Well, it's that time of the year again.

The footy season is done and dusted (we didn't do so well and it shall never be spoken of again), the trade period is finished (we did OK) and the various drafts await (we'll kill it as usual).

With little to discuss, Demonland needs a diversion from the recent squabbling and here it is.

As usual, below is a team from the backline.  It consists entirely of current AFL players. 

That is not the only thing they have in common, however.  What else links them?

Please submit your answers via PM only.  Blurters will receive a virtual swift kick up the blurter.

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B:       Ben Long     Sam Frost     Josh Battle

H/B:   Conor Stone     Jake Lever     Callan Ward

C:       Jayden Hunt     Brad Crouch     Lachie Ash

H/F:   Callum Brown     Todd Marshall     Brad Close

F:       Robbie Fox     Tom Lynch     Eddie Ford

R:       Mason Cox      David Swallow     Tom Green

I/C:    Ethan Read     Nate Caddy     Brayden Cook     Ollie Lord

SUB:  Phoenix Foster

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting, Mr Stone! Just this morning, I formed(!) a clue for my next crossword:

Finesses facing for force-flux functions (9)

(Not the greatest of clues; I may yet finalise(!!) to something like Adjusts attention, by force, rearranging functions. Hint: an anagram and a synonym)

 

 @Timothy Reddan-A'Blew has identified a common factor, even though it's not the answer I had in mind.

I feel obliged to award him first prize and he may select any player in the 2024 AFL draft to join MFC.

1 hour ago, Demonstone said:

 @Timothy Reddan-A'Blew has identified a common factor, even though it's not the answer I had in mind.

I feel obliged to award him first prize and he may select any player in the 2024 AFL draft to join MFC.

Why, thank you, Good Sir!

Harvey Langford. I have my reasons...

Looking for guidance to solve this?  Ask your grandpa.  Or his wife.

As the late and great John Kennedy once implored his team, "Don't think.  DO!!!" 

That's the word.

Have you noticed, Mr Stone, that your usual players have gone silent on this forum? One, I know, is gone altogether.

Methinks its *cough* 'discussion' of the Club's *cough* 'issues' is at work there?

Given that you're the only one to respond @Timothy Reddan-A'Blew, there are three possibilities.

1.  The usual suspects, as you suspect, have stopped visiting the site.

2.  The teaser is too difficult and the obscure clues haven't helped.

3.  Nobody cares.

2

@mo64 has all but solved it but just needs to refine his answer.

If you're still trying to work it out, look at the surnames (first names are irrelevant) and keep in mind Grandpa's wife and John Kennedy's exhortation.

The answer has nothing to do with footy nor do the players share a surname with another group - eg. musicians, politicians, jockeys etc.

The refining has been successful and @mo64 has solved the mystery.

He now has the opportunity to draft another star for the mighty MFC.   Choose wisely, mo!

Well @bluey is my chief recruiting scout, so with pick no. 9 in the AFL draft, the MFC choose Sam Weideman.

I always read these threads but confess to not being a puzzler.  Don't be disheartened, Demonstone!

@Roger Mellie also has one foot on the podium with his almost-but-not-quite answer.

A trickle has become a flood as @Hawk the Demon has spotted the link and gets his opportunity to draft a future superstar for the red and blue.

Pick 83 - Tye Hourigan. Who doesn't love a smokey?

@Roger Mellie has done enough to join the other three on the podium.

I believe that he is keen on Sid Draper, who joins Langford, Weideman  and Hourigan as Demons.

To help put the rest of you out of your misery, the two clues may be distilled to GRAMMAR and DO.

10 hours ago, Demonstone said:

Given that you're the only one to respond @Timothy Reddan-A'Blew, there are three possibilities.

1.  The usual suspects, as you suspect, have stopped visiting the site.

2.  The teaser is too difficult and the obscure clues haven't helped.

3.  Nobody cares.

Turns out there was a 4th possibility! Somebody had their finger in the dyke.

Time to deliver the coup de grace on this one it would appear.

The hints of "grammar" and "do" were intended to lead you to the solution that the surnames of all the players in my team can also be used as a verb.

I promise the next teaser will be much easier.