spirit of norm smith

Solid win 👏👏 Last quarter continues to be an issue 💔 Zanker is super important 🤩 2nd place locked ✅

Hore 🧨bang !! 👏👏👏

Geez … need to lift !!! Average start against a lower team.

As long as we miss the Cats at the [censored] Park, then it will be ok. Hopefully the Dees get two games v Eagles and two games v Tigers.

@adonski I think he’s definitely on JTs short list. Has all the attributes to be a very good AFL player

2025 draft 1st round (likely up to 30 selections) Willem Duursma VIC Midfielder Zeke Uwland(** academy GCS) Def Suns Cooper Duff-Tytler Vic Ruck Daniel Annable(** academy Bris) Midfield Dylan Patterson(** academy GCS) midfielder Sam Grlj VIC halfback/midfield ⭐️ Sullivan Robey VIC Mid/fwd ⭐️ Xavier Taylor VIC Key defender Harry Dean (**Carlton f/son) def Dyson Sharp. SA Midfielder Sam Cumming SA midfield/Hff ⭐️ Josh Lindsay VIC halfback/quarterback ⭐️ Oliver Greeves VIC midfield Jacob Farrow WA def/halfback/quarterback Lachlan Dovaston. VIC sml fwd Aiden Schubert SA. Fwd/ruck Jevan Phillipou SA. Mid/hff Oskar Taylor VIC running left foot half back Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves VIC midfield/HF Mitch Marsh SA med/tall fwd Max King (**academy Swans) Fwd Louis Emmett VIC ruck/fwd Archie Ludowyke VIC ruck/fwd Harley Barker. SA. Mid/wing Riley Onley VIC. tall mid👍🏻 Lachlan Carmichael(**acdemy Sydney) halfback/quarterback Matthew LeRay. SA. Mid/wing Fred Rodriguez WA midfield Adam Sweid VIC (**Ess NGA) small mid Noah Chamberlain(**academy Sydney) 2nd round 31-52 Cody Curtin Key fwd/ruck Zac McCarthy VIC (**Collingwood NGA)key fwd Rory Wright. VIC Gun HBF/mid👍🏻 Sam Swadling WA Mid Latrelle Pickett🚀SA Glenelg Hff Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier👍🏻 mid. Think Luke Parker. Beau Addinsall(** academy GCS) midfield Jett Dahlitz SA 👍🏻def/halfback/quarterback Koby Coulson (* Suns academy) Mid Harry Kyle. (*Swans academy ) halfback/quarterback Jack Dalton. Sml mid. Accumulation Cameron Nairn SA tall fwd Jack Ison (*Carlton NGA) HFF Ryder Corrigan (*academy Giants) inside tough mid Tairon Ah-Mu VIC Big key fwd Hussein El Achkar (*ESS NGA) mid/hbf Jesse Mellor (*GEELONG NGA) hf/goalkicker Noah Roberts-Thompson SA 👍🏻mid/hff Liam Hetherton (*academy Giants) Tall fwd Hugo Mikunda VIC fwd/mid Thomas Burton VIC sml def/mid Kye Fincher (*Saints NGA) VIC utility/ half back 3rd round Tom Blamires (Frankston VFL) Jai Murray (*academy GCS) Blake Thredgold. SA Thomas McGuane(*Coll FS) Avery Thomas TAS Harrison Bridge (*Lions academy)elite Hbf Hunter Wright👍🏻 Vic Felix Kneipp 👍🏻skilled half back Xavier Bamert👍🏻 Vic Kalani White(*Melb FS/ )💙❤️ Toby Whan (*Freo NGA) WA Sam Ainsworth SA Talor Byrne VIC Late picks + and rookie hopefuls (20) Hunter Holmes Louis Kellaway(*Rich FS) Tyan Prindable (* Lions academy) Blake Kelly Taj Murray. Sam Niklaus Zane Peucker Brodie Atkins Zac Harding Charlie Banfield (*Eagles father son) Kobe Evans (*Eagles NGA) Toby Simmema (*Dees NGA)💙❤️ Callum Smith Aaron Sharkie Wes Walley(*WCE NGA) Tyah Williams WA Finnegan Davis Sam Allen Ben Rongdit (**Cats NGA) Andrew Barker Smokies : Connor Ryan , Tom Ryan, Jobe Scapin, Mitch Moate, Harry Tatterson, Sam Lewis VFL : Jackson Voss , Taj Hayes , Fergus McFadyen, Harry Scott, Flynn Gentile SANFL: Angus Anderson That’s 97 players … but it’s likely only 55-60 get picked. Therefore like many years, a lot of good youngsters will miss out. I would argue it’s not a weak draft year but a flat draft after the first 6-7 available players. Some good quality young players are even through the later group. Some will be drafted, some will go on to play VFL/SANFL/WAFL, some will go on to local leagues and others pursue different paths in their lives and sporting careers. It’s an exciting but anxious time for all. Will they get drafted? Where will they go ? Will it be a move interstate?

HOMETOWN EX-AFL DUO BEHIND DEMONS’ TARGET’S TOP-10 RISEPotential top-10 pick Sam Cumming has played footy for teams in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Hailing from the NSW border town of Wentworth, Cumming has boarded at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide for the past three years and represented Bendigo Pioneers at the V-Line Cup before the move. It has made choosing his state allegiance difficult — especially after South Australia’s national championships win this year. “After the champs, it’s definitely questioned that a bit, but I think at this point it’s just whoever’s asking,” Cumming said with a smile. Cumming’s footy has flourished over in Adelaide, earning All-Australian status at their successful carnival, dominating the SANFL U18s with North Adelaide, and impressing at league level with the Roosters. In just his second SANFL game, the quick and tough midfielder-forward turned heads with three goals and 21 disposals against South Adelaide. Such performances are why clubs with picks inside the top 10 at this year’s draft — including Melbourne — are being heavily linked to Cumming as the draft approaches. Back in his hometown, with a population of around 1500, two ex-AFL players laid the foundation for his barnstorming season. Former Hawthorn and Sydney forward Ben McGlynn and ex-Western Bulldogs and Essendon wingman Mark Alvey have served as important mentors along with his father, Glen, a club great at Wentworth. “Dad’s been a big one, growing up in a country town. He’s always showed me around and showed me the ways of what to do with footy and life as well,” Cumming said. “And then the likes of Ben McGlynn and Mark Alvey have also been really helpful throughout that journey as well. “They both played AFL footy, so having them as well, have been pretty lucky.” McGlynn has been back at Wentworth since he departed as St Kilda assistant coach at the end of 2022, but he worked closely with Cumming even during his time at the Saints. Cumming debuted at senior level in the Sunraysia league when he was just 14, named in the best in eight of his 15 games in 2022. “Pretty sure he was still at St Kilda that year. but he was coming backwards and forwards a fair bit, so over that summer, worked with him with a bit of craft and stuff in the gym,” Cumming said. “Did a fair bit of work with him when I’d go back home. “ (Alvey) did a lot of my rep footy in that regional work. But he’s also played a lot of footy with dad at Wentworth Roos. So when he come back, he was a player, and he coached a fair bit as well.” Cumming was eager to board away from home from a young age and after considering schools in Victoria, he chose the closer option in Adelaide, where his sister lives. “I’ve always wanted to board when I was, 12-13, wanted to go away to boarding school,” Cumming said. “And there was a few boys older than me that went away and did pretty well – not only at their footy, but just enjoyed it as well. The boarding experience has him well prepared for playing footy anywhere in any state across Australia. “I have already sort of moved out of home and had those hard couple of weeks, (feeling) a bit homesick,” Cumming said. “So wherever I go, I should be fine, and hopefully adjust to a new environment pretty quickly. At the start of the year, he wrote some “ambitious” goals on the pinboard in his room: playing well for the AFL Academy, making All-Australian with South Australia and winning the championships, and playing SANFL league with North Adelaide. He passed them all with flying colours. “It’s been pretty crazy, it’s all gone very quick. I thought they were maybe a tad ambitious, but reflecting back on it now, it’s been pretty lucky to tick most of them off,” Cumming said.

Sam Cumming. What I like is his composure and sure handling. Looks for options and executes with the footy. Footskills are good without being a standout. He has that ability roll forward and kick goals which is handy for a mid. I see him like Cam Rayner as he has good pace on the burst and power through his legs. He would be a handy addition if available.

Agree. Will he be available at 37? Not sure he will still be on the board. I think he’s gone by the end of the 1st round about 28-29 pick.

Oskar Taylor has to be in the conversations for pick “7&8”. His speed and left foot delivery brings him into the JT discussion

likely run sheet West Coast - Duursma Matched bid Suns - Uwland West Coast - Duff-Tytler Matched bid Suns - Patterson Richmond - Robey Matched bid Lions - Annable Richmond - Grlj Essendon - X.Taylor Matched bid Blues - Dean Essendon - Sharp Melbourne - Josh Lindsay Melbourne - Lachie Dovaston Gets us … an elite half back with excellent skills and decision making AND a dynamic small forward who loves to kick goals and tackle (37)Add Rory Wright as a classy onballer to the Dees future midfield mix. (60) Add Kalani White - father son Rookie -pick - NGA - Toby Sinnema

Kozzzzy Langford Lindsay Windsor And then add GRLJ

spirit of norm smithJun 21 I think one impressive youngster for the Dees to consider is Sam Cumming. He’s a midfielder small half forward type. In the bits and pieces that I’ve seen in his games for South Australia, he shown the skill and good running through that translates to AFL. Made good decisions with the footy and yes he hits targets inside forward 50!!!

If we got … Sam Grlj 🎄 it’s merry Xmas - has the pace and run that would perfectly in our future midfield Josh Lindsay 🤩he’s definitely the best kick in the draft - he would add the skill and smart decision making as a mid/half back distributor Lachie Dovaston - 🤗 he’d entertain and give our forward line a real edge as a small forward who just loves to kick goals

As per FOX footy JOSH LINDSAY MEDIUM DEFENDER Size: 183cm Clubs: Newtown & Chilwell/Geelong Grammar/Geelong Falcons AFL player comparison: Christian Salem The designated distributor — and arguably the best kick in the draft. He’s a great decision-maker who rarely wastes a disposal with that precise left boot. He can play off half-back or on a wing, given he loves to use his run and carry to generate plays out of defence. Lindsay had a consistent champs campaign for Vic Country, averaging 21.8 disposals and going at 74 per cent efficiency by foot to earn All-Australian honours. He’s a big-game player too, named best on ground for Team Heppell in the Under 17s Futures match at the MCG on AFL Grand Final day last year then named the AFL Academy’s best player for his 25-disposal game against VFL side Coburg this year. Was looming as a top-10 chance a few months ago, but a few other prospects might’ve gone ahead of him. Melbourne might be a chance, but his range more likely starts at Hawthorn (Pick 10), the Giants (Pick 12) and the Western Bulldogs (Pick 14). You’d think one of Geelong (Pick 19) or Fremantle (Pick 20) would pounce if Lindsay somehow got that far.

@adonski !!! 🤣

Of course who and how the Dees use this selection really depends imv on who we get with 7&8. At “37”, or whatever it ends up, we might pick Latrell Sumner-Pickett (if he’s still available). Yes he’s a raw talent, and certainly loves a goal. Might depend also though if the Dees pick Dovaston with 7/8 to see if we go for another small forward. Rory Wright is a favourite young gun for me. He’s excelled both as a midfielder and as a distributor across half back. He’s a local Sandringham lad who combines school footy and Coates league this year. He can compete and win the footy as well as having the classy left foot disposal. Riley Onley as a 6”4’ tall midfielder would be hard to ignore. He might not be silky skilled but he impacts and kicks it 50+ metres easily. Hard at the contest and can mark the footy in a contest. Would be a steal imv as a mid-late 2nd round pick. There is another player highlighted by me and a few on here is Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier. Great name!! BOB is a strong, Luke Parker like player who plays a mid forward role. He can win the footy plus finish off to kick a goal. Certainly would be a handy pickup later in the draft. Blake Thredgold from SA could also be handy if he’s on the board. He’s tall and competes hard. With May and Tmcd winding down, we have Adams potentially could shift Petty back. Kalani coming in may also fill a key back role but he’s needing a solid protein diet and gym work over the next 2-3 years. Or indeed, the Dees might try also leverage a pick swap to grab a player who might slide!!! Could the “GC” future 2026 1st rounder & 37 for … say a pick “24 ish” this year and a future 2nd next year . Who knows?

✅the ability to hit a target ✅ makes the right decision about where the best options are That’s what makes him immediately a must pick for our team going forward

Loved the “King” work recently all hail the King !!! 🤣🤣🤣

Greeves. Im a no. Big lad but lacks a burst of speed. He’s a 6”3’ midfielder and overpowers others in the junior comp. But against the men of the AFL, he will need more tricks. He does kick it 60 metres easily and is smart but I’m not sure he’s a go to player for us. Farrow. I’m a no. He has some tools and although not quite in the same echelon , he’s got Langford quality of being able to run and compete in marking duels. But alas a no. He’s a WA boy and I’m still recovering from the Farmer, Hogan, Jackson & McVee retreat to home base departures.

So let’s see … hmmm Gather Round. Hopefully it’s an away game - Cats (as the sacrificial home team) v Dees at the Barossa !! Perfect picnic atmosphere. Lots of 4WDs parked around the ground

Let’s go !!! What are our requests (or demands) to the AFL for next years fixture !! We played the Tigers (Anzac Eve) and Magpies (Kings Birthday) as our “home game events” this year so they are away games next year. What other blockbuster games can we ask to have ?

Hmmmm. Sharp is a tough contested ballwinner … no doubt… but his pace, disposal and are all questionable whether they transform or can be capable at AFL level. Dees would have to consider him. BUT with his pros & cons, I’d add that I also would be reluctant, with the potential “go home” factor that perhaps makes the Dees hesitant to pickup the SA/WA boys.

Not a bad comparison. However I think Lindsay is a much better kick than Salem ever was/is (in my view)