Demonland

The opening day's trade activity might have been frenetic but there were no trades completed on day one. It was left to the bidding process to produce a record of twelve new faces while free agency finally flushed out James Frawley who officially became a Hawk. Very late in the day it was announced that another free agent, Nick Malceski had signed on with the Suns. The bidding process introduced the following new faces on club lists through father-son and academy selections:- Isaac Heeney, (Sydney) for pick 17 after Melbourne bid pick 2; Darcy Moore (Collingwood f/s) for pick 8 which matched the Bulldogs with pick 5; Jack Steele (GWS) at pick 23 after North's pick 15 bid; Billy Stretch (Melbourne f/s) taken at 39 following an Adelaide bid bid at 29 on Billy Stretch, which Melbourne matched with pick 39; Liam Dawson (Brisbane) matched with pick 41 after Richmond bid 31; Jack Hiscox, (Swans) for pick 36 matching Fremantle at 32; Harris Andrews (Lions) taken with pick 60 to match North Melbourne's pick 34; Zaine Cordy (Western Bulldogs f/s) for pick 61 after Fremantle's bid of pick 51; Abe Davis (Swans) taken with pick 73 which matched Geelong's 70; and Josh Clayton (Brisbane Lions), Alec Waterman (West Coast) and Jeremy Finlayson (GWS) did not receive bids, meaning they will join their nominated clubs with their last picks in the draft. (Note: Compensation picks are not taken into account in draft order) The day was more notable for the things that didn't happen. The farcical events at Bomberland continued to play themselves out when the much awaited sacking of James Hird failed to materialise. The Bomber coach was heard to comment afterwards that there were lots of things to do including the week's trades but he hardly sounded like a man about to do any horsetrading. Nor did his recruiting people who were asking for Hartlett, Wines or Wingard for Paddy Ryder who could, if he so desired, possibly jump across as a free agent under AFL rules because of the goings on at his club. The rumblings are growing louder by the day as more players show their frustration and put up their hands to leave. There's not much noise coming from Collingwood these days either and the usually outspoken Eddie McGuire has been rather reticent as a number of his players also seem to want out while rivals Hawthorn and Sydney take the limelight. Eddie doesn't usually take these things lying down. Mick Malthouse is one who has spoken out and he's clearly not happy about the fact that the Blues received no compo for Jarrad Waite on account of his age after his forward defected to North. I can't wait to see his face change colour in the event that Swans are granted a pick for losing Malceski. There were two big stories on the day for the Demons: 1. They gained Stretch for draft selection 39 (although this will change slightly when the free agency compensation picks are factored in). Stretch, an AIS graduate and All Australian at Under 18 level, shone at senior SANFL level with Glenelg in 2014 and is a solid prospect as an outside midfielder. His Draft Combine performances were outstanding. 2. They lost Frawley to free agency (the fourth player to leave in three years) but gained a first round compensatory national draft selection at pick 3 giving them two of the three picks in November (assuming the club doesn't trade one or both of them away). The AFL's football operations officer Mark Evans might have announced the band 1 compensation today but in a way, it was communicated between the lines when he knocked back Melbourne's application for draft assistance last month. Philosophically, the decision not to grant both draft assistance and the Frawley compensation was a below the belt hit at the club. It was clear at the time that Frawley was well and truly out of the door and that the AFL was under pressure not to enable a club to come into the trade period with a fistful of early draft picks even though it had a good case for special assistance. Assume that Frawley decided to stay. Was Melbourne's record over the past three years (ten wins in three seasons) not one which justified the claim that its circumstances were exceptional enough to warrant the assistance requested by the club. Especially, as I mentioned yesterday that Sydney was able to snaffle three players, including one rated in the top two in the land for a late first round draft pick. The system stinks. Now let's see what Melbourne can get out of it.

WHAT AM I BID? by The Oracle The opening day's trade activity might have been frenetic but there were no trades completed on day one. It was left to the bidding process to produce a record of twelve new faces while free agency finally flushed out James Frawley who officially became a Hawk. Very late in the day it was announced that another free agent, Nick Malceski had signed on with the Suns. The bidding process introduced the following new faces on club lists through father-son and academy selections:- Isaac Heeney, (Sydney) for pick 17 after Melbourne bid pick 2; Darcy Moore (Collingwood f/s) for pick 8 which matched the Bulldogs with pick 5; Jack Steele (GWS) at pick 23 after North's pick 15 bid; Billy Stretch (Melbourne f/s) taken at 39 following an Adelaide bid bid at 29 on Billy Stretch, which Melbourne matched with pick 39; Liam Dawson (Brisbane) matched with pick 41 after Richmond bid 31; Jack Hiscox, (Swans) for pick 36 matching Fremantle at 32; Harris Andrews (Lions) taken with pick 60 to match North Melbourne's pick 34; Zaine Cordy (Western Bulldogs f/s) for pick 61 after Fremantle's bid of pick 51; Abe Davis (Swans) taken with pick 73 which matched Geelong's 70; and Josh Clayton (Brisbane Lions), Alec Waterman (West Coast) and Jeremy Finlayson (GWS) did not receive bids, meaning they will join their nominated clubs with their last picks in the draft. (Note: Compensation picks are not taken into account in draft order) The day was more notable for the things that didn't happen. The farcical events at Bomberland continued to play themselves out when the much awaited sacking of James Hird failed to materialise. The Bomber coach was heard to comment afterwards that there were lots of things to do including the week's trades but he hardly sounded like a man about to do any horsetrading. Nor did his recruiting people who were asking for Hartlett, Wines or Wingard for Paddy Ryder who could, if he so desired, possibly jump across as a free agent under AFL rules because of the goings on at his club. The rumblings are growing louder by the day as more players show their frustration and put up their hands to leave. There's not much noise coming from Collingwood these days either and the usually outspoken Eddie McGuire has been rather reticent as a number of his players also seem to want out while rivals Hawthorn and Sydney take the limelight. Eddie doesn't usually take these things lying down. Mick Malthouse is one who has spoken out and he's clearly not happy about the fact that the Blues received no compo for Jarrad Waite on account of his age after his forward defected to North. I can't wait to see his face change colour in the event that Swans are granted a pick for losing Malceski. There were two big stories on the day for the Demons: 1. They gained Stretch for draft selection 39 (although this will change slightly when the free agency compensation picks are factored in). Stretch, an AIS graduate and All Australian at Under 18 level, shone at senior SANFL level with Glenelg in 2014 and is a solid prospect as an outside midfielder. His Draft Combine performances were outstanding. 2. They lost Frawley to free agency (the fourth player to leave in three years) but gained a first round compensatory national draft selection at pick 3 giving them two of the three picks in November (assuming the club doesn't trade one or both of them away). The AFL's football operations officer Mark Evans might have announced the band 1 compensation today but in a way, it was communicated between the lines when he knocked back Melbourne's application for draft assistance last month. Philosophically, the decision not to grant both draft assistance and the Frawley compensation was a below the belt hit at the club. It was clear at the time that Frawley was well and truly out of the door and that the AFL was under pressure not to enable a club to come into the trade period with a fistful of early draft picks even though it had a good case for special assistance. Assume that Frawley decided to stay. Was Melbourne's record over the past three years (ten wins in three seasons) not one which justified the claim that its circumstances were exceptional enough to warrant the assistance requested by the club. Especially, as I mentioned yesterday that Sydney was able to snaffle three players, including one rated in the top two in the land for a late first round draft pick. The system stinks. Now let's see what Melbourne can get out of it.

It really is the best time of the year. It's a time full of hope and promises. It's a time before our souls are crushed and our dreams are shattered. Welcome to Demonland.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/melbourne/news/2014-10-06/melbourne-secures-stretch

FIRST BLOOD by The Oracle The trade/draft action opened on Friday and North Melbourne drew first blood capturing free agents Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite. Carlton received no compensation for the latter due to his advanced age (in football terms) but the Bulldogs will gain a second round draft pick for the younger Higgins who has been in the wars with injury and has fallen down the pecking order in favour of the number of young midfielders now at the kennel. The early focus today will be on the father-son and academy bidding meetings which will see the entry into AFL ranks of a dozen new faces nominated by their respective clubs last Friday - The first picks The players won't necessarily go to the team that nominated them because of the bidding system that comes into play. However, the nominating clubs can match best bid by another club by taking the player with their next draft choice after the bid. The interest here for Melbourne will be whether it selects father-son nomination Billy Stretch who the AFL site describes as follows:- Here are some highlights -Billy Stretch Stretch was a stand out at the AFL National Draft Combine last week and his stocks have risen lately which means that Melbourne will most likely be required to part with its second round draft pick for the youngster. These father-son/academy bidding meeting will be followed by the opening of the trade week with recruiters of the 18 clubs locking themselves away like the old horse traders used to do in past days. The objective is the same - to snare some thoroughbreds to the stables but in this case, the horseflesh is the cream of the country's footballing talent. We're told to expect an early frenzy on the market with the announcement of deals that have been simmering slowly in the background and finalised on the first day. One Herald Sun writer has speculated about each club's prospects in terms of dream and nightmare scenarios and called Melbourne's in this way:- What a laugh for the journo to suggest that Melbourne people suffer nightmares? Surely, the man is oblivious to the fact that Melbourne has suffered so many reversals of fortune in its recent history that its fans neither suffer nightmares nor sleep at all for that matter. They live through what others might call "nightmares" during the daytime.On the free agency side of things, James Frawley is expected to formally nominate Hawthorn as his destination early in the day. This will be another dagger in the heart of the concept of equalisation. That is not to say the aim of free agency should be to equalise the competition but there is something wrong when the most poorly performed club over the past five years loses a key player at the prime of his career to the best performed. The trend is clear after three years with lowly clubs simply not getting a look in and the best players always ending at the top clubs. The Dees will most likely get pick three as compensation but the clubs with picks nearby aren't happy about this (similarly, they also complained loudly about Melbourne's now rejected application for draft assistance a few weeks ago). At the same time, Sydney for some inexplicable reason will be able to select a player considered to be a top three midfield draft prospect from its academy for around pick 18 proving that the entire system is fast becoming a farce as the stronger clubs continue to draw blood from the weaker ones. ... A last ditch effort by a Demonland luminary to convince Frawley to remain at the club failed recently

THE TRADING CHRONICLES by The Oracle WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE? There was a pall cast over the start of this year's AFL trade and draft period with the passing on Thursday evening of Demon legend Robert Flower. In the place where I was at the moment when I heard the news, there were gasps and silence and, though it's said that silence is the greatest praise, it can never be enough when one speaks of club legends of the ilk of Robbie - a loyal clubman to the very end. Others have praised him for his excellence as a player and as a person both during and after his playing days. His poise and his balance, those majestic skills, the marking and the way he would leave opponents flat-footed and grasping at vacant space while he was off and away in their wake. Robbie was gone. And now, he is gone and our condolences go out to family and friends. When I reflect upon the immediate future on a club level, what is our task when the end of another barren year comes, but to search to find another Robert Flower, another Ron Barassi or another Hassa Mann for our club so that it can enjoy a better future and for our young fans to be able to appreciate greatness in the red and the blue? We used to have so many great teams and great players but it all seemed to stop fifty years ago ... except of course in the case of Robbie and a handful of others but none of who ever approached his lofty heights of excellence and majesty. The free agency trades officially started yesterday and on Monday, the trade period takes off with the father/son selections and the meetings of the clubs' recruiting people. Behind the scenes, it's been going on for some time and while there will never be another Robbie, the question on the lips of all of Demonland is whether now is the time when we find our next champion (or two). The Oracle will come back from time to time over the next couple of weeks with his observations ...

There was a pall cast over the start of this year's AFL trade and draft period with the passing on Thursday evening of Demon legend Robert Flower. In the place where I was at the moment when I heard the news, there were gasps and silence and, though it's said that silence is the greatest praise, it can never be enough when one speaks of club legends of the ilk of Robbie - a loyal clubman to the very end. Others have praised him for his excellence as a player and as a person both during and after his playing days. His poise and his balance, those majestic skills, the marking and the way he would leave opponents flat-footed and grasping at vacant space while he was off and away in their wake. Robbie was gone. And now, he is gone and our condolences go out to family and friends. When I reflect upon the immediate future on a club level, what is our task when the end of another barren year comes, but to search to find another Robert Flower, another Ron Barassi or another Hassa Mann for our club so that it can enjoy a better future and for our young fans to be able to appreciate greatness in the red and the blue? We used to have so many great teams and great players but it all seemed to stop fifty years ago ... except of course in the case of Robbie and a handful of others but none of who ever approached his lofty heights of excellence and majesty. The free agency trades officially started yesterday and on Monday, the trade period takes off with the father/son selections and the meetings of the clubs' recruiting people. Behind the scenes, it's been going on for some time and while there will never be another Robbie, the question on the lips of all of Demonland is whether now is the time when we find our next champion (or two). The Oracle will come back from time to time over the next couple of weeks with his observations ...

I just want to remind everyone that any comments wishing physical harm on a player are totally unacceptable and will result in a forced holiday from Demonland. I know we are all angry at the situation but think before you post.

Done. I had it loaded and ready to go.

I think it means give up one of its first round picks for a quality player in the mould of a Tyson type in a separate deal, not for Lumumba who will be traded possibly for Mitch Clark?

Thankfully, the footy is officially over and from now until the end of March, we don't have to concern ourselves with the distraction of the game itself but rather the more important aspects of our great national sport. Things that come to mind are players ingesting drugs, be they recreational or performance enhancing, players getting into brawls, beating up their partners, the gender of their partners, smashing their cars and other property, getting speeding and parking tickets, and the really important stuff like the battles in and out of the courtrooms and what they wear when they get into them, drunken behaviour at the races, cricket and other public events, sacking boards, coaches and dud players, fixtures and draft concessions, trading players, free agency, drafting the next big thing, lousy commentators and incompetent journalists, funding for sports stadiums and their facilities, the importance in our game of lawyers, accountants and bean counters, being the moral arbiters of every aspect of societal behaviour, rule changes and their interpretation, indigenous players, beating the salary cap, whether beheading will take on in world sport, corporate governance, the COLA, international rules, the threat of soccer, Thursday or Sunday night games and abolishing Saturday afternoon games altogether, balance sheets and annual general meetings, spreading our game across the world, Foxtel's crummy summer programming, nasty rumours and much, much more. The beauty of it all is that from today onward, everybody is equal as far as the AFL ladder is concerned. For the next six months there is no ladder, no wins, losses or percentage and those like us who support a downtrodden club can look their counterparts in the eye without any feeling of inferiority because next year we will conquer the world. Today, we are all Demons!

TODAY WE ARE ALL DEMONS by Whispering Jack Thankfully, the footy is officially over and from now until the end of March, we don't have to concern ourselves with the distraction of the game itself but rather the more important aspects of our great national sport. Things that come to mind are players ingesting drugs, be they recreational or performance enhancing, players getting into brawls, beating up their partners, the gender of their partners, smashing their cars and other property, getting speeding and parking tickets, and the really important stuff like the battles in and out of the courtrooms and what they wear when they get into them, drunken behaviour at the races, cricket and other public events, sacking boards, coaches and dud players, fixtures and draft concessions, trading players, free agency, drafting the next big thing, lousy commentators and incompetent journalists, funding for sports stadiums and their facilities, the importance in our game of lawyers, accountants and bean counters, being the moral arbiters of every aspect of societal behaviour, rule changes and their interpretation, indigenous players, beating the salary cap, whether beheading will take on in world sport, corporate governance, the COLA, international rules, the threat of soccer, Thursday or Sunday night games and abolishing Saturday afternoon games altogether, balance sheets and annual general meetings, spreading our game across the world, Foxtel's crummy summer programming, nasty rumours and much, much more. The beauty of it all is that from today onward, everybody is equal as far as the AFL ladder is concerned. For the next six months there is no ladder, no wins, losses or percentage and those like us who support a downtrodden club can look their counterparts in the eye without any feeling of inferiority because next year we will conquer the world. Today, we are all Demons!

Do we need another Jones at the club?

Look at the line up of past winners:- 2002 Jared Crouch (Sydney Swans) 2003 James Walker (Fremantle) 2004 James Walker (Fremantle) 2005 Brett Deledio (Richmond) 2006 Brendan Fevola (Carlton) 2007 Jake King (Richmond) 2008 Matt White (Richmond) 2009 Rhys Stanley (St Kilda) 2010 Luke Miles (St Kilda) 2011 Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide) 2012 Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide) 2013 Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)

As he does in every year, WJ looks for a draft prospect from left field ... A BIG POINT ON THE COMPASS by Whispering Jack Legend has it that back in the 1840s, South Australian Governor Gawler lost his compass in a spot south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula and as a result the town that was established nearby came to be known as Mount Compass. The small community of less than a thousand people is known for little more than market gardens and dairy farms but all that may change with the AFL drafts later in the year. Mount Compass is the town where 23-year-old Norwood ruckman Sam Baulderstone was plying his trade as a lumbering country footballer three years ago. The former North Adelaide reserves player weighed in at around 150kg during 2011 but a year later and 10kg lighter, "Bauldy" was contacted by Essendon recruiting officer Merv Keane and found himself at Windy Hill trying out for a possible rookie spot but nothing eventuated on that score. Undeterred, the 200cm Baulderstone knuckled down, eschewed his favourite fast foods, changed his diet, lost 28kg and made his SANFL debut for the Norwood Redlegs against Central Districts in Round 3, 2013. Although he spent much of the early part of the season in the reserves, by year's end, he was the SA feel good story, gaining elevation to the seniors to become the 2013 premiership ruckman. Among his teammates in the grand final victory was current Melbourne rookie lister Alexis Georgiou and former Demon Jace Bode. Rated an outside chance of being drafted at the end of last year, Bauldy missed out again but put in a good preparation for 2014 with running and weight work to the point where his body shape now stands up to AFL comparison. Early this month he polled 15 votes to finish equal fourth in the Magarey Medal and last week, he played in his second consecutive premiership for the Redlegs and is widely regarded as the competition's leading ruckman. Left footer, Baulderstone has been acclaimed by many good judges in South Australia who believe this late bloomer, whose tale of huge weight loss matching great sporting improvement echoes that of GWS Giant ruckman Shane Mumford, is a certainty to be drafted before the end of the year. The Footy Almanac review of the game, SANFL Grand Final Norwood v Port Adelaide: The Greatest Win of All acclaimed his role in the premiership, NORTH: Baulderstone at 145kg+ "Bauldy" is likely to be taken with a late draft pick or as a rookie and might be of interest to Melbourne. Regular ruckman Mark Jamar is reaching veteran status, the club appears to have lost troubled big man Mitch Clark who was earmarked for the ruck by Paul Roos earlier in the year. Max Gawn and Jake Spencer both have a lot of development in them but have had injury worries while Max King has a long way to go. Could big Sam be the answer to the Demons' ruck problems and, at the same time, convert the red and blue success in his home state onto the national football scene in the same colours? SOUTH: Baulderstone now

As he does in every year, WJ looks for a draft prospect from left field ... A BIG POINT ON THE COMPASS by Whispering Jack Legend has it that back in the 1840s, South Australian Governor Gawler lost his compass in a spot south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula and as a result the town that was established nearby came to be known as Mount Compass. The small community of less than a thousand people is known for little more than market gardens and dairy farms but all that may change with the AFL drafts later in the year. Mount Compass is the town where 23-year-old Norwood ruckman Sam Baulderstone was plying his trade as a lumbering country footballer three years ago. The former North Adelaide reserves player weighed in at around 150kg during 2011 but a year later and 10kg lighter, "Bauldy" was contacted by Essendon recruiting officer Merv Keane and found himself at Windy Hill trying out for a possible rookie spot but nothing eventuated on that score. Undeterred, the 200cm Baulderstone knuckled down, eschewed his favourite fast foods, changed his diet, lost 28kg and made his SANFL debut for the Norwood Redlegs against Central Districts in Round 3, 2013. Although he spent much of the early part of the season in the reserves, by year's end, he was the SA feel good story, gaining elevation to the seniors to become the the 2013 premiership ruckman. Among his teammates in the grand final victory was current Melbourne rookie lister Alexis Georgiou and former Demon Jace Bode. Rated an outside chance of being drafted at the end of last year, Bauldy missed out again but put in a good preparation for 2014 with running and weight work to the point where his body shape now stands up to AFL comparison. Early this month he polled 15 votes to finish equal fourth in the Magarey Medal and last week, he played in his second consecutive premiership for the Redlegs and is widely regarded as the competition's leading ruckman. Left footer, Baulderstone has been acclaimed by many good judges in South Australia who believe this late bloomer, whose tale of huge weight loss matching great sporting improvement echoes that of GWS Giant ruckman Shane Mumford, is a certainty to be drafted before the end of the year. The Footy Almanac review of the game, SANFL Grand Final Norwood v Port Adelaide: The Greatest Win of All acclaimed his role in the premiership, NORTH: Baulderstone at 145kg+ "Bauldy" is likely to be taken with a late draft pick or as a rookie and might be of interest to Melbourne. Regular ruckman Mark Jamar is reaching veteran status, the club appears to have lost troubled big man Mitch Clark who was earmarked for the ruck by Paul Roos earlier in the year. Max Gawn and Jake Spencer both have a lot of development in them but have had injury worries while Max King has a long way to go. Could big Sam be the answer to the Demons' ruck problems and, at the same time, convert the red and blue success in his home state onto the national football scene in the same colours? SOUTH: Baulderstone now

International rookie from New Zealand who returned home late in the season after spending most of his time with the Casey Development League team. Games CSFC 2014 2 Goals CSFC 2014 0 Games CSFC DL 13 2014 Goals CSFC DL 2014 0

The tall forward/ruckman was concussed early in the first game against St. Kilda and lost his place in the side the following week. Spent most of the year in the wilderness at Casey and only came back to play the last few AFL games. Games MFC 2014 5 Career Total 19 Goals MFC 2014 4 Career Total 22 Games CSFC 2014 14 Goals CSFC 2014 16 Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 36 votes

Rookie ruckman who was impressive in the NAB Challenge. Still lightly built and needing time to develop, his season was hampered by injury. Games CSFC 2014 5 Goals CSFC 2014 0 Games CSFC DL 2014 3 Goals CSFC DL 2014 3

ASADA to present evidence to Essendon players after requests from AFL Players Association

Another player who struggled to emulate his fine debut season form and spent some time in the VFL. Games MFC 2014 15 Career Total 35 Goals MFC 2014 2 Career Total 2 Games CSFC 2014 4 Goals CSFC 2014 0 Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 96 votes

Couldn't match the form he displayed in his excellent debut season but showed some flashes of good form mixed with some disappointing performances that saw him dropped to Casey around mid-season. Games MFC 2014 20 Career Total 42 Goals MFC 2014 3 Career Total 6 Games CSFC 2014 2 Goals CSFC 2014 2 Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 129 votes

Cemented his place as a regular in the team after battling problems with concussion in 2013. Games MFC 2014 21 Career Total 65 Goals MFC 2014 10 Career Total 7 Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 139 votes

Young medium sized midfield rookie who showed plenty of promise at Casey this year. Games CSFC 2014 15 Goals CSFC 2014 2 Games CSFC DL 2014 1 Goals CSFC DL 2014 1

Held the ruck division together early before succumbing to injury after just five games and missing the rest of the season. Games MFC 2014 5 Career Total 29 Goals MFC 2014 0 Career Total 3 Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 36 votes