3 Whites and 2 Browns???

Sounding a bit like like Reservoir Dogs!

Then do we recruit Tom Green from GWS and Toby Pink from North? Honoury mention Mason Redman. Unfortunately Simon Black and Robbie Grey have retired.

  On 01/05/2024 at 23:24, Gawndy the Great said:

How old are his twin brothers? Can we possibly break a record and have 3 White's playing at the one time for the same club? All KPP (CHB, Ruc, CHF)!

12 or so, i think?

a long while off

the father-son rules could have changed six times by the time they're draft eligible!

Edited May 3, 2024May 3 by whatwhat say what

Jeff White was interviewed brilliantly on the DeeBrief this week and spoke a bit about Kalani.

Definitely worth a listen!

Sounds like a much closer race for his services than it was a couple of years ago. Kalani's always been a Melbourne supporter but the lure of staying at home and playing with the mates he's come through the Suns with would be really strong.

Good to hear Jeff say the Dees have been fantastic with Kalani and the family though, sounds like we're doing all we can.

  On 08/05/2024 at 23:42, Dee Boys said:

Sounds like a much closer race for his services than it was a couple of years ago. Kalani's always been a Melbourne supporter but the lure of staying at home and playing with the mates he's come through the Suns with would be really strong.

Good to hear Jeff say the Dees have been fantastic with Kalani and the family though, sounds like we're doing all we can.

kalani is mad melbourne and has been integrated into our culture over a long period of time

as jeff himself said in the interview, kalani has only been involved in the suns' academy for 12-18 months

the bigger q is around what changes are made to academy / father-son bidding processes and how that effects everyone going forward 

it was interesting jeff said that the '07 crop' is even stronger than last year's draft haul that gc17 was able to claim, which means that it might be harder for gc17 to 'claim' all those locals that are part of the talent pathway

kalani is coming to the dees imo and it sounds like he's developing really nicely as a talent

 

Surely Kalani wants to hear the roar of the G at a Prime time club, Play In Anzac eve and King's Birthday clashes or play in front of 5k fans every 2nd week.

The choice is clear for the young lad, I'm sure he has recieved all the advice in the world, but I reckon the year 2021 cemented where he wants to play his football.

Another in 2024 wouldn't go astray either.

On the other hand the club would have been sending ex players kids club supporter packs since they've been knee high to a grasshopper like all good clubs should.

Not worried one bit about Kalani's decision.

Edited May 9, 2024May 9 by YesitwasaWin4theAges

  On 03/05/2024 at 08:46, Moonshadow said:

3 Whites and 2 Browns???

Sounding a bit like like Reservoir Dogs!

I think it's an infographic from the census.

  On 08/05/2024 at 23:42, Dee Boys said:

Sounds like a much closer race for his services than it was a couple of years ago. Kalani's always been a Melbourne supporter but the lure of staying at home and playing with the mates he's come through the Suns with would be really strong.

Good to hear Jeff say the Dees have been fantastic with Kalani and the family though, sounds like we're doing all we can.

I think Jeff is just being diplomatic, which he has to be of course given his involvement in Queensland footy.

I think the new points rules will actually help as Jeff mentioned the brother of Bodhi Uwland is expected to go high, plus another player.

If Kalani is a top 10-20 pick they probably wouldn't be able to pick them all up anyway, so his manager will probably push him towards the Dees anyway.

I'm pretty comfortable he chooses us anyway but just food for thought.

  On 09/05/2024 at 02:11, DistrACTION Jackson said:

I think Jeff is just being diplomatic, which he has to be of course given his involvement in Queensland footy.

I think the new points rules will actually help as Jeff mentioned the brother of Bodhi Uwland is expected to go high, plus another player.

If Kalani is a top 10-20 pick they probably wouldn't be able to pick them all up anyway, so his manager will probably push him towards the Dees anyway.

I'm pretty comfortable he chooses us anyway but just food for thought.

no, suns don't have the top 40 pick cap like other academies

hence why they were able to pick up four in the top 20 last year

  On 09/05/2024 at 03:22, whatwhat say what said:

no, suns don't have the top 40 pick cap like other academies

hence why they were able to pick up four in the top 20 last year

Wasn't referring to that, more that the AFL will be tightening rules so they can't use 4-5 picks in the 30s or 40s to get academy selections.

So if they have 2-3 players in the top 10-20 it will be more difficult for them to take all of them.

 

  On 20/05/2024 at 08:00, Demonland said:

 

Similar timing to his old man as well!

  On 20/05/2024 at 08:00, Demonland said:

 

Timing completely off 🤣🤣🤣

I've got to ask:

What do these results mean to young Kalani?...

SUNS 👊👊 Cats

Eagles 👊 DEMONS

🤔

  On 08/05/2024 at 23:46, whatwhat say what said:

kalani is mad melbourne and has been integrated into our culture over a long period of time

as jeff himself said in the interview, kalani has only been involved in the suns' academy for 12-18 months

the bigger q is around what changes are made to academy / father-son bidding processes and how that effects everyone going forward 

it was interesting jeff said that the '07 crop' is even stronger than last year's draft haul that gc17 was able to claim, which means that it might be harder for gc17 to 'claim' all those locals that are part of the talent pathway

kalani is coming to the dees imo and it sounds like he's developing really nicely as a talent

 

Time for his Daddy, Jeff, to speak with the outstanding gentleman called Max Gawn; Gawny and family could make a semi-permanent room at their home for young Kalani (with Jeff's encouragement) whilst starting training with the Dees' blessing at Casey combined with regular Demon coaching and contact from Jeff himself, so that the father-and-son considerations are even stronger. If Kalani is really keen, one-eyed and committed to the Dees, the door is open under such arrangements, surely?

 

  On 20/05/2024 at 09:35, Deemania since 56 said:

Time for his Daddy, Jeff, to speak with the outstanding gentleman called Max Gawn; Gawny and family could make a semi-permanent room at their home for young Kalani (with Jeff's encouragement) whilst starting training with the Dees' blessing at Casey combined with regular Demon coaching and contact from Jeff himself, so that the father-and-son considerations are even stronger. If Kalani is really keen, one-eyed and committed to the Dees, the door is open under such arrangements, surely?

 

Max is a brilliant clubman and leader who I'm sure would love to see Kalani at Melbourne, but with a wife and two babies I don't think we should expect him to run a boarding house for potential recruits. There's plenty of good Melbourne people who would could take Kalani under their wing in the hope he will thrive in the red and blue.

  On 20/05/2024 at 09:35, Deemania since 56 said:

Time for his Daddy, Jeff, to speak with the outstanding gentleman called Max Gawn; Gawny and family could make a semi-permanent room at their home for young Kalani (with Jeff's encouragement) whilst starting training with the Dees' blessing at Casey combined with regular Demon coaching and contact from Jeff himself, so that the father-and-son considerations are even stronger. If Kalani is really keen, one-eyed and committed to the Dees, the door is open under such arrangements, surely?

 

He will be a Demon. Saw Kalani and Jeff at training last year as special guests of Tim Lamb. Kalani spent lots of one on one time talking to coaches and senior players who were all showing keen interest in his progress. Watch this space. 

Edited May 20, 2024May 20 by Swooper Northey

Is he actually any good? Like genuine question, are we talking a lock for first round this stage? Fair bit of water to pass under the bridge yet 

  On 20/05/2024 at 11:47, Jeremy said:

Is he actually any good? Like genuine question, are we talking a lock for first round this stage? Fair bit of water to pass under the bridge yet 

Made last year's U16 All-Australian team. Described as a tall defender who showed he can also go forward and really excite with his athleticism and outstanding overhead marking. Has a supernatural leap and the size to win the contest or bring the ball to ground to the benefit of his team. Rarely beaten one-on-one, averaging 7.3 disposals and 2.3 marks playing predominately in deep defence.