Whispering_Jack

They all say that.

Congratulations Meggs, on winning the 2025 nearest to the pin. I'll also take credit for the 2024 version when I picked Langford and Lindsay in the men's version And thanks once again for your fantastic commentaries - they've really helped make the season interesting and fulfilling.

… and from the people at Fox. I have to agree that this is as compromised as the men’s version. Pick #16 is what we get for a seasoned player like Eden Zanker. Go figure!

Scoops AFLW 2025 Phantom Draft: 1. Richmond- Chloe Bown GWS bid on Georja Davies. GC matched. 2. Gold Coast- Georja Davies GWS bid on Ava Usher. Suns match. 3. Gold Coast- Ava Usher 4. GWS- Scarlett Johnson 5. GWS- Olivia Wolmarans Crows bid on Sunny Lappin. Suns match. 6. Gold Coast- Sunny Lappin 7. Adelaide- Imogen Trengove 8. Collingwood- Evie Cowcher 9. Essendon- Tayla McMillan Geelong bid on Alannah Welsh. Suns match. 10. Gold Coast- Allanah Welsh 11. Geelong- Chloe Baker West Western Bulldogs bid on Dakota Beron. Suns match. 12. Gold Coast- Dakota Beron 13. Western Bulldogs- Eloise Mackaereth 14. Melbourne- Mia Russo 15. Port Adelaide- Lucy Waye Brisbane bid on Mikayla Nurse. Suns match. 16. Gold Coast- Mikayla Nurse 17. Brisbane- Alicia Blizzard 18. West Coast- Carys D'Addario 19. Adelaide- Priya Bowering Melbourne bid on Kiera Yerbury. Swans match. 20. Sydney- Kiera Yerbury 21. Melbourne- Josie Bamford Collingwood bid on Alex Neyland. Swans match. 22. Sydney- Alex Neyland 23. Collingwood- Sophie Eaton 24. Carlton- Olivia Crane 25. Adelaide- Mizuki Brothwell 26. St Kilda- Maddie Quinn (Swans can't match) 27. Geelong- Alex McBride-Loane Collingwood bid on Rhianna Ingram. Suns match. 28. Gold Coast- Rhianna Ingram 29. Collingwood- Jordyn Allen 30. Collingwood- Jade McLay 31. Port Adelaide- Sophie Thredgold 32. St Kilda- Jovie Skewes Clinton Others in the mix: Renee Morgan, Zara Neuwirth, Mischa Barwin, Ella Gilbey, Mia Anderson, Juliet Kelly, Lucy Greenwood, Isla Weincke, Maya Louvul Finn, Maggie Johnstone, Ella Stoddart, Nalu Brothwell, Nikhita Spiteri, Annabelle Foat, Sienna Burnham, Aleah Stringer, Monique Corrigan, Monique Beeson, Asher Fearn Wannan, Chloe Thorn, Noa McNaughton, Stasia Stevenson, Tahlia Sanger, Nyakoat Dojiok, Paige Price, Mikayla Antony.

Not a phantom draft ~

Thanks Meggs - great working with you and fantastic reading your reports. I thought I would drop this here ~ Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central2025 AFLW Draft Preview: MelbourneMelbourne has two selections inside the top 15 picks and can regenerate more of its list with a rebuild on the run while still competing.

Oliver Green, aged 19. was on the Casey list this year. He originally was with the Sandringham Dragons and played mainly on a wing in amateur football in 2025. Louis Hodder, aged 18, is a small forward from the Dandenong Stingrays (176cm).

The club song that refers to the Spirit of Twenty-six THE GRAND OLD FLAG It's a grand old fag, it's a high-flying flag, It's the emblem for you and for me. It's the emblem of the team we love, The team of the Red and the Blue. Every heart beats true, for the Red and the Blue, And we sing this song to you, Should old acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the Red and the Blue. Oh, the team played fine in the year Thirty-nine, We're the Demons that no one can lick, And you'll find us there at the final bell With the spirit of 'Twenty-six. Every heart beats true, for the Red and the Blue, And we'll sing this song to you, Should old acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the Red and the Blue.

The best three midfielders for each club. Where does our midfield stand among the AFL clubs?

YOUR CLUB’S AFLW TRADE PERIOD INS AND OUTS ADELAIDE : IN Grace Egan (Rich); OUTBrooke Boileau (Carl), Anne Hatchard (GC), Zoe Prowse (Ess). 2025 draft picks: 4, 13, 17, 39, 60 BRISBANE LIONS: IN Lily-Rose Williamson (Coll); OUT Poppy Boltz (GWS), Ellie Hampson (PA), Taylor Smith (Syd). 2025 draft picks: 11, 33, 72 CARLTON : IN Lauren Bella (GC), Brooke Boileau (Adel), Claudia Whitfort (GC); OUT Mia Austin (Melb), Keeley Skepper (WC), Maddison Torpey (NM) 2025 draft picks: 16, 34, 52, 66, 70 COLLINGWOOD: IN Ariana Hetherington (NM); OUT Mikala Cann (WB), Lily-Rose Williamson (BL). 2025 draft picks: 5, 15, 26, 29, 41, 47, 59 ESSENDON: IN Zoe Prowse (Adel); OUT Nil. 2025 draft picks: 6, 24, 49, 50, 78 FREMANTLE: IN Eden Zanker (Melb), Lily Johnson (Melb); OUT Dana East (Rich). 2025 draft picks: 40, 45 GEELONG: IN Nicola Stevens (StK), Jasmin Stewart (PA), Alissa Brook (PA); OUT Nil. 2025 draft picks: 7, 25, 43, 61, 79 GOLD COAST: IN Anne Hatchard (Adel); OUT Lauren Bella (Carl), Claudia Whitfort (Carl), Jacqui Dupuy (Haw). 2025 draft picks: 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 32, 74 MELBOURNE: IN Mia Austin (Carl); OUT Eden Zanker (Frem), Lily Johnson (Frem). 2025 draft picks: 9, 14, 53, 71, 81 ST KILDA : IN Sophie Butterworth (Haw); OUT Nicola Stevens (Geel) 2025 draft picks: 24, 31, 42, 85, 87 HAWTHORN : IN Jacqui Dupuy (GC), Niamh Martin (NM); OUT Sophie Butterworth (StK), Tilly Lucas-Rodd (GWS). 2025 draft picks: 51, 67, 69 PORT ADELAIDE: IN Lucy Boyd (WC), Ellie Hampson (BL); OUT Jasmin Stewart (Geel), Alissa Brook (Geel), Lily Paterson (PA). 2025 draft picks: 10, 30, 64, 82 GWS GIANTS: IN Poppy Boltz (BL), Tilly Lucas-Rodd (Haw); OUT Nil 2025 draft picks: 2, 3, 57, 75 NORTH MELBOURNE: IN Maddison Torpey (Carl); OUT Niamh Martin (Haw), Ella Slocombe (WC), Georgia Stubs (Rich). 2025 draft picks: 37, 48, 55, 73 RICHMOND: IN Dana East (Frem), Georgia Stubs (NM); OUT Grace Egan (Adel). 2025 draft picks: 1, 38, 56, 58, 63, 76 SYDNEY SWANS : IN Taylor Smith (BL); OUTNil. 2025 draft picks: 18, 28, 46, 65, 83 WEST COAST: IN Lily Paterson (PA), Ella Slocombe (NM), Keeley Skepper (Carl); OUT Lucy Boyd (PA) 2025 draft picks: 12, 36, 84 WESTERN BULLDOGS: IN Mikala Cann (Coll); OUT Nil . 2025 draft picks: 8, 44, 62, 80

Sad news. Cherryl Barassi, widow of AFL legend Ron Barassi, has passed away peacefully at her home "in her beloved St Kilda", according to a statement issued on behalf of her family. "It is with deep sadness that the Barassi family announces the passing of Cherryl Barassi (nee Copeland) on Tuesday, 9 December, 2025," the statement said. Wishing her family and friends sincere condolences from all at Demonland.

Good luck to him! Always was a great fan of his dad - the family once lived in our street. 😀

This is how it stands with 2026 and 2027 draft selections for each club:- ADELAIDE CROWS 2026: ADE R1 ADE R2 ADE R3 ESS R3 2027: ADE R1 ADE R2 ADE R3 ADE R4 BRISBANE LIONS 2026: BL R1 BL R2 MEL R3 SYD R3 BL R4 2027: BL R1 BL R2 BL R3 BL R4 CARLTON 2026: CAR R1 SYD R1 GCS R2 NM R2 BL R3 CAR R4 2027: CAR R1 SYD R1 CAR R3 CAR R4 COLLINGWOOD 2026: COL R1 COL R2 COL R4 GWS R4 SYD R4 2027: COL R1 COL R2 COL R3 COL R4 ESSENDON 2026 ESS R1 ESS R2 ESS R4 2027: ESS R1 ESS R2 ESS R3 ESS R4 FREMANTLE 2026: FRE R1 FRE R2 FRE R3 FRE R4 2027: FRE R1 FRE R2 FRE R3 FRE R4 GEELONG 2026: GEE R1 GEE R2 GEE R3 GEE R4 2027: GEE R1 GEE R2 GEE R3 GEE R4 GOLD COAST SUNS 2026: GCS R4 RIC R4 2027: GCS R1 GCS R2 GCS R4 GWS GIANTS 2026: GWS R1 MEL R2 2027: GWS R1 GWS R2 GWS R3 GWS R4 HAWTHORN 2026: HAW R1 HAW R2 GWS R2 STK R2 MEL R4 2027: HAW R1 HAW R2 HAW R4 MELBOURNE 2026: MEL R1 GCS R1 GWS R3 2027: MEL R1 MEL R2 GCS R3 NORTH MELBOURNE 2026: NM R1 NM R3 NM R4 PTA R4 2027: NM R1 NM R2 NM R3 NM R4 PORT ADELAIDE 2026: PTA R1 PTA R2 CAR R2 PTA R3 GCS R3 PTA R4 2027: PTA R1 PTA R2 PTA R3 PTA R4 RICHMOND 2026: RIC R1 RIC R2 RIC R3 RIC R4 2027: RIC R1 RIC R2 RIC R3 RIC R4 ST KILDA 2026: STK R1 STK R3 STK R4 2027: STK R1 STK R2 STK R3 MEL R3 WCE R3 STK R4 MEL R4 SYDNEY SWANS 2026: SYD R2 CAR R3 COL R3 HAW R4 2027: SYD R2 CAR R2 SYD R3 SYD R4 WEST COAST EAGLES 2026: WCE R1 WCE R2 WCE R3 HAW R3 WCE R4 WCE R4 2027: WCE R1 WCE R2 HAW R3 WCE R4 WESTERN BULLDOGS 2026: WB R1 WB R2 WB R3 2027: WB R1 WB R2 WB R3 WB R4 Each club still holds their original selections for 2028 while the TASSIE DEVILS will have allocations for 2027 and 2028 selections as per the conditions relating to their admission into the competition.

Aussie Rules Rookie Me CentralEVERY CLUB: 2026-2028 future picksAfter a bumper trade and draft period, the wheels of preseason are already in motion and each club has settled its hand of future selections.

Wittman, the last surviving member of the 1926 premiership team, passed away in May 1994. He was granted life membership of the Melbourne Football Club in 1992 and I attended the AGM at which he was given this award. It’s my personal connection with the club’s second flag which also happens to be the first premiership won by Melbourne, then known as the “Fuchsias”, at the MCG. We took out the 1900 flag with a victory over Fitzroy at East Melbourne Cricket Ground which was situated in what is now known as Wellington Parade South. The ground was taken over by Victorian Railways as part of the electrification of Melbourne's metropolitan rail service. Its final season of use was 1921. Anyone with information about Wittman or who remembers the 1992 AGM, please let us know.

Report that Mia Austin who Carlton wants out is favouring a trade to Melbourne.

That one served about 30 years in prison. Like Reuben "Hurricane" Carter, he was convicted for "something that he never done". Our own Ricky Jackson was the same height (171cm) as Tommy Matthews and started at the club in 1986 after playing in junior teams at the Tigers. He had his moments but his career was cut short by injuries. He had a big season with the Demons in 1988 when we made the Grand Final but after that his impact declined and by 1991 he was traded to the Bulldogs where I believe he struggled to get a game.

We might well be in the middle of a test cricket season, the big golf tournaments are on, and people are preparing for the tennis, but while the football season is no longer at the forefront of our minds, we can never forget Robbie.

As to who takes up Bowey’s post Xavier Lindsay has the attributes needed and his youth should not stand against him. Let’s not forget that Jake came straight into the team in late 2021 and played in a premiership team a couple of months after making his debut.

According to this morning’s Herald Sun (quoting Melbourne footy boss Alan Richardson), “Jake will have surgery in the coming days to repair the lisfranc injury.”

… and that was quick melbournefc.com.auInjury Update | Bowey sidelinedJake Bowey has suffered a long-term foot injury.

I doubt that the injury would be of the severity to have him placed on an inactive list which would open up a SPP spot. For that to occur it would have to be long term and virtually season ending. I saw Bowsa at training on Friday in a moon boot and on crutches and if it’s an ankle ligament requiring surgery, then it would appear to be not dissimilar to what one of my grandsons copped playing in a VAFA C Grade final in September (torn ligament/syndesmosis). He’s been off crutches for a while and out of his moon boot for a couple of weeks but probably won’t get the go ahead to start running until the end of the month. If Bowey’s ready to start his own “preseason” on that basis (he’s a professional athlete and his injury might not be as severe), he won’t be ready to start it until a few weeks into the season. He’s probably out 6 months which is bad but not enough to warrant an SSP replacement.

Fine fiddle is what Nero was doing while Rome was burning. We’re not in that much of an emergency situation just quite yet.

I attended training with Andy and really appreciate the reports from him and the others who wrote about the session. I have little to offer above and beyond that aside from reiterating the memorable words of Dennis Denuto in The Castle, that I enjoyed "the vibe" of the session. There appears to be a more relaxed mood prevailing, in contrast to the last couple of seasons, which were clouded by off-field issues and injuries. Hopefully, this translates into a more successful outcome on the field when we turn up to watch the team play for points again.