Whispering_Jack

They’re starting already. AFL Draft: Race to be pick 1 wide open; lots of academy-linked

SON OF A GUN FIRES IN PREMIER B In his first game for Old Melburnians in Premier B, Noah Yze (the son of Richmond coach and ex-Melbourne forward Adem) starred with five goals in a best on ground display. Yze was released for the weekend from VFL side Casey due to the representative game against the SANFL. He proved to be a class above in the huge win as Jeremy a’Beckett also booted five. Old Melburnians prevailed by 94 points. Yze finished with 20 disposals, 16 contested possessions and five clearances. Other impressive performances came from Will Nichols (27 touches), Sam Laube (21 touches and three goals) and Jack Spargo (23 disposals). At VFL level this season, Yze has kicked four goals in three games. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/vafa/vafa-all-the-talking-points-from-the-premier-grades/news-story/4a18374350339b4ed4aa120a8321204b

With the bye in the VFL, some of the Casey VFL listed players are going around in their local sides. Noah Yze has 3 goals at half time playing for Old Melburnians in the VAFA B Section.

They’re off and running in the Coates Talent League for 2025. Here’s the Rookie Me Central Team of the Week for Round 2 with Melbourne NGA Prospect Toby Sinnema featuring on the wing.

A young man by the name of White might be of interest. AFL Draft: The future stars representing Australia U18 team against VFL sides

Here come the Cats - it’s a 5 point game!

Johnson goals, Cats reply.

Nationwide Preseason Testing Tops in testing ~

AFL Draft: The top 13 prospects heading into the 2025 season

More than borderline.

I was up on the Gold Coast last year when the Suns gave Casey a bath in the curtain raiser to the main game. Disco kicked four goals for Melbourne that day.

The draw means that we’re in the finals frame after Round 1.

Ah well, seven days after missing out by less than a goal against a premiership favourite, we’re done and dusted.

I think we’ve got this. Will win by 25 points.

Good news for Carlton at last. They don’t have to play Richmond again this year!

Please tell me you haven’t lost my match report from the game vs Port Adelaide in 2003.

Preseason Q&A: Kalani White (Suns Academy)

UPDATE COACH: Taylor Whitford (third season) STAYING: Casey Demons: Jack Behnk, Paddy Cross, Tyler Edwards, Tom Freeman, Roy George, Andrew Green, Max Gregory, Brayden Laplanche, Caleb Lewis, Charlie Peters, Kobe Shipp, Kai Windsor; Melbourne: Jed Adams, Jack Billings, Jake Bowey, Kynan Brown, Kade Chandler, Bayley Fritsch, Tom Fullarton, Max Gawn, Marty Hore, Blake Howes, Matt Jefferson, Luker Kentfield, Ed Langdon, Bailey Laurie, Jake Lever, Steven May, Shane McAdam, Tom McDonald, Judd McVee, Jake Melksham, Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca, Harrison Petty, Kysaiah Pickett, Trent Rivers, Christian Salem, Oliver Sestan, Charlie Spargo, Tom Sparrow, Koltyn Tholstrup, Dan Turner, Jacob van Rooyen, Will Verrall, Jack Viney, Caleb Windsor, Taj Woewodin ARRIVING: Casey Demons: Riley Baldi (Moe), Riley Bonner (St Kilda), Lachlan Bryce (Frankston YCW), Jesse Craven (Tooradin-Dalmore), Chance Doultree (Footscray Bulldogs), Jack Ferraro (St Bedes/Mentone Tigers), Jarrod Gatt (Pines), Jenson Garnham (Leongatha), Oliver Green (Parkdale Vultures), Mitch Hardie (Geelong Cats), Patrick Ireland (Buln Buln), Mitch Kirkwood-Scott (Old Haileybury/Sandringham Dragons), Wardell Lual (Werribee), Max Roney (North Launceston), Deakyn Smith (North Melbourne VFL), Tyson Sruk (Carlton VFL), Noah Yze (Oakleigh Chargers); Melbourne: Tom Campbell (St Kilda), Jai Culley (West Coast Eagles), Jack Henderson (Werribee) Aidan Johnson (Werribee), Harvey Langford (Mt Martha/Dandenong Stingrays/Richmond VFL), Xavier Lindsay (Inverloch-Kongwak/Gippsland Power), Ricky Mentha (Palmerston/Gippsland Power/Morwell), Harry Sharp (Brisbane Lions) DEPARTING: Casey Demons: Riak Andrew (Sydney Swans), Jack Bell (Old Haileybury), Leo Connolly (Aspley), Max Coughlin, Campbell Hustwaite (Rosebud), Eddie King, Ned Moodie (Frankston), Charlie Muley, Harvey Neocleous, Tom Sheridan (South Croydon), Roan Steele (West Perth), Mitch Szybkowski (GWS Giants VFL), Ziggy Toledo-Glasman (knee), Ryan Valentine (Coburg), Mitch White (Rosebud); Melbourne: Angus Brayshaw (retired), Ben Brown (retired), Kyah Farris-White (delisted), Lachie Hunter (retired – Spotswood), Alex Neal-Bullen (Adelaide), Josh Schache (delisted – Doncaster East), Joel Smith (delisted), Adam Tomlinson (North Melbourne VFL)

An interesting name on the list is Wardell Lual, a 26-year-old 191cm defender from Werribee who was listed with Casey at one point last year but returned to Werribee. He played in the Tigers’ 2023 Grand Final side but I didn’t follow them much in 2024. Anyway, he’s back now and joins former teammates Aidan Johnson and Jack Henderson as a Demon in 2025.

Rescheduled Opening Round matches The AFL has announced that Brisbane and Geelong will play in Round 3 on Saturday, March 29 at 6:35pm (local time) at the Gabba. The Gold Coast Suns and Essendon will play an additional game as part of a “floating” Round 24 fixture. This isn’t going to be a particularly satisfactory way for the Suns and Bombers to approach the finals if they’re still in the running. And if they’re not in the race, then playing two meaningless games in the last round of the season would be a complete drag. A better option would have been to move Geelong vs Essendon from Round 14 to Round 16. That would have opened up the space for Gold Coast Suns vs Essendon in Round 14, a far more logical and less disruptive outcome but logic and the AFL don’t necessarily always go hand in hand. Swans and Collingwood for me this weekend.

The Sydney Swans are back on top of the ladder. The Demons made the top 8 (just) ... Sydney Swans 2 0 0 209 131 159.54 8 West Coast Eagles 2 0 0 133 95 140.00 8 Essendon 2 0 0 181 141 128.37 8 Adelaide 2 0 0 200 173 115.61 8 Indigenous All Stars 1 0 0 108 65 166.15 4 Collingwood 1 1 0 190 138 137.68 4 Carlton 1 1 0 182 135 134.81 4 Melbourne 1 1 0 207 179 115.64 4 Port Adelaide 1 1 0 172 152 113.16 4 Gold Coast Suns 1 1 0 160 153 104.58 4 Geelong 1 1 0 189 190 99.47 4 Western Bulldogs 1 1 0 135 143 94.41 4 Fremantle 1 1 0 174 198 87.88 4 St Kilda 1 1 0 118 151 78.15 4 Brisbane ½ 1 ½ 0 170 170 100.00 2 Hawthorn 0 2 0 152 183 83.06 0 North Melbourne 0 2 0 139 188 73.94 0 GWS Giants 0 2 0 134 249 53.82 0 Richmond 0 2 0 75 194 38.66 0

The Herald Sun “experts” are less than impressed. They have us remaining static in 14th place. It’s worth bookmarking this …