Whispering_Jack

History says it’s a tough ask for an appeal to succeed. Often, such things also tend to lead to clubs losing focus with all of the publicity concerning the appeal process. I am more concerned about Melbourne losing its focus because the Blues don’t have their ace match winner.

“Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has unsuccessfully appealed his two-match ban for rough conduct at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night. It means Cripps will miss the Blues’ last two games of the home and away season.” ~ SEN

INS AND OUTS: Every club's full list changes ahead of 2023

Sixty-seven of the brightest draft prospects in the land have been invited to show their wares at next month’s National Combine. This is not the final list as there is the capacity for players to be added to the list and there will also be State Combines for testing of some of the others who have missed out. Chargers lead the way as full Draft Combine invite list revealed 2022 NAB AFL DRAFT COMBINE INVITE LIST Vic Country Jaxon Binns (Dandenong Stingrays) Hugh Bond (GWV Rebels) Coby Burgiel (Gippsland Power) Aaron Cadman (GWV Rebels) Jhye Clark (Geelong Falcons) Brayden George (Murray Bushrangers) Oliver Hollands (Murray Bushrangers) Bailey Humphrey (Gippsland Power) Henry Hustwaite (Dandenong Stingrays) Max Knobel (Gippsland Power) Jacob Konstanty (Gippsland Power) Noah Long (Bendigo Pioneers) Toby McMullin (Sandringham Dragons) Caleb Mitchell (Murray Bushrangers) Olivier Northam (Geelong Falcons) Jack O'Sullivan (Oakleigh Chargers) Mitch Szybkowski (Dandenong Stingrays) Cooper Vickery (Gippsland Power) James Van Es (GWV Rebels) Vic Metro Will Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons) Charlie Clarke (Sandringham Dragons) Alwyn Davey (Oakleigh Chargers) Blake Drury (Oakleigh Chargers) Max Gruzewski (Oakleigh Chargers) Lewis Hayes (Eastern Ranges) Olli Hotton (Sandringham Dragons) Matthew Jefferson (Oakleigh Chargers) Cameron Mackenzie (Sandringham Dragons) Harry Sheezel (Sandringham Dragons) Luke Teal (Oakleigh Chargers) Elijah Tsatas (Oakleigh Chargers) George Wardlaw (Oakleigh Chargers) Josh Weddle (Oakleigh Chargers) South Australia Harry Barnett (West Adelaide) Adam D'Aloia (Woodville-West Torrens) Will Dowling (North Adelaide) Phoenix Foster (Norwood) Isaac Keeler (North Adelaide) Harry Lemmey (West Adelaide) Jaiden Magor (South Adelaide) Max Michalanney (Norwood) Mattaes Phillipou (Woodville-West Torrens) Jakob Ryan (Glenelg) Nick Sadler (Sturt) Tom Scully (West Adelaide) Will Verrall (South Adelaide) Western Australia Jed Adams (Peel Thunder) Edward Allan (Claremont) Jedd Busslinger (East Perth) Harry Cole (Claremont) Hugh Davies (Claremont) Tyrell Dewar (Subiaco) Sam Gilbey (Claremont) Reuben Ginbey (East Perth) Steely Green (South Fremantle) Jed Hagan (East Fremantle) Elijah Hewett (Swan Districts) Darcy Jones (Swan Districts) New South Wales Jason Gillbee (Bendigo Pioneers) Nick Madden (GWS Academy) Harry Rowston (GWS Academy) Northern Territory Lloyd Johnston (NT Thunder) Anthony Munkara (NT/West Adelaide) Queensland Shadeau Brain (Brisbane Academy) Jaspa Fletcher (Brisbane Academy) Tasmania Lachlan Cowan (Tasmania Devils) Tom McCallum (Tasmania Devils)

Should go but I suspect the wheels are turning to prevent any suspension. If that happens you have to feel for someone like Kade Chandler, a “no name” who took a two week suspension just when on the cusp of getting a regular game.

My spies tell me that he was excellent in yesterday’s game v Bendigo Pioneers yesterday - good disposal a feature.

It was way back in May last year - lots of water under the bridge since then. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B: M. Hibberd 14 S. May 1 J. Lever 8 HB: C. Salem 3 H. Petty 35 T. Rivers 24 C: A. Brayshaw 10 C. Petracca 5 E. Langdon 15 HF:J. Jordon 23 T. McDonald 25 A. Neal-Bullen 30 F: C. Spargo 9 B. Brown 50 B. Fritsch 31 Foll: M. Gawn 11 C Oliver 13 K. Pickett 36 I/C: K. Chandler 37 J. Harmes 4 J. Hunt 29 S. Weideman 26 Sub: J. Melksham 18 Emerg: O. Baker 33 J. Bowey 17 T. Sparrow 32 In: S. Weideman Out: L. Jackson (broken finger) CARLTON B: S Docherty 18 L. Jones 14 L. Stocker 13 HB: A. Saad 42 J. Weitering 23 L. Plowman 20 C: M. Cottrell 46 P. Cripps 9 W. Setterfield 43 HF: D. Cunningham 28 L. Casboult 41 M. Murphy 3 F: E. Betts 19 H. McKay 10 L. Fogarty 8 Foll: M. Pittonet 27 S. Walsh 18 Z. Williams 6 I/C: E. Curnow 35 N. Newman 24 M. Owies 44 L. Parks 26 Sub M. Gibbons 40 Emerg: T. De Koning 12 J. Newnes 32 J. Honey 36 In: M. Murphy N. Newman W. Setterfield Out: J. Newnes (omitted) S. Petrevski-Seton (omitted) J. Silvagni (concussion)

Under pressure we simply did not hold onto the marks all over the ground in the second half that they were able to take. The marking stats of 82 to 63 tell the story.

The feeling I have today is very much like the feeling I had when we played Richmond last year for the Anzac Eve game. A wet track and the club in a position where it had to prove itself as a force. Let's get 'em!

How long has it been since these two old enemies have played a bigger game?

This looks like the plan going forward for Joel Smith - pity about Casey’s bye this weekend. Jumping Joel goes forward

The weather report could well play an important role in determining final selection. My weather App is saying there’s an 80% chance of rain tomorrow.

Ashcroft nominates the Brisbane Lions. Jaspa Fletcher is another likely f/s for the Lions. Lions' HUGE draft boost: No.1 contender opts into father-son rule As mentioned above, there’s going to be a scramble for points to enable the Lions to get both players. 

AFL Draft - August Power Rankings: Son-of-a-gun back on top of the class Knightmare has installed everybody’s favourite Will Ashcroft back on top of his power rankings and no wonder. He’s a prolific ball winner, never lets you down and would walk into most AFL teams right now if it were possible. The Brisbane Lions are going to have to accumulate plenty of points to secure him.

The AFL’s draft guru Kevin “Shifter” Sheehan has posted an article on the Herald Sun online members site in which he looks at the top 30 draft picks based on ranking points in the U18 National Championships. He has Cadman at #20. “20. Aaron Cadman Avg. Ranking Points in U18 National Championships: 91 points (3 games) GWV Rebels/Darley FC/Emmanuel College H: 194cm, W: 88kg, DOB: 03/03/04 A left-footed tall forward with a vice-like grip overhead, Cadman is also incredibly clean below the knees for a big man. He presents well as a target forward with his repeat leading and an aggressive approach to the ball is a feature of his game. Cadman has progressed in his development after showing potential in representing Victoria Country at Under 17s level. He was a late call up to the Australian Under 18 team after a promising start to the NAB League season with the Rebels, which saw him draw comparisons to Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron. Cadman has averaged 13.7 disposals, 6.7 marks, 2.3 goals and 7.3 score involvements from three national championships games for Vic Country.”

A player to watch out for is Gippsland Power skipper and midfield bull Bailey Humphrey who had 31 disposals and kicked four goals against the Northern Knights on return from almost three months off with a meniscus tear. So impressive was his form that it’s likely he will be added to the Vic Country squad for the final NAB National Championship game vs Vic Metro.

It’s also worth following where the opposition is at for this game - AFL 2022: All the latest injury news from Round 20

AFL Draft Power Rankings – August 2022

Your assessment of the potential for mystery injuries sounds pretty much spot on. However, I think this week’s reporting has the wrong Smith. Joel was covered last week as available. This week’s list should IMO include Deakyn Smith who was said to have recovered from his recent injuries. Injury List: Round 21 Deakyn Smith - Jaw | Available James Harmes - Concussion | Test Ben Brown - Knee | Test Fraser Rosman - Hamstring | 3-4 Weeks Tom McDonald - Foot | 4-6 Weeks

Everyone knows that I’m skeptical about our club’s weekly published injury list which always seems to throw up a mystery injury of the week at selection time or on game day (this week it was James Harmes with his delayed concussion). Often, predicted return times are also way off the mark so I put forward this item for what it’s worth ~

Just catching up on the National Championships game from last weekend between WA and SA - Bottom-age SA gun shows No.1 potential, WA dasher stars WESTERN AUSTRALIA 4.2.26 7.6.48 9.7.61 15.10 (100) SOUTH AUSTRALIA 3.1.19 5.3.33 8.6.54 12.8 (80) GOALS Western Australia: Cole 2, Dewar 2, Hagan 2, Sanchez 2, Allan, Green, Jones, Livingstone, McDonald, Scaife, Tregenza-Cashell South Australia: Moir 4, Verrall 2, Bennier, D'Aloia, Keeler, Lovelock, Phillipou, Ryan Sandgropers hold off magical Moir for first AFL U18s win WA: R. Ginbey, D. Jones, S. Green, T. Dewar, S. Gilbey, J. Cleaver SA: A. Moir, K. Ryan, A. D’Aloia, B. Dowling, W. Patton, J. Ryan

Tonight’s win over Fremantle marked the first “revenge match” for the club this year, overturning the result of the game that ended Melbourne’s 17 game winning stretch. Next Friday night, the Demons have another opportunity for revenge - this time against Collingwood. The teams when they met last time in Round 13: COLLINGWOOD B: B.Maynard 37 D.Moore 30 N.Murphy 28 HB: S.Pendlebury 10 J.Howe 38 I.Quaynor 3 C: W.Hoskin-Elliott 32 P.Lipinski 1 John Noble 9 HF: J.Crisp 25 B.Mihocek 41 J.De Goey 2 F: J.Ginnivan 33 J.Elliott 5 S.Sidebottom 22 Foll: D.Cameron 14 T.Adams 13 J.Daicos 7 I/C: M.Cox 46 N.Daicos 35 O.Henry B. McCreery 31 Sub: T.Brown 6 Emerg: I.Chugg F.Macrae 18 T.Ruscoe 21 In: J.Elliott Out: R.McInnes (shoulder) MELBOURNE B: C.Salem 3 H.Petty 35 J.Bowey 17 HB: J.Jordon 23 J.Lever 8 A.Brayshaw 10 C: T.Sparrow 32 A.Neal-Bullen 30 E.Langdon 15 HF: M.Brown 38 B.Fritsch 31 C.Petracca 5 F: C.Spargo 9 B.Brown 50 K.Pickett 36 Foll: M.Gawn11 C.Oliver 13 J.Viney 7 IC: J.Harmes 4 M.Hibberd 14 L.Jackson 6 D.Turner 42 Sub: K.Chandler 37 Emerg: O.Baker 33 A.Tomlinson 20 S.Weideman 26 In: K.Chandler M.Hibberd D.Turner Out: T.Bedford (omitted) J.Hunt (omitted) A.Tomlinson (omitted)

In his new book Between the Flags, Ian Munro explores the impact of country zoning and its role in the club’s long period without tasting the ultimate success. Here’s a glimpse of that story from a Football Almanac article:- Country Zoning - its part in our downfall.

More reading - Under the Radar: AFL Draft prospects on the precipice The top of the class, bolters and big questions: AFL draft state of play

Here comes Cal with his Phantom Form Guide ~ Cal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' July ranking