I wonder if anyone caught sight of Melbourne’s NEXT GENERATION ACADEMY prospect Toby Bedford who was named as Victoria Country’s best player in its Under 18 National Championships game against Western Australia yesterday at Geelong?

The Demons have first call on the lively midfielder/small forward from the Dandenong Stingrays. Bedford is just 176cm and 65kg but from all reports is lively, eye-catching and a strong tackler who offers plenty of forward pressure.

Given that he’s with the Stingrays, we might see him sometime soon as a 23rd player for the Casey Demons.

1 minute ago, Whispering_Jack said:

I wonder if anyone caught sight of Melbourne’s NEXT GENERATION ACADEMY prospect Toby Bedford who was named as Victoria Country’s best player in its Under 18 National Championships game against Western Australia yesterday at Geelong?

The Demons have first call on the lively midfielder/small forward from the Dandenong Stingrays. Bedford is just 176cm and 65kg but from all reports is lively, eye-catching and a strong tackler who offers plenty of forward pressure.

 

How does that work?  Is it like the Swans academy picks where they spend points to move up in the draft if someone bids on their player?

 

#3 Toby Bedford (Dandenong Stingrays)

Starting the game inside 50 as a small forward, Bedford showed some fancy footwork on occasions but struggled to get into the game in the first half. Although late in the third quarter he was moved up the ground to the stoppages and created a real spark. He won a couple of hard balls in traffic and released each to advantage, before his defensive efforts were rewarded with a holding the ball free kick. He broke from a centre bounce in the final term and almost set up a goal with a long kick inside 50.

https://www.afldraftcentral.com.au/tag/toby-bedford/

 

Sounds like Charlie Spargo, similar height too.

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

I wonder if anyone caught sight of Melbourne’s NEXT GENERATION ACADEMY prospect Toby Bedford who was named as Victoria Country’s best player in its Under 18 National Championships game against Western Australia yesterday at Geelong?

The Demons have first call on the lively midfielder/small forward from the Dandenong Stingrays. Bedford is just 176cm and 65kg but from all reports is lively, eye-catching and a strong tackler who offers plenty of forward pressure.

Given that he’s with the Stingrays, we might see him sometime soon as a 23rd player for the Casey Demons.

Sounds like a player we need. When they say lively do they mean quick? We need pace, pace and more pace.

No point in recruiting outside pace when Goodwin & MacCartney are so obsessed with slow, inside contested possession winners. Clearly, Goodwin doesn’t watch many Richmond games. 

3 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

How does that work?  Is it like the Swans academy picks where they spend points to move up in the draft if someone bids on their player?

Yep that's right. "Under the draft bidding system, all clubs have the right to bid for academy and father-son players in the draft but a club with priority over the player has the right to match the draft pick with their own draft pick or picks to achieve the points required to secure the player (all draft picks are given a points value)." https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-pool-drained-by-academies-20180502-p4zcxn.html

Here's an interesting map that shows which clubs have access to what across Australia. I'm sure there's going to be some unfair advantages. http://www.afl.com.au/news/game-development/nab-afl-rising-star-program/nga-clubacademies

Next generation AFL club academies – Victorian clubs region allocation

Western Bulldogs – Western Melbourne, Wimmera, Mallee, South West Victoria, Ballarat, (North Ballarat Rebels & Western Jets)

Essendon – North West Melbourne (Calder Cannons), West Arnhem (NT)

Melbourne – South East Melbourne (Dandenong Stingrays), Alice Springs (NT)

Collingwood – Central Melbourne (Oakleigh Chargers), Barkly (NT)

St Kilda – Inner Southern Melbourne (Sandringham Dragons), Frankston LGA

North Melbourne – Melbourne and Wyndham LGAs (Calder Cannons & Western Jets)

Hawthorn – Eastern/Whitehorse LGAs (Eastern Ranges), Gippsland (Gippsland Power), Katherine (NT)

Carlton – Northern Melbourne (Northern Knights)

Geelong – Geelong /Hampden (Geelong Falcons), East Arnhem (NT)

Richmond – Goulburn Murray, Bendigo, Sunraysia, North Central (Bendigo Pioneers and Murray Bushrangers)

2 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Sounds like a player we need. When they say lively do they mean quick? We need pace, pace and more pace.

energy and agility I would say 'W', with intensity.

Quick stepping players we need, and also top speed players as well

In a way, a super academy player is a great way to trade back into the first round.  Match a pick on our academy player with a series of lower picks to get a gun.  

If we picked up Bedford it would mean Dion Johnstone's future would be under threat I would have thought. Dion needs to get a move along.

31 minutes ago, Return to Glory said:

If we picked up Bedford it would mean Dion Johnstone's future would be under threat I would have thought. Dion needs to get a move along.

Johnstone is playing down back now I don't think he has a problem.

1 hour ago, WERRIDEE said:

Johnstone is playing down back now I don't think he has a problem.

I saw that.

11 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

I wonder if anyone caught sight of Melbourne’s NEXT GENERATION ACADEMY prospect Toby Bedford who was named as Victoria Country’s best player in its Under 18 National Championships game against Western Australia yesterday at Geelong?

The Demons have first call on the lively midfielder/small forward from the Dandenong Stingrays. Bedford is just 176cm and 65kg but from all reports is lively, eye-catching and a strong tackler who offers plenty of forward pressure.

Given that he’s with the Stingrays, we might see him sometime soon as a 23rd player for the Casey Demons.

Had heard that Bedford was eligible for us under NGA, so kept an eye on him yesterday.

He has good pace and I really like his endeavour, but was a bit scrappy with his skills and decision making. May not have been used to spending as much time on ball as he did against WA, but was one of VC's best (Walsh, Williams and Eli Smith were probably the only others to play reasonably for VC) well as WA really controlled the game from start to finish.

Unless he makes massive strides in the second half of the season, I don't think we'd have to give up too much to match an opposition bid at this stage.

 

 

It’s a Yes from me. The kid has pace and raw ability. Competitive streak.  Fills a small forward role only.  He is small and skinny. About 66 kegs and would be behind Spargo in the benchpress. 

But as a NGA allocation, he is worth a pick 50/60 opportunity.  

9 hours ago, goodwindees said:

No point in recruiting outside pace when Goodwin & MacCartney are so obsessed with slow, inside contested possession winners. Clearly, Goodwin doesn’t watch many Richmond games. 

So you are saying our recruiting has been bad of late? If so, you have no idea.

The game is won at the contest and that’s what they recruited for 3 years and then they got speed last year.  It would be a great idea to get outside speed first and then have no one to get the ball. 

I think you should change your name to Barry Prendergast. 

Ok Demons11, we now know that you're not very bright.  But at least you're a not so bright Melbourne supporter so we'll forgive you.

Let me spell it out for you to save you having to go back and slowly read my post again. 

I wasn't actually criticising the Recruiting, I was actually criticising the obsessive SELECTION of Goodwin & MacCartney with slow, inside, contested possession winners.

Guess what, the whole footy world knows that when you continually play Melbourne just get it outside the contest and watch how well Tyson, Brayshaw, Viney, Jones, Vince, Lewis, etc etc chase after it.

Why on earth they Selected Tyson the last 2 games and not brought in a Crumber, or someone with a bit of outside toe, eg, Spargo, Stretch or even Garlett is beyond belief. 

Let me explain it even clearer for you.  What is the single Club and Opposition Player that is going to get Jack Viney up for a contest?  Hopefully, you worked that one out.  Yes, it is Port Power and Ollie Wines.  And what do you know, JV nearly BOG but the Selectors bring in Tyson instead of backing JV in to do the job and strengthening the team with a Crumber like Spargo or Garlett in a night game where there is going to be plenty of Crumbs. 

On my reckoning, we lost the Geelong game at Selection through playing Maynard & Wagner.

We lost the Port Power game at Selection, read above.

And what do you think today about the Selection of Petty & Tyson over Frost/Keilty & Spargo/Garlett/Stretch?  A mate of mine who played a couple of hundred Ammo games and gets to training & Casey games told me a couple of weeks ago that Petty will be a nice player but thought he was a skinny, under developed 18 year old that understandably should be debuting sometime in 2019.  Told me that both Frost & Keilty would play before Petty.  On today's evidence, Petty debuted too soon.

Anyway, I hope you read Posts a little more carefully and really understand them before you fire off the keyboard barbs.

 

20 hours ago, Demons11 said:

So you are saying our recruiting has been bad of late? If so, you have no idea.

The game is won at the contest and that’s what they recruited for 3 years and then they got speed last year.  It would be a great idea to get outside speed first and then have no one to get the ball. 

I think you should change your name to Barry Prendergast. 

Who is the speed from last year? Spargo? And...?  Maybe Fritsch. I like Baker but he is a bit of a dasher, not speed. Anyone else? Balic? Lever? Petty? Long way to go to get the outside pace we so badly need.

Didn't realise he was an academy option for us. I was at the game on Friday and thought he looked a player. Hard, fast and skilled. Busted his ass to apply pressure all game. 

 

Big yes from me.

Outstanding young prospect 

Hard at it.  Tackles. Chases.  Knows where the goals are. Demons should grab with pick 50-55 range. 

Righto here's a question for you on the whole academy thing.

If someone were to select Bedford with a first round pick, which we then match, using accumulated points from down the draft order, does this then count towards one of our 2 required first round picks in 4 years as per the future pick trading rules?

i'd've love a jack higgins type.. he likely? imagine jack in our team providing pressure and enthusiasm. JAYZUS

22 hours ago, FireInTheBelly said:

Righto here's a question for you on the whole academy thing.

If someone were to select Bedford with a first round pick, which we then match, using accumulated points from down the draft order, does this then count towards one of our 2 required first round picks in 4 years as per the future pick trading rules?

It would, because they then slot him into the draft position he was bid on. For instance we put a bid in on Callum Mills with our first rounder back in 2015 and he's seen as the 3rd pick while we got Clarry at pick 4. Don't think Bedford has been talked up in the first round though. 

Bedford could be nominated at 40+ which we would match.  But not top 25. 

Bailey Williams is another Dandy player who is touted to be in the top 20. Is he also available to us under these rules?

1 hour ago, Is Dom Is Good said:

Bailey Williams is another Dandy player who is touted to be in the top 20. Is he also available to us under these rules?

I think only if he's Aboriginal or Multicultural.

1 hour ago, Is Dom Is Good said:

Bailey Williams is another Dandy player who is touted to be in the top 20. Is he also available to us under these rules?

The next Generation academy's are a little different for the southern clubs.  Clubs outside NSW and Qld teams only have priority access in the drafts to indigenous and kids with a parent born overseas.   The Qld and NSW teams have priority access to all kids in their academy's.

It is an unfair structure not only to the clubs but also to kids that don't fit into those 2 categories.  I'm involved in a Junior Club that is in another AFL clubs region, we had kids miss out on getting selected into the NGA that are absolute guns and deserve the opportunity to be a part of the program and we had kids that couldn't get a kick in a stampede get selected because of their multi cultured back ground.   

4 minutes ago, drdrake said:

The next Generation academy's are a little different for the southern clubs.  Clubs outside NSW and Qld teams only have priority access in the drafts to indigenous and kids with a parent born overseas.   The Qld and NSW teams have priority access to all kids in their academy's.

It is an unfair structure not only to the clubs but also to kids that don't fit into those 2 categories.  I'm involved in a Junior Club that is in another AFL clubs region, we had kids miss out on getting selected into the NGA that are absolute guns and deserve the opportunity to be a part of the program and we had kids that couldn't get a kick in a stampede get selected because of their multi cultured back ground.   

That is so unfair for those kids.

Another stuff up by the AFL