Whispering_Jack

Can’t do much about that but keep an eye out for something like this to eventually appear in the Herald Sun because the site belongs to Murdoch. Essentially, Lever talks about how he was constrained by the injury and how others were pretty well banged up. Nothing much else is new. The article mentions JvR’s debut and Chandler’s improvement but not Judd McVee who I would put in the same category.

Injuries are always in the footy news and everyone is loathe to raise them when the team loses. However, it’s part and parcel of the game. Melbourne star Jake Lever opens up on 2022 finals injury, and the rise of Jacob van Rooyen and Kade Chandler “The extent to which Melbourne’s premiership defence last season was compromised by injury keeps coming to light. “That superstar Christian Petracca played the semi-final loss to the Brisbane Lions with a hairline fracture in his right fibula was already known. So, too, was Max Gawn’s hip ailment, one that almost saw him miss that game. And Clayton Oliver had been carrying a thumb injury through the back end of the season.” Lever reveals that he played in the finals with a stress fracture in his foot.

Speaking from numerous unfortunate experiences involving Melbourne in the past several decades, let me caution those who are getting excited or carried away by West Coast’s injury woes. I know that we have a quality side these days but history tells us that often when teams have their backs to the wall in terms of injuries, they can still be hard to toss. The Saints of Rounds 1 to 3 are a good example and I remember a game against Hawthorn a few years back when they had a long injury list but still managed to give us a flogging. I hope we approach the game with a business as usual approach.

On this big day for our footballers, the Demons have some more silverware. Melbourne beat Carlton today in the grand final of Premier District Cricket. Congratulations lads and let’s make it a premiership double by taking the AFL silverware in late September!!!

Even at this early stage in the season, I don’t think it needs to be emphasized too much how important today’s game is against Sydney - it truly is an 8 point game. A win keeps us in close touch with the top teams in the competition and leaves us well in contention for a top four placing. And we really need to know whether last week’s form was an aberration after such a strong pre season and the big win over the Bulldogs in Round 1.

Melbourne played Sydney in Round 17, 2010 and did this:-

Fixed

Good point George. There is the possibility that a club which fares badly can apply for special assistance which has been provided in recent years to Gold Coast and North Melbourne after they had a terrible season but given that Hawthorn was so adamantly against giving additional draft assistance to Melbourne after about three poor seasons a decade ago, they wouldn’t think of applying for themselves off one poor year. Would they?

Okay death riders, here’s the bad news. Freo’s narrow 1 point loss was enough to lift it one spot on the ladder which means that Melbourne’s notional draft picks gleaned from the Dockers are now 6 & 24 instead of 5 & 23. Let’s just hope the Weagles win the Derby.

What we’re seeing at present is the advent of the elite young player coming in and playing well from the get go - Nick Daicos, Harry Sheezel, Will Ashcroft, Cam McKenzie and Mattaes Phillipou. They’re all medium sized midfield types (although not necessarily playing there yet at this level). Jacob van Rooyen is a key position player with a season of VFL behind him and before that, a few WAFL games. He has to be rewarded with an AFL debut very soon and if it’s true that Schache is out with concussion, next week against Sydney is the time to make it happen.

“every knee inj he’s had has felt different.” As I understand it, if it’s an ACL you hear or feel a pop. Perhaps this is a positive sign but even that’s not conclusive. Keep your fingers crossed.

A match preview here.

The worst 11 point loss ever.

Live from Brizvegas

Last week Brisbane led Port Adelaide by 12 points at half time. They lost by 54 points in the end. Just an observation.

This is already out because Adam Tomlinson is playing tonight.

After the first round of the 2023 season, the Fremantle death ride has Melbourne’s first pick at #5 and the third pick at #23.

Question is whether your teammate Mark Reid has a son called Harley?

A selection of team previews for teams taking part in the Coates Talent League Boys competition in 2023. Ranges “itching” to rip into season proper Jets starting to jell ahead of season 2023 Standouts setting the standard for Gippsland Fundamentals set to drive Knights north Stingrays set high standards in search of next step More to come if available.

That would also involve a flight out of Brisbane late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Much will depend on his form this year but going by how he went as a bottom ager, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.

2023 Preseason Testing Top 10s – Coates Talent League Boys TOP 10 RESULTS STANDING VERTICAL JUMP Rye Penny (Calder Cannons) – 86cm
Taj McMillan (Bendigo Pioneers) – 82cm
Phoenix Gothard (Murray Bushrangers) – 78cm
Coby James (Murray Bushrangers) – 78cm
Shane Clough (Calder Cannons) – 77cm
Daniel Snell (Western Jets) – 76cm
Billy Wilson (Dandenong Stingrays) – 76cm
Jed Daniels (Bendigo Pioneers) – 75cm
Harrison Hewitt (Murray Bushrangers) – 75cm
Caleb Nancarrow (Oakleigh Chargers) – 74cm RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP Rye Penny (Calder Cannons) – 101cm
Sam Hoghton (Gippsland Power) – 100cm
Jed Daniels (Bendigo Pioneers) – 96cm
Daniel Snell (Western Jets) – 96cm
Jacob Vippond (Eastern Ranges) – 95cm
Ethan Fitzpatrick (Calder Cannons) – 94cm
Will McLachlan (Geelong Falcons) – 93cm
Davin Cameron (Northern Knights) – 92cm
Billy Wilson (Dandenong Stingrays) – 92cm
Darby Wilson (Murray Bushrangers) – 92cm 20M SPRINT Rook Barry (Western Jets) – 2.845 seconds
Jacob Vippond (Eastern Ranges) – 2.854 seconds
Jed Daniels (Bendigo Pioneers) – 2.857 seconds
Joziah Nannup (Dandenong Stingrays) – 2.870 seconds
Harry Sullivan (Sandringham Dragons) – 2.884 seconds
Rye Penny (Calder Cannons) – 2.892 seconds
Joshua Goldie (Eastern Ranges – 2.902 seconds
Caleb Windsor (Eastern Ranges) – 2.905 seconds
Rhys Unwin (GWV Rebels) – 2.919 seconds
Blake Leidler (Oakleigh Chargers) – 2.922 seconds AGILITY TEST Jake Woodward (Northern Knights) – 7.84 seconds
Sam McDonald (GWV Rebels) – 7.85 seconds
Oliver Poole (Bendigo Pioneers) – 7.86 seconds
Taj McMillan (Bendigo Pioneers) – 7.89 seconds
Nathan Philactides (Oakleigh Chargers) – 7.90 seconds
Ben McGlade (GWV Rebels) – 7.93 seconds
Connor Byrne (GWV Rebels) – 7.95 seconds
Isaac Kako (Calder Cannons) – 7.95 seconds
Jett McLaughlan (Northern Knights) – 7.97 seconds
Tarkyn O’Leary (Sandringham Dragons) – 7.97 seconds YO-YO TEST (level) Archie Caldow (GWV Rebels) – 22.01
Tarkyn O’Leary (Sandringham Dragons) – 22.01
Charlie Opie (Northern Knights – 22.01
Harvey Thomas (Oakleigh Chargers) – 22.01
Oliver Badr (Oakleigh Chargers) – 21.08
Maison Goodman (Calder Cannons) – 21.08
Jett McLaughlan (Northern Knights) – 21.08
Tobyn Murray (Geelong Falcons) – 21.08
Darcy Wilson (Murray Bushrangers) – 21.08
Levi Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons) – 21.07

The Coates Talent League clubs have all announced their playing lists for 2023 and while the favourite for number one pick in this year’s AFL Draft is Tongala’s Harley Reid (Bendigo Pioneers) there are hundreds of hopefuls for selection in the drafts to come. Here are some of the names of interest: Bendigo Pioneers • Harley Reid (Tongala) - In his book “Between the Flags”, Ian Munro suggests that Melbourne was one of the clubs that was shafted when the VFL introduced country zoning in the 1970s. In those days Tongala was in the Goulburn Valley competition. We’re only 50 years late. • Will Rohde (Echuca) - maybe a father/son if he happens to be the son of Peter? Calder Cannons • Jack Ryan (Strathmore) - hero of Tom Clancy novels? Dandenong Stingrays • Ziggy Toledo Glasman (Mt Eliza) - on Casey Demons 2023 list. • Cooper Simpson (Mt Martha) - Academy player who trained at Melbourne and was impressive. • Riak Andrew (Berwick) - Melbourne NGA prospect. Brother of Gold Coast’s Mac. Gippsland Power • Zane Duursma (Foster) - from a footballing family with Demon connections but no f/s. GWV Rebels • Nick Cadman (Darley) - brother of last year’s #1 pick? Oakleigh Chargers • Kynan Brown (Blackburn) - genuine father/son draft prospect for 2023. • Noah Yze (Glen Waverley Rovers) - genuine father/son draft prospect for 2024. • Ben Hill (Collegians) - cue the music. Sandringham Dragons • Samuel Fanning (Brighton Beach Kangaroos) - great grandson of Demon Fred Fanning who booted a VFL/AFL record of 18 goals in his last game. Tasmania Devils • Will Groom (North Hobart) - related to Demon Ray Groom who became Premier of Tasmania? Western Jets • Jai Lever (Point Cook) - another relative? Missed out - Byron Pickett Junior (son of Byron & cousin of Kozzie) who was said to have come across from SA in the hope of getting into the Northern Knights squad.