spirit of norm smith

Another sensational year from Clarry. I think we have Clarry polling Brownlow votes in at least 9 (maybe 11) of our 15 games so far. Likely only issue is if he gets the 3,2,1. I think C……Petracca will be the one to take votes off Clarry. Guys like Brayshaw, Neale, Miller and Cripps won’t have another star taking votes.

Yes I think it’s talls out for talls. Seems like some want Weid to stay in. With BBB and Weid, frees Fritsch up and probably allows him not to have to compete in contested pack marks. Bedford would be stiff to miss but didn’t quite nail his opportunities last week.

Yes IB13 they looked impressive and certainly top 10 likely in 2023. Reid in particular will be very popular as he takes the game on as a midsize back with good skills & pace but looks very capable as a man on man defender.

Outstanding. Jonesy will be a gun pre match , during and post match. Heart of a lion.

Nailed it. Fraser’s athletic ability is there. Got good pace and size. He’s a long kick. Limited footy over 2020-21 and this year. Finesse and footy smarts not quite there right now. He might be one to drop back to the rookie list for further development to free up a major list spot but with the assurance of getting drafted back in rookie draft (not sure if clubs need to redraft any more or can place back to rookie list).

Yes both Harley Reid and Zane Duursma were super impressive in the Vic Country v Allies under 18s match. They’d be drafted this year Vic eligible and probably be top 30-40.

Zane Duursma also was very impressive. Not eligible until 2023 draft. Really impressive size and skill. Agile and quick like his brother Xavier.

Vic Country I was impressed by many of the Vic country youngsters. Standouts for me included Mitch Szybkowski - commentators better ask how to pronounce his surname. He is a tall lean ruck rover type who wins the footy, one grab player who uses it perfectly. A definite first rounder. Aaron Cadman - just reminds me of a young Jeremy Cameron. Agile. Good mark. Left footer. Can move around and kick goals or create. Oliver Hollands- very smart creative player. Moves well with good pace and skill. First round likely. Jhye Clark - top 10 likely pick. Wins the footy as a key mid and brings others into the game. Good mark for his size. Coby Burgiel - lean half back but pushed into the middle to link up many attacks. Knows where to position and excellent decision making with the footy. One youngster to mark down and see across later games. Henry Hustwaite- rebounding defender. Mid sized and clean disposal. So composed and never seemed rushed. Jaxon Binns - He was outstanding. His pace and run showed out, as well as his skill with the footy across passing and long kicking (easily kicking 50 metres). But what was super impressive was his smart handballing to advantage including two long handballs where the running player didn’t break stride. He is a classic wing/small mid, not unlike Andrew Brayshaw or even Sam Walsh in his draft year. I was hoping Jaxon might be a pick 40 steal but he’s likely to go top 15-20 after yesterdays performance

Cats have proven to be one of the most arrogant clubs now and their supporters aren’t far behind. Most other clubs hate them which is probably due to their sustained success and Dangerfield (he thinks he is god’s gift to footy). Hope we win this one more than any other home and away match.

Jaxon was outstanding in yesterday’s Vic country v Allies under 18s. His pace and run showed out, as well as his skill with the footy across passing and long kicking (easily kicking 50 metres). But what was super impressive was his smart handballing to advantage including two long handballs where the running player didn’t break stride. He is a classic wing/small mid, not unlike Andrew Brayshaw in his draft year. I was hoping Jaxon might be a pick 40 steal but he’s likely to go top 15-20 after yesterdays performance.

After last week and yesterday, I’m uppping my offer to $900k over 6 years (total $5.4m). He’s going to be premier ruckman in the league within 2 years. Maxy can go to full forward and kick 100.

He’s almost a forgotten man Oskar Baker. Another very good game yesterday, only behind Chandler and Dunstan. He’s run and pace was very good. Gains very good metres with long kicks. Some decision making at AFL level let him down but I wouldn’t be against seeing him get a chance if it happens. He’s too good at this VFL level. It’d be a huge shame if he was cut by the Dees simply due to our current surplus of wing options !!

How good was Langdon. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ He’s been down in a few recent games. Tagged even. But showed plenty of run and heart v Crows. He runs all day. One effort in the first which he eventually passed to Trac was an excellent passage of play. And Langdon’s goal in the last was special and pivotal to winning the match.

Red card. Never mention the 2008 draft again. Shuey and Sloane were on our list. But no, BP chose Blease and Strauss. I can’t let go even after 13+ years.

I’m still a fan.

Tom Sparrow is just on the edge of becoming a very good player. We can rotate him through from the interchange or the half forward line. He needs to tidy up his ball handling but his strength at the contest, tackling and skills make him a promising youngster. Together with JJ, Tom’s going to be very important. Good work again from JT.

Yes worked that out. Cats play Eagles at home in round 23. That’s a nice draw for them and their percentage.

“Kangaroos midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke was outstanding with a game-high 35 possessions and eight clearances in a lone hand” I saw only bits of the Kangas v Cats (mainly watched Suns-Pies). But must say LDU is a gun and definitely one shining light for Kangas this season.

Have a word to Haydn McLean at the Swans. 23yo. 197cms 95kgs He’s a strong lad and can play Forward or Ruck. Loves a goal and takes a good mark. Behind Franklin,Reid &Mcdonald in forward mix and behind Hickey and Ladhams for ruck. Might be a good offer on a 2-3 year deal.

We’ve all called it. Petty was good all night. The number of contests he impacted didn’t get on the stats. He must have had 7-8 spoils in crucial contests. And his marking is one grab. Three words for Petty “Another solid contribution”.

Ins. Gawn (if fit) Jackson (if fit) outs (if Gawn and Jacko are fit) Mitch Brown, Weid ? Pickett - surely he doesn’t get suspended/ fined for that. If he does then Fogarty gets 3weeks (Chandler the obvious option) ? Hibberd fitness on a short break. - gets Stengle - but Hunt/Rivers the option ? Bedford- really want him in for pace and dangerous around goal. But missed his chance again and was MIA for large periods of time

Clarry is a gun. Totally held and harassed by Berry all night and still just went hard at the footy. Non-stop. What a competitor. Cracks in to every contest. If he can sort out his goalkicking and a few dodgy decisions, he’ll be absolutely elite.

The umpiring was criminal all night. Biased to the Crows. It was 23-9 but also so many missed free kicks for us. We have highlighted the Walker free … it was unbelievable. I think they called play on then the free kick. Oliver was hammered and two umps missed it … somehow. Oliver was scrapped by Berry all night and got nothing. He was held without the footy and not given one free. Keays free in the last (and goal) was another. They didn’t pay holding the ball for most of the night. It was a dog fight. Then 15 metrs out from Crows goal , Brayshaw gets pinged. I almost smashed the Tv. And frees to Doedee and O’Brien were actually met with surprise by them. Maybe chopping arms but that happened over and over again. BBB was smashed in the arms at every contest. Fritsch was held by one arm by Butts and didn’t receive one free kick. I agree the commentary is rubbish. Hudson and Dunstall and Ruccuito were clearly barracking for the Crows. They seemingly never questioned a decision (just thd Oliver one). Then they gave us plaudits once MFC had the game won. Clearly the home town crowd noise had an influence. We had to beat the Crows and the umps !! And we did … Go Dees

Sam tried … sure. He was out of position and against a B grade ruckman in O’Brien. But O’Brien simply bullied him all night. As the competitors described it, O’Brien just was the big kid and the school yard and did what he liked. Weid’s hitouts were mainly v Tilthorpe. Weid’s bump on Keays (rather than tackle) saw Keays just bounce away and Weid go to ground. Well … Weid fumbled in the contest and didn’t show enough mobility or 2nd efforts. That’s what I was looking for against the standard ruck. Competitive marks … 1. At lots and lots of contests. I like Sam and have met him at several team functions. He is a good young man. I have backed Sam and desperately want him to be that key forward that we need and he can fulfill. But his intensity and desire and ability to take chances still doesn’t match up. Sure yesterday he was played out of position and tried but he still didn’t show me the physical side of footy and the agility I was looking for.

6. Petracca 5. Oliver 4. Langdon 3. Lever 2. Viney 1. Brayshaw apologies to Petty , Salem and Harmesy.