Whispering_Jack

It's up to him. Let's see what he does with the Dolphins - it will certainly make entertaining watching because he's capable of doing some exciting things. I've heard that Frankston have had massive changes to their list over the summer so it should be relatively easy for him to get a game in the first place.

Bucket poured.

thevil1 - I have tried on many occasions to shut the thread down but lately I have had second thoughts about it. We live in a democracy and it's only fair that those who frequent the thread have a place to voice their opinions. For them, it's therapeutic - the rest of us can either go there to have a giggle from time to time or simply to ignore it. On the other hand (and I know I'm being inconsistent here) this thread deserves no oxygen so I'm following your request and locking this thread. Cheers

Yet Paul Roos himself said that the emphasis on defence was only a stage (and the first one at that) in getting his team to the place where he wanted it to be i.e. his view of the "right" way to play the game.

We've been following him for years now starting with his cameo season up in Darwin followed by a stint on The Recruit last year and finally, we can get to see him in the flesh if we get down to Casey Fields to watch the opening game of the VFL on Sunday week between the Casey Scorpions and Frankston Dolphins. Waylen Manson signs with Frankston in VFL one year after The Recruit appearance

AFL Draft: Meet the new faces of New South Wales

TAC Cup Round 3

AFL site looks at each AFL club's "second" team. Here's what it says about the MFC and the Scorps:-

AFL tradition dictates that by the end of round 1 at least one coach must be under the gun. This year it's Mick Malthouse whose neck is already on the line and it's not helpful that his most vocal critic is a former Carlton great ~ Mick Malthouse shouldnt be re-signed by Carlton as coach, says Mark Maclure. Not only are Carlton people trying to take the Micky out of their coach, they want to take Micky out of Carlton. He might get some respite on Friday night because the Blues take on the Eagles who have lost a big chunk out of their defence already and Carlton has a good record at Subiaco but I suspect that the pressure will continue to mount as the season unfolds unless there's a sudden turnaround in form. Mick Malthouse says Channel 7 and network reporter Mark Stevens have an agenda against him

Geelong played a worse game in mid season last year but managed to regroup to put in some good performances before going out of the finals in straight sets. Definitely on the decline. They have a lot of players coming to the end of their tether and I'm not sure whether the combination of Hawkins and Clark is really going to work - their forward line looked cluttered and one paced.

Has his voice broken yet?

Or perhaps you could turn up yourself and do better. Quite frankly, I'm sick of this unnecessary sniping for absolutely no good reason. There will be zero tolerance for this sort of thing in future. We should be happy we're getting the reports, particularly after a good win like the one we had on Saturday.

From the irrepressible Titus O'Reilly who should know because I believe he supports the Demons - Read his knee jerk for the whole round here

We don't normally get many down to report on training but I have a feeling that a few might go down to Gosch's Paddock tomorrow. No doubt all eyes will be on Chris Dawes and Bernie Vince?

I don't think it's that simple BBO. The forward set up worked well against the Suns but the introduction of Dawes could very well upset the balance and we need plenty of pace against the GWS midfield.

Thanks Roger - sub editing issue now corrected.

Melbourne finally put the score on the board 'It should be a bit of fun I think': Jack backs Dees' attack Jack Watts and Adam Treloar among the likes, Brendon Goddard and Ryan Griffen among the dislikes as Robbo runs rule over Round 1 Paul Roos rapt with Melbournes attacking style to sink Gold Coast Then there's this gem of a review from Supermercado on Demonblog - Reclaim Round 1

Correct weight.

With the Hawks taking centre stage today against the Cats, it's always worth reflecting on this story. How Hawthorn fooled Richmond to scoop Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis in 2004 draft* Hawthorn fans have been boasting about this coup for a long time and I always thought there was an element of urban myth about how their recruiters went about it, but I wonder ... In any event, it laid the groundwork for a very successful Hawthorn era, brought about by the fact that the Hawks were poor enough to win only four games that year after narrowly missing the finals in 2003. * I'll leave it to you to pick the blooper in the article.

I would have to say Jeremy Howe. In the first instance because he had no match practice at all over the pre season after doing his hammy on Australia Day and secondly, because he seems to be taking his game to a higher level in all facets. If he keeps this up, the sky's the limit for him (and his next contract).

As the season progresses Knightmare will update his phantom draft. In the first edition, he bases the order on his predicted positions and it's worthy of note that two of his bottom three have already recorded wins in the first round. Things will change and one wonders which names will be selected in 7 or 8 month's time. Knightmare's 2015 Phantom Draft: 1. Western Bulldogs Darcy Parish (VIC MID/DEF) Height: 179.8cm, Weight: 72.7kg, DOB: 25/07/1997 Recruited from: Geelong Falcons Range: 1-15 Profile: Skillful midfielder. 2. St Kilda Jacob Weitering (VIC KPD/MID) Height: 193.3cm, Weight: 88.7kg, DOB: 23/11/1997 Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays Range: 1-15 Profile: Rebounding key defender with versatility. 3. Melbourne Harley Balic (VIC MID/FWD) Height: 186cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 05/01/1997 Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons Range: 1-15 Profile: Damaging midfielder/forward. 4. West Coast Callum Ah Chee (WA FWD/MID) Height: 182.5cm, Weight: 72kg, DOB: 09/10/1997 Recruited from: South Fremantle Range: 1-15 Profile: Damaging forward/midfielder. 5. Collingwood Darcy Tucker (VIC MID/DEF) Height: 182.4cm, Weight: 75.6kg, DOB: 23/01/1997 Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels Range: 1-15 Profile: Athletic midfielder. 6. GWS Nicholas OKearney (VIC MID) Height: 180.4cm, Weight: 69.1kg, DOB: 13/02/1997 Recruited from: Calder Cannons Range: 1-15 Profile: High production midfielder. 7. Essendon Rhys Mathieson (VIC MID) Height: 184.7cm, Weight: 79.3kg, DOB: 10/01/1997 Recruited from: Geelong Falcons Range: 1-15 Profile: High production midfielder. 8. Adelaide Joshua Schache (VIC KPP) Height: 197.2cm, Weight: 92.5kg, DOB: 21/08/1997 Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers Range: 1-15 Profile: Promising key position player. 9. Brisbane Ben Keays (QLD Bris Academy MID/FWD) Height: 182cm, Weight: 76.3kg, DOB: 23/02/1997 Recruited from: Brisbane Lions Range: 1st round Profile: Strong marking, goalkicking midfield. 10. Carlton Luke Partington (SA MID/FWD) Height: 181cm, Weight: 74kg, DOB: 05/03/1997 Recruited from: Port Adelaide Range: 3-30 Profile: Goalkicking midfielder. 11. Geelong Ryan Burton (SA FWD) Height: 190cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 31/01/1997 Recruited from: North Adelaide Range: 3-25 Profile: Marking medium forward. 12. Fremantle Tom Cole (VIC MID/DEF) Height: 184.8cm, Weight: 75.4kg, DOB: 28/08/1997 Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers Range: 1-15 Profile: High production midfielder. 13. North Melbourne Will Combe (SA MID/FWD) Height: 180cm, Weight: 74.6kg, DOB: 15/07/1997 Recruited from: North Adelaide Range: 3-35 Profile: Dominant inside midfielder. 14. Gold Coast Gregory Clark (WA MID) Height: 191cm, Weight: 81.3kg, DOB: 24/05/1997 Recruited from: Subiaco Range: 5-35 Profile: Promising tall midfielder. 15. Sydney Callum Mills (NSW - Syd Academy MID) Height: 186cm, Weight: 76.8kg, DOB: 04/02/1997 Recruited from: Sydney Swans Range: 1st round Profile: Dominant, well rounded midfielder. 16. Hawthorn Sam Weideman (VIC KPF) Height: 195.1cm, Weight: 87.7kg, DOB: 26/06/1997 Recruited from: Eastern Ranges Range: 5-30 Profile: Strong marking power forward. 17. Richmond Matthew Nunn (SA MID) Height: 181cm, Weight: 72.1kg, DOB: 18/04/1997 Recruited from: Norwood Range: 5-35 Profile: Well performed midfielder. 18. Port Adelaide James Parsons (VIC MID/DEF) Height: 188.3cm, Weight: 75.1kg, DOB: 12/04/1997 Recruited from: Eastern Ranges Range: 10-50 Profile: Excellent through the midfield or down back. 19. Western Bulldogs - Sam Skinner (VIC KPP) Height: 195.3cm, Weight: 87.5kg, DOB: 29/06/1997 Recruited from: Gippsland Power Range: 5-45 Profile: Promising key position player. 20. St Kilda - Kieran Collins (VIC KPD) Height: 192.5cm, Weight: 90.6kg, DOB: 14/12/1997 Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays Range: 10-50 Profile: Promising key defence prospect who can provide some rebound. 21. Melbourne - Jake Sushames (TAS MID/FWD) Height: 184.2cm, Weight: 63.8kg, DOB: 23/09/1997 Recruited from: North Launceston Range: 5-45 Profile: Quick, light bodied midfielder/forward. 22. West Coast - Jordan Snadden (WA MID) Height: 187cm, Weight: 75kg, DOB: 02/08/1997 Recruited from: East Fremantle Range: 5-45 Profile: Promising tall midfielder. 23. Collingwood - Matthew Allen (SA KPF) Height: 191cm, Weight: 88.5kg, DOB: 18/10/1997 Recruited from: Glenelg Range: 10-50 Profile: Marking key forward. 24. GWS - Jacob Hopper (NSW - GWS Academy - MID) Height: 185.5cm, Weight: 78.9kg, DOB: 06/02/1997 Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels Range: 1st 2nd round Profile: Strong contested ball winning midfielder with some pace. 25. Essendon Kieran Agius (SA FWD) Height: 187cm, Weight: 83.9kg, DOB: 01/10/1997 Recruited from: North Adelaide Range: 10-50 Profile: Goal kicking medium forward. 26. Adelaide Jordan Hayden (TAS - MID) Height: 185cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 26/05/1997 Recruited from: Glenorchy Range: 10-50 Profile: Athletic outside midfielder. 27. Brisbane - Eric Hipwood (QLD Brisbane Academy - KPP) Height: 195cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 13/09/1997 Recruited from: Caloundra Range: 2nd round 4th round Profile: Promising key position prospect. 28. Carlton - Charlie Curnow (VIC UTIL) Height: 187cm, Weight: 88kg, DOB: 03/02/1997 Recruited from: Geelong Falcons Range: 10-60 Profile: Versatile and athletic late bloomer. 29. Geelong - Kade Stewart (WA MID) Height: 180cm, Weight: 69kg, DOB: 16/01/1997 Recruited from: South Fremantle Range: 10-50 Profile: Well performed, hard inside midfielder. 30. Fremantle - Luke Shepherd (WA DEF) Height: 188.6cm, Weight: 81kg, DOB: 31/08/1997 Recruited from: Peel Thunder Range: 10-50 Profile: Medium defender. 31. North Melbourne Aaron Francis (SA DEF) Height: 190cm, Weight: 86kg, DOB: 10/08/1997 Recruited from: West Adelaide Range: 10-50 Profile: Medium defender. 32. Gold Coast - Stephen Tahana (SA MID/DEF) Height: 182.5cm, Weight: 76.6kg, DOB: 02/02/1997 Recruited from: North Adelaide Range: 15-65 Profile: Hard working negating midfielder/defender. 33. Sydney Josh Dunkley (VIC Syd F/S MID) Height: 188.1cm, Weight: 84.5kg, DOB: 09/01/1997 Recruited from: Gippsland Power Range: 1st round 2nd round Profile: Dominant contested ball winning midfielder. 34. Hawthorn - Maris Olekalns (SA MID) Height: 179.8cm, Weight: 69.5kg, DOB: 29/10/1997 Recruited from: North Adelaide Range: 10-50 Profile: Damaging midfielder. 35. Richmond - Tim Sullivan (SA RUCK) Height: 198cm, Weight: 83.8kg, DOB: 28/02/1997 Recruited from: Glenelg Range: 20-60 Profile: Ruck prospect with ability around the ground. 36. Port Adelaide - Liam Jeffs (VIC UTIL) Height: 192cm, Weight: 76.9kg, DOB: 30/03/1997 Recruited from: Eastern Ranges Range: 15-65 Profile: Tall, versatile type. 37. Western Bulldogs - Blake Hardwick (VIC FWD) Height: 179.9cm, Weight: 73.5kg, DOB: 05/02/1997 Recruited from: Eastern Ranges Range: 15-65 Profile: Damaging forward. 38. St Kilda - Matthew Stillman (VIC DEF/MID) Height: 180.8cm, Weight: 75.7kg, DOB: 04/04/1997 Recruited from: Calder Cannons Range: 10-60 Profile: Quality ball user. 39. Melbourne - Zak Wunhym (VIC MID) Height: 170.5cm, Weight: 71.6kg, DOB: 22/08/1997 Recruited from: Calder Cannons Range: 15-65 Profile: Small, high production midfielder. 40. West Coast - Dan Houston (VIC FWD) Height: 185.5cm, Weight: 78.4kg, DOB: 12/05/1997 Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers Range: 15-65 Profile: Leadup forward who provides strong scoreboard impact. 41. Collingwood - Bryce Batty (VIC MID) Height: 181.9cm, Weight: 75.5kg, DOB: 16/01/1997 Recruited from: Eastern Ranges Range: 20-60 Profile: Hard inside mid. 42. GWS - Dylan McDonald (NSW GWS Academy - MID) Height: 183cm, Weight: 68kg, DOB: 17/01/1997 Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers Range: 2nd round 4th round Profile: Outside running midfielder. 43. Essendon Ben Crocker (VIC UTIL) Height: 184.7cm, Weight: 77.5kg, DOB: 19/02/1997 Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers Range: 20-rookie Profile: Versatile player with contested ball winning ability. 44. Adelaide Brendan Dew (SA MID/FWD) Height: 177.5cm, Weight: 65.5kg, DOB: 08/05/1997 Recruited from: Central Districts Range: 15-65 Profile: Small goal kicking midfielder. 45. Brisbane - Liam Moseley (QLD Brisbane Academy - MID) Height: 178cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 08/03/1997 Recruited from: Brisbane Lions Range: 2nd round - rookie Profile: Inside midfielder with a ferocious tackling game. 46. Carlton - Brayden Fiorini (VIC MID) Height: 185.2cm, Weight: 75.6kg, DOB: 22/08/1997 Recruited from: Northern Knights Range: 15-65 Profile: Outside midfielder. 47. Geelong - Theo Thompson (VIC DEF/MID) Height: 186.3cm, Weight: 82.3kg, DOB: 25/07/1997 Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons Range: 30-rookie Profile: Hard, contested ball winner. 48. Fremantle Thomas Bennett (WA MID) Height: 183.5cm, Weight: 74kg, DOB: 30/04/1997 Recruited from: East Fremantle Range: 25-rookie Profile: High production midfielder. 49. North Melbourne Jack Watson (WA KPD/DEF) Height: 191cm, Weight: 81kg, DOB: 19/03/1997 Recruited from: Swan Districts Range: 20-60 Profile: Promising rebounding key defender. 50. Gold Coast Logan Reynolds (TAS DEF/MID) Height: 180cm, Weight: 67.2kg, DOB: 19/10/1997 Recruited from: North Launceston Range: 30-rookie Profile: Promising rebounding defender. 51. Sydney Nick Dodge (TAS - FWD) Height: 181.5cm, Weight: 79.2kg, DOB: 06/02/1997 Recruited from: Lauderdale Range: 30-rookie Profile: Promising forward. 52. Hawthorn - Jacob Turner (WA DEF) Height: 188cm, Weight: 85kg, DOB: 05/01/1997 Recruited from: West Perth Range: 25-rookie Profile: Medium defender. 53. Richmond Levi Ridley (WA MID/FWD) Height: 183cm, Weight: 74kg, DOB: 17/02/1997 Recruited from: Swan Districts Range: 25-rookie Profile: Goalkicking midfielder. 54. Port Adelaide Bailey Rogers (WA MID) Height: 184cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 22/03/1997 Recruited from: Claremont Range: 25-rookie Profile: High production midfielder. 55. Western Bulldogs Dylan Atkins (VIC KPP/RUCK) Height: 196.4cm, Weight: 86.2kg, DOB: 22/04/1997 Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons Range: 30-rookie Profile: Developing tall. 56. St Kilda Bailey Rice (VIC St Kilda F/S MID) Height: 183cm, Weight: 81kg, DOB: 10/02/1997 Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays Range: 3rd round - rookie Profile: Strong bodied midfielder. 57. Melbourne Jake Lovett (VIC Melbourne F/S MID) Height: 181.4cm, Weight: 79.9kg, DOB: 09/01/1997 Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays Range: 3rd round rookie Profile: Promising inside midfielder. 58. West Coast Jordan Matera (VIC WCE F/S FWD) Height: 179.5cm, Weight: 76.5kg, DOB: 11/04/1997 Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons Range: 30-rookie Profile: Talented forward. 59. Collingwood Yestin Eades (VIC FWD/MID) Height: 182cm, Weight: 73.7kg, DOB: 10/02/1997 Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels Range: 30-rookie Profile: Talented forward. 60. GWS - Jock Cornell (NSW GWS Academy UTIL) Height: 185cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 04/02/1997 Recruited from: UWS Giants Range: 2nd round 4th round Profile: Versatile outside type. 61. Essendon Tom Wallis (VIC Essendon F/S MID) Height: 181.5cm, Weight: 70.4kg, DOB: 14/02/1997 Recruited from: Calder Cannons Range: 3rd round - rookie Profile: Talented outside midfielder. 62. Adelaide Aidyn Johnson (VIC MID) Height: 181.5cm, Weight: 76.5kg, DOB: 31/10/1997 Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers Range: 25-rookie Profile: Athletic midfielder. 63. Brisbane - Nate Dennis (QLD Brisbane Academy - RUCK/KPD) Height: 200cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 19/08/1997 Recruited from: Kawana Park Range: 2nd round - undrafted Profile: Talented project ruckman. 64. Carlton - Jack Silvagni (VIC Carlton F/S - KPP) Height: 190cm, Weight: 81kg, DOB: 17/12/1997 Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers Range: Late-rookie Profile: Promising key position player. 65. Geelong - Jade Gresham (VIC MID) Height: 175.2cm, Weight: 71.5kg, DOB: 24/08/1997 Recruited from: Northern Knights Range: 25-rookie Profile: Dominant small midfielder. 66. Fremantle Ethan Burnett (WA MID) Height: 182.4cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 02/02/1997 Recruited from: Subiaco Range: 30-rookie Profile: Talented midfielder. 67. North Melbourne - Chad Daniels (WA MID/FWD) Height: 178.5cm, Weight: 70.3kg, DOB: 13/04/1997 Recruited from: Swan Districts Range: 30-rookie Profile: Goalkicking midfielder. 68. Gold Coast Mitch Antonio (WA MID/FWD) Height: 186.4cm, Weight: 62kg, DOB: 18/03/1997 Recruited from: West Perth Range: 30-rookie Profile: Light bodied but damaging player. 69. Sydney Hisham Kerbatieh (VIC FWD) Height: 176.3cm, Weight: 73.1kg, DOB: 16/05/1997 Recruited from: Calder Cannons Range: 25-rookie Profile: Talented small forward. 70. Hawthorn Kieran Malone (VIC FWD) Height: 184.8cm, Weight: 83.1kg, DOB: 16/02/1997 Recruited from: Northern Knights Range: 30-rookie Profile: Tackling specialist forward. 71. Richmond - Max Augerinos (VIC MID) Height: 176.4cm, Weight: 72.8kg, DOB: 31/03/1997 Recruited from: Geelong Falcons Range: 30-rookie Profile: Small ball winning midfielder. 72. Port Adelaide Daniel Robertson (WA FWD/MID) Height: 181.6cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 11/03/1997 Recruited from: West Perth Range: 30-rookie Profile: Strong bodied ball winner. 73. Western Bulldogs Darcy Macpherson (VIC WBD F/S FWD) Height: 172.7cm, Weight: 67.5kg, DOB: 29/10/1997 Recruited from: Northern Knights Range: 30-rookie Profile: Small pressure forward. 74. St Kilda James Coghlan (VIC St Kilda F/S MID/DEF) Height: 180.2cm, Weight: 70.7kg, DOB: 14/07/1997 Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers Range: 3rd round - rookie Profile: Negating midfielder. 75. Melbourne Nicholas Pavlou (VIC FWD) Height: 174cm, Weight: 70kg, DOB: 28/07/1997 Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons Range: 30-rookie Profile: Lively small forward. 76. West Coast Jesse Mirco (WA KPP/MID) Height: 190.5cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 24/01/1997 Recruited from: South Fremantle Range: 20-rookie Profile: Versatile tall. 77. Collingwood Tate Marsh (VIC MID) Height: 175.8cm, Weight: 68.5kg, DOB: 17/02/1997 Recruited from: Gippsland Power Range: 30-rookie Profile: Fast, flashy midfielder. 78. GWS Ben Beioley (SA FWD) Height: 188cm, Weight: 94.1kg, DOB: 17/01/1997 Recruited from: Port Adelaide Range: 30-rookie Profile: Strong bodied forward. 79. Essendon Harvey Daniher (VIC Essendon F/S KPP) Height: 188cm, Weight: 78kg, DOB: 03/10/1997 Recruited from: Calder Cannons Range: 3rd round - rookie Profile: Undersized key forward. 80. Adelaide Leigh Spiteri (VIC FWD) Height: 172.9cm, Weight: 66.8kg, DOB: 30/06/1997 Recruited from: Western Jets Range: 30 - rookie Profile: Small pressure forward. 81. Brisbane - Corey Wagner (QLD Brisbane Academy - MID) Height: 179cm, Weight: 67.2kg, DOB: 23/03/1997 Recruited from: Sandgate Range: 3rd round - rookie Profile: Classy midfielder. 82. Carlton Jake Bradley (VIC Carlton F/S - FWD) Height: 175.3cm, Weight: 66kg, DOB: 04/10/1997 Recruited from: Northern Knights Range: 3rd round - rookie Profile: Developing small forward. 83. Geelong - Dylan Smith (WA KPP) Height: 197cm, Weight: 81kg, DOB: 07/02/1997 Recruited from: Swan Districts Range: 30-rookie Profile: Versatile tall. 84. Fremantle - Blair Della Francis (WA RUCK) Height: 197cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 17/01/1997 Recruited from: West Perth Range: 30-rookie Profile: Developing ruckman. 85. North Melbourne Andre Parella (SA RUCK) Height: 203cm, Weight: 96.8kg, DOB: 21/09/1997 Recruited from: Sturt Range: 30-rookie Profile: Tall tap ruckman. 86. Gold Coast - Brandon Coletta (VIC FWD) Height: 190.5cm, Weight: 79.5kg, DOB: 12/03/1997 Recruited from: Western Jets Range: 30-rookie Profile: Tall forward. 87. Sydney Eddie Simpson (WA RUCK/KPP) Height: 194cm, Weight: 88kg, DOB: 10/02/1997 Recruited from: Claremont Range: 30-rookie Profile: Versatile tall. 88. Hawthorn Ryan Hearn (VIC KPP/RUCK) Height: 196.5cm, Weight: 87kg, DOB: 22/06/1997 Recruited from: Gippsland Power Range: 30-rookie Profile: Developing tall. 89. Richmond - Harry Witts (VIC FWD) Height: 183cm, Weight: 75kg, DOB: 19/04/1997 Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons Range: 30-rookie Profile: Medium forward. 90. Port Adelaide Vinnie Rocca (SA FWD) Height: 168cm, Weight: 61kg, DOB: 14/02/1997 Recruited from: North Adelaide Range: 30-rookie Profile: Goalkicking small forward. And if that's not enough, here's some more:- Over the line sports AFL mock draft Over the line sports Big Board

Seeing those names reminds me that it's an opportune time to hit the road with the first of the Phantom Drafts. I'm going to kick off with Knightmare's Big Footy work. He always starts off with his power rankings and, as foreshadowed at the last draft, the Swans have a big advantage with their academy as well as the best of the father/sons. 2015 power rankings: -- Top One on List Quality -- 1. Callum Mills (NSW - Syd – Academy –MID) 2. Ben Keays (QLD – Bris – Academy –MID/FWD) -- Top Five on List Quality -- 3. Josh Dunkley (VIC – Syd – F/S –MID) -- Top Ten On List Quality -- 4. Luke Partington (SA – MID/FWD) 5. Will Combe (SA – MID/FWD) 6. Jacob Weitering (VIC – KPD/MID) 7. Nicholas O’Kearney (VIC – MID) 8. Darcy Parish (VIC – MID/DEF) 9. Jacob Hopper (NSW - GWS Academy - Mid) 10. Darcy Tucker (VIC – MID/DEF) 11. Harley Balic (VIC – MID/FWD) 12. Callum Ah Chee (WA – FWD/MID) 13. Gregory Clark (WA – MID) 14. Tom Cole – (VIC – MID/DEF) 15. Rhys Mathieson (VIC – MID) 16. Ryan Burton (SA – FWD) 17. Joshua Schache (VIC – KPP) 18. Matthew Nunn (SA – MID) 19. Sam Weideman (VIC – KPF) 20. Kieran Collins (VIC – KPD) -- Projected Best 22 Players -- 21. Blake Hardwick (VIC – FWD) 22. Jake Sushames (TAS – MID/FWD) 23. Jordan Snadden (WA – MID) 24. Sam Skinner (VIC – KPP) 25. Nate Dennis (QLD – Brisbane Academy - RUCK/KPD) 26. Kade Stewart (WA – MID) 27. Jordan Hayden (TAS - MID) 28. Dylan McDonald (NSW – GWS Academy - MID) 29. James Parsons (VIC – MID/DEF) 30. Jock Cornell (NSW – GWS Academy - FWD) 31. Kieran Agius (SA – FWD) 32. Matthew Allen (SA – KPF) 33. Luke Shepherd (WA – DEF) 34. Aaron Francis (SA – DEF) 35. Brendan Dew (SA – MID/FWD) 36. Zak Wunhym (VIC – MID) 37. Charlie Curnow (VIC – Util) 38. Eric Hipwood (QLD – Brisbane Academy - KPP) 39. Maris Olekalns (SA – MID) 40. Brayden Fiorini (VIC – MID) -- In with a chance of making the grade -- 41. Stephen Tahana (SA – MID/DEF) 42. Liam Jeffs (VIC – UTIL) 43. Dan Houston (VIC – FWD) 44. Matthew Stillman (VIC – DEF/MID) 45. Bryce Batty (VIC – MID) 46. Jack Watson (WA – KPD/DEF) 47. Thomas Bennett (WA – MID) 48. Levi Ridley (WA – MID) 49. Bailey Rogers (WA – MID) 50. Liam Moseley (QLD – Brisbane Academy - MID)

With the Demons starting the season with a winning feeling, one hopes that we won't be looking at this year's draft from the position of ownership of some early draft picks. Yesterday saw the first of the representative matches involving young draft hopefuls when the AIS Academy took on VFL team Werribee ~ Academy guns on show Those of us who follow these things can recall this preview into the shape of things to come:

Mario Puzo could not have written a better script. ahem Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American crime boss during the Prohibition era. He bought off/eliminated any possible witness to his criminal activities, the local police and even the mayor of Chicago William Hale Thompson which meant he was seeming safe from law enforcement. They cheered him at ball games and he was regarded as a "modern-day Robin Hood" for his generous donations to charity but, in the end, it was a different arm of the law - the federal authorities - who got him for tax evasion. He was sentenced to eleven years in a federal penitentiary and served eight before his release by which time he had become severely incapacitated by syphilitic dementia. He died at the age of 48 after suffering cardiac arrest. The Bombers might think themselves as "untouchables" but if the anti doping authorities are serious about their mandate to ensure sport is cleaned up then they will use a different jurisdiction - the one in Switzerland through the Court of Arbitration in Sport to get their men. FOOTNOTE: And it ain't going away any time soon ... ASADA boss gets support from antidoping agencies around the world

Match report from Hamish Townsend in Footy Almanac ~ Round 1 Melbourne v Gold Coast: Watts going on down there in Melbourne Town