Demonland

Also Geelong once they turn 30.

Guess who will definitely be playing there in 2025.

Preemptively posting this gif

Part 2: Watching grass grow by Whispering Jack Critics of test cricket (and I’m not one of them) will often claim the sport is excruciatingly boring: that following a five day match is much like watching grass grow. However, the longest form of that game has nothing on the first week of the AFL trade period when it comes to inducing sleep among those in the football public who follows this process in its somnolent moments. The week gone by has been no exception. Only two player trades have been completed so far and Melbourne was involved in the first when it traded Alex Neal-Bullen who had just finished third in a close finish for the club’s best and fairest, to Adelaide for a second round draft pick which is currently selection 28. By the time the draft comes around in November, this pick will most likely be in the low thirties. The Demons could well have played hard ball and allowed the trade to linger into next week and possibly gained an extra morsel in the bargain but this was a matter of integrity, a reward to a long term warrior for the club who was an integral part in its only premiership for more than half a century. In the other player trade, West Coast’s 32-year-old veteran Jack Darling was exchanged to North Melbourne for their pick 67. The rest of the player on the trade merry go round were left to wait until the last 2½ trading. Meanwhile, one remaining free agent, Richmond’s Jack Graham found a new home with West Coast on Tuesday. The Tigers received band four compensation, currently pick 42. After that, the grass grew for another two days and, on Friday, the focus shifted from trading players to trading draft picks. The Brisbane Lions who have two players in their draft sights, moved to shore up their ability to secure them. The players are father/son midfield star Levi Ashcroft, son of Marcus and brother of the Lions’ premiership player Will and Brisbane NGA Academy member Sam Marshall. To this end, the Lions were involved in two trades. In the first, they acquired picks 34 and 66 and gave Carlton pick 73 and a future second round pick, the significance of which became apparent later in the day. In the second, the Lions received picks 32, 42, 43 and 45 and gave the Tigers pick 20. Hence, Brisbane picked up a swag of additional points to get the two quality youngsters who are both likely first rounders. Richmond’s draft hand is expected to grow with further trades next week. The trade period was then shaken into life when Carlton grabbed pick 14 from Hawthorn in return for their future first and second round picks. The Blues were permitted to trade both picks because they still had a future second rounder from that earlier trade with the Lions. The pick swaps have set up an expected deluge as the tempo of trading lifts next week. Some clubs will be on the lookout for draft selections given that this year's draft pool is very even at the pointy end where there is no standout but up to about ten players who could lay claim to be first choice. Other clubs will be on the lookout for seasoned players with Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston looking to find a new home in Melbourne and clubs scrambling to get Liam Baker, Tom Barrass, Shai Bolton and a number of others seeking to find new homes. THE TRADES SO FAR Monday 7 October Melbourne’s Alex Neal-Bullen to Adelaide for pick 28 West Coast’s Jack Darling to North Melbourne for pick 67 (now 68) Friday 11 October Brisbane Lions’ pick 20 to Richmond for picks 32, 42, 43, 45 Carlton’s picks 34 and 66 to Brisbane Lions for picks 73 and 2025 R2 Carlton’s 2025 R1 and 2025 R2 to Hawthorn for pick 14. FREE AGENT SIGNINGS Josh Battle (St Kilda) to Hawthorn Elliott Himmelberg (Adelaide) to Gold Coast Harry Perryman (GWS Giants) to Collingwood Tom Campbell (St Kilda) to Melbourne Nick Haynes (GWS Giants) to Carlton Isaac Cumming (GWS Giants) to Adelaide Jack Graham (Richmond) to West Coast

The injury plague which has beset the Demons 2024 campaign is finally starting to dissipate and with consecutive wins over GWS Giants and a 2-point nail-biter in Adelade, a sense of optimism is rising. Some commentators are now asking whether the Dees can make finals? A huge surprise with team selection this week when it was announced that champs Olivia Purcell, Paxy Paxman and Eden Zanker would play. Hallelujah! The cavalry has arrived. St Kilda missed the finals last season on percentage and are currently sitting in eighth position with 4 wins. They defeated the struggling GWS last week but had previously lost three matches in a row, to Adelaide, Fremantle and Hawthorn. Melbourne sits eleventh with 3 wins, but our percentage is a lowly 60.6% largely thanks to shellackings by North and Essendon. Both teams have short breaks between games, with St Kilda 5 days and Melbourne 4 days. The form guide suggests we are a strong chance this week, but Meggs expects it will be a slog. Selection this week Purcell’s return adds her fearsome ball-winning superpowers to the midfield group, Zanker will strengthen the marking and goalscoring options of our forwards and Paxman will hopefully have her foot in fine fettle for this comeback. Paxy’s ball usage and rebounding from defence will be a boost to Chaplin, Goldrick and Gillard. Gaby Colvin suffered concussion last week and misses while D’Arcy and Johnson have been omitted. The Saints bring back experienced midfielder Olivia Vesely and journeywoman Rene Caris. They replace Maddie Boyd (omitted) and Emmelie Fiedler (managed). Meggs’ view Expecting the Saints to make it a tough and physical game. They have plenty of talented experienced and young players who could undo our gameplan if we turn up unprepared. St Kilda has the dangerous Jesse Wardlaw, the ex-Brisbane full forward, hard nut mids Jaimee Lambert and Tyanna Smith and their vice-captain is ex-Dee Bianca Jakobsson. The vibe emanating from our beloved Demons appears to be building and the possibilities for this season likely hinge on having a win this Sunday. Keep winning and go Dees! Melbourne by 12 points THE GAME Round 8: Melbourne v St Kilda Sunday 13 October 2024 at 3:05pm (Melbourne time) Moorabbin Oval, Melbourne – Kulin Nations HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 4 wins St Kilda 1 win At Moorabbin Oval Melbourne 1 win St Kilda 1 win The Coaches Stinear 2 wins Dal Santo 0 wins MEDIA TV – 7mate, Fox Footy, Kayo. THE LAST TIME THEY MET - 2022 Season 7 Round 3 Melbourne 6.10 (46) defeated St Kilda 3.2 (20) at Moorabbin Oval, 11 September 2022 MELBOURNE 6.1 6.3 6.7 6.10 (46) ST KILDA 0.0 1.1 2.1 3.2 (20) GOALS MELBOURNE Zanker 2, Bannan, Fitzsimon, Hore, Paxman ST KILDA Shierlaw 2, Matin BEST MELBOURNE Purcell, West, Hanks, Mithen ST KILDA Jakobsson, Patrikios, Vesely, McKinnon CROWD 2,758 at Moorabbin Oval The Dees wrapped up this game in the first quarter, smashing the Saints with 6 unanswered goals. Liv Purcell was best on ground with 27 possessions and Eden Zanker lively up forward with 2 goals. Melbourne started with a 3-0 record in what would become its maiden premiership year. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B D Taylor Gillard HB Chaplin Heath Goldrick C Lampard Hanks McNamara HF Zanker Mithen Pisano F Bannan Campbell FOLL Watt Purcell Hore I/C Fitzsimon Gall Hill Paxman Wotherspoon EMG Johnson Rigoni S Taylor IN Paxman Purcell Zanker OUT Colvin (concussion) D'Arcy (omitted) Johnson (omitted) ST KILDA B Stevens Watson HB Priest Trudgeon Jakobsson C McDonald Lambert Guttridge HF Kelly Wardlaw Anderson F Friend Richards FOLL Nalder Simpson Smith I/C Burke Caris Plane Vesely Whiley EMG Boyd Fiedler Stuart IN Caris Vesely OUT Fiedler (managed) Boyd (omitted) Injury List: Round 8 Melbourne Gaby Colvin Concussion 1 week Lauren Pearce Wrist 1 week Blaithin Mackin Calf 1-2 weeks Grace Beasley ACL Season Tayla Harris Shoulder Season Jacinta Hose ACL Season Aimee Mackin ACL Season St Kilda Nicola Xenos Heel 2 weeks Rebecca Ott Tibia 4-5 weeks Georgia Patrikios Foot 5-6 weeks Caitlin Matthews Knee 6 weeks Steph Chiocci ACL 8 weeks Beth Pinchin Knee Season

Hopefully Trac gets an internet connection back soon so he can like a Dees social media post.