Demonland

IN HARMES' WAY Harmes has worked hard to improve his game and to make sure nothing would get in his way to achieve his aim of establishing a place in the Melbourne team. By season's end, he had done just that and is now a solid contributor at half forward. Date of Birth: 5 November, 1995 Height: 185cm Weight: 85 kg Games MFC 2017: 17 Career Total: 44 Goals MFC 2017: 14 Career Total: 29 CDFC Games 2017: 3 CDFC Goals 2017: 0 Season 2017 AFL Statistics Kicks: 138 Handballs: 156 Disposals: 294 Marks: 50 Scores: 14 goals 12 behinds Goal Assists: 6 Tackles: 57 Hitouts: 0 Clearances: 24 Clangers: 34 Inside 50s: 48 Rebound 50s: 11 Frees For: 12 Frees Against: 14

PART TWO - OL' MAN RIVER Like the mighty Mississippi, the AFL's free agency and exchange period just kept sleepily rollin' along taking the football world on a somnolent ride to nowhere until Thursday when the draft showboat suddenly hit the rapids. Up until then, only two players (Jackson Trengove to the Western Bulldogs and Tom Rockliff to Port Adelaide) had moved to new clubs and that was via free agency but otherwise, there was absolutely no movement; the AFL's post grand final "action" was like watching the grass grow on a riverbank (except for those following the Richmond premiership medallion scandal). Things were so bad that good folks on NAB AFL Trade Radio had run out of things to talk about and they were considering playing martial music to fill the quiet spots. Then the dominoes started to fall. Jake Lever was the first, joining the Demons in exchange for pick 10 and a 2018 first round pick. Melbourne also received selection 35 and gave away a future fourth rounder as part of the deal. In no time at all, Devon Smith joined the Bombers from the Giants in return for pick 11 and a future third round pick. Essendon will get back pick 24 and a future second round selection. Late in the day, Port Adelaide's Jarman Impey was traded to Hawthorn for selection 33 in return, leaving the Hawks back in familiar territory - their current first selection in this year's draft is in the 40s. The week ended with Fremantle's Hayden Crozier moving to the Western Bulldogs on Friday in exchange for picks 40 and 82 but it was the Power that was still commanding most of the attention. Steven Motlop formally chose that club as his new home while the Cats are likely to pass on him. Port Adelaide remains the likely new home for Jack Watts. Apparently, Watts was given a hard time by the Cats when he toured their facilities and they made it clear they weren't going to part with an early second round pick for him. So how does Watts get to Port? One way might be through their ruckman Matthew Lobbe, who is reportedly seeking more game time elsewhere - possibly at one of the Queensland clubs that just happen to have early second round picks and a need for a solid ruckman. A trade involving some pick swaps might just land a three way deal. The fly in the ointment as far as Brisbane is concerned is that they have put pick 19 on the table for Adelaide's Charlie Cameron. The Crows wants the Lions’ pick 12. At week's end, Essendon is still working on deals to snare Adam Saad and Jake Stringer while Melbourne will also be looking to secure the homesick Harley Balic from the Dockers. Things are likely to warm up next week and more deals are expected to be unraveled as we move further downstream. More to come ...

PART TWO - OL' MAN RIVER Like the mighty Mississippi, the AFL's free agency and exchange period just kept sleepily rollin' along taking the football world on a somnolent ride to nowhere until Thursday when the draft showboat suddenly hit the rapids. Up until then, only two players (Jackson Trengove to the Western Bulldogs and Tom Rockliff to Port Adelaide) had moved to new clubs and that was via free agency but otherwise, there was absolutely no movement; the AFL's post grand final "action" was like watching the grass grow on a riverbank (except for those following the Richmond premiership medallion scandal). Things were so bad that good folks on NAB AFL Trade Radio had run out of things to talk about and they were considering playing martial music to fill the quiet spots. Then the dominoes started to fall. Jake Lever was the first, joining the Demons in exchange for pick 10 and a 2018 first round pick. Melbourne also received selection 35 and gave away a future fourth rounder as part of the deal. In no time at all, Devon Smith joined the Bombers from the Giants in return for pick 11 and a future third round pick. Essendon will get back pick 24 and a future second round selection. Late in the day, Port Adelaide's Jarman Impey was traded to Hawthorn for selection 33 in return, leaving the Hawks back in familiar territory - their current first selection in this year's draft is in the 40s. The week ended with Fremantle's Hayden Crozier moving to the Western Bulldogs on Friday in exchange for picks 40 and 82 but it was the Power that was still commanding most of the attention. Steven Motlop formally chose that club as his new home while the Cats are likely to pass on him. Port Adelaide remains the likely new home for Jack Watts. Apparently, Watts was given a hard time by the Cats when he toured their facilities and they made it clear they weren't going to part with an early second round pick for him. So how does Watts get to Port? One way might be through their ruckman Matthew Lobbe, who is reportedly seeking more game time elsewhere - possibly at one of the Queensland clubs that just happen to have early second round picks and a need for a solid ruckman. A trade involving some pick swaps might just land a three way deal. The fly in the ointment as far as Brisbane is concerned is that they have put pick 19 on the table for Adelaide's Charlie Cameron. The Crows wants the Lions’ pick 12. At week's end, Essendon is still working on deals to snare Adam Saad and Jake Stringer while Melbourne will also be looking to secure the homesick Harley Balic from the Dockers. Things are likely to warm up next week and more deals are expected to be unraveled as we move further downstream. More to come ...

MUSIC TO THE EARS The man whose names brings music to some people's ears struggled to establish a permanent place in the team. This was probably due to the fact that there is perhaps because there's so much competition for a place in defence, especially after Michael Hibberd arrived and took his spot there. Date of Birth: 29 June, 1994 Height: 189cm Weight: 85kg Games MFC 2017: 9 Career Total: 23 Goals MFC 2017: 2 Career Total: 2 CDFC Games 2017: 8 CDFC Goals 2017: 2 Season 2017 AFL Statistics Kicks: 63 Handballs: 80 Disposals: 143 Marks: 21 Scores: 2 goals 1 behinds Goal Assists: 2 Tackles: 25 Hitouts: 0 Clearances: 7 Clangers: 18 Inside 50s: 10 Rebound 50s: 8 Frees For: 4 Frees Against: 3

WHITEOUT The hard nosed defender spent three years as a rookie and only managed one game this year but failed to impress. He was injured late in the season and failed to recover in time for the VFL finals. White was delisted at the end of the year after a total of four games in three seasons at AFL level. Date of Birth: 10 April, 1996 Height: 188cm Weight: 88kg Games MFC 2017: 1 Career Total: 4 Goals MFC 2017: 0 Career Total: 0 CDFC Games 2017: 11 CDFC Goals 2017: 2 Season 2017 AFL Statistics Kicks: 5 Handballs: 6 Disposals: 11 Marks: 4 Scores: 0 goals 0 behinds Goal Assists: 0 Tackles: 1 Hitouts: 0 Clearances: 0 Clangers: 2 Inside 50s: 0 Rebound 50s: 1 Frees For: 0 Frees Against: 0

UNSEEN The former Giant and captain of Australia’s under-19 cricket side suffered a hamstring injury early on and was unseen throughout the year. Date of Birth: 12 August, 1996 Height: 186cm Weight: 85kg Games MFC 2017: 0 Career Total: 0 Goals MFC 2017: 0 Career Total: 0

NIFTY The strength of his defensive game finally gained some recognition from the football world after three solid years and he was unlucky not to gain All Australian honours. Date of Birth: 12 February, 1990 Height: 180cm Weight: 81kg Games MFC 2017: 22 Career Total: 116 Goals MFC 2017: 3 Career Total: 24 Season 2017 AFL Statistics Kicks: 151 Handballs: 164 Disposals: 315 Marks: 94 Scores: 3 goals 0 behinds Goal Assists: 1 Tackles: 68 Hitouts: 0 Clearances: 6 Clangers: 30 Inside 50s: 7 Rebound 50s: 38 Frees For: 19 Frees Against: 11

THE RAGING BULL After working so hard to earn his opportunity at the elite level of the game, it was sad to see the strong forward who they call "Bull" succumb to injury so early in the season. Has been given another year to prove himself. Date of Birth: 20 February, 1991 Height: 192cm Weight: 94kg Games MFC 2017: 2 Career Total: 2 Goals MFC 2017: 1 Career Total: 1 CDFC Games 2017: 3 CDFC Goals 2017: 1 Season 2017 AFL Statistics Kicks: 7 Handballs: 3 Disposals: 10 Marks: 3 Scores: 1 goals 2 behinds Goal Assists: 0 Tackles: 6 Hitouts: 3 Clearances: 0 Clangers: 4 Inside 50s: 2 Rebound 50s: 0 Frees For: 2 Frees Against: 2

CUTTING HIS TEETH The youngest player on Melbourne's list, Johnstone spent the year cutting his teeth at Casey as a small forward. Still has a fair way to go. Date of Birth: 1 June, 1998 Height: 178cm Weight: 77kg Games MFC 2017: 0 Career Total: 0 Goals MFC 2017: 0 Career Total: 0 CDFC Games 2017: 19 CDFC Goals 2017: 5

Whilst reading your post I was thinking the same thing. I wonder why that is?

After two years on the Western Bulldogs supplementary list Powell was promoted to their senior side and played 30 games in three years - 21 of them coming in 1999. After 80 games for the Reserves over four years he finally found himself a regular spot, playing 21 straight games for the top four Dogs. Given his emergence after years on the list it was a surprise that the Bulldogs then agreed to trade him to Melbourne at the end of the year in exchange for the #35 pick in that year's draft. Seen as a replacement for the retired Todd Viney, Powell continued his good form with a breakout 2000 season in which he finished fourth in the Best and Fairest and was one of the best in his side's disappointing Grand Final loss. At the end of the 2000 season he underwent an operation for Osteitis Pubis and a slow recovery that was initially supposed to see him miss the first few weeks of the season saw him eventually missed all of 2001. Powell returned for the 2002 season and was once again one of his side's best. After a pay-dispute at the end of the 2003 season Powell walked out on Melbourne and was picked up for free by the St Kilda with the first selection of the pre-season draft. He remained with the Saints until 2006 when he retired. http://demonwiki.org/Stephen+Powell Jumper Season Club GA K M H D G B HO T FF FA BV 29 1997 Western Bulldogs 3 25 16 8 33 2 2 0 0 0 3 0 29 1998 Western Bulldogs 6 48 11 38 86 3 3 0 13 5 2 0 29 1999 Western Bulldogs 21 249 92 157 406 16 16 0 27 12 25 4 7 2000 Melbourne 25 339 109 240 579 32 20 1 29 20 22 3 7 2002 Melbourne 19 184 59 147 331 11 7 3 32 13 10 3 17 2003 St. Kilda 22 256 117 202 458 17 10 1 45 9 14 3 17 2004 St. Kilda 20 199 65 146 345 9 6 0 58 12 14 3 17 2005 St. Kilda 16 115 50 149 264 4 5 0 46 17 14 0 17 2006 St. Kilda 10 70 36 67 137 0 3 0 29 8 13 0 Totals 142 1485 555 1154 2639 94 72 10 279 96 117 16 Avg/Game 15.8 10.5 3.9 8.1 18.6 0.7 0.5 0.1 2.0 0.7 0.8

FREAKISH Jeff Garlett had a great season highlighted by his lightning speed and some freakish goals. He must have been close to All Australian selection although his form tapered off a little right at the end. Date of Birth: 3 August, 1989 Height: 180cm Weight: 75kg Games MFC 2017: 21 Career Total: 167 Goals MFC 2017: 42 Career Total: 294 Season 2017 AFL Statistics Kicks: 171 Handballs: 65 Disposals: 236 Marks: 56 Scores: 42 goals 28 behinds Goal Assists: 16 Tackles: 74 Hitouts: 0 Clearances: 8 Clangers: 33 Inside 50s: 51 Rebound 50s: 7 Frees For: 17 Frees Against: 9

NOT QUITE THERE There were times during the year when he dominated at VFL level and came close to selection for Melbourne but he never quite got there. The drinking indiscretion after the Box Hill game came at the worst time as he must have been close at that stage of the season. Date of Birth: 3 March, 1994 Height: 175cm Weight: 78kg Games MFC 2017: 0 Career Total: 40 Goals MFC 2017: 0 Career Total: 28 CDFC Games 2017: 18 CDFC Goals 2017: 13

LONG RECOVERY Mitch King returned after a missing last season with an ACL injury, his second reconstruction. He was given plenty of time to recover with the Casey Demons and started showing signs of improvement as a ruckman late in the season. Date of Birth: 1 January, 1997 Height: 200cm Weight: 99kg Games MFC 2017: 0 Career Total: 0 Goals MFC 2017: 0 Career Total: 0 CDFC Games 2017: 17 CDFC Goals 2017: 2 CDFCDL Games 2017: 1 CDFCDL Goals 2017: 1

UNDERSTUDY When Max Gawn was forced onto the sidelines with a torn hamstring, the perfect opportunity for a breakthrough presented itself to the man regarded as the perpetual ruck understudy. Unfortunately, it was not to be as Spencer suffered an AC joint injury. Weeks later and not long after his return, Spencer received a one match club suspension and by then Gawn was back. Jake spent the rest of the season going through the motions at Casey and was delisted after they went out of the VFL finals in straight sets. Date of Birth: 9 October, 1989 Height: 203cm Weight: 105kg Games MFC 2017: 2 Career Total: 38 Goals MFC 2017: 2 Career Total: 8 CDFC Games 2017: 11 CDFC Goals 2017: 0 Season 2017 AFL Statistics Kicks: 7 Handballs: 10 Disposals: 17 Marks: 4 Scores: 2 goals 0 behinds Goal Assists: 0 Tackles: 5 Hitouts: 28 Clearances: 3 Clangers: 5 Inside 50s: 2 Rebound 50s: 2 Frees For: 4 Frees Against: 4

Congratulations Clayton Oliver - The 2017 Keith "Bluey" Truscott Trophy winner.

Hopefully my Finals Brochure arrives by the end of the set.

Norm Smith Memorial Trophy for Coaches Award goes to Neville Jetta.

The Ron Barassi Jnr Trophy for Leadership goes to Jack Viney.

The James McDonald Trophy for Heart and Spirit goes to Clayton Oliver.

The Harold Ball Memorial Trophy for best young player goes to Clayton Oliver.

Neville Jetta wins the Ian Ridley Memorial Trophy for best club ambassador.

Could be breathing in a little. I'm guilty of that occasionally.

They reported on Trade Radio that not only has he had surgery to remove the cancer but he will undergo precautionary chemo. I wish him all the best.