Whispering_Jack

Some additional changes - • Joel Smith has now been delisted • Jake Melksham has been promoted back into the primary list • Marty Hore has been contracted for 2025 and will remain on the Category A list • it is anticipated that Judd McVee will be promoted into the primary list as an upgrade on draft night

The online edition of the Herald Sun is carrying an article by Mark Robinson in which Gary Pert explains that controversial comment about the club’s culture ~ "My point, that was taken out of context - I was saying we are dealing with player behaviour issues and I don't want the entire club being tarnished by that," he said. "When I made the comment, we had won more games of footy in the past three years than any other team (in the league) and had recently won a premiership, and that we were doing a lot of great things. I was saying, the player behaviour issues had to be dealt with in that regard and not discredit the Max Gawns, Jack Vineys and Kate Hores ... I didn't want the whole football club being tarnished by a couple of people." In what was a complex situation, Melbourne had to carry the can for its players being in the controversial and secretive AFL drugs program, which meant the club wasn't fully across all the information - and still isn't. It's frustrating, but it's reality. "I did take offence, and maybe got a bit emotional, but I did take offence to a couple of players' behaviour tarnishing what I think is a club full of magnificent people," Pert said. I’m sure this won’t satisfy everyone but it’s logical and consistent with the views expressed to me in recent months by some of the senior group of players.

"Now is the right time for me and the right time for the club." Well played Gary Pert on your achievements at the club and in the gracious way in which you are handling your departure given the circumstances. You steered the club through potentially treacherous waters to win our first AFL/VFL premiership in 57 years, our first AFLW premiership a McClelland Trophy, two further top four finishes, record memberships and unprecedented financial strength. We look forward to your seeing us through to the conclusion of negotiations to secure a state-of-the-art training and administration base at Caulfield Racecourse Reserve. Thanks to you for all of your efforts for the betterment of the club.

The lates Rookie Me Central Power Rankings ~

Today is the birth date of Ivor Warne Smith, premiership player (1926) two time Brownlow Medallist (1926 & 1928) and centre half forward in the Melbourne Team of the 20th Century. He was captain of Melbourne between 1928 and 1931 and a member of the Melbourne Team of the Century, the Melbourne FC Hall of Fame and the Tasmanian Team of the Century.

With so many seasoned players moving on, Casey will need more than Deakyn Smith if they want to be competitive in 2025.

Back 35 years today when we were kings of the world …

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Back in the 60s … Video.mov O

The announcement of the 2025 AFL fixture imminent. You can tell that it’s not far off when you hear leaks about more Thursday night matches, an extra game this season for Geelong at the Cattery and clubs selling their home games. From Melbourne’s point of view, one of the advantages of finishing so low on the ladder should be a favourable draw. However, after seeing how the club was stitched up by this year’s AFLW fixture, I have my doubts. Let’s see.

With the news that Andy Moniz-Wakefield needs to be moved out of Category B rookie status, there are definite vacancies at the club for players in this category. The club might also be restricted to only two primary list selections in the main draft, so it’s the perfect time to revive the club’s interest in the Irish experiment for men which we started forty years ago. Let’s do it!

From afl.com.au (Kevin Sheehan) David Colbert Country: Ireland State League Club: County Dublin Community Club: Kilmacud Crokes Date of Birth: 04/03/2004 Height: 185cm A dual sport athlete who represented Ireland in the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa and is also a Gaelic football star at club and county level. He has been developing his AFL skills over the past two years and uses his explosive speed, elite step and evasive skills to break open the play. Adapted to the oval ball very quickly in tryouts at AFL clubs conducted prior to the Draft Combine and was very impressive during testing at the national Combine event, recording 2.97 seconds for the 20m sprint (ranked ninth) and an impressive 6:29 in the 2km time trial which confirmed his endurance. Is looking to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Hawthorn's Conor Nash with his Irish heritage and elite rugby and Gaelic football background. Eoin McEvoy Country: Ireland State League Club: County Derry Community Club: Magherafelt Date of Birth: 02/10/2003 Height: 189cm Another Irishman looking to follow in the footsteps of recent AFL premiership players Conor Mckenna, Zach Tuohy and Mark O'Connor. Gaelic footballer who has played as a key defender at senior county level for Derry. Has the ability to compete well in one-on-one contests, intercept with his anticipation and then break the lines with his pace. Has also shown an ability to hit the scoreboard with his running ability and game awareness. Was presented a Player of the Month award at national level this year as Derry won the Provincial Championships in Ulster and went deep into the All-Ireland Championships and was previously selected in the 2020 All-Ireland Under 17 team when Derry won the Championship at that level. Impressed in skill workouts with clubs before the Draft Combine and then produced a solid showing in the 2km time trial during testing with a run of 6:37.

From afl.com.au (Kevin Sheehan) Xavier Lindsay State: Victoria Country State League Club: Gippsland Power Community Club: Inverloch-Kongwak/Leongatha Date of Birth: 03/08/2006 Height: 183cm A left-footed medium defender and midfielder who displayed enormous footy nous in reading the cues to win the ball before making good decisions when distributing. A neat kick and aggressive tackler, he also showed good natural speed and agility. Was a standout at club and representative level and finished the National Championships in outstanding fashion, racking up 30 disposals against Victoria Metro which cemented All Australian honours. Starred for the Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League, where he averaged 23 disposals across 12 matches to win the Morrish Medal as the competition's best and fairest player. A PCL injury in the final home and away game brought a premature end to his season but he is expected to have fully recovered by December.

From afl.com.au (Kevin Sheehan) Ricky Mentha State: Northern Territory State League Club: Gippsland Power Community Club: Morwell/Pioneer Date of Birth: 04/09/2006 Height: 178cm Small forward who is crafty and agile with natural goal sense and a good burst of speed. Relocated from Alice Springs to Gippsland with his family last year. Represented Australia as part of the Marsh AFL National Academy this year, as well as playing for the Allies in the National Championships. Averaged 12 disposals in 14 matches for the Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League and was at his best against the Western Jets in Round 16 with 22 disposals to be among his team's best. Is eligible to join Melbourne as a Next Generation Academy member.

We could win the next two and still miss out - what a shame and what a condemnation of such a lop sided shambles of a fixture.

All is good and right with the world again. ‘I had a stinker’: Oliver vows to atone in 2025 after failed move to Geelong Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver has broken his silence after the trade period, pledging to atone for his self-described “stinker” of a season next year. Days after the Demons shut the door on a move to Geelong, the four-time best and fairest winner was pragmatic about the failed trade and is “keen to get back” to training with his Melbourne teammates when preseason formally starts next month. The Dees kept their word in not trading Oliver, who had met several Cats players at ruckman Rhys Stanley’s farm heading into the player exchange period. “That’s alright, Melbourne are looking good, we’ll be right,” Oliver said at the races at Caulfield, where a horse raced by his friend Darcy Mangan was victorious. Oliver spoke bullishly of the Demons’ chances next year after a disappointing 2024 in which the club missed the finals for the first time since 2020. I think this just about confirms Melbourne as the big winner of the trade and free agency period. The club kept its absolute champions and has two top ten picks in its back pocket. We can now follow Clarry’s lead and concentrate on the Spring Carnival, the cricket, tennis and the rest of the AFLW season before moving on to take the next premiership flag.

We are now here ROUND ONE 1 Richmond 2 North Melbourne 3 Carlton (received from West Coast Eagles in 2024) 4 Adelaide 5 Melbourne 6 Richmond (received from Gold Coast Suns in 2024) 7 St Kilda 8 St Kilda (received as compensation for the loss of Josh Battle) 9 Melbourne (received from Essendon in 2024) 10 Richmond (received from Fremantle in 2024) 11 Richmond (received from Fremantle in 2024, received from Collingwood in 2023) 12 West Coast Eagles (received from Carlton in 2024) 13 Port Adelaide (received from Gold Coast Suns in 2024, received from Western Bulldogs in 2023) 14 Fremantle (received from Richmond in 2024, received from Carlton in 2024, received from Hawthorn in 2024) 15 GWS Giants 16 GWS Giants (received as compensation for the loss of Harry Perryman) 17 Western Bulldogs (received from Geelong in 2024) 18 Richmond (received from Fremantle in 2024, received from Port Adelaide in 2023) 19 Sydney Swans 20 Richmond (received from Brisbane in 2024) 21 GWS Giants (received as compensation for the loss of Isaac Cumming ) 22 Sydney Swans (received from North Melbourne in 2023, received from AFL as compensation in 2023) 23 Richmond (received from Gold Coast Suns in 2024, received from North Melbourne in 2023, received from AFL as compensation in 2023) ROUND TWO 24 Richmond 25 Western Bulldogs (received from North Melbourne in 2024) 26 West Coast Eagles 27 Brisbane (received from St Kilda in 2024, received from GWS in 2023, received from Adelaide in 2023) 28 Essendon (received from Melbourne in 2024, received from Adelaide in 2024, received from Melbourne in 2023) 29 Port Adelaide (received from Gold Coast Suns in 2024) 30 Fremantle (received from St Kilda in 2023) 31 Essendon 32 St Kilda (received from Brisbane in 2024, received from Richmond in 2024, received from Port Adelaide in 2023, received from Fremantle in 2023) 33 Hawthorn (received from Collingwood in 2023) 34 Brisbane (received from Carlton in 2024) 35 Western Bulldogs 36 Port Adelaide (received from Collingwood in 2024, received from Hawthorn in 2023) 37 GWS Giants 38 Carlton (received from Geelong in 2024) 39 Gold Coast Suns (received from Port Adelaide in 2024) 40 Essendon (received from Melbourne in 2024, received from Sydney in 2023) 41 Gold Coast Suns (received from Hawthorn in 2023, received from Brisbane in 2023) 42 Brisbane (received from Richmond in 2024, received as compensation for the loss of Jack Graham) ROUND THREE 43 Brisbane (received from Richmond in 2024) 44 North Melbourne 45 Carlton (received from St Kilda in 2024, received from Brisbane in 2024, received from Richmond in 2024, received from West Coast in 2023) 46 Essendon (received from Melbourne in 2024, received from Adelaide in 2024) 47 St Kilda (received from Melbourne in 2023) 48 Western Bulldogs (received from Gold Coast in 2023) 49 Brisbane (received from Melbourne in 2024, received from St Kilda in 2023) 50 Port Adelaide (received from Gold Coast Suns in 2024, received from Carlton in 2023, received from Essendon in 2023) 51 Gold Coast Suns (received from Richmond in 2024, received from Fremantle in 2023) 52 Collingwood 53 GWS Giants (received from St Kilda in 2023, received from Carlton in 2023) 54 Essendon (received from Melbourne in 2024, received from Western Bulldogs in 2023) 55 Collingwood (received from Hawthorn in 2023) 56 GWS Giants 57 Geelong 58 Collingwood (received from Port Adelaide in 2024) 59 Sydney Swans 60 Brisbane ROUND FOUR 61 Gold Coast Suns (received from Richmond in 2024) 62 North Melbourne 63 Carlton (received from West Coast Eagles in 2024) 64 Adelaide 65 Essendon (received from Melbourne in 2024) 66 Brisbane (received from Carlton in 2024, received from Gold Coast in 2023) 67 Fremantle (received from St Kilda in 2023) 68 Carlton (received from West Coast Eagles in 2024, received from North Melbourne in 2024, received from Port Adelaide in 2023, received from Essendon in 2023) 69 Carlton (received from St Kilda in 2023, received from Frementle in 2023) 70 Gold Coast Suns (received from Richmond in 2024, received from Essendon in 2023, received from Hawthorn in 2023, received from Collingwood in 2023) 71 Hawthorn (received from Port Adelaide in 2023, received from Essendon in 2023, received from Carlton in 2023) 72 Carlton (received from the Bulldogs in 2023) 73 West Coast Eagles (received from Carlton in 2024, Brisbane in 2024, received from Hawthorn in 2023) 74 GWS Giants 75 Geelong 76 Gold Coast (received from Richmond in 2024, received from Port Adelaide in 2023) 77 Hawthorn (received from Sydney in 2023) 78 Gold Coast Suns (received from Hawthorn in 2023, recieved from Brisbane in 2023)

Western Bulldogs traded Bailey Smith and pick 45 to Geelong for pick 17 and 38

Carlton trades Matt Kennedy to Western Bulldogs for pick 38