Whispering_Jack
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Everything posted by Whispering_Jack
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A summary of the 2024 draft crop. 2024 AFL Draft Review: Melbourne
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2025 Melbourne numbers — 1. Steven May 2. Jacob van Rooyen 3. Christian Salem 4. Judd McVee 5. Christian Petracca 6. Caleb Windsor 7. Jack Viney 8. Jake Lever 9. Charlie Spargo 10. Daniel Turner 11. Max Gawn 12. Koltyn Tholstrup 13. Clayton Oliver 14. Jack Billings 15. Ed Langdon 16. Bailey Laurie 17. Jake Bowey 18. Jake Melksham 19. Harvey Langford 20. Xavier Lindsey 21. Matt Jefferson 22. Blake Howes 23. Shane McAdam 24. Trent Rivers 25. Tom McDonald 26. Jed Adams 27. Marty Hore 28. Will Verrall 29. Tom Campbell 30. Harry Sharp 31. Bayley Fritsch 32. Tom Sparrow 33. Tom Fullarton 35. Harry Petty 36. Kysaiah Pickett 37. Kade Chandler 38. Oliver Sestan 39. Ricky Mentha Jnr 40. Taj Woewodin 41. Kynan Brown 42. Aidan Johnson 44. Luker Kentfield 45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield
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The club gave up on that many years ago although it was reported recently that we did look at a couple of Irish lads who were invited to the Draft Combine in October.
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This article on the AFL website discusses the changes in draft bidding on academy and father/son picks. Change is coming: How Lions' bids would look in 2025 Worth considering the repercussions in the case of Kalani White. Of particular interest is how Gold Coast could handle the possibility of drafting more than two first round picks in light of the points changes.
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Agree ... he should never have been off it.
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Paul Amy on X is reporting that Deng Andrew, brother of Mac and Riak, is fighting for a place on the Northern Bullants list. A long way from Casey.
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No. With the exception of a possible Category B spot for international players or players from other sports (not considered particularly likely), there are no vacancies on the club’s lists.
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The Melbourne Football Club has gone bush to a magnificent part of Central Victoria. The boys were photographed today at various locations around Yea - at Sacred Heart Primary School and at Yea High School. Tomorrow, it’s off to Mansfield for Open Training at the Mansfield Recreation Reserve (9am - 10am) followed by a Player Signing Session (10am - 10.15am). If you’re in the area, please report in!
And just like that Essendon has signed delisted Brisbane defender Jaxon Prior on the opening day of the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP).
I’ve taken step of locking this thread because it has moved away from its original purpose of informing Melbourne fans about Friday’s training session which was a largely positive one for the club. The club is moving on to its Mansfield training camp with the full entourage including the recent draftees expected to attend. It’s a beautiful part of our state and I look forward to more positive reports from those fortunate enough to make it to that part of the camp which is open to the fans … and please keep on topic. Thanks.
Don’t start feeling too cocky dazzle. You’re walking a very fine line. Consider yourself warned. And deemac too!
Now that the AFL Drafts are done and dusted, attention turns to the 2025 Supplementary Selection Period (SSP) which presents the final opportunity for players to secure an AFL list spot ahead of the start of next season. A limited number of clubs have left list spots open and now have the option to offer train-on opportunities to prospective players with the objective of filling those vacancies by February 2025. The first window of opportunity in the post draft period begins tomorrow and the following clubs are expected to be involved in the SSP process: Carlton - the Blues have two spots open and their most noted invitee is former Hawthorn No. 6 pick Denver Grainger-Barras. Liam McMahon, a key position forward formerly of Collingwood but who was a leading goalkicker with Carlton’s VFL team this year is also on board with the Blues. Delisted pair Sam Durdin and Matt Carroll will also be trying to reclaim their places at the club. Essendon - the Bombers have promised delisted defender Kaine Baldwin the opportunity to train on with a view to SSP selection. Fremantle - the Dockers have long been expected to sign former Cat and Power midfielder Quinton Narkle. Gold Coast - the Suns passed up in the rookie draft and can also sign a player through the SSP. Port Adelaide - the Power will invite North Melbourne VFL skipper Jack Watkins to audition for a SSP spot. Western Bulldogs - Dom Brew, captain of VFL premier Werribee is expected to be invited, along with SA ruckman Harry Boyd. West Coast - the Eagles have been linked to cut Suns defender Sandy Brock.
As has already been noted, there is plenty of Northern Academy talent around to expand the first night of next year’s draft. Three prospects in the top ten according to Cal Twomey and then there’s Kalani White to consider as well. Stars of the future: 10 draft prospects to watch in 2025
Is that a toupee? If so, we should get one for Aidan Johnson.
AFL Draft: Melbourne excited by early look of promising 2025 club-tied prospect
A few random notes: • I was surprised that Sandringham Dragons player Nathan Sulzberger who comes from Tasmania and was a handy midfielder in their premiership side, didn’t make it. Then again, he might not have been classified as a Tasmanian anyway given that father/son draftee Levi Ashcroft is down as a Victorian. • Melbourne’s Aidan Johnson originally came from Lavington which makes him a. New South Welshman. • Our Northern Territorian Ricky Mentha is the first (and only?) Demon drafted by the club from Alice Springs since Liam Jurrah.
A list of the 2024 draftees on a state by state basis shows that the majority of players drafted this year have come from Victoria. No surprise, but what should be of concern to the AFL is the fact that not a single player picked this year hails from Tasmania - an ominous sign given that the Tassie Devils are only a few seasons away. ACT (1) Cooper Bell (Pick 49) - Belconnen NEW SOUTH WALES (6) Jack Ough (Pick 36) - Wentworth Jobe Shanahan (Pick 30) - Moama Riley Bice (Pick 41) - Albury Joel Cochran (Pick 47) - UNSW Eastern suburbs Logan Smith (Pick 71) - Queanbeyan Josaia Delana (Cat B Rookie) - East Coast Eagles NORTHERN TERRITORY (1) Ricky Mentha (Cat B Rookie) - Palmerston QUEENSLAND (4) Leo Lombard (Pick 9) - Broadbeach Sam Marshall (Pick 25) - Kawana Park Ty Gallop (Pick 42) - Maroochydore Lachlan Gulbin (Cat B Rookie) - Burleigh SOUTH AUSTRALIA (13) Sid Draper (Pick 4) - Willunga Ned Bowman (Pick 26) - Orroroo Charlie Nicholls (Pick 34) - Mintaro Manoora Angus Clarke (Pick 39) - East Gambier Ben Camporeale (Pick 43) - Brighton Jay Polkinghorne (Pick 44) - Western United Charlie West (Pick 50) - Henley Jacob Molier (Pick 52) - Onkaparinga Valley Alex Dodson (Pick 53) - Payneham NU Lucas Camporeale (Pick 54) - Brighton Tyler Welsh (Pick 59) - Henley Tom Cochrane (Rookie Pick 13) - Port District Benny Barrett (Cat B Rookie) - Happy Valley TASMANIA (0) VICTORIA (51) Sam Lalor (Pick 1) - Bacchus Marsh Finn O'Sullivan (Pick 2) - Koroit Jagga Smith (Pick 3) - Richmond Levi Ashcroft (Pick 5) - St Kilda City Harvey Langford (Pick 6) - Mount Martha Josh Smillie (Pick 7) - Park Orchards Tobie Travaglia (Pick 8) - Sandhurst Alixzander Tauru (Pick 10) - Warragul Xavier Lindsay (Pick 11) - Leongatha Taj Hotton (Pick 12) - Hampton Isaac Kako (13) - Northern Saints Jonty Faull (Pick 14) - Redan Joe Berry (Pick 15) - Wangaratta Murphy Reid (Pick 17) - South Melbourne Districts Oliver Hannaford (Pick 18) - Sandhurst Harrison Oliver (Pick 19) - St Bedes Cooper Hynes (Pick 20) - Bonbeach Luke Trainor (Pick 21) - St Peters Jesse Dattoli (Pick 22) - Ivanhoe Harry Armstrong (Pick 23) - Ormond Matt Whitlock (Pick 27) - Shepparton Thomas Sims (Pick 28) - Montmorency Lachie Jaques (Pick 29) - St Marys (Geelong) Josh Dolan (Pick 31) - Beaumaris James Barrat (Pick 32) - Leitchville Gunbower Jack Whitlock (Pick 33) - Shepparton Noah Mraz (Pick 35) - Narre North Christian Moraes (Pick 38) - Knox Harry O'Farrell (Pick 40) - Maribyrnong Park Tom Gross (Pick 46) - Kew Rovers Lucca Grego (Pick 48) - Bacchus Marsh Sam Davidson (Pick 51) - East Brighton Riak Andrew (Pick 55) - Berwick Jasper Alger (Pick 58) Warragul Patrick Said (Pick 60) - Sunbury Rhys Unwin (Pick 61) - Cobden Luke Kennedy (Pick 62) - Ormond Cody Anderson (Pick 64) - Healesville Lennox Hofmann (Pick 66) - Old Brighton River Stevens (Pick 67) - Newtown & Chilwell Aidan Johnson (Pick 68) - Yarraville Seddon Keighton Matofai-Forbes (Pick 69) - Keilor Zak Johnson (Pick 70) - St Marys (Greensborough) Archer Day-Wicks (Rookie Pick 6) - Sandhurst Harry Charleson (Rookie Pick 9) - East Point Xavier Ivisic (Rookie Pick 12) - Bell Park Blake Leidler (Rookie Pick 14) - Surrey Park Asher Eastham (Rookie Pick 17) - Heyfield Patrick Retschko (Rookie Pick 23) - St Kilda City Joe Pike (Rookie Pick 31) - Barwon Heads Jayden Nguyen (Cat B Rookie) - Aberfeldie WESTERN AUSTRALIA (10) Bo Allan (Pick 16) - Halls Head Cody Angove (Pick 24) - Scarborough Kayle Gerreyn (Pick 37) - Joondalup Kinross Hugh Boxshall (Pick 45) - Swanbourne Will Hayes (Pick 56) - Subiaco Luke Urquhart (Pick 57) - Melville Jaren Carr (Pick 63) - Winnacott Hamish Davis (Pick 65) - Subiaco Aiden Riddle (Rookie Pick 7) - North Beach Malakai Champion (Cat B Rookie) - Mines Rovers
I think he might end up being happy based on this review of the deciding championship game from Rookie Me Central ~ Scouting Notes: 2024 AFL U18s – Vic Metro vs. Vic Country “#3 Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power) Midfielder | 183cm | 03/08/2006 Stats: 30 disposals, 11 marks, & tackles, 6 inside 50s Lindsay was absolutely immense and arguably the best player afield on Sunday, operating off the wing before a second half run on-ball. He racked up 11 marks and 20 uncontested possessions on the outside, using his running and powerful left foot as weapons to launch Vic Country inside 50. He was also prepared to do the tough stuff; like shirt-fronting Trainor, winning centre clearances late in the piece, and laying a clutch holding-the-ball tackle in the passage which led to the goal to put his side ahead. If anyone deserved the result to go their way, it was Lindsay.” Xavier Lindsay is no shrinking violent when it comes to standing up in the heat of the contest. I watched that game live and then watched the replay and look forward to being around to see a long career from XL.
EVERY PICK: 2024 AFL Rookie Draft
25 in 2025: A look ahead to next year’s top prospects One of those prospects happens to be Kalani White:- Kalani White (Suns Academy/ Queensland) Key Defender | 198cm | 05/05/2007 White has an interesting decision on his hands next year, being tied to Gold Coast’s academy but also eligible to nominate under father-son rules for Melbourne. The son of former Dee and Docker, Jeff, Kalani is a developing tall capable of playing at either end of the ground. His mobility is impressive and he seems to have found a home down back, where he was an Under 16 All-Australian. White also featured once for the Allies this year, while averaging eight disposals and four marks for the Suns Academy.
