Whispering_Jack

This article purports to tell you everything you need to know about the AFL’s First Delisted Free Agency period which begins tomorrow and runs for the entire week. State of play: Delisted free agency, every player available, landing spots, re-rookie list

I made some enquiries with a contact in Ireland who says he’s a promising player, midsized at around 178cm. I still am amazed that the MFC which pioneered the recruitment of Gaelic footballers and had such great early success with Jim Stynes and Sean Wight subsequently completely abandoned the project.

I’m surprised that with one exception when it was raised almost as an aside nobody has asked the obvious question and that is whether our Aidan is possibly related to Franz Schubert, the Austrian superstar composer of classical music. Admittedly, Franz has been deceased for almost two centuries, but we shouldn’t ignore the fact that Aidan hails from South Australia which is full of people of Germanic extraction so there might be some connection here. On the other hand, Franz’ bio tells me he was just 156cm tall (5’1”) and that his cause of death was both typhus and syphilis so if there is a genetic connection, he might be ruled out on the grounds of new coach’s no d*ckheads policy. This is going to be a fascinating watch.

This is from an update in today’s Herald Sun on every club’s injury list - MELBOURNEA new-look Melbourne will come together at Casey in the coming weeks, and all of the shiny new toys should be ready to go on day one. Andy Moniz-Wakefield was shaping as a strong contributor in a new-look half-back role before his ACL tear, but should be ready for a full, but managed, pre-season. Jake Lever had a wretched run with ankle issues in 2025 but the club is confident he will be right for a strong pre-season. Shane McAdam is progressing from a February achilles tendon injury, with the forward closing in on nine months of rehab work. He’ll likely be limited throughout the summer as he pushes for a return in early 2026.

I think the philosophy in drafting remains “best player available” and therefore, if Sharp’s still there at pick 11 he’s likely going to be in that category and would be picked up. Personally though, I suspect he will be taken before our pick.

My criticism is that I don’t believe we should be drafting a tall forward unless one presented himself as absolutely outstanding ie a best available player. On that basis I wouldn’t take Schubert ahead of Duff-Tytler who some have as high as top 2.

afl.com.auCal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' Oct...AFL.com.au's draft guru Cal Twomey delivers his fourth Phantom Form Guide ahead of the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft

Now that we have a draft order of sorts that isn’t going to depart too far from the one that will apply on the first night of the 2025 AFL National Draft, it’s time for some Phantom Drafts. I found this one on Zero Hanger but it’s hard to navigate through its clicks. AFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-23 (second edition) Here’s the first round for your comments:- Pick 1 - West Coast: Willem Duursma Pick 2 - Gold Coast (Matched Bid): Zeke Uwland Pick 3 - West Coast: Sullivan Robey Pick 4 - Gold Coast (Matched Bid): Dylan Patterson Pick 5 - Richmond: Xavier Taylor Pick 6 - Richmond: Sam Grlj Pick 7 - Brisbane (Matched Bid): Dan Annable Pick 8 - Carlton (Matched Bid): Harry Dean Pick 9 - Essendon: Sam Cumming Pick 10 - Essendon: Dyson Sharp Pick 11 - Melbourne: Aidan Schubert Pick 12 - Melbourne: Jevan Phillipou Pick 13 - North Melbourne (traded with Hawthorn): Cooper Duff-Tytler Pick 14 - GWS: Josh Lindsay Pick 15 - West Coast: Jacob Farrow Pick 16 - Western Bulldogs: Lachy Dovaston Pick 17 - Adelaide: Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves Pick 18 - Geelong: Ollie Greeves Pick 19 - Carlton: Latrelle Sumner-Pickett Pick 20 - Sydney (Matched Bid): Max King Pick 21 - Fremantle: Oskar Taylor Pick 22 - Essendon: Mitch Marsh Pick 23 - North Melbourne (Traded with Hawthorn): Harley Barker

Thanks for your comprehensive report Meggs. A concern I have for the team is its poor finishing in its defeats. We can’t seem to score goals under pressure in final quarters. Winning finals is all about being able to see out tough games.

Cal Twomey’s October Phantom Form Guide came out today. Worth looking at - especially in the range 10 - 15 where our picks could come from in November. afl.com.auCal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' Oct...AFL.com.au's draft guru Cal Twomey delivers his fourth Phantom Form Guide ahead of the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft

Here’s an interesting article from Jonty Ralphsmith on some draft prospects who have been injured or otherwise unexposed with projected draft positions - Out of sight, out of mind: Nine draft prospects on AFL Draft radar • Zeke Uwland (Gold Coast Academy, utility) - projected # 1 • Koby Evans (Perth, forward/midfielder) - late rookie • Jevan Phillipou (Woodville-West Torrens, midfielder) - 15 to 20 • Liam Hetherton (Murray Bushrangers, key forward) 25 to 45 • Sam Allen (Oakleigh Chargers, midfielder) - late rookie • Felix Kniepp (Calder, halfback) - late rookie • Will Darcy (Oakleigh Chargers, tall defender) - late rookie • Harrison Bridge (Brisbane Academy, defender) - late rookie • Tom Matthews (Gippsland Power, small forward) - late rookie Possibly of limited use for the MFC because a few are academy or father/son which is where we already have our own prospects.

All of the player movements in the free agency and trade periods ~ FREE AGENCY • Jack Silvagni to St Kilda - Carlton receives an end of round one compensation pick (19) • James Worpel to Geelong - Hawthorn receives an end of second round compensation pick (39) • Tom De Koning to St Kilda - Carlton receives a round one compensation pick (9) • Sam Draper to Brisbane Lions - Essendon receives an end of round one compensation pick (20) • Jacob Wehr to Port Adelaide - GWS receives no compensation • Charlie Spargo to North Melbourne - Melbourne receives an end of round two compensation pick (41) • Oscar Allen to Brisbane Lions - West Coast Eagles receive a round one compensation pick (2) TRADES • Carlton receives Liam Reidy, a third-round pick (currently 53) and a fourth-round pick (currently 71) - Fremantle receives a third-round pick (50) and a fourth-round pick (68) • Sydney Swans receive Malcolm Rosas Jnr and a fourth-round pick (62), Gold Coast Suns receive a third-round pick (51) and a fourth-round pick (69), West Coast Eagles receive Brandon Starcevich, a first-round pick (12) and a third-round pick (currently 52), West Coast Eagles give Picks 16, 22 and 23, • Brisbane Lions receive two first-round picks (16 and 22) and two third-round picks (44 and 50), Brisbane Lions give Brandon Starcevich, Picks 19, 46 and 52, Fremantle receives a first-round pick (19), a second-round pick (currently 23) and a third-round pick (currently 46), Fremantle gives Picks 12, 33, 44 and 50 • Fremantle receives Judd McVee - Melbourne receives a second-round pick (23) • St Kilda receives Sam Flanders - Gold Coast Suns receive a first-round pick (7) • Melbourne receives Max Heath - St Kilda receives a 2027 fourth-round pick (tied to Melbourne) • St Kilda receives Liam Ryan and a 2027 third-round pick (tied to West Coast) - West Coast Eagles receive a 2026 second-round pick (tied to St Kilda) • Melbourne receives Brody Mihocek and a third-round pick (71) - Collingwood receives a third-round pick (61) and a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Melbourne) • Carlton receives Campbell Chesser - West Coast Eagles receive a second-round pick (41) • Carlton receives Ben Ainsworth and a fourth-round pick (67), Carlton gives Corey Durdin and a 2026 second-round pick, Gold Coast Suns receive a second-round pick (currently 29), Gold Coast Suns give Ben Ainsworth, Port Adelaide receives Corey Durdin and a 2026 second-round pick (tied to Carlton), Port Adelaide gives a second-round pick (currently 29) and a fourth-round pick (currently 67) • GWS receives a first-round pick (12) - Western Bulldogs receive a first-round pick (14) and a second-round pick (37) • GWS receives: a first-round pick (12) - Western Bulldogs receive a first-round pick (14) and a second-round pick (37) • Port Adelaide receives Will Brodie - Fremantle receives a sixth-round selection (103) • Brisbane Lions receive a third-round pick (59) and a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Melbourne) - Collingwood receives two third-round picks (45 and 56) • Essendon receive Brayden Fiorini - Gold Coast Suns receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Essendon) • GWS receives a first-round pick (12) - Western Bulldogs receive a first-round pick (14) and a second-round pick (37) •West Coast Eagles receive Tylar Young - Richmond receive a second-round pick (38) • Port Adelaide receives Will Brodie - Fremantle receives a sixth-round selection (103) • Brisbane Lions receive a third-round pick (59) and a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Melbourne) - Collingwood receives two third-round picks (45 and 56) • Essendon receive Brayden Fiorini - Gold Coast Suns receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Essendon) • Western Bulldogs receive Connor Budarick and a fourth-round pick (70) - Gold Coast Suns receive a second-round pick (37) • Carlton receives Oliver Florent - Sydney Swans receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Carlton) • Melbourne receives Changkuoth Jiath - Hawthorn receives a second-round pick (42) and a 2026 fourth-round pick (tied to Melbourne) • Sydney Swans receive Jai Serong and a 2026 fourth-round selection (tied to Hawthorn) - Hawthorn receives a 2026 third-round selection (tied to Sydney) • Carlton receives a first-round pick (currently 9) and three second-round picks (31, 42 and 43) - Hawthorn receives two first-round picks (10 and 22) • Adelaide Crows receive Finnbar Maley and a fourth-round pick (64) - North Melbourne receive a third-round pick (57) and a 2026 fourth-round pick (tied to Adelaide) • Gold Coast Suns receive Jamarra Ugle-Hagan - Western Bulldogs receive a fourth-round pick (74) • Collingwood receive Jack Buller and a 2026 fourth-round pick (tied to Sydney) • Sydney Swans receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Collingwood) • Richmond receive Patrick Retschko - Geelong receive a sixth-round pick (99) • Gold Coast Suns receive Christian Petracca, two second-round picks (24 and 28) and a 2026 second-round pick (tied to Melbourne) - Melbourne receives two first-round picks (7 and 8), a second-round pick (37), a 2026 first-round pick (tied to Gold Coast) and a 2027 third-round pick (tied to Gold Coast) • Melbourne receives Jack Steele - St Kilda receives a 2027 third-round pick (tied to Melbourne) • GWS receive Clayton Oliver - Melbourne receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to GWS) • Sydney Swans receive Charlie Curnow, two second-round picks (31 and 42) and a 2027 second-round pick (tied to Carlton) - Carlton receives Will Hayward, a first-round pick (11), a 2026 first-round pick (tied to Sydney) and a 2027 first-round pick (tied to Sydney)

Undoubtedly, your esteemed panel will discuss the trade deals, including the significant ones involving Trac and Clarry, which have been extensively documented in the media. It is unfortunate to see two great superstars of the game depart simultaneously, and I am particularly disappointed by the dramatic decline in fortunes of Clarry. I wish him well for the future, but one intriguing aspect of the trade deal is the amount of his contract that Melbourne will be paying him over the next five years. Initially, it was stated that Melbourne would cover half of his contract, but negotiations on this point persisted for over a week. Will the exact amount ever be disclosed? If not, would it be worth inquiring about this at the AGM?

Progressive Voting: 131. Tyla Hanks 109. Kate Hore 70. Elizabeth McNamara 69. Maeve Chaplin 51. Tayla Harris 48. Megan Fitzsimon 36. Eden Zanker 32. Shelley Heath 17. Paxy Paxman Ryleigh Wotherspoon 15. Olivia Purcell 14. Sinead Goldrick 4. Tahlia Gillard Lauren Pearce Saraid Taylor 2. Maggie Mahony 1. Alyssa Bannan Gabrielle Colvin Laela Ebert Molly O’Hehir Jemma Rigoni

I think he’s a few years away, possibly 2028.

The 2025 AFL National Draft order after the trades - ROUND ONE 1 West Coast Eagles 2 West Coast Eagles 3 Richmond 4 Richmond 5 Essendon 6 Essendon 7 Melbourne 8 Melbourne 9 Carlton 10 Hawthorn 11 Carlton 12 GWS Giants 13 West Coast Eagles 14 Western Bulldogs 15 Gold Coast Suns 16 Adelaide 17 Brisbane Lions 18 Gold Coast Suns 19 Geelong 20 Fremantle 21 Essendon 22 Hawthorn 23 Brisbane Lions ROUND TWO 24 Gold Coast Suns 25 North Melbourne 26 North Melbourne 27 Essendon 28 Gold Coast Suns 29 Gold Coast Suns 30 Essendon 31 Sydney 32 Sydney 33 Western Bulldogs 34 West Coast Eagles 35 GWS Giants 36 Gold Coast Suns 37 Melbourne 38 Richmond 39 Collingwood 40 Geelong 41 West Coast Eagles 42 Sydney 43 Carlton ROUND THREE 44 Brisbane Lions 45 Collingwood 46 North Melbourne 47 Fremantle 48 Adelaide 49 Port Adelaide 50 St Kilda 51 Brisbane Lions 52 Gold Coast Suns 53 West Coast Eagles 54 Carlton 55 Adelaide 56 Collingwood 57 North Melbourne 58 West Coast Eagles 59 Brisbane Lions 60 Geelong 61 Collingwood ROUND FOUR 62 Hawthorn 63 Sydney 64 Adelaide 65 St Kilda 66 Melbourne 67 Carlton 68 Brisbane Lions 69 Fremantle 70 Western Bulldogs 71 Melbourne 72 Carlton 73 Adelaide 74 Western Bulldogs 75 Adelaide 76 Hawthorn 77 Collingwood 78 Geelong 79 Brisbane Lions

Not a biggie here. • Richmond receive Patrick Retschko - Geelong receive a sixth-round pick (99) But how about this one? Melbourne has reeled in three first round picks while giving back three seconds as Christian Petracca finally became a Gold Coast Sun. In a deal that dragged on into the final day as the two clubs haggled over the picks that were swapped back and forth. Melbourne netted picks 7, 8 and a future first while sending the second rounders back to Gold Coast. • No deals for Zac Merrett, Callum Ah Chee, Baku Khamis and Rowan Marshall

• “Jack Steel has been traded to Melbourne for a future third round pick.” - Cal Twomey • Deal lodged for Clayton Oliver to become a Giant. Future third-round pick leaving the Giants to Melbourne.

• Melbourne's interest in Jack Steele is reciprocated by the St Kilda captain. Steele has stated his preference is to stay at the Saints, but he is open to joining the Demons subject to a trade. Two years to run on a contract so negotiations would take place on who pays what.

Trades ~ • Carlton receives Oliver Florent - Sydney Swans receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Carlton) • Melbourne receives Changkuoth Jiath - Hawthorn receives a second-round pick (42) and a 2026 fourth-round pick (tied to Melbourne) • Sydney Swans receive Jai Serong and a 2026 fourth-round selection (tied to Hawthorn) - Hawthorn receives a 2026 third-round selection (tied to Sydney) • Carlton receives a first-round pick (currently 9) and three second-round picks (31, 42 and 43) - Hawthorn receives two first-round picks (10 and 22) • Adelaide Crows receive Finnbar Maley and a fourth-round pick (64) - North Melbourne receive a third-round pick (57) and a 2026 fourth-round pick (tied to Adelaide)

Midday mail • Tom Morris on Rowan Marshall - "Geelong is still adamant they still want him. This will go down to the wire. St Kilda might flat bat it. Geelong are still trying. He doesn't want to play for St Kilda next year. This one will go down to the wire." • Cal Twomey - "They (Melbourne) lose Judd McVee at half back and bring in CJ, who has always been on the fringe of the Hawks 23. That will be a late pick." (Me: make that late pick the one we get from GWS for Clarry) • Cal Twomey - Melbourne has emerged as a contender for St Kilda midfielder Jack Steele. The midfielder has to weigh up whether he would leave the Saints.

Just to start the day ~ • Tom Morris on the Petracca deal: "The Petracca deal will happen, with Picks 7 & 8 to Melbourne and Pick 24 going back to the Suns. There is also a range of other pick swaps going on with Melbourne and Gold Coast. The Demons will get more draft capital over the next two years, and the Suns will get more points." • Morris on the Oliver deal: "GWS are offering a future 3rd round pick for Clayton Oliver." That might sound like a bad deal but look at what Gold Coast’s offering the Bulldogs for JUH - Pick 70. That makes the deal offered by GWS an absolute steal.

If that’s what we’ve done for two years (and none of us know for sure) then it wasn’t done particularly well. I understand the club wanting to cut its losses and I want nothing more than to see him rehabilitated and happy. But I question whether the course being taken is in his best interests.

To be clear, I’m not sure as to whether we backed ourselves into a corner or whether we were backed into a corner and if it was the latter, at the behest of who? I didn’t make my comment lightly because I’ve always been a supporter of Clarrie, he’s been a much loved and highly decorated player at the club and, by it’s implications, the Giants’ offer demeans him and his character more than anything else. In the long run, it might be better to show some strength, for both him and the club to sit back, take our time and find a way to help an individual who has lost his way.