spirit of norm smith

@binman selections? Kolt. Has been very uninspiring at Casey but maybe he’s the type that lifts for the big ones and motivated by the occasion. Hope so (but it’s a punt!!) JVR. yes only because he plays 2nd ruck. He looked ok up the ground v Swans VFL but we need him to play key forward and kick goals. Prefer Jeffo as a forward right now (even though he’s goals over the past 2 VFL games were against poor opposition). Howes. Deserves a go. Maybe he’s plays half forward this week. He’s versatile so we will wait and see I’m worried about our pace. Pies run the footy through Quaynor & Daicos through the back half and corridor. I thought they might use Sharp to tag Daicos like ANB did. You need a player with a tank to stop N Daicos. Not sure we have such a player now. Pies have McCreery, Hill and Elliott as small forwards. Mcvee gets Hill. Rivers perhaps on mccreery. Elliott will be a challenge. Howes? Question. Have we gone in too tall. Given it’s likely to be wet, pies went full Sullivan and Hayes as their 22/23 player. Wise if it’s wet and low ball required. odds favour the filth… Pies at $1.25 dees at $3.90

No. But double the free kicks and the Pies were DEFINITELY favoured without question.

Key stats Dees 7.15. Oh boy. Goalkicking problems across the whole squad Free kicks. Pies 33. Dees 17. Umps were poor again and clearly biased. It’s exasperating!!!

AFL website Mason Cox's second goal with just minutes remaining helped seal a nine-point win for the Magpies over Casey. The 211cm big man, who was dropped for last week's AFL win over Hawthorn, also had nine disposals, three clearances and 22 hitouts rotating through the ruck.

I do agree but as AJ is out, probably I thought JVR in as forward and 2nd ruck will be the inclusion. Laurie goes out. Have to consider Casey players form over past 2 games was played v Bullants & Swans in last 2 weeks as 20th and 21st places teams in VFL !!

Dees missing Viney (best 23) and Spargo and Johnson.

Jordan De Goey Achilles TBC Harvey Harrison Knee TBC Tew Jiath Foot Test Ash Johnson Leg 3-4 weeks Pat Lipinski Concussion TBC Fin Macrae Shoulder 6-8 weeks Brayden Maynard Foot 2 weeks Reef McInnes Knee Season Dan McStay Knee Test Lachie Schultz Hamstring 5-6 weeks

Wow. Crows 5 straight versus Lions 0.8 and 3 out of bounds and a smothered shot (12 shots, zero goals). They should have got 3 or 4 at least. Neale!! Bailey (twice)! Lohmann. Fagan will have aged years after that !!

MFC Listed Hore, Adams, Sestan, T. McDonald, Billings, Woewodin, K. Brown Fullarton, Henderson, Campbell, Laurie , Verrall, Kentfield, Mentha (14) Casey listed: Hardie, D. Smith, Bonner, T. Edwards, Cross, P. Ireland, Baldi, Craven, Lual (9) Unavailable: Viney (inj) Spargo (inj) Johnson (susp) Probably MFC inclusions. JVR , Howes Emergencies: Culley, Throlstrup, Jeffo

I loved a commentary piece that referred to “When we were kids and all kids do it, we get a footy and imagine ourselves kicking goals, goals and more goals” And when we were kids we’d go to the park and choose an end and go to the goals to kick goals But… Our MFC players look scared and timid and would rather be doing anything else but have a kick for goals - you can see it - it’s like they don’t want it It’s definitely got to be mental AND physical technique Yes it’s actually unbelievable for professional athletes earning serious $$$ to not have such a strong capability now for goalkicking … it’s got to be a key focus at ALL times You have own the challenge, accept the responsibility and embrace it… not fear it It’s going to be a big moment for the player who has the first shot v the magpies this week

@binman was Brad Greens letters to Members to be regular, irregular or regularly irregular? Agree members communication is generally poor.

Thanks BBP. Lots of anger and disappointment amongst these games. We had so many opportunities to win games yet snatched defeat from the jaws of victory !!!

Really hope the Dees give a new contract deal for Blake Howes. He’s got the talent but in my view, he hasn’t been given the opportunities like others. He was impressive at Casey across 2022 and 2023 but injuries prevented him from getting his chance. In 2024, he was very good across defence and showed himself as one of the good young under 22s in our team. Now in 2025, he was in, sub, out, in, out, emergency, emergency. He seems stuck as too good for VFL but not given the chance again at AFL. I hope we re-sign him and not let ourselves see another Bedford or JJ situation. Note - I’d like to see him trialed also across half forward. That’s where he also excelled in his underage footy. And he know how to kick a goal !!!

Chronic. Dysfunctional. Systemic. Yes all are applicable Bad kicking will lose you games We called it out year after year Dees performance in front of goal this year has been HORRENDOUS I don’t actually now trust anyone in their set shot capability, even Milkshake missed a few recently The worst part is that the Dees actually LOSE GAMES THEMSELVES V hawks 7.14. Should have been 4 goals up as 3/4 such was the position of the match V Saints 7.21 from 57 inside50s. At least 6-7 easy shots from 25 metre out that would be a 80-90% probability for many teams V Swans 6.11 (halftime) - dominated the 1st half (3.8 in 2nd quarter) V Suns 2.9 (halftime) probably not the reason that we lost but we didn’t take our chances and when the suns had momentum they scored often on rebound V Lions 4.8 (last quarter) -A win in the game but we absolutely dominated the last quarter yet couldn’t nail our chances and somehow didn’t fully close it out V Freo A win. Yes a beautiful 15.5 to 3/4 time. It was one of the reasons why we won. We took our chances !!! and applied Scoreboard pressure. Actually 1.6 in the last quarter to keep Freo in the hunt

@Demonland 👏👏👏 Jeff White interview. I’d highly recommend all DLers to listen in. It’s one of best PODs. Jeff is insightful not just on ruck craft but the overall game and how it’s played. I especially liked his comments about “see the game first, then refer in the stats”. Many commentators see for example the possession stats and say oh he had a great game. They need to see impact and the context of the match. Jeff is still a red and blue man. He had a great career for the Dees. Also really hope Kalani picks the Dees.

A wise soothsayer once said Dees beat Lions because the Lions were loading Saints beat Demons because the Demons were loading Dees will beat the Pies because the Pies will be loading (“Dees will be running on top of the ground and have pressure consistently over 200”) Ummmm I’m not a believer to this loading cult - just my opinion

Meanwhile back at Demons training Get rid of the soccer balls. WAFJ !!!

one sane voice in the wilderness … 3AW Breakfast sports reporter Jon Anderson has fired up over Melbourne’s decision not to pay close attention to Saints defender Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera late in Sunday’s game in Alice Springs. The Demons lost to the Saints by 28 points, despite having seven more scoring shots, but Wanganeen-Milera was able to roam around and rack up 15 disposals in the last quarter. “How darn obvious is that to not do something about it?!” Anderson said on 3AW Breakfast. That’s not just on Goodwin, what about the senior leaders on that team? “I’m not a Melbourne supporter, but it angered me.”

I just have to laugh at our goalkicking 3 years of frustration is becoming overwhelming

Just tried to be a 1980s player !! Not showing any sense of the modern game. What was the point of jumping into a bloke kicking the ball ? Smother or spoil or tackle with force. Not bump. Was it stupid? 95/100 people would say yes.

@Rohstarrr agree. Loved Andy passion and likely we all need to hear him unleash another rant. It reflects all of us. Any passionate Dees supporter would excuse any F bombs born out of the anger and disappointment of this goalkicking performance @Demonland

Ins. Lockdown tackles to stop handballs out Hard overlap running Quick ball movement (a must in) Accuracy in front of goal Lower eyes entering 50 Transition through the corridor with bravery Outs Missed tackles Start stop wide start stop go wide Guarding grass and pointing fingers High dump kicks inside 50 Nervous anxious goal kicking Loose low handballs to teammates feet

Jake Lever has been very good for a long time. Clearly highly respected within the footy club. Yes he was poor v Saints. He had lost some pace and agility. Injuries do take away from natural ability. The modern game needs quicker agile 3rd intercepting defenders like our Turner, & others like Idun, Battle, Ryan)

There were some individuals as positives. McVee had a good game& restricted Higgins to one goal. He’s a ripper May’s intercepts in the first half. Chandler contested hard & gives 100% Gawn in my view edged out Marshall in a good ruck contest. Trac kicked 2 nice goals and again had a nearly game (some other missed chances) Bowey had a very good 2nd half. Saints tried to negate him Turner had a good 3/4 in defence and took a great mark. Fritta was active and had 4 tackles !! Not much to say about others unfortunately