Whispering_Jack

Agree with most of that but would question your use of the word “better” in connection with players like Sparrow and JJ. As with much of the discussion surrounding players at this time of year there’s a lot of subjectivity when assessing their worth. Those younger guys are only just starting and have a much higher ceiling of potential worth. If they’re not “better” than Dunstan today, they most likely will be in 12 month’s or two year’s time, all of which is great from the club’s point of view looking into the future in terms of midfield depth.

From AFL Draft Central - Scouting Notes: 2021 AFL U19 National Championships: South Australia vs. Western Australia #14 Taj Woewodin (East Fremantle) A somewhat lowkey game from the Melbourne father-son prospect, Woewodin started well in the midfield, winning a bit of ball early but tapered off towards the end of the game. What Woewodin did extremely well all game was present as a marking target around the ground, pushing up near the defensive 50 to be an outlet kick for his teammates, then use it well, generally looking to move the ball inboard. Woewodin got consistent penetration behind hjis kicks even if they weren’t always accurate, making them hard to intercept for defenders.

There was nothing much happening on the trade front today which provides a good argument for the proposition that the trade period is way too long. They could easily wrap up the whole shebang in four days to relieve us of all of the unseemly posturing that goes on interminably for day upon day … It all unravels tomorrow.

Ho, hum … * "Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, Melbourne and North are the only teams so far that have improved their list and outlook for 2022." — Kane Cornes * "Watch this space on the Hawks, they are trying to get things done too" — Matthew Lloyd * "I like the combination of Lycett and Ladhams, I was surprised when Port Adelaide suggested he look elsewhere." — Adam Cooney * The Length of the Trade Period: "There is no perfect length. No matter whether it is one week or three, things can get left until the last minute. I do think a slightly longer period than a week is necessary to allow the dominoes to start falling. At the end of the day you’ll always be going to the final bell. It goes in cycles. Some years where there are big names on the market and others where there aren’t. You have big names under contract trying to move and other times you have wanting to move big names out. It does go in cycles". — AFL Players Association stakeholder relations general manager Brett Murphy

The problem with this draft period is the lack of decent quality cattle on the market. The best in show has been Adam Cerra but there was no real competition for his signature after it became clear that Melbourne didn’t have the currency to make an offer to prize him away from Fremantle so he goes to Carlton as if by default. The next best is Sydney’s Jordan Dawson who has nominated Adelaide and will get there on Wednesday night. Today, the only deal that was done was Patrick Lipinski to the Pies for a third-round Pick 43. There’s something about the third round of this year’s draft - just about every pick in that round has changed hands! I think that tomorrow will be the day of the ruckmen with a bevy of them lining up to move house. A few other threads have to be tied together but whatever … Done Deals 15. The Western Bulldogs trade Patrick Lipinsky to Collingwood for a third-round pick (43).

Thanks Ash - brilliant!!!

In what is turning out to be a lacklustre trade period, Trade Radio is struggling to come up with very much of interest at all. * They have only two or three untouchables, that's how badly they view their own list and how aggressive they're going to be. " — Kane Cornes is expecting more to play out at Hawthorn * "There's a communal view of who the top group is, but the ranking of that group is in the eye of the beholder. So I wouldn't be surprised if more clubs look to move up the draft. " — Cal Twomey * DONE DEAL | Patrick Lipinski is traded from the Bulldogs to Collingwood for pick 43. * "They've been geniuses this trade period, they've got everything done and got the points in for Daicos." — Matt Rendell on Collingwood * "I certainly think (Hill's trade request) is tied into the Rory Lobb stuff, same management group so there's a little bit going on behind the scenes," — Stephen Silvagni * "It wasn't a coincidence," — Rendell * "It seems inevitable now that North Melbourne won't bid and take Horne-Francis at one." — Damian Barrett

Sheldrick seals suspenseful West Australian sweep in scrappy affair

Yes, and it was the beginning of the end.

JT. Please draft SA’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

The Age does it better:- What to watch out for in the run home to the AFL trade deadline

I haven’t seen enough of Hill but in respect to the stats of Pickett and Spargo, they’re superior to those of Hill, although not by much. The difference is that Pickett is kicking more goals and Spargo, about the same as Hill but also, the pressure they both bring to their games and their overall roles in the side are significant. They do have the advantage of being in the Melbourne system with it’s great midfield pumping the ball down, of course. Hill would appear to be more advanced than Kade Chandler but the club and the player have made their decisions so we move on. Hill’s future appears to be an issue that’s out of Melbourne’s control but let’s get some popcorn and enjoy what transpires with his proposed move to Essendon.

At this level, Taj plays a solid but unspectacular game of football, accumulating possessions without doing anything that stands out. However, I think on the basis of his year’s work as a regular in his team’s best players at Colts level for East Fremantle and in his state level appearances with WA Under 19s, that he’ll probably take the last spot on our list. The players who impressed me were Angus Sheldrick who is the type of player Goody would like and Jack Williams who has hitherto presented himself as a potential key forward but also took a lot of the ruck work in this game. I’m not sure about the relative strength of the other rucks and he’s not tall enough at 195cm to be a regular ruckman at AFL level but, if he’s around at #17, he’d be worth a long hard look for his versatility as I believe he could play key forward or back. There are others worthy of consideration for #17 as well - Jacob Van Rooyen who didn’t play would be great at that pick. SA midfielder Matt Roberts was slow off the mark but nearly won the game for them in the end. I think he’ll go top 10. And there’s a lot to like about Jase Burgoyne who is a Port Adelaide father/son prospect.

Especially when you’re chasing a Burgoyne!

I hope GWS gives Dodoro the royal treatment.

They weren’t going to take Jake at pick 3. That was the whole idea of the attempted Trengove trade to enable them to get Lever with Richmond’s pick.

On a slow news day, the Sunday Herald Sun has a story today on pages 82 & 83 (sorry firewall and can’t do the link anyway) entitled, “CLOCK IS TICKING” in which Marc McGowan and Matt Turner “run the rule over trade deals that are still cooking.” It’s refreshing to see that the reigning premiers have pretty much locked in their playing list and barely feature in the article but here’s a summary of who else, on top of the 13 players who changed clubs last week via trade or free agency, could have a fresh start in 2022. • JARROD BRANDER (WCE) told by the Eagles to explore his options. Met Carlton but the Blues aren’t interested. Category: Up for grabs. • LEVI CASBOULT (Carl) linked to Brisbane but the Lions are pursuing Darcy Fort. Category: Up for grabs. • JON CEGLAR (Haw) Hawks have encouraged him to explore his options. Geelong and Western Bulldogs appear the likely destinations if he leaves. Category: Up for grabs. • JORDAN CLARK (Geel) Wants to go to Fremantle but the Cats want an early draft selection. Category: Bit to play out. • TOM CLUREY (Port Adel) North Melbourne, Carlton and St Kilda inquired. Category: Staying put. • CHARLIE CONSTABLE (Geel) Screaming for opportunity. Category: Up for grabs. • MASON COX (Coll) The American forward is in limbo. Category: Up for grabs. • JORDAN DAWSON (Syd) Wants out to Adelaide but the clubs have not been able to agree on the picks. Category: Lock it in. • TRENT DUMONT (North Melb) His only exit route now is via a trade or as a delisted free agent. Category: Up for grabs. • DARCY FORT (Geel) Brisbane’s trade priority. Category: Bit to play out. • JACK GUNSTON (Haw) Melbourne were interested, also linked with Brisbane. Category: Bit to play out. • OLLIE HANRAHAN (Haw) Carlton, Gold Coast and Geelong are monitoring him. Category: Up for grabs. • BOBBY HILL (GWS) Wants to be traded to a Victorian club. Category: Bit to play out. • BEN KING (GC) Victorian clubs circling. Category: Back off. • PETER LADHAMS (Port Adel) Had a medical with the Swans. Category: Bit to play out. • PATRICK LIPINSKI (WB) Bulldogs and Magpies haggling. Category: Lock it in. • RORY LOBB (Frem) Lobb wants to be a Giant again. Category: Bit to play out. • BEN LONG (St K) Saints are willing to trade. Category: Up for grabs. • MAX LYNCH (Coll) Hawks loom as his landing spot. Category: Up for grabs. • DARCY MACPHERSON (GC) Once appeared to be headed to North Melbourne. Category: Don’t count on it. • TOM MITCHELL (Haw) Would be the biggest name to move clubs. Category: Don’t count on it. LACHIE NEALE (Brisbane Lions) Wanted out. Back in. Category: Staying Put • JAEGER O’MEARA (Haw) Port Adelaide considering. Category: Don’t count on it. • SAM POWELL-PEPPER (Port Adel) Was going west but looking too hard. Category: Don’t count on it. • SAM TAYLOR (GWS) Dockers interested in trade for Rory Lobb. Category: No chance. • JOSH THOMAS (Coll) Still without a contract. Category: Up for grabs. • MITCH WALLIS (WB) Not much interest and likely to re-sign. Category: Up for grabs. • JAKE WATERMAN (WCE) Rival clubs said to be interested. Category: Staying Put • CHAD WINGARD (Haw) Regularly raised in trade dispatches but he’s made it clear that he’s not leaving. Category: No chance. • TRISTAN XERRI (North Melb) Requested a trade to St Kilda midweek. Category: Bit to play out.

Ever since I was a kid in the 50s and Melbourne had a ruckman named Dick Fenton-Smith running around, I was conscious of the importance of hyphenated names in the club’s history. After all, we produced the great Ivor Warne-Smith (pictured) who won Brownlow Medals in 1926 (in a premiership team) and 1928. In 1996, the Demons created a league record of players with hyphenated names wins David and Donald Cockatoo-Collins and Tent Ormond-Allen on their list. They had that record all on their own until 2019 when the Tigers muscled in and equalled it with Callum Coleman-Jones, Riley Collier-Dawkins and Derek Eggmolesse-Smith. But now, North Melbourne are homing in on a Melbourne record for the number of players on a club list with hyphenated names. That will occur when the Roos draft Jason Horne-Francis in the November National Draft. They already have Luke Davies-Uniake and, after receiving Coleman-Jones from the Tigers, they are set to equal the record when Horne-Francis comes on board. Could someone pluck a quartet of players out there in the draft with hyphenated names to help us keep our record intact. Hat tip/Swamp on Twitter

Agreed … and the best way to listen to the recruiters is to hear what the real ones do on November 24 and November 25.

No because Gawn and Jackson play primarily in the ruck and that wasn’t Mac Andrew’s role in the game against Vic Metro. He started as a key forward and also also played key back. Kicked an early goal, hit a bit of a purple patch in the second quarter and faded badly in the last quarter and a half. The team’s main ruckman was Toby Conway and most of the ruck duels forward of centre were taken by Josh Rentsch who was playing in the forward pocket. Andrew showed a lot of spring in the few ruck duels he contested but not many went to advantage. If Max or Luke played games like that as ruckmen, we’d be scratching our heads wondering what was going on. Your assumption about him backing it up in a number of NAB Boys League games is off the mark. He played in 6 of a possible 9 games for the Stingrays and finished 13th in their b & f. As I said many times, it was important for him to persuade us of his ability/promise by performance on the big stage, in particular in the national championships and in the NAB Boys League but the lockdown prevented that from happening. Again, good luck to him but I haven’t seen the evidence with my own eyes of a top 20 draftee.

I don’t view the draft as a spectator sport and he seems like a nice bloke so I’d be quite happy for him to be selected at any stage in November. More so from Melbourne’s point of view, given my opinion that he’s not top 20, because if he does get selected in the first round, it leaves an extra potential top 20 player available for us at #17.

Never is or was. It’s about having opinions and mine is that it’s not worth spending a first rounder on a speculative tall player who, according to my observation, is likely to take several years to develop into a decent footballer (if at all).

Precisely why I’m raising it now. That and the fact that I lived through the successful era when we won lots of these 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆. The philosopher Santayana said, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. It’s worth remembering for that reason.

Now that the premiership flag’s been won and the season’s over, we can discuss various topics from a new perspective. Why not start by facing one of our greatest demons - 186? The events of ten years ago that saw a coach move on and massive upheaval are now a thing of the distant past. This article looks at the players who took part in the game against Geelong at Kardinia Park that came to be known as 186. Where are they now?: Melbourne’s 22 – Round 19, 2011 What are your recollections and views on that game now that most of its “Demons” have been well and truly buried?