spirit of norm smith

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”.

I must say the Bailey Fritsch had an excellent 2022. 55 goals and 5th on the goalkicking table behind Curnow, Lynch, Cameron and Hawkins. He has steadily improved and notably his goalkicking accuracy has improved tremendously. 55.22. An excellent conversion. All the practice which seemed to dessert him in game time finally paid off and he’s become a strong part of the team. Whilst I’m sure he rather be competing and winning the GF, he can hold his head high. Congratulations to Fritsch on an excellent 2022.

Great post. Our defence will be strong with Petty, Lever, May and I think Bowey, Hunt,Salem still forming the nucleus for the back half next year. But we can’t just be that strong defensive team. Footy is putting the score on the board. Our attack through Mids and Forwards will change. I’m still confident that we can beat anyone. We will challenge next year.

Watching all the coverage with the family. My youngest asked if the Queens Birthday traditional match will be switched over to a “Kings Birthday” match. my response “Yes I think so”. If we continue to have the traditional Monday holiday, to respect the current schedule and in a way start a new tradition. Maybe Charles III could be in attendance.

I agree. I was at the Gabba amongst the cheer squad that night and it was amazing in the first half how we ran and kicked deep&centred footy for the forwards and not “cloud-bursters”. It was very attacking and we were on fire. Goalkicking was also easier from a quick centred approach. It was the “power switch”that we thought was going to propel us in the finals. But sadly we reverted back.

I think he summed it up. Unsure why and how the coaches couldn’t fix the continuing forward line dysfunction and the Mids continuing to kick high up and under rainmaker kicks to the forward pockets. Goalkicking accuracy was probably the only thing that the coach didn’t cover. It was something that we thought could be costly and it was.

MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin believes rival teams attacked the "vulnerabilities" of the reigning premier during the second half of the season. Goodwin referenced the side's inefficiency going forward, its inability to deal with pressure situations, and its struggles in retaining big leads as aspects of Melbourne's season that opposition teams preyed upon. "Clubs are no different to what we do. We attack teams' vulnerabilities and clearly there was a pattern throughout the year of what we struggled with. We'll unpack all of them," Goodwin said. "We tried to address it on the run throughout the season and we weren't able to do that to a level where we could get results. We did it to a level to finish second on the ladder, which I'm incredibly proud of. "But, once again, in finals your vulnerabilities find you. They find you in big games where it matters and if they're not corrected, they'll keep finding you. We've got to go away and fix it." Goodwin said a disjointed second half of the season ultimately caught up with his side. "It's devastating, the result. There's no question about that. I can only imagine our supporters and how they would feel. Our players and staff are all feeling exactly the same," Goodwin said. "Clearly, to give up 70 points in the second half … you've got to give credit to Brisbane. The game swung a bit back their way. We weren't able to execute the basics of the game for long enough in the phases that we really value. "We speak about this a lot. In finals, generally your vulnerabilities come out in games and we've had some throughout the second half of the year. When we've lost games of footy, teams have been able to impact in the second half of games and mow down leads. It happened again tonight. "It's certainly not a shock, in terms of that. That's been a pretty consistent theme for us when we've been beaten, so we've got some work to do.

202 pages !!! Wow. Can’t wait to hear the news and the thoughts of what to do with the draft picks

Yes I’d be keeping Petty in the backline. It ain’t broken. There’s the need for the Mids to connect better with the forwards. Lessons over the summer on kicking to forwards, kicking to space and kicking as direct penetrating kicks (not high rainmaker kicks)

Has to do with the Crows getting Dees 2022 1st round and then traded to Swans for Jordan Dawson deal. Wish we had Dawson. Nonetheless JVR was worth the trade and hoping he’s another JT success.

Excellent win by Casey. Not quite a painkiller for last nights nightmare, but at least the club & supporters have a reason to look forward to next week. Great to see Bowey, Chandler and Tmcd all showing why they should have played last night. Weideman was excellent in the ruck but he was only against Lions 19yo 4th level ruck in Henry Smith. Bedford had a good game as did Turner, Tomlinson, Baker and Dunstan. JVR will be very good. AMW can be a bright spark with guidance and a Choco’s development academy !! Howes has some nice moves and will be better with a full preseason Really hope Casey can win the GF. It’d be a great boost for the youngsters and a reward for the vets like Mitch Brown (and Munro and White).

Absolutely been on the JVR train since last year. Keeps showing how smart and physical he is. Very good year development at VFL level. If he is fit and has a preseason in the gym, surely he’s a lock for round 1, 2023.

Bowey showing up the poor decision to leave him out. Clearly an elite ball user. And he’s never lost a finals game !!!

2022 positives 1. TRAC IS A STAR ⭐️ 2. CLARRY IS A STAR ⭐️ Brownlow 🤞 3.THE KOZZZY SHOW 🚀 (wish it was on weekly) loved the goal v blues … goal of the year for Dees 4. FRITSCH GOT BETTER AND BETTER 🚀- loved his goal v Swans 5. 2nd Position on the ladder (about right … Cats deserved top spot and premiership favourites) 6. 65000 members 7. 7-0 interstate record 8. ALL AUSTRALIAN FOR MAY, GAWN, CLARRY & TRAC 9. Long term contracts for Gus, Clarry and Trac 10. Big crowds back at the MCG 11. Petty had a full year and is very very good - signed until 2025 12. positive Lingers was very very good 13. JVR showed really positive signs at Casey 14. Casey 16-1. (And who knows how finals will end )

A big preseason for JVR and Howes. Good signs but still very young. AMW is showing why he’s earned another year.