Whispering_Jack

I've been a strong supporter of the club's policy of pushing youth into the team at the expense of the older group who won't play a part in the club's next assault on a flag. At the same time however, we also have to appreciate that most young players in their first, second and even third seasons tend to tire after a long, hard season. With so many young players in the side last week we fell away badly after half time at Subiaco. For that reason, I think it's time to start bringing some of the more experienced players into the team and resting a few of our younger players. That sort of management might be helpful in ensuring that our younger players develop at an appropriate rate rather than succumb to some of the injuries that tend to plague them if they're overworked in their formative seasons. On the basis of their form at Sandy, I'd give Nathan Carroll and Adem Yze a go this week.

It's good light hearted entertainment. The morale of the story is never take seriously someone who can't spell the name Barassi.

Game, set and match.

Fantastic. It's started already and it's still July! Since you mentioned it, here's a bit of WAFL watch. Daniel Rich had only 9 touches (4 kicks and 5 handballs), 1 mark and kicked a goal in Subiaco's big win at the weekend. In another game, Swan Districts had at least four major draft hopefuls in their team including Nick Naitanui whose states of 4 kicks, 9 handballs, 1 mark and 10 hit outs were nothing special. Chris Yarran had 9 kicks, 4 handballs 2 marks and a goal while Neville Jetta got 13 disposals (7 kicks) and 3 marks. The best of them statistically was Clancee Pearce with 13 kicks 10 hanballs 6 marks and 2 goals. Time to have another look at Pearce's performance for WA in the Under 18 final match. His stocks could be rising.

My alternative strip suggestion is not to have an alternative strip.

I don't know anything about George Savvides and this is nothing against him personally but if he's the CFO then surely he's the one responsible for the fine mess we're in at the moment i.e. at least two years of performing well below budget and this year staring at a $2m loss. How are we weakened by his resignation?

This thread bring back memories of what some Carlton supporters were saying a year ago about Bryce Gibbs. A summer or two in the gym and 20 more games experience in Morton's legs will change this appreciably.

After yesterday's debacle, it's unlikely that Melbourne will end up 14th. We're a game and percentage behind Fremantle and they still have to play West Coast so even if we beat the Eagles later in the year, we're still a fair way behind them. The likelihood is that we'll finish 15th or 16th and if Watts gets picked up ahead of our pick or if he doesn't nominate, we'll get Rich or Naitanui.

FROM SHIFTER'S WRAP: UNDER 18 ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM Backs Nick Suban (Vic Country) Michael Hurley (Vic Metro) Clancee Pearce (WA) Half Backs Stephen Hill (WA) Jordan Lisle (Vic Metro) Rhys O’Keeffe (SA) Centreline Mitch Robinson (T) Matthew Deboer (WA) David Zaharakis (Vic Metro) Half forwards Hamish Hartlett (SA) Lewis Johnston (SA) Tom Scully (Vic Metro) Forwards Tyrone Vickery (Vic Metro) Jack Watts (Vic Metro) Michael Walters (WA) Followers Nick Naitanui (WA) Jack Ziebell (Vic Country) Ranga Ediriwickrama(NSW/ACT) Interchange Daniel Rich (WA) Shaun McKernan (Vic Metro) Steele Sidebottom (Vic Country) Kade Klemke (NSW/ACT) Coach David Dickson (Vic Metro) Assistant Coach Danny Stevens (NSW/ACT)

Fox Sports 1 (Channel 501) is showing the following programme today at 1.00pm AFL: Under 18 Championships Wrap AFL. Matthew Campbell and his panel of experts discuss the recent Under-18s championships and look at which young footballers' lives will be changed forever when AFL clubs sit down in November to select players at the National Draft.

There's a difference between fair criticism and blatant attacks on individual players. Double standards or not, this discussion is over. It won't hurt YM because he supposedly banned himself for 6 months a few weeks back. Let's concentrate on the Melbourne Football Club and not on any individual poster who might have breached our code of conduct.

And now for those who have never seen it before - WHO'S ON FIRST. This one was filmed before I was born but I must have seen it at least three times in the late 50's and early '60's. I don't think it was ever particularly funny but it always used to have audiences rolling down the aisles. Enjoy!

Cute, the first two players on the list have had an Under 18 team named after them B)

We actually played (and lost to) Sydney in Round 22, 2003 but the principle sounds right. When Worsfold was interviewed on the news tonight he had a grin from ear to ear when he spoke of Kerr's woes.

I suppose making this prediction doesn't take a great deal of courage but I'm prepared to make it anyway. Daniel Rich will win at least one Brownlow Medal at some stage during his career.

Lost by 16 points. The reserves fared even worse failing to score a goal and losing by 11 goals (two years ago they at least kicked one goal at Ballarat!). Only good news is that Jack Grimes did OK. Barry will have the details shortly.

Here's a good overview of the leaders of the draft pack:- YOUNGSTERS SHOW CLASS THAT WILL WIN THEM AFL SPOTS

The following article appeared today in the Amateur Footballer - DEES CONTINUE STRONG AMATEUR LINK The Melbourne Football Club has always had a strong link with the VAFA and that continues today with four players from their heart stopping win against Brisbane last weekend having represented a VAFA club at senior level. Stefan Martin made his debut after playing 5 senior and 9 U19 games for Old Haileybury in 2006, winning the VAFA U19 (Blue) Best and Fairest. Shane Valenti, playing his 3rd AFL game, played one senior game for Old Haileybury in 2005 and Simon Buckley played one senior game for Ormond also in 2005. Cameron Bruce played for MHSOB in the late 1990's before being drafted, playing 18 senior games for the Unicorns. James McDonald, who didn't play on the weekend, played for Old Xavs in 1996 and was part of that memorable premiership side, having been 1-8 at the half way mark of the season. Amazingly, James missed out on selection for the first match of that season and ran the water that day – how quickly things can turn around in one year. Congratulations to Stef Martin on making his debut in only his third season of football. Stef was a highly promising basketballer who decided to give football a go for a year and play with some of his mates in the Old Haileybury U19's. After only 8 games (which he received 3 votes from the umpires in all 8), he was selected for the seniors. He missed out on being part of Old Haileybury’s first ever A Section flag due to a broken thumb but was invited down to Sandringham last season where he became an integral part of their senior side. It was also great to see these players maintaining strong links with their former VAFA clubs. Both James and Simon were guest speakers at the Old Xavs and Ormond lunches respectively and all are regular attendees at VAFA matches.

I saw the second half of the WA v Tasmania game and was rather underwhelmed by Naitanui. He's tall, he has a great leap, he's fast and he tackles well but if you're going to draft a ruckman, you'd want him to be able to take marks and kick the ball well. The times he did get the ball he would handball. My preference would be Rich on what I saw today. Despite a heavy tag, he gathered the ball well, looked strong and has great disposal. Will be a top shelf midfielder.

by the Professor From Tangles to Snake One of the by products of the introduction of the new AFL club to be located on the Gold Coast will be a change to the draft rules which, in addition to allowing GC17 to pick a large number of local Queenslanders, will give the existing AFL clubs the right to select an additional two players on their rookie lists. This will bring to 46 the number of players on most club lists and will, in turn, increase the likelihood of a re-appearance of the number 46 at the Melbourne Football Club – a number not seen on a Demon since the 2000 Grand Final. The number 46 is not a guernsey number at this club that is renowned for anything much although it was once worn by a man who became famous as a test cricketer and later as a television commentator and prolific author of books. As stated above, it was also worn into battle in the club’s most recent grand final appearance. Adrian Bowden arrived at the club in 1966 from Hobart High School Old Boys at a time when the Demons were in steep decline after more than a decade as the VFL’s dominant club. Many of the stars of that era had left the fold and it was now a time for team building. An unprecedented total of twenty-two new players (five in the opening round) were introduced into senior football that year including Bowden who made his debut in the back pocket against Richmond in round 3 and wore the number 46 in 14 games that season. He played another ten games in jumper number 23 the following year, mainly as a centre half back, before returning home. The next custodian of the number 46 was another ex-Hobart schoolboy in tall, gangly Max Henry Norman Walker who arrived from Friends School with a reputation of having some ability as a ruckman and as an opening batsman in cricket. He was thrown into the ruck on elevation into the senior team and played eight games in his debut season of 1967 before grabbing the number 1 guernsey at the start of the following year. Walker's football career was curtailed by his success as a test cricketer and "Tangles", niknamed for his unusual bowling style, retired at the end of 1972 after 85 games and 23 goals. He went on to represent Australia in 34 Tests as a medium pace bowler and handy tail end batsman. Ray Sampson, brother of Essendon's Brian Sampson, joined the club in 1969 and managed just one game that season wearing 46. The next wearer of the number was another local in Geoff Harrold from Bentleigh-McKinnon Youth Club. He played two senior games before moving to Canberra where he had a long career in local football there. Another hiatus of three years followed before another youngster from Bentleigh-McKinnon claimed the jumper for a brief career. Utility Glenn Walley played 3 games (2 goals) in 1975-6 before moving to Sandringham. Peter Tossol, from Assumption College, Kilmore came up through the Under 19's and made his debut in round 6, 1982 wearing the number 46 jumper. He managed 5 games (4 goals) that year before changing to the number 21 for the remainder of his career. In all, he played 17 games for 20 goals to 1984. His brother John had played 2 games in 1981. Like Max Walker, Tasmanian Michael Reynolds hailed from Friends School, Hobart and wore the number 46 on his debut at the club in 1983 and then again in 1984. A 186cm forward, Reynolds missed the 1985 season and switched to 21 in 1986 which was his final year. He played 22 games for 20 goals. Local lad Darren Louttit from St. Peters East Bentleigh was at the club in 1985-6 and was the next wearer of the number 46. The 193cm key position player managed just 2 games before moving on to Fitzroy. Matthew Mahoney, a 200cm ruckman drafted from Eastlakes (ACT) wore 46 in his debut season before switching to number 10. He made only six appearances to 1992. His replacement as wearer of the number 46 also wore it in his debut season only. Haydn Robins switched to the number 15 in 1993. The aggressive defender from Ringwood played 20 games (1 goal) before transferring to Richmond after two years at the club. Hayden Lamaro, a half back from Euroa was drafted by the club via the Murray Bushrangers in the 1997 National Draft. He wore the number 46 in his two games in 1998. The last player to wear the number 46 at Melbourne was Troy Simmonds who earlier this year represented Victoria in the State of Origin match. He was drafted to Melbourne from VFL club Box Hill and played five years in his debut season as a lightly built ruckman in an understudy role to Jeff White. He acquired the nickname “Snake” because of his unusual hobby of collecting reptiles. He also studied zoology. Simmonds stepped up in 2000 when White was carrying injuries but lost the number 1 ruck spot back to White when he sustained a knee injury. Simmonds fought his way back into the side for the 2000 grand final and is remembered as the victim of an ugly head high incident caused by a reckless bump from Essendon’s Michael Long who subsequently incurred a four week suspension. Simmonds recovered and played out the following season in Jimmy Stynes' number 11 but he never managed to grab the number 1 ruck mantle from White and was traded to Fremantle at the end of that year after 40 games and 7 goals. "Snake" later transferred to the Tigers where he remains their leading ruckman to the present day. So the jumper number 46, worn last at Melbourne in a grand final, awaits a new owner and it could come as early as the beginning of the next season with the mooted expansion of AFL lists by two rookies. The number is not fashionable but still has managed to attract one or two handy sportsmen in the past. Perhaps the next one can emulate or even better the feats of "Tangles" or "Snake"?

by the Professor From Tangles to Snake One of the by products of the introduction of the new AFL club to be located on the Gold Coast will be a change to the draft rules which, in addition to allowing GC17 to pick a large number of local Queenslanders, will give the existing AFL clubs the right to select an additional two players on their rookie lists. This will bring to 46 the number of players on most club lists and will, in turn, increase the likelihood of a re-appearance of the number 46 at the Melbourne Football Club – a number not seen on a Demon since the 2000 Grand Final. The number 46 is not a guernsey number at this club that is renowned for anything much although it was once worn by a man who became famous as a test cricketer and later as a television commentator and prolific author of books. As stated above, it was also worn into battle in the club’s most recent grand final appearance. Adrian Bowden arrived at the club in 1966 from Hobart High School Old Boys at a time when the Demons were in steep decline after more than a decade as the VFL’s dominant club. Many of the stars of that era had left the fold and it was now a time for team building. An unprecedented total of twenty-two new players (five in the opening round) were introduced into senior football that year including Bowden who made his debut in the back pocket against Richmond in round 3 and wore the number 46 in 14 games that season. He played another ten games in jumper number 23 the following year, mainly as a centre half back, before returning home. The next custodian of the number 46 was another ex-Hobart schoolboy in tall, gangly Max Henry Norman Walker who arrived from Friends School with a reputation of having some ability as a ruckman and as an opening batsman in cricket. He was thrown into the ruck on elevation into the senior team and played eight games in his debut season of 1967 before grabbing the number 1 guernsey at the start of the following year. Walker's football career was curtailed by his success as a test cricketer and "Tangles", niknamed for his unusual bowling style, retired at the end of 1972 after 85 games and 23 goals. He went on to represent Australia in 34 Tests as a medium pace bowler and handy tail end batsman. Ray Sampson, brother of Essendon's Brian Sampson, joined the club in 1969 and managed just one game that season wearing 46. The next wearer of the number was another local in Geoff Harrold from Bentleigh-McKinnon Youth Club. He played two senior games before moving to Canberra where he had a long career in local football there. Another hiatus of three years followed before another youngster from Bentleigh-McKinnon claimed the jumper for a brief career. Utility Glenn Walley played 3 games (2 goals) in 1975-6 before moving to Sandringham. Peter Tossol, from Assumption College, Kilmore came up through the Under 19's and made his debut in round 6, 1982 wearing the number 46 jumper. He managed 5 games (4 goals) that year before changing to the number 21 for the remainder of his career. In all, he played 17 games for 20 goals to 1984. His brother John had played 2 games in 1981. Like Max Walker, Tasmanian Michael Reynolds hailed from Friends School, Hobart and wore the number 46 on his debut at the club in 1983 and then again in 1984. A 186cm forward, Reynolds missed the 1985 season and switched to 21 in 1986 which was his final year. He played 22 games for 20 goals. Local lad Darren Louttit from St. Peters East Bentleigh was at the club in 1985-6 and was the next wearer of the number 46. The 193cm key position player managed just 2 games before moving on to Fitzroy. Matthew Mahoney, a 200cm ruckman drafted from Eastlakes (ACT) wore 46 in his debut season before switching to number 10. He made only six appearances to 1992. His replacement as wearer of the number 46 also wore it in his debut season only. Haydn Robins switched to the number 15 in 1993. The aggressive defender from Ringwood played 20 games (1 goal) before transferring to Richmond after two years at the club. Hayden Lamaro, a half back from Euroa was drafted by the club via the Murray Bushrangers in the 1997 National Draft. He wore the number 46 in his two games in 1998. The last player to wear the number 46 at Melbourne was Troy Simmonds who earlier this year represented Victoria in the State of Origin match. He was drafted to Melbourne from VFL club Box Hill and played five years in his debut season as a lightly built ruckman in an understudy role to Jeff White. He acquired the nickname “Snake” because of his unusual hobby of collecting reptiles. He also studied zoology. Simmonds stepped up in 2000 when White was carrying injuries but lost the number 1 ruck spot back to White when he sustained a knee injury. Simmonds fought his way back into the side for the 2000 grand final and is remembered as the victim of an ugly head high incident caused by a reckless bump from Essendon’s Michael Long who subsequently incurred a four week suspension. Simmonds recovered and played out the following season in Jimmy Stynes' number 11 but he never managed to grab the number 1 ruck mantle from White and was traded to Fremantle at the end of that year after 40 games and 7 goals. "Snake" later transferred to the Tigers where he remains their leading ruckman to the present day. So the jumper number 46, worn last at Melbourne in a grand final, awaits a new owner and it could come as early as the beginning of the next season with the mooted expansion of AFL lists by two rookies. The number is not fashionable but still has managed to attract one or two handy sportsmen in the past. Perhaps the next one can emulate or even better the feats of "Tangles" or "Snake"?

I agree. Good luck with the function and let's hear from all the Ballarat Demons on Sunday about how the function went and how the Demons played.

I've received the Sandringham Reserves team lists as follows for the Reserves game:- NORTH BALLARAT v SANDRINGHAM Sunday 6th July - Seniors at 2:00 pm AUSTAR Arena SANDRINGHAM Calder, Anthony (Local Interchange) Cannon, Jack Cleeve, Stuart Curcio, Michael Fleming, Andrew Gallagher, David Gilchrist, Rennie Gilder, Brad Gribbin, Daniel Grimes, Jack Hardiman, Maddison Johnston, Marc Johnston, Tomi Kondarovskis, James Lockwood, Scott Lyall, Nicholas Martyn, Guy Monaghan, Sam Plymin, Jarrod Sargent, Daniel Shakaib, Hiwad Spencer, Jake Teasdale, David Torcasio, Christopher (Local Interchange) Vickers, Jack Weetra, Isaac

Jim Stynes made his first official match day address as Melbourne Football Club President at the Club's President's Lunch at the MCG on Sunday. Read about it HERE.

I assume if a player is selected in the 18 set positions then he'll play on Sunday. There are only five MFC players in this category, leaving 11 Demons on the extended bench. Seven will be left after Melbourne finalises its 22 players for the Brisbane game tomorrow evening but only a maximum of four will play in the Sandy seniors (barring unforeseen injuries etc). That means it's possible that Cheney, Newton and one other Demon plays in the Sandy 2's and a few of the Sandy boys who struggled and were easily brushed aside by Port Melbourne play senior football. Doesn't make sense for Sandy and doesn't make sense for Melbourne. I guess there's half a season to go and what was once a very good relationship will be over.