Whispering_Jack

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

I think it's a fair question but the Suns have clearly chosen this time to give him a game because they're playing the Eagles and also have some lesser opponents coming up which is better than when Melbourne unleashed Jack Watts against Collingwood on QB all those years ago. Let's see what he produces in these games.

I agree with the good luck wishes but it wasn’t just people here who said he wouldn’t play for the first two years of his career, it was nearly every recruiter, including the club that recruited him and most of the draft “experts”. And it wasn’t just how skinny he was (although that was part of it) - it was because he was a very raw talent who needed the time to develop. Kudos to the Gold Coast coaches if they’ve managed to fast track his development in less than a season.

The day of reckoning has come for last year’s premier on the very same ground where they triumphed in 2021.

Yes and no.

We were called Narrm and came into the game with 17 wins in the trot under our belt. Now, we struggle to win two on end. Our key position woes were highlighted here when we lost Tom McDonald through injury, then Steven May went down early and Harry Petty had problems during the game. We ran out of gas after holding a comfortable lead - a precursor for a number of games since then. THE TEAMS NARRM B: J.Bowey 17 S.May 1 T.Rivers 24 HB: J.Jordon 23 J.Lever 8 J. Hunt 29 C: A.Brayshaw 10 J.Viney 7 T.Sparrow 32 HF: B.Fritsch 31 L.Jackson 6 C.Spargo 9 F: A.Neal-Bullen 30 B.Brown 50 K.Pickett 36 Foll: M.Gawn 11 C.Oliver 13 C.Petracca 5 I/C: T.Bedford 12 J.Melksham 18 S.Weideman 26 H.Petty 35 Sub: L.Dunstan 27 Emerg: M.Brown 38 B.Laurie 16 A.Tomlinson 20 In: J.Viney S.Weideman Out: T.McDonald (ankle) E.Langdon (ribs) FREMANTLE B: H. Young 26 A. Pearce 25 G.Logue 2 HB: B. Cox 36 L. Ryan 13 J. Aish 11 C: B. Acres 9 A.Brayshaw 8 J.Clark 6 HF: M.Frederick 32 M. Taberner 20 T .Colyer 33 F: M.Walters 10 R.Lobb 37 L. Schultz 28 Foll: S. Darcy 4 W.Brodie 17 C. Serong 3 I/C: H. Chapman 27 D. Mundy 16 D.Tucker 18 B.Walker 31 Sub: B. Banfield 41 Emerg: N.Erasmus 28 E.Hughes 15 S.Sturt 1 In: D.Tucker B.Walker Out: N.Erasmus S.Switkowski (suspended)

Tackles Inside 50 Melbourne 0 Western Bulldogs 9 Don’t blame umpires. This was not what Melbourne stood for in 2021.