Whispering_Jack

This is a great football story.

The Southport Sharks are a remarkable club given their location in what was essentially rugby league territory when the club was first formed in the early 60s. They have a great facility at their HQ and substantial local support. The VFL side is coached by Steve Daniel and his assistants are Matthew Primus and Matthew Lappin. They will give the Casey Demons a good run for their money.

On a slightly different tack, today’s news represents an epic failure of the campaign by the Herald Sun and its informants a few months ago to disrupt Goody’s coaching career. We should all get together soon at the Sorrento Hotel and drink a toast to the health of Simon Goodwin and the Melbourne Football Club!

Eligibility for the Mid-Season Draft Potential Mid-Season Draft recruits are required to fall under the following criteria to be available for selection should they not have an exemption: • A Player who nominated for the most recent NAB AFL National Draft. Please note: A Player who nominated for and was not selected during the Draft and who committed for a further year as a 19-year-old Northern or NGA Academy Player is available to all Clubs should they nominate for the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft. • A Player who has previously been on the list of a Club (not required to nominate for the most recent Draft) refers to the following situations:A Delisted Player Please note: A Player delisted by a Club cannot be reselected in the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft by the same Club in the period immediately following their delisting unless they nominated for the most recent Draft. A Retired Player and/or a Player who has delisted himself and has not been on an AFL List for one year or more. For example, a player who retired in 2021 is not able to be selected in the 2022 NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

AFL clubs get a chance to replenish their lists through the year with the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft to be held on Wednesday, June 1. At present, Carlton, Fremantle, Geelong, Hawthorn and Sydney all have one list spot free that can be filled via the Mid-Season Rookie Draft but other clubs can be added to the draft if they have players eligible to be placed on their long term injury lists. Who’s available for the Mid-Season Draft - 15 potential AFL Mid-Season Draft prospects.

The metropolitan NAB Boys League clubs are having a break coinciding with the start of APS, AGS and other school competitions but the country boys and interstaters were still at it. Our own NGA player Finn Emile-Brennan was among the best again. He’s continually improving his chances of making the top forty in this year’s draft and therefore out of our reach. Liking the looks of Brayden George who booted six goals for the Murray Bushrangers and Geelong Falcons midfielder Jhye Clarke. 2022 NAB League Boys snapshot: Round 5 And here’s a top 20 list:-

I have a feeling that’s right. I watched the stream on the AFL site and surely both Baker and Chandler had more than 16 touches each.

I like the name ... it has a good feel.

Topical piece from Jake Niall on the Eagles and the Tim Kelly deal that seems to have backfired and hurt the Eagles - Bad timing: why the Tim Kelly deal is hurting West Coast

If it seems like a long time ago, it’s probably because it was - round 2 last year. ST KILDA B: J. Webster 29 D. Howard 20 C. Wilkie 44 HB: B. Long 21 T. Highmore 34 J. Sinclair 35 C: J. Billings 15 S. Ross 6 H Clark 11 HF D. Butler 16 B. Hill J. Lonie 13 F: T. Membrey 28 S McKernan 27 M King 12 Foll: P. Hunter 41 J. Steele 9 J. Gresham 4 I/C: J. Battle 26 N. Coffield 1 J. Higgins 22 Z. Jones 3 Sub: J. Bytel 23 Emerg: J. Carlisle 2 D. McKenzie 36 M. Wood 32 In: Z. Jones M. King Out: D. McKenzie M. Wood MELBOURNE B: N. Jetta 39 S. May 1 A. Tomlinson 20 HB: J. Hunt 29 J. Lever 8 C. Salem 3 C: A. Brayshaw 10 C. Petracca 5 E. Langdon 15 HF: T. Sparrow 32 T. McDonald 25 K. Pickett 36 F: A. Neal-Bullen 30 L. Jackson 6 B. Fritsch 31 Foll: M. Gawn 11 C. Oliver 13 J. Viney 7 I/C: N. Jones 2 J. Jordon 23 T. Rivers 24 C. Spargo 9 Sub: O. Baker 33 Emerg: M Hibberd 14 J. Melksham 18 H. Petty 35 In: O. Baker J. Viney Out: K. Chandler J. Harmes (wrist)

The addition of Tomlinson and now Buntine seems to have meant that there is no spot for Ellison in the current line up. A bit harsh since he’s been playing well in defence and showed last year that he can also kick goals up forward. Hopefully, he gets his chance today.

That was an outstanding win for the club. We got through despite the enormously difficult circumstances of losing the coach and five players through Covid19. It’s not just the disruption in terms of coaching and player loss but the psychological difficulties of getting through the regime of testing, the uncertainty and all of the issues surrounding the situation over a period of more than 72 hours - we did it and overcame a very spirited opposition. Congratulations to all concerned at the club on scoring another famous win for the Demons!

Does someone have the stats for the games played by players coming into the side today as against those going out?

Sad news. A real Demon. My condolences to Ray’s family.

Could I ask people who want to post rumours about supposed Covid19 cases to state the source of the basis of the claims made.

Precisely why the club is in such a strong position at the moment. He’s the obvious one to make way for Jake Lever. And, as Medical Sub, he’s still in the game.

He wasn’t listening.

How Shane Woewodin’s feud with Melbourne was finally healed nearly two decades later Shane Woewodin had a "complete falling out with Melbourne" after being traded while on holidays. It took two decades to repair the rift.

Relax. It’s just a bit past Easter. They’ll all rise again.

The straight forward way of dealing with what would otherwise have been a problematic situation. In: Jake Lever Tom McDonald Jack Viney Out: Luke Jackson (H & S Protocols) Kysaiah Pickett (H & S Protocols) Tom Sparrow (H & S Protocols) Joel Smith becomes the Medical Sub and Toby Bedford goes into the starting 22 effectively covering Kozzy while Jake Lever effectively replaces Smith. Alternatively, if we get some heavy, wet weather, then possibly go with Jake Melksham rather than Tom McDonald. The result is IMO just as good a line up as the one that beat Richmond last Sunday night.

Is Yze the right man though ... when does someone start that thread?

I used to have this theory that twice a year a team will have a day when it’s straight kicking boot is on and twice when everything goes astray. We’ve had one of each in the past two rounds.

It’s time to tank the Tigers!!!

Fair go. West Coast beat the then flag favourites Collingwood in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago.

Am I allowed to express my dissent with the standard of football on display today - that includes players and the persons officiating? Watching Port v Eagles on the couch and I’ve already waved my hands in dismay 3 or 4 times.