spirit of norm smith

If he’s not picked up (probably unlikely to be), I’d think Xavier O’Neill would be a good train on player over the summer and potentially a Casey recruit. Melbourne boy, drafted by the Weagles in 2019 pick 28. Strong build and good pace. Good skills. Tackling was a strength throughout junior years and in his AFL stretch. As noted in some eagles sites, he was often the whipping boy for Simpson. Often picked as a sub or dropped after one poor performance. His stats are often low due to limited minutes as a sub over 2022 and 2023. At 23 and five seasons in an AFL system, it’s a chance to him to come home and put in hard work to try to impress.

Yes another even performance. Sorry I only watched from midway of the 2nd quarter 6- West 5- Paxman 4- Fitzsimmons 3- Gillard 2- Mithen 1 - Hanks apologies to McNamara, Purcell, Goldrick and everyone else

AFLW saints we love you ❤️❤️ Go the Dees. $1million is a nice bonus And some good news after the past few weeks !!

Time to let the chase for pick 1 settle … until the night before…

Will Lorenz will be interesting player through the draft and rookie selections. Was at the National draft combine so obviously is on the list of a few recruiters. I think he will probably get picked but probably might be the late 3rd round or rookie. Was looking for him to do more in the national championships. Good skills.

I am hoping he and Dees nominate him as a father-son selection. He definitely is a goer with a huge engine. I think if any other club picks him in the draft, then we can match it but we have to allocate points. If he’s not picked in the draft, then Dees can just add automatically as a rookie without waiting until the formal rookie draft.

Rough early walk through in 1st round (have no inside intel like Cal or Riley); just where likely types are best available. 1- WCE. Harley Reid 2-*GCS Jed Walter gcs academy gift 3- NM Coby Mckercher 4- NM Zane Duursma afl gift 5- HAW Dan Curtin 6- WB Nick Watson 7- MELB Ryley Sanders 8- *GCS Ethan Read gcs academy gift 9- GWS Nate Caddy 10- GEE Connor O’Sullivan 11- *GCS Jake Rogers gcs academy gift 12- ESS Darcy Wilson 13- ADEL James Leake 14- MELB Caleb Windsor 15- Syd. Koltyn Tholstrup. 16- Stk Ollie Murphy 17- ADEL Riley Hardeman 18- NM Arie Schoenmaker 19- *WB Jordan Croft father son 20- GWS Clay Hall 21- NM Will Green 22- NM Archer Reid 23- *Haw Will McCabe 24- Coll. Harry DeMattia 25- ADEL Mitchell Edwards 26- STK. Archie Roberts 27- *GCS Will Graham gcs academy gift 28- Carl. Charlie Edwards 2nd round With assumption that GCS picks now all gone. Slight update with WCE likely grabbing Zane Zakostelsky. 29- WCE Lance Collard 30- GEE George Stevens 31- Carl Logan Morris 32- Rich. Luamon Luai 33- BRIS Joel Freijah 34- Ess. Tew Jiath 35- Coll. Angus Hastie 36- Freo. Koen Sanchez 37- ESS. Billy Wilson 38- WCE Zane Zakostelsky 39- Bris. Will Dawson 40- Stk. Cooper Simpson 41- Rich. Nathan Philactides 42- MELB. Taylor Goad 43- GWS. Harvey Johnston 3rd round as clubs may start to “Pass” in picks ti save for rookie or preseason additions, or pickup some smokies or add in mature bodied state league players. Some roughies from here that could be drafted, rookied or miss out. Assumed Hawks and Bulldogs picks lost or pushed back due to added father son picks. I think Kynan Brown gets through and Dees can immediately add him as a rookie. 44- Syd. Ashton Moir 45- NM Shaun Mannagh 46- Freo Aiden O’Driscoll 47- BRIS. Jack Delean 48- BRIS Will Brown 49- Haw. Tarkyn O’Leary 50- *GWS Harvey Thomas. academy 51-*Syd . Caiden Cleary. academy 52- WB Kane McAuliffe 53- NM Sam Clohesy 54- WCE. Luke Lloyd 55-Haw. Ry Cantwell 56- *BRIS. Patrick Snell. academy 57- GWS Phoenix Gothard 58- Freo Kade De La Rue 59- ESS Tyson Sruk 60- Haw Lachie Hosie

May has always been very strong 1-1 contested player. Either at full back or full forward in his younger days. Schoenmaker has similar traits perhaps with more run and kicks a drop punt without effort 60 metres.

https://ferntreegully.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2023-10-21/rising-star-with-afl-potential-2/ Great article. Sounds like a young man well suited to the MFC As I’ve stated before. He plays like Max Holmes. Quick. Loves to run. Good tackler. Likes to get inside 50 and snag a goal.

Caleb Windsor reminds me more of a Max Holmes type. Quick. Loves to run. Good tackler. Likes to get inside 50 and snag a goal.

If 42 is still in play, Dees might look at another young ruck option. Not sure he lasts through but imv we’d look at Taylor Goad. Goad impressed in the national combine testing for a guy of his size. Played SANFL South Adelaide (SA) under 18s and in the championships. Hes 206cms and at 90kg. Hes really athletic for a big man who’s only just a few cms under the height of Mason Cox. At the combine Goad's 20m sprint was a great result. He twice went under three seconds with a best 2.97. He was also a key part of South Adelaide winning the under18s GF.

@Whispering_Jack I have done a starter phantom draft under topic “2023 AFL National Draft prospects: The next batch”. Happy to bring it across to this for easier discussion.

I think Sanders is a seriously good ballwinner, classier and more skilled (just imv). With Leake, totally agree on his versatility and ability to do something extra. That’s why I likened him to a Trent Rivers type. And he’s got the energy factor which readily translates him into AFL mode.

Interesting. Thanks @FrothiesLiam He looked good for the Allies but in the shadows of so many other young stars in the Allies squad. Imv Leake does have that Trent Rivers type energy about him. But given comparing class and skill, I’d still prefer Sanders.

We might just miss Zakostelsky. Would be a bonus pickup if he’s available and we use our pick.

3rd round as clubs may start to pass or pickup some smokies or state league players. Some roughies from here that could be drafted, rookies or miss out. Hawks and Bulldogs picks lost or push back due to father son picks 44- Syd. Ashton Moir 45- NM Shaun Mannagh 46- Freo Aiden O’Driscoll 47- BRIS. Jack Delean 48- BRIS Will Brown 49- Haw. Tarkyn O’Leary 50- *GWS Harvey Thomas. academy 51-*Syd . Caiden Cleary. academy 52- WB Kane McAuliffe 53- NM Sam Clohesy 54- WCE. Luke Lloyd 55-Haw. Ry Cantwell 56- *BRIS. Patrick Snell. academy 57- GWS Phoenix Gothard 58- Freo Kade De La Rue 59- ESS Tyson Sruk 60- Haw Lachie Hosie

2nd round With assumption that GCS picks now all gone 29- WCE Lance Collard 30- GEE George Stevens 31- Carl Logan Morris 32- Rich. Luamon Luai 33- BRIS Joel Freijah 34- Ess. Tew Jiath 35- Coll. Angus Hastie 36- Freo. Koen Sanchez 37- ESS. Billy Wilson 38- WCE Nathan Philactides 39- Bris. Will Dawson 40- Stk. Cooper Simpson 41- Rich. Zane Zakostelsky 42- MELB. Taylor Goad 43- GWS. Harvey Johnston

Rough early walk through in 1st round (no inside intel like Cal) 1- WCE. Harley Reid 2-*GCS Jed Walter gcs academy gift 3- NM Coby Mckercher 4- NM Zane Duursma afl gift 5- HAW Dan Curtin 6- WB Nick Watson 7- MELB Ryley Sanders 8- *GCS Ethan Read gcs academy gift 9- GWS Caddy 10- GEE Connor O’Sullivan 11- *GCS Rogers gcs academy gift 12- ESS Darcy Wilson 13- ADEL James Leake 14- MELB Caleb Windsor 15- Syd. Koltyn Tholstrup. 16- Stk Ollie Murphy 17- ADEL Riley Hardeman 18- NM Arie Schoenmaker 19- *WB Croft father son 20- GWS Clay Hall 21- NM Will Green 22- NM Archer Reid 23- *Haw Will McCabe 24- Coll. Harry DeMattia 25- ADEL Mitchell Edwards 26- STK. Archie Roberts 27- *GCS Will Graham gcs academy gift 28- Carl. Charlie Edwards

Yes in the highlights. Wider viewing suggests inconsistency and sometimes hacks it. In fairness in winning the contested footy, he’s under pressure.

We can grab Harry in 2030 when Clarry moves to the forward pocket. Similar type. Inside mid. Contested footy. Burst from the pack. Quick handball. Disposal needs improvement!!!

Still unclear how BBB is going to get on the park for 12+ games in 2024. He was the forgotten man in 2023 with his marking, leading and accuracy. Media ignored the fact that he was out and it reduced our forward line potency. His knee injury has been long term issue and we hope we can continue. If not, list spots are too precious.

key defenders: May Petty* Tomlinson (Adams) tall defenders: Lever, D.Turner, Joel Smith* med/sml/running defenders: Rivers, Bowey, Salem, Mcvee inside Mids: Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw, Sparrow, Laurie outside Mids: Langdon, Hunter, Woey jnr, Billings (Howes) key forwards: JVR, Petty*, BBB#,Tmcd# , Schache, Fullerton (Jefferson) tall forwards: Fritsch, Joel Smith*, Melksham# (Sestan) small forwards: ANB, Pickett, Spargo, Chandler, McAdam , (ANW) Rucks: Gawn (Verrell) (Farris-White) - plus add 4 more players for 44. (Draft and rookie draft). - plus SSP player in preseason as injury replacement for Melksham.

Yes surprised but not surprising. Had interrupted year with injury. Looked okay but I think he would need a preseason to really show his capabilities. Tough world of AFL for lots of young blokes at this time of year.

Spot on

Yes this is a really well thought out walk through. Can’t argue with many inside the top 15. If we got Sanders and Windsor, imv it would be a big win for the Dees.