Whispering_Jack

It’s being reported that Charlie Spargo requires an Achilles operation and is out for the season. Hoping for a successful surgery and rehab and looking forward to seeing him out there in the preseason.

The Redlegs travelled to the Brunswick Street Oval where they received a reality check in the form of a 46 point trouncing that ruined its hopes of playing in the finals. The correspondent for the Football Record was scathing, calling it the "most lifeless" game he had seen that season. Round 8 Fitzroy vs Melbourne Saturday 14 June 1924 Venue: Brunswick Street Attendance 15,000 FITZROY 3.1.19 5.5.35 10.13.73 12.15.87 MELBOURNE 2.7.19 3.10.22 5.11.41 5.11.41 Goals Derek Mollison 2 Hugh Dunbar Richard Taylor Stan Wittman Melbourne coach Gordon Rattray, a former Fitzroy champion and premiership coach was appointed the Redlegs’ playing coach at the beginning of the season but, as he was still residentially tied to the Maroons, he was ineligible to play for Melbourne. He faced his old side for the first time in this Round 8 match up but it was to no avail as his new side put on its second scoreless last quarter in three weeks. Rattray served the entire season as Melbourne's non-playing coach and, after the club failed to make the Finals in 1924, he was able to return to Fitzroy as a player for one Finals match, the second of the club's Round Robin Semi-Final matches on 20 September 1924. He was chosen to be the playing−coach of North Melbourne in its inaugural VFL season, 1925 but was eventually cleared to serve as captain-coach of Brighton in the VFA which he took to two losing grand finals in 1926 and 1927 before returning to Fitzroy as captain-coach in 1928. Round 9 Melbourne vs Essendon Saturday 21 June 1924 Venue: MCG Attendance: 18,769 MELBOURNE 1.2.8 1.8.14 1.10.16 5.12.42 ESSENDON 4.1.25 6.2.38 10.8.68 10.11.71 Goals Harry Harker 3 Stan Wittman 2 Melbourne's stocks reached rock bottom in freezing cold and windy conditions at the MCG as they struggled to a solitary goal at three quarter time. It managed four goals kicking with a howling wind in the final term but finished two games and percentage out of the four. Harry Harker kicked three of the team’s five goals and Chadwick, Donaldson and Streeter were the team’s best. Round 10 Melbourne vs St Kilda Saturday 28 June 1924 Venue: MCG Attendance: 14,286 MELBOURNE 0.1.1 4.3.27 5.10.40 8.15.63 ST KILDA 2.4.16 3.9.27 5.11.41 6.15.51 Goals Harry Harker Percy Tulloh 3 Jimmy Abernethy Stan Wittman The two bottom sides met at the MCG and St Kilda’s inaccuracy in the first half was telling as the team’s went in at the main break on level pegging. It was Melbourne’s turn to kick poorly after half time and despite losing Stan Wittman to a fractured ankle and playing a man short, they were good enough to kick away to a two goal victory. Taylor, Dunbar and Streeter were best. Seconds - Melbourne 8.8.56 d. St Kilda 5.6.36 Round 11 Bye After their bye, the Redlegs travelled to Victoria Park bolstered by the return of Percy Wilson who had recently resigned as coach of St Kilda. The Magpies recent form had been poor and there was room for confidence as Melbourne stormed through the second term to take a 17 point lead at half time but they fell apart and failed to score another goal in the final hour. Round 12 Collingwood vs Melbourne Saturday 12 July 1924 Venue: Victoria Park Attendance: 8,000 COLLINGWOOD 4.0.24 5.3.33 7.5.47 11.10.76 MELBOURNE 2.4.16 7.8.50 7.11.53 7.11.53 Goals Richard Taylor Percy Tulloh 3 Tom Elliot Melbourne was still in front at three quarter time but a couple of clangers from Bert Chadwick and another defensive calamity involving Percy Wilson and Charlie Streeter gifted the Pies another goal. Collingwood ran out the 23 point winner in what was Harry Harker’s last game for the Redlegs. Despite the mistakes, Chadwick was named Melbourne’s best player. His day was still to come.

Perhaps they swap their 4 & 29 for Petty and our 9 & 38?

Where it stands now - ROUND ONE 1 Richmond 2 North Melbourne 3 West Coast Eagles 4 Adelaide 5 St Kilda 6 Hawthorn 7 Gold Coast Suns 8 Gold Coast Suns 9 Melbourne 10 Fremantle 11 GWS Giants 12 Brisbane Lions 13 Fremantle 14 Geelong 15 Essendon 16 Fremantle 17 Carlton 18 Sydney Swans 19 Sydney Swans 20 Gold Coast Suns ROUND TWO 21 Richmond 22 North Melbourne 23 West Coast Eagles 24 GWS Giants 25 Fremantle 26 Collingwood 27 Gold Coast Suns 28 Western Bulldogs 29 Adelaide 30 Hawthorn 31 St Kilda 32 Gold Coast Suns 33 Port Adelaide 34 Geelong 35 Essendon 36 Richmond 37 Carlton 38 Melbourne ROUND THREE 39 Richmond 40 North Melbourne 41 Richmond 42 Adelaide 43 Melbourne 44 Collingwood 45 Western Bulldogs 46 Melbourne 47 St Kilda 48 Collingwood 49 GWS Giants 50 Brisbane Lions 51 Port Adelaide 52 Geelong 53 Gold Coast Suns 54 Richmond 55 St Kilda 56 Sydney Swans ROUND FOUR 57 Richmond 58 North Melbourne 59 West Coast Eagles 60 Adelaide 61 Fremantle 62 Brisbane Lions 63 Carlton 64 Carlton 65 Melbourne 66 Richmond 67 GWS Giants 68 Brisbane Lions 69 Richmond 70 Geelong 71 North Melbourne 72 Carlton 73 Port Adelaide 74 Sydney Swans

Big performances across the competiton as Roo rises in return, Bulldog breaks through: AFL Rookie Rankings – Round 17 Caleb Windsor second on this ranking of rookies behind Harley Reid.

I went to the Mornington races a few months after TJ was drafted and he was deep inside the betting ring. The kid was 17 years old. I started having misgivings about him then and there but he still turned out a very, very good player. Could he have been a great if he had his head in the “right” place all of the time? I’m not sure because that was TJ - a bit of a larrikan who could never be tamed.

As soon as I read that Max was substituted out of yesterday's game "as a precaution" I knew there was trouble brewing. I just hope it's not 4 to 6.

The sum of all of our fears is here.

This is an interesting story about South Australian indigenous footballer, Michael Graham, who recently received AFL Hall of Fame status. The journey of Michael Graham, aka 'The Flash', to the Australian Football Hall of Fame He was chased by Melbourne in the early 1970s but the club couldn’t persuade him to shift across from SA. At around the same time, we were also interested in getting Glenelg ruckman/forward Peter Carey to come to the club but he stayed put. Both players had long and productive careers and would have improved the Demons immeasurably during the difficult years of the 70s and early 80s. Graham’s nephew Colin Graham did make it to Melbourne and played 35 games (32 goals) between 1975-78.

Talls fire, potential No.1 pick returns as Vic Country sets up title decider Country come up clutch in Springfield shootout

It would be helpful if someone in defence made a contest.

The inevitable reply from Brisbane.

Jefferson goal off the ground

An article about the standout players among this year’s crop of APS players. Draft watch: The APS school footy standouts who have impressed throughout the 2024 season Here they are in summary because it’s behind a firewall: Tairon Ah-Mu, Haileybury College (he’s also an MFC NGA) “The bottom-age ruckman has been in Haileybury College's best nearly every week. In addition to racking up the hit-outs, Ah-Mu can, and has, hit the scoreboard. Once he fills in his frame a bit more, he will be incredibly difficult to stop.” Jasper Alger, Caulfield Grammar - an exciting goal kicker. Harry Armstrong, Haileybury College - kicked 10 in his last game against Melbourne Grammar. Levi Ashcroft, Brighton Grammar - son of Marcus and brother of Will is on his way to Brisbane. Jesse Dattoli, Carey Grammar - impressed for Vic Metro. Gets the ball and can kick goals. Tom Evans, Xavier College - school captain and a prolific inside midfielder. Archer Hanegraaf, Geelong College - contested ball winner. Lenny Hoffman, Brighton Grammar - St Kilda NGA product. Taj Hotton, Haileybury College - brother of Ollie recently sustained an ACL injury which will keep him on the sidelines for an extended period of time. Xavier Ivisic, Geelong Grammar - plays midfield nicely both on the inside and outside. Ben Kennedy, Xavier College - lockdown defender from the Murray Bushrangers who can also go forward. Doug Kerr, St Kevin's - a Collingwood NGA. Felix Kneipp, Wesley College - a smooth-moving midfielder. Sam Lalor, Geelong Grammar - amassed 42 disposals, 22. contested possessions and two goals in his last game against St Kevin's. Sam Marshall, Melbourne Grammar - another Brisbane Lions Academy prospect. Bailey McKenzie, Brighton Grammar - consistently in the best players. Harry O'Farrell, St Kevin's - AFL Academy plays in a key defensive position. Riley Onley, Scotch College - contested midfielder. Flynn Penry, Geelong Grammar - a dominant ruckman who gets plenty of the football. Angus Phillips, St Kevin's - high possession midfielder who kicks goals. Murphy Reid, Caulfield Grammar “The potential no.1 pick has been a clearance beast at APS level this season. Prior to his dominant national championships, Reid was winning his fair share of possessions for Caulfield Grammar but was having his biggest say at stoppage. In one game this year, more than 50 per cent of Reid's disposals for the day were clearances.“ Ben Rongdit, Geelong Grammar - bottom age Cats Next Generation Academy. River Stevens, Geelong College - son of dual North Melbourne premiership player Anthony. Nathaniel Sulzberger, Caulfield Grammar - Tasmanian who started the APS season as one of the early bolters in this year's draft and has maintained his trajectory. Luke Trainor, Brighton Grammar - highly rated with great football pedigree. Miles Tyrer, Melbourne Grammar - bottom-age ruckman. Ollie Warburton, Caulfield Grammar - classy wingman. Archie Watt, Xavier College - midfielder who consistently hits the scoreboard. Levi West, Carey Grammar - son of five-time All-Australian Scott West and brother of Bulldog Rhylee.

Corrected: this was an error carried forward from last week

Another hero of the 50s and early 60s passes. Condolences to the family.

Stingrays duo shines as Vic Country pips WA Players to watch for Vic Country are Dandenong Stingrays pair Harvey Langford, Cooper Hynes and Xavier Lindsay of Gippsland Power. Sandgropers push Vic Country all the way in Claremont classic Reid all about it: Slick mid dominates for Vic Metro Vic Metro storms home to maintain unbeaten run

We’ve corrected Billing’s figure to accord with that of our source. It seems that from time to time, the statisticians check out before the end of the game😀

Potential top-10 picks shine as Vic Metro down WA Cream rises to the top as Metro sinks Sandgropers

Thanks to our AFLW correspondent for bringing this to our attention - sorry Grace for missing you in February! Melbourne completes its AFLW list Journey back to footy | Beasley lands at the Dees Her basketball YouTube clips are super impressive. https://youtu.be/vTEJ2f2Jkws?si=iIIibVf5bz-n7kUT One to watch. Westy was good but Grace looks better. She could be anything really. Another Mon Conti? The coach loves a competitor. Good work Todd (recruiter). Early days.

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?