manny100

If JT is not planning retirement i think he will stick around until at least the 2026 drafts. If he is still enjoying the job he may well stay longer, why not. His 2025 draft vibes indicated he still loves the job.

The strategy has been brilliant. Keep some experienced guns to build around which we are doing.

2026 is the end of our current list build up. 2027 and 2028 are lost draft years for most of the comp.

Not sure apart from Prasaad whether we have any other academy or FS in 2026 or 27?

6 hours ago, Go Ds said:

Imagine being paid a million a year yet being forced to pee like an animal at your workplace.

They may have to get the players to wear male Catheters and a bag at training. 'yer right' They need to get to Waverley ASAP. It is pretty bad - 1950's stuff.

We hope to see improvement but and can see us winning a couple more games than last year. We had 6 close ish losses last year. We could not get up with Tracc and Oliver in the side.

Next season is a building year and i am not to worried about a say 15 - 12 finish as long as a several of our young draftees of recent years show A Grade potential.

Next year with 2 1st rounders will be a further build before we go into 2 lost Tassie draft years.

We can then go into 2027 plus seasons with a side capable of finals.

We have a heap of players out of contract in 2026 so apart from delistings we may see a couple leave.

The 2026 season will see us find out a lot about where we sit.

5 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Big thanks to all the track watchers

Agree, there are heaps of members/supporters who follow Demonland that can't get enough of training updates.

Its forget work and check the phone almost non stop on training days.

Lets face it the Dee's take up a 'fair chunk' of our lives.

White may be developed as that tall mobile back. I do not think we should be to worried about Taylors height. Guns (if he is to be one) find ways to beat taller players.

Also we may do a 'hawks' and get a tall back via FA. The 2026 draft has a few talls.

We have 2 first rounders in 2026 and they will be worth 'gold' as with Tassie coming in 2027 and 2028 are 2 lost draft years.

I think we might get very lucky with Onley.

His highlights package looks good.

What were clubs 'knocks' on him that saw him fall from projected early top 30 to rookie?

The MFC looks to have plenty to work with and develop into a good player.

With Langford, Culley and Only - pretty tall mid timber. No doubt the club will trial him in many positions at Casey. Even has the speed and 'ball nous' to play running half back.

" The player he could be is what recruiters are looking at, though he can frustrate at times as one who often comes with the tag 'when he gets going' or 'at his best'."

From rookie me maybe sums it up and maybe why we picked him - could develop into a player.

Well worth a punt. His highlights package looks awesome.

As with all draftees its fingers crossed and hope they work hard.

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/thomas-matthews-2/

The new ruck rule will favour Kalani with his massive leap.

Shorter 2nd rucks without a big leap will get flogged as there will be less wrestling etc.

5 on the bench will be interesting. One spot for a tall. Ruck/forward.

5 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

Wrong Tom Matthews @manny100 !

That is an oops. Apologies.

Tom Matthews is a highly rated prospect in northern Australia, known for his endurance and inside game. He has elite kicking, great vision, decision-making, and class. Matthews is a traditional outside midfielder who plays more in defense, averaging 13.5 touches and 3.3 rebounds in the National Under 18 Championships. He is not afraid to tackle, laying almost five per day, and excels in overhead marking for his size. Despite being 184cm tall, he has a good vertical jump, which helps him win in one-on-one contests.

Rookie Me

I think he was selected for his speed, X factor and goal kicking nouse.

All the above is required to help solve our goal scoring issues.

May well play early in the season. Has good endurance and did a good 2km.

Promising rookie me profile. Will allow Kosi to play more mid and be extra dangerous when he (Kosi) drifts forward. Speed and X Factor - i like it.

Latrelle Pickett Draft Profile - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central (formerly AFL Draft Central)

STRENGTHS:

+ Scoreboard impact
+ Speed
+ Vertical leap
+ X-factor

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Defensive work rate
- Exposure

2026 1st rounders will be more valuable than the usual draft because clubs pretty well lose the next couple of years with Tassie coming in. So we would want a good deal for our GC F1.

North and WCE are pushing a barrow of the stinky stuff up a steep hill.

2 hours ago, adonski said:

Don't think Essendon can risk not taking Sharp if they really rate him

We may well be interested in Sharp especially as our 2 prime inside bulls are now Vines and Steele heading towards the twilight but right now still strong contributors.

Langford will likely be a very strong inside player in a year or 2.

I would not be surprised if we pick up Sharp is available at our picks.

I am hoping for Farrow and Nairn.

19 minutes ago, Melonmonster said:

Cumming looc

Same with farrow, they say his kicking is a weapon yet none of his kicks are with penetration or fast and low. Just long to contests and he missed a few targets when under pressure. ( Yes All from YouTube clips so im an expert )

Also with Nairn , I'm sure the insight from club level is way deeper than anything the media or YouTube nuffys know, I've herd there is interest for him in the early teens so if JT rates him then luckily we have the opportunity to select ahead of them .

If you watch Jeff White's Dees MELBOURNE'S NO.1 focus on his X you can see why we are after Nairn. He coverts goals, marks inside 50, get ball inside 50.

Its a boost for us the GC has probably the hardest draw next season.

JT hinted we will not be picking a small forward at 7/8 - 11/12 after FS/Academy.

Said a few available in draft so i guess that will be considered with 37 plus we have Prasad next year.

JT said the work has been done and pretty well ready.

So rankings set.

I am thinking Nairn and Farrow if available. Otherwise Nairn and ??

Nairn and Farrow is looking good for us if both available. We have Prasad coming in next season as a small forward (if he continues to improve). So maybe not a small clever forward on the menu for picks 7/8?

1 hour ago, Oxdee said:

since you are so knowledgeable, please tell me which of these players Nairn is better than going off their highlights?

Robey

Sharp

Grlj

Taylor

Cumming

Greeves

Farrow

Lindsay

Dovaston

The AFL have added Nairn to that list of invitees first draft night. So the AFL/recruiters rate him highly.

I think they call them Rankings now and Phantom drafts just before the actual draft when all the 'intel' is in so they dont look like they completely knackered it up.

Rookie me listed strengths and weaknesses for Nairn.

Kicking top of strengths.

" Nairn offers a unique makeup in the medium forward role, capable of playing above his height but also covering serious ground and possessing slick foot skills"

" Most importantly, he impacts the scoreboard"

" Nairn is a precise field kick and can hit targets heading inside 50 on his favoured left side."

Cameron Nairn Draft Profile - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central (formerly AFL Draft Central)

STRENGTHS:

+ Kicking
+ Leading patterns
+ Overhead marking
+ Running capacity
+ Scoreboard impact
+ Versatility

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Consistency
- Ground balls

In Gettable Twomey said Dees looking at Nairn at one of their picks. Taking into account FS/Academy/WC we have picks 11 and 12. Twomey seemed comfortable with Nairn.

Nairn and Farrow or Dovestan. If we think we may have a shot at Pickett via pick trades then Farrow for sure.

As they say - the time is now. If we want Pickett go for it.