Whispering_Jack

I’d wait until I see him running around on Marvel Stadium before I get too excited. How many times have we heard about a player who the club expects to play on a Monday or Tuesday only to be declared unfit at the last minute?

Ed Pascoe has updated his rankings.

Not much change … ROUND ONE 1. North Melbourne 2. West Coast Eagles 3. Adelaide 4. GWS Giants 5. Essendon 6. Hawthorn 7. Gold Coast Suns 8. Port Adelaide 9. St Kilda 10. Western Bulldogs 11. Richmond 12. Carlton 13. Sydney Swans 14. Collingwood 15. Fremantle 16. Brisbane Lions 17. Sydney Swans 18. Geelong 
 ROUND TWO 19. Richmond 20. West Coast Eagles 21. Adelaide 22. GWS Giants 23. Essendon 24. Hawthorn 25. Gold Coast Suns 26. West Coast Eagles 27. St Kilda 28. Western Bulldogs 29. Richmond 30. Carlton 31. Sydney Swans 32. Gold Coast Suns 33. Gold Coast Suns 34. Brisbane Lions 35. Melbourne 36. Geelong ROUND THREE 37. Western Bulldogs 38. West Coast Eagles 39. Melbourne 40. GWS Giants 41. Essendon 42. Collingwood 43. Gold Coast Suns 44. Brisbane 45. St Kilda 46. Collingwood 47. Collingwood 48. Geelong 49. Port Adelaide 50. Gold Coast 51. Hawthorn 52. Geelong 53. Melbourne 54. Geelong ROUND FOUR 55. North Melbourne 56. Port Adelaide 57. GWS Giants 58. GWS Giants 59. Essendon 60. Geelong 61. Hawthorn 62. Carlton 63. Melbourne 64. Western Bulldogs 65. North Melbourne 66. Carlton 67. Sydney Swans 68. Gold Coast Suns 69. Gold Coast Suns 70. Brisbane Lions 71. Melbourne 72. Fremantle ROUND FIVE 73. North Melbourne 74. West Coast Eagles 75. Adelaide 76. GWS Giants 77. Essendon 78. Hawthorn 79. Gold Coast Suns 80. Port Adelaide 81. St Kilda 82. Western Bulldogs 83. Richmond 84. Carlton 85. Sydney Swans 86. Collingwood 87. Fremantle 88. Brisbane Lions 89. Melbourne 90. Geelong

It’s raining Metro! Vics crush Croweaters to stay undefeated Country roads take Victorians home against WA Next Nick Daicos? Father-son talent stars at championships Vic Metro 2.3.15 6.8.44 10.12.72 16.15 (111) South Australia 1.1.7 2.1.13 4.3.27 5.8 (38) Goals Vic Metro: Caddy 3, Hotton 3, Jefferson 3, Watson 3, Drury 2, Ashcroft, Clarke South Australia: Bennier, Blacker, D'Aloia, Lovelock, Phillipou Vic Country 3.2.20 7.4.46 8.10.58 12.11 (83) Western Australia 1.2.8 2.2.14 5.4.34 6.4 (40) Goals Vic Country: Cadman 3, Long 3, Burgiel 3, Clohesy 2, Northam Western Australia: Tregenza-Cashell 2, Dewar, Ginbey, Sanchez, Scaife

Vic Metro slaughtered SA today at GMHBA Stadium with captain Will Ashcroft again dominating. In the second game, Vic Country are doing a number on WA. The two Victorian teams look like being undefeated after this week and are due to meet in the last round of matches in what will effectively be the grand final.

No Clarrie so it’s time for the Captain Jacks to make their stand

Of course, who could forget the Red Fox and the Ron Barassi biography?

The Last Hurrah by Adam Woolcock (our very own Supermercado) and, if you have the stomach for it, The Great Deepression by the same author. Max's book. The Grand Old Flag by Lynda Carroll (she should update it now to include 2021 and maybe beyond) and the classic "100 YEARS OF FOOTBALL. The Story of the Melbourne Football Club 1858-1958" by E.C.H. Taylor.

For many years, I bemoaned the lack of good literature about the Melbourne Football Club and since the flag, there have been some good additions to that category. Now, there's a great new book out written by journalist Ian Munro, a Demon fan from way back (and I believe a Demonlander too!) who examines the highs and mostly lows of the era between 1964 and 2021 and tries to make sense of the 57 years of heartache that accompanied that time. Here's the link to the website if you’re interested in buying what should be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of those whose hearts beat true ... Between the Flags “There have been idle moments during retirement where I have flirted with the idea of writing my version of Melbourne’s history since I was a boy in the 1950s. After reading “Between the Flags”, I’m mighty glad I refrained. Ian Munro’s work is a magnificent review of all the trials and tribulations at Melbourne in the 57 years between premierships, culminating in the 2021 flag. I loved the detailed history, the author’s passion, the colour, and, finally, the explosion of unbridled joy that came on Grand Final day in Perth.” - Mike Sheahan, journalist.

On this day in history 103 years ago, Ivor Warne-Smith made his debut for the Demons in round 10, 1919 at the MCG against St Kilda. Warne-Smith had an incredible career for the Dees, winning two Brownlow Medals in 1926 and 1928, premiership in 1926 and was later named in Melbourne’s Team Of The Century! From Footy Utopia

Sad news. Noel McMahen, a premiership captain has passed away. One of the hard men of our glory days. Condolences to his family. Vale Noel McMahen

The club's history - Year by Year Time to add 2021!

It was on their turf and they barely troubled the scores at all. Right now, that’s one of our problems. THE TEAMS PORT ADELAIDE B: T.Jonas 1 T.Clurey 17 L.Jones 34 HB: R.Burton 3 R.Bonner 26 D.Byrne-Jones 33 C: D.Houston 5 Z.Butters 18 K.Amon 15 HF: O.Wines 16 S.Motlop 6 C.Rozee 20 F: S.Mayes 32 T.Marshall 4 M.Georgides 19 Foll: S.Lycett 29 T.Boak 10 W.Drew 28 I/C: S.Powell-Pepper 2 M. Bergman 14 J.McEntee 44 J.Mead 44 Sub: T.Dumont Emerg: 43 S.Hayes 25 M.Frederick 45 In: M.Bergman T.Clurey T.Dumont Out: M.Frederick (omitted) T.McKenzie (knee) S.Skinner MELBOURNE B: J.Hunt 29 S.May 1 A.Tomlinson 20 HB: A.Brayshaw 10 J.Lever 8 J.Bowey 17 C: J.Jordon 23 C.Petracca 5 E.Langdon 15 HF: J.Viney 7 T.McDonald 25 A.Neal-Bullen 30 F: C.Spargo 9 S.Weideman 26 B.Fritsch 31 Foll: M.Gawn 11 C.Oliver 13 K.Pickett 36 I/C: J.Harmes 4 L.Jackson 6 T.Rivers 24 T. Sparrow 32 Sub: T.Bedford 12 Emerg: B.Howes 22 L.Dunstan 27 K.Chandler 37 In: J.Lever Out: S.Smith (H & S protocols)

There was a NAB Championship game on yesterday but from all accounts, it was more than somewhat lacklustre. The reigning champions (from 2019) were beaten again. Father-son prospect dominates in championship victory ALLIES 4.0.24 7.3.45 8.4.52 11.7 (73) WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0.4 2.5 6.6 9.7 (61) Goals Allies: Walter 3, Brain 2, Leary 2, Cooper, Hart, Hude, Rogers, Western Australia: Tregenza-Cashell 4, Hagan 2, Barron, Cleaver, Jones

Beware Cats. The Demons are very, very good at top-of-the-ladder contests!

Chris Doerre’s power rankings ~ AFL Draft - July Power Rankings: Mattaes Phillipou strengthens claim for No. 1 pick

Care to have a go at picking the team for Friday night’s game?😀

Tend to agree with most of this without knowing whether he’ll make it but he certainly has the athletic traits which clubs favour these days.

How could I forget this bloke who is the son of Dean Duursma who played for Melbourne’s under 19s and reserves in the late 1980s, brother of Port Adelaide’s Xavier and nephew of former Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne player Jamie Duursma?

Quite.

The other player of interest to Demon fans is Riak Andrew who is a member of the club’s Next Generation Academy. He’s the brother of former Demon NGA Mac Andrew who is now with the Gold Coast Suns.

The Herald Sun’s online page has a feature today highlighting the 2023 draft prospects. There are two players covered in the article of special interest to Demon fans so I thought we should kick things off early. The first is a father/son prospect who is the son of our Nathan Brown who played 146 games for the club between 1998 and 2007. A dogged small utility, Brown’s achievements included - Fourth Best and Fairest 2002 Most Consistent Player 2002 Second Best and Fairest 2004 Most Consistent Player 2004 Best Clubman 2005 Here’s the item about his son Kynan

I'm sure that this question has been asked before - what is JVR's height? He's been variously referred to as being 193, 194 and 195cm tall (see https://www.afl.com.au/news/598548/towering-forward-jacob-van-rooyen-ready-to-show-his-wares-in-academy-hitout which puts him at 195cm). There was a time when club's updated their information - I think Garry Lyon grew to 193cm but started well below that height when he came to the club as a teenager in the Under 19s. Mitch Lewis of Hawthorn is another who has grown considerably since his drafting. It would be handy for the purposes of this discussion if we received accurate information about players' heights.

I’m still trying to navigate my way around this post. AFL Draft Power Rankings – July 2022

He’s considered a top 20 prospect so yes, he’s not likely to be picked up by the Saints unless they draft him with their first round pick.