spirit of norm smith

often at this time, the trade radio “experts” have long diatribe without any substance or facts. Unsubscribe while you can

All I know is, get the 7-year contract out for JVR to sign for 2024-30. We want to lock him away and outside the clutches of the Eagles or Dockers.

I hate all 4 clubs. I guess if it’s Cats v Swans GF then at its two of the best three clubs in the GF. The lions have Zorko ([censored]) and Berry (gouger) so probably thinking the Cats. Pies supporters are just feral. Swans less so. An empty feeling right now. Last Friday night hurt. Tonight’s match might be hard to watch.

Some declarations and rumours on moves: Crows +Rankine Dogs +Jones*Fa. +Lobb Kangas +Tucker +Logue Freo +Jackson -Tucker -Lobb -Logue -Acres Blues +Acres Suns +Long -Rankine Saints -Long Dees -Jackson +”Grundy” Port -Amon +Rioli Eagles -Rioli Hawks +Amon Cats. + Bruhn +O.Henry Pies —Grundy -O.Henry +Mcstay Lions -McStay Tigers. +Hopper +Taranto Giants -Hopper -Taranto -Bruhn Swans Bombers (+Hird?)

Yes to Butters but only for the Jackson compensation.

Players declarations to move : Crows +Rankine Dogs +Jones*Fa. +Lobb Kangas +Tucker +Logue Freo +Jackson -Tucker -Lobb -Logue -Acres Blues +Acres Suns +Long -Rankine Saints -Long Dees -Jackson Port -Amon +Rioli Eagles -Rioli Hawks +Amon

Thanks. I saw him for Freo v dogs at marvel and he looked like he was a valuable defender. Maybe that was home of the one good rather than the 3bad.

Interim opinion: Darcy Tucker (Freo) - yes as a “French fries” addition in the Jackson trade. Should be cheap contract $ Josh Corbett (Suns) - like Jake Riccardi (Giants), any forward who is cheap but knows how to kick goals is a target. Should be cheap contract $ Brodie Grundy (Pies) - when did we ever trade to help the feral Pies or get a good player in a trade with the pies. Never!! It’s a No from me. Injury prone. Fragile. Ruckman not a key forward. Spend our $$$ elsewhere please.

Tucker is a skilled left footer with contested footy ability. I’d like to bring him in and mould to play small defender to replace Hibbo. I think he could be a Brayden Maynard type defender. I’m a Yes.

Corbett is a yes. Small change $$$ in our salary cap but importantly he’s a forward who knows how to kick goals. That’s what we need. We need players who WANT to kick goals, not pass off or handball to others but actually take on kicking goals.

Points !! It’s a decent injection of talent for a top 4 team to have.

I’m still a No. It’s a big price still and we need other areas like a key forward or speedy midfielder. Happy if proven wrong but I’m still a No

As a rookie … Yes

Luke, Good luck and farewell. to MFC… Now let’s tighten the screw to get the best deal

Whilst there’s a few stars for the Dragons (Ashcroft, Sheezel, Mckenzie) , I’m keen to see Jaxon Binns, Finn Emile-Brennan and Harrison Jones in action for the Stingrays in the GF. Jones has kicked a few bags of goals since school footy ended.

Petty had an excellent year. Certainly a key part of the team alongside May and Lever in defence.

What a shock. A Geelong boy wants to leave the Giants and go to the Cats. Bruhn was gutted when chosen by the Giants in the draft. GREATER Western Sydney youngster Tanner Bruhn has settled on Geelong as his preferred new home after weighing interest from several Victorian clubs. Bruhn had been considering his future at the Giants all season after rebuffing their two-year offer to remain at the club.

Ironic that the Demons moved away from pokies revenue and yet like in NSW, many sporting clubs are funded and boosted by pokies $$$. Southport Sharks have a lot of cash to spend on players and it’s how they can compete at this level. They’ve dominated for many years in the QLD league and in the previous NEAFL.

Thanks @Bobby McKenzie“I have no doubt we will bounce back next year in a big way. I am sticking to my belief that our BEST is superior to any other team.” I agree. I think we have to reflect that our best is able to beat every other team. We are hurting because we are packed with great players and have every right to be playing in the GF. But it’s not just handed to you. Hard work and smart decisions get you there and luck of course and some half decent umpiring. We are frustrated but reflect on our team hopefully being hungrier than ever. I’m on board for 2023 and counting down the days with optimism.

Clarry should definitely win the B&F and hopefully the Brownlow. Tipping a tie with Miller and Neale. Top 10?? Did we have the final Demonland votes. Probably finish as Oliver ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Petracca⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Brayshaw ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Viney ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gawn⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ May⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Langdon⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fritsch ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pickett ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Petty ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’d like to see us invest game time in Toby Bedford in 2023. Chandier and Bedford weren’t given much opportunity, often sitting out games as medi-subs). Bedford has the moves and speed to compliment Kozzzy. It’d terrorize defenders if both were applying pressure and chase downs. I think Bedford would be more dangerous than Spargo (I actually think Spargo and ANB are midfielders repurposed as small forwards) and hit the scoreboard more often.

Trades? Jackson? Likely (Freo) - if his heart is to close the family and in the surf of the Indian Ocean, then ok. Bedford? Unlikely but possible (Bombers)… hopefully not. Tomlinson? Unlikely but possible (Hawks) … hopefully not.

Really great opportunity for some of the young Casey lads and some vets like Munro and White. Our key forwards are our strong point with Tmcd, JVR and Brown being good marking targets. That’s our strength. Loss of Bowey hurts as he was very very good. It’s important that guys in the middle stand up - Dunstan, Munro, White to win the contested footy. Baker, Bedford, Chandler, Steele and Grey to provide the run. Southport won’t be easybeats. They’ve got a fast midfield. They fly under the radar. They should have won by 10+ goals if they converted (39 scoring shots to 16). Crossley in the ruck is a man mountain and Weid will find out how physical ruckwork can be. Lockhart also was very good. He’s strong at the footy. Zac Foot is a ball of muscle, good ball user and skilled. Loves a goal. I’d have him on our MFC list. Jacob Townsend was quiet yesterday but has been a key goal scorer. They have energy and aggression. They’ve got plenty of ex AFL players who didn’t make the grade and $$$ to offer from their strong Sharks leagues club. Woodcock is fast and has goalsense. Glad it’s played here in Vic and at Southport where I believe they are unbeaten this year.

Agree. It’s just wheel spinning by ex footballers trying to remain relevant.

Watched the Cats v Pies and again Pies v Dockers and actually saw the absence of players deliberately kicking deep forward entries to the pockets. It’s the MFC playbook. Pies especially kick to the hotspot, 15 metres out and Centred. Will continue to see if our MFC “percentage” pocket based forward play is the key to scoring by the “top 4 teams”.