This is now the 2017 edition of this post, arisen from the ashes of the Great Blitz Crash of 2013! Info will be scarce or missing at times, especially since EFC haven’t updated the JHA page since last year! To prevent it from getting too long and confusing (what, me, write an overly long post? The very idea is ludicrous…) I’ll archive some of the smaller details of previous seasons to later posts in this thread, just so people can find them if they’re really interested.
Going to keep this post updated, to keep track of how things are going and to hopefully prevent a million threads on the same topic springing up later on as we get closer to draft time.
A lot of this (especially re the younger kids) is unverified and may be wrong, if anyone has any more solid info, or knows about others, then please PM me or reply to the thread and I’ll update the top post accordingly. I know there’s some people on here who know loads more than me about these guys!
Since July 2010 the club is running the ‘James Hird Academy’, run at Windy Hill for f/s prospects and talented kids from other walks of life (presumably with a focus on non-traditional pathway and international scholarship kids who we can pick up for nothing!) The first intake included Ned and Joe Daniher, Tom and Chris Carey, Tom Fields, Todd Vander Haar, Matthew and Jyd*n Neagle, Daniel Thompson, Isaac Madden, and Jake Long, plus i’m sure there were others. Article here, though the kid labelled as Jedd Clothier in the photo is actually Jett Bewick, cos the Hun stuffed up their captioning…
Note that despite various deliberately deceptive bullshit from media lowlifes, the club has NOT made any attempt to whitewash Hird’s name away from the Academy, as a very quick glance at the club website would clearly demonstrate. Exhibit A) is the official Academy page at http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/james-hird-academy - nope, it’s not like Hird’s name is ALL FRIGGING OVER that page, is it, communications specialists?
Note that when I have conflicting height/weight stats for a kid from the JHA site and from the TAC/champs record, I’ll go with the latter, given efc.com.au’s … um … slightly creative past history when it comes to player sizes. Anyone else remember when they listed Atkinson at 194cm one preseason, only to shrink him down a month or so later when they decided they wanted to play him as a running backman?
The rules for f/s picks are as follows: A player is eligible to be selected father-son if his father played 100 games for the club. Expansion clubs that haven’t been around long enough (Freo and Port mostly) have a convoluted set of rules involving local leagues, sliding game limits, etc etc that I’ve never bothered to find out about, while the any club in NSW or Qld can basically add any kid they like from the entire state to their academy program and treat them as an effective father-son player. Sydney last year had something like 100 Academy players, and the AFL has deemed that this is consistent with an equitable competition and level playing field because SYDNEY BLOODS BLOODS ROOSEY GOODSEY BLOODS SYDNEY, or something like that. A potential f/s player must agree to be nominated as a father-son pick (if they don’t, they go into the draft as normal like Marc Murphy did, despite being eligible for Brisbane through the Fitzroy connection). If a player’s father played 100 games for more than one club (ie, Darcy and Joe Daniher whose father Anthony played 100 games for both of Sydney and Essendon) then the player can select which (if any) of the clubs is his preferred destination. On draft day, when/if a father/son prospect is selected by any club other than their nominated f/s club, the nominated club can opt to match the bid with a combination of later round draft picks, downgrading of later round draft picks, and possibly next year’s picks. The exact price is calculated via an arcane formula generated by the same drooling morons people who decide free agent compensation, select the AA side, and decided on GWSs startup draft concessions. In 2015, despite all the brainpower that people like Champion Data and Brett “having the word ‘integrity’ in my job title means it’s ok for me to forge documents, really” Clothier, this system was gamed ruthlessly by those poor unsuccessful interstate sides like Sydney and Gold Coast who need Academy concessions to prop them up cos salary cap concessions and the AFL cheating in their favour and covering up their performance enhancing drug use simply isn’t enough, so therfe were some changes thie year which I haven’t bothered learning about because they only really affect expansion state clubs, and the AFL treats rules as guidelines for that mod anyway…
From 2014 onwards, there is also a secondary rookie father-son nominating process. If a club has an eligible father-son prospect they did not nominate as a father-son selection, and who nominated for the national draft and was not selected, the club can (with the consent of the player, of course!) nominate the player as a father-son rookie selection between the national draft and the rookie draft, and then be able to take that player with their last rookie pick. It’s open slather in the main draft though, so no guarantees they’d fall through!
From 2016 on, father-son candidates can apply to train with their father’s AFL team, if they choose.
A Note On Hirds
Frankly , the Hird family has had more than enough focus and pressure on them over the past few years. I do not intend to add to it. I am to some degree aware of what the Hird kids are doing sport-wise, but will I NOT be discussing it in this thread until and unless one of them becomes a serious f/s prospect. They deserve some space. If anyone can point me at an article published or broadcast by a major media outlet discussing the likely AFL career or draft prospects of a Hird kid, then I’ll consider it public knowledge and start covering them here. Until then, I’m not going to discuss them in this thread and I hope nobody else will either.
Eligible this year:
Nobody! (unless an older bloke like Vander Haar jnr or one of the Neagles cuts up a local competition, but even then I’d expect them to have to go via the VFL)
Potentially eligible in future:
Mason Fletcher
Son of Dustin, 197cm 75kg kpp, eligible 2018. Named in the Cannons u16 side and played in the TAC u16 comp in 2016 (with various pieces of ASADA pondscum taking a brief break from molesting their sisters to attend the vitally important duty of ensuring Dustin couldn’t watch his games - your tax dollars at work!) Didn’t register in the bests or goalkickers in the first game, and that’s all the results I’ve been able to find. Playing for the Cannons as an underager in 2017.
Round 1 vs Eastern: 14 touches at 85% efficiency, 3 marks, named in the best.
Round 2 vs western: 2 touches at 100% efficiency, 1 mark, 1 tackle
Round 3 vs Oakleigh: 2 touches at 0% effective, 1 tackle
Jaxon Neagle
Son of Merv. Eligible 2018. Not too sure about how this kid is going, I’ve heard some good reports about his talent, but after spending last year playing for Wodonga in the Ovens-Murray league, he’s gone back to the Hume league this year and is going around with Rand-Walbundrie-Walla seniors, though brothers Matthew and Jydon are still at Wodonga. Playing seniors at age 16 is nice, but the standard has got to be a step down and he didn’t make the Bushrangers u16 team. Not selected in the Bushrangers 2017 squad after a pretty solid season in for the u17s at Walla, and a lot of senior footy too. Playing for Wodonga in the O&M league. 6 games in the reserves so far, twice in the best, 13 goals, twice in the best
Kurtis Barnard
Son of Paul. Midfielder, eligible 2019. Selected in the Cannons u16 squad this year. Haven’t been able to track down any results for that competition yet.
Little tackers 14 or below, included for completeness: : Tex Wanganeen (son of Gavin, eligible for Port as well and according to Gavin is mot likely to choose them if it comes down to that), three Hirds, another Fletcher, a Misiti, two Caracallas, another Barnard, two McPhees, two Alessios, two Lovett-Murrays, a Hamilton, two Ramanauskases (Ramanauski?), a Peverill, a Johnson (Mr Sunbury jnr), a Lloyd, a Solomon, a brand new Howlett, another Bewick, two Stantons, four Daveys, a Ryder, and yet another Daniher.
Now or previously at the club
Joe Daniher: history here
James Webster: history here. Delisted Sept 2011
Jake Long: history to be linked to as soon as I work out how to do that in the new Blitz!
Tom Wallis, rookied 2015, history here Delisted 2016, and I thought he was a bit unlucky tbh.
Not Eligible or eligible previously but not selected:
Harvey Daniher: son of Chris, eligible 2015. Highly-rated kpd as a 16yo, but just didn’t put the size on as he got older to play that role in the AFL. Played a few TAC Cup games for Calder, but was overlooked in the 2015 draft. Playing for GWS NEAFL currently.
Jett Bewick: son of Darren, eligible 2015. Midfielder who was highly rated when younger but has his past few years of underage footy utterly ruined by glandular fever, back injuries, leg injuries, concussions, broken collarbones, etc etc. Don’t think he’s played more than 4 consecutive games since the start of 2013. Appallingly unlucky, and never really got a run at it. Tried out for EFC VFL in the 2015/16 offseason, but wasn’t listed. I suspect the club will continue to keep an eye on him in the hope he can finally string some games together and show what he’s capable of. Listed for Airport West seniors in the EDFL this year, and they get flogged every week, so it could be a rough year for him. Finally managed to get some consistent footy in across the second half of the season, but didn’t really set the world on fire
;
Jydon Neagle>: son of Merv, eligible 2012/13. Talented marking medium hff who played for Murray in the TAC Cup and NSW at the champs (and a game or two as 23rd man in the VFL), had bad luck with injury in his draft year, then sadly lost his dad and had trouble focusing on his footy after that. Just didn’t get himself into the sort of shape and consistent form to be draftable. Was initially listed for Essendon VFL but quit just before the season started to go back to Wodonga and play in the O&M league. Had a minor ankle injury early, but had a good seaosn in the end - 37 goals and 10 times in the best from 17 games. Transferred up to the NTFL in March 2017, apparently. No he didn’t, is still at Wodonga, crushing the O&M league this year
Matthew Neagle: son of Merv, eligible 2016. 180cm 69kg described as a ‘wily goal sneak’. Played a handfule of games for the Bushrangers in 2016 without troubling the stats man too much, went undrafted. Conflicting reports as to what he’s up to now, possibly he transferred to the NT with his brother, but there’s also a report he broke his leg playing for wodonga in the O&M league round 1…
Tom Fields: son of Neville, eligible 2012/13. Slightly undersized 3rd defender type with a beautiful kick. Played champs for Queensland two years running and didn’t get picked up, then spent a bit of time in the SANFL and, poor unfortunate soul, got rookied in 2014 by Carlton. As of 2016 I believe he is no longer with Fark Carlton and is chasing an American football career
Jedd Clothier: NSW scholarship player, eligible 2013. Hard big-bodied inside mid/leadup forward who just lacked a bit of speed. Played very well for Calder in the TAC Cup and NSW at the champs. Was signed up to the EFC VFL side after not being drafted, but decided not to play VFL and in 2014 played EDFL with mates instead. I think he moved to Coburg VFL in 2015 but quit and has since vanished into local footy
Todd Vander Haar: son of Paul, last I heard he was 181cm, 71kg midfielder but that was a couple of years back. Eligible 2013, but didn’t make the TAC Cup squad after a couple of injury-ruined seasons. Finally got on the field in 2014 for Old Xavs and seems to be doing well given he’s had so much time out. The Hird academy is still keeping an eye on him, as far as I’m aware. Currently in the Casey VFL development squad and won their 2016 B&F - a VFL seniors gig may beckon in 2017 one hopes…
Jordan Williams: son of Daisy, 18 years old, 178cm, 77kg midfielder, eligible in 2012 but not picked up. Member of the James Hird Academy in 2011. Has been in and out of the Frankston VFL side since then, playing hb, which given past history probably means we’re a monty to grab him in a season or two…
Daniel Thompson, 189cm, 96kg(!) key defender, son of Bomber, eligible 2012. Member of the James Hird Academy in 2011. Was on the fringes of the Calder Cannons side for most of 2012 but got an opportunity to play a bit of footy when the side was depleted during the champs, and impressed. Held his spot for most of the rest of the season, and was named most improved Cannons player for 2012. Went around again as an overager in 2013 and did ok as a kpd, but just lacking height and speed for AFL. Currently on the EFC VFL list.
Chris Carey. Steve’s youngest son. CHF type, didn’t quite make the TAC Cup. History here
Kieran Brennan. NSW scholarship player from right on the Qld border. Ruckman, ex-basketballer. Played as an overager in the Queensland state u18s squad in 2013
Isaac Madden. Simon’s son. Inside midfielder, eligible 2010 I think. Wasn’t selected to play TAC Cup footy.
Jordan and Joel Madden. Calder Cannons in 2011/12, not Simon’s sons.
Sam Dunell, son of Frank, midfielder/fwd. Late bloomer who came through the VAFA to play some games for Bendigo in 2011 at the age of 21. Was not nominated as a f/s pick, was selected by St Kilda with their first rookie draft pick, got delisted, and is now one of the better VFL mids going around
Nick Ryan, draftable 2010/11. NSW scholarship kid, fwd/ruck who had an injury-hit 2010 and didn’t do much as an overager in the TAC cup in 2011, but went back to Sydney footy and won the Rising Star there. Didn’t get picked up.
Oliver Tweeddale, draftable 2011. Kpp/tall utility. Talented but inconsistent NSW scholarship kid. Was not selected
David Meli, draftable 2011. Small fwd. PNG scholarship kid, did some good things for Calder but didn’t quite make the step up.
Brody Mihocek, 18 yo, son of Jack. Tassie state u18 representative this year (and definite quality draftable player), but Jack unfortunately only managed 14 games, so Brody isn’t eligible f/s. Didn’t get drafted after some poor test results. Playing state footy at a reasonable standard now I believe.
There was a Luke Madden going around for Calder in 2010 - a 180cm midfielder/defender type, but I have no idea if he’s any relation to Simon.
Joel Madden: 186cm, played as an underager for Calder in the TAC in 2011. Justin’s son, not Simon’s. Eligible for the Blues. Booooooo!
Josh Cole: 185cm, 80kg, injury-crueled midfield/utility. Scholarship kid. Had some talent, but spent most of his last 2 years of underage footy on the injury list. Played for GWS and NSW/ACT in 2010.
Ned Daniher: 203cm, 84kg ruck, eligible 2010 and as an overager in 2011. Son of Anthony, brother of Darcy and Joe. Very late starter to football, improved rapidly in his second year in the TAC Cup, but still a long way off AFL level. Playing for Aberfeldie seniors at the momen
Tom Carey:190cm, 84kg forward. Son of Steve. Played on and off for Gippsland Power in 2010, did not get picked up as a father-son selection. Eligible to play for Gippy as a 19 year old in 2011, but not listed. Now at North Ballarat in the VFL
Jack Long and Anthony Long - they’re Michael’s nephews rather than his sons. Not that we let this little detail stop us with Anthony… 
In fact I can expand this to include BOTH Jack Longs, the one from a few years back and the one who’s going around in the NT u18s in 2012.
Scott Carey: son of Steve, supposedly goes alright but in his early 20s and seems to have missed out on the drafting track. Played for Warragul in the VCFL 08 and was described as ‘up-and-coming young gun’, but didn’t make the cut for the Gippsland TAC cup side.
Jake Foulds: was eligible in I think 05, didn’t make it.
There’s a few Ezards running around at the moment, one interstate (WA or SA, can’t remember) and one for the Cannons/Vic Metro u18s in 09. Pretty sure neither of them is Alan’s son (the Calder one barracks for Collingwood ffs!). Update: they’re Alan’s nephews.
Darcy Bailey, son of Dean. Age 16, played very well in the 2010 u16 championships and will play for Calder in the 2012 TAC Cup and Vic Metro in the 2012 u18 champs, but Dean only played 53 Essendon games so his son isn’t eligible for f/s. Now at Glenelg in the SANFL.
Two Danihers, Neale’s sons. Pity about that knee, isn’t it. 
One of them is Ben Daniher, who’s about 21 and currently playing in the WAFL
Lachlan Salmon: son of Paul, approx age 20, also eligible for Hawthorn. 197cm ruck. Has played junior footy for Carey I think and played for the Balwyn reserves alongside a couple of quality local/borderline VFL footballers like Todd Daniher, but I’m not sure whether he ever really wanted to play AFL. Given that I think 09 was his draft year, unless he makes a late charge at things or goes through the VFL, it looks like nothing’s going to happen here.
Trent Harvey: son of Mark, age 18ish. Included for completeness, as far as I can tell he’s not playing football at any significant level right now (there’s a Trent Harvey playing for Hobart in the TFL, but he’s a grizzled veteran of Tassie footy and is not our boy).
Nathan Neagle: son of Merv, draftable 2015, I think, but is no longer listed on the Hird Academy page and seems to have given up footy.
Callum Daniher: son of Chris, draftable 2014 I think, was playing at a reasonable standard but did a knee which wrecked his draft year, and he decided to step back from footy after that. Might give it another go at a local level later on
Chris Goulet: something that seems to come up every so often. Chris is not a father-son candidate, nor did his father play footy for anyone to the best of my knowledge, let alone Essendon. But Chris is the only grandson of John Coleman, who, as we all know, only had daughters. I think he’s about 23 now - played a little bit of junior footy and is at Aberfeldie now I think, but never made it into the AFL picture (though I don’t know if he ever really tried)
Marcus Considine: played for Calder Cannons in 2010. I have no idea whether he’s related to Ed or not, but regardless, Ed only managed 49 games for the Bombers, so Marcus isn’t eligible (and isn’t getting a game at the time of writing, anyway)
There is another Considine going around for Calder in 2012, again, Ed didn’t make the games cut-off.
Sebastian Rioli and William Rioli. Sebastian is Dean’s youngest brother and William is a Rioli/Long cousin like Cyril (and according to benfti, plays like him too). Ben Rioli in the same boat. Ben and Willy have been named in the NT u18 champs side in 2012. think Willy eventually got drafted to the Eagles or some similar lesser side.
Rhys Sporn, son of Keiran. Captained the West Adelaide u18s in the SANFL in 2010, but his dad didn’t manage to crack the hundred games for us, so he’s ineligible.
Max Lavai and Victor Rame: PNG scholarships from 2010, but as of May 2012 they don’t seem to be around any more. Info here