Whispering_Jack

If we get enough interest from our readers. Here’s my effort - 6. Bannan 5. Purcell 4. Hanks 3. Zanker 2. Paxman 1. Hore

So, with the exception of the injured Luke Dunstan, the players coming out of the side are either ineligible to play according to the guidelines (whatever they are) or have been held back in case they are required. One can probably assume that if Ben Brown or Michael Hibberd have been ruled fit to play, the same thing applies to them. We’ve all been scratching our heads this week about the guidelines but it’s fairly clear that they’re irrelevant to Melbourne. However, what is clear is that the club has plenty of depth going into the finals with at least 6 players in contention for selection on top of the 22 fit players from the Sydney game plus Adam Tomlinson. Then there are BBB and Hibbo possibly for later on and James Harmes still a chance if he can join Mitch White, Jimmy Munro and Matt Buntine as an on ground leader and show us the form he’s capable of as an MFC premiership player. Good luck Harmesy! As to the guidelines, I think it’s worthwhile someone calling Channel 7 and requesting that their commentators explain how players become eligible to play in the finals series they are covering.

Anyone remember these?

Hey, it’s GAMEDAY and our premiership winning women deserve a GAMEDAY thread as much as our men. More so as we raise our premiership flag tonight in front of the old enemy. Go Demons!!!

We’re into September and with the coming of Spring, the first of the Phantom Drafts begin to rise up. ESPN has a new reporter doing its draft work and here’s his effort with less than three months to go before the real thing- AFL Phantom Draft: How will the first round of the 2023 draft play out? Spoiler alert: Harley Reid is #1. 😀

SEN has a crack at selection

This weekend sees a Wild Card round including all teams except for the Tassie Devils who finished on top for the first time in their history and the northern state academies who took part in a limited number of matches throughout the season. The finals system for the Coates Boys League is explained in this article - Explainer: Coates Talent League Wildcard Round

The Coates League has reached the finals stage. This is the ladder at the end of the home and away season.

• Friday October 6 - National AFL Draft Combine at MCG & Margaret Court Arena. • Friday, October 6 9am – Friday October 13 2023 5pm - Restricted and Unrestricted Free Agency Period (bid matching ends Sunday October 16 2023 5pm). • Sunday October 8 - Victorian State Combine 
at Margaret Court Arena (for players from ACT, NSW, QLD, TAS, & VIC). • Monday October 9 9am – Wednesday October 18 7.30pm Trade Period (1) picks and players. • Tuesday October 10 9am – Monday November 13 3pm Draft Nominations. • Saturday October 14 - South Australian State Combine at University SA Mawson Lakes and Bridgestone Athletics Track (for players from SA & NT). • Sunday October 15 - Western Australian State Combine at Curtin University (for players from WA). • Monday October 23 9am – Friday November 10 5pm Trade Period (2) picks only. • Tuesday October 31 2pm List Lodgement 1*. • Wednesday November 1 9am – Wednesday November 8 5pm Delisted Free Agency Period (1). • Friday November 10 9am–5pm Delisted Free Agency Period (2) • Tuesday November 14 2pm List Lodgement 2* • Monday November 20 AFL National Draft First Round (time and venue TBA) • Tuesday November 21 5.45pm–6.30pm Trade Period (3) picks only. • Tuesday November 21 AFL National Draft Remaining Rounds (time and venue TBA) • Tuesday November 21 after completion of the AFL National Draft Rookie Promotions. • Tuesday, November 21 after completion of the AFL National Draft Delisted Free Agency Period (3). • Wednesday, November 22 10am List Lodgement 3* (optional; required for those participating in the Pre-Season Draft) • Wednesday, November 22 3pm Pre-Season Draft (on-line) • Wednesday, November 22 3.20pm Rookie Draft (on-line) • Thursday, November 23 4pm Final List Lodgement*. * 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.

Sadly, selection will be something of a consolation price for Luke following his ACL injury.

Confirmed by Essendon - Darcy Parish has signed a five-year deal.

The Herald Sun’s online edition article on what it’s writers think your club will do with their first draft pick says this about the clubs that have first right to a raft of talented youngsters likely to be picked early in the National Draft - GOLD COAST Current Indicative Draft Order: 4, 28, 31, 42, 47, 56, 60, 65, 69, 78, 96 We know what Gold Coast is likely to do with not only its first draft pick but potentially up to four selections. The club's first selection currently sits at pick four, but that is on the trade table given it will otherwise be swallowed up by matching Suns Academy bids. The first of those bids is likely to come for key forward Jed Walter as early as pick two or three, while mobile ruckman Ethan Read and tough inside midfielder Jake Rogers could also attract bids within the first 12 picks on draft night. The Suns also have another Academy midfielder in Will Graham, who is likely to attract a bid in the 30s or 40s. Gold Coast has already loaded up on points in this draft to give it the ability to match all these bids.

PREVIEW: Smithy's VFL Week One Finals The Bulldogs have risen from the depths with 10 wins in a row but most of their recent victories have been against the lower ranked teams in the competition. Much will depend on team selection with the devastating loss to the Demons of Luke Dunstan to an ACL injury, a major blow.

This Herald Sun article asks what each club will do with its first pick - Ultimate guide: What will your club do with its first pick? It’s early days still, but this is what the author says about the Demons: MELBOURNE Current Indicative Draft Order: 5, 15, 24, 34, 89 As it stands, the Demons hold two of the first 15 selections in this draft. That's because they secured Fremantle's first-round selection last year as part of the trade that sent ruckman-forward Luke Jackson to the Dockers. There have been indications that Melbourne could package up picks to move up the order. However, if they hold onto pick five - which could become pick six or seven - it would still put them in the frame for a high-end talent. If exciting forwards Zane Duursma and Nick Watson are already off the board, the Demons could look at 192cm marking forward Nate Caddy to try and bolster their tall forward stocks into the future. If Melbourne wants to look to life after Steven May and Jake Lever, Connor O'Sullivan would also be in the mix as a big-bodied 198cm key defender who has had an outstanding season.

Mitch Georgiades has signed a new 4-year deal with Port Adelaide.

Let us know what your 2023 Draft and Trade Targets are - either specific or general.

Please post all new threads relating to Trades, Draft & Free Agency on this Board. Any threads relating to these topics that are started in the Melbourne Demons Board will be moved here. The unofficial name of board is the Way To Go Trade Draft & Free Agency Board dedicated to the good folk at the other end of the continent who made possible draft picks 5 and 24 and last year’s first pick Matt Jefferson who is coming along nicely at Casey along with one or two other little gifts. Please note that all of the usual Demonland rules about posting apply there … and please be respectful 😀. Way to Go!!!

Nor Clarrie or Bowey … but they had a few out too!

Wasted a phone call.

Subject to being enlightened as to the correct rules, this is my eligibility list based on the 12/6 rule - Jed Adams 0/19 Ben Brown 7/8 * Luke Dunstan 0/15 * Kyah Farris-White 0/7 Brodie Grundy 17/4 James Harmes 9/9 Michael Hibberd 11/4 * Blake Howes 0/14 * Jefferson Matthew 0/19 Jordon James 17/5 Bailey Laurie 4/15 Tom McDonald 6/6 Jake Melksham 13/6 * Andy Moniz-Wakefield 0/18 Josh Schache 2/15 Sestan Oliver 0/16 * Smith Deakyn 0/19 Joel Smith 12/5 Charlie Spargo 13/ 7 Adam Tomlinson 8/9 Daniel Turner 2/10 Kye Turner 0/5 Jacob van Rooyen 0/3 Will Verrall 0/8 Taj Woewoedin 4/12 Players in red bold seem to be eligible to play this weekend Players in red bold with an asterisk * seem to be eligible to play but are on our injury list Players in blue bold seem not to be eligible to play It seems to me that it would make sense if players could be deemed eligible to play on application by the club if special circumstances applied e.g. player genuinely returning after an injury.

Anyone have a link to the current rules for VFL finals eligibility? Does the link above to the 2016 rules reflect the current situation? * * I doubt that it does because these rules also relate to the now defunct Development League suggesting there are newer rules in place.

Harley Reid has held on tightly to the #1 slot for the whole year - AFL Draft Power Rankings: August 2023 It’s more a question of whether the Eagles will hold onto Pick 1 or whether someone can make them an offer they can’t refuse?

I can’t see BBB getting selected for this game. He failed a pre game fitness test a fortnight ago and was listed on the injury list as “TBC” which doesn’t inspire confidence in his ability to come up for selection this week.

The order after the home and away series: ROUND ONE 1. West Coast Eagles 2. North Melbourne 3. Hawthorn 4. Gold Coast Suns 5. Melbourne 6. GWS Giants 7. Geelong 8. Essendon 9. Adelaide 10. Western Bulldogs 11. Sydney Swans 12. GWS Giants 13. St Kilda 14. Carlton 15. Melbourne 16. North Melbourne 17. Western Bulldogs 18. Collingwood ROUND TWO 19. West Coast Eagles 20. Adelaide 21. Fremantle 22. Sydney Swans 23. Adelaide 24. Melbourne 25. Richmond 26. Brisbane Lions 27. Essendon 28. Gold Coast Suns 29. Hawthorn 30. Sydney Swans 31. Gold Coast Suns 32. St. Kilda 33. Collingwood 34. Melbourne 35. West Coast Eagles 36. Western Bulldogs 37. Port Adelaide ROUND THREE 38. West Coast Eagles 39. North Melbourne 40. Fremantle 41. Sydney Swans 42. Gold Coast Suns 43. Port Adelaide 44. Richmond 45. Brisbane Lions 46. Essendon 47. Gold Coast Suns 48. Hawthorn 49. Sydney Swans 50. GWS Giants 51. St Kilda 52. Fremantle 53. North Melbourne 54. West Coast Eagles 55. Brisbane Lions 56. Gold Coast Suns ROUND FOUR 57. West Coast Eagles 58. Fremantle 59. North Melbourne 60. Gold Coast Suns 61. Brisbane Lions 62. Richmond 63. Western Bulldogs 64. Carlton 65. Gold Coast Suns 66. Western Bulldogs 67. Essendon 68. GWS Giants 69. Gold Coast Suns 70. Carlton 71. Western Bulldogs 72. Port Adelaide 73. GWS Giants 74. Collingwood ROUND FIVE 75. West Coast Eagles 76. North Melbourne 77. Hawthorn 78. Gold Coast Suns 79. Fremantle 80. Richmond 81. Geelong 82. Essendon 83. Adelaide 84. Western Bulldogs 85. Sydney Swans 86. GWS Giants 87. St Kilda 88. Carlton 89. Melbourne 90. Port Adelaide 91. Brisbane Lions 92. Collingwood The order will continue to change as the ladder positions change during the finals series.