Norm Smith's Curse

Wow a bit of historical revision going on here. I did hear from a reasonable sources that he thought about pulling the pin at the end of 2024. Not for lack of passion but rather just continued frustration with his body. I feel that Adelaide made Lamb panic which explains the three years for a bloke that had never played more than 12 games a season and to say it was no risk considering what was traded seems a little questionable. I did see some very good things from him in a preseason game but I also watched him in one game where I could not really work out what he was doing where he was trying to constantly get behind a taller defender yet being slower than that defender when the ball came in and out of position to get to the ball. I hope he can come good and strong some games together but I suspect after this long it's gonna be uphill.

Well if you do ever chat to him, tell him some of us still rate him as a fantastic demon and individual match winner.

Bit harsh on Johnson he did some good things protecting others and drawing defenders. No one seems to factor McAdam into our future forward structure?

My first thought was that it was Maysie or his manager that leaked it.

My mail is they just need to run it by Tom Morris first.

Gees any doubt people may have about this appointment will be dispelled by this interview. Speaks well, very considered and has some real insights into where we are headed.

Yeah we have a fairly one dimensional older midfield that lacks pace and two way running but the youngsters will hopefully arrest that.

Clarry has upside and showed in the last few games that if given the right role he can return to the player he was. I guy I know thought that when Tracc swapped his management team for a person who was a social media manager it was kind of a sign that he had lost a bit of love with the game perhaps and looking at it more as just a job as he himself kind of said before correcting himself. Like well im stuck in my contract so ill just coast along and then slowly head into the influencer world haha

In his comments during the year about us and our games he would often say that 'they seem an unhappy club, Melbourne' and talked about our pressure or lack there-of at times. Generally had a lot to say that was positive about specific players and tactics.

I think Buckley was mindful that he could be paid massively if he got the Tassie gig with almost no pressure whereas while he might have thought of the idea of winning a premiership as attractive, a lot of things can - by historical evidence - go wrong at the dees. I was warming to Buckley mainly because I was impressed with how detailed his awareness of game plans, tactics and even obscure players on every list and I also thought he might help to attract talent. But Kingie comes out of the club that just never bottoms out and that turns middle-range players into guns.

'Im telling you now. As it stands Windhager will not be at St KIlda next year and will be playing for the Melbourne Demons' [because his manager wants either another year or a bit more coin and he was never leaving' Mind you imagine being coached by Lyon...

I play golf weekly with a person who works in the sports management industry and is a coterie member at Carlton (and he is also my boss although in something completely different). There is a major thing going on with people knowing internally what might happen and the external 'public' optics. If someone comes out and says I put my hand up for job x while hearing via the inner circle of management teams that someone has likely been earmarked for the role then there is no career upside for putting their hand up. Whereas by coming out and saying you cant or are not interested in role x, everyone wins. As an example if Horse had said 'yeah maybe im interested' and then Nathan Buckley comes in as prince charming all that does is suggest that Buckley was a better candidate than Horse. If however Horse is 50/50 and asks his manager what people in the industry are saying of his chances and they say Buckley is the leader by a fair bit he will just say 'i cant coach now, good bye' and all is well.

i distinctly remember reading that Mark Neeld's powerpoint presentation was amazing.

Get it done Dee's we need the gravitus of Nathan.

The original story sounded just like the manager trying to prize more out of the saints. The comments from Nick sound better as it sounds like he is trying to talk down his trade value. But long way to go.

Any of the peeps with the inside mail hear anything juicy? Other than with the surname Newton?

Sorry was pretty tired last night haha.

Looks like evidence is increasing that this is legit future footage. Done deal: smallish_121008.mp4

Juice Newton has been a huge success since he left Is that you Colin from Camberwell?

100% what a moment.

Sorry meant the midfield now but presume he would be an ideal balance for our future midfield of the same age bracket. Still feel that Harmes should have stayed as he played the same role to a degree. I must admit the whole story did sound a bit like what you would get from a manager trying to nudge contract length or $$$ rather than a 'he sees his future at Melbourne' vibe.

Nah our midfield is slow and one dimensional other than with Pickett in it.

Mate he took over a list that wasn't even VFL standard and with the worst percentage I can remember. He knew it wasn't going to be easy and that it would undermine his past success but he did it anyway. You can't judge his win loss at the Dee's for anything given when he started we were so bad the afl had to step in.

Honestly it was like when Roosey chose the Dees. I dared not think it because I didn't think he would be crazy enough.

The Gabba and Freo games show it's still there. The st Kilda game showed there was problems underneath that there. Love Langford. Fast becoming a favourite.