We are one of 6 clubs to have met with the 196cm prospect who has been overseas playing basketball but was once a part of the Western Jets program.

Apparently viewed as an athletic defender with good skills.

College basketballer meets with six clubs as AFL chance looms

Pass

Need a forward. Basketballers have been rookie list cloggers

5 minutes ago, redandbluemakepurple said:

Pass

Need a forward. Basketballers have been rookie list cloggers

Power forward?

If he hasn't played for 3 years, it makes him eligible for Category B so maybe. Too small for a ruckman so would have to be a key position player, or 3rd tall. Being 196 in basketball in the US means he would be giving away 4 inches to most opponents and considered comparatively small, which means he must be quick and agile. Both Max and Tracc came from basketball backgrounds. Having said that, our last 2 Cat B ex basketballers didn't work out - had all the skill but couldn't get the ball.

Can he kick?

COLLEGE basketballer Oscar Berry has committed to joining Melbourne as a Category B rookie in 2026.

afl.com.au

Demons set to boost defensive stocks with college basketb...

Melbourne is set to add a college basketballer to its ranks for the 2026 season

this our fourth former bball cat b player?

Only 194cm! Give us a giant

1 hour ago, whatwhat say what said:

this our fourth former bball cat b player?

Most of the time they will be. Have to be out of AFL systems for 3+ years. Not sure how many other sports would be relevant.

Despite the way it ended, Joel Smith was a very serviceable player for us. Played the sub role incredibly well in 2023, could've been a Grand Final sub had injuries not gone against us.

Hope Oscar could be the same.

Cat B list spots can't be filled by any other types of players, so we're not taking some list spot that a kid or established AFL player could take. Would be on dirt low money too.

Edited July 1Jul 1 by seventyfour

I don't have much confidence. In our recruiters. Bradke & Farris White were not even close to VFL standard players.

I watched Farris White in a practice game & wondered what our recruiting team had been smoking.

Destination club, baby!

Well that's brightened my spirits for today!!!

7 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

I don't have much confidence. In our recruiters. Bradke & Farris White were not even close to VFL standard players.

I watched Farris White in a practice game & wondered what our recruiting team had been smoking.

I don’t think you can judge recruiters based on cat B rookies. They are a total role of the dice.

On pure talent Joel Smith was a tick (I won’t say anymore). Corey Maynard could play a bit too.

The rucks especially are a big gamble. Bradtke could play a little. Did alright for Frankston in the VFL. KFW wasn’t good, but that’s the risk of signing guys who by definition haven’t played much footy/haven’t played for 3 years.

This kid has a former AFL club employee for a father, his brother made more money kicking a footy than any afl player did at one stage and basketball athleticism. It’s worth a shot.

He’s a guard known for being uber competitive. So he has to be able to move, call plays, be quick and run the floor. Scouting notes seem to make him seem not good enough for nba but seems like he’ll he annoying for forwards.

Fullerton was a basketball er, that’s enough fo me.

Oscar sounds like an interesting Cat B rookie option, 196cm played Aussie rules in Australia until aged 16. His father is a High Performance Mgr in USA (worked with Bummers and Wet Toast in Australia) and his two older brothers are/were punters in the NFL. Should have a good leg on him. It’s a long shot but Oscar has chosen us over 5 other clubs and personally I look forward to seeing another Oscar in the mighty Red and Blue.

Being hopeful, he could be the new Blicavs.

Here’s an idea, sounds crazy but hear me out…

Let’s give the guy a go.

I know, it’s so much easier to write him off before he even arrives at the club, based purely on the fact that he’s coming from a basketball background, but let’s see how he goes.

js29 went very well as a former basketball cat b rookie convert

in fact, i'd say we've missed him up forward in the last two seasons

very good mark, very good shot for goal

15 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Here’s an idea, sounds crazy but hear me out…

Let’s give the guy a go.

I know, it’s so much easier to write him off before he even arrives at the club, based purely on the fact that he’s coming from a basketball background, but let’s see how he goes.

Nope! You’re doing Demonland all wrong. You got to write em off early so you can say ‘I called it first’.

Anyways, I don’t have time to explain how it all works. I’m off to start an ‘Is Kalani White The Right Guy?’ thread.

1 hour ago, bluey said:

Fullerton was a basketball er, that’s enough fo me.

Did you know that Pendlebury had a basketball background? 🤣

2 hours ago, Nietaphart said:

Being hopeful, he could be the new Blicavs.

i immediately thought of may, booming kick, fast, slightly undersized

Hope he turns out to be a decent pick up for us, but our recent history in signing category B/former basketball players has been questionable at best.

Kyah Farris-White was struggling to get a game with the Casey seconds team by the end of his time with us.

Edited July 1Jul 1 by Demon Jack

2 hours ago, bluey said:

Fullerton was a basketball er, that’s enough for me.

If he doesn't get another game, he'll be an undefeated demon footballer with two wins from two games. I wonder how many of them there have been throughout history!?

Edited July 1Jul 1 by John Demonic

On 03/06/2025 at 12:13, Whispering_Jack said:

Can he kick?

Undoubtedly he can throw - could become our Cripps.