Rodney (Balls) Grinter

8 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

Cripps probably wouldn't even be top 10 for me. Great ball winner, but his influence on matches is often far overhyped and I don't believe he's a very good leader either. Bontempelli is basically better in every facet bar pure inside contest work, and it's a mystery bigger than the Bermuda Triangle how Cripps has two Brownlows and Bont has zilch.

If I had to pick a player to build a team around, I'd be tossing up between Bont or deciding on the best key position player. 

Perhaps he'd not be my top pick, but I'd still have him.  Have always had an amount of respect for him as he does seem to be a fairly honest, hard working player.  Broken down a number of times from carrying all of Carlton on his back.

Would definitely have the Bont as No.1 though.  Ironically Adam Trelor tallied more Brownlow votes last year (shows what a sham of an award that is).  Not that I don't rate Trelor, just don't think he's in quite the same league as the Bont.

Beyond that, I'd have Harley Reid for future potential and as some smokies, I also have a bit of a soft spot for Callum Ah Chee, Oscar McInerney, Keidean Coleman and Kai Lohmann of the Lions, Charlie Ballard and Sam Collins of the Suns.

Happy to keep being underrated. 

Amazing how fickle these comentators and so-called experts are though.

As mentioned, don't see how May isn't up there.  Viney would be the other I'd include based on his last season.

36 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Bowey did his shoulder that game

Short preperperation for Rd 0 after final, playing away in Sydney in stifling humidity, poor umpiring - lets face it, it was a rubbish set of circumstances to start our season.  AFL probably had a predetermined agenda for a Sydney win as well (Northern states code promotion etc.)

At least this year, we are on out home turf at the G and will be at least well acclimatised to the conditions in front of our home crowd.  Let's hope we get a better rub of the green on all fronts.

51 minutes ago, 58er said:

It was Spargo wasn’t it ? 

Correct, an Achilles injury

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1598038/injury-update-spargo-sidelined-for-season

I thought we also copped a collar bone / dislocated shoulder injury that game 0 Rd Vs Sydney that couldn't be put down to conditioning.

1 hour ago, greenwaves said:

No he's not good enough.  He was poor last year and I actually think his career is close to being done.

I don't read replies or reactions 

 

Yeah, fair enough.  Bet your school reports always come back with the same comments about attitude: "doesn't play well with others".

5 hours ago, DemonicFinalFantasy said:

Best I could do using AI.

3 hours ago, Supreme_Demon said:

Funnily enough today is Jai Culley's Birthday on the 24th of February. 🎂

That's a pretty amazing Birthday gift to be put onto an AFL list (albeit due to unfortunate circumstances).

I wish Jai Culley all the best at the Demons! 👹🔴🔵

 

What a range of emotions he must have gone through over the past week, firstly being overlooked when we selected Henderson to fill in for McAdam, then to get this oppertunity on his birthday.

1 hour ago, Hellaintabadplacetobe said:

Jumping Jai....the centimetre guy 😎

The nearly 2 meter guy.

58 minutes ago, M_9 said:

Last year TMac finished 10th in the Bluey Truscott (301 votes). May was 9th with 316 votes.

Petty would have been lucky to place in the top 20. He's overrated IMO. Three good games in last two years.

TMac will play at least 15 games. He may be getting on but he's proud, fit and skilled.

Agreed, but gee we need Petty to return to 2021 form as a backman as our succession plan for Maysie.  I think he's got it in him to step back up and play at the level, not that I'm sure that's quite a full equivalent to what Steve brings though.

The players should be getting this one into T Mac:

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 02: Lachlan McAndrew of the Swans and Thomas McDonald of the Demons compete in a ruck contest during the 2023 VFL Round 02 match between the Casey Demons and the Sydney Swans at Casey Fields on April 2, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Sited in this article on Fox Footy https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-ssp-2025-league-to-reopen-supplemental-selection-period-after-jagga-smith-acl-injury-at-carlton-blues-adelaide-crows-sign-lachlan-mcandrew/news-story/2f031617399ec84d3560ff297181e067

 Perhaps there could be a play on it a bit and start calling him 'The Tank Engine"!

Not sure I've ever seen him refered to a Thomas before.

2 hours ago, bush demon said:

Surely this initiative  would present excellent cost-saving opportunities for our new Admin centre at Caulfield...

A Lego replica might be the closest thing to a new training facility / club hq that we ever get.

Members can have their own Lego avitar go hang out in the Lego social club.

I'm sure the players would rather use it than go out to Casey too!

I haven't been following the pre-season train threads or really watched the match sim Vs North, but is Billings form good enough for a starting spot on the wing?

To be honest, I'm neither for or against his inclusion as I've seen him do some good things at times, but will admit that his season last year was quite disappointing over all as he seemed very frindge depth type, even once our depth got really depleted, I recall him often starting as sub and having minimal impact once he got on.

Perhaps a great pre-season and more oppertunity to learn our systems and maybe better buy-in and ability to play the more attacking game style we are trying to implement?  A big part of me would like to see him do well and really impact as I love a good redemption story and really hate it when we burn list spots with mature/recycled players that go nowhere and just frustrate.

Genuinely interested in others thoughts.

7 hours ago, Supreme_Demon said:

An excellent article pumping of Jack Henderson. Love it! ❤️💙

Looking forward to seeing "Hendo" get a run against Fremantle this coming weekend.

"JH: I won't die woundering, I can assure you of that."

Great attitude from this bloke.  I feel that if there were questions about our culture, having guys like this around the place helps reinforce good culture.  Had been suggested he's been earmarked for the ANB role - possibly in attitude as well.

Obviously not playing for sheep stations as a team, but I always hope to see signs from those battling for a spot in the starting 22 that they have further developed and give us some good options to pick from.  Particularly looking at a few favourites like Kynan Brown, Woey Jnr, AMW, AJ and perhaps Sharp. 

If Jefferson does walk away with a bag, that could certainly make forwardline selection very interesting.  Will also be good to see all of JvR, Jefferson, Disco and AJ all working in the same forward line in various combinations at times perhaps.

30 minutes ago, dpositive said:

I reckon the defence is settled with May, Lever, Petty Tmac forming the tall base with big base and Hore, AMW, Salo, Bowey who knows as the smalls. Plenty of depth to cover peaks and injuries rest and recovery.

With no May playing in this match, it will be interesting to see what Maxy's breakout boy Jed Adams can do.  Really hope he gets some good gametime and opptunitiy to get a taste at the higher level. 

Not sure what is keeping Maysie from playing in this game, but I'm assuming the fitness department are just keeping him on ice a bit to save him getting banged up before the season proper, which I'd support (noting he also played the indigenous all stars game a week or so ago).  It's not like experienced campaigners like him, Maxy and Vines really need that much match practice to hit their straps.

It's a pity that McVee pulled that hammy, because our defence was starting to look solid as a rock like with the line-up we will play down there this season.  I'd love to see us find a player the equivalent of Hibbo, but I guess some guys are almost one of a kind and hard to replace.

I still recall that Brad Johnson was about the only journo after 2020 that thought we could go anywhere in 2021 and make finals.  IMHO, he's one of the few comentators I can respect from the perspective of being all of a bit of a clown, but doesn't take himself too seriously and have too many tickets on himself, but also seems like a genuine good bloke, who knows a thing or two about footy.

I think it's cheap and easy for comentators these days to predict that we get back up there, because, let's face it, we've been up there as top 4 finishes for 3 seasons in a row previous to a horror season last year.

Personally until we perform again throughout the season like we did in 21, then it's all fugazi https://youtu.be/IiTfnpgNkmI?si=zfIUE8IPN0s15zDh

On 20/02/2025 at 16:39, layzie said:

Not me, I'm actually hoping to go through the whole season not consuming any AFL media and watching games on mute. 

On 20/02/2025 at 16:42, Demonland said:

That is known as the Binman Method and is not for the faint-hearted.

Forget sound proof rooms, let's face it, following this team, we should all probably be watching from a padded cell!

On 20/02/2025 at 16:23, GS_1905 said:

Many have us bouncing back into the top 8 but one i tend to keep my eye is coaches under the pressure valve. Goody along with Voss and Longmuire and Nicks are the consistent theme here.

At first I read Longmuire as Longmire - that blokes valve has already gone pop!

4 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Good little connection is that Mark Williams coached Henderson in 2019.

Choco is the gift that keeps on giving.

Will be great for Hendo to have that connection already in place at the club, as well as AJ to help his development in taking the next step in his carer.

7 hours ago, Supreme_Demon said:

I like "The Bull" or "The Bison" for Harvey Langford. Just because he already has quite a physical presence.

Can't wait to see how he goes when he gets his chance the real stuff starts, but going off all indications so far, I recon The Bull would be a great nickname for him.

Just as a side note, yeah the players might have their own nicknames for what they call their team mates, but doesn't mean us supporters can't have our own for them as well.  If the two align, then great, but who's to say if supporters and the media start referring to them as a particular nickname the players wouldn't adopt that themselves too, if it's a good one.

On 21/01/2025 at 06:36, Katrina Dee Fan said:

I did notice yesterday Vines is growing a rather Todd-like mullet himself, I think soon he’ll need the Todd headband! Complete the look of his old man :) 

Has grown to match the metaphorical stature of Todd over the years, so might as well take on the look as well.  I'm not sure it will eventuate, but I'd love to see Jack captain the team in his own right for a season or two.

8 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Small forward/mid with good goal sense, smarts and tackling.

Lacks stand out attributes to be a big difference maker but can come in and do a role from day 1 if he’s had a good summer VFL training at a high enough level.

With Pickett’s suspension, Spargo still injured and Kolt injured there’s going to be opportunity.

4 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Impressive:-

VFL Showreel, GF: Jack Henderson highlights

What a great highlights package.  Numerous things I like:

*  Ability to hold his nerve, perform on the big stage and nail key passes and goals

*  Great range, with numerous goals nailed from the 50m + line

*  Great take takling technique for the modern game

*  Looks the complete package with his range of skills including marking and good decisions by hand and foot

Perhaps it's putting too much pressure and expectations on a guy that's only just got a spot as a supplementary player, but all the above and the way he appears to go about his game actually reminds me alot of Gus.

6 hours ago, Dee Boys said:

Fitness won’t be an issue, he’s an elite runner and has kept himself ticking over in the off-season.

Club have earmarked that ANB high half forward spot as his role. 

I think we've got a good 2 or 3 player earmarked for that ANB role now - might take all three to replace him.

Congrdulations to Jack, what a great oppertunity he's earnt himself and look forward to seeing how he performs if he gets his chance on the big stage.

1 hour ago, monoccular said:

A list really needs top 28-30 so these so called fringe players are vital.  

Yeah, don't disagree with you there Mono.  Having guys like Tomo etc to capably plug holes for us when required was key to us finishing top and winning the flag on 21.

Just that there was a time I think Harmes was probably on the right side of the 22 between best 22 and fringe though and probably played more like 18 - 22 games of the regular season in a premiership team.  That he only played 9 games last year suggests he's probably not quite at that level any more.

4 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Think he only played  9 last year.

 

Understand.  So probably frindge, not best 22 (similar to where he ended up with us).  The thing being, we could have done with a findge mid to provide depth last season, as I'm fairly sure he would have given us way more than Laurie Vs GWS and say maybe a game we lost by a few points against Brisbane etc and might have tipped us into playing finals contention... not that we might have had that much impact with the way our season ended.

In some respects I think it was actually better for us not to make finals last year.  Few better draft picks and extended presason for Oliver and whoever else was carrying injuries and tires from x3 intense seasons running right to the pointy end.