spirit of norm smith

He’s a goal kicker. That alone means he’s in my best 22 !!

Spargo might himself request a fresh start

I’m still angry and watching the afl and other social media makes it hurt more analysts picking apart our loss like we are the only club that make mistakes both sides made plenty of mistakes but we lost so the muppets pick on every little error (and of course the big errors !!!!)

Finals V Pies - 21 ifs and we win v Blues - 33 ifs and we win both were horrible losses but if (insert any one of so so many events) happens, we win

He was good in patches and like his delivery. Was borderline to stay on and it’s a tough call in the youngster. He should try to stay in the system and might get another crack.

Thanks. Now they just to play him next year on merit.

Agree. DD36. He has good skills and poise. Just need the footy department and coach to show more faith and support. He allows Lever to be a 3rd tall and intercept defender which makes us look better each week. Ps. Still cannot believe umps got conned by the DeKoning swan dive in the first quarter!?!?! Matthew Lloyd would be proud of that fake.

Petracca - absolutely star once again and should win the B&F. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Great ballwinner and midfield bull who was pushed forward to create or kick goals. Tackling still an issue and his goalkicking confidence (28.36) needs a boost with set shots problem continuing Viney - had a great year and should be runner up in B&F. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Midfield bull. Tackling a highlight. Contested ballwinner. Disposal still 50/50 and needs to work again on that Gawn - The best ruckman in the league. Huge heart. Injured early and then shared rucking. Once he was no1 he was huge. An outstanding leader ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Oliver - was a star again until injury and that 7 weeks out curtailed his year. Got back for the late year and finals to show his star power ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. He’s still probably the best Contested ball winner in the comp but his poor delivery and non effective handball let him down Brayshaw - strong year and regained more midfield time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Definitely a huge loss in the finals. Hope he can continue but fully understand if he decides that is retirement for his future and his family May - Excellent year. He’s still going strong. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ But Boring kick in to 50 metres out in left is so predictable in kick outs and opposition knows it every time. Need to get better strategy. Rivers - again developed into a running defender and able to both use pace and run plus defend strongly. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Love his energy. Still a defender imv but can play attacking springboard role Lever - another good year. He’s the backline captain. Played better as 3rd tall and spoiling/controlling areas ⭐️⭐️⭐️ McVee - impressed all year with his poise and skill. Still learning and developing but was a first year revelation ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hibberd - clearly his body let him down but whenever he played, he gave his all and destroyed many small forwards ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Retired with his head held high 👏👏✈️ Fritsch - he was very good in patches (38 goals) and then inconsistent with goalkicking. Overall needed more impact and desire for the footy. Good but we think he’s got more to give imv ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Petty - had a great year either as KFB or KFF.⭐️⭐️⭐️ Injuries again were disappointing and his season ending injury hurt our premiership chances van Rooyen - still raw but a great first year performance. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Love his marking and goalkicking. Big future ahead and love to see Dees support him with more experienced forward coaches Pickett - his good is very good but his poor days were disappointing. Love his excitement and energy if directed at the footy . ⭐️⭐️⭐️Still a match winner with his pace and goal scoring (37.30) but his output dropped in too many games and discipline a problem Bowey - skills very good and needs to use through corridor more; lost some 1-1s but overall had a good year. Still only 21 ⭐️⭐️ Langdon - new look but didn’t regularly give us his usual output. Now sits in the boundary line and kicks down the line to a negative contest. Ask him to step 15 metes inboard to firstly use the corridor and give himself better room to run. Still very import team member. ⭐️⭐️ Hunter - brought in and given 100% wing role to compliment Lingers. Had good year overall but often too wide and too slow to move the footy. Needs to improve to keep the role. ⭐️⭐️ Neal-Bullen - another consistent, but not outstanding year ⭐️⭐️ More a defensive half forward who doesn’t hit the scoreboard (19 goals, 25 games) but he’s running and tackling is an asset. He’s a midfielder playing half fwd really Sparrow - was again on the edge of being very good. ⭐️⭐️Consistent performance throughout the year as a fringe midfielder and occasionally half forward. Big preseason ahead and can be better Melksham - out of the team but took his chances to be a key goalkicker⭐️⭐️Cruel injury kept him out of finals. One more year imv J Smith - pushed himself into the team late in the year and showed he is versatile as a back and a forward. Not quite either but definitely very handy player ⭐️⭐️ Spargo - with a lack of goals and ball winning eventually saw him dropped. (11 goals in 14 games) Got back for semi and showed more bounce but overall probably went backwards ⭐️ Chandler - started well and was a reliable goalkicker. After cemented his place, he failed with inconsistency and lack of goals. Back on the margins now and not in best 22 ⭐️ Salem - a disappointing year and seemed not to be 100% fit. Lost his skill and reverted to high helicopter kicks. Overall an average season ⭐️ Laurie - given late chances and perhaps lucky he’s got contract for 2024. Midfielder or small forward? Not sure. Could help us with ball use if he gets chance 🙏🏽 Woewodin - got 4 games and definitely liked his run and decision making. Strangely omitted when I thought extra games were helping his development. Can push for more games in 2024 🙏🏽 D Turner - another year that showed promise but injury and selectors befuddled behavior cost him. Was given games then immediately dropped. Determination and marking power gives him a future imv. Hope MFC gives him games in 2024 🙏🏽 Schache - low cost pickup who showed why didn’t make it at the Dogs. Low intensity. Low physical pressure or presence. Got another year due to lack of our KPF options. Got limited opportunities but was poor overall 💩 Tomlinson - not a friend of the selectors, he got chances and played good games but was dropped or overlooked far too many times. 🤔Strong defender who did his job and had his moments. May look for more favourable opportunities elsewhere and who could blame him 🚀 Grundy - covered Gawn in rounds 2-6 then shared duties. Once it was decided to go with Gawn 100%, Grundy was dropped and selectiors marked his card. Disappointing outcome but foreseen. Trade most likely 🚀 Harmes - we’ve enjoyed his passion but silly decisions and poor tackling and poor kicking and stupid fend off attempts wore down patience and he spent too much time at Casey. Contracted but now unlikely to get back 🚀 Jordon - not given many opportunities but ultimately wasted chances when he got game time. As a UFA, offers might entice him to go. Imv he’s probably gone🚀 McDonald - Looked finished and then got injured and then returned to show he’s got nothing left. Surely must retire ✈️but he’s stubborn and contracted so might keep going Brown - looked good early with 8 goals in first two rounds but unfortunately his knee injury ruined his year. Only played 4 more games and was clearly struggling. Huge loss really given we needed his accuracy and marking. If knee injury is chronic, I think retirement is calling ✈️ Others: Dunstan - starred in VFL again but uses wrong aftershave and couldn’t impress selectors. Injury killed his year twice. Unfortunately he’s likely to be delisted ❌ Verrell - athletic young ruck and when given the chances, showed good ability and marking Like to see him in another 12 months as next year he develops at Casey 🙏🏽 Blake Howes - another injury hit year which was really disappointing Was hoping we might see him debut but will need to get himself fit and firing over the summer 🙏🏽 Jed Adams slow development in Casey. Has the height and smarts to give hope of future KPB 🙏🏽 Sestan - smart goalkicking youngster Will benefit from a full preseason and has some talent Not quite tall enough or quick enough perhaps so he’s still a punt 🙏🏽 Jefferson - will be told to get into the gym and take the protein shakes. Good signs especially with his marking ability but needs more determination. 🙏🏽 ANW - a good year at Casey and perhaps unlikely not to debut. Could be in contention again for games in 2024. Maybe a debut in round 1 with Kozzzy missing. Like his tackling and goalkicking😀. 🙏🏽 KFW - tall skinny raw ruck; limited opportunities at Casey and looked lost in some games; another year to see if he’s got anything to offer longer term 🙏🏽 Deakyn Smith - good in patches and like his delivery but undecided on whether he’s to stay on 🤯🤔🤯 Kye Turner - Injury hit year; undecided on whether he’s to stay on 🤯🤔🤯

Same quote as end of 2022 2022 and 2023 - two years where we had huge premiership chances and somehow lost it by our own failings

Only problem is ANB and Spargo and (now) Chandler continue to provide little actual scoring power. As per the Giants and Lions, all six forwards must be capable goalkickers. HF. McAdam Petty ANB (Howes) Fwd. Kozzzy JVR Fritsch (Smith)

Well that would be an interesting call. Croft is very good but yes the bulldogs have JUH, Naughton, Lobbe and Darcy already.

So many questions. So many. The losses still hurt. We are angry. Frustrated. Gutted. Disappointed. Some positives in the year but ultimately we had a huge premiership chance … blown away too quickly. It’s been a terrible finals campaign. A horrible September. -Gus knocked out by thug Maynard. -Lost to Pies. -Tribunal misdirect and misrepresentations lead to Maynard being excused -Lost to Blues. -RIP Ronald Dale Barassi (an MFC legend) -Umpires !!! Don’t even mention them. Is Scum being too nice a description. Some horrible horrible decisions. Kozzys reversal just one of many shocking errors. Premierships are hard to win. We found out that if you are having a dysfunctional forward entries and dysfunctional forwards, the lack of scoring will cost you big times. Learnings. Connection forward of Centre. Goodys rhetoric is wearing thin.

Walter is obviously but he’s already zoned to GCS. I think Morris is the best available key forward. Reminds me a lot of Larkey from his draft year. BTW just an opinion.

Positives 1- biggest improver - Judd Mcvee. Mcvee : Definitely have found a very good player. Special mentions to JVR as a key forward and Trent Rivers who developed into defender and attacking running player 2- Harry Petty. Back … and now a potential key forward. 3- Trac (All Australian) 4- Maxy showed he’s still the number 1 ruck if you have faith in him 5- 70,000 members 6- Best win. Vs Lions. 4 goals in last 9 minutes. 7- 16 wins. 6 losses. 8- heart and effort , contested footy. Disappointments 1- finals exit in two heartbreaking losses 2- the goalkicking and attacking strategy (forward 50) got worse as the year progressed 3- loss by less than a goal v port, blues and giants when we dominated 4- Grundy experiment failed and then was quickly expelled from the team 5- injuries: Clarry injury drama and 7 weeks out. Petty season ending. Melksham season ending. 6- Worst loss. Finals x2 and vs Bombers 7- Gus getting knocked out by Maynard. Careless. Head high. Severe. Yet tribunal manufactured a release for Maynard. Disgraceful.

Picks and points. Sad end to 2023

Lions v Giants in the GF ?? Definitely hope it’s not Blues or Pies

Nate Caddy still definitely an option. Good mark. Good skills. Loves a goal. Would be better for the Dees might look at the Lions forward line and see that everyone is a goalkicker. You can’t 3-4 players each week contributing zero to the goal sheet.

Refresh top 50 1. Harley Reid GC Match 2. Jed Walter (suns academy) 3. Coby Mckercher 4. Zane Duursma 5. Daniel Curtin 6. Ryley Sanders 7. Nick Watson 8. Ethan Read (suns academy), 9. Nate Caddy 10. Connor O’Sullivan 11-20 Darcy Wilson, Jake Rogers (suns academy) , Archer Reid, Mitchell Edwards (Freo nga) , Riley Hardeman, Logan Morris , Caleb Windsor, Jordan Croft (bulldogs f/son) , Nathan Philactides, Ollie Murphy 21-30 Joel Freijah, Will McCabe (hawks F/son) , Will Dawson, Ashton Moir, Koltyn Tholstrup, George Stevens, Charlie Edwards, Harvey Johnston, Archie Roberts, Harry Demattia, 31-40 Caiden Cleary (swans academy) , Clay Hall, Will Graham (Suns academy) , Will Green, Will Lorenz, Kade DelaRue, Angus Hastie, Cooper Simpson, Lance Collard, Michael Rudd. 41-50- Luamon Luai, Will Patton, Jack Delean, Jack Callinan, Koby Shipp, Alex Holt, James Leake, Billy Wilson, Aiden Odriscoll, Harvey Thomas (giants academy). For the Dees, others of interest were: Kynan Brown as a father son (Nathan Brown) would be looked at around pick 60 or as a rookie and would get nominated in my view. He’s a tough skinny scrapper with a huge heart and tenacity. His skills are ok (left foot dominant) but can have some turnovers under pressure. Orlando Turner is from NT under our NGA academy. Whilst he was largely quiet, gf showed glimpses of brilliance and goalkicking smarts to indicate he might be picked to develop as a small forward. Rookie pick likely. Sam Van Rooyen (brother of Jacob) could be rookie pick as well. He’s tall and lean and watching him v Vic metro , had a few “nearly moments” where we spilled marks or juggled attempts. Very nice kick for goal. He has the base physique of a key forward and it would be good if the Dees gave him an opportunity.

And so said the chorus of 70,000 members

Last 3 years . 37 games 60 goals 28 behinds McAdam. Yes from me.

Likely Grundy and pick 33 for 11. Let’s sign it up.

There’s 6-7 elite distributors in the top 30 this year. We need to get 2 at least.

5, (11) 14, 23,33. sure we could help GC with points in the sudoku draft game sure we could upload 4 draft picks to barter for Harley Reid or screw that trade BS 5 picks inside 33. That’s a serious draft refresh.

Agree. Over many years I hate phrases like "the score will take care of itself" “we are working in forward 50 connections” “learnings” it’s all rubbish! Madness. The definition is: Doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting a different outcome !!! That’s why Goody is captain crazy imv

Both? The bombs inside 50 don’t work. We all know it. A 6 year old knows it. Why do the players do it? Their own bloody mindedness or they are told to. Either way … watch others and fix it!! I’m still angry btw