Whispering_Jack

With the end of the home and away season approaching the first retirements of 2023 have been announced - Richmond’s Robbie Tarrant, followed by Jack Ziebell of North Melbourne. There will be many more to come so here’s this year’s version of the ins and outs at the AFL Clubs ~ 

ADELAIDE In: James Borlase (re-listed ®) Chris Burgess (Gold Coast Suns) Daniel Curtin (Claremont WA) Charlie Edwards (Sandringham Dragons) Will Hamill (re-listed ®) Oscar Ryan (Murray Bushrangers) Out: James Borlase (delisted) Tyler Brown (delisted) Tom Doedee (Brisbane) Will Hammill (delisted) Jackson Hateley (delisted) Shane McAdam (Melbourne) Fischer McAsey (retired) Andrew McPherson (delisted) Tariek Newchurch (delisted) Paul Seedsman (retired) BRISBANE LIONS In: Tom Doedee (Adelaide) Luke Lloyd (Sandringham Dragons) Logan Morris (Western Jets) Bruce Reville (Cat B ®) Brandon Ryan (Hawthorn) Reece Torrent (Peel Thunder WA) Zane Zakostelsky (Claremont WA) Out: Marcus Adams (retired) Nakia Cockatoo (retired) Blake Coleman (delisted) Tom Fullarton (Melbourne) Jack Gunston (Hawthorn) Darryl McDowell White Jr (delisted) Rhys Mathieson (delisted) Daniel Rich (retired) CARLTON In: Matt Carroll (Sandringham Dragons ®) Matt Duffy (Cat B ®) Orazio Fantasia (Port Adelaide) Elijah Hollands (Gold Coast Suns) Ashton Moir (Glenelg SA) Rob Monahan (Cat B ®) Billy Wilson (Dandenong Stingrays) Out: Ed Curnow (retired) Paddy Dow (St Kilda) Zac Fisher (North Melbourne) Josh Honey (delisted) Lochie O’Brien (delisted) Sam Philip (delisted) Lachie Plowman (retired) COLLINGWOOD In: Harry DeMattia (Dandenong Stingrays) Tew Jiath (Gippsland Power) Lachie Schultz (Fremantle) Out: Taylor Adams (Sydney Swans) Trent Bianco (delisted) Arlo Draper (delisted) Jack Ginnivan (Hawthorn) Will Kelly (delisted) Cooper Murley (delisted) Trey Ruscoe (delisted) Tom Wilson (delisted) ESSENDON 

In: Nate Caddy (Northern Knights) Xavier Duursma (Port Adelaide) Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne) Jade Gresham (St Kilda) Luamon Lual (GWV Rebels) Ben McKay (North Melbourne) Archie Roberts (Sandringham Dragons) Vigo Visentini (Sandringham Dragons ®) Out: Massimo D’Ambrosio (Hawthorn) Alastair Lord (delisted) Can McBride (delisted ®) Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (retired) Rhett Montgomerie (delisted ®) Anthony Munkara (delisted ®) Andrew Phillips (retired) Will Snelling (delisted) James Stewart (delisted) Patrick Voss (delisted) Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Port Adelaide) FREMANTLE In: Jack Delean (South Adelaide SA) Odin Jones (West Perth WA ®) Oscar McDonald (ex Carlton) Ollie Murphy (Sandringham Dragons) Jeremy Sharp (Gold Coast ®) Cooper Simpson (Dandenong Stingrays) Out: Eric Benning (delisted) Travis Colyer (delisted) Joel Hambling (Sydney Swans) Liam Henry (St Kilda) Lachie Schultz (Collingwood) Nathan Wilson (delisted) GEELONG In: Mitch Edwards (Peel Thunder WA) Joe Furphy (Cat B ®) Lawson Humphries (Swan Districts WA) Emerson Jeka (Hawthorn ®) Shaun Mannagh (Werribee VFL) Connor O'Sullivan (Murray Bushrangers) Esava Ratugolea (Port Adelaide) George Stevens (GWV Rebels) Oliver Wiltshire (Barwon Heads VIC) Out: Jonathon Ceglar (retired) Flynn Kroeger (delisted) Sam Menegola (delisted) Esava Ratugolea (Port Adelaide) Osca Ricardi (delisted) Sam Simpson (delisted) Isaac Smith (retired) Cooper Whyte (delisted) GOLD COAST SUNS In: Sam Clohesy (Werribee VFL® ) Sam Day (Gold Coast relist) Will Graham (Suns Academy QLD) Jack Mahony (North Melbourne ®) Ethan Read (Suns Academy QLD) Jake Rogers (Suns Academy QLD) Will Rowlands (Norwood SA ®) Jed Walter (Suns Academy QLD) Out: Jed Anderson (delisted) Connor Blakely (retired) Chris Burgess (Adelaide) Mabior Chol (Hawthorn) Charlie Constable (retired) Elijah Hollands (Carlton) Brodie McLaughlin (delisted) Jeremy Sharp (delisted) Jake Stein (delisted) GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS In: Phoenix Gothard (Murray Bushrangers) Adam Kennedy (re-listed ®) James Leake (Tasmania Devils) Harvey Thomas (Giants Academy) Nathan Wardius (Cat B ®) Out: Phil Davis (retired) Cameron Fleeton (delisted) Matt Flynn (West Coast Eagles) Jason Gillbee (delisted ®) Adam Kennedy (delisted) Daniel Lloyd (retired) HAWTHORN In: Mabior Chol (Gold Coast Suns) Massimo D’Ambrosio (Essendon) Calsher Dear (Sandringham Dragons) Jack Ginnivan (Collingwood) Jack Gunston (Brisbane Lions) Will McCabe (Central District SA) Bodie Ryan (Glenelg SA) Cooper Stephens (re-listed ®) Nick Watson (Eastern Ranges) Chad Wingard (Hawthorn relist) Out: Lachie Bramble (delisted) Tyler Brockman (West Coast Eagles) Fergus Greene (delisted) Emerson Jeka (delisted) Jacob Koschitzke (Richmond) Ned Long (delisted) Max Lynch (retired) Josh Morris (delisted) Fionn O'Hara (delisted ®) Brandon Ryan (Brisbane Lions) Cooper Stephens (delisted) Chad Wingard (delisted) MELBOURNE In: Jack Billings (St Kilda) Kynan Brown (Oakleigh Chargers Cat B ®) Tom Fullarton (Brisbane Lions) Marty Hore (Williamstown VFL ®) Shane McAdam (Adelaide) Jake Melksham (re-listed ®) Koltyn Tholstrup (Subiaco WA) Caleb Windsor (Eastern Ranges) 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 ®) NORTH MELBOURNE In: Wil Dawson (Gippsland Power) Zane Duursma (Gippsland Power) Zac Fisher (Carlton) Taylor Goad (South Adelaide, SA) Riley Hardeman (Swan Districts WA) Colby McKercher (Tasmania Devils) Finnbar Maley (Northern Bullants VFL ®) Bigoa Nyuon (Richmond) Toby Pink (delisted free agent) Dylan Stephens (Sydney Swans) Out: Aiden Bonar (delisted) Ben Cunnington (retired) Jacob Edwards (delisted) Todd Goldstein (Essendon) Aaron Hall (retired) Daniel Howe (retired) Flynn Perez (delisted) Ben McKay (Essendon) Jack Mahony (delisted) Phoenix Spicer (delisted) Kayne Turner (delisted) Lachie Young (delisted) Jack Ziebell (retired) PORT ADELAIDE In: Esava Ratugolea (Geelong) Ivan Soldo (Richmond) Jordan Sweet (Western Bulldogs) Xavier Welsh (East Perth WA ®) Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Essendon) Out: Thomas Anastasopoulos (Geelong Falcons) Nathan Barkla (delisted ®) Riley Bonner (delisted) Lachlan Charleson (GWV Rebels) Trent Dumont (delisted) Xavier Duursma (Essendon) Orazio Fantasia (Carlton) Sam Hayes (delisted) Tom Jonas (retired) Will Lorenz (Oakleigh Chargers) Scott Lycett (retired) Jake Pasini (delisted) Brynn Teakle (delisted ®) RICHMOND In: Liam Fawcett (Central District SA) Oliver Hayes Brow (Cat B ®) Jacob Koschitzke (Hawthorn) Kane McAuliffe (North Adelaide SA) Sam Naismith (ex Sydney Swans) Out: Kaelan Bradtke (delisted ®) Jason Castagna (retired) Trent Cotchin (retired) Bigoa Nyuon (Hawthorn) Jack Riewoldt (retired) Ivan Soldo (Port Adelaide) Robbie Tarrant (retired) ST KILDA In: Riley Bonner (Port Adelaide ) Lance Collard (Subiaco WA) Paddy Dow (Carlton) Hugo Garcia (Calder Cannons) Angus Hastie (Geelong Falcons) Liam Henry (Fremantle) Liam O'Connell (Cat B ®) Ari Schoenmaker (Tassie Devils) Darcy Wilson (Murray Bushrangers) Out: Oscar Adams (delisted) Jack Billings (Melbourne) Jack Bytel (delisted) Nick Coffield (Western Bulldogs) Leo Connolly (delisted) Jade Gresham (Essendon) Tom Highmore (delisted) Dan McKenzie (delisted) Jack Peris (delisted) SYDNEY SWANS In: Taylor Adams (Collingwood) Caiden Cleary (Swans Academy) Will Green (Northern Knights) Brodie Grundy (Melbourne) Joel Hambling (Fremantle) James Jordon (Melbourne) Indhi Kirk (Cat B ®) Sam Reid (re-listed ®) Out: Ryan Clarke (delisted) Lance Franklin (retired) Will Gould (delisted) Hugo Hall-Kahan (delisted ®) Tom Hickey (retired) Paddy McCartin (retired) Cameron Owen (delisted) Lachlan Rankin (delisted) Marc Sheather (delisted) Patrick Snell (Brisbane Academy) Dylan Stephens (North Melbourne) WEST COAST EAGLES In: Tyler Brockman (Hawthorn) Matt Flynn (GWS Giants) Clay Hall (Peel Thunder WA) Harvey Johnston (Sandringham Dragons) Coen Livingstone (Cat B ®) Loch Rawlinson (Sturt SA ®) Archer Reid (Gippsland Power) Harley Reid (Bendigo Pioneers) Out: Greg Clark (delisted) Shannon Hurn (retired) Luke Foley (delisted) Nic Naitanui (retired) Xavier O'Neill (delisted) Sam Petrevski-Seton (delisted) Luke Shuey (retired) Connor West (delisted) Isiah Winder (delisted) WESTERN BULLDOGS In: Nick Coffield (St Kilda) Jordan Croft (Calder Cannons) Taylor Duryea (re-listed ®) Joel Freijah (GWV Rebels) James Harmes (Melbourne) Lachie McNeil (re-listed ®) Aiden O’Driscoll (Perth WA) Ryley Sanders (Sandringham Dragons) Lachlan Smith (Gippsland Power) Out: Josh Bruce (retired) Hayden Crozier (delisted) Taylor Duryea (delisted) Mitch Hannan (delisted) Robbie McComb (delisted) Toby McLean (delisted) Lachlan McNeil (delisted) Tim O'Brien (delisted) Cody Raak (delisted) Roarke Smith (delisted) Jordan Sweet (Port Adelaide) If you know of any other retirements or delistings, please feel free to advise.

St Kilda are next up to play Gold Coast. It might not be so lucky for them because often teams play better first up with a new coach.

On the eve of the Collingwood vs Fremantle game it’s heartening to see the Dockers’ first pick listed at #5 in the current draft order from Zero Hanger.

The current draft order from Zero Hanger.

The oldest club in the land was born 165 years ago today. Club Timeline

Cream rises to the top as Allies claim maiden title VIC COUNTRY 3.2.20 6.4.40 7.5.47 10.10 (70) 
ALLIES 2.3.15 5.4.34 10.8.68 12.9 (81) GOALS: Vic Country: Z. Duursma 2, M. Rudd 2, D. Wilson 2, G. Stevens, S. Lalor, A. Read, F. O’Sullivan 
Allies: J. Walter 2, P. Gothard 2, C. McKercher 2, O. Turner 2, J. Glanvill, J. Callinan, T. Gander, C. McCormack BEST: Vic Country: F. O’Sullivan, A. Hastie, A. Reid, W. Dawson, G. Stevens, D. Wilson 
Allies: C. Cleary, C. McKercher, R. Sanders, E. Read, J. Rogers, C. O’Sullivan VICTORIA METRO 5.1.31 10.5.64 14.10.94 19.13 (127) WESTERN AUSTRALIA 1.3.9 2.5.17 5.6.36 6.10 (46) GOALS: Victoria Metro: N. Watson 5, L. Morris 4, N. Caddy 3, C. Harrop 2, K. Brown, T. Hotton, R. Weatherill, C. Windsor, H. Johnston Western Australia: K. Sanchez 3, K. Dehavilland, E. Logan, R. Torrent BEST: Victoria Metro: L. Morris, N. Watson, W. Brown, K. Brown, H. Johnston, C. Windsor 
Western Australia: D. Curtin, K. Sanchez, C. Hall, K. Tholstrup, A. O’Driscoll, R. Torrent

Noah Gown - surely, you of all people would know that? 😀

The goal kicker is Ray Biffin’s grandson.

This week’s Mystery Injury of the Week. A bit of a worry because it’s not the first time.

Slightly off topic perhaps but there are a couple of VFL games in progress at the moment, both involving the Queensland teams. These are the scores as of a couple of minutes ago - Both Brisbane and Gold Coast are supported by the Academy system and the clubs have virtually unfettered access to players who qualify for their respective academies. GCS have three members who are potential top 10 draft picks this year. It shouldn’t be too long before people are calling for an end to this advantage.

Yes - it does say something about the respective teams’ defences but it also shows what you can achieve with better scoring efficiency. The differences really show up our scoring deficiencies of late.

The Casey Demons played the Giants at Casey Fields this afternoon. Their 60 inside 50s to 44 resulted in 34 scoring shots to 18 and a 96-point win. Later in the day at Alice Springs Melbourne played the Giants. Their 73 inside 50s to 46 gave them 20 scoring shots to 12 and resulted in a 2-point defeat. At one point in the Eagles vs Saints game today (just before three quarter time) the combined number of inside 50s of both sides was 59 from which WCE had scored 12.2.74 against the Saints’ 9.5.59, a total of 21.7.133. Even allowing for the difference in weather conditions, this is a monumental indication of how poor Melbourne’s forward 50 inefficiency was today. And it’s been only marginally better for four or five weeks before this.

ah ...the value of accuracy in front of goal.

Darcy Fritsch has just kicked his first goal for the Northern Bullants vs Carlton.

Vic Country survives late scare to hold off WA "It was the Harley Reid and Daniel Curtin show as the pair put on a clinic for their respective sides and gave fans a glimpse into the best overall player and best key utility in this year’s draft crop." WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2.1.13 4.5.29 5.8.38 8.11 (59) 
 VIC COUNTRY 3.6.24 5.8.38 6.11.47 8.13 (61) GOALS:
 WA: L. Collard 2, E. Smith, K. Smith, S. van Rooyen, C. Livingstone, K. Dehavilland, D. Curtin 
VC: M. Rudd 3, H. Reid 2, A. Reid, A. Day-Wicks, Z. Duursma BEST: 
WA: D. Curtin, C. Hall, L. Kelly, K. Sanchez, O. Hine-Baston 
VC: H. Reid, A. Day-Wicks, L. Charleson, H. De Mattia, M. Rudd

The annual Breast Cancer Network Australia match -

CASEY DEMONS vs GWS GIANTS Sunday 2 July, 12:05pm, Casey Fields Head-to-head: GWS Giants 1-0. At Casey Fields: GWS Giants 1-0. Streak: GWS Giants 1 CASEY DEMONS B: J. Adams (26), A. Tomlinson (20), T. Freeman (67) HB: D. Smith (34), D. Turner (42), B. Howes (22) C: R. Steele (54), L. Dunstan (27), T. Woewodin (40) HF: C. Spargo (9), J. Schache (19), A. Moniz-Wakefield (45) F: J. Melksham (18), J. van Rooyen (2), B. Laurie (16) R: W. Verrall (28), M. White (52), J. Jordon (23) INT: N. Moodie (74)*, J.Munro (47), G. Grey (68), O. Sestan (38), M.Jefferson (21) EMG: R. Baldi (56), J. Bell (73), T. Edwards (58), H. Neocleous (75), R. Koo (61), R. Valentine (65), T. McRae (76) IN: T. Freeman, J. Jordon, J. van Rooyen OUT: J. Bowey, B. Brown, J. Harmes (AFL) GWS GIANTS B: W. Clark (56), P. Davis (1), J. Wehr (10) HB: J. Anderson (51), C. Fleeton (29), L. Aleer (21) C: J. Gillbee (42), C. Stone (18), J. Peatling (20) HF: J. Pavlidis (48), T. McMullin (31), A. Cadman (5) F: W. Derksen (45), M. Gruzewski (35), W. Shaw (55) R: M. Flynn (30), B. O'Connor (52), H. Rowston (24) INT: D. Edmends (50), D. Posthuma (67)*, N. Madden (41), J. Creighton (54), R. Hebron (47) EMG: B. Romensky, A. Mathieson, G. Varagiannis, D. Jones-Hughes, B. Rauter, W. Sabolch, N. Wardius IN: A. Cadman, P. Davis, J. Gillbee, T. McMullin, D. Posthuma OUT: I. Cumming, J. Fahey (AFL), J. Glanvill (achilles), T. McCaffrey (finger), M. Ryan (shoulder)

The AFLW game that was supposed to follow the VFL at Casey Fields on Sunday has been switched to the Trevor Barker Oval in Sandringham due to the wet ground at Casey. Could be interesting.

Nice of Steve Smith to score his ton during half time.

Farris-White is learning ruck craft (progress slow but good at Dandy Stingray’s last weekend) and at getting his hands on the football (2 touches at the Stingrays - slow progress).

In my preview about Melbourne’s game vs GWS Giants this Sunday, I bemoan the team’s current forward line woes. However, SEN’s The Ultimate Forward puts three Demon players in the AFL’s top 20 forwards - Christian Petracca (8th), Bayley Fritsch (10th) and Kysaiah Pickett (12th). The full list with their ratings is ~ 1 - Toby Greene (GWS): 58.4 2 - Charlie Curnow (CAR): 54.9 3 - Mitch Lewis (HAW): 51.25 4 - Jeremy Cameron (GEE): 51.21 5 - Taylor Walker (ADE): 50.9 6 - Tom Hawkins (GEE): 49.3 7 - Jeremy Finlayson (PA): 44.7 8 - Christian Petracca (MEL): 44.1 9 - Joe Daniher (BRI): 43.9 10 - Bayley Fritsch (MEL): 43.1 11 - Charlie Cameron (BRI): 43.07 12 - Kysaiah Pickett (MEL): 42.9 13 - Izak Rankine (ADE): 41.67 14 - Kyle Langford (ESS): 41.64 15 - Aaron Naughton (WB): 41.60 16 - Jack Lukosius (GCS): 41.4 17 - eq Nick Larkey (NM): 41.2 17 - eq Eric Hipwood (BRI): 41.2 19 - Todd Marshall (PA): 40.4 20 - Oscar Allen (WCE): 40.3 So why aren’t we scoring freely at the moment? One reason could be that Clayton Oliver’s injury is forcing Christian Petracca to spend more time in the middle. However, it’s still got us more than a bit stumped about the recent run of inaccuracy in kicking for goal and the dramatic decline in scoring over the past five rounds.

On the other hand, SEN’s The Ultimate Forward puts three Demon players in the AFL’s top 20 forwards - Christian Petracca (8th), Bayley Fritsch (10th) and Kysaiah Pickett (12th). So why aren’t we scoring freely at the moment?

Sad news …