Demonland

We're going to end up getting nothing of value for him. At one time you could have got 3 first rounders as a starting point. Heads have to roll.

Hey Siri, Play highlights of Harry Sharp. Ok. Here's what I found on the web. VFL Showreel, R13: Harry Sharp highlights VFL Showreel, R10: Harry Sharp highlights Sharp’s banana brilliance brings Brisbane another Sharp shows plenty of dash before Lohmann adds another

After becoming premiers in 2021, and occupying top four finishes in the last three years, 2024 was a completely different story for the Dees. Melbourne finished 14th in 2024, with significant off-field issues weighing them down. But Cam Luke has nine positives for Melbourne fans, urging them to sit tight and remain optimistic heading into 2025. 1. Max Gawn “I think sometimes we underrate people because the standards they set for themselves are so high, and we take certain things for granted," Cam Luke said on AFL Trade Radio. “AFL fans should not take Max Gawn for granted. “He played pretty much with a broken leg in the last month. “We talk about inspirational leaders and captains in the AFL; if there’s any in front of Max Gawn it is a very small number. “He leads this football club by example. He has had to answer a million questions at the Melbourne Football Club. “He fronts up, he talks about it, he wears his heart on his sleeve. “He is the best ruckman in the league and this is by far the best positive – that Max Gawn is their captain.” 2. Caleb Windsor “He was good this year. He was probably a bit low in the rising star. “It’s never easy to wander into a club that has had success and be good straight away. "To be able to crack into a team like that, Caleb Windsor deserves a pat on the back." 3. Jacob Van Rooyen “He kind of got thrown into it once Luke Jackson left the club. “It is not easy for a young kid to carry a lot of responsibility, they haven’t got their forward line mix right, which we understand. “I think there are ups and downs, and I don’t think we accept the ups and downs of Van Rooyen as we do for other forwards." 4. Easier fixture next year “They’ve had a hard fixture; they’ve had to do it a harder way. “The last three years they’ve been in the top 4, they were a premier, back-to-back top 4 positions. “In 2025 that won’t happen, they finished bottom 5 and next year, away they go.” __5. Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver are not leaving_ “They are not leaving. If you are a Melbourne fan you should sit there and tell yourself, they are going to go back to their level. “Why would you be pessimistic about Petracca and Oliver at your football club next year? “We’ve seen players want out before and play good footy. “These players are two of the best greatest Demons of all time; Petracca is a Norm Smith medallist and has two best and fairests. He was having a great year before he got hurt. “Clayton Oliver has four best and fairests. “Look on the bright side that these two men are in your colours next year and can bounce back. “Don’t be glass half empty, be glass half full.” 6. Judd McVee 7. Trent Rivers 8. Jake Lever and Steven May “I am touching wood that they can stay fit and healthy and, on the park, because if they do that means defensively, they will rarely ever get beat.” 9. They can make the top eight next year “I think they will make the eight. “I will make a bet with you that they make the eight next year.”

Date of Birth: 21 August 1997 Height: 199cm Games MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 76 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 75 Games CDFC 2024: 12 Goals CDFC 2024: 14 Originally selected to join the Brisbane Lions with the second pick in the 2015 AFL National Draft, Schache moved on to the Western Bulldogs and played in their 2021 defeat to Melbourne where he featured in a handful of games over the past two seasons. Was unable to command a regular place at AFL level and was recently delisted.

Date of Birth: 8 March 2004 Height: 195cm Games CDFC 2024: 17 Goals CDFC 2024: 29 The rangy young key forward was a first round pick two years ago is undergoing a long period of training for senior football. There were some promising developments during his season at Casey where he was their top goal kicker and finished third in its best & fairest.

Date of Birth: 28 May 1995 Height: 186cm Games MFC 2024: 3 Career Total: 53 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 73 Games CDFC 2024: 11 Goals CDFC 2024: 21 Injuries meant a delayed start to his season and, although he showed his athleticism and his speed at times, he was unable to put it all together consistently. Needs to show much more in 2025 and a key will be his fitness.

Date of Birth: 25 February 1996 Height: 191cm Games MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 42 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 12 Signed by the club in October 2015 as a Category B rookie, it took years for the injury prone Smith to rise to the status of a regular player in 2023. However, a post season suspension from a positive drug-test sample taken after a game late in the season and issues raised during its investigation appear to have placed question marks on his AFL future. In light of the nature of the circumstances surrounding Smith’s situation, this thread is locked.

Date of Birth: 2 January 2004 Height: 206cm Games CDFC 2024: 4 Goals CDFC 2024: 1 Farris-White was recruited from basketball as a Category B rookie in the hope of turning him into an AFL quality ruckman but, after two seasons, the experiment failed to bear fruit.

Date of Birth: 10 September 2005 Height: 194cm Games CDFC 2024: 9 Goals CDFC 2024: 5 Drafted from WAFL club Subiaco in this year’s mid season draft, Kentfield was injured when he came to the club and needs a full season to prepare for the rigors of AFL football.

VIC POWERHOUSE ALL BUT RULED OUT OF HOUSTON RACE Carlton appear almost certainly out of the race for dual All-Australian Dan Houston, as Collingwood’s bid for the Power star strengthens. The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph reported on Thursday morning that given the Blues’ assurance they will head to the draft with their first-round pick, their ability to acquire Houston at an optimal price for Port Adelaide seems long gone. Subsequently, it now looks as if only the Magpies and North Melbourne can move him out of Alberton. And while the Kangaroos are obviously behind the Pies in the pecking order, their favourable draft hand and openness to trade a future first-round pick leaves them still in the hunt. Joe Richards’ request to leave Collingwood for Port Adelaide has assisted the Pies’ negotiations on Houston significantly, with Ralph also reporting that “extensive meetings” have taken place between the Power, Magpies and Houston’s management in the last 24 hours. Houston has not officially nominated a club of choice, but it is the understanding of most at this stage that Collingwood is a preferred destination.

And learnings. Don't forget learnings.

Hump day mid-week footy at the Redlegs home ground is a great opportunity to build on our recent improved competitiveness playing in the red and blue. The jumper has a few other colours this week with the rainbow Pride flag flying this round to celebrate people from all walks of life coming together, being accepted. AFLW has been a benchmark when it comes to inclusivity and a safe workplace. The team will run out in a specially designed guernsey for this game and also the following week against St Kilda. Despite having a 100% winning record at Norwood (hmmm, only the one game), we are longshots with the bookies this week. However, Kate Hore and Tyla Hanks led brilliantly last week from the centre square alongside Heathy, Mitho and Fitzy. Let’s hope the team can back it up to celebrate Kate’s 75th game! Maeve Chaplin is having a stellar season (Libby who?), and 50-game milestoner Sinead Goldrick has been energised all year and are two key components of the new-look Demon defence. While the Dees were really encouraging last week, we should note that GWS, our opposition, was one of the least experienced teams in this year’s competition. This week’s challenger Adelaide is a heavyweight of the competition and will surely be wanting to make a statement for their home crowd. Selection this week Just one change with the indefatigable Eliza McNamara in and debutant defender Delany Madigan omitted. Experienced top-up player Sarah D’Arcy keeps her spot. Meggs was enthused by her work against GWS. Demon emergencies this week are Madigan, Jemma Rigoni and Saraid Taylor. The Crows have lost 3 players to injury: Teah Charlton,Hannah Munyard, and Abbie Ballard Lily Tarlinton will make her AFLW debut in their absence, while both Taylah Levy and Rachelle Martin have been recalled after being managed last week. Meggs’ view Eliza McNamara, who looks like she’s preparing early for Halloween with those black eyes, is a welcome return on the wing. Adelaide’s Niamh Kelly is a real danger for the Dees. In the last game against the Crows, St Kilda threw players behind the ball to help restrict Adelaide from scoring and making it a tough physical game. This worked to a point, but it meant that the Saints weren’t able engage in run and carry to counterattack. But it was only a 4-point margin in the end. Our scoring will likely rely on Alyssa Bannan and Alyssia Pisano getting busy again. At the other end Tahlia Gillard will need to be on her A-game as dangerous tall forward Caitlin Gould has kicked 7 goals in her last 4 games. The midfield battle and centre clearances usually determine results, and Adelaide has strong experienced bodies in Anne Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff to name two. Wednesday evening will be a huge test for the Dees. Hopefully we can surprise on the upside with a competitive performance but allow for the fact we have a long list of high-quality players unavailable. Go Dees! Adelaide by 24 points THE GAME Round 7: Melbourne v Adelaide Wednesday 9 October 2024 at 7:45pm (Melbourne time) Norwood Oval, Adelaide - Kaurna HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 5 wins Adelaide 5 wins At Norwood Oval Melbourne 1 win Adelaide 0 wins The Coaches Stinear 5 wins Clarke 5 wins MEDIA TV – 7mate, Fox Footy, Kayo. Radio - WARF Radio THE LAST TIME THEY MET - 2023 Round 6 Adelaide 8.8.56 defeated Melbourne 7.4.46 at Casey Fields, 7 October 2023 MELBOURNE 2.4.16 2.4.16 3.4.22 7.4.46 ADELAIDE 0.0.0 2.4.16 6.5.41 8.8.56 GOALS
 MELBOURNE Zanker 5 McNamara 2
 ADELAIDE Hatchard Marinoff Ponter 2, Gould Jones BEST MELBOURNE Zanker Gay Goldrick Hanks Hore McNamara
 ADELAIDE Marinoff Hatchard Kelly Allan Randall CROWD 1,975 at Casey Fields Scores were level at half-time but a third quarter domination by Adelaide rattled the Dees. Midfield beasts Hatchard and Marinoff led the way as the Crows kicked 6 unanswered goals. Deep in the third quarter and against the run of play, Eliza McNamara kicked a desperately needed running goal to halt the momentum. Melbourne fights back to within 3 points in the last quarter with Zanker on fire but Caitlin Gould goals and we fall short by 10 points. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B Colvin Gillard HB Chaplin D. Taylor Goldrick C Lampard Hanks McNamara HF Gall Mithen Pisano F Bannan Campbell FOLL Watt Hore Heath I/C D'Arcy Fitzsimon Hill Johnson Wotherspoon EMG Madigan Rigoni S Taylor IN McNamara OUT Madigan (omitted) ADELAIDE B Prowse Randall HB Mueller Allan Goodwin C Kelly Hatchard Thompson HF Levy Gould Martin F Biddell Ponter FOLL Allan Marinoff Newman I/C Boileau Boyle-Carr Kustermann Tarlinton Varnhagen EMG Henry Tonon Waterhouse IN Levy Martin Tarlinton OUT Ballard (knee) Charlton (adductor) Munyard (foot) Injury List: Round 7 Melbourne Saraid Taylor Calf Test Paxy Paxman Foot 1 week Olivia Purcell Face 2-3 weeks Lauren Pearce Wrist 3 weeks Blaithin Mackin Calf 3 weeks Eden Zanker Knee TBC Grace Beasley ACL Season Tayla Harris Shoulder Season Jacinta Hose ACL Season Aimee Mackin ACL Season Adelaide Najwa Allen Hamstring 1-2 weeks Abbie Ballard Knee 1 week Teah Charlton Adductor 1 week Hannah Munyard Foot 1 week Brooke Smith Collarbone 7-9 weeks Eloise Jones Achilles Season