Whispering_Jack

The ladder for scores in games after half time (not including the Suns vs Bombers game)

While the football world scratches its head at the conundrum presented to the clubs in the heavily compromised upcoming National Draft, some are looking further into the future at the 2026 AFL National Draft prospects, the best of who will be on the main stage on Grand Final Day. Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central2025 National Under 17 Futures squad announcedThe AFL has announced a 48-player squad set to take part in the National Under 17 Futures program later this year.

They used to be called the Springvale Scorpions but they played a famous grand final against Williamstown 35 years ago.

Matt Jefferson ruled out of the finals with his foot injury. Tomorrow’s team - CASEY DEMONS vs WILLIAMSTOWNFirst Elimination Final Saturday 30 August, 2:10pm, Casey Demons CASEY DEMONS B: B. Howes (22), J. Adams (26), D. Smith (54) HB: R. Bonner (52), T. Fullarton (33), O. Sestan (38) C: J. Culley (46), J. Billings (14), K. Brown (41) HF: C. Spargo (9), A. Johnson (42), R. Mentha Jnr (39) F: M. Hardie (55), L. Kentfield (44), P. Cross (64) R: T. Campbell (29), T. Woewodin (40), B. Laurie (16) INT: A. Lual (74), K. Tholstrup (12), R. Baldi (56), W. Verrall (28), N. Yze (49) 23rd Player: N. Yze (49) EMG: M. Kirkwood-Scott (51), T. Sruk (53), T. Freeman (67), T. Edwards (58), J. Craven (75) IN: J. Culley, B. Howes, O. Sestan, N. Yze OUT: M. Jefferson (foot), T. Sinnema (Dandenong Stingrays), T. Edwards, T. Freeman (omitted) WILLIAMSTOWN B: L. Parks (22), N. Pendergast (32), H. Minton-Connell (16) HB: F. O'Dwyer (17), J. Fitzgerald (8), M. Philpot (19) C: N. Gadsby (13), J. Greiser (18), J. Petric (24) HF: C. Polson (5), J. Brown (2), J. McHale (1) F: H. Ollington (38), L. Gollant (15), B. McLaughlin (6) R: T. Downie (11), H. Hall-Kahan (20), T. Triffett (7) INT: M. Cox (4), R. Collier-Dawkins (9), N. Colenso (35), D. Hollow (12), J. Toner (14) EMG: B. Kennedy (42), L. Impey (45), J. Noonan (31), H. Murphy (30), O. Sasalu (37) IN: M. Philpot OUT: Z. Pritchard (injured) Head-to-head: Williamstown 37-26-1; At Casey Fields: Williamstown 7-5-1; Streak: Williamstown 2; Last time: Casey Demons 10.8 (68) def by Williamstown 15.10 (100) – Round 6, 2024, Casey Fields

I thought I would start a thread about odd spots involving the Melbourne Football Club, so here goes … This one is about one of the state’s top criminal barristers Dermott Dann KC who is in the news today as he is representing former St Kilda great Nicky Winmar in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on a family violence matter [No comment on the case here but you can read about it in the media]. Back in the 1980’s, Dermott Dann was a handy young footballer for Melbourne Under 19s and Reserves with dreams of playing at the top level. He didn’t quite make it although he would have learned a bit about strong oratory that would have held him in good stead for his future career at the bar, from his coach at the Demons, Ray “Slug” Jordan. Dann might not have made the grade at VFL/AFL level but he went back to the Amateurs where he became a legend with Old Xaverians. Thanks to DemonWiki and Demonlander @Supermercado for the following pen picture.

Added a new category for the situation where a player announces he will be leaving his club as a free agent and it appears that his club will accept that the player will be going.

The finals are coming and so is the Coates Talent League discussion.

Terrible news for Olivia Purcell - a second ACL which will keep her out of the game for the season. Wishing Olivia well for her recovery. PURCELL BLOW FOR DEMONS Melbourne has been hit with a devastating injury blow with Olivia Purcell ruled out for the season with an ACL injury. She twisted her left knee late in the second term during the Demons’ 74-point win over St Kilda on Saturday, with the club’s worst fears confirmed 48 hours later. It is the second ACL injury for the 24-year-old, who missed a season for Geelong prior to joining the Demons. Melbourne felt Purcell’s absence in the first six rounds of 2024 after she suffered a serious facial injury. The Demons will be able to sign a replacement player. Herald Sun 26/8/25

Progressive 35. Tyla Hanks 19. Kate Hore 15. Olivia Purcell 13. Shelley Heath 12. Tayla Harris 7. Maeve Chaplin 5. Megan Fitzsimon Elizabeth McNamara Eden Zanker 4. Paxy Paxman 2. Maggie Mahony Saraid Taylor 1. Alyssa Bannan Molly O’Hehir

This one’s better …

It’s been reported that the outcome of the club’s search for a new coach will be announced close to grand final week. If that’s the case, it puzzles me on two levels:- 1. Why did the board not leave the final decision to sack our premiership coach until now when it could have been handled so much better and allowed Goody an exit with better optics and far more dignity than a dumping three weeks before the end of the season? The extra fortnight or so would surely have made no difference in the final analysis? 2. Our list management policy seems to have been placed in disarray at the most important time of the year. How do you deal with the question of which players to move on, who to retain and who to chase for the future if you don’t know who the coach is and what attitude he has to these important issues?

The AFL table comes from our friends at the Herald Sun who are doing their bit to promote a merger between Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions. Ignore them.

I reckon that group plus the best of the Casey-listed players has a fairly good chance of taking the flag.

How does this work? Does it take into account the position and distance from goals when the shots are taken? That would be a definite factor.

Please note that we’re moving posts from the general Melbourne Demons board to The Trade, Draft & Free Agency Board over the next day or so. Enjoy 😊

There was a draw at Frankston between Casey’s neighbour and the Brisbane Lions which was enough to assure the Demons of at least sixth place on the ladder after they won their fifth game on the trot against the ladder leaders. This means they get a week’s break (or another bye if you like 😄) and a home elimination final. If Williamstown can beat Richmond, Casey will finish fifth! Now let’s find a place to hide Toby SInnema away for a couple of months.

He probably can’t be moved from St Kilda but if there’s a way, we should move heaven and earth to get him.

Fox Sports takes a look at which draft prospects have boosted their stocks since the conclusion of the National Championships. Fox SportsBall magnet’s massive statement in senior footy as young...Ball magnet’s massive statement in senior footy as young stars boost draft stocks — Draft Watch

The mystery injury of the week is Jack Henderson.

I notice that my boy Jack Behnk has been named as an emergency for this week.

Paul Amy is the Herald Sun and Leader Newspaper guru on VFL prospects. These are the players he has his eyes on as possible draft contenders for 2025 - VFL young guns: 17 players who have emerged as AFL draft hopefuls in 2025 Tom Barnett, 19, Coburg (a 197cm key defender) Jonah Campigli, 21, Sandringham (189cm forward) Nathan Colenso, 23, Williamstown (188cm forward) Marcus Herbert, 22, Geelong (plays as a halfback) Darcy Hogg, 20, Carlton (improver who knows where the goals are) Drew Lloyd, 22, Port Melbourne (left-footed half forward) Bailey McKenzie, 19, Sandringham (193cm former Sandringham Dragon who can play anywhere) Lachlan Monteath, 20, Essendon (198cm ruckman) Tobyn Murray, 19, Geelong (speed, power and aerobic capacity) Cameron Nyko, 20, Essendon (versatile player with pace) Heath Ollington, 20, Williamstown (forward) Flynn Riley, Carlton (208cm ruck prospect) Chris Scerri, Northern Bullants (177cm right footer) Harry Scott, 20, Richmond (a 190cm midfielder) Noah Scott, Essendon (fast, tough all-rounder) Oliver Warburton, 20, Carlton (defender, wing and defensive forward) Lane Ward, 20, Box Hill Hawks (winger)

This article in CodeSports (no link available) talks about both SInnema and Kalani White ~ AFL draft 2025: Melbourne poised to commit to NGA prospect Toby Sinnema A smooth-moving left-footer is giving Melbourne's recruiters a rarity — a prospect out of their Next Generation Academy. It's believed the Demons are firming on taking Dandenong Stingrays top-ager Toby Sinnema, a Vic Country Under 18 representative in four nationals matches this year. The wingman has averaged 20.2 disposals from his 11 games for the Stingrays. It comes with the Demons likely to secure father-son prospect Kalani White despite him also being linked to the Suns as a Gold Coast Academy player. The Demons last year put Ricky Mentha Jr on their category B list as a small crafty forward. They do not have a first-round pick in this year's national draft but will be hopeful they can secure some exciting young talent to build with their next coach. Melbourne believes Sinnema has the scope to improve sharply. "He can hurt teams with his foot skills and he's got good pace and he's improved in the areas he was deficient in to become a better all-round player," Rays coach Nick Cox said of Sinnema. "He's played in the majority of positions - wing, half-back, half-forward - so he's got that versatility too. "He's our vice-captain and he shows a lot of leadership." Sinnema is likely to line up for Melbourne's VFL affiliate Casey this weekend against ladder leader Box Hill Hawks. He has been training with the Casey Demons for the past fortnight. Sinnema made his debut for Devon Meadows in local football last year, earning high praise for coach Ryan Hendy, who told this masthead: "He was unbelievable, he's got a massive future." "He's just classy," he said. "He reminded me of a young Errol Gulden, it's a big wrap but he just moves exactly like him, he just runs and runs and is a magnificent ball user." White has played four games for the Allies in the national championships and three for Gold Coast and while he has huge athletic potential, he is a low possession winner at this stage. He is likely to be considered by clubs from the second and third rounds of the draft but as a project player who could one day take on the ruck after Max Gawn retires, he is an exciting prospect for the Dees. Father Jeff has always told him to choose the club where he is most comfortable, but the Suns have as many as five other Academy players they can choose from this year. At least three of them are considered first-round prospects including top 10 picks Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson.

"It's even been suggested that there'd been unofficial conversations between [Melbourne] and Nathan Buckley before they sacked the coach." - Caroline Wilson on the Demons' interest in Nathan Buckley. Surely not? :)

Codesports which is an online offshoot the Herald Sun has an an article entitled "Lauren Wood’s Top 50 AFLW players leading into season 10". (I can't find a link for non subscribers but it will probably end up in the little paper later in the week). There are three Demons in the list but not one in the top 10. The Melbourne players are - 11. Tyla Hanks 14. Kate Hore 48. Tayla Harris The top 10 at this stage before the bounce of the first ball are:- 1. Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne) 2. Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide) 3. Monique Conti (Richmond) 4. Ash Riddell (North Melbourne) 5. Ally Anderson (Brisbane) 6. Emily Bates (Hawthorn) 7. Eliza West (Hawthorn) 8. Charlie Rowbottom (Gold Coast Suns) 9. Chloe Molloy (Sydney) 10. Georgie Prespakis (Geelong)