Whispering_Jack

At half time, the Dragons are 15 points down. Not looking good.

Just checked the quarter time scores. Dragons in trouble - down by 4 goals.

A lot was made earlier in the season about Hawthorn's ability to get out of tight squeezes and win the close ones. I said at the time that I thought it was an indicator that their years of ruling over the competition were coming to an end because those were often games that they would once have won comfortably. As much as football has changed in the time that I've followed it, the trend was much the same as what happened at the end of Melbourne's era in 1965 when it scrambled home to win its early games but failed to make the top four. The circumstances were a little different (we had a board that sacked a 6 time premiership winning coach) but the reality for the Hawks is that they've missed out on making the top four. And I believe that, despite them having a great coach, good finances and a strong following, the end will come fast. They're facing a cliff and when their stalwarts have gone, they'll be left with their mercenaries and they will plunge down to a place where James Frawley is all too familiar.

I haven't had much to say on that situation to date because I'm as much in the dark as anyone else. If the decision comes down to a personal one - i.e to be with the family during his father's illness, then I suppose it's one that we have no option but to accept, move on and make the best of things and we'll certainly become much more involved in this year's drafting and trading. We still might have missed the boat with some potential trades but to date, I haven't been interested in the names thrown up. The one player mentioned in despatches who interested me was Rockliff (not in the context of a replacement for Hogan, of course) but that one's gone quiet. If Hogan's decision is financial then it's a commercial decision of the club dependent upon how the CBA works out and we might be forced into a position where his contract talks remain on hold until next year. At least that would give us more time to convince him he should stay at the club.

The talent of the Dragons' list is underlined by the post I put up on the 2016 AFL Draft Prospects thread where I cited the Big Board 3.0 top 25 of Inside Football's Brett Anderson. He has four Dragons in his top eight (five in the 25). They play Geelong Falcons today at IKON Park, a game I'm going to miss due to my grandson's basketball grand final but I recommend keeping an eye on this one. The Dragons' area has been good to Melbourne in recent years Watts, Gawn, Brayshaw, Salem and Hunt (although he didn't make their squad) all were recruited from there and Chris Dawes was a Dragon before going to Collingwood.

Good luck to the kid if he makes it but on his record to date and notwithstanding the injuries, I somehow doubt he's going to do that if the AFL's bottom side (I only have Essendon* in this year's competition with an asterisk) has lost patience. However, if we get him, I suspect he might give you a few opportunities to be angry at Casey. ?

Brett Anderson of Inside Football has produced his Big Board 3.0 in which my support for the Sandringham Dragons is vindicated. He has four members of the team in his top eight (five in his top 25). Always a good read. 1 Hugh McCLUGGAGE Ht: 185cm | Wt: 74kg | North Ballarat Rebels 2 Jack BOWES Ht: 188cm | Wt: 79kg | Surfers Paradise/GC Academy 3 Andrew McGRATH Ht: 179cm | Wt: 75kg | Sandringham Dragons 4 Jack SCRIMSHAW (10) Ht: 193cm | Wt: 80kg | Sandringham Dragons 5 Tim ENGLISH Ht: 203cm | Wt: 86kg | South Fremantle 6 Will BRODIE Ht: 189cm | Wt: 82kg | Murray Bushrangers 7 Tim TARANTO Ht: 186cm | Wt: 82kg | Sandringham Dragons 8 Will SETTERFIELD Ht: 190cm | Wt: 79kg | Sandringham Dragons/GWS Academy 9 Ben AINSWORTH Ht: 179cm | Wt: 74kg | Gippsland Power 10 Sam PETREVSKI-SETON Ht: 182cm | Wt: 74kg | Claremont 11 Harry PERRYMAN Ht: 184cm | Wt: 75kg | Collingullie-GP/GWS Academy 12 Griffin LOGUE Ht: 193cm | Wt: 92kg | Swan Districts 13 Daniel VENABLES Ht: 186cm | Wt: 81kg | Western Jets 14 Todd MARSHALL Ht: 197cm | Wt: 87kg | Murray Bushrangers 15 Josh ROTHAM Ht: 192cm | Wt: 78kg | West Perth 16 Jordan RIDLEY Ht: 192cm | Wt: 79kg | Oakleigh Chargers 17 Jy SIMPKIN Ht: 182cm | Wt: 72kg | Murray Bushrangers 18 Jarrod BERRY Ht: 191cm | Wt: 80kg | North Ballarat Rebels 19 Luke RYAN Ht: 185cm | Wt: 87kg | Coburg 20 Alex VILLIS Ht: 182cm | Wt: 70kg | Norwood 21 Oliver FLORENT Ht: 183cm | Wt: 75kg | Sandringham Dragons 22 Shai BOLTON (21) Ht: 177cm | Wt: 67kg | South Fremantle 23 Alex WITHERDEN (25) Ht: 186cm | Wt: 80kg | Geelong Falcons 24 Cedric COX Ht: 184cm | Wt: 70kg | North Ballarat Rebels 25 Patrick KERR Ht: 194cm | Wt: 93kg | Oakleigh Chargers

I have to confess that I'm overcome with boredom over the 2016 trade period. It's not just that Melbourne seems to be predominantly sidelined because of a lack of currency to trade with but also because most of the mooted trade deals give the appearance of having been set up a fair way back in time. Did anyone doubt that Jaeger O'Meara would nominate Hawthorn or Caleb Marchbank would announce his preference for Carlton? Anyone surprised that Travis Cloke is off to the Doggies? In all three cases, the rumours that these players were going to those clubs have been circulating for some time. There's nothing particularly interesting about this time of year. I'm already over this trade period.

We move into Preliminary Final Week but alas, commitments prevent me from making it this weekend. TAC Cup Preliminary Finals Preview The teams: 2016 TAC Cup - Finals Week 3 1st Preliminary Final Geelong Falcons vs Sandringham Dragons Saturday 17th September, 2016 IKON Park at 11:45 AM Geelong Falcons B 17. C Stephens 45. T Thompson 27. C Francis HB 20. J Blood 43. B McNamara 10. M Diamond C 37. J Henry 38. J Worpel 6. S Simpson HF 2. J McLachlan 48. Z Zdybel 30. L McCarthy F 41. B Blair 40. H Elliot 28. P Dowling FOLL 50. S Darcy 24. J Bennett 8. M Augerinos I/C 39. T Denning 42. C Parish 32. J Walters 3. L McCartney 7. H Benson 13. E Floyd 14. P Killen 23P 19. M Ling Sandringham Dragons B 18. C Larkin 2. D James 14. L Murphy HB 5. A McGrath 20. A Sakeson 9. R Hayward C 16. H Burt 13. O Florent 10. J Scrimshaw HF 4. W Setterfield 61. H Mclean 8. T Taranto F 25. T Maloney 59. I Morrisby 1. A Krakauer FOLL 28. L Filipovic 11. H Brayshaw 7. C Lyons I/C 3. J Trew 6. G Lok 32. M Williams 23. K Beveridge 42. C Constable 21. K Nissenbaum 70. E Casey 35. A Zimmerman 23P 41. A Brayshaw 2nd Preliminary Final Murray Bushrangers vs Oakleigh Chargers Saturday 17th September, 2016 IKON Park at 2:15 PM Murray Bushrangers B 5. F Carroll 32. H Boyd 21. D Langlands HB 22. H Morrison 3. N Nihill 25. R Garthwaite C 8. J Page 7. W Brodie 11. L Pinnuck HF 6. C Spargo 18. T McMullan 13. L Tiziani F 26. M Marr 40. T Marshall 9. B Paton FOLL 35. M Lynch 33. J Cousins 15. I Wallace I/C: 20. Z Sproule 10. D Sharrock 39. B Cooper 29. N Richards 31. D Hemphill 19. W Donaghey 1. E Ratugolea 23P 28. J Lane Oakleigh Chargers B 66. A Trigar 23. E Phillips 26. R Jones HB 42. L Cunningham 5. C Searle 14. X Jordan C 7. T Duman 2. E Phillips 9. J Aujard HF 24. D Johnstone 33. N Larkey 58. N Boucher F 8. T Wooller 11. P Kerr 35. J Higgins FOLL 4. N Reeves 21. L Walker 3. V Adduci I/C 41. W Goss 6. C Lane 22. D Stanford 28. J Daicos 34. M Young 68. J Webster 17. A Tomaro 23P 78. S Harte

The suspensions are not quite over yet but the players involved can now appear at and train with their clubs. In that respect, I suppose we can officially welcome Jake Melksham to the fold. I think the club was poorly advised when it did the trade deal with Essendon to get him but it did so with eyes wide open. Despite this, we received no compensation for the loss of a year from a player for who we gave up a second round draft pick, nor were we properly entitled to any compensation. What does make it a little difficult to take is how Essendon has been magnificently compensated in terms of its capacity to recruit/draft players in the wake of the saga. The Bombers who were at the heart of the doping scandal were allowed to take 12 additional players for 2016 whereas the innocents had no rights to replacing suspended players and no recognition was given to the fact that the better part of a dozen players will be coming back onto their list in 2017. They get first place in the national, pre season and rookie drafts ahead of another club who they finished ahead of by a minuscule amount of percentage points. That's about the final nail in the coffin for AFL integrity in my book.

The fact that the club's staff reached the conclusion after the preseason that they didn't "really have a place" for him doesn't mean that we're necessarily not interested now. At that point in time, Keilty was on the fringe of breaking into Casey's senior team. In a short space of time, he's established his place and further, gained recognition as a member of the VFL Team of the Year. He's come a long way in a short space of time so I wouldn't discount that there's interest there.

I think the idea some 12 months ago was to develop Max King into the prototype forward/ruck. Unfortunately, the most you can say is that it hasn't quite worked out for him because he's languishing in the Casey Development League team and is certainly not kicking goals at that level. As a ruckman he's also been overtaken by a raw Oscar McInerney who has come out of suburban football. I don't think Max King is the answer but I agree we should be looking out for a goalkicking tall who can pinch hit in the ruck. Problem is that they're hard to find and take a while to develop.

Also, because of their limited time in the competition, GWS don't have to worry about the potential ravages of free agency for a couple of years. However, when the time comes, I suspect GCS and GWS will be facing some concerted efforts to take the players who fit into that category.

I think I can vouch for that proposition. Fifty-5 is on very close terms with Rene Descartes.

Had little influence playing in a backline that was badly beaten. The player I did like from the Stingrays was La Fontaine - and I'm still wondering if he's related to the club's early B & F winner, Alan.

The next game should be a ripper but enough's enough for me. I'll be back next week to follow the Dragons v the Falcons in the Preliminary Final.

That's it 13.13.91 to 4.6.30 - a comprehensive win for the Sandy Dragons who meet the Geelong Falcons in next week's preliminary final. Dandenong Stingrays 1.2 2.6 3.6 4.6 (30) Sandringham Dragons 3.2 6.6 9.9 13.13 (91) Goals Dandenong Stingrays: Fowler 2 Battle 2 Sandringham Dragons: Maloney 4 Lyons 2 Morrisby 2 Florent Krakauer Taranto Lok Setterfield Best Dandenong Stingrays: Clark Stewart Poholke DeWit Glen La Fontaine Sandringham Dragons: Taranto Sakeson McGrath Maloney Murphy Hayward

Apart from Setterfield, McGrath and Taranto, I've been mightily impressed by Jack Scrimshaw, a tall running left-footed defender who would fit nicely into any team because he looks very versatile (last week spent some time forward). I'm not sure where he fits in draft calculations but he's definitely a prospect.

A goal to Isaac Morrisby and the lead is back out to 52 points.

Battle kicks his second to reduce the lead to 45 points but it's all too late.

In a repeat of what happened earlier in the game, my boy Krakouer passes to my boy Corey Lyons for another goal.

Tom Moloney, a smallish forward, kicks his fourth and that just about seals it. Dandenong can't raise a gallop.

At three quarter time, the Sandringham lead is 39 points - 9.9.63 to 3.6.24. The Dragons with the superior midfield are doing as they please.

INDICATIVE DRAFT ORDER (as at the end of AFL Finals Week One) ROUND ONE 1 Essendon 2 Brisbane Lions 3 Fremantle 4 Gold Coast 5 Carlton 6 Richmond 7 Greater Western Sydney (received from Collingwood) 8 Gold Coast (received from Melbourne) 9 Port Adelaide 10 St Kilda 11 North Melbourne 12 West Coast 13 Western Bulldogs 14 Adelaide 15 Greater Western Sydney 16 Hawthorn 17 Greater Western Sydney (received from Geelong, via Carlton on trade) 18 Sydney Swans ROUND TWO 19 Essendon 20 Brisbane Lions 21 Gold Coast (received from Fremantle) 22 Gold Coast 23 Carlton 24 Gold Coast (received from Richmond) 25 Collingwood 26 Melbourne 27 Gold Coast (received from Port Adelaide) 28 Brisbane Lions (received from St Kilda, via Collingwood on trade) 29 North Melbourne 30 West Coast 31 Western Bulldogs 32 Greater Western Sydney (received from Adelaide) 33 Greater Western Sydney 34 Hawthorn 35 Geelong 36 Sydney Swans ROUND THREE 37 Essendon 38 Geelong (received from Brisbane Lions) 39 Fremantle 40 Gold Coast 41 Carlton 42 Richmond 43 Collingwood 44 Melbourne 45 Port Adelaide 46 St Kilda 47 Brisbane Lions (received from North Melbourne) 48 West Coast 49 Carlton (received from Western Bulldogs) 50 Adelaide 51 Greater Western Sydney 52 Hawthorn 53 Geelong 54 Sydney Swans ROUND FOUR 55 Essendon 56 Brisbane Lions 57 Fremantle 58 Gold Coast 59 Western Bulldogs (received from Carlton) 60 Richmond 61 Collingwood 62 Melbourne 63 Port Adelaide 64 St Kilda 65 North Melbourne 66 West Coast 67 Western Bulldogs 68 Adelaide 69 Greater Western Sydney 70 Hawthorn 71 Geelong 72 Western Bulldogs (received from Sydney Swans) ROUND FIVE 73 Essendon 74 Brisbane Lions 75 Fremantle 76 Gold Coast 77 Carlton 78 Richmond 79 Collingwood 80 Melbourne 81 Port Adelaide 82 St Kilda 83 North Melbourne 84 West Coast 85 Western Bulldogs 86 Adelaide 87 Geelong (received from Greater Western Sydney) 88 Hawthorn 89 Geelong 90 Sydney Swans ROUND SIX 91 Essendon 92 Brisbane Lions 93 Fremantle 94 Gold Coast 95 Carlton 96 Richmond 97 Collingwood 98 Melbourne 99 Port Adelaide 100 St Kilda 101 North Melbourne 102 West Coast 103Western Bulldogs 104 Adelaide 105 Greater Western Sydney 106 Hawthorn 107 Geelong 108 Sydney Swans

Tim Taranto snaps a goal on the left foot and the lead goes out to 37 points. I reckon there will be a few players drafted this year out of the Sandringham Dragons - there is a lot of class in this team.