35 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

A lot of them call them general excellence these days as the APS stamped down on it for a while.

Thanks Adam.  I played for Scotch against Melb Grammars leading goal-kicker who asked whether I had a footy scholarship because his parents paid nothing for fees, uniforms, books or anything just due to his footy. I said Scotch had no sport scholarships at all.

I've lived O/S since and your 1st post made me wonder whether you had specific intel that all the APS schools had since become in lock step about this?

(must crash, 12.40am over here)  Cheers, Rob

11 minutes ago, Rob Mac...... said:

Thanks Adam.  I played for Scotch against Melb Grammars leading goal-kicker who asked whether I had a footy scholarship because his parents paid nothing for fees, uniforms, books or anything just due to his footy. I said Scotch had no sport scholarships at all.

I've lived O/S since and your 1st post made me wonder whether you had specific intel that all the APS schools had since become in lock step about this?

(must crash, 12.40am over here)  Cheers, Rob

I was in that system for 20 years, but stopped coaching end of last year, so couldn't tell you if it's changed in the past 12 months.

It's a pretty loose goosey competition and as far as I'm aware all the schools do it.

47 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

A lot of them call them general excellence these days as the APS stamped down on it for a while.

I got one of them back in the day. Alas, I was nowhere near excellence on the footy field. I’m very certain no matter who drafted me, had I been good enough, I would have always wanted to play for the Dees. Lost dreams

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

A lot of them call them general excellence these days as the APS stamped down on it for a while.

This. More often than not that excellence happens to be oddly confined to oval ball pursuits...

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

A lot of them call them general excellence these days as the APS stamped down on it for a while.

Well they can't pay tax and bribe students as well.

This thread is about our new recruit Xavier Taylor or at least it’s meat to be.

Maybe start a new thread about private schools I that’s your thing.

I’m going to sound old here, but he is very young to already have tattoos .

Good on him for his individuality amongst his peers at a very early age.

I can’t remember the last draftee who had tatts.

It’s a good sign people, this kid runs his own race 🏃‍♂️

11 hours ago, Roy Boy said:

I’m going to sound old here, but he is very young to already have tattoos .

Good on him for his individuality amongst his peers at a very early age.

I can’t remember the last draftee who had tatts.

It’s a good sign people, this kid runs his own race 🏃‍♂️

Martin Pike

On 25/11/2025 at 19:07, Hellaintabadplacetobe said:

I think we have an absolute ripper here, love his swagger and his highlights look sensational.

His comment about best on and off the field is not surprising and not far from the truth according to a work colleague.

Am told he definitely enjoys himself off the field but has improved recently .

I'm sure the club would be well across this.

His footy looks good but I have a slight unease about his 'professionalism'. I get he's barely out of school but hopefully we now have some good role models for him to knuckle down and get the best out of himself.

He still looks skinny in the upper body which suggests two things. Firstly, he might not be ready to play straight away and secondly, if he's that good now, he's going to be even better when he gets stronger.

45 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

He still looks skinny in the upper body which suggests two things. Firstly, he might not be ready to play straight away and secondly, if he's that good now, he's going to be even better when he gets stronger.

2 preseasons from beast mode

4 hours ago, beelzebub said:

2 preseasons from beast mode

Like Steven May in 2013

23 hours ago, Rob Mac...... said:

Scotch College gave no sports scholarships in the 1960s, though Melb Grammar did. Are you sure ALL APS schools do now?

From my knowledge it's much more widespread in the APS now.

23 hours ago, demoncat said:

Thanking the draft gods that Essendon were dumb enough not to take him

Would love to have a pick after them each year to make sure we’re always getting a good player 😉

Looks like the dons did us a favour taking Robey and we dodged a bullet with back stress injury already.

At least they got a good draft ranking /grade though!!

22 hours ago, Adam The God said:

A lot of them call them general excellence these days as the APS stamped down on it for a while.

They’re referred to as awards in WA in the PSA system

On 26/11/2025 at 17:45, joeboy said:

Has anyone mentioned yet that he doesn’t look like a ‘Xavier’ ?

Mmmm. Interesting that some pronounce Xavier as "savioer" .... not that I am suggesting anything deeper.

On 19/11/2025 at 23:45, Oxdee said:

Are you saying a backman at 192cm can’t play against a 193cm forward?

No, but that is a rather low bar for a top pick in the AFL seniors. We need a KPP for the 200 cm forwards. Howes at 191 cm will be a good player and cover a 193 cm and we can still have 3 X 194 cm on the bench.

On 20/11/2025 at 01:04, rjay said:

Tom Stewart 190 cm...5 x AA.

You should have told us that he was going win to multiple AAs. We didn't know. Stewart was pick 40. We now have you guarantee that he has the heart and talent of Stewart or possibly, JT's.

On 20/11/2025 at 07:36, BLWNBA said:

Does that work both ways?

Yes, he is too short to cover up-coming FF and CHF. This is no point trying him forward and MFC already has many 193-194 cm forwards.

He's a Key Position players and he's shorter than our new midfield Onley Fans.....

3 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

He's a Key Position players and he's shorter than our new midfield Onley Fans.....

Which didn't bother May or Tom Stewart...

2 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Which didn't bother May or Tom Stewart...

Stewart is not a KPD and neither will XT be. Similar to Stewart, Taylor will be that hybrid defender who will hopefully become just as good as Stewart.

5 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

Stewart is not a KPD and neither will XT be. Similar to Stewart, Taylor will be that hybrid defender who will hopefully become just as good as Stewart.

The point I was making is that May and Stewart are excellent interceptors. That's Taylor's role.

3 hours ago, redandbluemakepurple said:

You should have told us that he was going win to multiple AAs. We didn't know. Stewart was pick 40. We now have you guarantee that he has the heart and talent of Stewart or possibly, JT's.

If I could understand your point here I would be happy to respond to it.

On 26/11/2025 at 20:37, Roy Boy said:

I’m going to sound old here, but he is very young to already have tattoos .

Good on him for his individuality amongst his peers at a very early age.

I can’t remember the last draftee who had tatts.

It’s a good sign people, this kid runs his own race 🏃‍♂️

Dustin Martin says hi…