The loss of McVee is feeling far less painful now.

Our backline is looking the strongest line for us now with our two older AA key defenders potentially being more depth this season. Crazy.

The first round starting back group could look something like this:

FB: Salem Petty McDonald

HB: Bowey Turner Taylor

Bench: CJ

Depth: May, Lever, Howes, Adams, AMW

Under a new coach with a fresh slate approach, this is some serious depth for competing spots. Very exciting.

4 hours ago, joeboy said:

Definitely shades of Dustin Martin in more ways than one.

I think this will be an inspired selection for the club’s future

There was an interview with Dusty before he was drafted and when asked about school he said “football is my life”. I remember thinking that I hoped football worked out for him as he obviously didn’t have a plan B. Anyway let’s hope that footy works out for Xavier the way it did for the 3 times Norm Smith medallist.

14 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

2nd Xavier in the team.

As long as we don't pick up two more. XXXX leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.

15 hours ago, No. 31 said:

Sounds like me, my Ma offered to send me to Caulfield Grammar and I declined 😁

Like the cut of Xavier's jib ... looks like a likely lad 👍

To be fair that school has produced some great players regardless of the private school tag - https://www.cgfc.com.au/static/uploads/files/caulfield-grammarians-the-afl-vfl-2016-wfwgxxxapopc.pdf

One thing we know for sure is that Taylor is the right name to have on draft night..

4 minutes ago, DeesignerAU said:

To be fair that school has produced some great players regardless of the private school tag - https://www.cgfc.com.au/static/uploads/files/caulfield-grammarians-the-afl-vfl-2016-wfwgxxxapopc.pdf

That is a respectable list 👍

I opted to go to my local government school instead. Max Gawn and I share the same alma mater 😁

A rugged customer with good skills & awareness, rebounding from defence

What's not to like!!

4 hours ago, Young Blood said:

The loss of McVee is feeling far less painful now.

Our backline is looking the strongest line for us now with our two older AA key defenders potentially being more depth this season. Crazy.

The first round starting back group could look something like this:

FB: Salem Petty McDonald

HB: Bowey Turner Taylor

Bench: CJ

Depth: May, Lever, Howes, Adams, AMW

Under a new coach with a fresh slate approach, this is some serious depth for competing spots. Very exciting.

Depth Lever, what a load of rubbish, first picked in the backline if fit

6 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

See I thought the opposite, eeew a Ringwood kid, only worse if they had been Croydon or Lilydale ha ha 😆

He says that he did Auskick in Mooroolbark at the start of this interview:

19 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Refused to attend a private school because he hated the private school boy tag.

What's not to like about this kid!

18 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Literally confirms himself.

Love this attitude.

Apparently he attended Rowville Secondary college (government school) for their elite sports/football program at some point. A nephew of mine played with his younger brother at East Ringwood and a one of my nieces played with his sister and/or are coached my his mum there, so a real footy family.

9 hours ago, BangBnagBang said:

Lets all agree it doesn't matter what school he or anyone does or doesn't go too. It makes no difference.

Its a boring topic

Only I think in some respects it does matter. Love XT's attitude to turning down a private school scholarship. The private schools love scooping up the tallents from Jnr clubs and public schools so they can wear it as a badge of sucess to have strong sporting teams and bragging rights when these player's get drafted, when in reality all they did was poach someone that was already a talented sports person.

The public school system has been run into the ground and put down by the increasingly govenment subsidised private school system in the country for the past 20-30 years to the point of being something of second class citizens. The properganda seems to be that to be successful in life you need to attend a private school.

I think it's awsome that public school kids can have at least a few role models like Max Gawn, Harvey Langford and Xavier Taylor that shows you don't have to go to a private school with the fancy ties, their own swimming pools, sporting feild complexs and world class performs arts auditoriums to be a sucess.

P.S. Bayley Fritsch is another outer Eastern boy from the public school system on our list, having gone to primary school at Bimbadeen State Primary in Mooroolbark (my youngest son pointed out his photo hung proudly in the office, along with that of former Demon Matthew Bishop and 'cough cough' Sam Mitchell) and then Lilydale State High.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

1 hour ago, Billy said:

Depth Lever, what a load of rubbish, first picked in the backline if fit

I doubt it. He has been fantastic for us,we wouldn’t have won the premiership without him but he is slow, unacootable and a very poor user of the football. He can hit a target but it’s never damaging. His intercept marks are brilliant but he has been found out and doesn’t get that opportunity much anymore with the work other teams have done on him.

Heard him interviewed on SEN this afternoon. Interesting fella to say the least and someone who, dare I say, may be whisked away for some media training on day 1.

What was interesting was the way he was seemingly carefree and easy going in every aspect of his life except for his football. Even the tone of his voice changes when he talks about footy.

Will be very interesting to see how he develops.

3 hours ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Heard him interviewed on SEN this afternoon. Interesting fella to say the least and someone who, dare I say, may be whisked away for some media training on day 1.

What was interesting was the way he was seemingly carefree and easy going in every aspect of his life except for his football. Even the tone of his voice changes when he talks about footy.

Will be very interesting to see how he develops.

Yeah did hear it, it was interesting.

Went to Crown last night after the draft and "got rinsed" in his words.

9 hours ago, DeesignerAU said:

To be fair that school has produced some great players regardless of the private school tag - https://www.cgfc.com.au/static/uploads/files/caulfield-grammarians-the-afl-vfl-2016-wfwgxxxapopc.pdf

Some great Demonland posters as well.

Reminds me of Maynard, in a good way. Pre 2023.