spirit of norm smith

Like to see 3 Stingrays given a Casey Demons opportunity over the summer to get a spot. Watched the TAC Cup Grand Final and believe these guys have further opportunities ahead. Riley Bowman - 198 cms ruck/forward. Potential to be AFL ruckman with good skills and agility Campbell Hustwaite - strong mid/half back. Hibberd like attack. Competitor. Lachlan McDonnell - 190cms half fwd/half back. Lovely kick and can nail a goal from the 50.

Our midfield is looking strong. Viney, Oliver, Brayshaw, Petracca, Harmes, Jones and now Sparrow. All tough competitors. That’s the culture now in our group. With Gawny putting the pill straight to them most of the time.

James is the talk of Yarrawonga today. Big story for a footy mad AFL town in northern Vic. Also Caulfield Grammar producing some quality AFL players. APS footy is a strong underage competition.

Agreed. I like James “Jordan” wearing number 23!!! Nickname - Michael !!!!!

Yes hopefully Lockhart stays at Casey Demons for 2019 season and shows he is worthy of an AFL chance. He was very unlucky imo.

Bedford is a ripper. Love his pace and intensity. He will take a year or two to develop but is a very good young player.

Yes Wagner and Bedford were our locks ... We had Xavier O’Halloran and Xavier Duursma in our phantom originally but they proved too good and went before our picks. They were the ones we were really after. Not sure why Tom McKenzie dropped so much to end up only a rookie option. I saw Vic metro v Vic country under 18s and he stood out for pace and disposal plus contested footy. Starred at the combine. Thought 25-35 likely and in our requirements. No discipline challenges from what I know. Kangas might have got a steal. Never keen on Curtis Taylor so not surprised he dropped from late 1st round to 3rd Round. Kangas again might have a bargain. Sydney Stack was impressive for WA Under18s but must have other challenges. A year in the WAFL and we might see him back in discussions for 2019 draft. He has the talent no doubt. I was never that keen. Bailey Williams was one who we wanted but JT was after mids, and he dropped to 35 for Eagles. They’re good at building up young ruckmen like Sinclair and Lycett. We might get him one day. Sparrow was always thereabouts. Had him at about 40-50 range but he is a Demons type player and JT style. Hard and tough. Good pick. Hamill was in the mix and we had in our phantoms for our 2nd rounders but snapped up by Crows at 30. A classy mid who would have been a fit. We liked both Turner & Kennerley as pacy options and they were grabbed later on. Hore was always in the frame and spoken about as someone MFC had contact with. But I got the thought we had enough 6”2 intercept defenders in Lever, Jsmith and Wagner. Nonetheless he can play. I liked Jordan from the TAC cup grand final. Competitive, fast and excellent disposal. Tick. I thought 60+/rookie but not surprised he was a bolter. Nietschke is the same. Chandler was a shock. Plenty of scrappy defensive small forwards going around. In JT we trust.

Good wrap. That’s about the Full Stop in the trades and drafts period.

List looks really in good shape. Perhaps only need is for young key forward to also develop over next 2-3 years like we did with the Weid. Haydn McLean was probably the one I would have grabbed at the rookie pick.

Yes thought Haydn McLean was a rookie chance. Lots of key backs but only 2 key forwards. Tmcd and Weid. Backups are makeshifts Preuss and May but their “shifts”.

Sparrow could play in 2019 but should have 12 months to develop at Casey. Tough contested midfielder. Likely see him in 2020. Like his style. Reminds me of a Viney type player. Jordon and Nietschke will need 1-2 years development. Speculative picks. Hore could play round 1 2019. But his position already has 3-4 ahead of him so unlikely to get a game unless we get injuries. Bedford unlikely in 2019. Still very very light. But he has the pace to excite. Maybe 2020. Chandler is far far away.

Country boy. Played well under pressure in TAC cup grand final. Clean disposal. Good decisions. Pacy type but can get contested footy. I had him 60+ range but nonetheless a good pick imo.

I will say it’s a NO from me

Riley Bowman missed out??? Get him down to Casey Demons quick smart.

Jordan stood out in the TAC Grand Final. Not for owning the game but his efficiency under pressure and clear decisions. I think JT values players who perform under intensity. Good call. Thanks.

Gold from Jack Viney. He will be the role model for what AFL requires.

Agree. Haydn McLean might have been a good one at the rookie spot.

Ready to go. Good skills. Delivery is 70% efficiency. Will get a chance in 2019.

Saw him in SA v Vic metro game. Was ok but didn’t star or show enough. Had about 10 touches from memory and kicked a goal.

Actually Tom Sparrow reminds me of young Todd Viney. Very Good pick.

Kade Chandler. Small forward. Quite lively but nothing to remember when I saw SA Under 18s. Goodwin has brought in the Croweaters this year. Sparrow. Nietschke. Chandler.

Assume we can take 2 rookies as allowed 39 main list and 5 rookies

Unbelievable. Kid must be feeling sick. Twomey has him getting picked at pick 29 by MFC in phantom draft.

I think Smith and Keilty stay as rookies. Maynard into main list.

Toby is a great get. Speed demon