Whispering_Jack

Melbourne rookie listed Nicholas Walsh in 2000 and Kevin Devine in 2001 but neither played a senior game. According to Demonwiki which is an excellent resource for all things Melbourne and run by @Supermercado:- Nicholas Walsh (#12) “Irish recruit who captained his country's Under 17 international rules team against Australia, and was sponsored by the Demons to complete his studies at St. Kevin's College. In his first year there he won the school Best and Fairest and was drafted by the Demons soon after. “He played two senior games for Sandringham over two seasons, but suffered a wretched run with injury before being delisted”. The reference to Sandringham is to the VFL Zebras who were Melbourne’s affiliate team at the time. Kevin Devine (#48) “The lightly framed Dubliner was recruited during the AFL's second wave of Irish imports. He almost ended up at the Western Bulldogs, but with the two clubs unable to decide between Devine and fellow Irishman Bernie Collins they tossed a coin and the Demons ended up with the younger Devine. Neither played an AFL game. “On arriving at Melbourne, Devine was put on a fitness program to improve his strength, adding five kilograms in his first months at the club. Despite being groomed as a future half-back flanker, winger or half-forward flanker her never made it past the Sandringham seconds, where he played 14 games, and returned to Ireland at the end of the 2001 season”. In the same year in which Devine was recruited, the Sydney Swans drafted Tadgh Kenneally who played 197 games including the 2005 premiership. I suppose that it would be fair to say that after our initial success with Jim Stynes and Sean Wight, our second wave of Irish recruiting was a monumental failure. If only our recruiters had some divine inspiration and found Tadgh instead!

I must have been a touch psychic this morning because the great story below from Paul Amy has appeared on the Leader Newspapers site. We already knew about some of them - Amy names ten Gippslanders joining him at Casey along with a cousin of a Melbourne AFL lister:- Gippsland players to power Casey Demons in VFL by Paul Amy (Leader Newspapers) New Casey Demons coach Rhett McLennan has a good handle on the VFL club's recruits for 2026. He coached most of them at Gippsland Power in the Talent League. The Casey Demons lost a rugged midfielder from Gippsland when Riley Baldi switched to the SANFL after last season. But in Traralgon's Luis D'Angelo the Demons are expected to gain a similarly robust player from the same league. D'Angelo, 23, is yet to apply pen to paper but will be offered a contract and will be happy to sign it. The runner-up in Gippsland Power's 2021 best and fairest, D'Angelo played for Box Hill Hawks in 2022 and was on their list the following year, but did not manage a game. For the past three years he has been a leading player for the Gippsland league Maroons, figuring in their 2024 flag. He has also been named in the past two Gippy league teams of the year. "He's been awesome for Traralgon," former senior coach Troy Hamilton told CODE Sports. "He's a heart-and-soul midfielder, very creative by hand and gutsy." D'Angelo, a physiotherapist, was runner-up in the Traralgon best and fairest in 2023, '24 and again last year. He said he was enjoyed training with Casey and was up for the challenge of resuming in the VFL. His Traralgon teammate Joel Scholtes is also headed for the Demons. Like D'Angelo, Scholtes went through Gippy Power under new Casey coach Rhett McLennan and is a prominent Gippsland league player. "Left-footer, a bit of an intercepting half-back and very fit," was the word from Hamilton. The Demons are also going with two players from West Gippsland league premier Nar Nar Goon. Top tall Nate Pipicelli and Clancy Pope will step up to the VFL after featuring in their club's 2024 and '25 grand final wins. Flanker Pope, who turned 19 this week, first played senior football with the Goon at age 15. Pipicelli, 195cm left-footer, has played as a key forward and in the ruck since graduating from Gippsland Power in 2022. Last year he ran second in the best and fairest to club champion Trent Armour. The Demons will have a strong Gippsland connection this year, with recruits Harry Tatterson (Heyfield), Jonah Walker (Bairnsdale), Jehi Esler (Tooradin-Dalmore), Jobe Scapin (Inverloch-Kongwak), Luke Cheffers (Moe) and Sam Hoghton (Officer) all having gone through the Power. "We'd like to represent the area as best we can," McLennan, who coached the Power for six years, said. "There are plenty of football clubs around - I think I counted 78 in Gippsland and the outer east." But Xavier Hampton is far from local: a cousin of Melbourne-lister Ricky Mentha, he's joined Casey from West Adelaide in the SANFL. Traralgon star Luis D'Angelo is heading to Casey in the VFL. D'Angelo claims Leongatha star Dyson Heppell, more recently known for his performance on reality TV show I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!. Pictures: Yuri Kouzmin

According to the AFL website, North Melbourne's match simulation today has been cancelled due to gastro outbreak. Meanwhile, Melbourne’s closed training session at Casey Fields is still going ahead today although officials are keeping an eye open for any snakes in the area. If you’re in the area and can assist with any updates, please let us know.

Actually, given that the coach comes directly from Gippsland Power which made last year’s Preliminary Final, we have yet to see a great influx of players from the 2025 team (only Walker so far). I also was in touch with a South Adelaide person during the week and he couldn’t confirm that Deakyn Smith was playing with them this season. Obviously, the lists are to be finalized but we can expect a very different looking Casey Demons this year with a number of regulars going elsewhere. PS Tom Freeman typo fixed.

And it’s great to see that after all the kerfuffle, Tairon Ah Mu gets his chance to wear the red and blue, albeit only as a Casey Demon. Here’s his Rookie Me Central profile from last year: Tairon Ah Mu Height 198cm DOB 06.06.2007 SNAPSHOT: “A beast of a prospect whose sheer size and physicality make him a difficult matchup up forward or in the ruck.” – Michael Alvaro It’s hard to miss Tairon Ah-Mu when he’s playing football at his best. The hulking key position prospect is a man mountain capable of monstering his opponents, which he has done frequently over the years. He represented Vic Country at Under 16, 17, and 18 level, while making his debut for Dandenong Stingrays back in 2023. That year, he also helped Haileybury College take out the APS First XVIII flag. Much of Ah-Mu’s tutelage has come under Essendon great Matthew Lloyd at Haileybury. Together, they helped put together another undefeated season to take out the 2025 title, and Ah-Mu has made great strides in refining his craft. He has also been part of the Melbourne Next Generation Academy, but the AFL’s current eligibility criteria means the Dees won’t have priority access to him come draft time. Ah-Mu has also been a central figure for Dandenong between his school and representative commitments. He booted 22 goals in 11 games as a bottom-ager last year, before going on to kick 15 in eight appearances this year. Not once was Ah-Mu kept goalless as a top-ager in the Coates Talent League. He translated that form to the National Championships to slot seven majors in the Big V guernsey. That came after a six-goal trial match which ended up being one of the forward’s best games all season.

Expect the Code Sports article summarized above to appear in tomorrow’s edition of the Herald Sun.

Today we remember Don Cordner on what would have been his 104th birthday. Don Cordner (21 January 1922 – 13 May 2009) Career highlights 2× VFL premierships: 1941, 1948 Brownlow Medallist: 1946 Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medallist: 1943 Melbourne captain: 1948–1949 Melbourne Team of the Century–back pocket Melbourne Hall of Fame–Legend status 2× Sporting Life team of the year: 1947, 1949 Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com The Cordners are one of the great football dynasties of the Melbourne Football club spanning three generations.

I’m fairly confident that he’s not related to the club’s Picketts but, on name alone, I’m interested.

That might not be all. Jake Melksham seems to be doing his own tailor made pre season which doesn’t involve joining in general training yet. CJ and one or two others might also have a lighter load.

Another hero from my childhood days. Athol Webb was a vital component in the very strong Melbourne side of the late 50s playing a “decoy” full forward role. He wasn’t tall (180cm) but he managed to bag plenty of goals and kicked five of them in the 1956 premiership. He was top goal kicker and was in another flag winning team in 1957. All told, Webb played 74 games for 146 goals. Condolences to his family and friends. Vale Athol Webb | Melbourne mourns premiership hero

Happy New Year to Demonlanders … I bring you an omen in the form of this vision of the sky over Mount Fuji in Japan literally split in two for the first sunrise of 2026. That dark path is Fuji casting a massive shadow against the glowing atmosphere, producing its own red and blue energy for the 2026.

Some of the members of the 1926 premiership team. What were they thinking 100 years ago today

Twenty-one years ago today a massive earthquake off Indonesia triggered the Asian Tsunami, a pivotal moment that united the world in grief and solidarity. The tsunami devastated communities along the coasts of the Indian Ocean, claiming an estimated 227,898 lives in 14 countries, especially in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand, where many Australian tourists were holidaying. Today we remember all of the victims of this horrific tragedy which took 26 Australian lives including Melbourne footballer Troy Broadbridge, who was on his honeymoon with his wife Trish who survived him. 💦 Broadbridge was drafted by the Melbourne Football Club at the commencement of the 2001 AFL season. He received the club's Most Improved Player award in 2001, and became a regular in the side, playing a total of 40 games over his three seasons. His first and last AFL games were both against Essendon - he made his debut in Round 8, 2001, in the teams' first meeting since the 2000 Grand Final, while his last league game was also against Essendon, in the 2004 elimination final.

There’s a thread above with our CODE OF CONDUCT

Cameron Pedersen was a late developer and not the most highly skilled in the game but he gave his all every time he took the field. After a couple of seasons at North Melbourne for 16 games (20 goals), the 193cm utility who could play a bit in the ruck switched to Melbourne and played another 64 games for 50 goals. He retired at the end of 2018 and my lasting memory of him is the vision of him battling manfully as a relief ruckman matching it with guys who towered over him. More recently he’s been starring with Phillip Island in the West Gippsland Football League and in one game this season, Pedersen gathered a whopping 51 disposals, 37 hit outs and 17 clearances. Tonight the 38-year-old is running around for the Darwin Buffaloes against Waratah in the Northern Territory Football League. If there’s someone out there who follow NT football and can let us know how he went, it would be greatly appreciated.

Jarrod Gatt was on the Casey list this year but I think he only played one game in the first half of the season.

They all say that.

Congratulations Meggs, on winning the 2025 nearest to the pin. I'll also take credit for the 2024 version when I picked Langford and Lindsay in the men's version And thanks once again for your fantastic commentaries - they've really helped make the season interesting and fulfilling.

… and from the people at Fox. I have to agree that this is as compromised as the men’s version. Pick #16 is what we get for a seasoned player like Eden Zanker. Go figure!

Scoops AFLW 2025 Phantom Draft: 1. Richmond- Chloe Bown GWS bid on Georja Davies. GC matched. 2. Gold Coast- Georja Davies GWS bid on Ava Usher. Suns match. 3. Gold Coast- Ava Usher 4. GWS- Scarlett Johnson 5. GWS- Olivia Wolmarans Crows bid on Sunny Lappin. Suns match. 6. Gold Coast- Sunny Lappin 7. Adelaide- Imogen Trengove 8. Collingwood- Evie Cowcher 9. Essendon- Tayla McMillan Geelong bid on Alannah Welsh. Suns match. 10. Gold Coast- Allanah Welsh 11. Geelong- Chloe Baker West Western Bulldogs bid on Dakota Beron. Suns match. 12. Gold Coast- Dakota Beron 13. Western Bulldogs- Eloise Mackaereth 14. Melbourne- Mia Russo 15. Port Adelaide- Lucy Waye Brisbane bid on Mikayla Nurse. Suns match. 16. Gold Coast- Mikayla Nurse 17. Brisbane- Alicia Blizzard 18. West Coast- Carys D'Addario 19. Adelaide- Priya Bowering Melbourne bid on Kiera Yerbury. Swans match. 20. Sydney- Kiera Yerbury 21. Melbourne- Josie Bamford Collingwood bid on Alex Neyland. Swans match. 22. Sydney- Alex Neyland 23. Collingwood- Sophie Eaton 24. Carlton- Olivia Crane 25. Adelaide- Mizuki Brothwell 26. St Kilda- Maddie Quinn (Swans can't match) 27. Geelong- Alex McBride-Loane Collingwood bid on Rhianna Ingram. Suns match. 28. Gold Coast- Rhianna Ingram 29. Collingwood- Jordyn Allen 30. Collingwood- Jade McLay 31. Port Adelaide- Sophie Thredgold 32. St Kilda- Jovie Skewes Clinton Others in the mix: Renee Morgan, Zara Neuwirth, Mischa Barwin, Ella Gilbey, Mia Anderson, Juliet Kelly, Lucy Greenwood, Isla Weincke, Maya Louvul Finn, Maggie Johnstone, Ella Stoddart, Nalu Brothwell, Nikhita Spiteri, Annabelle Foat, Sienna Burnham, Aleah Stringer, Monique Corrigan, Monique Beeson, Asher Fearn Wannan, Chloe Thorn, Noa McNaughton, Stasia Stevenson, Tahlia Sanger, Nyakoat Dojiok, Paige Price, Mikayla Antony.

Not a phantom draft ~

Thanks Meggs - great working with you and fantastic reading your reports. I thought I would drop this here ~ Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central2025 AFLW Draft Preview: MelbourneMelbourne has two selections inside the top 15 picks and can regenerate more of its list with a rebuild on the run while still competing.

Oliver Green, aged 19. was on the Casey list this year. He originally was with the Sandringham Dragons and played mainly on a wing in amateur football in 2025. Louis Hodder, aged 18, is a small forward from the Dandenong Stingrays (176cm).

The club song that refers to the Spirit of Twenty-six THE GRAND OLD FLAG It's a grand old fag, it's a high-flying flag, It's the emblem for you and for me. It's the emblem of the team we love, The team of the Red and the Blue. Every heart beats true, for the Red and the Blue, And we sing this song to you, Should old acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the Red and the Blue. Oh, the team played fine in the year Thirty-nine, We're the Demons that no one can lick, And you'll find us there at the final bell With the spirit of 'Twenty-six. Every heart beats true, for the Red and the Blue, And we'll sing this song to you, Should old acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the Red and the Blue.

The best three midfielders for each club. Where does our midfield stand among the AFL clubs?