Paul Gardner

Meeson is afraid of his own shadow.

He my friends sorry to say, could be a possible trade.

Michael Gleeson 17 Jul 07 AMID all the fanfare surrounding last week's announcement of the under-18 All-Australian football team, a notable achievement by the Northern Knights went almost unnoticed. Vic Metro supplied four players to the 22-member squad, after it finished second in Division 1 of the national championships behind the undefeated Western Australia. Three of those named captain Jack Grimes, ruckman Matthew Kreuzer and key defender Michael Hurley were from the Knights' TAC Cup under-18 team. It meant Northern provided the most players of any Australian club, with no other side managing more than two. Grimes, who led by example throughout the carnival with his hard-running and neat disposal, was delighted that his Knights' teammates were also recognised. ``I'm really happy for Michael Hurley. He's a bottom-aged boy and I've seen how hard he's worked around the club to get where he has,'' Grimes said. ``He (Kreuzer) is a freak and sometimes I just stop and watch him play. He just keeps getting better each week.'' Hurley, who only turned 17 last month, is too young to be selected at this year's (2007) AFL national draft. Having only made his TAC Cup debut this year, Hurley has made astonishing progress over the past few months.

Wow, the soft players all put in today. Fantastic, the first cobblestone on the road to respect, not of the opposition but the respect of the club!

I don't think this (But it is disappointing that Grimes will be a fair way off) is what their saying. Stay tuned over the next month.

Clint Bartrams

I agree C B, we can't lose him just as he's recovering & growing up.

Yep, fully paidup MFC member. B) >>>>>>>>>>>Play the kids<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

That's right, lets drop our future now so we can have less pain next week. But we can have an extended envelope of pain over the next few years by bringing on the kids via the drip feed.

& Flying under the radar, guess who, as far as the team leadership is concerned? Who is missing from these, - who's not taking the responsibility to lead from the front???

Who kept him out? Why did Ratten leave? What happened to Thompson? Why did schwartz leave so early?

He's got a bit to learn, he's a project player of good size & agility from a basketball background. He's got to learn to position his body better against opponents & things like not getting the wrong side of his opponent getting turned around, etc.

'belzebub59', it may be that rivers is pulling up a little sore after VFL matches, if so they may think he won't stand up to the the extra stresses of AFL YET.

Yep, spot on 'Redfin'.

from Nicko4 BigFooty Newbie Prospectus 08, Predicted Top 25 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- in alphabetical order. Sam Blease Midfielder 182cm Eastern 19/02/1991 70kg Blease was one of the leading midfielders at the 2007 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships, averaging 19 disposals per game. His disposal efficiency of 83% was elite and he showed an ability to read the play by winning the equal third-most loose ball gets of any division one player. He scored 5 goals at the carnival and also averaged 3 clearances and four inside 50s. Matthew Broadbent Midfielder 187cm Woodville-West Torrens 1/08/1990 77kg Broadbent is a midfielder who is damaging as both an inside and outside player. His best performances as a junior came in the 2006 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships where he ranked third in division one for handballs, equal fourth for hardball-gets and equal sixth in the handball-receives. In 2007 he played two games for South Australia in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and also made seven appearances in the SANFL reserves for Woodville-West Torrens. Ayce Cordy Ruckman 200cm Geelong 6/08/1990 72kg Cordy is eligible to be taken by the Western Bulldogs under the father son rule in 2008 after his father, Brian, played 124 games for the club from 1981-88. He spent most of 2007 playing school football, but appeared 3 times for Geelong in the TAC Cup where he showed his mobility by averaging 14 disposals per game. He was strong in the air with an average of two contested marks in those games and despite standing over 200cm he was also good at ground level where he averaged 5 hard ball gets. Aaron Cornelius Key Forward 191cm Tasmania 29/05/1990 81kg Cornelius has proven in his junior career to date to be one of the best marks for his age. Since taking nine contested marks for Tasmania in the opening game of the 2006 NAB AFL Under 16 Championships, Cornelius has continued that form to average more than three per game in 14 games of under-age football for his state in the past two years. At age 17 he made his debut for Tasmania in the VFL late last season and took the equal most marks of anyone in the 2007 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships. Tyson Davis-Neale General Forward 184cm South Adelaide 20/03/1991 74kg Davis-Neale averaged 12 disposals and scored four goals in the 2007 NAB AFL Under 16 Championships for South Australia. While not a huge ball winner, he showed signs across half forward that he could potentially be a high selection in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft. He booted 20 goals in 13 games at SANFL Under 17 level for South Adelaide last season. Matthew DeBoer Midfielder 183cm Claremont 10/3/1990 77kg DeBoer bypassed the 2007 NAB AFL Draft despite being one of the leading junior midfielders in 2007. In 17 games at WAFL colts level for Claremont he averaged 25 disposals, 5 hardball gets and 3 clearances per game and had a kicking efficiency of 73% which was in the average category. At the 2007 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships DeBoer averaged 17 disposals and five hard ball gets per game. Steven Gaertner Utility 196cm Dandenong 2/01/1990 83kg Gaertner played 11 games for Dandenong in the 2007 TAC Cup but was surprisingly overlooked in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft. He averaged only 13 disposals per match for the stingrays after starting the season well before struggling towards the end. He averaged 16 disposals in his first six games, but that average dropped to less than 10 per game in the final five rounds. In a sign of his ability he had 27 disposals, took 14 marks and scored 4 goals in the round 5 game against Tasmania, but struggled to settle in one position throughout the season which hindered his development. Hamish Hartlett Midfielder 181cm West Adelaide 14/08/1990 67kg Hartlett is the younger brother of Adam who has been on Carlton's list for three years. But Hamish is a completely different player. While his brother is a key position type, Hamish is a midfielder who was prominent for South Australia in the 2006 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. In that carnival he averaged 31 disposals and ranked No.1 for hardball gets and uncontested marks. He averaged 17 disposals in last years NAB AFL Under 18 Championships and made his senior SANFL debut late last season. Tom Hill Key Forward 196cm Northern 7/04/1991 73kg Hill is predominantly a key forward who scored six goals for Vic Metro at the 2007 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. He averaged 13 disposals, five marks and three inside 50s per game at the carnival, and also totalled 4 score assists in the three matches. He had elite disposal efficiency of 82% and was strong overhead with a total of five contested marks. Michael Hurley Key Defender 192cm Northern 1/06/1990 88kg Hurley is a proven performer at both ends of the ground and produced impressive numbers in the 2007 season. In 17 games for Northern in the TAC Cup he averaged 18 disposals per game playing in key positions at either end of the ground. When up forward he was always a threat, being a multiple goal kicker five times including a haul of 6. He spent most of his time in defence, however having six or more rebound 50s on seven occasions and averaging four spoils and two marks from opposition kicks per game. He is strong overhead highlighted by his tally of 29 contested marks, of which he took at least one in all games. He dominated at full back for Vic Metro in the 2007 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, totalling four more rebound 50s than any other player. Lewis Johnstone Key Forward 192cm North Adelaide 3/03/1991 87kg Johnstone is a power forward who averaged 13 disposals and three marks at the 2007 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. While his numbers at that carnival were only modest, he spent the 2007 season in the SANFL U-17's where he produced some impressive performances. He kicked 31 goals in 20 games and was named in the best players on seven occasions, proving to be not only strong overhead but also at ground level. Kieran King Midfielder 181cm East Fremantle 05/03/1991 80kg King is an Australian junior running champion but proved in the 2007 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships that he is also a talented footballer. He averaged 19 disposals in the three games playing across half forward using his pace to full effect by ending the carnival with the second most running bounces of any division one player (13). He was able to do so because only 26% of his possessions were won in a contest, and he posed a threat pushing forward with an average of five inside 50s and two goals per game. Tom Lynch Utility 190cm Sandringham 15/09/1990 75kg Lynch missed the majority of the 2007 season after undergoing a knee reconstruction but impressed enough in the opening three rounds of the TAC Cup season to be considered a likely early pick. In that time he averaged 24 disposals, nine marks, six hard ball gets, six inside 50s and two goals per match and looks capable of filling a number of roles. Shaun McKernan Key Forward 195cm Calder 1/09/1990 87kg McKernan is a similar player to his older brother Corey, spending time both up forward an in the ruck for Calder in the 2007 TAC Cup. He scored 17 goals in his 12 games last season and was a multiple goal kicker on five occasions. He averaged one contested mark per match, while in the ruck he averaged 15 hitouts with an elite 29% hitout to advantage rate. Nicholas Naitanui Ruckman 196cm Swan Districts 4/05/1990 79kg Naitanui is a developing ruckman of Fijian decent. He was first seen at the 2006 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships and improved considerably throughout 2007. He was the No.1 hitout winner in division one at the 2007 NAB AFL Under-18 championships where he averaged 11 disposals and five hardball gets per game. At WAFL colts level he was part of Swan Districts premiership team, scoring 11 goals in his 14 appearances. He averaged 13 disposals per match and was again impressive at ground level with an average of four hardball gets. His hitout to advantage rate as a junior ranks in the average category. Daniel Rich Midfielder 180cm Subiaco 6/07/1990 75kg Rich's impressive performances for Subiaco in the WAFL seniors late in 2007 stamped him as a likely high selection in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft. He has 16 disposals and booted three goals in the preliminary final before picking up another 13 disposals and two goals in Subiaco's grand final win. Possessing one of the best kicks of anyone his age, Rich ranked No.1 for effective kicks at the 2006 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships and has maintained an elite kicking efficiency in his junior career to date. He was named in the All-Australian team after the 2007 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and has the numbers to suggest he's going to be an elite goal kicking midfielder at AFL level. Steele Sidebottom Midfielder 181cm Murray 2/01/1991 74kg Sidebottom was one of Vic Country's leading players at the 2007 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships, proving dangerous through the midfield and up forward. He averaged 20 disposals per game and totalled the third most kicks of any player (46). He showed strength overhead for his size with two contested marks in each match and was also good at ground level where he averaged eight groundball gets. He was a threat when pushing forward averaging six inside 50s and two goals in the three games. Ashley Smith General Defender 184cm Dandenong 20/07/1990 83kg Smith played five games across half back for Dandenong in the 2007 TAC Cup, averaging 21 disposals. He had an elite disposal efficiency of 79% and produced impressive averages of four rebound 50s and three marks from opposition kicks per game. Nick Suban General Defender 179cm North Ballarat 9/05/1990 78kg Suban averaged 19 disposals per game in the 2007 TAC Cup where his kicking efficiency of 76% ranked in the elite category. He can play all over the ground and works hard when not in possession, averaging five tackles per game last year. Suban was named in the All-Australian team at the 2007 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships where he ranked in the top three in division one in kicks, long kicks and rebound 50s and won a large portion of his possessions in an uncontested manner. Tom Swift Midfielder 183cm Claremont 6/07/1990 75kgSwift underwent a knee reconstruction in April last year and as a result missed the remainder of the season. He is still a likely early draftee for 2008 after producing amazing numbers as a midfielder for Western Australia in the 2006 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. He began the carnival with 40 possessions, followed up with 24 in the next game and racked up a whopping 45 disposals in the final game against Vic Metro. He led division one in handballs, marks, short kicks, contested possessions, uncontested possessions, handball receives, clearances and frees for and looms as a prolific ball winner. Jackson Trengrove Utility 196cm Calder 2/11/1990 77kg Trengrove was one of the best players in the 2007 TAC Cup finals series, putting in four dominant performances in the ruck for premiers Calder. He averaged 17 disposals, six marks, six groundball gets, 19 hitouts and three clearances in those four games, winning plenty of possession around the ground along with an eilte hit out to advantage rate. While he impressed in the ruck towards the end of the year, he was versatile enough to play in defence early in the season when he averaged six rebound 50s and six spoils per game in his opening four matches. Tyrone Vickery Utility 198cm Sandringham 31/05/1990 78kg Vickery is another potential draftee in 2008 who suffered a long term industry last season. He underwent a knee reconstruction after only one TAC Cup game for Sandringham but showed enough in the 2006 NAB AFL Under 16 Championships to suggest if he returns well from injury he'll be in consideration. He averaged 10 disposals and 11 hitouts per game in that carnival, taking three contested marks and booting four goals in one game as a forward/ruckman. Michael Walters Midfielder 175cm Swan Districts 7/01/1991 68kg Walters may stand only 175cm, but he proved at the 2007 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships he could be an elite goalkicking midfielder at the highest level. He not only led division one in disposals with 87 in the three games, but his tally of 10 goals was also the equal most. He had an elite 85% kicking efficiency, led the carnival with 40 effective kicks, and was most damaging as an inside player as he won the second most contested possession and most clearances of any player. Chris Yarran General Forward 179cm Swan Districts 19/12/1990 82kg Yarran is a talented general forward who booted 26 goals in 12 games for Swan Districts in the 2007 WAFL colts. He scored at least one goal in each game he played and was also a threat around the stoppages where he averaged four clearances. He played all three games for Western Australia at the 2007 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships where despite limited game time he totalled four goals and three score assists. Jack Ziebell Utility 188cm Murray 28/02/1991 82kg Ziebell is a utility who performed well in a variety of roles for Vic Country in the 2007 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. He averaged 17 disposals per game with his ball use the feature of his play, hitting the target with an elite 89% efficiency. He laid the third most tackles of any division one player and will play for Murray in the 2008 TAC Cup.

I don't mind what most of us are saying @ the moment because it's a realisation finally, that most have been overly optimistic about our current list for the last 3 or 4 years. So in a way this is the best thing that can happen to the club for our future in '09 - '10. Were lucky that we have a group of talented yet unproductive young fellas who'll start to take over the mantle next year, as they realise it's all up to them now, BUT We are lacking in Quality talls who are strongly built too compliment these kids.

If i could clear out these players who don't as AFL players put their body in front of an oncoming hit, - I would list in this order to suit our current needs :- 1...Yze,,,,,,,,,,,Must retire this year, or makeway for a rookies promotion. 2...Green,,,,,,,,Trade for some sort of Pick. 3...Robbo,,,,,,,Must retire @ the end of this year. 4...Bruce,,,,,,,,Please Trade @ years end, whilst he's got some value. 5...White,,,,,,,,Unfortunately we need him for one more year as we season our up & coming 2nd string rucks.

The "other teams" were, most other teams, & quietly they loved to play against the Dees. They would even blood youngsters preferably against us.

You beauty, now they can go win the next 7. No bingo for blues--No 11th

team from H,UN tonight ,thurs' MELBOURNE B: Paul Wheatley, Nathan Carroll, Colin Garland HB: Ricky Petterd, Daniel Bell, James McDonald C: Brad Green, Brock McLean, Simon Buckley HF: Cameron Bruce, Brad Miller, Adem Yze F: Michael Newton, David Neitz, Russell Robertson Foll: Jeff White, Aaron Davey, Nathan Jones Int (from): Jace Bode, James Frawley, Mark Jamar, Paul Johnson, Brent Moloney, Cale Morton, Isaac Weetra New: Isaac Weetra (Port Adelaide), Cale Morton (Claremont)

Frawley Carroll Bell Bartram Rivers Yze Davey Jones Moloney Bruce Miller Dunn Robbo Neitz Newton White McLean Junior I/C Petterd P Johnson Green Buckley Jamar Holland Whelan Maric

the crystal ball tells me - Frawley Carroll Bell Bartram Rivers Yze Davey Jones Moloney Bruce Miller Dunn Robbo Neitz Newton White McLean Junior I/C Petterd P Johnson Green Buckley Jamar Holland Whelan Maric

your asking for my credentials, supporter for numerous decades of the DEES, a local of the zebras so i also am interested in their wellbeing, on & offield support of the demons AFL over 7 years, close liasion with coaches & medical staff, also played other summer sports @ high level with exaustralian & state reps. Sere virtually all Demons & sandy games , also studying the former through replays after innitially watching the games. Now, whats your credentials re Zebra games?

How many times do you get down to Sandy games, & over what period of time?

I agree with this 'Jaded', (What's $5000 for a player who earns 5 figures a year? He deserves his punishment, as did Brock, as did Carroll.), but the main issue I'm sure, was not that he was out late saturday night, but the fact he missed the follow up recovery session. These are young single human males who haven't found yet the reason to settle down. Each to their own, maybe sylvia's pining for his ex may help with this.