Culley makes most sense and seems most likely. A 194cm mid/forward who has already been in an AFL environment. He'd provide midfield depth in the short term, and at only 21 years of age and a mature age recruit, he could still develop to be a decent AFL player longer term also.

Going by the club's VFL | Match simulation player report - "In three 30-minute terms of VFL football under the baking sun, Jai Culley was a standout performer for the Demons as they fell one point shy of the home side after a slow start," Culley is looking like the favourite, especially in view of the fact that he was considered to be close in the last SSP deliberations before we took Jack Henderson.

 

14 hours ago, Redleg said:

That is going too far, because we simply don’t know.

He may develop or he may not, but he hasn’t had the chance to do that yet.

He deserves his chance and he will get it and good luck to him.

Unfortunate illness but he was atrocious last season

 

How can you average 2 disposals a game 

 

Boy George we hardly knew ya (he comes and goes..)

4 minutes ago, adonski said:

Boy George we hardly knew ya (he comes and goes..)

He stays and will play for Casey and maybe is added in the msd.

Josh Gabelich has just reported that the paperwork has been submitted to the AFL  for Culley to be a Melbourne player. 

42 minutes ago, rpfc said:

If your making a decision on SSP based on what the best 22 needs - god help us.

Culley surely gets a go.

Whether he ‘has a spot in the 22’ is as meaningless as speculating who is going to get the next season ending knee injury…

It's not so much that, but I think we have more resistance to injuries in certain areas of the ground. We have more midfield depth than we do small forward depth.

Maybe when you're choosing players in the first round of the draft you only think about talent but I find it odd that you wouldn't consider list needs when choosing a player to occupy the last spot on the list.

12 minutes ago, adonski said:

Boy George we hardly knew ya (he comes and goes..)

I'd think he'd be a chance at the MSD. If not that, maybe a rookie spot at season's end.

Wow things can move quickly at AFL, how good and from all the training reports very happy with Jai Culley.😁👍

Melbourne is set to add a former Eagle to its rookie list, @JoshGabelich reports.https://t.co/uPtsguLCCz

— AFL (@AFL) February 24, 2025

ROUND 6, 2023 at Adelaide Oval (22 April 2023)
PORT ADELAIDE 3.2 9.6 13.9 16.13 (109)
WEST COAST 2.3 3.6 7.8 10.9  (69)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Finlayson 5, Rozee 2, Rioli 2, Burton 2, Byrne-Jones 2, Lord, Drew, Powell-Pepper
West Coast: Culley 4, Allen 2, Darling 2, Waterman, Petruccelle

What a whirlwind for Culley - gets delisted by West Coast, trains the house down at Melbourne before missing out on our first SSP spot only for a second to open up a few days later 😱

Anyway glad to have him despite AMW’s unfortunate injury 

I reckon the Eagles just might regret delisting him 

Some positive news if this is confirmed that the AFL has decided  to extend the SSP period.

It will be interesting for the following reasons.

1) What type of impact will Jai Culley have at the Demons?

2) Who will the Casey Demons take as a replacement now that Jai Culley will be on an AFL list?

3) Who will Carlton take as a replacement for Jagga Smith?

Culley isn't as far away as some think.

It's a long season and Culley is perfect if there's an injury to one of the bigger bodied mids, or players need a rest.  It might be Langford, or they may look to rest Viney, Petracca, Rivers, or Oliver later in the year.

It's Culley

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

He stays and will play for Casey and maybe is added in the msd.

Agree

Roy had a standout first game for Casey but his other two that I saw (admittedly in a weak Casey side) were nothing to inspire.

With the MFC pre-season and the ongoing Casey games (presumably every week at VFL level) he will get a good chance to show what he has

Securing Jai is a GREAT outcome. It's a real shame it came from a cruel injury to AMW, but it's something and if even half of what is said about him comes to fruition, he'll be a really valuable addition. He looks the goods. Ox loves him haha

...And to think, this came from some common sense from the AFL!! 

1 hour ago, KozzyCan said:

It's not so much that, but I think we have more resistance to injuries in certain areas of the ground. We have more midfield depth than we do small forward depth.

Maybe when you're choosing players in the first round of the draft you only think about talent but I find it odd that you wouldn't consider list needs when choosing a player to occupy the last spot on the list.

That’s a false economy; late picks in the draft are looking across all available, scouted players. You can make ‘needs’ based calls with those picks.

However, the SSP decision is working from a pool of train-on players over summer at the club and any that chose to train elsewhere.

Whoever is most promising AND agrees to come is who you should put on the list.

Perhaps the better place to lean on ‘needs’ is who you invite to train with the club over summer.

 

Edited February 24Feb 24 by rpfc

27 minutes ago, rpfc said:

That’s a false economy; late picks in the draft are looking across all available, scouted players. You can make ‘needs’ based calls with those picks.

However, the SSP decision is working from a pool of train-on players over summer at the club and any that chose to train elsewhere.

Whoever is most promising AND agrees to come is who you should put on the list.

Perhaps the better place to lean on ‘needs’ is who you invite to train with the club over summer.

 

Yeah right and we have had both training with the club recently. That's why George and Culley were the names being floated and not some random blokes from some country footy club.

It's a moot point, we picked Culley so hopefully we've got a good player on board.

The latest in the state of play in relation to the SSP ~

Lachlan McAndrew - Adelaide 
Matt Carroll - Carlton
Francis Evans - Carlton
Will White - Carlton 
Tom Edwards - Essendon
Jaxon Prior - Essendon
Isaiah Dudley - Fremantle
Quinton Narkle - Fremantle
Ben Jepson - Gold Coast
Jai Culley - Melbourne 
Jack Henderson - Melbourne
Josh Lai - Port Adelaide
Harry Boyd - St Kilda
Sandy Brock - West Coast

Every year there are one or two dumped players who resurrect their careers and become successful at a new club. Hoping that at least one of Henderson or Culley falls into that bracket.

By the sounds of it, both Henderson and Culley sound hungry and determined to take this opportunity.

Hope this puts pressure on the likes of Sparrow, Chandler, Woey, Spargo etc (your role players) to perform or you’ll be at Casey quick smart (Goody not one to make massive changes unfortunately).

I get Jarryd Blair vibes for some reason with Henderson, not overly big, but played his role.

All the best Jai and Jack, hope you both star for us.

4 hours ago, Roy Boy said:

Goody not one to make massive changes unfortunately

Demonland myth.

Last year we used 36 players, which is around the AFL average (37).