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I'm quite doubtful we'll go into any game next year with all of Gawn, Grundy, Brown, TMac and Van Rooyen playing (alongside May, Lever and Petty). At least one of Brown/TMac/Van Rooyen misses.

Bit of an update on Munkara and some context on why he dropped off the radar for a big chunk of his top-age season: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/draft/afl-draft-2022-the-story-of-essendon-nga-prospect-anthony-munkara/news-story/4cf05db652fef4e5a097d200e559eb52 "Munkara has been back home, out bush on Bathurst Island, for most of the past few months, having returned because a series of family tragedies happened in a short period. Determined to impress scouts and realise his AFL dream, Munkara left the Tiwis and went to Melbourne to attend the draft combine at Marvel Stadium on Friday." “He’s enormously talented, but he’s had a year you wouldn’t wish upon anyone,” West Adelaide talent manager Paul Streatfield tells News Corp. “I just hope that a club’s seen enough in him to give him a shot because in the right environment, if he’s got some stability around him, he’s going to be a pretty handy asset. Article goes on to say that his family are all Bomber fans, but he'd happily go anywhere and that Richmond have shown some interest.

Probably the best highlights package I’ve seen from this draft crop. His agility and ability to create space and time for himself is very good. He’s got a good burst of pace and plays aggressively. Looks competent inside and outside, could start as a half forward flanker who hits the scoreboard and provides defensive pressure or link up. If he’s available at 13, he’d be a great get IMO. Only downside to drafting him is he’s from WA, so no idea if he’ll be a flight risk!

Congratulations to Daisy’s Dees on a huge 78-point one-sided win against West Coast in challenging windy and wet conditions at Casey Fields. The banner celebrating Sarah Lampard’s 50 games was a victim of the wind, but nonetheless Lampy received a warm round of applause from the parochial crowd in attendance. Melbourne has the double-chance and is excited about its chances in the Season 7 AFLW finals. If this means the Grand Final is played at Metricon and the Demond make it, then they will be ready. Finishing the home and away season in second position was a great result. So why does a 78-point win feel like a 1-point loss? Well, scoring that extra point would have secured the minor premiership and theoretically, a home grand final. Missed by that much. After Brisbane demolished Collingwood by 45 points on Friday night, most pundits and supporters regarded Melbourne’s chances of being minor premiers as a longshot. The Coach did too. However, the defensive set up proved impassable. It has been great for several weeks, and this is the fourth match in a row where Melbourne has kept the opposition scoreless in the first term. West Coast only scored a single point for the entire match, the equal lowest score in AFLW history (It was still one too many!). They had a miserable 14 inside-fifty entries for the match. The girls were excellent and unrelenting. Tayla Harris’s ruck work and long kicking were outstanding. Purcell, West, Mithen, and Paxman were again really strong around the contest and spreading well. And a big shout out to @Deearmy during that last quarter. There was wild cheering for each goal, and urging of the team to score in those final desperate minutes. Alas, it was not to be, missing by a miniscule 0.3%. Let’s not dwell on it. The truth is, there were several gettable shots they missed over the day (and in recent weeks). It was windy all day and it rained heavily during the main break. Tough conditions to score big. Q1 Five minutes in, Paxy kicks the first major of the day. Lampy is getting some early touches in her milestone game. The Dees are dominating but not making the most of their chances. Finally, Meg Fitzsimon nails a great snap on her left. Her team rally around her. Next, Purcell snaps truly in traffic after some nice work from Paxy. This game is all one-way traffic. At quarter time Melbourne 3.5.23 to West Coast 0.0.0 (Melb 251.6% v Bris 282.4%) Q2 West Coast playing much better to start the second quarter with the first four inside fifties. Melbourne defends strongly. It’s great to see Maddison Gay out there. Her experience, toughness and skillset will be important against the top teams in finals. Bannan kicks the first second quarter goal after Tayla Harris marks and handballs to her in the goal square. Zanker juggles a contested mark then goes back and kicks a beauty from 40 metres. Sheriff hits the post. Bad luck Casey. We keep attacking for the remainder of the quarter but are unable to convert our opportunities. Here comes the rain. At half time Melbourne 5.8.38 to West Coast 0.1.1. (Melb 251.6% v Bris 282.4%) Q3 It’s slippery out there now, still windy and the lights are on. And the PA doesn’t work! Melbourne continue their domination and Kate Hore marks and makes no mistake from directly in front. To us supporters standing at the Clyde end, a clever Daisy Pearce snap on the run appears to be a goal. However, the goal umpire immediately calls it a behind. Replays seem to support the view that it was probably a goal. Blaithin Mackin runs on to a perfectly weighted handball from Hore and kicks an impressive goal. All her team mob her as they know it’s her first career goal. Well done B. At three-quarter time Melbourne 7.12.54 to West Coast 0.1.1. (Melb 268.5% v Bris 282.4%) Q4 While the match result is a foregone conclusion, interest turns to whether the Dees can score 26 points to secure the minor premiership. Hanks marks and kicks the first of the last. Closely followed by Kate Hore converting a free kick with a banana from the boundary line. The tempo is rising as Melbourne plays on at all costs. Fitzy, on her non-preferred foot, hits up Zanker whose set shot delivers another goal. Harris is having a great last quarter. Her booming kick from halfback sets up an opportunity for Shelley Heath to run on to and she slots the goal. Loz Pearce snaps for a point and we are into the final minute. Daisy marks within range of goal but unwittingly centres the ball instead of trying to score and it’s cleared by West Coast. The final siren sounds and it’s a 78-point thumping victory to Melbourne and the double chance. Melbourne 11.13.79 to West Coast 0.1.1. (Melb 282.1% v Bris 282.4%) The Coaches and next week: Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear was really content to achieve a top 2 finish and the double chance. He admitted the minor premiership was not a key coaching focus. He wanted the players to continue to be in the moment. It was a strong defensive performance again. Mick praised Libby Birch for her game, said Sinead Goldrick did really well and that Maddi Gay was excellent in her return from injury. Michael Prior was not particularly glowing about his charge’s efforts. The gap was huge he said. He will be gobsmacked if young star Ella Roberts does not win a Rising Star nominee this week. He also flagged that post-season exit meetings will be brutal for some of his players. The Demons play reigning premiers Adelaide on Friday Night in the Qualifying Final at Ikon Park which we hope continues to be a happy hunting ground for them. Come along if you can and support our women. Go Dees!!! MELBOURNE 3.5.23 5.8.38 7.12.54 11.13.79 WEST COAST EAGLES 0.0.0 0.1.1 0.1.1 0.1.1 GOALS MELBOURNE Hore Zanker 2 Bannan Fitzsimon Hanks Heath Mackin Paxman Purcell WEST COAST EAGLES Nil BEST MELBOURNE Paxman Purcell Birch Hore Mithen WEST COAST EAGLES Thomas Roberts McCarthy Lakay INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil WEST COAST EAGLES Swanston (hamstring) REPORTS MELBOURNE Nil WEST COAST EAGLES Nil CROWD 726 at Casey Fields

I reckon, in the wake of Jackson going home, that the whole "WA flight risk" thing has been overblown. Apart from Jesse Hogan, who we weren't sorry to see leave the club, I can't think of any other Demon who has asked to be traded back to WA since Jeff Farmer twenty years ago.

Highlights of Elijah Hewett from his game against Vic Metro for those that are interested.

I reckon Pick 13 will come straight in and have a strong year. He has a lot of potential and we were lucky he slid to us at 13. We got the man we wanted in the end

Just have to talk about all the WA boys drafted since 2001 when Farmer left. 2003 Chris Johnson - showed good signs but faded and was delisted. Went to the Blues but ultimately missed out 2008 Nev Jetta - from 2-3 years of injuries and trying to find his spot, Nev was delisted and then put on the rookie list … my how lucky and fortunate we were that we kept Nev. Loved his spirit and ability to win man on man contests. 2012 Jesse Hogan - our messiah. Too much pressure and always talk about him going home. He played some great footy and we saw the talent. Yes he returned home but without success. Glad he’s now making a go at the giants. 2012 Dean Kent - a punt in the third round. Definitely could play and kicked some great goals. His 2018 match winner sealed our 2018 finals. Injuries killed his career and traded to the Saints. 2019 LJ and Riv 2021 JVR and Woey jnr amd Mcvee Do I think we should take a WA boy? Well yes if he’s the best available, fits our culture and is a need for the team. Ultimately I was worried about LJ given him playing second fiddle to Gawn. I actually thought the Eagles would be his destination given Natanui is on the downward cycle. Good luck to him at Freo. His need for family and surfing won the day. I would happily take a Hewitt, Ginbey, Gilbey or Allan if they were the right player. Sure it’s a risk but drafting any kid is full of many risk-versus-reward decisions.

Not sure what it is about this years AFL highlights packages, but in comparison to previous years they're noticeably less impressive across the board both from an editing perspective and what they've decided to include.

Rolling 44 B: Lever, May, Hibberd HB: Salem, Petty, Brayshaw C: Langdon, Petracca, Hunter HF: Neal-Bullen, McDonald, Pickett F: Fritsch, Brown, Gawn FOLL: Grundy, Oliver, Viney IC: Harmes, Sparrow, Melksham, Bowey EMERG: J.Smith, Jordon, Spargo, Chandler Casey B: D.Smith, Turner, J.Smith HB: McVee, Tomlinson, Rivers C: Howes, Dunstan, Woewodin HF: Chandler, van Rooyen, Laurie F: Moniz-Wakefield, Schache, Spargo FOLL: Farris-White, Jordon, N\A IC: N\A, N\A, N\A, N\A

“Dear Penthouse Forum, you’ll never believe what just happened to me…..”

May as well have a vegemite sandwich while watching ;)

I'm not sure that Adeliade are a chance this year. They have a pretty blunt attack now that Erin Phillips has left. She's a big loss North are the 4th best team and could create problems for us. We just managed to beat them during the H&A with poor kicking almost costing us that game. They had a tough fixture hence why they finished 8th I'd be surprised if the granny isn't between us and the Lions. Both teams have been super impressive and very consistent. Neither looked like losing in the run-in.

I thought we earned the right to have a home final?

I think the big fix is in for two players in this draft. Elijah Hewitt - originally though of as a likely selection in the top half dozen and now sliding on everyone’s lists. Why is this? Has he been a naughty boy? Is he considered to be a flight risk? He’s played well at senior WAFL level and impressed playing for WA at National Carnival level - if he’s there at #14 (where our first pick is likely to be) do we pick him? Anthony Munkara - impressed early this season and suddenly withdrew from sight to deal with “personal issues”. He’s an Essendon NGA and represented the AFL Academy v Collingwood VFL. If he’s still there at #37, I say we grab him.

If Hollands is gone by the time our pick comes around, then I'd be happy to take a punt on George.

Imagine Munkara after some AFL-level conditioning, coaching and skills adoption ... he is already a noted talent.

We're in the northern Rivers NSW. We'll be there

I will go to Brisbane if we make the GF (it’s difficult to see Brisbane not winning through). Anyone other Demonlanders thinking of going?

Most of them wouldn't get through the censor - Terry and Cockney etc. Maybe Biffa Bacon could be next on the menu? Probably best left in the 80's. PS. Billy the Fish sucked

Yes, he can play andI mean seriously play. Game sense is good, awareness is above the norm and his potential is unlimited so it’s a big yes from me and has no off field issues I’m aware of so it’s a big yes from me

I reckon nobody knows who we’re taking, we really don’t leak and in the years we took Oliver and Jackson it was really only in the last 10 or so days leading up to the draft they started to link us with both those boys. All along in Oliver’s year they thought we would take Parish, and in Jackson’s year it was all about us filling needs for a small forward and rebounding defender with the experts in the lead up having us go for players from Young, Ash, Serong and Weightman. The mail on Jackson and Kossie came late

Nothing as far as I’m aware of field he was the standout of the WA group as an underager and had an excellent colts season in 2021. I just think the emergence of Ginbey, Allan and the game awareness and skill set of 196 Busslinger have seen him move down the order. His draft year is very reminiscent of Jack Darlings where there were all sorts of conspiracy theories around about West Coast trying to hide him etc, when the truth was he just struggled against bigger and smarter defenders and couldn’t do what he could at the underage level. The WAFL has decent depth now and as I said to Dazzle last week so many medium sized good footballers who get overlooked but can seriously play, so it’s not as easy for the 18s boys to jut walk in and standout. I have no worries about Hewitt going into the AFL system and think he”ll do very well

We're definitely putting some time and work into George from a due diligence point of view. From what I've been told from MB officials, clubs looking at George have assured him that the focus is on having a 10- 12 year career and not trying to impact from day 1 of pre season. Focus and expectations will be in getting his knee right and soaking up the education and professionalism of AFL football. I believe clubs like Sydney and Melbourne would be the perfect fit for George in this instance. He's Wangaratta lad who's a powerful footballer with enormous amount upside. Played majority forward this year and dominated with his power and strength. He doesn't win a lot of thr footy as of yet but he doesn't need to with his hurt factor and damage up forward. The goal for him would be to transition slowly into a midfield role like Petracca has dome over his career.

Dees are so lucky to have got such a wonderful footballer as a replacement for Luke, but honestly, there’s not a better person in any footy club than Brodie. Ben Brown is a beauty, but Brodie is something special. We had very influential people at Collingwood telling us all the time, that there was no better trainer at Collingwood than Brodie, and one of their Physios recently told me that in his seven years at the Club, as long as you didn’t want to talk footy, because he’s not a footy head, you couldn’t meet a more interesting and engaged person with whom to talk. Also said that he’s so good with the young blokes. I can also assure you all that there are no doubts at all about lingering effects of last seasons injuries, Brodie 100% fit and ready to go.

I hope we are all surprised by the 22. Given how formulaic and predictable we were i hope we see an upbeat addition to our generally sound style, with skills and speed added on every line. This would mean different talents used in different ways. Our core remains, but i hope to see some new and younger faces demanding selection around the edges. Only then will we keep up in ‘23.

The houses have started falling down.

Players who didn't play in the finals who would be expected to be best 22: Grundy Hunter Bowey JVR Jordon With Disco & Chandler the smokies

That's a pretty rubbish effort. James Harmes has already failed at HB and won't be playing there. The forward line is top heavy and there's at least one too many talls in the 22. Lachie Hunter has arrived to play on the wing and Angus Brayshaw played HB and midfield last year. Yes James Jordon is extremely unlucky not to make the best 26.

Watts also got drafted just as the forward press, compression of play and increased congestion started to become a feature of the game. Winning your own ball whilst having a good tank became more important than ever (in all areas of the field). I don’t think we took that into consideration when drafting in that period. To make it, Watts was up against it in more ways than one.

Some of the oppo in those highlights look like they're from Divy 4 ressies in the Amo's and whilst he looks to have some moves, I can't see him going in the ND. Rookie if he's lucky!

Thanks for this mate. RE the idea of structured and unstructured players, I reckon we clearly had too many structured players and not enough unstructured. Certainly forward of the ball anyway.

He looks slightly more explosive than LJ to me.

We definitely need more x factor and goal sense in the forward half. He looks as though he has it in spades.

Apparently Anthony Munkara is a massive Indigenous talent from the Tiwi Islands. He is also part of Essendon's NGA, but will easily be picked in the top 40 in this year's AFL Draft. Here is a link about him: https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/anthony-munkara/ It was also reported that he kicked 9 goals and 6 behinds in a school match over the weekend. While I understand it is only school football it does show he knows how to kick a goal. I also found a highlights video of him on YouTube here: Does Anthony Munkara remind you of anyone? Personally, I think he definitely reminds me of Liam Jurrah especially in regards to way that he moves. Nevertheless, he is certainly a very exciting draft prospect. Fingers crossed that the Demons might have a chance of recruiting him in the 2022 AFL Draft.

We really have had most of the games our way. No score board pressure and our tackling have forced the errors in our opposition. We have been playing freely. It will be interesting if the opposition start scoring well and they don't panic when we come at them. The yips could easily take over if we start panicking. Hoping winning form gets our confidence high and we continue the fast, hard and attacking game. Would hate to see us drop the bundle. Though we possibly will need to try some tempo footy if we start losing control. We also have been playing in poor environmental conditions. It will be interesting to see how we go when skilled play is easier to do. They say finals are won by pressure and the backline. In this we have been doing very well. I think we are on a mission, we will be too, disciplined, resistant, hardened and strong willed.

Watching footy for 40+ years and never been so nervous during a 12-goal thumping. Oh well, no point ruing what might have been, we’ve clearly got the talent to win the thing. Funny to think that had they been able to do it, the women, like the men, would have snatched the minor premiership right at the death, albeit by vastly different margins.

Yeah, I just think because he has some size already people don't cut him any slack as a super young player. Will be an absolute gun I think

Gee, windy day with some slippery conditions and people are blaming Daisy for her last-minute choice and missing a pin-point pass. Winning by 80 or so was always a huge task and they only just missed it. C'est la vie.

Poor bugger never had a chance to get out of first gear due to his injuries. In retrospect (at least) he should have been rested as should several others.

Grundy for me. He will shake off his injuries of this year and will have something to prove against Collingwood and show what they are missing when they showed him the door. My guess, he will be an All Australian twice out of the next three years!

One of the main reasons for our (relatively) disappointing season was his injury.

Fritsch to kick 60+ and lock down an AA spot.

We talk about third year and fourth year breakouts. So Kozzie (could go AA?), Rivers, and Bowey would be the safest bets? JVR, Chandler, Laurie all would be great for obvious reasons.

I realise talking about Hannan in a Hunter thread is getting off topic but I spoke to him in the preseason after this and told him no matter what happens to him for the rest of his career we'll all never forget this moment. He was thrilled. I asked him what he was thinking as he was getting closer to goal. He said if you have a look at it you can see me glance across looking for a better option. I really didn't want to kick it myself. He said the kick didn't go well off his boot and he was crapping himself it was going to miss. So his initial emotion was relief. Back on topic, I reckon by the end of next season we will be looking back on this trade and putting it up there with the Langdon trade as a quiet trade that turns into a massive bonus.

Our drafting strategy for the next 2-3 years has to focus on the bookends & HF line. Our midfield crop (Lingers, Hunter, Viney, Brayshaw, Trac, Clay, Gawndy, with Harmes, JJ, Sparrow to compliment, Dunstan as depth and Taj, Howes next in line) is set for at least another 5 solid years and any players we recruit now into that role will find it difficult to break through and would spend excessive times in the VFL. Its a good problem i suppose having the midfield and follower lines locked . We need to use our strong draft hand next year to find our next KPF to complement JVR (who is still unproven). We will hopefully get a solid look at Turner this year and see if he'll be able to hold down a KPF role to cover May's retirement, but if we have any doubt then we look to recruit and there is the potential backfill for Petty if he is to move forward. Begs the question what we do this year. Ideally it would have been to land Cadman, but that is unlikely. A good kicker and playmaker that we can plonk onto HB or HF lines could be something we look at as we are most vulnerable there. Hunter somewhat solves that problem, but our F50 connection largely driven by a slower / higher turnover ball movement from HB is to be blame.