Whispering_Jack

I’ve taken step of locking this thread because it has moved away from its original purpose of informing Melbourne fans about Friday’s training session which was a largely positive one for the club. The club is moving on to its Mansfield training camp with the full entourage including the recent draftees expected to attend. It’s a beautiful part of our state and I look forward to more positive reports from those fortunate enough to make it to that part of the camp which is open to the fans … and please keep on topic. Thanks.

Don’t start feeling too cocky dazzle. You’re walking a very fine line. Consider yourself warned. And deemac too!

Now that the AFL Drafts are done and dusted, attention turns to the 2025 Supplementary Selection Period (SSP) which presents the final opportunity for players to secure an AFL list spot ahead of the start of next season. A limited number of clubs have left list spots open and now have the option to offer train-on opportunities to prospective players with the objective of filling those vacancies by February 2025. The first window of opportunity in the post draft period begins tomorrow and the following clubs are expected to be involved in the SSP process: Carlton - the Blues have two spots open and their most noted invitee is former Hawthorn No. 6 pick Denver Grainger-Barras. Liam McMahon, a key position forward formerly of Collingwood but who was a leading goalkicker with Carlton’s VFL team this year is also on board with the Blues. Delisted pair Sam Durdin and Matt Carroll will also be trying to reclaim their places at the club. Essendon - the Bombers have promised delisted defender Kaine Baldwin the opportunity to train on with a view to SSP selection. Fremantle - the Dockers have long been expected to sign former Cat and Power midfielder Quinton Narkle. Gold Coast - the Suns passed up in the rookie draft and can also sign a player through the SSP. Port Adelaide - the Power will invite North Melbourne VFL skipper Jack Watkins to audition for a SSP spot. Western Bulldogs - Dom Brew, captain of VFL premier Werribee is expected to be invited, along with SA ruckman Harry Boyd. West Coast - the Eagles have been linked to cut Suns defender Sandy Brock.

As has already been noted, there is plenty of Northern Academy talent around to expand the first night of next year’s draft. Three prospects in the top ten according to Cal Twomey and then there’s Kalani White to consider as well. Stars of the future: 10 draft prospects to watch in 2025

Is that a toupee? If so, we should get one for Aidan Johnson.

AFL Draft: Melbourne excited by early look of promising 2025 club-tied prospect

A few random notes: • I was surprised that Sandringham Dragons player Nathan Sulzberger who comes from Tasmania and was a handy midfielder in their premiership side, didn’t make it. Then again, he might not have been classified as a Tasmanian anyway given that father/son draftee Levi Ashcroft is down as a Victorian. • Melbourne’s Aidan Johnson originally came from Lavington which makes him a. New South Welshman. • Our Northern Territorian Ricky Mentha is the first (and only?) Demon drafted by the club from Alice Springs since Liam Jurrah.

A list of the 2024 draftees on a state by state basis shows that the majority of players drafted this year have come from Victoria. No surprise, but what should be of concern to the AFL is the fact that not a single player picked this year hails from Tasmania - an ominous sign given that the Tassie Devils are only a few seasons away. ACT (1) Cooper Bell (Pick 49) - Belconnen NEW SOUTH WALES (6) Jack Ough (Pick 36) - Wentworth Jobe Shanahan (Pick 30) - Moama Riley Bice (Pick 41) - Albury Joel Cochran (Pick 47) - UNSW Eastern suburbs Logan Smith (Pick 71) - Queanbeyan Josaia Delana (Cat B Rookie) - East Coast Eagles NORTHERN TERRITORY (1) Ricky Mentha (Cat B Rookie) - Palmerston QUEENSLAND (4) Leo Lombard (Pick 9) - Broadbeach Sam Marshall (Pick 25) - Kawana Park Ty Gallop (Pick 42) - Maroochydore Lachlan Gulbin (Cat B Rookie) - Burleigh SOUTH AUSTRALIA (13) Sid Draper (Pick 4) - Willunga Ned Bowman (Pick 26) - Orroroo Charlie Nicholls (Pick 34) - Mintaro Manoora Angus Clarke (Pick 39) - East Gambier Ben Camporeale (Pick 43) - Brighton Jay Polkinghorne (Pick 44) - Western United Charlie West (Pick 50) - Henley Jacob Molier (Pick 52) - Onkaparinga Valley Alex Dodson (Pick 53) - Payneham NU Lucas Camporeale (Pick 54) - Brighton Tyler Welsh (Pick 59) - Henley Tom Cochrane (Rookie Pick 13) - Port District Benny Barrett (Cat B Rookie) - Happy Valley TASMANIA (0) VICTORIA (51) Sam Lalor (Pick 1) - Bacchus Marsh Finn O'Sullivan (Pick 2) - Koroit Jagga Smith (Pick 3) - Richmond Levi Ashcroft (Pick 5) - St Kilda City Harvey Langford (Pick 6) - Mount Martha Josh Smillie (Pick 7) - Park Orchards Tobie Travaglia (Pick 8) - Sandhurst Alixzander Tauru (Pick 10) - Warragul Xavier Lindsay (Pick 11) - Leongatha Taj Hotton (Pick 12) - Hampton Isaac Kako (13) - Northern Saints Jonty Faull (Pick 14) - Redan Joe Berry (Pick 15) - Wangaratta Murphy Reid (Pick 17) - South Melbourne Districts Oliver Hannaford (Pick 18) - Sandhurst Harrison Oliver (Pick 19) - St Bedes Cooper Hynes (Pick 20) - Bonbeach Luke Trainor (Pick 21) - St Peters Jesse Dattoli (Pick 22) - Ivanhoe Harry Armstrong (Pick 23) - Ormond Matt Whitlock (Pick 27) - Shepparton Thomas Sims (Pick 28) - Montmorency Lachie Jaques (Pick 29) - St Marys (Geelong) Josh Dolan (Pick 31) - Beaumaris James Barrat (Pick 32) - Leitchville Gunbower Jack Whitlock (Pick 33) - Shepparton Noah Mraz (Pick 35) - Narre North Christian Moraes (Pick 38) - Knox Harry O'Farrell (Pick 40) - Maribyrnong Park Tom Gross (Pick 46) - Kew Rovers Lucca Grego (Pick 48) - Bacchus Marsh Sam Davidson (Pick 51) - East Brighton Riak Andrew (Pick 55) - Berwick Jasper Alger (Pick 58) Warragul Patrick Said (Pick 60) - Sunbury Rhys Unwin (Pick 61) - Cobden Luke Kennedy (Pick 62) - Ormond Cody Anderson (Pick 64) - Healesville Lennox Hofmann (Pick 66) - Old Brighton River Stevens (Pick 67) - Newtown & Chilwell Aidan Johnson (Pick 68) - Yarraville Seddon Keighton Matofai-Forbes (Pick 69) - Keilor Zak Johnson (Pick 70) - St Marys (Greensborough) Archer Day-Wicks (Rookie Pick 6) - Sandhurst Harry Charleson (Rookie Pick 9) - East Point Xavier Ivisic (Rookie Pick 12) - Bell Park Blake Leidler (Rookie Pick 14) - Surrey Park Asher Eastham (Rookie Pick 17) - Heyfield Patrick Retschko (Rookie Pick 23) - St Kilda City Joe Pike (Rookie Pick 31) - Barwon Heads Jayden Nguyen (Cat B Rookie) - Aberfeldie WESTERN AUSTRALIA (10) Bo Allan (Pick 16) - Halls Head Cody Angove (Pick 24) - Scarborough Kayle Gerreyn (Pick 37) - Joondalup Kinross Hugh Boxshall (Pick 45) - Swanbourne Will Hayes (Pick 56) - Subiaco Luke Urquhart (Pick 57) - Melville Jaren Carr (Pick 63) - Winnacott Hamish Davis (Pick 65) - Subiaco Aiden Riddle (Rookie Pick 7) - North Beach Malakai Champion (Cat B Rookie) - Mines Rovers

I think he might end up being happy based on this review of the deciding championship game from Rookie Me Central ~ Scouting Notes: 2024 AFL U18s – Vic Metro vs. Vic Country “#3 Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power) Midfielder | 183cm | 03/08/2006 Stats: 30 disposals, 11 marks, & tackles, 6 inside 50s Lindsay was absolutely immense and arguably the best player afield on Sunday, operating off the wing before a second half run on-ball. He racked up 11 marks and 20 uncontested possessions on the outside, using his running and powerful left foot as weapons to launch Vic Country inside 50. He was also prepared to do the tough stuff; like shirt-fronting Trainor, winning centre clearances late in the piece, and laying a clutch holding-the-ball tackle in the passage which led to the goal to put his side ahead. If anyone deserved the result to go their way, it was Lindsay.” Xavier Lindsay is no shrinking violent when it comes to standing up in the heat of the contest. I watched that game live and then watched the replay and look forward to being around to see a long career from XL.

Where new Dee draftee sees himself fitting in and what he considers his greatest strength

EVERY PICK: 2024 AFL Rookie Draft

25 in 2025: A look ahead to next year’s top prospects One of those prospects happens to be Kalani White:- Kalani White (Suns Academy/ Queensland) Key Defender | 198cm | 05/05/2007 White has an interesting decision on his hands next year, being tied to Gold Coast’s academy but also eligible to nominate under father-son rules for Melbourne. The son of former Dee and Docker, Jeff, Kalani is a developing tall capable of playing at either end of the ground. His mobility is impressive and he seems to have found a home down back, where he was an Under 16 All-Australian. White also featured once for the Allies this year, while averaging eight disposals and four marks for the Suns Academy.

The following six players joined their clubs as automatic category B rookie selections today: Jayden Nguyen (Essendon) Lachlan Gulbin (Gold Coast) Josaia Delana (GWS Giants) Ricky Mentha (Melbourne) Benny Barrett (Port Adelaide) Malakai Champion (West Coast)

I hope all’s going well with both halves and that you can get to see the boys in person when they return from their country trip.

A few bonuses from attending my first Melbourne training session of the preseason:- • I had heard in the media that most of the players drafted over the previous two nights would not be attending their club training sessions this week but would be joining in next week to give them a break before the start of the hard work of the preseason but it was gratifying to see all three MFC draftees in attendance. We’re not pussies! The two young guns look impressive. Harvey Langford looks a big unit, strong and very much at home with the group having worked with them a year ago as an Academy train on player. I sense that like Clarrie back when he started, Langford is a chance to make his debut in Round 1. Xavier Lindsay is closing in on his recovery from a PCL incurred on the eve of the Coates Talent League finals and ran sprints on the boundary with Charlie Spargo - both ran well and look to be well advanced in their respective recoveries. Aidan Johnson was a surprise attendee given that he was only drafted 12 hours earlier. It seems that not long ago, he was your typical country big man, carrying a bit of weight (and throwing it around) who trimmed down a bit at Werribee on the way to a VFL flag. He wasn’t drafted to continue the journey at Casey but is seriously on a trajectory to continue his physical build up to do what the two young draftees are planning - to be playing AFL football regularly at the elite level. • Christian Petracca was present on the training track with his club for the first time since the Kings Birthday debacle. It took no time at all to show the small group of Demon faithful and his teammates that he has lost none of his class and ability. He’s almost back in town. • And if he’s closing in on town, then Clarry’s in the CBD for the first time in almost two years, give or take a bit of work needed on his blisters. He’s certainly looking determined to make up for lost time and backing that up with a fitter and trimmer body shape than he had at this time 12 months ago • The first weeks of preseason are reserved for the players in years 1 to 4 with Caleb Windsor, Jacob van Rooyen, Daniel Turner and Tracc’s understudy Koltyn Tholstrup with the rockstar looks, standing out. • Despite all the bonuses of the day, I made the big mistake of forgetting the Aerogard and the combination of flies and heat made it difficult to concentrate on each individual training drill. I therefore defer to our regular track watchers who are more onto the ins and outs of today’s preseason training session than I. However, what I can say is that after a tough twelve months for the Demons, I can see plenty of blue sky coming up in the season ahead.

So that explains it. Welcome Ricky Mentha! And there’s nothing stopping us from finding an Irishman who can play footy and putting them on the Category B list.

I could be mistaken (the rules seem to change so often) but by my reckoning, we currently have five Category A rookies after elevating Jake Melksham and Judd McVee onto the primary list. They are Kynan Brown, Marty Hore, Luker Kentfield,Oliver Sestan and Will Verrell. I read somewhere that Andy Moniz-Wakefield who is Category B can remain a rookie for another year. If that’s the case, then we have one more Category A vacancy but don’t take that as gospel.

In line with the general mood around Demonland, we're seeking legal advice on this. Clearly, we have been defamed because the Age had the temerity to put us last on that list when we clearly should have been placed first.

I hope you haven't misconstrued the situation. These guys are aiming to play at the highest level. Someone even mentioned that Johnson is at the club to be a filler at Casey. Make no mistake, the selectors were doing their job last night. They might have picked him at 68 but their intention was to get him to a standard where he has a regular role at Melbourne.

Nice little shimmy from #5 suggesting he’s back in town. Well, Punt Road is close enough to town for me.

Who’s the bloke in the number 5 again?

Odd spot: The first player who Melbourne ever drafted was A. Johnson who was the first pick in the first ever national draft in 1981 … AND … the last player Melbourne drafted was A. Johnson at Pick 68 in this year’s national draft.

A mature age (24 years), key forward/ruck from Werribee via Lavington in the Ovens & Murray League. Johnson is a 193cm athletic brute who imposes himself on the contest.

Last night’s talking points ended with the perfect segue into tonight which gets underway at 7.00pm. TALKING POINTS | 2024 AFL Draft: Night One After a night of drama and plenty of bolters, there is still plenty of talent left off the board. Perhaps most significantly, key forwards Jack Whitlock and Jobe Shanahan were overlooked for the quality midfield and utility talent available. They will be in high demand to start night two, and may even pique Richmond's interest first off the board. Another consideration for the Tigers will be leading ruck prospect Alex Dodson, who would nicely round out their rebuilding spine. Elsewhere, the Western Bulldogs hold two of the next four selections and could look at some running power in Hamish Davis, or explosiveness with Tom Gross. Ruck/forward Thomas Sims is another key position prospect who will be high on many clubs' boards and may warrant a trade up the order. The likes of Christian Moraes and Jasper Alger have plenty of links in the next 10 selections or so and will likely also find homes quickly. On top of the four first round bids, another three may be placed early on night two. Giants Academy ruck Logan Smith should attract attention, while St Kilda will have first dibs on NGA products Lennox Hofmann and Adrian Cole in a similar range. Meanwhile, Carlton will be hoping to hear a bid for Ben Camporeale after its pick 40. And when that’s done, there’s the question of what is now Melbourne’s Pick 75.