Chelly

I’m putting this name out there as a possible pick # 23 selection at the draft. He would make a good understudy to our two main key position forwards and would have plenty of time to develop at VFL level. Bailey Williams

Good get ... and, based on my early prediction on this thread (January 30) and my previous record with Charlie Spargo, he’s going to be my player of interest. Here’s the flashback to my top 10:- 1. Izak Rankine – West Adelaide (SA) 2. Jack Lukosius - Woodville West-Torrens (SA) 3. Max King – Sandringham Dragons 4. Connor Rozee – North Adelaide (SA) 5. Ben King – Sandrin gham Dragons 6. Sam Walsh – Geelong Falcons 7. Ian Hill – Perth (WA) 8. Jye Caldwell – Bendigo Pioneers 9. Jack Bytel – Calder Canno ns 10. Matt Green – Sporties Spitfires (NT)

The introduction of mid-season rookie draft will assist clubs with players who incur major injuries early in the season. AFL to introduce mid-season rookie draft in 2019 For eg., the MFC might have found a temporary replacement for Jake Lever.

The detail - More help but no priority picks for Blues, Suns

In the footsteps of the late, lamented Chilliboy, its time to kick off the trade period with the good old rumour file. I have one - Dean Kent going to the Saints.

Melbourne injury list: first semi-final Lochie Filipovic (hand) – 2-3 weeks Bernie Vince (AC joint) – test Oskar Baker (hamstring) – season Jesse Hogan (foot) – season Dean Kent (AC joint) – season Jake Lever (knee) – season Corey Maynard (hip) – season Billy Stretch (toe) – season

Commentary a bit better here - #AFLDeesCats #AFLFinalspic.twitter.com/8E7UveiH63

There’s no doubt about where his father’s loyalty lies after last night. Here he is in the crowd celebrating after last night’s win.

Melbourne injury list: first elimination final Jack Viney (toe) – available Dom Tyson (arm) – test Oskar Baker (hamstring) – 1 week Bernie Vince (AC joint) – 1-2 weeks Dean Kent (AC joint) – 2-3 weeks Lochie Filipovic (hand) – 3-4 weeks Jesse Hogan (foot) – season Jake Lever (knee) – season Corey Maynard (hip) – season Billy Stretch (toe) – season

Melbourne injury list: first elimination final Mitch Hannan (knee) – test Jayden Hunt (ankle) – test Joel Smith (collarbone) – test Dom Tyson (arm) – test Jack Viney (toe) – test Dean Kent (AC joint) – 2-3 weeks Oskar Baker (hamstring) – 3 weeks Lochie Filipovic (hand) – 3-4 weeks Bernie Vince (AC joint) – 3-4 weeks Jesse Hogan (foot) – season Jake Lever (knee) – season Corey Maynard (hip) – season Billy Stretch (toe) – season

Best case scenario (unofficial) - Melbourne injury list: pre finals bye round Mitch Hannan (knee) – available Jayden Hunt (ankle) – available Joel Smith (collarbone) – available Jack Viney (toe) – 1 week Oskar Baker (hamstring) – 3 weeks Dom Tyson (broken arm) – 3 weeks Lochie Filipovic (hand) – 3-5 weeks Bernie Vince (AC joint) – 3-5 weeks Dean Kent (shoulder) – TBC Jesse Hogan (foot) – season Jake Lever (knee) – season Corey Maynard (hip) – season Billy Stretch (toe) – season Harley Balic (retired)

Michael Johnson gorn too

Danyle Pearce (Fremantle), the 2006 rising star winner, has announced his retirement.

Western Bulldogs player Shane Biggs (retired)

Those were the days for the then Casey Scorpions. When they were first aligned with the MFC, I lived nearby and went to watch often. The Scorpions had some solid VFL listed players in their team like Alex Silvagni who was drafted to the Dockers at the end of 2009. They also had another key defender in Peter Faulks who also ended up with at Freo and Tim Mohr who is still with the GWS Giants. Other players of a good size were James Wall and Evan Panozza. Another good player down back was Michael Stockdale a dour small defender. They were tough and nobody was tougher than skipper Kyle Matthews who was brutally bashed in March, 2010 outside the Geebung Polo Club in Hawthorn in an incident that was left him fighting for his life in an induced coma in The Alfred Hospital. He recovered to make a comeback and kicked five goals in one of his first games back. Ironically, on the day of his bashing, Matthews had been watching the Fremantle debut of former Casey teammate Alex Silvagni. Silvagni’s career was injury-plagued but he certainly gave it a crack. I wonder if he has any thoughts of coming back to end his playing days at Casey Fields.

You were right WERRIDEE and the run of injuries continues. Lochie Filipovic broke his hand in that game and is out for 426. Jayden Hunt and Joel Smith will be tested later in the week and Jack Viney is working towards a return in the finals. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was given a run in the VFL finals game during the AFL bye week to get some match fitness. Melbourne injury list: round 23 Michael Hibberd (corked hamstring) – available Jayden Hunt (ankle) – test Joel Smith (collarbone) – test Jack Viney (toe) – 2 weeks Oskar Baker (hamstring) – 4 weeks Lochie Filipovic (hand) – 4-6 weeks Bernie Vince (AC joint) – 4-6 weeks Jesse Hogan (foot) – season Jake Lever (knee) – season Corey Maynard (hip) – season Billy Stretch (toe) – season Harley Balic (retired)

Three more today and they will start going out thick and fast after the weekend. · Brendon Goddard (delisted) · Alex Silvagni (retired) · Jarrad Waite (retired)

Melbourne injury list: round 22 Michael Hibberd (quadriceps) – available Jake Melksham (hamstring) – available Joel Smith (collarbone) – 1-2 weeks Jayden Hunt (ankle) – 2-4 weeks Jack Viney (toe) – 3 weeks Billy Stretch (toe) – season Oskar Baker (hamstring) – 6 weeks Bernie Vince (AC joint) – 6 weeks Jesse Hogan (foot) – season Jake Lever (knee) – season Corey Maynard (hip) – season

When the latest injury was announced, the spin was that Jack was very lucky that it was detected when all he had was some early signs of stress in his toe. It’s now become possibly season ending. WTF.

Melbourne injury list: round 21 Mitch King (knee) – test Jake Melksham (hamstring) – test Michael Hibberd (quadriceps) – 1 week Joel Smith (collarbone) – 3-4 weeks Jack Viney (toe) – 4 weeks Oskar Baker (hamstring) – 6 weeks Jake Lever (knee) – season Corey Maynard (hip) – season Billy Stretch (toe) – season

Our fault entirely. We shoulda beat them on QB & we woulda been on 12, them 11.

Melbourne injury list: round 20 Mitch Hannan (knee) – test James Harmes (hand) – available Michael Hibberd (quadriceps) – 2-3 weeks Jack Viney (toe) – 2-4 weeks Jake Lever (knee) – season Corey Maynard (hip) – season Billy Stretch (toe) – season On the one hand, they keep telling us that Hibberd and maybe Viney will play against Sydney ... on the other hand ...

No mention of Jesse and Clarry on the official list - Melbourne injury list: round 19 Jayden Hunt (ankle) – available Mitch King (concussion) – available Harry Petty (rested) – available Mitch Hannan (knee) – test James Harmes (hand) – test Dion Johnstone (quadriceps) – 1 week Michael Hibberd (quadriceps) – 3 weeks Jack Viney (toe) – 3-4 weeks Jake Lever (knee) – season Corey Maynard (hip) – season Billy Stretch (toe) – season

Melbourne injury list: round 18 Harley Balic (illness) – available Joel Smith (hip) – available Neville Jetta (glute) – test Jayden Hunt (ankle) – 2 weeks Dion Johnstone (quadriceps) – 2 weeks Jack Viney (toe) – 4 weeks Michael Hibberd (quadriceps) – TBC Jake Lever (knee) – season Corey Maynard (hip) – season Billy Stretch (toe) – season

Bad luck to Billy Stretch just as soon as he breaks back into the team, he gets a stress fracture to the toe and that’s his season in all likelihood. The unusual one this week is Jayden Hunt who is officially listed as a test even though I thought Simon Goodwin mentioned he was a couple of weeks ago in his presser. Melbourne injury list: round 17 Jayden Hunt (ankle) – test Declan Keilty (concussion) – test Joel Smith (hip) – test Dion Johnstone (quad) – one week Billy Stretch (toe) – indefinite Jack Lever (knee) – season Corey Maynard (hip) – season