honestly for mine, he'd wanna win a coleman next year. to actively select a 24yo vfl battler, yes he has some mongrel about him, over riak boggles me. Riak in the right system, skies the limit. he was putting genuine games together at the end of the season, taking intercepts and shutting down this drafts best key forwards, we should have given him 2 or 3 years, would have got so much more out of the pick than johnson. i pray im proven wrong but its hard to buy in on raw data

A great video here!

Simon Goodwin surprising big "AJ" with his friends, teammates and family at his house presenting him with a Melbourne Demons jumper and some merchandise.

 

This is the type of social media I like to see!

Well done AJ!  Congratulations on achieving your AFL dream!

GO DEMONS!!! 👹🔴🔵

Unexpected, but I for one am happy with the pick. So many on here lament the lack of mongrel amongst some of the players - and not just the young ones either - and to bring in a crash 'n bash merchant can only be a positive. If all he does is show Jefferson and Adams how to crash a pack it will have been worth it

I think that some here underestimate the importance of a strong Casey team. It's one of the keys to developing all these younger players on the list and keeping our depth players AFL- ready. If he helps straighten us up and adds a bit of backbone to the team it'll be a plus. (And no, you can't just get players like this direct to Casey.)

As for the rest, who knows, though I suspect he's going to need at least a season to even start getting up to speed. 

I don’t mind a pick like this.

I have to believe that JT knows his business. Mature age, country boy and a bit rough around the edges that has finally been given a crack at the big time.

I am sure he will give it everything and not die wondering. 
 

He plays for my team and good luck to him.
 

1 hour ago, Its Time for Another said:

Cult hero written all over him. 
 

The next Fraser Gehrig. 
 

Everyone complains about our culture. We need to start a Go Fund Me for him for the next KB so he can make a cultural statement that should have been made this season and see to Maynard and Moore. We can fund the consequent loss of match payments. 

If this was the only thing he ever did for us he should be awarded life membership of the MFC immediately after the game. 

It looks like we've decided to go in a different direction after recruiting a couple of bruise free forwards in recent years. 

1 minute ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

It looks like we've decided to go in a different direction after recruiting a couple of bruise free forwards in recent years. 

Say that to JVR’s face.

Do I back the considered judgment of JT or the posters who have already written him off before a ball has been kicked?

The answer's obvious.

 

Hardness on steroids by those highlights. Love him!

4 hours ago, rpfc said:

I am going to give the club more credit than that.

He is obviously depth - no one picked at ND68 is anything else, but none of our forwards have lit up their names - he is a mature age forward who should back himself to compete for a spot. If he is a natural forward with good movement then he is immediately ahead of any other tall forward on our list.

No Jeffo is a born forward with the right instincts and associated skills. But Disco is learning fast and JVR competes for his life and his ability will surface for 40/50 goals soon. 

Youth is on our side but this left field selection might be a bit Frampton inspired wih bash plus crash to boot. 

Maybe he jumps on opposing teams no 1 players back and sends them to hospital. 

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

 

Round 1 chance before a single day of preseason is an interesting call.

When he does get a game he should take the ruck/fwd and let JvR spend 100% of his game time forward.

 

2 hours ago, Nascent said:

Round 1 chance before a single day of preseason is an interesting call.

When he does get a game he should take the ruck/fwd and let JvR spend 100% of his game time forward.

 

Was trying to work out his selection, but that could be the plan..... if he can give Max a chop out for 5m a quarter, give a contest up forward, and keep JVR out of the ruck, may well be an astute pick. 

Should kick a few goals down at Casey I suppose. Strange recruitment 

Gosh anyone would think he’s been picked by another team. Support the lad, back in JT like everyone always does, and rub your eyes again and remember its pick 68 ffs

5 hours ago, FTB said:

Say that to JVR’s face.

Weed & Schache. 

8 hours ago, Supreme_Demon said:

A classic Jason Taylor "smokey"! Love it!

Welcome to the Demons Aidan Johnson!

That's gotta be his nickname now eh?

The "Albury Assassin"! Play him on Brayden Maynard and let's spill some blood on the footy field! Hahaha! 🤣

Nar reminds me of a cross between SKULL MURPHY and BRUTE BERNARD!😝 HENCEFORTH HIS NEW NICKNAME IS.................THUNDERDOME!...🤣😀🤩😍🥰😇 WELCOME TO MFC THUNDERDOME!!

Surely you take Riak Andrew ahead of this guy. Will never play an AFL game

Reminds me a lot of Mitch Clark. 
Absolutely worth a look with such a late pick. 

https://www.facebook.com/werribeefc/videos/1078586600584157/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

6 hours ago, bing181 said:

I think that some here underestimate the importance of a strong Casey team. It's one of the keys to developing all these younger players on the list and keeping our depth players AFL- ready. If he helps straighten us up and adds a bit of backbone to the team it'll be a plus. (And no, you can't just get players like this direct to Casey.)

As for the rest, who knows, though I suspect he's going to need at least a season to even start getting up to speed. 

If he needs a season to be ready it’s a waste of selection really.’

i am astounded that you wouldn’t beat the bid for Riak given his development and potential. 

JT must know more than meets the eye surely so hope Aidan can help our ruck /forward situation and also serve the purpose identified by his selection. 

Great so he can tackle, I guess that’s an improvement on most of our list…..

People have been crying out for a pick like this. The last 2 years we've taken punts on blokes like Schace, Fullarton and McAdam. Blokes with all the talent and no real grit.

Reminds of Brody Miochek, good luck Aidan, hope he makes the most of the opportunity.

38 minutes ago, Tracca said:

Gosh anyone would think he’s been picked by another team. Support the lad, back in JT like everyone always does, and rub your eyes again and remember its pick 68 ffs

💯.  The kid has worked hard to get an opportunity, let him crack in.

Geeze, we have some very average supporters 

Could this pick be influenced  by Mentha now likely being a Cat B Rookie - essentialy giving us an extra list spot (taken by a small).