spirit of norm smith

Who???

Agree. It was not great. We had them and RELAXED. May is good but needs to do the defensive thing better sometimes. Five goal lead but Blues got a sniff. Danger signs.

Surely W.Carey could spare 30 minutes a week

It’s probably dumb and dumber. An Uber to a non essential gathering. Not a hanging offence but suspension was likely.

Who plays on the tall Blue forwards? Casboult, McKay and McGovern. May and ... ??? Lever is best as a 3rd defender to intercept and not in a key post. Joel Smith also undersized imo

Yes. 16 Crows players on a golf course. The punchline to the joke was no penalty. AFL makes up the rules on the run and flip flops.

Breach??? 16 Crows players all breached the rules as well as the coaches. Their excuse? None, “we got it wrong”. And their punishment?? Be more careful next time. It’s ridiculous

Yes but this is UNPRECEDENTED circumstances

Bring in Lockhart

Too soon. Unknown as form can rise and fall this year. Likely need to get down to list of 38-40, meaning we will likely have to cut 8-9 and pickup only 3 new players.

Harmes should be in starting 18 before Riv Brayshaw to start on HFF and Jones as midfield rotation Bennell will play forward

Looks like we’ll try Jackson as a key forward this year. It’s an experiment and must make Weideman question his future at Demonland. Interesting to see this play out (!!!!). I think we need Weid to see the “light “, get tough and get in.

It was bizarre!!!!

Yawn. Pies zone defence. They stopped Tigers run. But you need to score!!! Riewoldt? Rioli? Did they play?? Absolutely missing all night.

Just like Weideman to step up. This team needs him to fulfill his talent with some intensity and marking power.

I think they should play half court defence style games. Zone defence.

Just needs to get through the game. Not the stats or goals. That will happen in course. Very good footy story so far

No.19 2000 Round 14 v Collingwood at MCG Another massive Queens Birthday clash. No matter what, this game always was a must win for the Dees faithful. In 2000 we’d shown ourselves as a team to be watched and repeated the 1998 form. We were 5 wins 3 losses and then met the undefeated Dons, losing in a close one by 2 goals in a tough contest. Expectations were high. But then the wheels fell off and we lost 3 in a row, including round 13 when the Blues destroyed us by 16 goals (to push us to 6-7 record) and out of the top 8. The Pies had new coach Malthouse on board but had a shocking 5-8 record having lost their past eight games. The clash was crucial to keep both teams within sight of the finals. The opening was even with both sides trying to break away. At half time it was 3 points lead to the Dees. Schwarz and Neitz were ineffective, held by Prestigiacomo and Richardson. Despite Buckley’s absence, the midfield was an arm wrestle. It was tense. We didn’t foresee what was to follow. In the second half, the magic of the wizard Jeff Farmer was on show. He’d not been sighted in the 1st half and was dragged by Daniher. He exploded with 9 goals in the second half to entertain the crowd and his own teammates. As we sat on level 1 behind the Punt Road goals, we celebrated in the last quarter as he kicked 6 goals to demoralise the Pies. The Wiz had us jumping out of our seats. Big marks, goals in the run and a huge speccy next to Robbo. He was brilliant. The Dees amassed 15 goals after half time to win it by 65 points. Yze was a star. White, Johnstone, Rigoni & Woey all had great games. But all the way back to the Duke and at the Duke, there was only one man we were talking about ... The Wiz. Our hope had returned and we felt like the confidence of the team also was renewed. The next week we smashed a strong Hawks team by 12 goals, and The Wiz kicked 7 goals. The QB win over the Pies had given us the belief and momentum to drive us towards one of the most outstanding years since 1964. The Dees went on to win 8 of the last 9 games in 2000, only losing to the Kangas by 1point after missing easy chances to win it. We locked in the highest place finish in 36 years to be in 3rd place with a 14-8 record. Melbourne 22.11.143 defeated Collingwood 12.6.78

Deep water

Still lots of finals to come in the countdown and yes the 2018 finals games are included. But there was some great wins in 1987, 1988, 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2000 that are particularly featuring.

This was spot on in terms of his three development needs. He’s now 22 and physically should be mature as a key forward. His physical contact ability is below par and marking below required for a key forward. He has the makings of a top key forward but needs to be hungry. He needs intensity. I think he’s been so hugely talented in junior ranks that his raw talent has got him into the AFL ranks. But the step from top juniors to top AFL players is hard work and intensity. Sam was going to be our key forward alongside Jesse Hogan. It was going to be THE key forwards for 8-10 years. I want to keep Sam and see him fulfill his potential in a red and blue jumper but fear his future may be linked to a end of year trade discussion to get us a top 25 pick. Unfortunately the Pies will answer the phone if we ring.

I agree this is the likely changes. But Lockhart would be very very disappointed as he played a pretty good game. Bkg- jetta May lever. Hibberd Omcd salem Mids - gawn oliver viney Langdon brayshaw Tomlinson Fwds- Petracca Tmcd melksham. Pickett Jackson Fritsch int harmes n-jones rivers Bennell emerg Lockhart Bedford Anb

No.20 2002 Elimination Final v North Melbourne at MCG 2002. It was such an inconsistent year. We had beaten the top teams like Brisbane, Power and Crows yet lost to the Tigers twice. Other losses were by small margins and we often played in bursts. The team was hit hard by injury and the loss of Jeff Farmer was hurting us (especially his winning goal against us after the siren). Still by round 21, we were in 5th place and potentially could push us to a double chance with the lowly Swans and Saints. We were virtually assured of September action. But the Swans hammered us by 12 goals at the G meaning we lost percentage and had slipped down to 7th just holding on. Mathematically with another big loss we’d be out. We just beat the Saints in a tough last round to finish 6th. We were led by Neitz having a strong year with 75 goals to be leading goalkicker, White, Woey, Yze and Trav Johnstone. After a poor 2001, we were back to September. We had to play the Kangas, still a strong team but now without Carey. Woewodin kicked our first within a minute and it was game on. But we seemed to again think it would just happen. Our inconsistency continued as the Kangas opened strongly and led at quarter time. But again we burst clear by 21 points by half time. Vardy, Yze and Neitz were our multiple goal kickers. Johnstone was especially damaging and his delivery to the forwards was setting up goals. The 3rd quarter was even with us holding a 4 goal lead at the last break. We’d lost some heartbreakers in 2002 so we were nervous. But as with other games in the year, we ended strongly with a 7 goal ending to win by 40 It was the sign of how capable this team was. Vardy kicked 5 goals to show his value and talent. Robbo kicked the sealer at the 25 minute mark and celebrated to the Red and Blue Army at the Punt Road end. He added 2 more goals to demoralise the Roos. No sympathy for the Roos as we headed for another week in September. Melbourne 18.14.122 defeated North Melbourne 11.18.84 (post script- our complete inconsistent stop-start form continued the next week as we list to the Crows in a very cruel but symbolic end to 2002)

No.21 1990 round 16 v Essendon at Windy Hill This game is one that most Dees fans have good memories about. The last quarter has been replayed a few times in the archive footage. But there was a lot to this match. The Dees opened 1990 with 5 straight wins against quality teams but by July we’d slipped to 9 wins 6 losses after 3 straight losses. The Dees had been beaten by 5 goals by the lowly Saints, then anniliated by the Kangas by 21 goals and then lost to the Cats by a goal at Geelong. We desperately needed to win. On the other hand, the Bombers were flying and back to the top of the ladder. 12 wins 2 losses. They had just smashed the Hawks, the reigning premiers by 11 goals. To go to Windy Hill and win seemed impossible. Yet we had beaten them comprehensively in round 3 by 6-7 goals so there was a marginal hope. My family and I were holidaying in the Gold Coast and the match was fully televised on channel 7. We had planned to watch the game but may have planned to venture out if it became ugly. The breeze was worth 3-4 goals by reports and we kicked into the breeze at the start. Whilst the Bombers were on top and missed some good chances, we were only 3 goals down. The Bombets defied the breeze to kick the opening 4 goals of the second quarter. Our hearts were dropping. The walk down to the beach was tempting us. But then the Dees clicked and kicked the next four goals to restore the faithful. At half time the lead remained 15 points to the Bombers. Bennett had been held to a single goal as we relied on Ricky Jackson as our only multiple goalkicker. Again in the third quarter we held in the game and were 27 points by the last break. It was a fight. The Bombers opened better and went out to a 34 point lead via a Greg Anderson snap in his wrong foot. Despite the wind, hope was fading by the half way point. Some quick goals gave us momentum and a Greg Healy snap under pressure made it three in a row and back to a 3 goal lead. Then a 3rd goal to Jackson and two goals to Darren Bennett (5 goals) put us in front. Bennett’s mark over Van Der Haar lives as a great moment as Van Der Haar was crushed by Bennett’s size and leap. His goal lifted all in red and blue. Incredible. We were jumping around. What a fight back. Three minutes to play and the Bombers were attacking. They were relentless. But on the rebound, Heaver ran through the middle, took three bounces and handballed to Jackson who missed from 20 metres out. But he’d been pummeled after the kick. He got a free and nailed the sealer. We won by 8 points in an amazing upset. You couldn’t get the smile off our faces. In the final 14 minutes, the Dees kicked 7 goals to snatch it. It proved the catalyst to our year and we won every game for the rest of the regular season to get 7 straight leading to the finals. (post script- But of course 1990 was still not our year).

Yes disappointing. Petty is one bloke that I really want to see progress this year either as a tall back or key forward. He might be on the trade table at year end unfortunately as the Crows may dial up his number and he be tempted. Preuss is fragile for a guy that looks like an absolute warrior. Toes must be the new AFL issue !!