spirit of norm smith

May and McDonald will be finished at end of 2026. Derksen. Petty🏆. Turner. Future back 3. Adams looked okay but not sold just yet.

Josh Lindsay - agree he is a very good user of the footy

As at 26 August 2025 Injury crisis with 8 players already out and 3 already ruled out for the season 5 of the 8 injuries are knee injuries which has been a very high occurrence in the womens game https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/injury-updates Dees might have to call up top up players soon - squad is 32 … less the 8 injured = 24 players … so we have 21 for this game v pies … plus the 3 emergencies (that’s the full list).

@Chelly @Turner watched the Stingrays v Power. Unfortunately the ground was drier than an Indian cricket wicket It was mostly dirt with a few patches of grass. Not much protection for the youngsters getting tackled. Frankly it was a disgrace to see. 🤬 Obviously it would be great to have Willem Duursma coming to the Dees (he’s probably going to be pick 1 or 2 for the Eagles alongside Cooper Duff-Tyler.. great name!!) … if only we had an academy! 🤬 If the Dees had our “pick” at around pick 8 or 9, Stingrays star Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves ⭐️would have been the player I’d nominate. He’s very composed and has the ability to win it and spread quickly. Lean type who runs through the lines and carries the footy. Only knock is sometimes perhaps his kicking can be loose. But hey the Dees kicking coach would fix that !

@Turner I think McFayden was viewed as “in between type”. Not an agile aerobic half forward but not a tall key forward. But he showed in senior footy that he had the smart footy IQ and goalkicking ability. Safe pair of hands. He has shown he can handle the physical and contested work as well. Would be a handy addition imv

@Turner from last week … yes he has the makings of a very smart footballer

Sinnema was good in patches. He got crunched in a tackle in the 3rd quarter and kicked a nice goal from 40m out. He’s got class with the footy which we do need (but will need a few preseasons to get AFL ready so need to be patient ) Didn’t see much of Prasad. A Quiet Game is what I would say. Applied a few good tackles but was often out positioned to win the footy.

65 games. Just turned 22yo. Injury cruelled the first half of 2025. Now ready to have a big preseason. Given our team list, I’d back him in and give the 4 year deal for the circa $600k/season.

Guerra setting up the new look …

As expected. One more year. But that’s it. End of 2026 probably sees McDonald, May, Melksham all retire.

Just setting a diary reminder for late September!!!

Mitch McGovern…it’s a No

May to Full Forward. Not sure that’s the answer. Kentfield showed really good signs over the past 5 games and might be ready to step up with a good preseason 🤞🤞🤞🤞

@WERRIDEE I think the Kolt will probably develop into a Cam Rayner type half forward with agressive half forward pressure and good goal smarts plus some CBA when required. I’m not seeing him as a permanent midfield type.

@Random Task I was going to look at Stingrays v Power tonight. Lots of prospects in that game. Might try to catchup on Calder later in the week.

Happy to add two young Vic lads from Sandy Dragons to the Dees. Saw video on Dragons v Chargers. They aren’t being spruiked right now in the top 30 or 40 but I think they are exactly the types we need. Jack Dalton. 37 possessions vs Chargers yesterday . Two goals. Hit targets. Has good run and very smart. Since coming back from his injuries pre season (see below) he now averages 30 possessions and 6 tackles in his six “under 18 league”. I believe he also dominated in his school footy too at Xavier in last few games on comeback. He also performed strongly in the star studded Dragons team that won the 2024 flag. His size 178cms as a small midfielder might be seen by recruiters as a negative but that is not a detractor to me ESPN.comBroken wrists to BOGs: Jack Dalton's remarkable draft jou...Endurance beast Jack Dalton was supposed to miss 12 months with a shocking wrist injury. But the midfield star returned in just 11 weeks, and he's putting in performances which have recruiters buzzingRory Wright. I’m constantly singing his praise. Starred again with 26 possessions going at 88%DE. Classy left foot onballer. Evaded pressure from two opponents in 3rd quarter and hit up forward. It was what MFC needs to see with composure and skill.

Serong on Croft. ‪Seriously. How’s that different to May. Serong should have expected Croft to win the footy first and amend his contact. You cannot cannon into his head. It’s Careless. Yes. High impact/Head. Yes. Low impact. That’s a suspension.

Buckley’s commentary is a good insight to his thinking. I’m happy to have him as our coach. He understands the game. He knows the pressure. I think he’d be highly motivated and respected. Get him in. 4 year deal gets it done.

Molly O ⭐️ Looked very good v Saints She’s a player 💙❤️

6 Hanks 5 Hore 4 Harris 3 Zanker 2 Fitzsimon 1 Molly O ⭐️

Liv 💔that’s so cruel 😭

Thanks @KC from Casey 15 eligible for first week of the finals. Likely have to win 4 in a row which is a very tough assignment Assume they will have Bonner, Baldi, Cross, Freeman, Lual, Deakyn Smith, Hardie & likely either Sruk or Bryce as the 8 Casey listed group.

Winner for 2025 is Kozzzzy Pickett - 40 goals

Season Player(s) Goals 1897 Jack Leith+ 22 1898 Charlie Young 21 1899 Jack Leith (2) 21 1900 Tommy Ryan 24 1901 Frank Langley 17 1902 Jack Leith (3) 26 1903 Vince Coutie 19 1904 Vince Coutie+ (2) 39 1905 Harry Cordner 16 1906 Basil Onyons 16 1907 Jack Leith (4) 27 1908 Vince Coutie (3) 37 1909 Harry Brereton 34 1910 Stan Fairbairn 24 1911 Harry Brereton+ (2) 46 1912 Harry Brereton+ (3) 56 1913 Mick Maguire 13 1914 Arthur Best 30 1915 Roy Park 35 1919 George Heinz 15 1920 Harry Harker 23 1921 Harry Harker (2) 47 1922 Harry Harker (3) 47 1923 Percy Tulloh 31 1924 Percy Tulloh (2) 24 1925 Harry Davie 56 1926 Harry Moyes 55 1927 Harry Davie (2) 40 1928 Bob Johnson 55 1929 Dick Taylor 30 1930 George Margitich 73 1931 George Margitich (2) 66 1932 George Margitich (3) 60 1933 Bob Johnson (2) 62 1934 Jack Mueller 52 1935 Maurie Gibb 59 1936 Eric Glass 56 1937 Ron Baggott 51 1938 Norm Smith 80 1939 Norm Smith (2) 54 1940 Norm Smith (3) 86 1941 Norm Smith (4) 89 1942 Fred Fanning 37 1943 Fred Fanning+ (2) 62 1944 Fred Fanning+ (3) 87 1945 Fred Fanning+ (4) 67 1946 Jack Mueller (2) 58 1947 Fred Fanning+ (5) 97 1948 Lance Arnold 41 1949 Bob McKenzie 40 1950 Denis Cordner 36 1951 Bob McKenzie (2) 40 1952 Noel Clarke 49 1953 Bob McKenzie (3) 38 1954 Noel Clarke (2) 51 1955 Stuart Spencer 34 1956 Bob Johnson 43 1957 Athol Webb 56 1958 Ron Barassi, Jr. 44 Athol Webb (2) 1959 Ron Barassi, Jr. (2) 46 1960 Ian Ridley 38 1961 Bob Johnson 36 1962 Laurie Mithen 37 1963 Barry Bourke 48 1964 John Townsend 35 1965 John Townsend (2) 34 1966 Barrie Vagg 20 1967 Hassa Mann 38 1968 Hassa Mann (2) 29 1969 Ross Dillon 48 1970 Ross Dillon (2) 41 1971 Paul Callery 38 1972 Greg Parke 63 1973 Ross Brewer 32 1974 Ross Brewer (2) 40 1975 Greg Wells 32 1976 Ray Biffin 47 1977 Ross Brewer (3) 63 1978 Henry Coles 33 1979 Robert Flower 33 1980 Brent Crosswell 31 1981 Mark Jackson 76 1982 Gerard Healy 77 1983 Robert Flower (2) 40 1984 Kelvin Templeton 51 1985 Brian Wilson 40 1986 Greg Healy 35 1987 Robert Flower (3) 47 1988 Ricky Jackson 43 1989 Darren Bennett 34 1990 Darren Bennett (2) 87 1991 Allen Jakovich 71 1992 Allen Jakovich (2) 40 1993 Allen Jakovich (3) 39 1994 Garry Lyon 79 1995 Garry Lyon (2) 77 1996 David Neitz 56 1997 David Neitz (2) 30 Jeff Farmer 1998 Jeff Farmer (2) 47 1999 David Neitz (3) 46 2000 Jeff Farmer (3) 76 2001 Russell Robertson 42 2002 David Neitz+ (4) 82 2003 David Neitz (5) 65 2004 David Neitz (6) 69 2005 Russell Robertson (2) 73 2006 David Neitz (7) 68 2007 Russell Robertson (3) 42 2008 Brad Miller 26 2009 Russell Robertson (4) 29 2010 Brad Green 55 2011 Liam Jurrah 40 2012 Mitch Clark 29 2013 Jeremy Howe 28 2014 Chris Dawes 20 2015 Jesse Hogan 44 2016 Jesse Hogan (2) 41 2017 Jeff Garlett 42 2018 Tom McDonald^ 53 2019 Christian Petracca^ 22 2020 Bayley Fritsch^ 22 2021 Bayley Fritsch^ (2) 59 2022 Bayley Fritsch^ (3) 55 2023 Bayley Fritsch^ (4) 38 2024 Bayley Fritsch^ (5) 41

Ps. @binman please at least 5 minutes positive talk about Harvey Langford “Harvey” will be a star ⭐️ Such composure. One grab footy. That goal. Wow right in 50 and off one step, bang !!! And the kick to Melksham (to Kozzy) for our first goal. Easily kicked it 60 metre dead straight. 👏👏👏