spirit of norm smith

I’m still really really angry If this thug Maynard gets off, I’ll probably storm the AAMI Centre and give him a running aerial bump myself I played 8 uneventful years of footy at Tooronga-Malvern in the Southern League. Some tough footy amongst that limited career. No suspensions of course but a few scraps , especially twice at Highett truth telling in my view 1- this is not a football act , simply not !!! To say it is is a lie and a manipulation to try to exonerate Maynard 2- AFL has mandated on many many many occasions, players have a Duty of Care to other players now. 3- If you change body shape to initiate contact via a bump to the head, it is no defence to then say you were only bracing for contact. 4- Maynard had two other options were to a) not brace with his shoulder, but rather, keep his hands out to lessen impact, or b) avoid contact altogether. He chose the one banned option. 5- The fact that Gus was concussed and didn’t play any further in the time. That goes solely to severity (severe) and the review process of the penalty A clear summary of how it should be read … CARELESS , SEVERE IMPACT, HIGH CONTACT MINIMUM 3 WEEKS

I’m not a neurologist but with Gus’ history of head knocks and concussions, I’d be very very watchful and careful with Gus. He’s probably suffering badly right now. He’s definitely gone for the season now and will have to recover both physically and mentally. It was a dog act by that thug Maynard, on a bloke who 100% plays the contest fairly.

In the words of First Peoples truth telling 1- Players have a Duty of Care to other players now. 2- If you change body shape to initiate contact via a bump to the head, it is no defence to then say you were only bracing for contact. 3- His other options were to a) not brace with his shoulder, but rather, keep his hands out to lessen impact, or b) avoid contact altogether. He chose the one banned option. 4- The fact that Gus was concussed, goes solely to severity (severe) and penalty summary. CARELESS , SEVERE IMPACT, HIGH CONTACT MINIMUM 3 WEEKS

Agree. As said, he showed signs in round 23 and round 24. Not sure what happened on Thursday night. Overwhelmed by the pressure or the occasion. Good point that with the promising signs at least showing his skill, he is likely required depth for 2024 and under contract so unlikely to be let go even if offers come. But in AFL, everything is seemingly dependable on the offer or trade negotiation.

Yes it’s so bitter sweet. He all loved Jesse at the Dees. The next great hope after the Scully $$$ debacle. Loved Jesse as our key forward. Showed real promise. Bags of 4,5,6 showed his potential. Spoke to him a few times and he is a genuinely nice guy. unfortunately personal circumstances meant he wanted to go home to Perth (not uncommon amongst tall Dees draftees from WA) not great time in WA and needed a fresh start. Perhaps like Bedford, GWS is that type of club to foster and present opportunities. Great to see him on a personal level start to fulfill his promise and be happy. Jesse is welcome back at the Dees a time on or off field imv.

Wow. Really. Grundy for pick 11. Surely swans would a minimum want a pick also back from the Dees , say like pick 34! Grundy and MFC pick 34 - for Sydfc pick 11 … quick get me a pen !!!!

CP5 (1st half) hello captain fumbles CP5 (2nd half) here’s our champion

And we have down for so so long. Finally have probably the best or equal best team in the league. This is our chance. Our time. 2021 yes yes yes. 🏆 2022 somehow slipped away with 2 home finals lost somehow !!! 2023 still in it but seeing it slip away again. Injuries? Static play? Boring strategy? Boring coaching? No forward line strategy ? Skills not being fixed? We want the Gold.

ditto ditto ditto Yes yes yes. We are slow and boring and go wide to Hunter and Lingers too much … and agree only get aggressive with play on and ball movements when down by +3-4 goals

And Moniz-Wakefield … to debut? He’s highly unlikely to get a game this week but I like his goalsense and fwd line pressure. Could replace Chin but 1-2% chance only

Ditto … agree with 98% of this…agree with the frustration and anger and disappointment agree on post except I’m still onboard with Tom Sparrow.

Two issues 1- Grundy to play vs Blues - (Jefferson not ready. Schache too soft ). Play as a forward and the 15% (say 5minutes ) of time Gawn rests. 2- Grundy to Sydney. Ok. If we get at least Swans picks 29&30 in this years draft in return for Grundy and MFC pick 34

Wowweee as BT says. Forward line power. Forwards as forwards. Know where to lead Kicking accuracy. Lions have built up their scoring power, highest scoring team in 2023. week 1 - 19 goals 64 inside 50s for the year, they boast goals from … DANIHER 56 CAMERON 55 HIPWOOD 40 BAILEY 27 MCCARTHY 24 RAYNER 23 [Gunston 22] Lions might not win it but their scoring strategy and firepower gives them a huge huge huge chance. Likely pies v lions in GF and that’s a 50/50 game right now. ps. Jaspa Fletcher. We all thought last year that he might be as good as Ashcroft and the Lions were being gifted two amazing father son picks who were number 1 Ashcroft and top 10 quality Fletcher. Fletcher showed it last night. Goalkicking wingman 3 goals. 80% disposals efficiency. Wowwwee. At 19yo.

I really liked us selecting Bailey Laurie in the 2020 draft. In his draft year, he showed the skills, balance, evasion and smart decision making to push his career for the small half forward or midfield role. We wanted players who could use footskills to deliver the footy. JT got us Bowey and Laurie. Obviously our midfield is hard to crack into and we have had an abundance of small forwards. He was limited as most youngsters were in their development due to Covid in 2021 and across 21&22 had some injuries. I thought he showed development late in 22 and this year at Casey to earn his chance and deserved a few opportunities. Round 23 v Hawks. Back into the team (1st game since round 6) for his 3rd game. 14 disposals. 75 minutes game time. Looked ok in his rotating mid role, creating and decision making but was omitted back to sub role for round 24. Round 24, subbed in to replace Melksham. 9 disposals, 2 tackles, 3 score assists in 25 metres. He looked promising and in one excellent play in a contest , he lowered his eyes on disposal to find Fritsch which was a good sign of composure. Finals week 1. Subbed in to replace Brayshaw after 8 minutes. When he came on, I was really hopeful this could be his real opportunity. 70 minutes game time. 5 disposals (1 kick). 7 metres gained. 2 tackles. 2 turnovers. He looked lost and fumbled twice to give up possession. Was pushed away from tackle too easily. Not to be. He was not the reason we lost but must have been disappointed with his night. Likely to be omitted for next week. He’s contracted for 2023 and we need players with good skills, but not sure still where he fits in… Small half forward or small midfielder?

DD36. I think after 3 years there may be some clubs asking the question and maybe some offers for him. Seemed to again not take opportunities but limited chances really. Agree it’s not likely but I’ll rate still as a possible.

Almost certain. Dunstan - delisted x Highly likely. Hibberd to retire. x Highly likely. BBB to retire x Probable. Harmesy to stay one more year. 🤔 Probable. Melksham. One year deal. 🤔 Possible TMCD to obviously consider retirement though he’s internal determination means he’s likely to give it one more year 🤔 Uncertain future. Bailey Laurie. x Unrestricted free agent James Jordon to go x . I think he’ll look at offers and look to get more certainty and support like Bedford did. Trade options for Dees. 1. Grundy - obviously the talk is there and it will have to be explored x 2. Tomlinson - not given chances by Goody so like Hunt/Bedford , he’ll likely select to look elsewhere x 3. Spargo - up for goal assists but not enough direct goals and defensively not achieving chase downs or indirect pressure (1 tackle average per game) most likely to stay but if these any trading discussions he’d have to be involved 🤔 Probably 5-6 list spots available. Like to see Dees look at youth through the draft (3-4 youngsters) plus adding 2-3 players in trade deals to fill some gaps

Dees should demand Josh Sinn in return and pick swaps. If they are serious about desperately wanting Grundy, they should be prepared to deal.

Still amazed he wasn’t given a chance and we let him go 🤬

Loved it.

Bedford played exactly as we thought we would. Pace. Pressure. Goalscoring. After being sub for 8-9 games and dropped , he wanted to be given a chance. Goodwin and others seriously got this one wrong imv. He always looked like a player. This is not hindsight. We called it out over the past 3 years when he was on our list.

pace pace pace Bedford Goal Bedford thanks Goody for ignoring Toby so much that he left the club clearly has pace and goal sense … but goody preferred Spargo ahead of Bedford (ffs)

last qtr … Fritsch non contact in marking contest with Quaynor (we called it and commented on it at the time) “That one when Quaynor went back with the flight, he should have been poleaxed. Quaynor said 'I think Murphy looked after me', no he didn't. Fritsch just didn't want to make contact. That's the difference between going all the way in finals.” "If I was Goodwin, I'd be showing that on Monday, saying 'if you do that ever again, even if you are our leading goalkicker, you are not playing. Put your body on the line.'" ***Luke Hodge*** I can’t argue. It was poor at the time and not an act of a desperate player.

Dees key forwards this week

Hopefully we will see 1- forward line strategy being worked on asap (including no one trying to kick goals from 50 metres out) 2- Trac and Viney and sparrow and Clarry and Hunter and Salem all learning how to hit a pass on a forward entry and not a Hail Mary aerial bomb into a 12 player pack !!! 3- players using the corridor and then turning and moving the ball on ; not slow and wide to Hunter and Langdon as safe slow nowhere options that lets defensive unit setup 4- Kozzzy crumbing a pack from front or behind and not on side 5- Grundy taking contested marks. (Need him this week. ) 6- goalkicking practice (in real action contests) and goalkicking confidence (including Trac needing daily sessions so he doesn’t handball off within 15 metre of goal) Hopefully we don’t see or hear 1- any more injuries 2- Goody talking about learnings again and again 3 - excuses … we have so much talent and underperforming in ‘22 and potentially ‘23

Team selection unavailable ❌ Petty. Melksham. definitely out - Brayshaw (WWE elbow move by Maynard) JVR (suspended) potentials. Grundy. Tomlinson Schache. JJ. Woey jnr. Spargo. Turner. Harmes. AMW question marks - 1 Tmcd slow and slower but needed as JVR out and no alternative 2- out of form Chandler. Salem. Need to lift. 3- lost in space -Laurie …he’s out for sure Considerations. 1- Blues two key forwards - Curnow and Mckay. (Need Tomlinson or Smith to go back into Curnow) 2- blues Mids are stronger with Cerra and Walsh in (need Rivers to run with Cerra imv) 3- need to not ALLOW Weitering or Kemp to mark every ball inside 50. (Need grundy in to contest against Weitering) suggested changes. out - Brayshaw (concussion ) JVR (suspended) Laurie sub omitted. In - Grundy, Tomlinson , JJ (sub) Mcvee Tomlinson Lever Salem May Bowey Lingers Viney Hunter ANB Grundy Sparrow Kozzy Tmcd Fritsch Gawn Trac oliver int. Rivers Hibberd Chandler J.Smith sub. JJ emerg. Spargo. Woey jnr Schache Turner