Just returned from celebrations at the Parade (Norwood's home ground). Terrific to hear "The Grand Old Flag" sung in an ultimate Grand Final celebration. As a 52yo Demons supporter with no memory of 1964, I can only imagine how it might feel when MFC finally succeeds.

Much that Melbourne can copy from this Norwood success. Selective recruiting from other SANFL clubs (eg Warren from South Adelaide). Clever recruiting from interstate over 3-5 years (eg. Zorsi from Northern Bullants a few years ago; Suckling & Batsanis from Port Melbourne recently). Great junior development (Brown, Chippendale & Smart). Luck to have the nephew of a legend play as a 16yo and star. James Aish is the closest thing that I've seen in > 2 decades to one Robbie Flower. I can give no higher commendation. James holds the ball cocked in his left hand with a straight elbow just waiting to handpass while teasing the opposition to tackle him which they inevitably fail to do. Super vision and consumate skills. He only needs to bounce the ball with his left hand and it would be Robbie. Andrew, his father played for SA but did not play enough games for Norwood to enable the Crows to f/s James. If God (and I don't mean AD) allows this guy to end up at Melbourne, we will be very lucky. Finally, excellent supportive educational but structured coaching by Nathan Bassett.

Go Legs! Go Dees!

Replay on ABC1 on Thursday at 2.30am.

Worth watching to see a grand old flag for the red and the blue.

Replay on ABC1 on Thursday at 2.30am.

Worth watching to see a grand old flag for the red and the blue.

Thanks for the info,Chelly. Very observant of you to note that.

Edited October 9, 201212 yr by Jumping Jack Clennett

Demonlanders may be interested in this snippet from the Advertiser under the heading,

Legs won't be caught red handed

• Reece Homfray
  
• From: The Advertiser
  
• October 09, 2012 12:10AM
  

with quotes from Mark Ross, the Norwood football manager. Mark Ross describes recruiting efforts to maintain Norwood's supremacy in the SANFL. In the general text of the article is the following sentence.

"Among those at the post-match celebrations was Melbourne forward Lynden Dunn - who was wearing a Norwood hoodie in the rooms - and Sydney forward Jesse White."

Demonlanders may be interested in this snippet from the Advertiser under the heading,

Legs won't be caught red handed

• Reece Homfray
  
• From: The Advertiser
  
• October 09, 2012 12:10AM
  

with quotes from Mark Ross, the Norwood football manager. Mark Ross describes recruiting efforts to maintain Norwood's supremacy in the SANFL. In the general text of the article is the following sentence.

"Among those at the post-match celebrations was Melbourne forward Lynden Dunn - who was wearing a Norwood hoodie in the rooms - and Sydney forward Jesse White."

He would be a gun at SANFL level

To be honest I would rather see him at the MFC for the next couple of years

I'm amazed at the complete lack of coverage in our papers.

I couldn't find any mention of the game in the Age or the H Sun.

I'm amazed at the complete lack of coverage in our papers.

I couldn't find any mention of the game in the Age or the H Sun.

I am surprised you are surprised JJC

They want you on the internet now.

Printing papers is not the fashion any longer.

However I must admit it is poor.

There was a brief mention in the Age I think on Monday morning.

Mate and I went over for the game - of the 30k there, would have been 25k in red and blue.

Havent been to a SANFL game in the flesh for a while since moving to Melbourne - you forget how good the players in the AFL are - big step up.

Some other thoughts:

Biggest difference is speed of decision making and pure leg speed over the ground. There are some big bodies in the SANFL and the skill overall are pretty good but you can see that the things that are done instantaneously at AFL level are thought about for a mini second longer at this level.

Norwood were one of the most disciplined teams I saw all year including the AFL teams. They stuck to the game plan rigorously even when 8 goals up in the last quarter. Agree we should be looking at Bassett for the coaching panel - very grounded individual.

James Aish will be a gun. He looks a lot taller than the 179 quoted in the Budget.

Dont think there will be a Duigan or Puopolo out of this group just yet. The Norwood development path is however very solid - look for names like Chippendale and Webster in years to come.

Both teams were very young and inexperienced relatively - one three players with more than 100 games in either team - Westies had only 6 players over 23 - good to see SANFL is not becoming a dumping ground for burnouts.

Fantasic to belt out "Grand Old Flag" after a GF win.