Whispering_Jack

U18: Top-10 prospect stars in Vic Metro win Western Australia 2.0.12 4.0.24 6.3.39 9.4.58 Vic Metro 2.4.16 6.9.45 11.11.77 14.12.96 Goals Western Australia Allen 3, B. Miller, L.Miller, Frampton, Ameduri, Starcevich, Cameron Vic Metro Higgins 2, Landt 2, McLean 2, Moore, Cerra, Rayner, Naish, Coffield, Hayes, Wooller, Taylor Best Western Australia Joyce, Patmore, Allen, Ainsworth, Naughton, England Vic Metro Higgins, Moore, Rayner, Cerra, Naish, Coffield

Statistics Liam Hulett 1 goal 4 kicks 2 handballs 6 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 1 hit out 38 dream team points Dion Johnstone 5 kicks 5 handballs 10 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 41 dream team points Declan Keilty 3 kicks 6 handballs 9 disposals 6 tackles 47 dream team points Jay Kennedy-Harris 1 goal 1 behind 19 kicks 14 handballs 33 disposals 4 marks 11 tackles 148 dream team points Dean Kent 21 kicks 6 handballs 27 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 90 dream team points Mitch King 1 kicks 5 handballs 6 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 8 hit outs 36 dream team points Corey Maynard 2 behinds 7 kicks 16 handballs 23 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles 84 dream team points Jake Spencer 1 behind 4 kicks 8 handballs 12 disposals 2 tackles 19 hit outs 58 dream team points Billy Stretch 12 kicks 12 handballs 24 disposals 2 marks 8 tackles 99 dream team points Jack Trengove 21 kicks 8 handballs 29 disposals 8 marks 7 tackles 131 dream team points Josh Wagner 16 kicks 12 handballs 28 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 101 dream team points Sam Weideman 1 goal 4 kicks 7 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks tackles 3 hit outs 55 dream team points Mitch White 1 goal 15 kicks 9 handballs 24 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle 88 dream team points

Omen time: I went to a great game of VAFA footy at Brighton Beach Oval where top side Old Brighton Grammar beat Ajax in a close hard fought high quality contest yesterday. After the game, the Old Brighton players who wear red and blue sang their club song, "It's a Grand Old Flag" which I was tempted to join in even though I support the losing team. Then, just as I was leaving, I noticed our own Jayden Hunt throwing around a frisbee. After making sure Jeremy Howe's dog wasn't anywhere nearby, I wished him well for today's game. I wasn't confident before that but now ... the omens are too strong.

A week ago Neale Daniher addressed the Melbourne team ahead of their game v Collingwood saying, "in a week's time you won't remember a thing I said". They went out and recorded a famous victory over Collingwood but now, a week later, let's remind ourselves and hope that they go out and do it again ...

U18: Bottom-ager Lukosius stars in SA's big win South Australia 4.2.26 6.5.41 12.9.81 17.10.112 Allies 1.3.9 6.4.40 6.5.41 9.7.61 Goals South Australia Houlahan 4, Lukosius 3, Barry 2, Rankine 2, Fogarty 2, Giro, Rowe, Hewson, Rozee Allies Dixon 2, Scott 2, Brander, Powell, Davidson, Richards, Bell Best South Australia Lukosius, Coleman-Jones, Rankine, Edwards, Petty, Giro Allies Bailey, Scott, Shipley, Bell, Highmore

VFL site's match preview - Round 9 Preview

Woody's latest - a doco

Not sure why people are worried about who's going to line up against us next week v West Coast when we have a big assignment against the Bullies who get back four of their better premiership players for this Sunday's "season defining" game at Etihad. What happened to one week at a time?

No Max.

The Road to the Draft series is focusing on the Under 18 Championships. I believe that key forward prospect Will Sutherland who is also Australian Under 19 cricket captain, will play school football at the weekend and not for Vic Metro. If so, he will still have future opportunities.

I would be happy to share QB as a home game every second year if it meant that we received four or five marquee home games on Friday and Thursday nights to balance things out. Personally, I think we would be more of an attraction to tv audiences ATM than Hawthorn or Collingwood who get the lion's share of such fixtures.

Jesse Hogan is dealing with cancer and not some ordinary soft tissue injury. The situation has to be dealt with sensibly and with due sensitivity. This involves dealing not only with the physical but with the psychological side of things that often demands patience and time. In that regard, the timeline has come down from "indefinite" to 4 - 6 weeks and as fans, we should be accepting of that.

Well said Rollo but the Russkis aren't paying Demonland a zac for TGR's posts. The Chinese Government in Beijing on the other hand, have sent in 1000 yuan for your post and promised ten times that much if you can organise an interforum game against Saintsational at the end of the season.

Another team wins coming from behind in the final quarter. U18: No.1 pick fancy guides Vic Country home Allies 2.2.14 4.3.27 8.5.53 8.8.56 Vic Country 2.2.14 5.3.33 6.5.41 10.8.68 Goals Allies Dixon 3, Simington 2, Hardman, Blakey, Powell Vic Country Barzen 2, Daniels, McHenry, Dow, Handley, Ling, De Koning, Butts, Meek Best Allies Shipley, Brander, Highmore, Hardman, Thomas Vic Country Davies-Uniacke, Paton, Dow, Walsh, Daniels, Butts

Not really such a surprise ... after all, his real name was Steven Smith and the real Steven Smith was a fantastic player for the Dees who was the first little leaguer to make it into the VFL, went on to win a Bluey Truscott Medal during our hard times in the early 80s and is now President of the MCC. Fits in well with the theme of rising from tough times to success at the top.

Some weeks ago, I wrote something on one of these Gameday threads to the effect that I would really like to see Melbourne get off to a big start and then maintain that momentum for a full four quarters. It hasn't happened all year. I thought about that post on Saturday night when I was out at dinner with friends and I caught my first sight of the score in the game between Essendon and Port Adelaide. It was during the first quarter and the scoreline read: "Essendon 40 Port Adelaide 1" My first thought was - UNREAL - that never happens with us (at least not with us being in front). Perhaps, it might happen on the day we celebrate Her Majesty's birthday because, like everything else that's happening in this round of football, it seems the prospect is so unreal (after all, her real birthday is 21 April). Let's do something unreal today.

The opening game of the Under 18 championships saw WA win by a point after a late surge from SA. Under-18 national championships: WA holds on against fast-finishing SA U18: Young wins it for WA with a golden point Western Australia 2.4.16 6.7.43 10.12.72 10.14.74 South Australia 2.2.14 5.3.33 6.6.42 10.13.73 Goals Western Australia Allen 3, Stewart 2, Hill, Stack, Young, Ainsworth, Starcevich South Australia Fogarty 2, Houlahan 2, Rankine 2, Lukosius, Rozee, Rowe, Giro Best Western Australia Ainsworth, Allen, Naughton, Taylor, Joyce, Frampton South Australia Edwards, Rakine, Crowden, Rozee, Giro, Ballard

Statistics Liam Hulett 3 kicks 2 handballs 5 disposals 1 marks 2 tackles 2 hit outs 24 dream team points Dion Johnstone 1 goals 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 2 marks 8 tackles 74 dream team points Declan Keilty 1 behind 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 7 tackles 15 hit outs 72 dream team points Ben Kennedy 15 kicks 13 handballs 28 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 100 dream team points Jay Kennedy-Harris 8 kicks 5 handballs 13 disposals 1 marks 6 tackles dream 61 team points Dean Kent 2 goals 1 behind 13 kicks 9 handballs 22 disposals 4 marks 6 tackles 1 hit out 102 dream team points Corey Maynard 1 goal 3 behinds 9 kicks 13 handballs 22 disposals 3 marks 8 tackles 94 dream team points Tim Smith 1 goal 1 behind 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 50 dream team points Jake Spencer 1 behind 3 kicks 5 handballs 8 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 35 hit outs 68 dream team points Billy Stretch 2 goals 6 kicks 18 handballs 24 disposals 1 mark 6 tackles 90 dream team points Jack Trengove 1 goal 7 kicks 12 handballs 19 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 82 dream team points Josh Wagner 1 goal 12 kicks 15 handballs 27 disposals 6 marks 1 tackles 88 dream team points Sam Weideman 2 goals 3 behinds 13 kicks 8 handballs 21 disposals 8 marks 4 hit outs 99 dream team points Mitch White 16 kicks 2 handballs 18 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 71 dream team points

And apparently dropped for today's game?

Conditions absolutely perfect at Casey Fields for the big clash between traditional rivals. The Demons are more than 10 goals up in the early game v Hawks and looking a picture in these uniforms. I believe the development league hasn't been setting the world on fire but it seems different today with ruck dominance and plenty of skill and run all around the ground. King looks strong in the ruck and just kicked a nice goal. There have been some suggestions that the development league is going to fold and that in the future. Players who don't make it to the main team will end up playing in local leagues. I can't see much benefit in us playing our young draftees in such competitions. And if you have 4 or 5 ruckmen on your list, some are going to miss out and end up playing in a suburban team.

Just arrived and the Demons now 6 goals up after an early Box Hill fight back.

Belated, I know but here's how Justin Plapp's player review from the win against Coburg - http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-06-07/vfl-player-review-round-seven

The blue headband is all in a good cause.

It's good to see Jack Watts moving freely and seemingly unencumbered by the rolled ankle he experienced earlier in the week. Max Gawn looks good to go ... the snags are of the usual high quality and Jayden Hunt's sporting a blue headband.

Possibly explains the reports of Josh Wagner not looking all that happy after coaches spoke with him at Thursday's training?