spirit of norm smith

Unfortunately the Bombers fans are turning on him already. Jeers. Laughter. Oh no moments. Even the sharp new haircut hasn’t helped. He’s goalkicking has gotten worse imv. He’s a great young man. You couldn’t wish to meet a nicer bloke. I hope he can put together a few more improved efforts to show he’s capable (even if it’s in red and black ).

@joeboy v saints. Spargo - didn’t justify selection @joeboy v Lions Spargo - a nothing game @Fat Tony Spargo is a liability in the air due to size and doesn’t offer enough in other areas IMO. @Maldonboy38 Spargo - his output has been limited, error-riddled and lacks impact. @dazzledavey36 Spargo for me, he has to go. Has been a liability for the past 2 weeks. @At the break of GawnIf it wasn’t for Spargo’s poor game, I’d almost suggest Chandler in for AnB. Hi all. The above represents most peoples view. I like Charlie. I have met him a few times. My view is that he’s not delivering and we cannot have passengers. It’s part of being ruthless. Like the Grundy decision. I’d rather roll the dice over the next fortnight and bring AMW in, or debut Howes or bring Chandler back in. I watched the game again yesterday afternoon and our lack of inside 50s tackles was again disappointing. Just an opinion.

Petty to be rested or managed. Tomlinson to play. Spargo to be rested or managed or just omitted. Any of these. Either AMW or Howes to come in. Both deserve a game and can show some real energy. Spargo had zero tackles. Was poor defensively and in the contest.

Love to have Freo finish 15th. Pick 4 (pick 5 after suns choose to match bid for Jed Walter) would be a huge win as part of the Jackson trade (together with a late 1st rd pick 15-18). Top 4- likely Reid, Walter , Curtin, Caddy - then we’d have a choice of Mckercher or Sanders. Big result if that was the outcome.

Yes but LJ loves his family & surfing far above his footy. We will wish him the best after helping us break the premiership hoodoo in 2021.

Agreed. If we can land either Sanders or Mckercher, classy young Mids, it’s a huge win. I thought Duursma was the priority but during the championships, whilst he’s showed good polish, he’s been cold in long patches.

6 Gawn 5 Petracca 4 Gus 3 Melksham 2 Hunter 1 Viney apologies to Kozzzy, JJ, Bowsa, Salem, Lingers, Riv, Mcvee, Sparrow, and Lever. Ok my top 15🤣🤣

Memo to Simon Goodwin Restrict. Lachie Neale ✅ Play through the corridor when we can ✅ hypnotize Kozzzy to remember the player he was in round 1 ✅ let Gawn have 65% of ruck time ✅ my memo got read 🤣🤣🤣 definitely wanted Gawn as #1 ruck though the Gawn to 90% ruck was unforeseen

Huge huge game. Win it and we are likely top 4. Loss means likely battle and a 5-6 finish still could eventuate. Strange to drop Grundy but in Goody we trust !!

Unfortunately he’s no JV7. He needs lots more protein shakes and about 5 years in the gym. Different type of player. He might ultimately be more of a small defensive type (back pocket) than an onballer. Don’t expect him to be a Nick Daicos “gift from the gods” for us.

AFL data ratings show Gawn has attended between 52-57% of CBAs over the last 4 weeks. Grundy the balance (43-48%). I feel like we are trying to balance out the ruck time. Max was All Australian ruck who has now adjusting and reducing his ruck time to accommodate Grundy. In 2021, his CBA was 80-88% with Jackson interchanging.

Danger game. Only joking. We are the underdogs this week. Dees missing Oliver and Fritsch. Lions missing only Dunkley. Memo to Simon Goodwin 1- tag Lachie Neale 2- tag Will Ashcroft 3- Play through the corridor when we can 4- hypnotize Kozzzy to remember the player he was in round 1 5- let Gawn have 65% of ruck time

Good call @Lil_red_fire_engine Yes he’s another young star. Mckercher reminds me of Zac Merrett. Wins the footy. Smart decision maker. Can also defend and tackle. Definitely a top 10 pick imv.

I think Trac should have 17-18 Brownlow votes. Daicos will have about 24 votes and is clearly the favourite. Merrett is a smoky but has now firmed in betting

Bizarre to compare Ryley Sanders (aka The Colonel) to Tim Taranto. He’s nothing like Taranto. Sanders is the closest type to Will Ashcroft. He has pace. He has skill. He runs and runs. He is a smart user of the footy. Actually after the weekends match, I’d now switch and choose him over Duursma if the pick was today and both were available. Duursma is all class and more outside. He was superb in the first quarter yesterday then went missing for the rest of the day. Sanders was strong equally inside and outside, with a full 4 quarter effort and kicked two impressive running goals.

5 talking points 1. The Good. Steven May -outstanding. Petracca -4 goals straight (two running into goal mouth). Viney was again a soldier at the footy Salem 150 games. 👋👋 Taj’s debut was good enough for another game. Mcvee very solid again JJ is a needed player and he’s run and skill was very good. but other topics to discuss 2- Kozzzy. Yes it’s all across the media. He kind of looked disinterested at times on Saturday night. 4 possessions. 3 tackles. Chased but often wasn’t going 100%. Wanganeen-Milera waltzed around unmanned mostly. Must be something nqr. We love him ❤️❤️❤️and need he’s excitement and scoring power to threaten 3- Gawn and Grundy. It’s not really the ace in the pack expected. Neither are taking a contested mark inside forward 50. Grundy cannot seem to take a contested mark at all. Max seems to be short changed in time in ruck. Max is definitely best ruck option for us and needs more time imv. Question - is it their form or a problem with the structure? 4- Foreward effectiveness still a work in progress. No Fritsch for at least remainder of home and away season. BBB. He looked shot in the second half. Couldn’t run in the last quarter. He will have to be managed on a weekly basis. Melksham ok but defensively was poor. Kozzy out of form. Spargo offers little in scoring. ANB averages 0.7goals/game. Do we play Trac forward to compensate, and use him 50/50 mid forward rotation? 5- Are we a defensive team that is scared of using the corridor? We looked good in the 4-5 goals with passages through the middle. But mostly this running play was hardly seen as we went slow and kicked to contest after contest. Our scoring gets restricted and ultimately keeps our scoring ability low. Question: is it our skills or lack thereof (or outright defensive mindset) that means we are scared to play the corridor more (in case of turnovers?).

Freo heave ho Freo heave ho Freo go low Freo go low pick 6 here we come.

I agree his one grab footy ability was good. But he’s very slight and couldn’t break a tackle. Runs and runs and determination is an asset.

4th VC Darcy Wilson kicked nice running goal to show pace and skills Michael Rudd versatile utility/fwd, good mark, Ollie Henry type Allies Harvey Thomas left foot small defender quarterback type using skills Orlando Turner kicked the match winner , quiet all day but has burst of pace and looks like he knows where the goals are. Probably rookie pick at best.

3rd quarter VC Harley Reid much better in midfield rotation (wasted up forward) burst of pace and intensity shows his top 3 ranking Finn O’Sullivan mid/half fwd/half back good skills, good aerial overhead and decision making Archer Reid 203cm young tall forward/ruck - nice work rate and kicked a good snap goal Kade De La Rue strong running mid sized half back and skills Allies Coby Mckercher again showed his class with two beautiful goals on the run including one on a difficult angle Will Graham tall 190cm utility mid can play half back good skills and tackling Connor O’Sullivan big tall defender, good mark and smart use Caiden Cleary accumulator midfield type small in and under got the ball out to the runners

2nd qtr Allies Ethan Reid ruck big strong and athletic (GC suns) Coby Mckercher another Tassie mid good af the contest and smart ball user VC George Stevens mid utility solid strong can play fwd/mid/back Darcy Wilson nice tackle and goal but relatively quiet Will Dawson full back cutting off numerous attacks with intercept marks

1st qtr. Vic country v Allies. VC Zane Duursma already impressed in first qtr. Beautiful goal showed his class. De Mattia good in close with contested footy. Joel Freijah on the wing showing good skills and ball winning Allies Jake Rogers small but powerful onballer is impressive again Ryley Sanders class and pace on show Caiden Cleary very good onballer winning lots of the footy Dees young academy (South Alice Springs) Orlando Turner is a forward pocket player and kicked a nice goal from 35 metres out albeit after a dubious free kick Lots of Swans, Giants, Lions Ana Suns Academy youngsters in show Harley Reid strangely again being played at full forward Jed Walter always looks dangerous with height, strength and pace at full forward. Suns can get rid of Ben King and bring this kid in.

Injuries. Fritsch. Hibbo. Clarry. Doubtful. Petty. Worries. Brown couldn’t move in 2nd half and was basically walking in the last quarter. (JVR to replace) Form. Kozzzy. Is there other concerns? Looking disinterested or not moving to win the footy. Happy to do a chase and tackle. Is this the same player from round 1 this year. He’ll stay in but is a worry. He need his goal scoring and excitement to create opportunities. Spargo. Goodys love child so he’s staying in. Little to commend with or without the footy. Woey jnr looked ok so he’s got another week. Loved his run and nearly gold in the last quarter. Changes? maybe only maybe JVR for BBB or Tomlinson for Petty if he’s injured

Loved his kick in the last minute. Simple easy run in and kicked through it. Three from three for shots. Other goal was running into goalsquare for goal.

As you see, he’s super light and relies on his sheer desperation and will to win. Kicking is so so and heavily left foot oriented. I think he’s a 4th round 60ish draft pick or a rookie selection for the Dees. He’s not the Ashcroft or Daicos type father son golden choice.