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Koltyn will join Premiership defender and 2 time All Australian Steven May as Demonland's Sponsored Players for the 2024 season.

He'd have a lot more if he'd been drafted by Collingwood.

The 2023 Table is updated for: Games played at start of 2024 season New draftees Caleb Windsor, a three year contract in line with new CBA Koltyn Tholstrup a three year contract in line with the CBA Kynan Brown as an A Rookie on a one year contract Inclusions to be confirmed by the club: Marty Hore as an A rookie (Supplementary List), assume a one year contract Dan Turner on a two year contract Andy Moniz-Wakefield rookie contract to be renewed Therefore, there are no more list spots. We have kept the 36/6/2 mix of senior/A rookie/ B rookie mix. Potential milestones in the H & A season: 50 games Bowey Chandler 100 games Rivers Picket Spargo 200 games Hunter Petracca Tomlinson Viney Key Senior Player signings for 2024 (imv): Sparrow and Bowey are the major ones to sign up. Langdon and Hunter will be re-signed. Also Adams will likely get another contract as it is rare for recent draftees to not have at least one extension. But a number of others may be encouraged to look elsewhere (eg Laurie, Schache, Smith and maybe Hunter) or retire (eg Brown, McDonald). Other notes I reckon Tholstrup will rapidly become a ‘cult hero’ especially among the young. He has the swagger and the charisma to draw the crowds!!! Looks like a fun loving kid. For any contract changes from the club or posters during the off season I will update them all together in March. The 2023 Contracts thread can be found here:

I think on reflection we tend to remember the end of Cales time with us instead of the start. He played 40 games in his first 2 years (2008 and 2009), averaging 18 and 23 disposals on the wing. We were wooden spooners both years, not much going on for development. In March 2010 (preseason) he did a PCL keeping him out for nearly 3 months. He only played 10 games that year. Late in the 2011 preseason he tore a finger tendon and missed 2 months. He only played 14 games that year, struggling for form. But who didn't? The year featured 186 (Morton didn't play) and the coach was sacked mid year. I recall in 2011 that we had shifted him to the HBF instead of the wing, presumably to learn more accountability, but it didn't gel. He was always at his best as an attacking winger. Anyway, enter Mark Neeld, who does not have a track record of developing young players at Melbourne. In 2012 Morton continued to struggle, before a season ending shoulder injury. We traded him to WCE but I think his confidence was shot. In a different environment, Cale Morton played a lot more games.

Point being? His coaches, full time professionals working at the elite level, judged him to be our 6th best player. He finished 9th in the bluey in 2022 and 6th this season. Back to back top 10s in the b&f of an AFL club that finished top 4 is an objective measure of excellence. It's plain silly to think he finished 6th only because of his pressure acts, 1%ers, effort and gut running. I mean c'mon, it's elite level sport, not the local footy club handing out votes to the bloke who is a real trier and always does the barbie. And without being facetious, the assessment of an AFL coaching staff holds more water than the vibe based assessment of random footy forum posters. Mad if I think he shows composure with footy in hand? Did you miss the part when I said he was our best kick inside 50 in terms of kick to score ratio? Sure that probably says something about his teammates, but nonetheless hard to top that stat without showing composure with ball in hand.

Sixth in the bluey says hi.

BinmANB

I'm interviewing the Melbourne Football Club Recruitment Manager Jason Taylor early next week on the Demonland Podcast. I'll be asking him about moving up the draft order, our new recruits (both Draftees and Trades), Daniel Curtin, our recent recruits who have yet to play a senior game, who he thinks will be the next Judd McVee and more. If you have any further questions let me know below and I'll see if I can squeeze them in. I will release the podcast either Monday or Tuesday. We'll be aiming to do a 2023 Season Review (Men and Women) as well as give our thoughts on the Trade & Draft period in the coming weeks. Look out for a thread soon where we will open it up for questions from Demonlanders.

With the departure of Brodie Grundy at the end of the 2023 season Demonland lost one of it's Sponsored Players after only 1 year. It is with great pride that we announce that after a long and exhaustive search we have found a replacement. In 2024 the Melbourne Football Club's Pick 13 in the AFL draft Koltyn Tholstrup will join Premiership defender and 2 time All Australian Steven May as Demonland's Sponsored Players. We look forward to many years of success for our newest player who has already become a cult figure on this website before a ball has been bounced in again.

He removed his name from the draft to sign with us as a supplemental selection once that period opens (next week I believe).

Question: what's your obsession with country boys from WA all about?

Does anyone know where you can watch a replay of the 2 draft nights. Wouldn’t mind watching some of those highlights on Slo Mo.

Most irrelevant article of all time. Rating players before they even play and rating clubs, not on their performance, but the draft currency they held. Well done GC on your academy picks and to North for adding top end talent with AFL concessions.. blah blah blah

There was some confusion between DL folk on the round trip to Esperance last week. Can Jason please confirm the exact KMs covered?

Any chance we see Kolt 45? AMW to give up 45

When I first looked at Koltyn with the sunnies and hair I immediately thought of a young Brett Lovett, Brett was a lot shorter but he had that look about him. Koltyn has that look about him (eir of confidence) that will make people take him seriously. Lucky us.!!!

spargs will just have to step up

I've posted about Kynan before. He's tough, quick, can find the footy and won't die wondering. Easily worthy of a rookie spot. Glad it's official now and we can see another father son in red and blue. Best of luck little Doggy!

https://omny.fm/shows/wide-world-of-sports-6pr/koltyn-tholstrup-and-his-move-to-melbourne This is a great interview with Koltyn Tholstrup on 6PR in WA. Koltyn spoke very well and wants to play Round 1 2024. Arriving in Melbourne on Saturday and at training on Monday.

I am enjoying reading the Jake Melksham thread, very positive in the main, Jake has won us over and I am very happy that Jake has re- signed with us. We really need his presence, footy IQ and leadership skills in the forward half and I love the idea of keeping him on as forward coach. Thanks Jake.!!

He deserves his spot on the list. Forward structure completely broke down in the finals the moment he did his knee. I don't think he ever gets back to his best but from and off field leadership and coaching point of view he's worth the contract.

Jesus.. Nathan looks like he could still play with the set of pipes he's got going on..

When do you get holidays? At what age bracket do you and the team start looking for future talent? Does the draft camp and testing really provide anything else that you don't already know? And would anything from it dissuade you from a particular player? How many do you have on your team these days? Do you seek or get direct intel from the U18 competition coaches/teams?

Still developing into his body young Kynan, excellent hands out of traffic, can work on his kicking, tank looks good and can win and find his own ball which is always a good indicator. Might have another Judd Mcvee type development project on our hands. One year to develop down at Casey and another solid pre season in 24 and the world is his oyster. If Kynan has the appetite like his old man, he'll be another great rookie success story for the club.

Robbie was left handed, but a right foot kick and of course could do both on the opposite side brilliantly. It made him difficult to stop, because he would lean the way you weren't expecting and evade, or get off a kick or handball. If you watch replays of Robbie, you will see him lean into the handball and lean back with the kick. This kid is a little similar, but is quicker than Robbie was, which will help him in his career. If he is 25% the player Robbie was, we have a beauty.

Showing some serious leadership and maturity. A contender for the captaincy alongside Jake Lever when Maxy decides to relinquish it.

I'm very happy with this outcome - it feels like Kynan will give everything to succeed and he can be at least a decent role player.

Think hard about it....

Media the day before the draft - ‘meet the gun draftee who plays like Pendles/Buddy/Judd/Ablett’ Media the day after the draft - ‘I guess they did ok, but only if these players end up being good’ 🤷‍♂️

In the 2022 semi final against the lions, Max was killing them in the ruck and the Lions put Fullarton into the centre and he nullified Max and beat him with his athleticism. Was a factor with the Lions winning. I have high hopes for Fullarton if given a good go at AFL level. He has the ability to produce some very good footy

about the only player they don't think will be a future star was the 37 year old brickie whose mates nominated him for a giggle

100% Agree. Bailey from the Lions is the perfect example of the sort of player and role that the Colt could fill for us. High half forward who can get up and down the ground, hits targets, wins his own ball, can kick goals and when required can also go into the middle. The alternative is players like Sparrow and Jordon who can play as pure mids when required (eg to give our starting mids a chop out) but don't look natural forwards when resting at half forward flank.

I would like another forward who can play mid, rather than mids playing half forward like we do.

I’m sure this comparison has been made already but Sestan and Tholstrup are, on paper, remarkably similar Mid sized forward ✅ X factor ✅ Size (188cm V 186cm) ✅ Powerful frame ✅ Great kick/High footy IQ ✅ Mullet ✅ This dynamic duo could be a whole lot of fun for us to watch

Serious problem we have.... We all saw Max go down against Brisbane and fortunately we had Grundy to cover. If something similar happens we do not have backup that can play a whole game as ruck. Fullerton....zero games in 2023. Look at his highlights reel on the club website...no rucking shown! He is a forward. Schache....not selected when we needed either a forward or ruck. Tells you where he is at. That just leaves TMac or JVR. We need both of them to be up forward not getting beaten up around the ball. We fell into this trap last year, by robbing the forward line to fill gaps in the ruck. Verrall played 9 games at Casey after injury. He showed promise.....and you can't want more from a kid in his first year. But it was his first year, and naturally he is a LONG way from AFL rucking duties. Unfortunately, he is also only 199cm which is not in his favour for rucking at the top level as well. Houston...we have a problem!

I watched/listened to a few interview's he's done in the lead up to the draft last night, this kids a ripping young lad. He's made of the right stuff & plays in a way that will make him a fan favourite very quickly. I'm really excited to watch him develop.

So glad that Kynan has gotten through to us I was worried that someone would spoil our party, welcome aboard Kynan. !!

He played so wide that he sat next to me in the stand calling for the ball!😂

Watch this kid develop like Petracca and mutch like Phillipou is at the saints. Build a tank as a fwd then become a dynamic midfielder. Love this pick up

Dont want to moz the lad, This kid could be anything. Cant wait to mutter the words Tholstrup what grab. Our Forward line is starting to look very, very dangerous with the inclusions of Billings, McAdam and Tholstrup all of a sudden. Going to be a very interesting pre season.

What I rate is his inside 50 kicking, in a couple of highlight moments you see him check himself and select the right option, that doesn't look like it was his initial intention (going off body language/position), gives the impression of being calm under pressure. In JT we trust.

This is critical. Says two things - one he is a natural athlete. And two he must be a hard worker. I suspect nibbla's 2km draft trial was similarly impressive and i'm guessing the role they have in mind for Koltyn is, like Nibla, the high half forward role. As i have banged on about that role has become critical in footy and was a clear need we had to fill (ie another elite high half forward to compliment Nibbla). Appears to have good foot skills too, which is important Nibbla has really improved his field kicking and was our best kick inside 50 last season (as defined by kick to score ratio - our three worst were Tracc, Oliver and Gawn). Having a player on both flanks who can hit a target inside 50 will be a big positive. Good get.

So is he Pup Brown? SOD Brown?

And get the boy an Oakley sponsorship. He’ll never want to go back home. 😬

Great to see Kynan get on the list. I was watching those last few picks with fingers X'd.

I'm going to go extremely left field because why not 6 - Windsor 11 - Tholstrup