Whispering_Jack

West is best as scintillating Sandgropers storm

The Allies were once regarded as the “easybeats” of the national championships but after winning them last year, it’s a different story. This weekend, the Vics join the action. PREVIEW | 2024 AFL U18s: Vic Metro vs. Allies PREVIEW | 2024 AFL U18s: Vic Country vs. South Australia

The Demons were jolted early in the 2023 Qualifying Final by the head high hit that ended Angus Brayshaw’s career and helped give the accurate Magpies a big enough start to fall in by 7 points despite a goalless final quarter. Many Melbourne fans argue that hit cost their team a flag and many others are still bemused about the fact that the perpetrator was free to play on in his team’s finals campaign including the winning grand final. MELBOURNE 1.0.6 2.4.16 4.9.33 7.11.53 COLLINGWOOD 4.2.26 5.3.33 9.4.58 9.6.60 THE TEAMS
 
 COLLINGWOOD 
 B N. Murphy D. Moore I. Quaynor HB B. Maynard O. Markov S. Pendlebury C S. Sidebottom T. Adams J. Daicos HF B. Hill B. Mihocek J. Howe F J. Elliott D. McStay J. De Goey FOLL M. Cox B. McCreery J. Crisp I/C D. Cameron W. Hoskin-Elliott P. Lipinski T. Mitchell SUB J. Ginnivan EMG B. Frampton F. Macrae J. Noble 
IN B. McCreery D. Moore N.Murphy 
OUT B. Frampton (omitted) F. Macrae (omitted) J.Noble (omitted) MELBOURNE B M. Hibberd S. May J. Bowey HB J. McVee J. Lever A. Brayshaw C K. Pickett J. Viney E. Langdon HF L. Hunter T. McDonald A. Neal-Bullen F T. Sparrow J. van Rooyen K. Chandler FOLL M. Gawn C. Oliver C. Petracca I/C B. Fritsch T. Rivers C. Salem J. Smith SUB B. Laurie EMG B. Grundy J. Jordon A. Tomlinson 
IN M. Hibberd T. McDonald 
OUT J.Melksham (knee) D. Turner (omitted)

Didn’t watch the game but I just noticed that Casey only used 22 players which means that there must have been a late “out” and no emergency to cover for that player. On the face of it, that suggests some poor management on the part of the club. It’s a professional sport and even at this level where we’re apparently not even playing to win* it’s not a good look. Was there an explanation given on the broadcast of the game?

Word from inside the Fremantle camp is that the Dockers are pumped and supremely confident about getting the W today. They’ve beaten us the last two times at home and don’t see beating us at Alice Springs as a problem.

Interesting that all three MFC emergencies who were said to have flown to Alice Springs with the rest of the team are named in the Casey side. The three players dropped from the Casey side are named as emergencies.

Oops … signs of aging Cranky. Fixed.

It’s been all but confirmed that Melbourne will take the three named emergencies, Jack Billings, Bailey Laurie and Ben Brown on the trip to the Northern Territory, so that’s at least three changes to last week’s Casey lineup.

Another great Demon and pemiership skipper of our golden era passes. One of my childhood heroes along with Ron Barassi and Noel McMahen. Johnny Beckwith came to the club from Black Rock where he won an Under 18 Best & Fairest. He joined the Demons in 1951 and soon tasted success in that great team of the 50s and early 60s. He played in five premierships - 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, and 1960 (his last game as a player) and was captain in two of those campaigns (1957 and 1959) winning the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal in his first season as Melbourne skipper. He is a Melbourne Hall of Famer and was named back pocket in the club’s Team of the Century. He was famous for finding the boundary with his kicks out of defence in tight finishes well before the out of bounds on the full rule came in. He also coached the club in the post-Norm Smith era from 1968 to 1970 but had little success with a team in the early stages of decline after that great era for which he will always be remembered. Apart from the fact that the names of Beckwith and Barassi will always be tied together as great Demon captains and premiership players, there is another little snippet that binds them. Ron Barassi passed away last year on September 16 - it was the day of John Beckwith’s 91st and last birthday. Condolences to John’s family. [This is an article by club historian Lynda Carroll about the late John Backwith - Where are they now?]

Whispering in the Umpire’s Ears? I categorically deny this!

Late mail is good mail.

Surely, the nickname will be “Filthy” (Luker)?

Final list of nominees for the 2024 Mid-Season Rookie Draft Players of interest (for various reasons):- Riak Andrew (brother of Mac), Paddy Cross (Casey Demons), Kye Declase (Werribee, ex MFC), Kyle Dunkley (Brisbane VFL, ex MFC), Saad El-Hawli (Northern Bullants), William Elliott (Northern Bullants), Corey Ellison (Williamstown, ex Casey Demons), Zac Foot (GC Suns, ex Casey Demons), Max Gregory (Casey Demons), George Grey (Frankston, ex Casey Demons), Jackson Hately (Essendon VFL), Tom Highmore (Port Melbourne), Campbell Hustwaite (Casey Demons), Luker Kentfield (Subiaco, WA), Nathan Philactides (Box Hill Hawks), Joe Pike (Geelong Falcons), Fraser Rosman (Port Melbourne, ex MFC), Kobe Shipp (Casey Demons), Deakyn Smith (North Melbourne VFL, ex MFC), Ryan Sparkes (Collingwood VFL, ex Casey Demons), Roan Steele (Casey Demons), Ryan Valentine (Casey Demons), Samuel van Rooyen (Claremont WAFL), Jean-Luc Velissaris (Northern Bullants), Lachlan Voss (Sandringham Dragons), Kai Windsor (Casey Demons) And missing: Uncle Roy

From the Herald Sun online

Father-son trio shines as SA downs Allies in National Champs opener

Croweaters win thriller to kick off championships

Ultimate Guide to the 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft

The 2024 National Championships get underway this Sunday, with AFL scouts and recruiters set to get an indication of this year's top bracket of talent. AFL Draft: 56 prospects to watch at this year's National Championships

Bit of a clash there.

Perspicacious.

KFW was among the best again for St Bedes Mentone although the team was easily beaten.

Well … um, it could have been worse

Kyah Faris-White played his first game with St Bedes Mentone in the VAFA on Saturday. They lost to Old Haileybury by 53 points with KFW featuring in the best players and kicking a goal. St Bedes Mentone Best Zac Calvez, Matthew Lehpamer, Josh Cowan, Benjamin Murphy, Jack Ferraro, Kyah Farris-White. Meanwhile, Old Haileybury’s Casey list ruckman Jack Bell was picked to play for the Demons but saw vey little action.