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It seems like people always need something to worry about. If forward depth is that thing for you, then ok. Personally I think our list is about as balanced as I have ever seen. Given our game style and the fact that a high proportion of injuries happen in the midfield, stacking for contested midfield depth seems only sensible. As others have noted Gawn can now rest forward. This is massive for us, he was a leading intercept marker last year when Lever was injured and he dropped back into the hole, he will bring that to our forward line. Preuss is literally massive, it will take a pretty big defenders to curb him if he plays forward. I think people also underestimate Tim Smith, he doesn’t always take the mark but he is as fierce competitor and will generally halve the contest even if he doesn’t take it. If we have injuries and need to play him forward then we just need to ensure that we have crumbers there at the contest. Also as people have noted, many of our backs can swing, including May who has done that role fairly well for GC. We have a fleet of medium forwards who can play tall including Vanders, Petracca and even Hannah to an extent. All of that being said, history shows that staying injury free with a stable team structure is a strong factor in success.

Disagree. Watch the highlights clip below from his first year when he was fit and confident. All his best moments came bursting from the wing or through the middle. Some great pieces of play there where he outmarks Mitch McGovern, takes off immediately around a few opposition and then lowers the eyes to hit Jones. Love the stoppage play on the wing against the Hawks too where he gets the handball out of the pack, bursts forward, steadies outsides 50 and goals. He's got all the attributes to a great wingman. He runs hard both ways, has great pace, good agility, good overhead, and can kick it a mile. If he learns to control the rush of blood to the head and vary his kicks more, he could be seriously damaging in the Issac Smith wingman mould. He's one of the most exciting prospects on our list IMO.

I spoke with Jayden Hunt’s dad last week and he told me that Jayden was buoyed by the fact that Goodwin told him in his Exit interview that he was a required player and they would not entertain any trade discussions about him. His Dad mentioned that Jayden is really targeting the Wing position as his best chance of breaking in.

Now that Dan has seen off the Richmond nimbys, and the upper house looking within reach too, he will be able to ram through our new training ground without any opposition. Do it quickly Dan, so it's complete by the next election.

We probably have enough tall forwards, I'd think. The base: TMac, Weideman; a new possibility is OMac who is a possibility as Frosty is better than him in the backline; I am sure we will take advantage of a swinger or two in the Preuss/Gawn resting ruck/forward role should May, Jetta and Lever crush opponents; on that, May threatens to have a spell or two in the deep fwd position, then Tim the Smith, and even Joel Smith is not an unlikely fwd hit. I'd like to see Preuss at FFwd and TMac at CHF supported by our increasingly elusive smalls and mediums. The Weed can be propped permanently between FF and HFF in a roving utility role - bursting pack marks hopefully for scoring opportunities - anything within 50 metres would be fine, whatever angle it may be.

All good points, especially the one about hitting Hawthorn recruiters in the face with a skillet...

A non-issue for me. Most clubs would be over the moon to have a key forward capable of kicking 60 goals like McDonald, or a 21 year old key forward who's shown the ability to be best on ground in his club's first final in over a decade. You've got Gawn, who has the luxury of having stints forward now the backline is sorted. May and Petty can play forward, plus we've got numerous goal-kicking midsized players. We were the only team to have 15 players kick 10 goals, or more, in 2018. The next best was 13 while plenty had under ten. Bradke played junior footy with the Kings, so just pretend we drafted him on Friday if you want to. How many key forwards do you think Collingwood have ? How many do you think West Coast have after Darling and Kennedy ? Or Richmond after Riewoldt and Lynch ? We've balanced out our midfield depth, added to defence, brought in small forwards, and added pace. Happy days.

Apart from the weather, it was a really good solid session again, went for over hour and half Got a closer look at skills in wet, apart from some dropped ball because it was wet for first time, skills were good Guy Walker the new B class rookie didn't look out of place, neat and tidy skills Austin Bradtke looks ok as well, moves like a basketballer, skills ok, can kick Joked with Steven May at the end about the weather, he looked frozen, even after all the work Jayden Hunt is right on track to be ready fro Rd 1, he said, like others, no contact so just lap after lap of running until after Xmas Jake Lever was out pounding around the fence, 9 and 1/2 K of running today No Jones Salem and JKH off around the tan again after 3/4 of session 3rd day in and quick ball movement drill on again Any questions feel free, will post some pics on Insta and here later

Pick 27 after the Dees put a bid on Rhylee West, son of Bulldogs Legend Scott West, and the Bulldogs matched the bid. Player bio Former club: South Adelaide Age: 18 Height: 183cm Weight: 83kg Position: Forward 2018 U18 Stats Games: 4 Goals: - Avg Kicks: 7.5 Avg Marks: 2.8 Avg Hballs: 3.8 A medium forward/midfielder who is a super competitive with his ability to win the contested ball. He also has the knack of staying in the contest with his excellent recovery skills and agility. His leadership traits were constantly on show for South Australia in their 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships victory. Averaged 21.9 disposals at Under-18 level in the SANFL. https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/how-tom-sparrow-rose-from-unwanted-to-bluechip-afl-draft-prospect/news-story/1c7898da027c13ec771a9c3857a0553b “HARD work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard’’. That is the famous quote from US high school basketball coach Tim Notke that is inspiring South Adelaide draft bolter Tom Sparrow’s insatiable appetite to prove his doubters wrong. Shattered at missing out on State under-16 selection two years ago and by again being overlooked for last year’s under-17 SANFL futures game, the powerful midfielder is starting to reap the rewards for his manic work ethic by surging up AFL draft boards. From the small Adelaide Hills town of Scott Creek, Sparrow’s standout second half of the season at school and SANFL under-18 level has seen him draw comparisons to explosive Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield and emerge as a first-round draft smoky. “I was pretty devastated at missing that under-16 team because making that side was one of my main goals for the year,’’ Sparrow told The Advertiser. South Adelaide’s Tom Sparrow during the U-18s preliminary final between South and Norwood. Picture: AAP Image/Mark Brake “I was cut from it late and ended up being an emergency but I didn’t play, which was really challenging. “It really motivated me to work even harder to prove to everyone that I am good and dedicated enough to keep pursuing my dream of playing footy at a high level. “In a funny sort of way it has probably helped me moving forward, rather than hinder me. “It made me try to prove a point that I wasn’t just going to go away or shy away from a challenge. “I used my favourite quote, ‘hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard’, as inspiration to keep working hard. “I did a lot of extras and I think the only official training sessions I have missed since were when I was on a school camp to Cambodia last year.’’ While SA’s top 2018 draft prospects Jack Lukosius, Izak Rankine and Connor Rozee starred in the under-16 championships two years ago to lead the Croweaters to the national crown, Sparrow was at home thinking what might have been. He was pleased his home State “won the chockies’’ but immediately set his sights on training even harder and turning his strengths — speed and power — into assets that would help him stand out from the pack. Now he is doing just that. Tom Sparrow takes a strong mark for Prince Alfred College. “He’s become an animal, an absolute ripper,’’ said SA under-18 coach Tony Bamford, who had no hesitation in selecting Sparrow, 182cm and 81kg, in his AFL under-18 championship-winning side this year. “Tom’s got that rare combination that every club wants — speed, power and endurance. “He’s the type of player who wins the ball on the inside but is so powerful he can get on the outside and really hurt the opposition there. “He is very driven, motivated, diligent and professional. He’ll not only make it as a long-term AFL player but he’ll stand out in his first month of training because of his workrate and toughness.’’ Bamford said he remembers Sparrow, who this year captained Prince Alfred College’s First XVIII team, being “really, really flat’’ when he missed State under-16 selection in the team coached by dual North Adelaide premiership player and former Crow Darel Hart. “I recall having a conversation with him and his parents and saying the only thing you can do from here is to prove the selectors wrong when you are 18,’’ Bamford said. “He’s gone whack and done that.’’ While some recruiting scouts have compared Sparrow’s qualities to those of former Crow and current Cat Dangerfield, Bamford says he reminds him of Collingwood’s Levi Greenwood at the same age. “I coached Levi at Port Adelaide (Magpies) and the similarities between the two are striking,’’ Bamford said. “They are both tough, strong and combative, they look for body contact and are explosive speed and endurance athletes. “But as well as Levi has done, Tom will be better.’’ Sparrow has heard the comparisons but says he is modelling his style on star Sydney midfielder Luke Parker. “He's an inside mid who loves winning contested ball but can go forward and kick goals, which is what I like doing,’’ he said. Sparrow, who was denied a SANFL league debut with the Panthers this year because of school commitments, has been interviewed by 14 AFL clubs. And his phone has run hot with player managers wanting to sign him. “To come from where I have, missing the under-16s and 17s (State teams), and to get drafted would mean a lot to me,’’ said Sparrow, who is an A-grade student eyeing an ATAR score of 90. “I want to make all my friends and family proud and prove to them that I am good enough. “I know they are already proud of me but to go one step further would be the cherry on top.’’

Pick 53 - Central District - 18 Years Old - no other info. Birthdate: 26 May 2000 Height: 184cm Weight: 78kg Games: 3 Goals: 2 Recruited from: Eudunda Robertstown Football Club League debut: 2018 Round 17 v Norwood @ My Money House Oval Achievements: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sanfl-u18s-mvp-aaron-nietschke/video/881ab74bf657e2ea46c4bbcada772467 Some more videos: https://www.google.com/search?q=Aaron+Nietschke&client=firefox-b-ab&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk94f5veneAhXFuo8KHRvsBHsQ_AUIESgE&biw=1611&bih=1249

Ok cool. No i did actually mean Dortmond...the away team yes. I thought it was a good pick based on their previous results and Mainz are not strong. Also a good win to Frankfurt, which i picked for the same reason, 3.80 was overs. Glad my picks got us off to a good start.

are they realy that good at drafting in the last 5 or so years? or was it more 10 years ago. They just keep bringing in other teams developed players. Who is their young talent coming through?. I thought Sicily and perhaps Burton could be A grade. not sure there is much else. and they gave up Burton to again bringing in someone else's talent, Wingard. not sure they are the recruiters to be listening to.

You'll have to logon to your TAB account to watch the replays of the 3 feature races from yesterday ... there's nothing available on youtube as yet. Ballarat Cup WA Guineas Railway Stakes

If you saw Chris Connolly play football - usually well beaten against height, weight and reputation - you would not say 'Yuck'. That guy was a terrific footballer who played 'above his weight' week in, week out to terrific effect in very weak MFC teams - for several arduous years in terms of win-loss outcomes. His onfield victories against big names were stacked up like a pack of cards at the one-on-one or two-on-one contests. Even his aerial duels were the source of unexpected poise and power. It may not have transferred to his coaching career in all regards but it was difficult, at that time, to discount his game interpretation.

Weid and T Mac can pinch hit in the ruck if needed. We played Gawn solo all last season with those guys relieving him. We have gotten stronger with Preuss.

I understand any issues Hunt had are addressed and while he wont be completely rounded i.e. kicking disposal, the other attributes he brings will see him in and out of the 22. I expect a huge Pre-season and my tip is he and J Smith are the big improvers this year. I think unless you are a bona fide star we will be working with 26-30 in and out of the firsts. I hope so anyway, we need to play fit for 26 games next year.

I can totally see Hunt on a wing if he is playing at his best. I don’t know what happened to him last year, maybe drank too much of his own bath water in 2017? He just never looked like cementing a spot in 2018 even with Lever out and a huge hole in our defence. At his best he can mark, run seriously fast, prop and kick it a mile. He can clearly finish well in front of goal also. He is never going to be an inside mid but we don’t need him to be. As a winger he could really be something if he just settles down, does the work and starts lowering his eyes. I really hope he does.

Australian Group & Listed Races Best Bet Strike Rate 62: 22 - 8 - 9 As for Mucking up in Maastricht', always remember to follow the golden rule Wadda ... "Whatever happens on the Contiki tour stays on the Contiki tour"

I ended up taking the 'Match Score' of +2.5 goals in the Dortmund game so my multi is still alive Wadda ... I figured the odds weren't much different anyway and thought you may have meant it that way as well.

Come on 'Pro', we need to have some reason to justify not picking Curnow. To make us feel better. "He's really not that good"...nah, the kid can play. Their 2 best players Cripps and potentially Curnow were draft steals in the teens. I think if Weid keeps improving as we expect then the Curnow talk will fade away. The Oliver and Weideman draft will be seen as a masterstroke. The Oliver part has already paid off.

depth wise we are perhaps undermanned on many fronts. Rarely did a VFL regular perform week in/week out in a manner that demanded senior selection. Drafting this year has seen us go young in the main and has said goodbye to many of those who while adequate at VFL level were NQR at senior level. Does it worry me... not that much unless of course we see five or six of our best 22 out injured as we did in 2017. Putting this years draft to one side who realistically will push for senior selection: Stretch, Petty, Baker, the Smith "brothers" are my most likely and then I will add Preuss, Hunt, JFK and Garlett?? into the mix. Will any of them push their way into the top 15... hard to see it but perhaps. Tyson was an obvious high level depth player who we no longer have but it could be said that he is replaced by JKK. I suspect we are not too different to most teams in this respect.

Agreed, Chook. A little disappointed that when given the chance to pick up Bailey Williams, we hesitated and this allowed West Coast to nab him as he would suit their game (for what it is worth, it would have completely suited and enhanced our game more invaluably, and could have addressed and strengthened our forward entries scoring results enormously).

THE BYSTANDERS by Whispering Jack It was an eerie feeling, like floating on air high above the events taking place on the ground below. This was the New Draft, a two day festival of little importance to Melbourne supporters on the first night and seemingly, of little consequence on the following day. It was as if we were the bystanders of the 2018 AFL National Draft. From the time the Demons traded away their first round selection in this year’s event as part of the deal to secure Jake Lever more than 12 months ago, it was always likely to turn out this way. A little over a month ago, the club held picks 36, 46, 54, 62 and 65 which, once transposed into a world of potential priority picks and father-son and academy bidders, meant that its first choice would be pushing close to a pick near number fifty. It was akin to leaving you standing three city blocks away from Marvel Stadium and well outside the Jack Lukosious zone in draft night calculations. Even when the trades improved things somewhat marginally to a starting point of 23 and 28 (eventually 27 and 33), it meant you had just moved from William Street to King Street but the entrance to the venue was still on the distant horizon. It was probably just as well that we were that far away because opening night was excruciatingly painful, producing a clumsy and almost unwatchable production compared with the American counterparts in the NFL and NBA which it shamelessly sought to emulate. Gillon McLachlan produced a fitting highlight when he pounced onto centre stage only to discover he had nothing to announce despite the sounding of all the bells and whistles but for us - nothing. Not even the prospect of a live trade managed to keep us in the game. When the show was over, Sam Walsh, the precocious Croweaters, the King brothers (we drafted the wrong big Max King a few years ago) and a bevy of others were gone. The Swans pulled a swifty trade to get a great deal for their next academy sensation and the Blues did nicely to steal the 2018 Morrish Medallist from the Tigers. Those who were previously uninformed of the new format were left baffled and confused that the Demons weren’t selecting on the night. By the rising of the sun on day two, we were virtually on the promenade at Marvel Stadium, hoping for a little action now that we were a matter of a few picks away from pole position. The AFL had sneakily changed the starting time from 10.00am to noon but even then we were hardly bashing down the doors to get in despite the dreary conditions outside. But when the draft restarted, we somehow remained the bystanders. The months (and for some, the years) of following potential draftees, the national championships, junior competitions, TAC Cup finals, draft combines, phantom drafts, power rankings, teams of the year and the late speculation all flashed past our eyes to produce ... on the face of it ... not a great deal. On top of that, there were no bolters, no All-Australian sliders who somehow mysteriously drifted into our laps, nor even any players finding their way to us from a list of so-called hidden gems” that was floating about. In the end, Melbourne took an inside midfielder in South Australian Tom Sparrow with pick 27 after making an unsuccessful bid for the Bulldog’s father-son prospect Rhylee West. Then came a real bolter in Oakleigh Charger James Jordon at 33, another South Australian, Aaron Nitschke, at 53 and a mature aged defender in Collingwood VFL’s Marty Hore with 56. If there was any icing on the cake, it came when the club was not required to bid for Next Generation Academy dasher Toby Bedford who was taken late at pick 75. The return to type came with the selection of Kade Chandler in the rookie draft. I should make it clear that this is not a criticism of the selection decisions but rather I’m pointing to the low profiles of those picked. As with any draft decision made, the proof of their value is never determined on the night but well down the track, often years into the future. The apparent left-of-centre approach to the draft may well pay dividends in the future for a club with a young team on the ascent - the players selected are not shrinking violets. They are all aggressive ball-winners known for their relentless attack on the football. In that respect, none of them are bystanders.

Yes well picked guys. I took them each way so a collect and several more beers over here, bouncing off a few walls on the walk home to be....Mucked up in Maastricht! Whats our grand total for the spring so far?

I think his positioning is far better than Frost's, like most basketballers he knows how to guard space and watch the ball at the same time. Frosty was a volleyballer IIRC. Endurance makes him an even better athlete as well, in fact there's a case to argue he's the best athlete on the list - rare combination of endurance, speed and power. Decision making has to improve but he can get out of trouble with his movement. Kicking is the big one that might stop him progressing but the hope there is he's had a few injuries so hasn't been able to do the big blocks of training. Frost largely fixed his kicking this year after years of being hand in mouth bad, so it can happen once players get older and more experienced. The real shame with Joel Smith is unless he really gets it together in a huge way there's always going to be a bit of regret to me. That's because I'm certain if the club was in a stronger position 5 or 10 years ago they would've got Smith in a father son academy and playing TAC footy and developing his game as a teenager. He's such a freak athlete I really think if he had played footy the whole way through as a kid he'd certainly be a very good player. Now it's a matter of if he can catch up.

I reckon after todays political result we should up our ante and immediately set our sights higher. We should all don our red ( and blue ) shirts and point out to the all conquering Victorian Premier that we are the only AFL side without a home training base, despite the fact that we are the oldest club and are Victorian based. We would be perfectly happy to call our training grounds the " Victoria Police , Fire and Rescue Training Academy " and Peter Marshall could be the CEO ! Surely 3 training ovals and 3 storey high offices isn't too much to ask ? In my lifetime I've seen Swan Street raped as Public Ground where MFC used to train I think the Fitzroy Gardens is the perfect place !

Yes, it's what I've said on many occasions you don't draft for needs you trade for them and that's exactly what we did. There were no talls available at our picks that we rated, if you want to believe that translated into us drafting needs go ahead and please yourself. Taylor is always going to put the best spin on it. I can guarantee you we took best available.

At 6' 2 and 90kgs, Vanders is another mid/fwd that could provide a decent target inside 50 if called upon. Jessy was a solid forward option, no two ways about that, but assuming Weid continues to stand up, I don't see how the situation has really changed that much in terms of KPF depth terms. The way I see it, we replaced Jessy's role as a KPF with Weid, Pedo's role as Fwd/Ruck with Pruess as a Ruck/Fwd and Weids role as backup KPF with May as KPB/KPF. We are not short (pardon the pun) of big guys that can take a grab or as more generally the case in the modern game, create a contest and bring the ball to ground for our runners. It would take both T Mac, Weid and probably a few others going down before we became too exposed IMHO. You mention Mc Govern and Talia, but there are probably only a few teams in the comp with monster key backs like that and with May, we are probably now one of them!

22: 48 drops to his knees to win a ground ball handball, then follows up and bangs the ball forward in traffic 24: 58 - quick centre clearance handball to a free team mate 26:05 - bangs a torp up the line 33:15 - fumbles, then dishes a quick handball, gets around the back to get the handball back and gets his kick smothered, regathers to rush another kick 30m or so forward 33: 58 - reads the play well and quickly gets on to a wayward kick, gathers cleanly and fires a nice handball back to a team mate 34:50 - no possessions here but makes good position to receive a handball and also quickly covers back on a turnover 35:28 - handball gets smothered on the boundary line 35:50 gets beat easily for the clearance by his opponent, no body contact 36:35 - again positions on the back of the play to receive a handball, spears a kick 20m to hit an open forward The last play was his best for the quarter. Looked to me like a guy who probably was still adjusting to the pace of the game and given Dandy were a fierce pressure side and it was a Grand Final that probably makes sense. Clearly not as physically developed as most kids, you can see he doesn't have the upper body definition or run in the legs. But there's some speed and he reads the play to receive the ball. If his last kick of the quarter was deliberate and indicative of what he can do instead of just more of a fluke then I can see why we liked that.

How many reverse gears have you got? First Smith doesn't even exist, then he's not tall enough for the role, then half of the six players off the top of my head the same size are "not having consistent impact" so he's no good. Maybe shift into R4 and tell me again that Bailey Williams would have been a better option than Smith in season 2019. The FD rate him as depth for the role and he hasn't had a straight run at consecutive AFL games. It's guaranteed he'll provide aerial and ground contest and help us play our style of locking it in our half. Not many clubs have ready-made quality tall forward depth in their squads, we were fortunate to have Weed last year but that was a special and unsustainable situation. Quality KPF aren't hanging around in the lower leagues.

I found the full video of the 2018 TAC Cup Grand Final. Jordon (#64) is in everything in the first quarter and then drifts out of the game after that. Jordon made his debut for the Yarrawonga Pigeons earlier in the season and then played school football at Caulfield Grammar. He was a member of the APS representative team which defeated the AGSV at Trinity College and made his debut for the Chargers during the June/July school break. He returned to the Chargers after school commitments ended and played two games before the finals, then all three finals at TAC Cup level. He was named second on the Oakleigh best list in the first final.

Who gives a [censored] what Hawthorn think?

In that case, it’s worth repeating what I just wrote about Jordon elsewhere:- “Incidentally, James Jordon played for Oakleigh, the losers in that TAC Cup Grand Final and his first quarter was worth watching. It was obvious at the time from his low jumper number that he wasn’t a regular in the team (we know now that he played only seven games for them during the season due to school commitments). He appeared to run out of steam after his early burst but, on reflection, I should have taken more notice of him. He hasn’t had the development or the fitness base of the more heralded regulars at TAC Cup or other state under age levels but I suspect that the selectors were on to something with Jordon and that, with development, he might well rush past so me of the blokes who are getting the accolades for first r ound draft selection. He’s also played country football for Yarrawonga - they make them tough there (well they used to based on a game I witnessed in the 80s). That he played for them speaks volumes to me. He’s still just 17. You know what I mean?” I hope those Hawthorn recruiters end up with some ? on their faces. There’s every chance Jordon will continue growing for another year or two and end up one of those prototype modern midfielders at some stage in the future. I’d like to see that.

I'd rather 20 goals coming from 13 players than 20 coming from 5.

Play him in the back line with Frost

2 at pick 53, with the mother of one sleeping with the father of the other.

Sparrow is a yes. Tough. Hard working. Runner. Loves the contest.

Maybe we can call him Captain Jack

Some more info At end of session when players split into groups for more running, Jones, Salem, JKH and Gawn went for a run around the Tan KK looked like the new boy out to impress, sharp in every drill, easy guy to talk to as well Looking forward to post Xmas when Gawny and Preuss do some one on one on training, might rival the Petracca/Oliver Jones/Brayshaw for intensity Billy Stretch is fully recovered from toe injury, same with Maynard and hips, now a slow build up before Xmas ready to fully participate after Fritsch is still built like a stick, but has obviously worked on his base over the break, easily outrunning the other first years in Spargo and Petty Lever is bigger in the arms and shoulders, so has obviously taken the opportunity to do some weight work when off legs, don't think he doubts for a second he will be ready to go Rd 1 All the players knew exactly what was required of them for the session, it was no [censored] farting about between drills, run like a well oiled machine, carrying on from last year No sign of Austin Bradtke, Guy Walker was working away, sometimes on his own, other times with the rehabbers From what I could glean, others were inside getting physio etc, Oskar Baker came out for a walk and a look around The rehab as such was mainly Lever, others like Viney, Stretch, Tim Smith, Oscar Mac, Walker, Maynard did bits and pieces, assume once full squad sessions start, there will a more structured 'rehab' group There was no Goodwin or McCartney, all other coaches in attendance

More photos.

Couldn't agree more. Unless we rely on Vanders and Trac who aren't real talks then if Weid doesnt repeat his form (which was late to appear) and Tmac is late to start again we will be in big trouble. Plus Trac cant kick straight. Perhaps we will have many goal scorers but how m any games have we all seen that were won off the boot of a tall on fire? I'm hoping Max will be free more often but I think we have been short sighted in not replacing Jesse and Pedo.

Right now everyone would have Curnow ahead of Weideman. But they are quite different players and it's too early to call. We might not know for a decade.

So, in effect, the Casey Demons could recruit a young ruckman like Riley Bowman from the Stingrays, give him an apprenticeship and then rookie him next year in the PSSP. Handy to know that. I think we can keep an eye on who Casey recruits now.

He's a quality mark and very good VFL defender. My query is whether he's athletic enough for AFL footy. Oscar, Lever, May, and Frost are clearly ahead in the key defender stakes and I'd say Petty is too. That puts him a long way back. I'm not seeing an AFL career. But I've been wrong plenty of times and will be again.

Never heard of any of them A+

I don't understand why posters are suggesting the proposal is dead and buried simply because labor have said they won't 'support' the proposal. This statement is meaningless. A clever clogs way of not risking any votes in marginal electorates. Firstly, i might be wrong, but it is my understanding the CoM has planning authority for yarra park, not the State government. I assume the state gov could somehow take control in the way they have with fishermen's bend but why would they? Secondly, and of most significance, positions change and if lying is the first language of footy, well then it is the only language of politics. I mean please would anyone seriously be surprised if a government (of any persuasion) made such statement and then did the opposite, particularly a wishy washy statement statement such as 'not support' (as opposed to a more definitive - 'we will ensure it does no proceed' - which would still not rule out a change of heart). There are any number of examples, but a topical one is the safe injecting rooms in Richmond. Labor unequivocally opposed them prior to the last election and hey presto 3 years later opens one and starts building a proper facility. Thankfully i might add. And by the by what a peanut Guy is for saying he will close it in his first week if elected - despite its evident success in reducing fatal and non fatal overdoses and demand on paramedics and ambos. What sort of policy decision is that? Peanut