Whispering_Jack

Congratulations to those of you who had faith. 😀

Adelaide’s Jake Kelly crosses to Essendon and in return, the Crows get pick 42 as compensation.

Two of the three early predictions materialised. The first was the move of Mabior Chol to Gold Coast. The Tigers receive a end of second round pick, currently 38.

* Mabior Chol became a Sun and Jake Kelly a Bomber in the first of the free agency movements. The Tigers receive an end of second round pick, currently 38 while the Bombers score a third rounder, currently 42. * "Narkle has been convinced to stay and must have been promised considerable midfield time. He and Parfitt will continue to bring improvement next season." — Brendon Goddard * "No I can't, and why would you leave at the moment? Rivers is signed until 2023, Jackson out of contract next year and he will be a priority for Tim Lamb." — Cal Twomey on whether Luke Jackson and Trent Rivers may leave Melbourne * "I hope Ben King stays at Gold Coast and signs a whopper of a deal. I hope they all stay." — Sam Edmund

Suddenly, we’re all at a loss. We can pretend that it’s not all over. We can watch replays. We can hope that they somehow allow cricket or basketball to start. Bloody hell, it’s not a week since we smashed the 57 year premiership drought and we’re already facing nightmares about what to do. I have to admit that I was expecting to spend this weekend watching the Storm make it a double for the Melbourne brand. However, their unexpected defeat has opened up another avenue of support for a team notwithstanding that I don’t really understand rugby league all that much. The South Sydney Rabbitohs were once upon a time a hard luck story much like the Melbourne Demons were at this time last week although they did win a premiership in 2014. The tough part came about because, although they were strong in the 50s and 60s and had a magnificent leagues club at South Sydney Juniors (which I attended on my first visit to Sydney in 1972), they suffered from financial strain for 30 years until they were kicked out of the NRL at the end of 1999. Supporters including the likes of Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court had to wage an expensive court battle for reinstatement which occurred after two years in the wilderness. At around the time of their reinstatement, one of their officials spoke at an MFC function and it was in my view, an inspirational account about how the supporters rallied to save their club. In many ways, it was similar to the Melbourne/Hawthorn merger struggle. So, at the weekend, I’ll be on the Rabbitohs and after that, it’s only a few months to fill in before the AFLW starts, then the practice matches and the magnificent day will come when we can watch the unfurling of the real 2021 premiership flag.

Sorry to have to say this Chris but Stuart Spencer was never captain of Melbourne. The skipper in 1955 and 1956 was Noel McMahen. Both Spencer and McMahen finished up at Melbourne after the 1956 grand final and John Beckwith became captain in 1957. Spencer left for business reasons and went on to become a Tasmanian football legend over the following decade.

The footy season’s over and for the first time in the modern history of AFL trade and draft rules, we Demon fans will almost be on the outside looking in. It remains true that clubs can’t simply stand still but the old David Parkin rule that you have to bring in five new players even to a premiership team longer applies with new players having to be spread over 18 teams and with restrictions on list numbers and financial constraints. At this stage, I would suggest that we shouldn’t be expecting too much from the next couple of months. It all starts today with the opening of the free agency window. We’re being told that these are today’s likely opening free agency gambits:- Richmond’s Mabior Chol to Gold Coast, Adelaide’s Jake Kelly to Essendon and Sydney’s George Hewett to Carlton.

Future stars light up NAB Boys League awards

You know it’s going to be a boring trade period when three or four days in, the panel are discussing which set of twins is the best. * "I think he's going to end up a ruckman. A really athletic, dynamic ruckman." — Cal Twomey on Mac Andrew * "I think 3 Free Agency moves get done tomorrow. Mabior Chol to Gold Coast. Jake Kelly to Essendon. George Hewett to Carlton." — Mitch Cleary * "I was shocked Carlton didn't take him in the midseason draft, and I'd be shocked if someone doesn't take him in this year's draft." — Matt Rendell on Tyson Stengle * "If I was Essendon I'd seriously look at a trade for Dylan Shiel." — Adam Cooney * "I like that arrangement, but I reckon there should be another list for him to go on, not the rookie list." — Stephen Silvagni on Tom Lynch to North Melbourne Droll.

Thanks for your concerns Kane. Now, what was this all about?

Everyone knows where I stand about the overhyping of Mac Andrew so I’m not going to labour the point other than to make a comment about Twomey’s observation that “he kicks goals”. He played 8 games of footy this year and kicked one goal on three occasions for an overall total of three. If you’re a recruiter looking for a Coleman Medallist then I suggest that you suspend belief in this expert and you apply the principle of “caveat emptor”.

With less than two months to go to the National Draft, it’s becoming clear that apart from the first three or four candidates who seem to be the standouts, it’s fairly even thereafter. Cal Twomey’s form guide bears this out as far as I’m concerned. I think there will be ample players available in the 20s who could be moulded by Melbourne’s development people into solid AFL players so if we can trade up a couple of picks/players and parlay them into the high teens or 20s, we could do well notwithstanding that our current draft hand doesn’t look to be particularly appealing. Cal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' September ranking

The full article from Aussie Rules Draft Central 2021 WAFL Colts MOTR: Preliminary Final – Swan Districts vs. East Fremantle

What about this absolute doozie! Talia to the Cats’ retirement village!

* "Jordan Dawson to Adelaide will be the most hotly contested trade this period." — Sam Edmund * Fremantle midfielder Adam Cerra has officially nominated Carlton. * "I'd rather go for Mason Cox over Levi Casboult." — Adam Cooney on who the Lions should target * “I'm hearing Nick Daicos will be bid on with pick 3, which is worth 1700 points and the Pies have already got that." — Matt Rendell

* "The talk is St Kilda feel they will get Ben King, but you wonder if Essendon will get their picks right to be in the window." — Matthew Lloyd * "St Kilda have told Dean Kent and Jack Lonie they'll have to wait until the end of trade period for a new deal." — Mitch Cleary * "If Mitchito Owens, who is a St Kilda academy player gets selected inside the top 20 - they won't be able to match a bid on him...A lot of the clubs I've spoken to like him in the 15-20 range." — Riley Beveridge * "Majak Daw is a really interesting one... I think he has a chance to stay on the list next year...but more as a backup ruckman … I think Oskar Baker gets a one year deal most likely (at Melbourne)." — Mitch Cleary

Thanks Bob - based that on a report on him. He was going ok in that game against Richmond seconds till he injured his knee. Shocking luck.

Thanks George and thanks to Martin Flanagan for providing his knowledge and making a strong call on the issue. When we’re permitted to go to the G to watch the footy, our crowd sits in the northern stand. The game and the club’s history are there for all to see when we go up the escalator - it would make the trip up unbearable if the anonymous American was to be believed.

I don’t think he’s hiding.

We bid farewell to Jay Lockhart who crossed Bass Strait to try his luck at Casey and impressed sufficiently to make the Melbourne list in the 2019 pre-season supplemental selection draft. He made his debut against the Cats early in 2019 and played 22 games for 9 goals and was best as a small defender. His opportunities were limited in the last year and a half and he struggled to break into Melbourne’s strong defence this year.

Austin Bradtke, the 204cm ex-basketballer with an amazing sporting pedigree has been delisted. He was drafted in late 2018 as a Category B Rookie but the constant interruptions to the VFL football program gave him little time to develop as planned and he never got to play on the AFL stage.

There would not be a more unlucky player in the land than South Australian Aaron Nietschke who was delisted today after three seasons at the club. Drafted at number 53 in the 2018 National Draft, he suffered an ACL early in 2019 after playing just six games in the VFL with the Casey Demons. More setbacks were to come with two further ACL injuries in the following two years, the last one coming early in the preseason just as he was starting to show some good signs in practice matches. It would have been a tough assignment for him to have broken into such a strong team and it’s unfortunate that he leaves the club with little to show but some scars on his knees. Hopefully, he finds a niche wherever he goes next and it’s fair to say we’ll all have our fingers crossed that he stays healthy in the years to come.

It’s back again and here are some of the highlights of today: — * "After seeing Luke Jackson's impact at Melbourne, perhaps clubs will be more willing to use high draft picks on a ruckman" — Kane Cornes * "Everyone in footy is aware he's going to finish his career in Melbourne..." — Mitch Cleary on Ben King. * "I think Peter Ladhams needs to find a club where he will be the number one man, rather than going to be a second ruckman" — Brendon Goddard * "It's been amazing. It's been such a long time coming, trying to rebuild and get the club to the position it is now in. There's been moments where I'm just driving and it hits me and even a few tears start to come" — Todd Viney * "Geelong are going to go again... they need to fill a legitimate void in defence and Daniel Talia could be that man for the next couple of years." — Brendon Goddard * "The issue for Jarrod Brander is West Coast's list will change dramatically next season... if he waits a bit longer he's the next man in." — Nick Dal Santo * "Rival clubs, including Essendon have started to pick up the phone on St Kilda contracted player Ben Long". — Mitch Cleary • "Brisbane has shown an interest in Levi Casboult." — Sam Edmund * "Collingwood are really confident they will get Patrick Lipinski from the Bulldogs and Nathan Kreuger from the Cats" — Sam Edmund * "He thinks he'll be playing elsewhere if given a chance, Port Adelaide are one of the clubs interested." — Sam Edmund on out of contract Hawk Tim O'Brien. * "The rookie list should be there for the rookies, the AFL needs to clean it up, clubs are bringing in players who've played over 200 games on the rookie list." — Stephen Silvagni * "They don't need to panic. They just need to hold their nerve as they can trade picks on the night to get what they need to match." — Stephen Silvagni on the Pies situation with Nick Daicos * "My information is Mac Andrew goes in the top five - I think to GWS. A shame for Melbourne as he is in their NGA." — Matt Rendell * Rival clubs have started to make enquiries on contracted Saint Ben Long — Mitch Cleary

Due to Covid19 restrictions, I watched the grand final alone. My wife watched upstairs but due to one of my superstitions (I had watched Melbourne’s undefeated streak since Lockdown 6.0 began by myself wearing the same top and I wasn’t going to change anything). But I wasn’t watching alone because I had this original poster by the wall watching the proceedings with me. Back on 19 September, 1964 I watched the grand final at the Elsternwick ABC Studios as a “guest” of their doorman. I remember all of it from the monochromatic monitors in their auditorium. Dicko’s heroics, Galloping Gabbo’s goal that brought us to the edge of despair, Hassa’s missed shot, Froggy’s goal and Bourkey’s saving mark. Ron Barassi holding up the premiership cup after what became his last appearance in the red and blue. Loved all of it. I can’t remember if they had a replay that night but I watched TV until fairly late and then I suddenly felt inspired. I snuck out of home and walked to the milk bar/newsagency on the corner of Hawthorn and North Roads in East Brighton. The store was closed and the lights were off but at the front of building sat one of those metal grilles that usually housed newspapers sheets with the headlines of the day. Only on this night, it encased the Weg ‘64 Premiership banner. Unashamedly, I “liberated” the banner from its cage and it’s been with me for the past 57 years. Actually, it sat for many years at the back of a cupboard but I took it with me when we married and years later, had it framed. Its 2021 counterpart has been ordered and will also be suitably framed to sit alongside my 1964 find. The postscript to the story is that about five or six years later, I was walking past the same milk bar and bumped into an old mate so we ducked inside to buy a pack of cigarettes (I gave up a long time ago). Afterwards, as we smoked our Alpines at the front of the store, I told him about my Weg poster and he remarked, “I can’t believe you stole something!” As he uttered the words, a copper walked past and I swear he heard them. The copper was none other than Melbourne Footballer and high flying key forward Greg Parke, looking ever so tall with the stern look that figures of authority have when carrying out their business. Parke looked at us, winked and walked into the shop. Sadly, Greg Parke who played over 100 games for the Demons from 1968 to 1973 and also later played for the Bulldogs, the Norwood Redlegs and Fitzroy, passed away after a long illness just hours before the grand final and missed out the end of our long wait. Rest In Peace Champ!

We truly are superstitious. The board usually runs this topic a lot earlier in the year but we were mindful of the fact that by doing so we might jinx the premiership effort!