Whispering_Jack

Wow. Another disappointing way to bow out of a season! Three consecutive losses. Ouch! Let’s vote and remember - there’s always next year.

There’s a lot more to recruiting that meets the eye. The top recruiters spend a great deal of their time on due diligence, interviewing the players they fancy, their families, coaches, school teachers etc in order to establish as thorough a profile of their target as possible. I don’t have that information but on what I’ve seen of his footy skills and prowess, I would be happy to see his name come up at pick 6 if that indeed, is our first pick on Monday night.

2024 AFL National Academy squads announced

129. Tyla Hanks 105. Kate Hore 74. Olivia Purcell 48. Sinéad Goldrick 42. Eden Zanker 38. Lauren Pearce 37. Alyssa Bannan 34. Eliza McNamara 33. Shelley Heath Paxy Paxman 24. Blaithin Mackin 23. Eliza West 22. Tahlia Gillard 16. Maddison Gay Lily Mithen 6. Sarah Lampard 4. Megan Fitzsimon Casey Sherriff Rhiannon Watt 3. Tayla Harris 1. Maeve Chaplin Aimee Mackin

6. Purcell 5. Hanks 4. Hore 3. Gillard 2.Pearce 1. Goldsrick

Anyone care to cast votes?

He was highly regarded in his draft year but considered a bit on the slow side. How did he go at Frankston last year?

Tyla Hanks is poised to emulate the other #5 112. Tyla Hanks 95. Kate Hore 65. Olivia Purcell 42. Eden Zanker 38. Lauren Pearce 37. Alyssa Bannan 33. Eliza McNamara Paxy Paxman 32. Sinéad Goldrick 25. Shelley Heath 23. Eliza West 22. Tahlia Gillard 20. Blaithin Mackin 16. Maddison Gay Lily Mithen 6. Sarah Lampard 4. Casey Sherriff Rhiannon Watt 3. Megan Fitzsimon Tayla Harris 1. Aimee Mackin

Anyone care to have a crack at casting the votes?

CHANGES 2023 Part 2: The Picture by The Oracle The trade and free agency deals are done and, when the dust settled, the picture of how each club’s list was going to appear in 2024 was beginning to become much clearer. For the Melbourne Football Club, the ins and outs appear as follows - In: Jack Billings (St Kilda) Tom Fullarton (Brisbane Lions) Shane McAdam (Adelaide) Out: Luke Dunstan (retired) Brodie Grundy (Sydney Swans) James Harmes (Western Bulldogs) Michael Hibberd (retired) James Jordon (Sydney Swans) Jake Melksham (delisted) Deaykin Smith (delisted ®) Kye Turner (delisted ®) In terms of the players coming into the side, there was no “big fish” captured on the hook. Indeed, all three would have to be regarded as speculative selections by virtue of the fact that none of them have been stand outs in recent seasons. However, as I mentioned in the trade week wrap-up there was nothing in Collingwood’s 2023 recruiting “that screamed brilliance” but four players picked up in the post season are now premiership players. It has been said that Melbourne was interested when Jack Billings was drafted by St Kilda at number 3 ten years ago. The brilliant 185cm, 82kg midfielder/forward has had an up and down 155 game (108 goal) career, highlighted by a place in the Saints’ leadership group and a fourth placing in the best and fairest in 2019. During his time, he has had his share of injuries and some form lapses, but a fit Billings at 28 years of age would certainly be an asset in Melbourne’s attack for the next couple of seasons. Similarly, with Shane McAdam who is also aged 28. The 183cm 79kg forward was a late starter at Adelaide and has notched up 50 games (72 goals) and played in only eight games this season. At his best, he’s a dynamic player with a good bag of skills who could electrify the Demon forward line in combination with Kozzy Pickett. Tom Fullarton played four games for Brisbane in 2022 and none this year. The 24-year-old, 200 cm ruckman/forward with a basketball background could fill a couple of distinct roles including giving the skipper a chop out in the ruck. Brodie Grundy and James Jordon found their separate ways to the Sydney Swans and James Harmes became a Bulldog in a low-profile trade. Luke Dunstan joined Michael Hibberd in retirement after his late season ACL surgery while Jake Melksham was one of the delistings but he’s expected to be relisted as a rookie later this month. Rookies Deaykin Smith and Kye Turner have also been delisted. Daniel Turner is expected to be upgraded to the Primary List before the National Draft. We can also expect to see Kynan Brown (son of former Demon, Nathan Brown) drafted on one of the lists after he nominated himself for selection under the father/son rule. Here’s a look at the club’s list as they stand at present: - PRIMARY LIST 1. Jed Adams 2. Jack Billings 3. Jake Bowey 4. Angus Brayshaw 5. Ben Brown 6. Kade Chandler 7. Tom Fullarton 8. Bayley Fritsch 9. Max Gawn 10. Blake Howes 11. Lachie Hunter 12. Matthew Jefferson 13. Ed Langdon 14. Bailey Laurie 15. Jake Lever 16. Shane McAdam 17. Tom McDonald 18. Steven May 19. Alex Neal-Bullen 20. Clayton Oliver 21. Christian Petracca 22. Harrison Petty 23. Kysaiah Pickett 24. Trent Rivers 25. Christian Salem 26. Josh Schache 27. Joel Smith 28. Charlie Spargo 29. Tom Sparrow 30. Adam Tomlinson 31. Jacob van Rooyen 32. Jack Viney 33. Taj Woewodin ROOKIE LIST CATEGORY A 34. Judd McVee 35. Oliver Sestan 36. Daniel Turner 37. Will Verrell ROOKIE LIST CATEGORY B 38. Kyah Farris-White 39. Andy Moniz-Wakefield With the likely inclusion of Kynan Brown and Jake Melksham on one of the lists, this leaves the club with very little room to maneuver in its drafting although it remains in an advantageous position with two high end picks. Will the club make a play for the highly regarded top selection Harley Reid or will it go for two first rounders? We’ll know soon.

One round plus the finals to go ~ 104. Tyla Hanks 83. Kate Hore 54. Olivia Purcell 42. Eden Zanker 37. Alyssa Bannan 33. Eliza McNamara Paxy Paxman 27. Lauren Pearce 25. Shelley Heath 23. Sinéad Goldrick Eliza West 20. Blaithin Mackin 16. Maddison Gay 15. Lily Mithen 11. Tahlia Gillard 6. Sarah Lampard 4. Casey Sherriff Rhiannon Watt 3. Megan Fitzsimon Tayla Harris 1. Aimee Mackin

And Aussies are 0/108 after 9 overs.

Saints are 21 points up on Brisbane halfway through the last quarter.

I’ll kick it off ~ 6. Paxman 5. West 4. McNamara 3. Fitzsimon 2. Mithen 1. Zanker

2023 AFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-27 (first edition) How does this one sound to you?

If true, I would be very disappointed that we are selling the entire farm for one player. Happy if they let it go.

Where they stand after Round 8:- 102. Tyla Hanks 81. Kate Hore 54. Olivia Purcell 42. Eden Zanker 37. Alyssa Bannan 27. Lauren Pearce 25. Shelley Heath 23. Eliza McNamara 19. Blaithin Mackin 16. Maddison Gay 15. Sinéad Goldrick Paxy Paxman 11. Tahlia Gillard 10. Lily Mithen 9. Eliza West 6. Sarah Lampard 4. Casey Sherriff Rhiannon Watt 3. Tayla Harris 1. Aimee Mackin

6. Hanks 5. Purcell 4. Hore 3. B Mackin 2. Gillard 1. Mithen

From House of Footy 2023 AFL Draft Rankings: October Edition

The final wrap

Players who remain uncontracted - Adelaide James Borlase Brisbane Lions Blake Coleman, Rhys Mathieson, Darryl McDowell-White, Carter Michael, Dayne Zorko Carlton Nil Collingwood Aiden Begg, Josh Carmichael, Will Kelly, Nathan Kreuger Essendon Jaiden Hunter, Will Snelling, Patrick Voss Fremantle Nil Geelong Mitch Hardie, Flynn Kroeger, Oscar Murdoch Gold Coast Suns Sandy Brock, Levi Casboult, Sam Day, Oskar Faulkhead, Hewego Paul Oea, Alex Sexton, Jeremy Sharp, Jake Stein, James Tsitas, Bodhi Uwland GWS Giants Cooper Hamilton, Lachlan Keeffe, Callan Ward Hawthorn Lachie Bramble, Fergus Greene, Ned Long Melbourne Jake Melksham Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Kye Turner North Melbourne Aiden Bonar, Jack Mahony, Kayne Turner Port Adelaide Orazio Fantasia, Sam Hayes, Scott Lycett Richmond Mate Colina St Kilda Tom Campbell, Thomas Highmore, Daniel McKenzie Sydney Swans Jaiden Magor, Sam Reid, Sam Wicks West Coast Jordyn Baker, Tyrell Dewar, Zane Trew Western Bulldogs Dominic Bedendo, Hayden Crozier, Taylor Duryea, Lachlan McNeil, Roarke Smith

THE TRADING CHRONICLES by The Oracle Part 2 The AFL’s free agency and trading period came to an abrupt end yesterday with the usual fast and furious circus frenzy of activity. In the end, a number of players and draft picks had changed hands over a little more than a week and a half of horse trading that involved the usual huff, bluff, some recriminations and even the odd whiff of scandal if the social media could be believed. Clubs were claiming victory of sorts and no doubt, the pundits will be declaring the winners and losers as early as this morning. However, in reality, we won’t know until several months (and probably years) hence as to who succeeded in their aims, who did well and who failed as a result of the process … as they say, “the proof is in the pudding is in the eating”. The value of its quality will be judged on the direct experience the clubs achieve from their input into the process — or, put simply, on its results. The best and most immediate example of this assertion is with Collingwood, which last year added four players onto its list as a result of free agency and trades — Billy Frampton, Bobby Hill, Dan McStay and Tom Mitchell. Three of the four players were members of the 2023 premiership team with free agent McStay missing out due to a knee injury. Another recruit in Oleg Markov was also in that team after gaining a list place in the Supplemental Selection Period. None of the new names engendered real excitement twelve months ago but, on the last day in September, Hill and Mitchell were considered in their team’s best half dozen players. Their other new teammates will forever be known as part of a celebrated premiership. The Magpies’ other trades involved the departures of All-Australian Brodie Grundy to Melbourne and another handy player in Oliver Henry who joined his brother at Geelong. So we look at what happened with each of the 18 AFL clubs in the 2023 AFL Free Agency and Trade period …  Adelaide Received: Chris Burgess, pick 14, end of first-round (for Tom Doedee), future second (tied to Melbourne) Gave: Shane McAdam, Pick 23, Pick 26 Brisbane Lions Received: Tom Doedee, Brandon Ryan, Pick 39, Pick 54, future fourth (tied to Hawthorn) Gave: Tom Fullarton, Jack Gunston, future second (tied to Brisbane), Pick 61 Carlton Received: Elijah Hollands, Pick 21, future fourth (tied to St Kilda), future fourth (tied to Bulldogs) Gave: Zac Fisher, Paddy Dow, Pick 17, future third (tied to Carlton), future fourth (tied to Carlton) Collingwood Received: Lachie Schultz, Pick 33, future second, future third (both tied to Hawthorn) Gave: Jack Ginnivan, Taylor Adams, future first (tied to Collingwood), Pick 39, future second, future fourth (both tied to Collingwood) Essendon Received: Ben McKay, Todd Goldstein, Jade Gresham, Xavier Duursma, Pick 35 Gave: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Massimo D'Ambrosio, Pick 52, future third (tied to Essendon), future fourth (tied to Essendon), Pick 73 Fremantle Received: Future first (tied to Port Adelaide), future first (tied to Collingwood, future second, future fourth (both tied to St Kilda) Gave: Lachie Schultz, Liam Henry, Pick 23, future second (tied to Fremantle), future fourth (tied to Fremantle) Geelong Received: Pick 25, Pick 76, Pick 94 Gave: Esava Ratugolea Gold Coast Suns Received: Future first (tied to Bulldogs), future end of first (NM special assistance), Pick 23, Pick 26, Pick 28, Pick 35, future second (tied to Brisbane), future third (tied to Essendon) Gave: Mabior Chol, Elijah Hollands, Chris Burgess, Pick 4, Pick 46, Pick 51, future fourth (tied to Gold Coast) GWS Giants Received: End of second round pick Gave: Matt Flynn Hawthorn Received: Mabior Chol, Jack Gunston, Jack Ginnivan, Massimo D'Ambrosio, Pick 47, Pick 49, future second, Pick 44, Pick 62, Pick 63 Gave: Jacob Koschitzke, Tyler Brockman, Brandon Ryan, Pick 33, pick 54, future second future third, future fourth (all tied to Hawthorn) Melbourne Received: Jack Billings, Shane McAdam, Tom Fullarton, Pick 11, end of second (for James Jordon), future third (tied to Bulldogs) Gave: James Harmes, Pick 14, Pick 27, future second (tied to Melbourne) Pick 35, Pick 47, future third (tied to Melbourne) North Melbourne Received: Zac Fisher, Dylan Stephens, Bigoa Nyuon, Toby Pink, first round (for Ben McKay), Pick 17, Pick 18 Gave: Two future end of first, Pick 21, Pick 65 Port Adelaide Received: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Esava Ratugolea, Ivan Soldo, Jordan Sweet, Pick 73, two future fourths (tied to Essendon and Carlton) Gave: Xavier Duursma, Future first (tied to Port Adelaide), Pick 41, Pick 49, future fourth (tied to Port Adelaide), Pick 76, Pick 94 Richmond Received: Jacob Koschitzke, Pick 41, future second (tied to Fremantle), future fourth (tied to Port Adelaide) Gave: Ivan Soldo, Bigoa Nyuon, Pick 50 St Kilda Received: Liam Henry, Paddy Dow, end of first (for Jade Gresham), future third (tied to Carlton), Pick 40, future third (tied to Melbourne) Gave: Jack Billings, Nick Coffield, Future second, future fourth (both tied to St Kilda), Pick 35, Pick 56 Sydney Swans Received: Taylor Adams, Brodie Grundy, James Jordon, Joel Hamling, end of first (NM special assistance) Gave: Pick 25, Pick 33, future second (tied to Sydney), pick 46 West Coast Eagles Received: Matt Flynn, Tyler Brockman Gave: Pick 44, Pick 63 Western Bulldogs Received: James Harmes, Nick Coffield, Pick 5, Pick 46, Pick 50, Pick 51, Pick 52, Pick 56 Gave: Jordon Sweet, Pick 10, Pick 17, future first (tied to Bulldogs), Pick 40, future third, future fourth (both tied to Bulldogs) I know I’ve been in full cliche mode today but I don’t hesitate to say everything is all in the eyes of the beholder. Just as there was nothing in Collingwood’s 2023 that screamed brilliance about its recruiting, we simply don’t know how things will pan out for the clubs in 2024. A few were barely involved in the nitty gritty while a few were busy … we’ll see how the season unfolds and, of course, with more opportunities to recruit and the draft to come, there’s lots more water to flow under the bridge. From Melbourne’s perspective, the three players taken collectively played very little football in 2023 but who knows how they will fare in 2024?

I sense that getting Billings would represent a concession that we’re unlikely to be able to pick up Harley Reid in this draft.

It’s the penultimate day of the Trade Period, Magpies forward Jack Ginnivan requested a surprise trade, with Hawthorn set to make a move, Shane McAdam was traded to Melbourne from Adelaide, while Port confirmed they are prepared to use pre-season and national draft picks to secure Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher if needed.