Whispering_Jack

It’s all happening today and Melbourne, which everyone thought would have a quiet time of it, is in the thick of things! * "I've never seen anything like it, how aggressive clubs have been in targeting other clubs' assistants. There's more movement going on with coaches than players!" — Matthew Lloyd after Ash Hansen, Steven King, Brad Miller, Craig Jennings & others found new clubs. * "MELBOURNE pursued unrestricted FA Luke Dunstan, who is expected to formalise a 2-year deal today. Vandenberg & Jones retirements mean he's likely to be called upon at some stage. Had interest from Suns & another developing club, but 'play the kids' threat there saw him pick Dees" — Sam Edmund * "I don't think the Will Brodie to Fremantle move is going to happy either." — Sam Edmund [Not sure if he means "happy" or "happen" or whether it matters] * "I think he's a chance at a rookie spot. If he's fit, he's got something to add to a side for sure." — Matt Rendell on Aaron vandenBerg * Deal done. Jeremy Finlayson will be a Port Adelaide player next year. The Power will give up a future third round pick. — Sam Edmund * "Geelong is interested, there's a number of clubs interested at the moment. I think he wants to be in Melbourne to be near Eddie Betts, who had a huge influence on him at Adelaide." — Sam Edmund on Tyson Stengle * "I wouldn't say negotiations are as close as what us and Carlton are with Cerra at the moment. But I expect the deal to get done." — Peter Bell on the Jordan Clark deal * DONE DEAL | Luke Dunstan has joined Melbourne as an unrestricted free agent. * Four way deal for draft picks • Bulldogs get picks 23, 44, 45 • Melbourne get picks 17, 37, 47 • Adelaide gets Melb future first round, 33, 75 • St Kilda gets 62, 66, Adel future fourth round — Callum Twomey

I love this game. Keep going Demons and we could end up with pick 2 and put in a bid for Nick Daicos 😀

The article refers to Chandler - see new thread.

Anyone remember his debut In the opening round of 2014 for St Kilda against Melbourne. They got hold of us in the third quarter and Dunstan was one of their best, earning AFL Rising Star nomination that night. Depth is a thing you can’t have too much of these days and we could be getting a player who picked up a swag of Brownlow votes.

* "I still think Freo are up to something. They're not happy losing Cerra and another young midfielder that will take three years will not appeal to them." — Kane Cornes * 'Nick Daicos is a great decision maker, his foot skills are excellent, and he has the ability to go forward and hit the scoreboard.' 'He's a well-rounded young man, and stood out among his peers as someone who embraced the group.' — AFL National Talent Head Coach, Tarkyn Lockyer ** BREAKING | Geelong has traded Nathan Kreuger and pick 55 to Collingwood for pick 41. And in one fell swoop, the Cats achieved what everyone thought was impossible. They managed to increase the average ago of their list! * "North and Richmond appear a long way apart in any deal for Callum Coleman-Jones. The Roos’ opening move to snare the 22-year-old ruck-forward saw them offer a future third-round pick, but also asked for the Tigers’ future fourth-round pick in return." — Sam Edmund * "Adelaide and Sydney could be haggling over Jordan Dawson right up until the trade deadline on Wednesday, October 13." — Cal Twomey.

• BREAKING | Geelong has traded Nathan Kreuger and pick 55 to Collingwood for pick 41. And in one fell swoop, the Cats achieved what everyone thought was impossible. They managed to increase the average ago of their list!

The late mail on today’s Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period stories - • Out-of-contract Bulldog Lewis Young has requested a trade to Carlton after playing nine games in Luke Beveridge's side in 2021. • Hawthorn ruckman Jonathon Ceglar is looking for a third club to call home. • The Bulldogs have their eyes on Ceglar's teammate and free agent Tim O'Brien as defensive cover if Young leaves. • Speculation around Peter Ladhams' future continues to be a talking point. • The only trade deal done today was the pick swap between Collingwood and Gold Coast over a pick swap that will help the Pies secure Nick Daicos at the draft.

With Jake staying, this thread becomes the first to move back to the general Demonland board.

The AFL Draft Central Power rankings for the month came out today as well. Draft Central Power Rankings: October 2021 They have Mac Andrew at number 7 which could see him going to the Tigers. Somehow, I can’t see him going there but it’s a funny draft. The thing that stands out to me after watching vision of a good proportion of those in contention for the draft is the evenness of this year’s pool of players. One observer remarked that you could virtually throw a blanket over a group of around 40 players who could get drafted anywhere between 10 and 50 and take your pick. In that regard, it’s not such a disadvantage for Melbourne to have one pick in the second round and two in the third.

Chris Doerre’s October Power Rankings (note: this is not a phantom draft). Highlights: • Jason Horne-Francis overtakes Nick Daicos but it’s obviously going to be a neck and neck battle for the number one spot in the draft; • Mac Andrew has dropped to number 10 but Doerre still ranks his projected draft range at between 2 and 10; • Andrew isn’t even the leading South Sudanese member of Doerre’s top ten. That honour goes to SA’s former Adelaide NGA, Leek Alleer from Central Districts who is number 9; • Mitch Owens (St Kilda NGA) has come into the top 20 from out of blue into number 11, although he hasn’t played for a couple of months. AFL Draft - October's Power Rankings: A new No. 1 emerges as we close in on draft

Do we have a definitive list of the numbers who are yet to be contracted at the club at this stage?

Due to Covid19 restrictions, the various states are conducting their own Draft Combines. The Vic Country NAB AFL Draft Combine took place in Bendigo last week with Sam Butler, brother of Saint Dan Butler the standout. 20m sprint 
Sam Butler (GWV Rebels) 2.970 seconds Tom Brown (Murray Bushrangers) 2.983 seconds Kai Lohmann (GWV Rebels) 2.986 seconds 2km time trial 
Cooper Hamilton (Bendigo Pioneers) 5:48 minutes Hamish Sinnott (GWV Rebels) 5:58 minutes Mitchell Knevitt (Geelong Falcons) 6:18 minutes Standing vertical jump Tom Brown (Murray Bushrangers) 72cm Sam Butler (GWV Rebels) 71cm Josh Gibcus (GWV Rebels) 68cm Running vertical jump Josh Gibcus (GWV Rebels) 89cm Sam Butler (GWV Rebels) 87cm Jai Serong (GWV Rebels) 86cm

Trades to date:- • Mabior Chol leaves Richmond, signs with Gold Coast Suns (Free Agency). Richmond gets a second round draft pick #38 • Jake Kelly leaves Adelaide, signs with Essendon (Free Agency) Adelaide gets a second round draft pick #39 • George Hewett (Restricted Free Agency) signs with Carlton after Sydney decided not to match the offer. Sydney gets a third round draft pick #44 • Gold Coast trades draft picks #22, 46, 58 and 79 and a future fourth-round pick with Collingwood for its second, third and fourth-round picks in 2022.

This morning’s Age newspaper said it all when it proclaimed that … “[R]eductions in list sizes and the salary cap are the major factors behind why this year’s player movement window is poised to be somnolence-inducing.” In fact all trade periods are somnolence-inducing but this one looms even larger to the point where it’s comatose-inducing. When it comes to Melbourne, it’s even less likely that the club will feature much at all in the next week or so, especially now that it’s been confirmed that Jake Melksham is staying. * "When everyone is saying let's sit back and not do a whole lot, there's an opportunity for Hawthorn to make some real gains and get into the draft early. "Are they bold enough to put a player up?" — Kane Cornes * "I know that's a huge comparison." — Kane Cornes says prospective no.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis has "Dangerfield-esque" attributes. * "A pick in the 30's or 40's is probably right for Jonathon Ceglar with Hawthorn telling him to explore. The Cats have 30, 32, 34 and could always use a ruckman." — Matthew Lloyd * "Gold Coast have held preliminary talks with North Melbourne about Darcy Macpherson. What's flying under the radar here is that he's actually a very good footballer!" — Riley Beveridge * "There's been recognition among the competition for a while the Bulldogs would have to part with Pick 17 to get Sam Darcy in. It's now up for sale and every club knows it." — Cal Twomey * "I think Hawthorn have some interest in Max Lynch." — Sam Edmund " Done deal. First trade for the year is in. Collingwood has traded its future second, third and fourth round picks to Gold Coast in exchange for picks 22, 46, 58, 79 and a future fourth-rounder. Good business - Pies get Daicos points, Suns load up for 2022." — Callum Twomey Done Deals 1. Jake Kelly (Adelaide) joined Essendon as an unrestricted free agent. Adelaide received pick 42 (AFL) as compensation. 2. Mabior Chol (Richmond) joined Gold Coast as an unrestricted free agent. Richmond received pick 38 (AFL) as compensation. 3. George Hewett (Sydney) joined Carlton as a restricted free agent. Sydney received pick 39 (AFL) as compensation. 4. Collingwood traded a future second-round pick, a future third-round pick and a future fourth-round pick to Gold Coast in exchange for picks 22, 46, 58, 79 and a future fourth-round pick.

It's being reported that the Demons are interested in Luke Dunstan who hit a purple patch in mid season for the Saints who haven't offered him a new contract. Dunstan played 12 games for the Saints in 2021, averaging 25 disposals, six clearances and five tackles, and also polling 11 Brownlow votes.

Similar story from Fox Sports Every club, trade link and pick: Updated state of play as AFL trade period opens We can’t really expect much from the trades given that we’ve managed to sign up most of our list. There’s the possibility of trading some future picks to improve our draft position but that appears to be all.

The pandemic and the closure of borders has played havoc with sport between the states. Last week the Tasmanian Sheffield Shield side skipped town from Brisbane before a ball was bowled in fear that Annastacia Palaszczuk might lock the town down. The Allies managed to thread together an assorted team but there was no chance that a competitive game would occur. AMZ acquitted himself well in the circumstances and was named in the best, albeit he only managed to get 10 touches. South Australia Under 19s dominate patched-up Allies to run out 92-point winners

The thing is that over the past few weeks JVR has risen up most rankings and there’s a strong chance that he’ll be well out of our reach even if we’re able to trade up to the mid teens.

INDICATIVE DRAFT ORDER (before the commencement of the AFL Trade Period) ROUND ONE 1. North Melbourne 2. GWS Giants 3. Gold Coast 4. Adelaide 5. Hawthorn 6. Carlton 7. Richmond 8. Fremantle 9. St Kilda 10. West Coast 11. Essendon 12. Sydney 13. GWS Giants 14. Brisbane Lions 15. Richmond 16. Port Adelaide 17. Western Bulldogs 18. Brisbane Lions ROUND TWO 19. Gold Coast 20. North Melbourne 21. Hawthorn 22. Gold Coast 23. Adelaide 24. Hawthorn 25. Carlton 26. Richmond 27. Fremantle 28. Richmond 29. West Coast 30. Geelong 31. Sydney 32. Geelong 33. Melbourne 34. Geelong 35. West Coast 36. Collingwood 37. Adelaide 38. Richmond 39. Sydney ROUND THREE 40. North Melbourne 41. Collingwood 42. Richmond 43. Collingwood 44. Adelaide 45. Melbourne 46. Gold Coast 47. Richmond 48. Collingwood 49. St Kilda 50. Brisbane Lions 51. Essendon 52. West Coast 53. GWS Giants 54. Brisbane Lions 55. Geelong 56. Essendon 57. Melbourne 58. Gold Coast ROUND FOUR 59. Hawthorn 60. Brisbane Lions 61. Gold Coast 62. Adelaide 63. Port Adelaide 64. Carlton 65. Hawthorn 66. Adelaide 67. St Kilda 68. West Coast 69. Gold Coast 70. Sydney 71. GWS Giants 72. North Melbourne 73. Port Adelaide 74. Port Adelaide 75. Western Bulldogs 76. Brisbane Lions ROUND FIVE 77. North Melbourne 78. Collingwood 79. Gold Coast 80. Adelaide 81. Hawthorn 82. Carlton 83. Richmond 84. Fremantle 85. St Kilda 86. West Coast 87. Essendon 88. Sydney 89. GWS Giants 90. Brisbane Lions 91. Geelong 92. Port Adelaide 93. Western Bulldogs 94. Melbourne

Congratulations Jimmy. His form for SA in those 2012 Under 18 National Championships was simply outstanding. I think the hip surgery certainly didn’t help his career and perhaps if he came to the club in its present condition and was given time to learn and develop in the VFL, he might still be playing with us.

Surely a gig for @Supermercado who must have already done one for DemonWiki!!!

Chris Doerre (Knightmare)’s opinion - Melbourne List needs: Retaining talent and maintaining the team chemistry Maintain future salary cap flexibility by minimising list additions Go to the draft and secure the best available talent Draft Picks: 33, 42, 54, 91 Who should they target? Melbourne's list situation is one whereby their focus needs to be on retaining talent instead of adding it. The Demons need to ensure maximum flexibility to their salary cap situation and maintain their competition-best team chemistry and list synergy at all costs. While Melbourne may be the best situation for a draft prospect to enter, mature age Western Australian midfielder and Sandover Medallist Bailey Rogers is one of the few at the draft who both may be available at Melbourne's first pick, and who can add immediate value. A sound complement to Melbourne's star midfielders, Rogers is a classy, high impact per possession midfielder who can also cause problems for opposition defences when used up forward. With Michael Hibberd aging, overager Jack Avery would be a capable successor with one of Melbourne's selections. A 190cm defender, Avery intercepts, rebounds and hold his own against taller and stronger forwards. I disagree with Knightmare on the point he makes about having no need to focus on adding talent. It’s true that our talent level has great scope for natural improvement from within because of the number of young players on the list including those who have yet to make their AFL debut. At least he’s come up with some suggested draft options which is an improvement on the lazy journalism we’re getting from the mainstream media.

I’m sure there will be reprints.

Almanac (Obituary) Footy: RIP Greg Parke