spirit of norm smith

I also heard “Chappy” on the wireless SEN this morning with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson. Chappy spoke very well and came across as an experienced mature well balanced coach. He spoke about the change in the team ball transition over the year to improve the movement into forward50 looking the try players in different positions to see what they offer and gave examples - Windsor in the middle for run & carry, Langford down forward, and Bowsa trialled forward in the last qtr why he is not putting his hand up … 1/interim coaches rarely go on to be the next coach and 2/hd thinks the team does need to hear a new voice to uplift them and drive the leaders and team forward He is contracted for another year and would like to stay on. He was looking for a refresh at the start of 2025 and moved away from his long term defence coach role and into the forward line coach (note, would have loved more discussion on this with Chappy around how he sees this and what aspects he is adding) Tim Watson raised the Petracca vision about him appearing selfish and downhearted. Chappy said he hadn’t seen the specific vision but that Trac is a competitor, he wants to win and Trac wants the best outcome. Garry Lyon asked about what’s needed next year (for the list) and Chappy said it is now about skills and footy transition , which he said they’d indentified with adding Langford, Lindsay and Windsor (note, excluded Kolt in this comment) Interesting to see how he handles the next two weeks and the challenge of stopping two top-4 teams.

INTERIM coach Troy Chaplin has praised his side’s spirit and intent following Melbourne’s Round 22 performance against the Western Bulldogs. Stepping into the role last week, Chaplin commended the playing group for the way they’ve approached training and match day during a challenging period for the club. Access | Chaplin Round 22 addressTroy Chaplin delivered his first post-match address as interim coach, highlighting the club's third quarter as the way forward for the side. “I cannot question your effort and intensity,” Chaplin told the team post-match. “After the week you’ve had, your attitude to training, the way you’ve come into work, the leadership you’ve shown - you fought so hard today.” While the result didn’t go Melbourne’s way, there were clear positives to take from the afternoon, including the opportunities for emerging players and a standout third quarter that saw the Demons kick seven goals from relentless pressure around the ball. “That 30 minutes right there - that is the pathway forward for you,” Chaplin said. “Your pressure and intensity gave you the reward. Now we just have to get better at doing it over and over, sustaining it.” Chaplin encouraged the group to hold onto that level across the final fortnight of the season. “It’s been a tough week for everyone, but you should be proud of what you’ve put out there tonight - playing for that jumper and everything it represents. Let’s make sure we finish off strong.” Melbourne will now turn its attention to Round 23, determined to carry that same purpose and connection into the final two matches of 2025.

@picket fence beautiful part of the world … what time is sunset ? 11pm ??

Incredible. I’ve never heard him say anything positive or offer positive attitude towards the club. I would say he’s all Carlton and Hawthorn in word and spirit.

Agree. It’s a results based business. Simon kept taking “learnings” that never actually got into “Solutions”!! He took too long to adapt the team and maintained the contest based style of play. Forward connection spoken about for 4 years never actually showed any improvement. But he seems to now want to look left and right for others to be “the reason”. Simon Goodwin says the lack of alignment at board level was partly to blame for Melbourne’s poor season that ultimately led to his demise. LATEST 👉 bit.ly/41HKDlp

But to focus on a player not running over to give high 5s all the time. That has NEVER been Trac at all. He just is wired for the glory and not the supporting act. I want him to get back to being the ONE, where he wants to footy, demands the footy and wants to kick the goal. My point is that IF YOU GO LOOKING THROUGH SPY CAM at many games, you can pinpoint lots and lots of players who wanted the footy and were disappointing their teammate chose another option. Lots and lots … so is Hodge going to focus that on Charlie Cameron or Izak Rankine or Jamie Elliott etc etc etc when they throw their arms up after not getting the pass !!! Really!!

Fullarton played well at CHB versus the Lions last week. His ability to cover ground and cover aerially was good. Bug he lacks physical pressure and smarts. Very good VFL type (like quite a few in our list) but not imv up to AFL quality. He will likely be delisted at year end.

How do we get Sam Flanders? I think he’d be a great addition but we don’t have the draft capital, players to trade or salary cap room imv

In. May. Out. Adams In. Sharp. Out. Windsor (inj) May comes straight back in. Adams was ok but was physically pushed aside too easily and needs more protein and gym work Sharp in for his pace. Give him a starting role and assign to Impey. Do not let their half backs run it through the farrrkn corridor !!!!!!

Father-son Jordan Croft will make his debut for the Western Bulldogs against West Coast on Sunday. The 201cm son of Matthew has kicked six goals in the last fortnight in the VFL @7NewsMelbourne @7AFL

Daisy 💩Thomas Luke 💩💩Hodge Caro 💩💩💩Wilson Kane 💩💩💩💩Cornes Just heap [censored] on Melksham and Petracca That's a person who's worried about his own stats." 🗣️ Luke Hodge on Christian Petracca's body language after a Kozzy Pickett goal The joint is a mess. Good football clubs don't leak and they've got leaks everywhere." 🗣️ Dale Thomas on the Melbourne Football Club

@WERRIDEE I agree with this team setup. However you assume Kolt in for Windsor. Dees might choose between Spargo, Sharp or Woey. I’d choose Sharp for his pace as the Hawks have fast run and we need someone to replace Windsor. That’s not Kolt imv @Demonland

Apparently Dees are using Sinnema as the 23rd player for the vital VFL last game versus Box Hill Hawks.

Who ? What? Parkin… the bloke that loves the Hawks and Blues. I’ve never heard him speak with any affection for the Dees at all.

“If we’re clearing that as a football action, we’re going down the wrong path.” Paul Roos and Ben Cameron were shocked the Henry Smith/Nick Blakey 'inappropriate contact' incident was cleared.

Apparently Blakey was not offended and didn’t lodge any incident. Ummmm. That raises more questions than answers.

Agree. Kozzzy goes for a spectacular mark and knees the opposition player, who is slow to get up. I was also thinking they will cite him for “unreasonable conduct” aka the Latin term “****um-AFLisium”.

What the??? Number 20 MRO and AFL biased ridiculous decision Henry Smith That’s insane what he did. Sticks his finger and pushes into Blakey rear end. It’s clear! It’s disgusting !! Seen less probing during a colonoscopy!!! There is no legs getting tangled or accident here. It’s base!! It’s more like … AFL INTEGRITY UNIT PROCESS is QUESTION 1. what team is the player from ? Answer. Brisbane. MRO : Move on. Nothing to see here.

Jai Newcombe. Careless High Severe But … MRO assessment - all fine Match Review Officer Michael Christian said Newcombe's attempt to tackle Howe was 'not unreasonable in the circumstances' and did not constitute a reportable offence. What the ? (What The number 19 for the year so far !! ) It’s more like … MRO ASSESSMENT PROCESS … QUESTION 1. what team is the player from ? Answer. Hawthorn. MRO : Move on. Nothing to see here.

@adonski shhhh. Smoky. C0nn0r Evans - Bendigo Pi0neers … He kicked 5 goals in the weekend v Falcons. He is a footballer. Kicks like a classic left footer with strength. Smart. Breaks tackles. Was good in the air. Kicked 5.4 with two close misses. One of his goals from the pocket was very very clever. After being selected in the Vic country u18s squad in 2024, unfortunately he had a car accident which cruelled his ‘24 draft year. On his return this year in round 1 he was outstanding v Devils. Watched around 30-40 minutes on the app and he showed good marking, run and toughness out of half back. This week in his return after missing quite a few weeks after a hamstring injury, he played deep forward and some rotations on ball. The kid just wants to play footy and have the football in his hands. One to watch in the next few weeks. https://www.facebook.com/bendigopioneers/videos/coming-into-the-bendigo-pioneers-program-from-the-kangaroo-flat-fnc-connor-evans/1093006919544953/

And then Kane defends MFC as a better option for Buckley than Tassie. MFC closer to a premiership which is what Buckley truly wants. Tassie is a pipe dream however Caro weighs in … “It's even been suggested that there'd been unofficial conversations between [Melbourne] and Nathan Buckley before they sacked the coach." 🗣️ Caroline Wilson 🤡 on the Demons' interest in Nathan Buckley That’s just speculation … she follows up with “I think”… that’s just speculation that she again is just mud journalism

“The [censored] kissing of the Melbourne players just goes to extreme levels." Kane thinks Melbourne's hierarchy are petrified of offending the club's senior players. KANE CORNES 💩💩💩💩💩

Dees lost by 6 points and Western Bulldogs v Sydney10 Ed Richards WB 7 Aaron Naughton WB 5 Max Gawn MELB 4 Marcus Bontempelli WB 2 Tom Liberatore WB 1 Bailey Dale WB 1 Tom McDonald MELB Voted as … Hmmm - prediction without evidence 🧐Chaplin … 5 Richards 4 Naughton 3 Gawn 2 Libba 1 Tmcd 🤡… 5 Richards 4 Bont 3 Naughton 2 Gawn 1 Dale

Gerard Healy hates the Dees Every week he says things that show he is biased not to us but against us !!! Example 3rd quarter Baker clearly crunched Langford in the neck Healy - “just bumped him off the ball”… “fair in love and war” Ball passed to Naughton and Dogs goal Tom Hawkins - “Langford probably deserves a free kick high there”

Looks like there will be 13 names in the first round as pre nominated players through father son, NGA or academy zone preference. Many will go to teams already in the top 8 to cement them with a pathway of potential future stars. For the Dees, we’d love to grab 1st round youngsters like Duursma, Greeves, Dovaston, Cumming to add to our list. But at the moment pre trade period and no 1sr round, JT has a challenge this year. If we can’t break into the first round, JT will be looking for value picks who might have been late developers or who might slide due to injury or recent form. I always think there is still value past the first round in the 30s and 40s as shown year after year. I am looking at players who use the footy to a high standard even under pressure. Players who I think have upside in round 2 and round 3 (30-60) include Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier - NTH ADELAIDE, SA, MID-HFF - saw him in one of the early SA games then he kept on getting more of the footy, getting more CBAs and winning it then using it superbly. Has a burst of speed and long penetrating kick to really create opportunities for teammates. Reminds me of Rivers when he was in the underage year but B.O-B is probably a better kick imv. Rory Wright -Sandringham, MID- highly skilled left foot midfielder who has starred for Caulfield Grammar and Sandringham Dragons. Gets the footy and evades and hits targets. Usually very creative by hand with forward linking handballs Felix Kneipp - CALDER, SML DEF- another very skillful left footer who hits targets. Reminds me of Archie Roberts in his ability to run and rebound and make good decisions. Has been injured in 2025 so might slide into the late 40s or later Harrison Bridge -Brisbane- MED DEF. We would have to steal him away from their academy and it’s possible they don’t match a pick. He was outstanding in my view in early Coates league games again before getting injured in the first Allies game in national championships. He reads the game well, can compete to take relieving marks and rebounded strongly to push the ball with connection into forward 50. Again another left footer with elite disposal Jett Dahlitz Sturt SA, MED DEF - another running halfback/quarterback type who I think really caught the recruiters eye in the championships with run and carry. Reminds me of Bailey Dale with his ability hit targets or gain metres. Thomas Burton - WESTERN, SML DEF- smallish type mid who loves getting the footy, competes hard in contest to win clearances and then run hard and distribute accurately. His decision msking and footskills separate him from other smaller mids. His burst of pace would be very handy in any AFL congestion Noah Roberts-Thompson Sturt SA, MID,HFF - he was excellent for SA showing elite left foot disposal and making smart decisions He hit up several forward leads inside fwd50. Good pace and runs the lines to get involved contest to contest. Not outclassed by higher ranked teammates. Hunter Wright - BENDIGO/MID- another smooth running midfielder but taller type mid at 188cms and just has that onballer class like a Pendlebury type. Hits targets and kicks goals as a midfielder. Somehow not ranked higher despite top performance in many many Coates league games where he hits the scoreboard and gets 20+ possessions regularly.