spirit of norm smith

2025 Draft National recruiting manager Jason Taylor:“It was a waiting game [to see who would get through to us]. We weren’t entirely sure. We had a strategy in place to take the best available player, and then there was an element of need [Pickett] that was going to come into play for us as well with those selections, at a certain point. We were able to achieve both of those, which is a very good result for us.” The Age Mark McGowan MelbourneWho they picked: Xavier Taylor (11), Latrelle Pickett (12), Tom Matthews (30) The Demons were delighted that Eastern Ranges defender Taylor, who was best afield in the Talent League grand final, made it through to their first pick. Taylor takes the game on with his athleticism and agility, is an intercepting force, and has improved as a decision-maker. Pickett, a mercurial small forward, is the cousin of club star Kysaiah, but earned his own reputation with a breakout SANFL season after Melbourne tracked him for almost three years. They grabbed another small forward in the second round, selecting Gippsland Power’s Matthews despite a PCL injury wiping out the second half of his season.

MFC list update … key defenders: May, Tmcd, Adams, +K.White tall defenders: Lever, D.Turner, Howes, +X.Taylor, +Berry med//running defenders: Bowey, Salem, Lindsay, AMW, +Jiath. inside Mids: Viney, +Steele, Langford , Laurie Runners/outside Mids: Rivers, Langdon, Windsor Mid/fwd: Kozzzy, Kolt, Sparrow, Culley Tall mid: +Onley key forwards: +Mihocek , JVR, Petty, Jefferson , Kentfield, Johnson med-tall forwards: Fritsch, Melksham, Mcadam small forwards: Chandler, Sharp, Henderson, Mentha, +L.Pickett, +Matthews Rucks: Gawn, Campbell , +Heath

I had 3 categories for midfielders Inside mid Running mid Mid/forward rotation Riley Onley is unique. No sure he fits into any of those 3. Like Cripps, he has a size advantage over other midfielders and can still burst through at clearance. He’s a “big tall mid” who has shown the physical power and footy ability to really stand out. A great addition.

As I said, he’s a steal. To get Riley Onley as a rookie is an excellent outcome. He can play tall as a midfield option and really stretches opposition mids. He kicks it 50+ easily. If he gets a big preseason in, he might even get a debut game during 2026 !!!

Write up by poster from the Vic country trial game in early May Matthews showed plenty of X-factor on Sunday and proved to be very dangerous at the fall of the ball from the packs, while also being strong around the contest, especially against bigger opponents. His follow-up work was excellent while he also showed great vision and composure to set up his teammates for a few goals. A highlight of his game off the ball was where he continually showed his endeavour to chase with his closing speed to ensure his opponent earned his kick. His goals came at crucial moments in the game, which included an excellent set shot kick on the half time siren and a goal early in the third quarter to get things going for Vic Country in the second half. Matthews showed great kicking power and was hard and fast on a lead inside forward 50. He came off halfway through the last quarter with what looked to be an ankle injury Stats: 10 disposals, 4 goals, 2 behinds

Assume that the Dees will nominate Kalani in the rookie draft today. I do think it would have been good to call Kalani White rather than Pass with that pick 56. It would have been a nice position to add him to the main list. Nevertheless no dramas. Let’s give him the handshake today.

Sestan showed talent before injuries cruelled his season. What might have been ? Good luck young man

Conspiracy theories abound. Dees will push to get Bailey Humphrey by offering 2026 MFC 1st round + GCS 1st round draft picks. Perhaps back from Suns … Humphrey and Suns 2027 2nd round pick

Gippsland Power preview 2025 “Thomas Matthews has had a fantastic preseason. Obviously he missed out on the Vic Country hub selection but had a really good finish to the 2024 season. He’s a really dangerous small forward. Not getting into that Vic Country hub last year has probably spurred him on a little bit more. He’s super fit and ready to go. He’ll likely look to spend some time in the centre bounces as well. He’s done everything he possibly can to have a really good start to the season”. Unfortunately his PCL injury killed off his 2025. A bold move by JT !! I’d say obviously the ex Gippsland coach (now Casey Demons coach) Rhett McLennan had a say in promoting Matthews into draft selection. Plays like Gary Moorcroft

@Beetle congrats … you called it !!!

“It means the Dees may look to bolster their engine room after losing Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver during the trade period” Not yet!!

IN (+10) Max Heath (trade, St Kilda), Changkuoth Jiath (trade, Hawthorn), Brody Mihocek (trade, Collingwood), Jack Steele (trade, St Kilda) , Jai Culley (SSP to contracted) , Jack Henderson (SSP to contracted), Oscar Berry (Cat B rookie) , Xavier Taylor (National draft pick 11), Latrelle Pickett (National draft pick 12), Thomas Matthews (pick 30) OUT (-11) Jack Billings (delisted), Kynan Brown (delisted), Tom Fullarton (delisted), Marty Hore (delisted), Judd McVee (trade, Fremantle), Clayton Oliver (trade, Greater Western Sydney), Christian Petracca (trade, Gold Coast), Oliver Sestan (delisted), Charlie Spargo (free agent, North Melbourne), Will Verrall (delisted), Taj Woewodin (delisted) 42 on the list 2 list spots available

MFC list update … key defenders: May, Tmcd, Adams tall defenders: Lever, D.Turner, Howes, +X.Taylor, +Berry med//running defenders: Bowey, Salem, Lindsay, AMW, +Jiath. inside Mids: Viney, +Steele, Langford , Laurie Runners/outside Mids: Rivers, Langdon, Windsor Mid/fwd: Kozzzy, Kolt, Sparrow, Culley key forwards: +Mihocek , JVR, Petty, Jefferson , Kentfield, Johnson med-tall forwards: Fritsch, Melksham, Mcadam small forwards: Chandler, Sharp, Henderson, Mentha, +L.Pickett, +Matthews Rucks: Gawn, Campbell , +Heath

Top 50 done and these youngsters are still available … Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves, Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier (BOB), Noah Chamberlain, Matthew LeRay, Fred Rodriguez, Riley Onley, Rory Wright, Kye Fincher That’s 8 young players rated highly Are we using pick 56 …

Archie Ludowyke - ffs - just went !! Thought he’d be a great addition too

Top 40 done and these youngsters are still available … Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves, Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier (BOB), Noah Chamberlain, Matthew LeRay, Fred Rodriguez, Jack Ison, Riley Onley, Archie Ludowyke, Rory Wright, Kye Fincher , Koby Coulson … Are we using pick 56 … another off the radar smoky ???

Wow. Greeves might even not get drafted. That’s hard to believe !!!

I hate the Eagles.

Swans get Phillipou … he’s a steal !!!

Mfc pick 30, Melbourne selects a huge bolter in Victorian forward Thomas Matthews who Fox Footy had ranked 71st. That’s a JT smokie!!! Lots of talented youngsters passed up for the punt here In JT we trust

wtf !!!?!?!!! Eagles Sam Allen grew up a Dees fanatic We wanted him in red and blue

Tom Matthews (Gippsland Power, small forward) The athletic forward was lauded for an enormous pre-season and a big start to 2025 earned him selection in the Vic Country squad at the U18s National Championships. Remarkably, though, he did all that with a PCL knee injury, suffered early in 2025 which meant he hardly trained, working hard just to get himself on the park on Saturdays. Eventually, the injury worsened and he featured in only half a game after early game - a wildcard round final for Gippsland where he showed his point-of-difference - forward 50 pressure - on a treacherous day for footy. The stymied year was highlighted by a four gaul outing in a Vic Country trial game against the Young Guns in May. Draft range: Late-rookie

Phillipou…?

Blues sold out

Good call. Really hope Sam Allen gets to the Dees. He’s a Dees fanatic. That’s a boyhood dream and he’s a talented youngster who had a season ending injury so didn’t see his full talent. Saw enough in two APS games and one Chargers to see he has the ability.