Whispering_Jack

Kynan Brown had 20 touches and kicked a couple of goals today but the Chargers lost by 7 points to the Eastern Ranges in their Elimination Final today - meaning season’s end for him.

On this day, 9 September, in 1990 we beat the Hawks for the second straight week, this time in an Elimination Final. Pity that Collingwood and the Eagles drew so that we had to wait two weeks for our next final and lost all the momentum.

To suggest that this was a football act after the recent history of head high hits and the AFL’s mantra of the head being sacrosanct is ridiculous. At best, Maynard was careless and that should be sufficient in the circumstances, to make it a three game suspension.

Your defence of Mac Andrew is admirable but you’re sadly missing Freddy’s point which is that like Andrew who was a first round draft pick, Jefferson attracted unfair criticism from the nuff nuffs on social media for his overall performance. Andrew kicked on a bit in his second year eventually getting a rising Star nomination. Like Andrew, Jefferson was hot and cold in year one but he also had some highlights playing in a team where he competed with other KPFs including TMac, BBB and Schache leaving him with less game time. Yet he did show promise kicking 23 goals (including two bags of four goals) to be second highest Casey goal kicker in his first year. He looked pretty well gassed at the end of the year and had little support as a KPF in the final in a game where the Bulldogs dominated but let’s see how he goes with his first full preseason and some work on weights behind him before canning the kid.

The Herald Sun online has updated its profiles:- Harry De Mattia Midfielder/Forward Club: Dandenong Stingrays/ Edithvale-Aspendale State: VIC Age: 11/09/05 Weight: 77kg Height: 184cm 2023 Coates Talent League 102 ranking points, 19 disposals, 3.8 marks, 2.6 clearances, 4.1 inside-50s, 4.8 tackles, 3.9 score involvements, 0.6 goals (11 games) 2023 National Champs. 73 ranking points, 14.3 disposals, 2 marks, 5 inside-50s, 2.3 clearances, 4 tackles, 3 score involvements (4 games) A former junior cricket star who represented Victoria, De Mattia impressed recruiters during the national championships with Vic Country. He showed off his explosive speed breaking away from the contest, as well as nice agility, clean hands and his pressure game. De Mattia was also deployed in a different role in the backline during the final match of the tournament and didn’t look out of place given he is a defensively-minded player who regularly lays plenty of tackles. Dual-sport athletes have some added appeal to clubs given their ability to learn, which could enhance De Mattia’s prospects later in the year.

Nothing spooky. I have a long association in junior football and often get early information on up and coming prospects as a result. If we end up drafting them it’s purely coincidence.

Actually, he’s not overage at all although he was born in January so he’s older than many in that age group. Date of birth: 13/1/2005.

There has to be a better answer than what we were dished up with this weekend. Both Casey and Collingwood VFL went down in a screaming heap. In our case, a number of players will be left without valuable match practice in the event of them being required to play later in September. There are concerns about a couple of our young players who played without the support of more experienced players who could have taken part and hopefully, they will take the lead of the likes of Judd McVee, JvR and Taj Woewoedin and work on their development over the off season. Most of us would have discounted McVee’s future prospects 12 months ago when he struggled at this level and yet, he is one of very few who have played every game throughout this season. It wasn’t luck. He didn’t sit back feeling sorry for himself - he put in the hard yards over the summer. Still, the AFL & VFL have to do something about this debacle that is discussed in this Herald Sun article - Grundy might have played last Dees game after VFL debacle “A new chink was thumped in the armour of the beefed up VFL on Saturday when Melbourne pulled out players from Casey's knockout clash with Footscray. ”As the AFL Demons prepared for a Thursday qualifying final, Casey's team announcement on Friday was more about who wasn't playing than who was”… “The 21-team VFL is riddled with flaws and seems destined for further shake ups in years to come. “There is no doubt if it were a genuine reserves competition, games wouldn't have been played on an AFL bye weekend and perhaps it is worth considering moving the competition in line with the bye, with a potential VFL grand final the Friday night before the AFL decider. “Yet again on Saturday, it appeared like the league was caught between being reserves or a serious competition in its own right”. Hopefully, this is the last time we see this situation arise.

https://www.afl.com.au/video/922200/2023-coates-talent-league-profile-series-harry-demattia?modal=true&publishFrom=1683770400001&type=video&videoId=922200

No matter which AFL club drafts Harry DeMattia, he will forever be known as a Demon because in the other sport at which he excels - cricket - Harry has represented Melbourne in Premier District Cricket. Indeed, the talented cricketer/footballer already took part in that game at its highest level when he was a substitute fielder for the Australian cricket team during last year's Boxing Day Test against South Africa. I first came across his name about four years ago when I read about his exploits as a junior footballer with Edithvale-Aspendale where he played in their Under 14 premiership, topped the competition goal kicking with a tally of well over the ton including one 20 goal haul. A couple of years later, the name cropped up at the MCC where he was generating interest as a left arm leg spinner and making the senior team at 16 years of age. Next thing, he’s playing footy with the Dandenong Stingrays as an underage player in 2022 and this year, the speedy midfielder/forward was the Vic Country co-captain. He runs the 20-metre sprint in 2.94 seconds, looks and plays like a true X factor cat. One to watch in the Coates League and a likely late first, early second round selection.

Found this one that might interest one of our posters

Casey Demons going around in a cut throat Elimination Final today against Footscray at Box Hill City Oval at noon. Game’s on Channel 7 and can also be viewed on the AFL website.

This poster was produced for sale on this day, 2 September, in 2000 which was the date of that year’s AFL Grand Final. The AFL season ended earlier that year because of the Sydney Olympic Games. Unfortunately, most of the posters were pulped because Essendon 19.21.135 defeated Melbourne 11.9.75 in the Grand Final and a different poster went on sale after the game.

This mark was taken on this day, 1 September, in 1995 by the father of a current day player.

Yeah - she was pretty good but I don’t do this often and I was nervous. Now fixed.

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.