Norm Smith's Curse

2024 was the time to start the rebuild. The off season will make or break and 2023 should have been ours. But we must adapt and quickly.

I am hoping this is a 'muddy-the-waters while we really target someone else' story and not a 'we will take anyone with a pulse' story

The thing I find crazy is if Oscar Allen - a WA lad - is clearly now available it possibly implies he may have been in previous seasons and then how we didn't pry him loose then seems strange to me. Goodie was the most empathic today about bringing in talent in the middle aged group that I've heard him ever be. So sounds like we may indeed trade or try to trade hard.

Some recruiting decisions and trades seem a busy in hindsight when unforseen events change the structure and dynamic being planned around, like: Jackson leaving Trading Harmes and then losing Brayshaw due to thuggery and then Jordan who was good depth. Thol is playing the hardest position in the game and a particularly hard one in a side like ours. Sparrow also struggles in this role. Marks are hard to come by, turnovers aren't our strength some games but if he can run in and apply defensive pressure and crum he may shine.

The ANB hate for YEARS on this forum was staggering and all pervasive. No one seems to ever mention that once he finally tidied his disposal.

Mason Cox would be like inviting Maynard to our best and fairest and formally apologisinh for allowing Brayshaw back on the field so that his head could strike poor Maynard's shoulder... Just can't... Darcy Wilson a big tick, Derk could work, I've always seen something in Peter Wright so it just might. I wondered if Caro was making a statement in the hope that Reid's family would pick Richmond but just a thought. I'm actually not that sold on the kid tbh. Butters and oscar Allen - Dee's 2026 flag! We have invested far too much time into JVR to trade him now even considering our past habit of holding onto to suspect players until any doubt about their low worth was expunged. It was worth noting the stats of JBR and Jeffo in the Carlton game at half time however.

Crom people talked up McAdam as well. Just saying.

We ran into Fritta a while back and I am very confident he wants to stay at the Dee's.

Exactly for years and years people bagged ANB here and claimed he had photos of Goodie to justify the games he was given.

I agree. Say what you will about some of the potential mistakes and holes in our current situation but I'd honestly given up on ever seeing a premiership. So I think Goodie will always have my respect even if others also helped.

Have to agree this kid plays like he has 100-150 games under his belt. Poise and makes the right decision so often. Vital for our future.

His draft profile describes him as a brilliant creator and finisher who can win the ball at ground level or in the air and uses his aggressive kicking to create opportunities. His strong and bullish nature can be handy in the midfield as well. Seems to be being described as a half forward with midfield attributes and almost a utility/role player. High energy and good team mate. I'm firmly in the wait and see camp. Many here seem to forget which members here were continually complaining that ANB was being gifted games by Goodie. There is a bit of Tappscott about him but if he can kick maybe he can make it.

Man there is some dribble in this thread. Jake Lever is the kind of leader our club needs and lacks. Blind Freddy can see that he has been carrying an injury all season as even he seems frustrated with his lack of speed. Turner is a success story this season but he is no where near Lever at his best. Let's get serious here without Lever and May 2021 would likely not have happened. Likewise Fritta has so much upside why trade him now out of form? How about instead we let Windsor play wing and Rivers play midfield and move Viney into attack? Gees ain't rocket science.

He is currently very banged up. I'm hoping the speed is not permanent. Would never trade Lever in a million years. Heart and soul and leadership. Potential for coaching.

I do wish Goodie would actually say something in his pressers instead of just sound bites and sweat nothings.

Melksham - five years younger Kozzie - no one like Lever - why play injured? McVee - night and day Sparrow - no real role Kolten - was he playing? Goodwin - sound bite pressors.

Yeah you read my mind

With all fairness I think 99% of us were able to judge accurately many of our players in the Neeld years after 2 games...

In our poorer games it seems the same deficiencies come out from all three bigger mids. Tracc arguing with Oliver after the game was weird considering he had his own issues yesterday.

Even with non functioning legs Koz would still be more lively than a third of our list under the Neeld years, some of whom we seemingly quite Weekend at Bernies.

A lot of people are not fans of these long contracts but I always thought part of it was to have greater certainty on contracts and salary cap up front with some lost security. In reality the pies and the Grundy situation was cause for pause and it was argued at one stage whether Clarry would have ran into so many issues had he not had the reduced pressure of a long contract, but this case is different for mine. The media had created a landscape around our club that was that our culture was toxic, Houston rejected us, Tracc and Clarry wanted out, we lost Jackson and then ANB to the go home factor and that Koz was next. Koz has gone from an important player in our 2021 premiership to a playmaker, major midfield speed provider, and can break a game open in mere seconds. Tell me who else on our list in the last thirty years could turn some of those almost nom existent opportunities into certain goals in milli seconds. He is also tough. I've seen him bumped harder than many and never even lost his feet. He is THE x factor we needed and we need more now many are aging. For those question the length of the contract imagine the alternative. Contract negotiations off, constant media pressure and scrutiny and then he leaves and who replaces his unique talents? I'll say it again - no one can.

You should cool your chambers there and no needs to go off half cocked. He has shown he could be a gun with a very good set shot. Could be Russian roulette however.

Sorry those were double entendres - like a play on words so to speak, not your view. Although on that I think more exposure with Clarry will likely be a bad thing.

Don't shoot the messenger here but while we could give it our best shot, it could backfire badly.

But I agree that without getting ahead of ourselves we also need to wrap up younger players that have taken a massive step in 2025 - Bowey and Turner in particular. And we all know good Judd may become.