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First things first. I know very little about him but from what I've picked up on and heard over the last few days he seems exciting and very likely to slide. Appears to have been injured all year, played his first game back in the All-Stars team in the AFL GF curtain raiser and starred with a BOG. From the limited footage I've seen he has that incredible break away dash and looks and sounds like he plays well on the inside. Also interviewed nicely and appears to have a good head on his shoulders. Shifter Sheehan claims he should be around the mark of our second round pick as he predicted the Dees current selections (with available picks) while talking to Matt Burgan. I look forward to seeing what eventuates with this young man. Also what a name eh.... P.S I figured this thread will start sooner or later, please share what you know on him.

THE FAT CHRONICLES - FREE AGENCY by The Oracle Life was so much simpler ten years ago when we had a trade week that lasted, erm, well ... a week. Representatives of the sixteen AFL clubs would meet in the sponsors' boxes at Pricefixer Park on the Monday and that would be followed by seven days of argy bargy mixed with a little subterfuge and deception, stories would abound of players and draft picks changing places and in the end, perhaps a dozen or possibly twenty deals would get done, most of them singularly unspectacular. The result was often one of boredom mixed with disappointment met with a shrug of the shoulders and it was on to the next thing which was the national draft meeting in November. I must have missed something because, while this has been going on, those of us who have carefully watched the shenanigans of trade week have openly advocated that the entire process dragged on over too many days. Everybody was waiting for the action to hot up and reach a hectic, dramatic climax in the last day and a half. The pundits were all saying that the AFL should cut the player exchange period down to three days simply to restore some sanity into the picture. Well, the AFL, being the AFL, has suddenly taken a mysterious U turn following the introduction of free agency and has co-joined that concept with the trade period and extended it out to close on to the whole of the month of October. That's why I call it the "FAT" period, which stands for "Free Agency & Trade". The official AFL Free Agency Period runs from 1 October to 5pm on 19 October while the AFL Trade Period runs from 8 October to 2pm on 26 October. By the time we get to the end of the line on that last Friday of next month many of you will risk being left emotionally and physically wrecked by the twists and turns of the FAT period unless you are properly prepared for the ordeal. I'm here to help you get through this difficult time and to ensure that life remains as uncomplicated as possible during this time. The first thing to remember is the "much ado about nothing" rule which applies to a lot of the AFL's business. Despite the warnings of doom and all the hype about free agency, it's not really going to make a difference to most of our lives. One or two big names might change clubs, a number of hopefuls and lesser lights will get involved and a few of them could find new homes and some aging players will boost their pensions. That's it folks. No great dramas! If you don't believe me, here's the latest list of players available as free agents - Complete list of Free Agents: Restricted Free Agents Angus Monfries (Essendon); Brent Moloney (Melbourne); Troy Chaplin, Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide); Luke McGuane (Richmond); Brendon Goddard (St Kilda). Unrestricted Free Agents Chris Knights (Adel Crows); Jordan Russell, Bret Thornton (Carlton); Ben Johnson (Collingwood); Ricky Dyson, Dustin Fletcher, David Hille, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Henry Slattery (Essendon); Luke McPharlin (Fremantle); Shannon Byrnes, Josh Hunt (Geelong Cats); Thomas Murphy, Michael Osborne, Clinton Young (Hawthorn); Matthew Bate, Lynden Dunn, Jared Rivers (Melbourne); Brett Ebert, Steven Salopek, Jacob Surjan (Port Adelaide); Jason Blake, Raphael Clarke (St Kilda); Jude Bolton, Jarred Moore (Sydney Swans); Quinten Lynch, Mark Nicoski (West Coast); Will Minson (Western Bulldogs). At a guess, no more than about half of this list is likely to change clubs. The rest will either stay put or retire. With a few exceptions (Brendon Goddard mooted to go to the Bombers very early in the proceedings) the changes are unlikely to represent much more than a blip on the radar although hundreds of articles will be written and thousands of discussions and arguments started on the subject with much time of that time wasted. The rumours, innuendo and scuttlebutt have already been flying around the media and the Internet for several weeks. Fear not and remember "much ado about nothing". Now, I've gone all this way without explaining Free Agency and that is because much of the information about the topic has been released by the AFL in dribs and drabs and if I didn't know better (and I actually don't) I would be saying that they're making it all up as they go. However, for a better understanding of the process, I refer you to FA explained by Luke Holmesby of the AFL's own site. He makes a good fist of it and I'll be back from time to time on an irregular basis to discuss the latest developments of this year's FAT Period. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

THE FAT CHRONICLES - COMBINATION by The Oracle We entered uncharted territory this week with free agency and the impending trade period dominating the football news at one level and the Draft Combine attracting interest with respect to new talent on another. The FAT "Free Agency and Trades The conclusion from the first week of FA is that it is generally an unqualified success in terms of getting seasoned players together with their preferred new clubs. Of the list of restricted free agents Brendon Goddard (Essendon), Danyle Pearce (Fremantle) and Troy Chaplin (Richmond) found new homes while Chris Knights (Richmond), Shannon Byrnes (Melbourne) and Quinten Lynch (Collingwood) are of the unrestricted variety who did likewise. This left many FAs still in limbo and while a few others will find new destinations and others will still come to terms with their existing clubs, for some it will be the end of the road. This weekend presents a perfect segue into a fortnight in which the FA and trade period becomes FAT. During the week, the trade conjecture stepped up with Kurt Tippett becoming the major player as he plans his exodus from Adelaide. Collingwood pair Sharrod Wellingham and Chris Dawes who both want out are also attracting interest and young Sun's midfielder Josh Caddy has everyone guessing as to where he will end up although some are scratching their heads as to how someone who finished 17th in the club's best and fairest while playing every game of the season could be such a wanted man. Things will play themselves out slowly in the coming weeks but one matter affecting the trades and draft positioning will be the three potential father/son picks nominated in that category for the 2012 national draft. Their fate will be decided on Monday morning at the opening of the exchange period when opposition clubs can bid for them ahead of the draft. The nominating club then has to decide whether to take player at its next available selection in that round (not including compensation picks). The players available are Joe Daniher (Essendon), Lachie Hunter (Western Bulldogs) and Jack Viney (Melbourne). Other potential f/s players. Jordon Bourke (Geelong - son of Damian), James Stewart (Collingwood - son of Craig) and James Stewart (Hawthorn - son of John Platten) were overlooked. Daniher is expected to be taken with Essendon's first pick, Hunter with the Bulldogs' third round pick while Viney's situation is up in the air. Depending on whether he is claimed by one of the new franchises he could go to Melbourne as early as pick three or in the second round. We'll know soon after 10 o'clock. By way of a general update, here is the excerpt for Melbourne from the AFL website's State of Play The Draft Combine There was an added flavour to this year's draft combine with the introduction of an international group of potential draftees - Internationals named for Combine. Some of the lads produced great results in the athletic testing and one Gideon Simon of Papua New Guinea has been added to Richmond's list as an international rookie while New Zealander Kurt Heatherly is a Hawthorn scholarship holder who has already shown out with Caulfield Grammar and the Sandringham Dragons. Melbourne, which pioneered international recruiting with its Irish contingent lad by Jim Stynes and Sean Wight in the 1980s, has shunned this pathway in recent years. Perhaps the success of Sydney's Canadian ruckman Mike Pyke might revive some interest on the part of the club. If it does, then in US College basketballer Eric Wallace might fit the bill. Athletically, he's a freak but the question is whether he has the same level of commitment and desire to learn and achieve at a foreign sport in an alien environment as did our Jim and whether the MFC has the resources and will to develop such a person. The rest of the week's combine didn't attract the hoopla of the internationals but there was a substantial amount of interest from club recruiting people who not only observed the testing but conducted what, in many cases, were detailed interviews with their subjects and these were only the tip of the iceberg where specific targets were concerned. The amount of background checking of potential draftees these days is quite unbelievable. Naturally, there were a few standouts and a handful would have improved their draft stocks. These included some of the more seasoned players in the group who have been playing against men such as North Ballarat's Dean Towers and Launceston's Jesse Lonergan through to 17 year old GWS Mini Draft prospects Jack Martin, Jesse Hogan and Joshua Kelly. More testing continues at the State Screeinings over the weekend. The big question as always is whether they can play footy? 2012 Draft Combine Results Below are the leading results from the 2012 NAB AFL Draft Combine held at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. 3 kilometre time trial (minutes:seconds) Joshua Kelly Vic Sandringham Dragons 09:48 Tom Clurey Vic Murray Bushrangers 10:01 Dominic Barry NT North Ballarat Rebels 10:09 Kamdyn McIntosh WA Peel Thunder 10:14 Jake Neade NT North Ballarat Rebels 10:16 Sean Hurley Ire Kildare 10:17 Tanner Smith Vic North Ballarat Rebels 10:18 Sam Siggins Tas Lauderdale 10:19 Mitchell Van Den Berg Tas North Launceston 10:19 Sean Lynch WA South Fremantle 10:20 Jesse Hogan WA Claremont 10:20 Shuttle Run (Beep Test) Level Tom Clurey Vic Murray Bushrangers 15-1 Mitchell Van Den Berg Tas North Launceston 14-9 Kamdyn McIntosh WA Peel Thunder 14-8 Joshua Kelly Vic Sandringham Dragons 14-6 Will Hams Vic Gippsland Power 14-4 Jonathan O'Rourke Vic Calder Cannons 14-4 Sam Siggins Tas Lauderdale 14-4 Oliver Wines Vic Bendigo Pioneers 14-3 Jason Ashby Vic Oakleigh Chargers 14-2 Brodie Murdoch SA Glenelg 14-2 Jacob Ballard Vic Northern Knights 14-2 Dominic Barry NT North Ballarat Rebels 14-2 Jesse Hogan WA Claremont 14-2 Clean hands test Score Matthew Dick Vic Calder Cannons 29 Laine Wilkins WA Peel Thunder 29 Jake Stringer Vic Bendigo Pioneers 28 Nathan Hrovat Vic Northern Knights 28 Jordon Bourke Qld Morningside 27 Matthew Brett Vic Murray Bushrangers 27 Brodie Grundy SA Sturt 27 Toby Nankervis Tas North Launceston 27 Dayle Garlett WA Claremont 27 Harrison Marsh WA East Fremantle 27 Nick Rodda WA West Perth 27 Goal kicking test Score Andrew Boston Qld Broadbeach 30 Jesse Lonergan Tas Launceston 30 Jake Stringer Vic Bendigo Pioneers 30 Will Hams Vic Gippsland Power 25 Jake Neade NT North Ballarat Rebels 25 Shannon Taylor WA Claremont 25 Cameron Banfield Vic Sandringham Dragons 25 Sean Lynch WA South Fremantle 25 Jackson Macrae Vic Oakleigh Chargers 25 Brodie Murdoch SA Glenelg 25 Josh Simpson WA East Fremantle 25 Laine Wilkins WA Peel Thunder 25 Tim Broomhead SA Port Adelaide 25 Joshua Kelly Vic Sandringham Dragons 25 Jack Martin WA Claremont 25 Tom Clurey Vic Murray Bushrangers 25 Nick Rodda WA West Perth 25 James Stewart Vic Sandringham Dragons 25 Mason Wood Vic Geelong Falcons 25 Toby Nankervis Tas North Launceston 25 Kicking test Score Laine Wilkins WA Peel Thunder 29 Rory Atkins Vic Calder Cannons 29 Josh Simpson WA East Fremantle 29 Jack Martin WA Claremont 28 Will Hams Vic Gippsland Power 28 Brodie Murdoch SA Glenelg 28 Dominic Barry NT North Ballarat Rebels 27 Aidan Corr Vic Northern Knights 27 Kamdyn McIntosh WA Peel Thunder 27 James Stewart Vic Sandringham Dragons 27 Matthew Haynes Vic Northern Knights 27 Louis Herbert Vic North Ballarat Rebels 27 Jason Pongracic Vic Dandenong Stingrays 27 Agility test (minutes:seconds) Lachie Hunter Vic Western Jets 8:00 Jesse Lonergan Tas Launceston 8:25 Tim O'Brien SA Glenelg 8:30 Jordon Bourke Qld Morningside 8:30 Emmett Bradley Ireland Derry 8:31 Zac Williams NSW/ACT Narrandera 8:32 Laine Wilkins WA Peel Thunder 8:33 Mason Woods Vic Geelong Falcons 8:35 Jason Ashby Vic Oakleigh Chargers 8:36 Jason Pongracic Vic Dandenong Stingrays 8:36 Height Centimetres Cameron Symonds WA East Fremantle 203.4 Liam McBean Vic Calder Cannons 203.1 Darcy Fort Vic Geelong Falcons 202.7 Chris Prowse Vic Oakleigh Chargers 202.5 Lewis Pierce Vic Dandenong Stingrays 202.3 Brodie Grundy SA Sturt 201.8 Myles Bolger WA South Fremantle 201.6 Yannick Crowder USA Stone Mountain 201.6 Joe Daniher Vic Calder Cannons 201.0 Sam Gilmore Vic Northern Knights 200.6 Jack Hannath SA Central Districts 200.6 Weight Kilograms Cameron Symonds WA East Fremantle 104.9 Benjamin Shearry USA Idaho 102.9 Eric Wallace USA Winston-Salem 102.5 Brodie Grundy SA Sturt 99.8 Toby Nankervis Tas North Launceston 99.8 Yannick Crowder USA Stone Mountain 98.9 Nick Rodda WA West Perth 98.1 Jesse Hogan WA Claremont 97.4 Jack Hannath SA Central Districts 97.2 Myles Bolger WA South Fremantle 94.7 Hand span Centimetres Yannick Crowder USA Stone Mountain 26.8 Spencer White Vic Western Jets 26.1 Mason Wood Vic Geelong Falcons 25.3 Eric Wallace USA Winston-Salem 25.2 Brodie Grundy SA Sturt 25.1 Kurt Heatherley NZ Bay of Plenty 25.1 Jason Ashby Vic Oakleigh Chargers 25.1 Cameron Symonds WA East Fremantle 24.8 Nick Rodda WA West Perth 24.8 Jesse Hogan WA Claremont 24.8 Jacob Ballard Vic Northern Knights 24.8 Emmanuel Irra SA South Adelaide 24.8 Standing vertical jump Centimetres Dean Towers Vic North Ballarat Roosters 85 Jesse Lonergan Tas Launceston 83 Spencer White Vic Western Jets 82 Eric Wallace USA Winston-Salem 80 Laine Wilkins WA Peel Thunder 75 Harrison Marsh WA East Fremantle 73 James Stewart Vic Sandringham Dragons 73 Clay Cameron Qld Mt Gravatt 72 Adam Saad Vic Calder Cannons 72 Aidan Corr Vic Northern Knights 72 Running vertical jump Centimetres Spencer White Vic Western Jets 100 Laine Wilkins WA Peel Thunder 97 Jesse Lonergan Tas Launceston 91 Jake McKenzie Vic Western Jets 89 Clay Cameron Qld Mt Gravatt 88 Jed Anderson NT NT Thunder 87 James Stewart Vic Sandringham Dragons 86 Matthew Haynes Vic Northern Knights 86 Eric Wallace USA Winston-Salem 85 Jacob Ballard Vic Northern Knights 84 Dominic Barry NT North Ballarat Rebels 84 20 metre sprints (seconds) Adam Saad Vic Calder 2.81 Kurt Heatherley NZ 2.84 Leigh Osborne Vic Frankston 2.86 Matthew Dick Vic Calder 2.88 Matthew Haynes Vic Northern Knights 2.89 Dean Towers Vic North Ballarat VFL 2.89 Aiden Corr Vic Northern Knights 2.89 Clay Cameron Qld Mt Gravatt 2.91 Jordon Bourke Qld Morningside 2.92 Cameron Banfield Vic Sandringham 2.93 Jarrod Stokes NT Darwin 2.93 Repeat sprints (seconds) Matthew Haynes Vic Northern Knights 23.91 Harrison Marsh WA East Fremantle 24.32 Dean Towers Vic North Ballarat Roosters 24.48 Leigh Osborne Vic Frankston 24.74 Joshua Kelly Vic Sandringham Dragons 24.91 Tim Broomhead SA Port Adelaide 24.98 Jesse Lonergan Tas Launceston 25.12 Gideon Simon PNG Mt Hagan 25.18 Dominic Barry NT North Ballarat Rebels 25.19 Tim O'Brien SA Glenelg 25.19