Whispering_Jack

It seems that @Demonland has been lurking around in his DMC DeLorean again. I have elicited a promise from him that he won’t get ahead of himself or go back in time for now. We’re back to taking things one week at a time.

I believe the soccer genius you refer to might have been Niall Quinn who played Gaelic football and hurling as a youth in Dublin, including the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Final in Croke aged 16, in 1983. He once captained an Irish GAA youth side on a tour to Australia, and was offered a professional contract to play Australian Rules Football with Melbourne, but opted for professional football, in England where he played with Arsenal, Manchester City and Sunderland, and was ex-chairperson of Sunderland FC. He played for the Republic of Ireland from 1986 to 2002. Quinn was a 193cm striker and I believe that had he chosen to play our football, he might have been a key forward or defender and taken us one step up the ladder in those years in the late 80s and 90s when we came close to challenging for a flag. Needless to say, I remain disappointed that Melbourne has apparently chosen not to test the waters in this arena in recent years. Without the likes of Jimmy Stynes and Sean Wight, the club might well not even be in existence today.

Mark down the name of Jack Behnk, a Casey lister who also plays for St Bedes Mentone Tigers and was nominated as VAFA Mens Rising Star award on the back of a starring 5 goal performance. He has represented Casey this year during the practice match series.

VFL player by player: Which Dees dominated?

The 2024 Mid-Season Rookie Draft will be held on Wednesday, May 29. The AFL Free Agency period commences on Friday, October 4 and will run until Friday, October 11. The 2024 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period will commence on Monday, October 7 and will run until Wednesday, October 16. AFL confirms dates for 2024 free agency, trade and draft periods KEY DATES FOR THE 2024 AFL TRADE AND DRAFT PERIODS * AFL Grand Final - Saturday, September 28 2024 * Draft Combines & Nominations National Draft Combine: Friday, October 4 2024 to Sunday, October 6 2024 State Combines: Victoria: Sunday, October 6 2024 SA, NT: Saturday, October 12 2024 WA: Sunday, October 13 2024 Draft Nominations: To be advised * Free Agency Period - Friday, October 4 2024 to Monday, October 14 2024 * Restricted & Unrestricted Free Agency Period - Friday, October 4 2024 9am to Friday, October 11 2024 5pm with bid matching ending on Monday October 14 2024 5pm * Trade Period (1) Picks and Players - Monday, October 7, 9am to Wednesday October 16, 7.30pm * Trade Period (2) Picks only - To be advised * List Lodgement 1 - Thursday, 31 October 2024 * Delisted Free Agency Period (1) - To be advised * Delisted Free Agency Period (2) - To be advised * List Lodgement 2 - To be advised * National Draft, Pre-Season Draft & Rookie Draft Period - November 20 2024 to November 21 2024 * Round 1 of the National Draft - Wednesday, November 20 2024 Time and venue To be advised * Trade Period (3) Picks only - Thursday, November 21 2024 5.45pm to 6.30pm * Round 2 to end of the National Draft - Thursday, November 21 2024 7pm until completion * Rookie Promotions - Thursday, November 21 2024 after the National Draft * Delisted Free Agency Period (3) - Thursday, November 21 2024 after the National Draft * List Lodgement 3 - Friday, November 22 2024 10am (optional - required for those participating in the Pre-Season Draft) * Pre-Season Draft - Friday, November 22 2024 3pm * Rookie Draft - Friday, November 22 2024 3.20pm * Final List Lodgement - To be advised List lodgement dates are yet to be made public, so are approximate based on past history and the requirements of the AFL Rules. When lists are lodged, the number of players on the list must not exceed maximum list sizes. At the same time, clubs must provide the AFL with estimates of total player payments in the current and following year, which must prove the club is not and will not exceed the salary cap. (AFL Rules 5.3, 6.1, 6.8, 7.2, 7.9)

I have for some time, advocated that when developing players are not performing in the VFL then it might be of benefit that they go to an appropriate local suburban competition to work on their skills. I recently cited the case of a Collingwood Category B rookie playing last year or the year before in the VAFA. Now, it seems that Richmond has the same idea with one of its Category B rookies. The player in question is obviously being given time to adapt to the game in a less demanding competition. Unless, there is something happening with KFW that we’re not being told, this would seem a better course than seeing him struggle for kicks on limited time in the VFL. From Herald Sun online

Injuries are injuries but if we look at Richmond’s current injury list, we should definitely not be complaining about our lot.

The persistent Tigers held on for three quarters before the Demons, powered by some accuracy in front of goal (for once), ran away at the end of the game. Harry Petty kicked 6.0 while Jake Melksham and JvR managed 4.0 each. Unfortunately, all three were missing when the team was ousted from the finals in September. MELBOURNE 3.5.23 8.5.53 14.6.90 20.10.130 RICHMOND 5.4.34 9.7.61 13.8.86 15.8.98 THE TEAMS RICHMOND B N. Balta, D. Grimes T. Young HB N. Vlastuin N. Broad D. Rioli C K. McIntosh T. Taranto J. Ross HF J. Graham J. Hopper L. Baker F J. Riewoldt D. Martin M. Pickett FOLL I. Soldo D. Prestia S. Bolton I/C S. Banks, T. Cotchin R. Mansell B. Miller SUB M. Coulthard EMG N. Cumberland H. Ralphsmith S. Ryan No Change MELBOURNE B T. Rivers, S. May, J. Lever HB C. Salem A. Tomlinson J. Bowey C L. Hunter J. Viney E. Langdon HF K. Chandler J. Melksham J. Jordon F A. Neal-Bullen J. Van Rooyen K. Pickett FOLL M. Gawn A. Brayshaw C. Petracca I/C J. Harmes J. McVee H. Petty T. Woewodin SUB J. Smith EMG B. Grundy M. Hibberd C. Spargo IN J. Harmes H. Petty OUT B. Brown T. Sparrow

Scouting Notes: AFL Academy vs. Coburg VFL

A versatile player to look out for in this year’s draft.

Joel Smith is also out for reasons that are well documented.

PORT MELBOURNE vs CASEY DEMONS Saturday 13 April, 2:05pm, Kinetic Stadium Head-to-Head: Casey Demons 32-29-1; At Kinetic Stadium: Never Met; Streak: Casey Demons 1 Last Time: Casey Demons 18.11 119 def Port Melbourne 8.13 61 (July 2, 2022, Casey Fields) PORT MELBOURNE B: B. Smith (22), T. Highmore (35), G. Barnes (25) HB: T. Watson (11), F. Rosman (3), L. Rankin (15) C: T. Hird (4), H. Hooper (37), J. Green (14) HF: A. Anastasio (19), J. Miller (23), H. Stubbings (12) F: B. Gowers (10), J. Conlan (34), M. Signorello (17) R: F. Flockart (27), R. Smith (18), S. Philp (9) INT: C. Walker (29), L. Coghlan (30), A. Curry (13), L. Modica (56), C. Henness (7) EMG: N. Stuhldreier (31), J. Johnston (20), A. Manton (16), H. Maguire (38), T. Hofert (21), S. Johnson (8), M. Moschetti (6) IN: J. Conlan, J. Green, C. Henness, L. Modica, S. Philp, H. Stubbings OUT: O. Mulady (hip), K. Viccars (concussion), M. Gahan (unavailable), T. Hofert, A. Manton, M. Moschetti NEW: Jacob Conlan, 24, 191cm, Albury; Cody Henness, 25, 193cm, Sandringham; Sam Philip, 22, 187cm, Carlton AFL CASEY DEMONS B: T. Freeman (67), A. Tomlinson (20), J. Adams (26) HB: A. Moniz-Wakefield (45), D. Turner (42), L. Connolly (55) C: N. Moodie (74), B. Laurie (16), T. Edwards (58) HF: R. Steele (54), J. Schache (19), O. Sestan (38) F: M. Jefferson (21), T. Fullerton (33), L. Hunter (12) R: W. Verrall (28), M. White (52), K. Brown (41) INT: B. Laplanche (68)*, M. Szybkowski (56), K. Windsor (66), P. Cross (64), K. Farris-White (43) EMG: H. Neocleous (75), C. Peters (63), T. Sheridan (53), M. Gregory (57) IN: L. Hunter, B. Laplanche, B. Laurie, A. Tomlinson, D. Turner, K. Windsor OUT: K. Tholstrup (AFL), C. Hustwaite (foot), M. Gregory, C. Peters, T. Sheridan, Z. Toledo NEW: Brayden Laplanche, 18, 189cm, Rowville/Eastern Ranges; Kai Windsor, 20, 180cm, Box Hill Hawks

Squads named for Victorian Under 18 trials

Based on the above and the club's published injury list these are the AFL listed players we can expect to see tomorrow. Jed Adams, Kynan Brown, Kyah Farris-White, Tom Fullarton, Lachie Hunter, Matt Jefferson, Bailey Laurie, Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Josh Schache, Ollie Sestan, Adam Tomlinson, Daniel Turner and Will Verrall. However, based on some of the training reports, one or two of the above might not play.

This is usually a big game on the draft calendar - one in which reputations can often be made. PREVIEW | AFL U18 Australian Academy vs. Coburg VFL

The squads have started coming in for the U18 National Championships and high-flyer Ned Bowman (see post above) has been selected. 2024 South Australian U18 squad finalised

He’s the Kolt but not from Snowy River. Still, it’s worthwhile recognizing the work of one of our great poets who knew quality when he saw it.

Ollie Sestan was not named on the injury list. Mystery injury of the week?

Five games in and they’ve already named a railroad station after him!

ANB not there? That’s a surprise.

He can take a mark but can he play?

Thanks to everyone who contributed. We have a full match preview ready but now await the tribunal verdict on Kozzie to enable the final edit to be done.

I really haven’t noticed it - probably because I’m more interested in the content.

Good start … and the clubhouse leader. Where are all of our expert commentators?