Leopold Bloom

I haven’t been following Hawthorn very closely of late but I’m interested in some of their selections this week. That Newcombe kid was great on his debut last month when they sliced up the Swans and Tim O’Brien was good a couple of weeks ago when he put in his claim for the Mark of the Year award against the GWS Giants. Both omitted for this week. Tanking or setting themselves up to take a big scalp against us next week?

In other years Brayshaw and Viney would have stood out fr more than this. If they can lift to be regulars in the best as they were in the past, we can look forward to the finals with a bit more confidence.

There are 17 other clubs in the competition. I'm betting that at least one will take the punt.

https://www.safc.com.au/eamon-wilkinson-player-profile.html

Time for the Collingwood board to confirm Buckley’s contract extension to the end of 2023.

My concern really is that because of the disruption to football over the past year and a half, there aren’t the obvious “Marlion Picketts” around. Is our reduced recruiting staff up to the task of finding some diamonds in the rough.

The Herald Sun has published its NAB LEAGUE WEEK SUPER RANKINGS for the first two weeks of competition- Ranking, Player, Club, Position, 2021 Games, 2021 Ave. KFC SuperCoach Points 1. Nick Daicos (Oakleigh Chargers), MID/FWD, 1 game, 177 points 2. Joel Fitzgerald (Northern Knights), MID, 1 game, 172 points 3. Ned Long (Northern Knights), KEY FWD, 1 game, 168 points 4. Corey Preston (Eastern Ranges), FWD, 1 game, 156 points 5. Ben Hobbs (Greater Western Victoria Rebels), MID, 1 game, 151 points 6. Tyler Sonsie (Eastern Ranges), MID/FWD, 1 game, 150 points 7. Sam Conforti (Bendigo Pioneers), MID, 1 game, 146 points 8. Noah Gribble (Geelong Falcons), MID/DEF, 1 game, 142 points 9. Mac Andrew (Dandenong Stingrays), RUCK, 1 game, 140 points 10. Cody Raak (Western Jets), KEY DEF, 2 games, 137 points

Saints touted as a top four prospect but were lucky to beat the Giants and were dreadful yesterday. This is what their fans were really thinking ~

6. Clayton Oliver 5. Christian Salem 4. Max Gawn 3. Christian Petracca 2. Steven May 1. Kysiah Pickett

Anyone how they got AVB across the border?

Name is Weideman and the Pies first pick is a Round 2 selection. I’d rather that Sam has a great season in 2021 now that he’s second dibs behind Ben Brown in our key forward stakes, that he learns from Brown’s presence and they play in a successful side.

Loved this but do you realize that if you open up and read/watch every link (and I’m not complaining BTW) then it would take you more than twice as long as it took to watch the draft telecast?

After the draft Fox Footy covered ten draft prospects who were snubbed and deserved rookie lifelines. These are the ones who missed out. KAINE BALDWIN Clubs: Glenelg/South Australia Position: Key Forward Size: 193cm/90kg Bio: Baldwin has had a tough run with injuries and could end up as a bargain for a club outside of the first round. His talent was clear at the Under 16 championships for South Australia, but has hardly been seen since. He tore his ACL at the start of 2019, before partially tearing the same ligament during a trial game at the beginning of this season. His contested marking and strength are the key traits that make him standout, with the forward able to have an impact on a game and push further up the ground. He recently tested at the SA combine and is ready to hit an AFL pre-season hard. JACKSON CALLOW Clubs: North Launceston/Tasmania/Allies Position: Key Forward Size: 194cm/100kg Bio: Just as the career of one Tasmanian appears to be coming to an end, another door opens. If the Tigers want a key forward this late in the draft, Callow might be the most obvious name. The strong bodied tall clunked plenty of contested marks each game and is a strong kick for goal. While he has some work to do athletically, there’s plenty to like about his game. OLIVER DAVIS Clubs: Tasmania/Allies Position: Midfielder Size: 182cm/75kg Bio: Davis is a strong inside midfielder who starred in the TSL, where he was named the Rising Star of the competition. He averaged a touch under 20 disposals for the season, as well as a whopping 7.1 tackles. His clean hands at the stoppages are a real noticeable trait where he works hard to win the clearances. He had a consistent season and deserves to be recognised by AFL clubs. Zac DUMESNY Clubs: South Adelaide/South Australia Position: Utility Size: 187cm/80kg Bio: Dumesny is one of the better kicks out of South Australia and showed his class against bigger bodies in the SANFL this year. He has done most of his work across half back, but can move up the ground if needed. He showed his ball winning ability later in the year for the Panthers, collecting over 30 touches against North Adelaide. He reads the play well and looms as an ideal prospect for a number of clubs. Max HEATH Clubs: Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro Position: Ruck Size: 203cm/94kg The Victorian looms as one of the better ruck prospects despite being one of the little known prospects ahead of the draft. Heath had some eye-catching moments over the pre-season, with 2020 set to be a big year for the tall. But unfortunately clubs weren’t able to see as much as they had hoped of the competitive beast. He is willing to tackle hard to win the ball back and is able to be a marking target close to goal. His endurance is a work in progress but he is the perfect player who can develop in an elite program. LIAM KOLAR Clubs: Northern Knights/Vic Metro Position: Utility Size: 195cm/81kg Bio: Clubs certainly have plenty of interest in the 18-year-old who has turned all of his attention from soccer to AFL. The ceiling for Kolar is high and he could well end up as a top-30 selection come draft night. He has tested strongly in the endurance and speed categories in recent seasons, showing he can play as a key tall at either end or even end up on a wing. He averaged 5.5 marks in the NAB League last season. ZAVIER MAHER Clubs: Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country Position: Midfielder Size: 184cm/83kg Bio: The inside midfielder has plenty of interest from clubs outside the top 20 and has a really solid case. His speed and acceleration helps him burst from stoppages, while a long kick helps him get it inside 50 on regular occasions. A large chunk of his touches in 2019 were in contested situations, with the midfielder one of a number of Victorians unable to get runs on the board this year due to COVID. HENRY WALSH Clubs: Geelong Falcons/Vic Country Position: Ruck Size: 203cm/87kg Bio: Walsh is one of the best ruck prospects in the country and could find a home late in the draft. He is the brother of Carlton’s No.1 draft pick Sam, with the tall having completely different traits to the midfielder. He is a good player at ground level and wins a number of clearances with his follow-up work. He was expected to have a huge role at state and NAB League level, but hasn’t been able to show how much he has developed in 12 months. These 10 draft prospects were snubbed. Now they deserve rookie lifelines.

From an article “HAUL OR NOTHING” by Sam Landsberger on the Herald Sun subscribers site (can’t find a link):- MELBOURNE 21 JAKE BOWEY 180cm, 78kg, Mid, Sandringham 22 BAILEY LAURIE 180cm, 75kg, Fwd/Mid, Oakleigh Chargers 34 FRASER ROSMAN 193cm, 86kg, Fwd/Mid, Sandringham Dragons The recruiter: Full-forward Ben Brown comes in and Melbourne uses its first two picks on two speedy great kicks of the ball in Jack Bowey and Bailey Laurie. They’ll help with the forward connection that has long troubled the Demons, and help Ben be more successful in that lineup . Particularly Bowey, as he can carry the ball, cut angles and hit targets at speed. Their third pick, Fraser Rosman, was speculative. He has endurance and size but is very raw.

A look ahead: The 21 top prospects for 2021 AFL Draft Central nominates the top 21 draft prospects for 2021 including its top contender: Jason Horne (South Adelaide/South Australia) 21/06/2003 | 182cm/75kg Inside Midfielder/Forward The remaining top 20 contenders (alphabetical order) Braden Andrews (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro) 21/02/2003 | 189cm/83kg Midfielder/Utility Samuel Banks (Clarence/Tasmania) 2/04/2003 | 186cm/72kg Midfielder/Half-Back Rhett Bazzo (Swan Districts/Western Australia) 17/10/2003 | 194cm/74kg Tall Defender Cooper Beecken (Glenelg/South Australia) 24/02/2003 | 188cm/72kg Defender Lachlan Brooks (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro) 1/02/2003 | 179cm/75kg Inside Midfielder Campbell Chesser (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Country) 27/04/2003 | 185cm/79kg Half-Back/Wing Nick Daicos (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro) 01/03/2003 | 183cm/72kg Balanced Midfielder Arlo Draper (South Adelaide/South Australia) 30/01/2003 | 185cm/71kg Midfielder/Forward Joshua Fahey (Gold Coast Academy/NSW/ACT) 11/11/2003 | 186cm/76kg Half-Back/Outside Midfielder Ben Hobbs (GWV Rebels/Vic Country) 15/09/2003 | 182cm/76kg Inside Midfielder Matthew Johnson (Subiaco/Western Australia) 16/03/2003 | 192cm/80kg Inside Midfielder Alex Lukic (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro) 7/01/2003 | 195cm/86kg Key Forward Charlie Molan (GWV Rebels/Vic Country) 23/01/2003 | 186cm/78kg Midfielder/Utility Cooper Murley (Norwood/South Australia) 20/06/2003 | 177cm/66kg Small Midfielder/Forward Joshua Rachele (Murray Bushranger/Vic Country) 11/04/2003 | 179cm/77kg Small Midfielder/Forward Lewis Rayson (Glenelg/South Australia) 14/01/2003 | 181cm/64kg Half-Back Matthew Roberts (South Adelaide/South Australia) 31/07/2003 | 183cm/76kg Midfielder/Forward Josh Sinn (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro) 28/01/03 | 186cm/72kg Half-Back/Midfielder Tyler Sonsie (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro) 27/01/2003 | 181cm/74kg Midfielder/Forward Jacob Van Rooyen (Claremont/Western Australia) 16/04/2003 | 194cm/88kg Key Forward Some others included in the mix are a couple of South Australian father-son prospects with famous names (Wanganeen and Burgoyne) and a cousin of were others to show Kysaiah Pickett who has links to a club in Adelaide. It comes as no surprise that he’s described as “small”.

Family dog sounds happiest.

He has re-signed for another 12 months with the Bombers.

It took me a while before I came on the fact that I was reading about a 195cm player. Nothing suggests that he’s special enough or fits into a category of player we need at the moment.

We’ve gone very young as well but I think that’s a good thing because as the years go by and more players come in with a grounding through a well structured pathway through the under 18s, we are going to see players with more skills and ability.

The Dees have added some depth to their backline, securing the talents of Mietta Kendall with pick No.41. Kendall is a hybrid defender with a powerful kick, and at just 18 years of age, has the potential to develop into an inside midfielder. She’s no stranger to competing under pressure with a background in both hockey and karate, so expect to see her compete well for the Demons in the coming years. MFC website

Melbourne has used its final selection in the Draft to secure Isabella Simmons, with the 18-year-old finding her way onto an AFLW list. She’s a classy left footer who has plenty of scope for development in the coming seasons and may be the most athletic young talent drafted this year. At 186cm, Simmons has played the majority of her footy on the wing to date but has the potential to play at either end of the field for the Demons. MFC website

Megan Fitzsimon has been drafted with pick No.35, joining the Demons from Gippsland. The 18-year-old is an explosive footballer who can play through the middle and up forward, and she knows how to kick a goal. Fitzsimon has had a major impact during her time in the NAB League and will benefit from playing alongside some quality teammates at AFLW level.

The Demons’ third selection within the top 20 brings 17-year-old Maggie Caris to the club. She is an elite athlete, starring not only as a junior footballer, but as a netballer as well. At 190cm, Caris will be looking to develop her ruck craft at the Dees, with an ability to hit the ball with both hands and follow up at ground level.

With the club’s second first-round pick, it has drafted talented midfielder, Eliza McNamara. At 18 years of age, McNamara joins Melbourne with an incredible running capacity and can play both on the inside and outside. She’s as ferocious as they come and won’t back down, so expect to see her win plenty of the footy in season 2021. MFC website

Melbourne has drafted Alyssa Bannan with its first pick of the night, identifying her athleticism as a key asset for the team. At 177cm, Bannan is a promising key forward with strong hands, who will pose as a dangerous target inside 50. While the 18-year-old has the ability to push up the field, she will add plenty of flare to the Demons’ forward line with her agility at ground level and ability to hit the scoreboard. MFC website