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If he was drafted he would have to be a pretty unique journey wouldn't he? - VFL best and fairest in 2017 and 2018. - Drafted 2018 as a mature age recruit (22 years old). - Played 14 AFL games in 2019. - No games in 2020 or 2021 (injured most of 2021 I think). - Delisted and went back to the VFL: --2022: playing for North Melbourne (3rd in their best and fairest, behind winner Dom Tyson for trivia buffs) and named in the VFL team of the year --2023: playing for Williamstown, won their best and fairest and named in the VFL team of the year. - Back on AFL list in 2024, age 28?

I sense at this point Cal does not appear to really have a clue what we plan to do.

I’d imagine they’d look at him predominantly as a Casey player - a bit like Dunstan was. I actually like the strategy of putting 2 or 3 quality senior guys with good habits at Casey, to bring through our new recruits. It means that the young guns get a good role model on their line, to learn from, whilst keeping Casey strong.

He’s one of those players who’s too good for the VFL, but the issue I have is his best footy comes as an intercepting 3rd tall and we already have Lever as well as developing Disco Turner for that role. He’s not going to keep up with nippy smalls in a back pocket. He’s not going to man good key forwards one on one deep. And he doesn’t provide the run we need as a back flanker.

Fortunately, BT doesn't do VFL Unfortunately, he still does AFL

Twomey's November Rankings: https://www.afl.com.au/news/1062561/cal-twomeys-phantom-form-guide-top-draft-prospects-november-ranking

I think there's no chance either of these things happen.

good depth knows our system the game winner against gc17 lives long in the memory

Casey have also recruited ex St Kilda Leo Connelly who was delisted this year. Played 7 games at elite level all back in 2021. Played all year in the VFL for Sandy and averaged 19 disposals playing as a half back/midfield.

Don’t mind it as a rookie spot. With hibberd gone there’s a chance he gets some games in a horses for courses selection. But hoping any other rookies added are midfield grunt so the vfl team still functions

Few moves happening. Unfortunately we've lost George Grey who's been a solid contributor for the last number of years. He's off to Frankston. Talented junior prospect who was incredibly unlucky to miss out in last year's AFL draft is joining Casey from Frankston. Was in the AFL Academy and played at Dandenong Stingrays as a big bodied midfielder.

Brisbane d Adelaide opens up the possibility of a home GF for us if we win the QF and PF in Melbourne.

Thought he was very stiff to be delisted in the first place. No problems with him coming back into the fold.

I thought it was a harsh decision to delist Hore at the start. He's been in absolutely terrific form at VFL and his numbers are through the roof. In saying that, I would have thought a mature age ruckman would be the biggest need ahead of another half back flanker/tall defender. I hope Will Varrell is ready next year.

Tackle pressure

This is so out of touch with reality. The CBA requires players to be available. Sponsorship requires players and coaches to be available. Media rights require players to be available. We are always going to have players commenting in the media. Your suggestions here are never going to happen, nor should they.

Fox sports have done rankings (not a phantom) for picks 26 - 50 and will release 1 - 25 tomorrow night. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/draft/afl-draft-2023-power-rankings-2650-afl-draft-prospects-2023-news-fox-footy-rankings-50-to-26-shaun-mannagh/news-story/9ee29cf2709722c2ae31bb448586cd53

I've never heard a single comment like that, nor any denigration of our premiership from any supporters of other clubs at any time. If anything, they were blown away at just how dominant we were in that 2021 finals series.

Okay Max. Less words and more actions thanks. We've been hearing too much words for the past two years.

Wonderful service. I watched the whole show from far away Perth and enjoyed it very much having watched regularly the great man in my youth. Played in a practice match trying for a game for the Melbourne thirds (under 19s). I was on the same team as Ron and he fed me at least 3 perfect handpasses. I didn't make the final list despite his help though. On the only negative side, I thought that maybe one of his old Demons mates like Brian Dixon might have been asked to say a few words. Maybe he declined.

Umps love both Crom and Lions so much they don't know what to do today.

This is not about Ron per se,but another aspect of his fame. l was a student at Monash University in the early 1970s and the head of the History Department, Professor Ian Turner, used to give an annual lecture named the Ron Barassi Memorial Lecture. He would talk about various aspects of the game in a humorous manner. The thing is he was a Richmond supporter and always wore a Tigers beanie! So even Turner recognised the stature of Ron in the world of footy.

Not every recruit needs to play in the 1s and have 30 mate. We're not assembling a fantasy team on FIFA. Dunstan was a crucial contributor to Casey winning a flag, which benefited all of Chandler, Woewodin, JVR, Turner and Bedford (benefiting GWS), most of whom are now regulars in the 1s. Schache likewise - takes the best defender and kicks bags in the VFL Casey's success is crucial to our fortunes in so many ways. A lot of people don't understand this but there is a clear correlation of the strongest VFL teams with the strongest AFL teams. Bit chicken or egg - but either way, seasoned experience that helps Casey is valuable. Not saying I love this acquisition btw as I never really thought he had the athleticism against AFL forwards. I'd rather someone who was depth but a greater capacity to impact at the top level and carve out a spot - someone like Mannagh. But appreciate he will likely go in the ND.

If he's taken as a rookie, it would add to the list of ridiculous recent acquisitions of mature aged players. Dunstan, Schache and maybe Hore. Dunstan and Schache were acquired as depth, but were never played when we had injuries. I thought we traded picks 14, 27, 35 for pick 11, because we didn't intend to use the latter picks. Surely there's top 40 youngsters with a higher ceiling than a 28yo Marty Hore. As DD said, if it was a mature aged ruck, I'd understand. But we are not lacking in mid sized backmen.

I thought he was a bit unlucky to be cut first time around. I get lost in all the ridiculous list rules that are in place these days but can he just be a straight SSP signing?

More importantly, Ron is. Love it. Thank you.

Is it just me, or does it seem like there are quite a few highly rated Tasmanians this year? Previous years I can’t recall much talk of talent from the apple isle. Good signs for the state anyway.

Aren’t we all !

Happy now?

Oh yeah Max refusing to speak to the media would absolutely not result in more negative publicity for the club. The media loves to be ignored.

Supporters: What are you going to do about the mess the club is in?! Max: Tough love during the pre-season. Don’t worry, we have a plan. Supporters: Talk is cheap. We don’t want to hear it.

What I want to see is A No media interviews of any kind other than obligatory after match coaches post game AFL Commitment B Any players approached for anything in the media to give a polite NO COMMENT and move on C No more explanations a la Pert and Goodwin on SEN D Give the Media ABSOLUTE ZILCH win lose or draw in season 2024 ZILCH!

No link with Wilson or O'Sullivan either. Not sure I fully believe it. Beyond the usual names for our first pick he has us as showing interest in Windsor, Tholstrup and Charlie Edwards.

Looks like Marc Murphy to me. Quick neat player, but lacks the power of top line midfielders.

Based on Cal’s rankings, Curtin or Sanders sounds feasible with our first pick.

I think we should encourage the Western Bulldogs to recruit him since they pickup former Demons (Hannan, Baker and now Harmes) which are in my opinion NQR AFL players.

Always liked Marty, unfortunately was injury prone, hope thats behind him.

Interesting that Twomey doesn't mention us re team thats are into Leake

I loved the event and marvelled at the site of some of the olde footballers. The Carlton crew with a hobbled and hunched Percy Jones, Bruce Doull unchanged, Syd Jackson. I saw Sam Kekovich interviewed before the gate opened and delighted in his apology to Ron if he could talk to him 1 last time. Brent Crosswell was magnificent he is an orator who spoke so well. All the speeches were perfect, which I suspect being a state funeral were all written or ghosted by professional speech writers. Steven Smith spoke of Barassi's return to Melbourne and how he changed the culture and Richard Colles detailed how important Ron was in saving Sydney and moving the Barassi line. There have been many legends in the history of the VFL/AFL but in my mind none match Ron. They may have better credentials in some areas but no one could match his playing, coaching, vision, or persona and I doubt anyone ever will. I was sorry that his manager of 40 years Rosemary Long didn't get a chance to speak, she has dealt with Ron for so long and I am sure he was not always the easiest person to manage. Vale Ron, you were my first real hero

I love David Rodan as goal umpire. I love the wry grin when the Dees kick a goal. Also a lovely guy away from footy.

The stupidest justification for selecting a player, yet it just keeps popping up...

Loved Jack. I backed the club in trading him out the year as I believe it was best for both clubs and turns out it's been a massive win for us. As other have said, had he been drafted 3 years back he'd be a weapon because he's exactly the kind of player we're lacking across half forward with his ball use and polish inside 50. Also, he kicked some serious clutch goals in big games mind you. For a guy that was perceived as soft he could certainly play in the big games.

Whether he mentioned 'tough love' or not, the better question is whether 'tough love' would work? Gone are the days when players would do everything a coach asked without question, even if that question was internalised and never stated out loud. That's the coaching style of yesteryear and was highly successful for John Kennedy, Denis Pagan, Mick Malthouse and others. Today's generation of players (and that generation generally) have different expectations as to how they should be treated. I suspect the handling of Clayton Oliver needs to be very different to that of Angus Brayshaw which would be different again from Steven May. It's been said before, but a good coach understand the game; a great coach also understands his players.

Maybe instead of saying anything Max should have gone the full Marcel Marceau and let his actions do the talking. He could have mimed marking, kicking goals instead of points, given the goal umpires' goal signal so that it was all clear and ended with a triumphant mime of raising the cup. Imagine the headlines "Max Marceau mimes Melbourne marvellous!"

I think I’ve missed something here. Is there a longer interview where Max actually states he’s putting his teammates on notice? The clip posted above shows Max answering a couple of questions about our ‘culture’, does it not? Mates organising catch ups through WhatsApp is what I got from it but it won’t stop the usuals coming out with the “we are sick of talk, yadda yadda yadda “ I swear this happens every time Max answers questions in the off season.

Just so inane and cliche responses. We all know they have to perform next year. What do you expect Max to say when asked a question? "No comment".

In nearly every draft I read, Sanders has slipped to our pick. Surely we take him if available, he couldn’t have done much more this year. That is assuming all of the other players in that top “tier” have already been picked.

Truly BA, is the air conditioning working at your place?

Was very impressed with Curtin's performance on Walter. The other one that stuck in my mind was how he played against Vic Country. Outstanding game. Curtin and Reid going blow for blow to try and get their teams over the line. That high in the draft you look for players that can influence the game and help turn momentum in your favour. Curtin and Reid showed this in spades that night. Would happily have Curtin if he's there at pick 6/7.