ah-mu in 27!? get him in!!

21 hours ago, Tarax Club said:

May be some light at the end of the tunnel on this one. AFL website article today  “Clubs pitch for access to Pacific Island talent…” Fingers crossed for a more inclusive policy from head office.

It actually blows my mind that the AFL brought in a whole new round as a way to compete with the NRL in the northern states, yet don't include pacific islander kids in NGAs. Surely getting more players from this group in the AFL would also help grow the game in traditionally rugby strong ethnicities.

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised, the AFL seem to be run by very confused people.

27 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

It actually blows my mind that the AFL brought in a whole new round as a way to compete with the NRL in the northern states, yet don't include pacific islander kids in NGAs. Surely getting more players from this group in the AFL would also help grow the game in traditionally rugby strong ethnicities.

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised, the AFL seem to be run by very confused people.

There is no confusion, they know their salaries down to the last dollar.

12 minutes ago, Redleg said:

There is no confusion, they know their salaries down to the last dollar.

Spot on Mr. Leg. Is it just me does the AFL look to be slipping vs NRL? The new CEO seems like a wet blanket. At least we haven’t had any virtue signalling for a while. It is no surprise that it doesn’t seem to matter which recruitment method for developing players the AFL have we never seem to qualify for any player.

Edited March 14Mar 14 by old dee

38 minutes ago, old dee said:

Spot on Mr. Leg. Is it just me does the AFL look to be slipping vs NRL? The new CEO seems like a wet blanket. At least we haven’t had any virtue signalling for a while. It is no surprise that it doesn’t seem to matter which recruitment method for developing players the AFL have we never seem to qualify for any player.

Well we did qualify for Jai Culley courtesy of Carlton.

24 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Well we did qualify for Jai Culley courtesy of Carlton.

Is that a win?

1 hour ago, old dee said:

Is that a win?

I guess nothing's a win when you're an inveterate misery guts.

1 hour ago, Demonstone said:

I guess nothing's a win when you're an inveterate misery guts.

It was a genuine question is he good I have never heard of him till the selection. 

38 minutes ago, old dee said:

It was a genuine question is he good I have never heard of him till the selection. 

He has ability and kicked 4 in a game for the Eagles. Foot injury will keep him out for a month or so.

Can play forward or mid.

Certainly adds to our depth if nothing else. 

seems certain that the change to samoan heritage is going to be brought in...for 2026 and beyond

some scuttlebutt that it will require clubs with samoan nga picks to show 'evidence' that they've had them in their academy and helped develop them / divert them from going down other sporting paths

sounds utterly make believe to me, so i can only assume gc17, gw$ have samoan players coming thru

26 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

seems certain that the change to samoan heritage is going to be brought in...for 2026 and beyond

some scuttlebutt that it will require clubs with samoan nga picks to show 'evidence' that they've had them in their academy and helped develop them / divert them from going down other sporting paths

sounds utterly make believe to me, so i can only assume gc17, gw$ have samoan players coming thru

The AFL change their minds more often than I change underwear

From https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2025/04/18/scouting-notes-2025-victorian-u18-trials-game-one/

Ah-Mu remarkably kicked six of his side’s nine total goals, leading from the front as captain for the day. He inspired a sharp turn in fortunes during the third quarter, kicking four of five consecutive Country goals out of the main break. Ah-mu proved too big and strong for Metro’s lean tall defenders, owning the forward 50 and causing headaches with his physicality. The hulking marking target took contested grabs in packs and on the lead, also converting his chances nicely.

AFL owe us after screwing us over with Mac Andrew

If there's one last thing that Brad Green can do, while he is still President, then he needs to continue to lobby to the AFL that the Melbourne Demons should be able to claim Tairon Ah-Mu as part of our NGA.

Tarion is a great young kid and has huge potential. His younger brother Corey is also a young talent.

19 minutes ago, Supreme_Demon said:

If there's one last thing that Brad Green can do, while he is still President, then he needs to continue to lobby to the AFL that the Melbourne Demons should be able to claim Tairon Ah-Mu as part of our NGA.

Nup won’t happen

We play good corporate citizen every time

It’s disgusting

Imagine if we had Eddie McGuire

or Jeff

Love them or hate them they stood up for their club

But Nup well let someone off for ending Angus’ career with not a single bleat in the media

14 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Tarion is a great young kid and has huge potential. His younger brother Corey is also a young talent.

Corey is a young talent. A different body shape to Tairon and is playing as a tall midfielder. Corey slightly taller than Tairon was at the same age. In regards to Tairon the coaches are challenging him to play with more physicality.

9 minutes ago, Dee Viney Intervention said:

Corey is a young talent. A different body shape to Tairon and is playing as a tall midfielder. Corey slightly taller than Tairon was at the same age. In regards to Tairon the coaches are challenging him to play with more physicality.

my expectation is that by the time corey gets to be draft eligible and is in our nga we'll have access to him

it's bizarre - not the big bro, but the lil bro

the afl and their arbitrary rule changes...

1 hour ago, Supreme_Demon said:

If there's one last thing that Brad Green can do, while he is still President, then he needs to continue to lobby to the AFL that the Melbourne Demons should be able to claim Tairon Ah-Mu as part of our NGA.

has anyone contacted the club to make them aware?

On 13/03/2025 at 18:06, adonski said:

"The League's discussions around the rule would be unlikely to change access to prospects in this year's draft."

But they were happy to change the rules about GC only accessing 2 picks if they make finals. Policy on the run but only when it suits from the nuffies at AFL HQ

9 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

my expectation is that by the time corey gets to be draft eligible and is in our nga we'll have access to him

it's bizarre - not the big bro, but the lil bro

the afl and their arbitrary rule changes...

What leads you to have that expectation?

2 minutes ago, Redleg said:

What leads you to have that expectation?

because the afl loves to change rules, and there's already been talk that this is one of the ones that is likely to be altered

2 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

because the afl loves to change rules, and there's already been talk that this is one of the ones that is likely to be altered

When you are trying to broaden the AFL appeal and you allow a player who has lived in Australia since 6 months old, with a Finnish parent, to be an NGA yet you deny a Polynesian player, the rules are non sensical.

The AFL is reviewing NGA rules and zones. There is a push to include Pacific Island descendants in the new rules.

The new rules/zones will be effective in the 2026 draft.

We can still draft him but use a higher pick than we otherwise would.

The frustrating thing is this will be the third time in not many years we miss a key player due to on-the-run AFL rule changes. The others:

• Noah Anderson due to GCS getting pick 2 as a priority pick. He is now their captain. We did get Jackson so not sure we lost out short term but probably did long term.

• Mac Andrew due to the silly not being allowed to match under draft pick #40 rule. No prior warning. That rule was quickly rescinded. Too late for us. Now one of the highest potential players in the league.

I'm not suggesting an AFL conspiracy against us but last year Carlton (F/S) and Essendon (NGA) did a fine job of lobbying for the new bid matching rules to not take effect until 2025. Maybe we just don't lobby enough.

Edited April 23Apr 23 by Lucifers Hero

It will be an interesting watch. Tairon is dominating at junior level because of he’s size. He is a big strong boy. Will that translate to senior football where he will come up against big strong men. A bit like Tom Scully who dominated at junior level racking up huge numbers on the back of his engine…….didn’t translate to senior football.

11 minutes ago, Dee Viney Intervention said:

It will be an interesting watch. Tairon is dominating at junior level because of he’s size. He is a big strong boy. Will that translate to senior football where he will come up against big strong men. A bit like Tom Scully who dominated at junior level racking up huge numbers on the back of his engine…….didn’t translate to senior football.

$cully was pretty dominant for a few seasons at his best - had a couple of super years at gw$ before his ankle break really curtailed his running power before he was traded to dingley