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I find those moaning about their dashed hopes of snapping up Chris Judd with pick 11 in the mid season draft, a midfield gun who, with zero AFL preseason will outperform players who’ve been on our list for several years,… frustrating and delusional. Luker looks like a classic MFC pick, in this our golden age of recruiting (all praise JT), in that while he has attributes that needed more development, he has the MFC signature qualities of aggression in contest, demonstrated willingness to work hard and earn his place in the big league. Welcome aboard young man! And congratulations. Go Demons.

i'd like to speak to them during the game.

Which player would you have selected in you were Jason Taylor? Put it on the record so you can gloat when that player smashes it in the next 6 months and you will get all the kudos on here for a few years. This argument over what type of player is the correct type is tiresome. Every team has holes in the list. Tall forwards is our most pressing need in my opinion. It doesn't mean I don't worry about our inside midfield depth, our aging key defenders or our sole reliance on Max in the ruck. We were never going to solve any issues with one pick in the mid season draft.

They listed his weight. The WAFL will be cancelled by the morning.

Love this selection. Big strong aggressive key forward who's already played senior WAFL for two years now. You need those big aggressive key forward to make it in today's competition. It's why JVR is doing well and I think having another young key forward who is willing to crash packs and takes strong contested marks will only hold him in good stead. The recruiting is also a wise decision. It's a transition type recruitment. Guys like Schache and Brown will be gone at the end of the year so makes absolute sense we are bring in a developing tall early on to gain some valuable experience in an AFL environment so that by pre season day 1 he's already adapted to the full time training and professionalism. This also means that with the improvement of Jefferson, going into next year with JVR, Kenterfield, Fullarton and Petty has us well stocked for key forwards. Our targeting and recruitment through the draft will then turn to adding elite midsfielders to add further depth.

Unlike you we look at and understand the big picture

Great interview, Goodie looks very relaxed which is pleasing. I'm very happy he's our coach!

I reckon this 'whisper' might have happened to umpire no. 22 more than once: "I think you'll need to pay Melbourne a free before the end of the game - it's getting a little obvious"

It's always exciting to see a new face, good luck young fella.

Also a very talented cricketer and played lacrosse

No. There's a White in waiting for that!

As a social experiment, I decided today to wear an "I Love Collingwood" t-shirt for a week. So far I've been spat on, verbally abused, punched and had a bottle thrown at me. I'm curious as to what might happen when I leave the house.

some good signs and words here

McDonald is retiring at seasons end. It would take a monumental change in heart to go around next year. Personally I think the lack of key forwards who can ruck is a weakness of ours. As Binman pointed out on another thread, using our best prospect in JVR as a backup ruckman is not ideal. Other teams have shown, having a hulking aggressive backup ruck can do well at AFL level and this kid could fit the bill. It also points to the changes going into next year. McDonald, BBB & Schache are out. Petty is still a chance to leave at seasons end while Jefferson and Fullerton are both still unproven. Better to get another prospect in early and see if we can get him up to speed prior to the preseason.

I think Luker Kentfield makes good sense from a list management pov. We are currently going with 2 tall forwards (one a ruck/fwd) plus Fritsch and three tall backs. BBB is done, TMac is close to the end despite his great season, Tomlinson has not been starting 22 and would find better opportunities elsewhere, and May is getting on. Schache is not up to it. J.Smith is assumed done. To maintain our current set up through the decade I think we can assume that JVR, Fritsch and Lever are there and that hopefully we can retain Petty who could play at either end. That means we need two of Turner, Jefferson, Adams, Verrall and now Kentfield to make it as KP. Hore is useful intercepting depth and Fullarton may be depth only too. Kalani White is coming through but any effective impact can't be expected until towards the end of the decade. I think we've increased our chances of success in this area and we needed to. We can concentrate of drafting midfielders which is the easiest target to hit and look for a serviceable ruck through trade or FA.

But seriously, our forward line is starting to sound like an English manor house with Kentfield, Fullarton and Jefferson. Hopefully we'll be lording it over the opposition in the years to come.

The saddest part is you live alone!

nope, end of 2026 first round picks now sign an automatic three- not two-year contract

Oops. SEN needs a new atlas.

Some people also forget that we may have an FA or younger on the hook for 2025, the club will also know Petty's intentions better than us, and will be drafting accordingly, as well as planning contingencies should things change. I completely agree with @binman, surprise surprise, in that this year Luker is seen as the next in line for JVRs spot as KPF/2nd ruck. It will also give us cover for Petty if he goes down again. As @old55 puts it, this list decision makes perfect sense from how we're looking at setting up. I'd also say it's spreading the "bet" across multiple players, rather than relying on too few to make it.

Surely you can see we are experimenting with our midfielders and half-forwards in other roles against lowly opposition, to adjust the mix and provide greater flexibility? It’s not because we don’t have any better starting mids; it’s about giving us options.

Maybe as @DeeSpencerobserves there was no-one available who could come straight into the 22 and make more impact in the 2nd half of the H&A and finals than Laurie, Spargo, Woewodin, Howes, Billings, Tholstrup and K.Brown. Perhaps Luke Dunstan or Moose are interested in resurrection?

Whispering in the Umpire’s Ears? I categorically deny this!

Leave 34 vacant for Kalani White 44 is my bet

Our forward line has gone from lukewarm to lukerwarm.

Another key forward who won't help the side push for and win finals in 2024. On that basis, regardless of what he does in future, this is a disappointing selection. We're only one injury to a starting midfielder away from a full blown crisis in that part of the field.

Surely, the nickname will be “Filthy” (Luker)?

Rugby has been horrendously mismanaged but a lot of their issues come because they just don’t have the cash to invest everywhere. For junior development you need money, for money you need good teams and a broadcast deal, which needs viewers on a network people will pay for and watch. Just like soccer, Rugby has been a victim of Foxtel no longer being the choice for all sports and splitting off to Paramount or Stan for much needed short term dollars. Not sure it means much for afl which already dominates junior participation in Victoria. Rugby has always been a small niche sport. The winner is Rugby League with the Storm junior programs fighting for the same athletes.

Quote of the year. 🤣

You might be right about midfield depth but were we realistically going to find a midfielder in the MSD who would make a significant difference to our 2024 fortunes?

Or they've received calls from Goody, JT, seen and shared the club's social media post, fielded texts from Trac and other players, and have been contacted by our media dept to tee up a welcome video?

Or no one was good enough given the challenge to relocate a player (even from Preston), acclimatise them to professional standards, teach them our structures and have them perform well enough to demand game time within 12 weeks is - whilst not impossible -really difficult. We didn't use the pick to plug holes anywhere, we used it on the best available long term option. Maybe there's no midfield option better than Laurie, Tholstrup, Billings or Howes/AMW on the back flank and rolling a midfielder up. That's not unreasonable, they are all good VFL players. But I suspect reinforcements will come over the end of year list period. I doubt losing Gus for no replacement after the loss of JJ and Harmes hasn't impacted the midfield options.

Big talk aggressive key forward who was certainly unlucky not to get picked up last year. Vice like hands who isn't afraid to crash packs and has certainly shown that at WAFL senior level. Love this pick.

Just heard on the wireless they are wrapping up operations after their last game this weekend. For those in the know, would this mean more training space and changeroom area for our Demons inside of the precinct?

Turner will come in for Roo. Ben Brown is really struggling to move out there. Adding a flight to the mix is not going to make him any better. Petty will have to help Max in the ruck.

Felt some minor discomfort in his adductor at training today according to Richo. They expect JvR to be available next week.

How I love the optimism you bring to each thread, it is refreshing. We have drafted him, let's wait and see.

We have access to the cream of the crop at the end of this year. Why are we making such a big deal out of what is essentially a rookie draft?

Has he said this? I haven't seen anything reported.

The problem is elite midfielders almost always (particularly in the 2020s) come from the top 10 picks in the draft. This was a midseason draft. You cannot expect the cream of the crop out of season...

He seems like a nice kick as well, has scored 42.13 from his WAFL games. I hope we dont beat that accuracy out of him :(

Pity none of them are whispering "Petracca is being held all the time" to the umpires lol

Situated roughly in Australia's geographic centre, Alice Springs has for many years been a troubled town suffering from intermittent crime waves, particularly among its younger residents. There was a time a little while ago when things were so bad that some even doubted the annual AFL game in the town would proceed. Now, the hope is that this Sunday’s Melbourne vs Fremantle encounter will bring joy to the residents of the town and that through the sport and the example of the participants, better times will perhaps come to the people of Australia’s red heart, so bring it on! This week’s round involves the first of the second group of byes in 2024 and added attention to the two teams fighting for ascendancy in the logjam of clubs in the race for one of the competition’s vital top four spots. While the Demons will be keen to win this one to create a buffer against the other contenders, the Dockers have had the edge on them since they won their premiership in the West in 2021. Those defeats in 2022 and 2023 were particularly galling as not only were they unexpected, but because they were also played on Melbourne’s home ground at the MCG. This time, the match up is on neutral territory. The Demons are not yet to be entitled to call TIO Traeger Park their home away from home. Last year, the weather played its tricks when unseasonal rain turned the ground into a sodden mess so that despite their dominance everywhere around the ground, they lost to the Giants by two points thanks to an ugly score line of 5.15.45 to 7.5.47. Melbourne’s score was the lowest ever in AFL history at the venue. But if history means anything then this could be a turning point for the Dees against the Dockers. Their midfield, which came back well against the Saints last week, usually fares well at the ground. Jack Viney is due to register his tenth game at the ground on Sunday to become the first AFL player to make double figures in this category and last year, he became the first player to record 40 possessions at the ground. His midfield partners in crime, Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca are regular high disposal winners at the ground. Kozzie Pickett has the record number of goals in a match there - six (scored against Port Adelaide in 2022). Of course, records mean very little when the team plays there more often than others, especially when their Freo counterparts have never played there at all, but there’s no doubt about the Demons’ capacity to play good footy in the Red Centre. I wouldn’t underestimate the opposition’s midfielders either with Brayshaw, Serong and Young all racking up good numbers in the middle recently and Jackson backing them up as a mobile ruckman. Whoever gets on top in this department, will go a long way to winning this game. I also put the Demons ahead marginally in measuring the strength of the respective defences even in the absence of Jake Lever. The Melbourne forwards looked better and more balanced last week with the return of Jacob van Rooyen. Essentially, Melbourne will win the battle of the nation’s red heart if it can bring its usual intensity to this troubled area. The Demons have put a lot of effort into working with the local community. They won’t let them down. Melbourne to win by 13 points. THE GAME Melbourne v Fremantle at TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs on Sunday 2 June, 2024 at 1.00pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 18 wins Fremantle 25 wins At TIO Traeger Park Melbourne 0 wins Fremantle 0 wins Last five meetings Melbourne 2 wins Fremantle 3 wins The Coaches Goodwin 2 wins Longmuir 3 wins LAST TIME THEY MET Fremantle 12.7.79 defeated Melbourne 10.12.72 at The MCG, Round 20, 2023 The Demons were on top of the Dockers early with Gawn and Grundy dominating the rucks and Petracca and Brayshaw controlling ground level. Freo ground its way back into the game with their superior kicking for goal and held Melbourne out to record a 7 point victory away from home. TEAMS MELBOURNE B J. Bowey, S. May, T. Rivers HB C Salem, A. Tomlinson, T. McDonald C E. Langdon C. Oliver, C. Windsor HF S. McAdam, B. Fritsch, K. Chandler F K. Pickett, H. Petty A. Neal-Bullen FOLL M. Gawn, J. Viney, C. Petracca I/C L. Hunter, J. McVee, T. Sparrow, D. Turner SUB T. Woewodin EMG J. Billings, B.Brown, B. Laurie IN D. Turner OUT J. van Rooyen (adductor) FREMANTLE B H. Chapman, A. Pearce, J. Draper HB J. Aish, L. Ryan, J. Clark C J. Sharp, A. Brayshaw, H. Young HF J. O'Meara, S. Switkowski, M. Frederick F J. Treacy, J. Amiss, L. Jackson FOLL S. Darcy, C. Serong, N. Fyfe I/C B. Banfield, S. Sturt, B. Walker, M. Walters SUB C. Wagner EMG T. Emmett, N. Erasmus, M. Johnson IN M. Frederick, S. Sturt OUT T. Emmett (omitted), M. Johnson (managed) Injury List: Round 12 Tom Fullarton — hamstring / Test Harrison Petty — ankle / Test Daniel Turner — calf / Test Marty Hore — calf / 2 - 3 weeks Josh Schache — Achilles / 2 - 3 weeks Jake Lever — knee / 3 - 4 weeks Jake Melksham — knee / 3 - 5 weeks Charlie Spargo — Achilles/ TBC

The WA scouts have been on a roll, hopefully this is another gem they have plucked. Reserving any judgement for 2.5 years.

A good pick up and offers a point of difference from the rest of our tall forwards at Casey JT also has a great hit rate with recruits from WA so I’ll back him in, plus it doesn’t hurt that he’s friends with Kolt And to people thinking we were going to find a bonafide midfielder who could play genuine minutes this year - you’re dreaming We’ll be bringing in LDU for that 😉

What i can say for sure is that Luker is more of a competitor than Weideman is now and he's been in the system for 8 years. Good start to go by.

Is it just me or does his name sound like a mash-up of about four others? Good pick btw.

BB was signed on a 4 year deal in 2020. Was always going to be on the list for 24’.

Apparently not according to the professionals paid to select players in the mid season draft to address gaps.

and who plays as our #1 small defender who both locks down on the best oppo small forward AND provides rebound run; you know, how we generate our most scoring opportunities?