Whispering_Jack

As Melbourne embarks on its post season recruiting, it’s worthwhile dwelling a little on how it gathered together its newcomers seventy years ago including the late, great Ronald Dale Barassi and many others who took part in the club’s golden era of six premierships which concluded on this day, 19 September, 1964 which marked his last game for the club. Vale Ron Barassi | The Debutants of 1953

Scouting Notes: Coates Talent League Preliminary Final 1 Scouting Notes: Coates Talent League Preliminary Final 2

The Eastern Ranges caused a major upset in their Coates League Preliminary Final yesterday when they beat the highly fancied Tasmania Devils by 40 points. They will meet reigning premiers Sandringham Dragons in the boys Grand Final next weekend. The Dragons overcame the Geelong Falcons by 34 points but the scores were close right up until midway through the final term.

Tyla Hanks has a narrow lead over skipper Kate Hore. 48. Tyla Hanks 40. Kate Hore 20. Alyssa Bannan 14. Lauren Pearce Olivia Purcell 12. Eliza McNamara 10. Shelley Heath 8. Eden Zanker 6. Sarah Lampard 5. Blaithin Mackin 3. Maddison Gay Tayla Harris Lily Mithen Paxy Paxman

G’day Daniel, the fact that you have spoken up now is not only courageous but also, an important act for other young people who don’t have a voice and who might be spared your experience in the future. If I can speak on their behalf, all I can say is “thank you” and though I can’t speak for the AFL, I can say “sorry” from the bottom of my heart for what you went through.

Melbourne’s draft order before October’s trade period is locked in at 5, 13, 24, 32 and 87. The order after the second week of the 2023 finals series:- ROUND ONE 1. West Coast Eagles 2. North Melbourne 3. Hawthorn 4. Gold Coast Suns 5. Melbourne (via Fremantle) 6. GWS Giants (via Richmond) 7. Geelong 8. Essendon 9. Adelaide 10. Western Bulldogs 11. Sydney Swans 12. St Kilda 13. Melbourne 14. North Melbourne (via Port Adelaide) 15. GWS Giants 16. Carlton 17. Western Bulldogs (via Brisbane) 18. Collingwood ROUND TWO 19. West Coast Eagles 20. Adelaide (via North Melbourne) 21. Fremantle (via North Melbourne compensation) 22. Sydney Swans (via Hawthorn) 23. Adelaide (via Gold Coast Suns) 24. Melbourne (via Fremantle) 25. Richmond 26. Brisbane (via Geelong) 27. Essendon 28. Gold Coast Suns (via Adelaide) 29. Hawthorn (via Western Bulldogs) 30. Sydney Swans 31. St Kilda 32. Melbourne 33. West Coast Eagles (via Port Adelaide) 34. Gold Coast Suns (via GWS Giants) 35. Collingwood (via Carlton) 36. Western Bulldogs (via Brisbane) 37. Port Adelaide (via Collingwood) ROUND THREE 38. West Coast Eagles 39. North Melbourne 40. Fremantle (via North Melbourne compo) 41. Sydney Swans (via Hawthorn) 42. Gold Coast Suns 43. Port Adelaide (via Fremantle) 44. Richmond 45. Brisbane (via Geelong) 46. Essendon 47. Gold Coast Suns (via Adelaide) 48. Hawthorn (via Western Bulldogs) 49. Sydney Swans 50. St Kilda 51. North Melbourne (via Melbourne) 52. West Coast Eagles (via Port Adelaide) 53. GWS Giants 54. Fremantle (via Carlton) 55. Brisbane 56. Gold Coast Suns (via Collingwood) ROUND FOUR 57. West Coast Eagles 58. Fremantle (via North Melbourne) 59. North Melbourne (via Hawthorn) 60. Gold Coast Suns 61. Brisbane (via Fremantle) 62. Richmond 63. Western Bulldogs (via Geelong) 64. Carlton (via Essendon) 65. Gold Coast Suns (via Adelaide) 66. Western Bulldogs 67. Essendon (via Sydney Swans) 68. Gold Coast Suns (via St Kilda) 69. Western Bulldogs (via Melbourne) 70. Port Adelaide 71. GWS Giants 72. Carlton 73. GWS Giants (via Brisbane) 74. Collingwood ROUND FIVE 75. West Coast Eagles 76. North Melbourne 77. Hawthorn 78. Gold Coast Suns 79. Fremantle 80. Richmond 81. Geelong 82. Essendon 83. Adelaide 84. Western Bulldogs 85. Sydney Swans 86. St Kilda 87. Melbourne 88. Port Adelaide 89. GWS Giants 90. Carlton 91. Brisbane Lions 92. Collingwood The order will continue to change as the ladder positions change during the finals series.

For many of my generation who grew up in our golden era in the 50s and early 60s, he was our first true hero. Rest in peace, dear Ronald Dale Barassi. At a club function on the occasion of Ron’s 80th birthday, one of the tributes was from tenor David Hobson who sang “You Raise Me Up” as requested by the guest of honour. For those of us who were blessed to grow up following the Demons during the time when RDB ruled as Mr Football, this song will always resonate with us … we were always strong when we were on his shoulders.

The cream of the players in line for the 2024 AFL Draft will be on show on Grand Final Day. Future stars to feature ahead of 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final

Some indicative pointers on Combine results ~ 2km Time Trial Elite - Sub 6:00 minutes Very Good - 6:20 minutes Average - 6:45 minutes Below Average - 7:00 minutes Poor - 7:30 minutes 20m Sprint Elite - 2.80 seconds Very Good - 2.90 seconds Average - 3.00 seconds Below Average - 3.10 seconds Poor -3.20 seconds Vertical Jump Elite - 75 centimetres Very Good - 65 centimetres Average - 60 centimetres Below Ave - 55 centimetres Poor - 50 centimetres

Draft Central’s Coates Talent Team of the Year announced with Kynan Brown named on the half forward flank.

Beyond our control. Let’s move on. We have bigger fish to fry. Carlton this week and Brisbane the next with another crack at Collingwood on Saturday 30 September 2023.

Seven MFC players are currently off contract ~ Luke Dunstan, Michael Hibberd, James Jordon, Jake Melksham, Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Deakyn Smith and Kye Turner. Unfortunately, Dunstan and Melksham are set to be out for all of 2024 with injuries and, in that case, are unlikely to be contracted. Hibbo has retired and Jordon may choose to go elsewhere for more opportunities. AMW might well be the only one on this list to continue into next year. AFL PLAYERS OFF CONTRACT 2023

The order after the first week of the 2023 finals series:- ROUND ONE 1. West Coast Eagles 2. North Melbourne 3. Hawthorn 4. Gold Coast Suns 5. Melbourne 6. GWS Giants 7. Geelong 8. Essendon 9. Adelaide 10. Western Bulldogs 11. Sydney Swans 12. St Kilda 13. GWS Giants 14. Carlton 15. Melbourne 16. North Melbourne 17. Western Bulldogs 18. Collingwood ROUND TWO 19. West Coast Eagles 20. Adelaide 21. Fremantle 22. Sydney Swans 23. Adelaide 24. Melbourne 25. Richmond 26. Brisbane Lions 27. Essendon 28. Gold Coast Suns 29. Hawthorn 30. Sydney Swans 31. St Kilda 32. Gold Coast Suns 33. Collingwood 34. Melbourne 35. West Coast Eagles 36. Western Bulldogs 37. Port Adelaide ROUND THREE 38. West Coast Eagles 39. North Melbourne 40. Fremantle 41. Sydney Swans 42. Gold Coast Suns 43. Port Adelaide 44. Richmond 45. Brisbane Lions 46. Essendon 47. Gold Coast Suns 48. Hawthorn 49. Sydney Swans 50. St Kilda 51. GWS Giants 52. Fremantle 53. North Melbourne 54. West Coast Eagles 55. Brisbane Lions 56. Gold Coast Suns ROUND FOUR 57. West Coast Eagles 58. Fremantle 59. North Melbourne 60. Gold Coast Suns 61. Brisbane Lions 62. Richmond 63. Western Bulldogs 64. Carlton 65. Gold Coast Suns 66. Western Bulldogs 67. Essendon 68. Gold Coast Suns 69. GWS Giants 70. Carlton 71. Western Bulldogs 72. Port Adelaide 73. GWS Giants 74. Collingwood ROUND FIVE 75. West Coast Eagles 76. North Melbourne 77. Hawthorn 78. Gold Coast Suns 79. Fremantle 80. Richmond 81. Geelong 82. Essendon 83. Adelaide 84. Western Bulldogs 85. Sydney Swans 86. St Kilda 87. GWS Giants 88. Carlton 89. Melbourne 90. Port Adelaide 91. Brisbane Lions 92. Collingwood The order will continue to change as the ladder positions change during the finals series.

PREVIEW | 2023 Coates Talent League – Quarter Finals ONES TO WATCH Oakleigh’s midfield rotation has caught fire in recent weeks, headlined by a trio of bottom-agers in Finn O’Sullivan, Jagga Smith and Tom Gross. That’s not to mention Kynan Brown fresh off a five-goal haul, Will Lorenz out on a wing, and Harvey Thomas as a potential wildcard.

Kynan Brown had 20 touches and kicked a couple of goals today but the Chargers lost by 7 points to the Eastern Ranges in their Elimination Final today - meaning season’s end for him.

On this day, 9 September, in 1990 we beat the Hawks for the second straight week, this time in an Elimination Final. Pity that Collingwood and the Eagles drew so that we had to wait two weeks for our next final and lost all the momentum.

To suggest that this was a football act after the recent history of head high hits and the AFL’s mantra of the head being sacrosanct is ridiculous. At best, Maynard was careless and that should be sufficient in the circumstances, to make it a three game suspension.

Your defence of Mac Andrew is admirable but you’re sadly missing Freddy’s point which is that like Andrew who was a first round draft pick, Jefferson attracted unfair criticism from the nuff nuffs on social media for his overall performance. Andrew kicked on a bit in his second year eventually getting a rising Star nomination. Like Andrew, Jefferson was hot and cold in year one but he also had some highlights playing in a team where he competed with other KPFs including TMac, BBB and Schache leaving him with less game time. Yet he did show promise kicking 23 goals (including two bags of four goals) to be second highest Casey goal kicker in his first year. He looked pretty well gassed at the end of the year and had little support as a KPF in the final in a game where the Bulldogs dominated but let’s see how he goes with his first full preseason and some work on weights behind him before canning the kid.

The Herald Sun online has updated its profiles:- Harry De Mattia Midfielder/Forward Club: Dandenong Stingrays/ Edithvale-Aspendale State: VIC Age: 11/09/05 Weight: 77kg Height: 184cm 2023 Coates Talent League 102 ranking points, 19 disposals, 3.8 marks, 2.6 clearances, 4.1 inside-50s, 4.8 tackles, 3.9 score involvements, 0.6 goals (11 games) 2023 National Champs. 73 ranking points, 14.3 disposals, 2 marks, 5 inside-50s, 2.3 clearances, 4 tackles, 3 score involvements (4 games) A former junior cricket star who represented Victoria, De Mattia impressed recruiters during the national championships with Vic Country. He showed off his explosive speed breaking away from the contest, as well as nice agility, clean hands and his pressure game. De Mattia was also deployed in a different role in the backline during the final match of the tournament and didn’t look out of place given he is a defensively-minded player who regularly lays plenty of tackles. Dual-sport athletes have some added appeal to clubs given their ability to learn, which could enhance De Mattia’s prospects later in the year.

Nothing spooky. I have a long association in junior football and often get early information on up and coming prospects as a result. If we end up drafting them it’s purely coincidence.

Actually, he’s not overage at all although he was born in January so he’s older than many in that age group. Date of birth: 13/1/2005.

There has to be a better answer than what we were dished up with this weekend. Both Casey and Collingwood VFL went down in a screaming heap. In our case, a number of players will be left without valuable match practice in the event of them being required to play later in September. There are concerns about a couple of our young players who played without the support of more experienced players who could have taken part and hopefully, they will take the lead of the likes of Judd McVee, JvR and Taj Woewoedin and work on their development over the off season. Most of us would have discounted McVee’s future prospects 12 months ago when he struggled at this level and yet, he is one of very few who have played every game throughout this season. It wasn’t luck. He didn’t sit back feeling sorry for himself - he put in the hard yards over the summer. Still, the AFL & VFL have to do something about this debacle that is discussed in this Herald Sun article - Grundy might have played last Dees game after VFL debacle “A new chink was thumped in the armour of the beefed up VFL on Saturday when Melbourne pulled out players from Casey's knockout clash with Footscray. ”As the AFL Demons prepared for a Thursday qualifying final, Casey's team announcement on Friday was more about who wasn't playing than who was”… “The 21-team VFL is riddled with flaws and seems destined for further shake ups in years to come. “There is no doubt if it were a genuine reserves competition, games wouldn't have been played on an AFL bye weekend and perhaps it is worth considering moving the competition in line with the bye, with a potential VFL grand final the Friday night before the AFL decider. “Yet again on Saturday, it appeared like the league was caught between being reserves or a serious competition in its own right”. Hopefully, this is the last time we see this situation arise.

https://www.afl.com.au/video/922200/2023-coates-talent-league-profile-series-harry-demattia?modal=true&publishFrom=1683770400001&type=video&videoId=922200

No matter which AFL club drafts Harry DeMattia, he will forever be known as a Demon because in the other sport at which he excels - cricket - Harry has represented Melbourne in Premier District Cricket. Indeed, the talented cricketer/footballer already took part in that game at its highest level when he was a substitute fielder for the Australian cricket team during last year's Boxing Day Test against South Africa. I first came across his name about four years ago when I read about his exploits as a junior footballer with Edithvale-Aspendale where he played in their Under 14 premiership, topped the competition goal kicking with a tally of well over the ton including one 20 goal haul. A couple of years later, the name cropped up at the MCC where he was generating interest as a left arm leg spinner and making the senior team at 16 years of age. Next thing, he’s playing footy with the Dandenong Stingrays as an underage player in 2022 and this year, the speedy midfielder/forward was the Vic Country co-captain. He runs the 20-metre sprint in 2.94 seconds, looks and plays like a true X factor cat. One to watch in the Coates League and a likely late first, early second round selection.