deanox

See with cases like this, I can understand the pathway might be useful. If he grew up in Singapore and move back to Australia aged 15, he is effectively coming from somewhere without any development pathways. But that being said, I think you should be nutring players in the academies for a number of years before they are eligible for draft concessions.

If anyone doesn't know, you can find (and change if necessary) your email address in your account settings. After nearly 25 years of demonland, I can't believe I still have access to that email account!

I wonder how much of this was driven by players not being happy about all the driving to Casey?

One of the things I've liked about his Casey game @DeeSpencer is his ability to find himself in a position to score goals, so really interesting to read this as an assessment of match sim too. Even when he hasn't been able to physically compete the way we expect a KPF to (given his youth and lack of physical development), he found a way to bob up in space ahead of play, in the goal square for a handball, for a centring kick etc. Even if he wasn't winning his own goals, he was finishing them off the back of others work. I think it's a good trait, the ability to get involved and kick goals.

Gabby Colvin turns 34 in March (according to a google search), so that will her age at end of 2025.

Source: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1709590/aflw-stars-sign-on Not that I was doubting you @Katrina Dee Fan but I think these contract threads are even more helpful when the sources are listed for cross checking: in the AFLM contract thread we had a couple of mistakes because someone had reported it wrong by accident.

Agree. Source: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1706290/emerging-guns-re-sign

Or it is an indication that he has no mental barriers about going in hard?

That is outstanding. Gillard has the potential to be the premier key defender in the comp. And the girls on 2 years are all ones we want to hold on to. Here is a link to the source: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1706290/emerging-guns-re-sign

Lampard and Pearce for 2 years, the others for one year it said. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1706287/demon-veterans-sign-on Also officially notes that Aimee Mackin will remain in the inactive list, but doesn't say for how long etc.

This highlights reel is exceptional. Kicking 45m+, hitting targets on leads, ball winning ability, clean pick ups of bouncing ball on the run, smart positioning around the contest to be first receiver, followed by power and speed to get away from the contest. I know it's a highlights reel, not a complete summary, but it's exciting to see just how high the standard is for this draft crop.

Very excited, she's exactly what we need in our mix.

The article on our website says 46 is gone. I doubt we'd get that wrong!

@Lucifers Hero no more started based drafting - it's a national draft this year. And I think we also traded out pick 46 as part of the Mithen deal.

I'd be disappointed if she walked to the draft after the optics of her exit from Carlton and move to the dees. She was being smashed in the media and by Carlton, and we stepped in and took her in. From what I can tell we've provided good support both in and out of football. I understand that this is a business, and that for the AFLW players in particular, the salaries aren't that high and careers are short. But I do think there needs to be an element of loyalty in return when you are looked after.

With Tayla Harris you are paying for potential. Her potential to us is worth a lot. And I'd want a pretty high pick, access to equivalent potential, in return.

I think this bolded part is why we have been willing to trade out Birch, West and now Mithin. Not saying they aren't good players who would have continued to be part of our team, but collectively they lacked the size/height and pace of the next generation. From a list management perspective you need to trade something out to bring something in. And if we want to bring in top picks to set up that next tilt, we need to give something up. You can also only have so many players in each tier, and if you want to retain young stars coming through, you need to have spots for them in your structure. Mithin and Birth would definitely have been relatively higher up the pay structure tiers too.

Lily Mithen is currently 26 and will be 28 for age at EOC. Not sure if we need to do a review of other ages too.

And Gillard.

I saw a report that I think Collingwood and Hawthorn were after her, but that we were still negotiating with her. I'd be disappointed if she chose to leave, given I feel like we've really looked after her, especially after the debacle that was her exit from Carlton.

Let's see the jig @Ted Lasso!

I thought they went to a farm out near Geelong. But maybe that was just Clarry? 😂

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1690502/delany-departs Delany Madigan has been delisted after one year on the list.

Unsurprising to me. The first season of AFLW was 7.5 years ago. The players getting drafted this year are probably the first to have a pathway open to them from age 10 or 11. I reckon over the next 5 years the quality of draftees is going to ramp significantly as we not only have a larger pool of girls who have played football their entire junior career, but we'll also have more girls coming from "elite" junior pathways and representative sides, where the talent pathways have identified the best players, and they've had the chance to improve by playing in those elite junior competitions.

He did what was reported as an 8 week hamstring at the end of January. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1074000/melbourne-demons-recruit-tom-fullarton-to-miss-start-of-season-due-to-hamstring-injury He made it back for round 1 of VFL which wasn't until 22 March, the same day as our 3rd match of the season. Not saying he will set the world on fire next year, but it's always hard to make an impact after that type of injury.