spirit of norm smith

Agreed KC. Though Box Hill Hawks would snap up a lot of the Eastern League available players imo rather than Casey. I thought Ryan Morrison showed real potential in 2018 yet was hijacked by the Kangas. Like to see him back. Also think that Campbell Hustwaite from the Pies should be “invited” for the season. Shows real AFL potential and was close to being drafted last year.

No.22 2006 Elimination Final v St.Kilda at MCG After being in the top of the ladder battle and a top 4 finish, with 12 wins 5 losses, the Dees season had staggered. One win from the last 5 rounds saw us finish 7th. A round 22 thrashing by the Crows by 10 goals had us as underdogs versus the Saints. We’d beaten them earlier in the year thanks to a David Neitz 8-goal effort. The Saints started well and we struggled against their strong defence. Three goals to half time was a poor performance but thankfully we were only 20 points down at half time. Jamar and Whelan were out of the game injured. Gehrig went off injured for the Saints in the 2nd quarter after trying to evade Carroll. Neitz was being well held by Sam Fisher and Hughton double team. Harvey was everywhere and we needed someone to step up to combat him. The lift came from youngsters Davey, McLean, Bate and Jones. The mids of junior McDonald and Bruce started to win more of the footy and we got back into the game. It was only one goal deficit at 3/4 time but the Saints opened the last quarter with a goal and control of the game but couldn’t kill us off. Yet we seemed to have run our race and we couldn’t crack their defence. Halfway through the last quarter, suddenly it was the Saints that cracked. Goals to McLean and Green had us even and then Neita kicked another to put us in front. The Dees army that had been subdued roared as McLean and Yze followed with another two goals to win by 18 points. It was relief. After losing in the elimination final in the prior 2 years, we finally won a final again. It was hardly convincing and a tough win but it was September action and we’d won it and stayed in contention. Melbourne 13.12.90 defeated St.Kilda 10.12.72

Casey (without MFC alignment) has about 15-16 listed players including 6-7 under 18 graduates. It’s hard to see them participating without getting another 10-15 players from metro leagues as top ups.

Any news on the 2020 VFL season? Because AFL listed players can’t compete in the VFL, does that mean Casey wouldn’t participate this year??

Can’t get to watch it. Any vision of the Trac would be great.

I like it. Probably Bennell is not quite ready. Anb would be the one on notice imo

Here you go. The timing. A recent QB Memory to make us smile.

No 23 2017 Round 12 v Collingwood at MCG Another big Queens Birthday clash. This was huge. The Dees were now under Goodwin and Buckley was facing some heat on his coaching performance. We’d beaten them in 2016, we were the team to watch and were now capable of rising up the ladder. But 2017 started slowly with 5 wins 5 losses and had come off the mid year bye. The Pies also had 5 wins, and on a roll with 3 straight wins. We needed this. With Hogan missing, the converted Tom McDonald was our key forward amongst a few midsized options in Hannan, Melksham and Petracca. Pedersen was our makeshift ruckman. It was going to be a challenge. The game opened evenly in a spirited contest. Then the Pies got in top, taking advantage of some poor turnovers and kicked 6 in a row before Petracca magic saw us get two goals back. At half time the Pies had a 4-goal lead and momentum. Questions were being asked. We were pretenders. The Pies were on top. Howe had taken another huge speccy but this time unfortunately he was wearing black and white. But it was to be an emotional second half. Some unlikely hero’s in the third. Bugg stepped up to kick two goals in the third quarter. Frost controlled the back half and rebounded with pace. A goal from 50 metres out from Watts brought us back. It was game on. Finals atmosphere. The Pies wouldn’t stop either and by 3/4 time it was even. We were screaming in the last as we got on top. Viney and Petracca was unstoppable in the contest. The Pies get a goal to be within 4 points. 5 minutes to play. The lasting memory will be the last goal. The sealer. Dees defend in the back 50 and Oscar McDonald squirts a kick out of the pack to Harmes. Harmes gathers on half back and kicks over Watts ahead. Watts is 10 metres clear of an opponent. He gathers on the 50 arc and runs, bounces and nails the goal from 25 metres out. The roar was absolutely deafening. We were all jumping around like excited school kids. One minute to play. We held on to win by 4 points. We were hoarse. I think I lost my voice singing Its A Grand Old Flag. A great victory. (post script - the Pies got their revenge with a victory over us in round 23 by 16 points to deny us a finals spot with us missing out by a hundredth of a percentage point).

This was obvious after he’d played a dozen games. Can hurt teams more and get “advantage “ from his contested footy. He’s little 2 metre handballs do nothing but get a stat or put pressure onto a teammate. He’s a star and his kicking can cover territory. It could elevate him to be a true A grader

6 Viney by daylight 5 May 4 Langdon 3 Petracca 2 Pickett 1 Lockhart

Agree. We have to look back and agree Watts was our number 1 choice. He had a good career. Not great but good. There’s been plenty of other low draft picks that failed completely. I’d be more concerned why we selected Blease and Strauss. Should have picked Shuey and Sloane. Two standout mids at the time. Shuey to West Coast was ridiculous. Sloane to the Crows was a shocker. He missed him 3 times. He’d told him and his parents we would draft him only to pass him. We picked Blease, Strauss and Bennell ahead of Sloane. He’s never forgotten it.

Agree. Amazing he’s not in. Adams was a true A grader

At least it’s not Aaron Vdberger or Joeeeel Smith. They’d break several bones and miss the season.

You don’t bite the hand that feeds you ! It’s all political.

That’s the crew of the titanic (perhaps harsh on Joe G)

Jesse Hogan was our messiah and unfortunately he had injury and personal issues. It’s the curse around our team. We need a strong key forward. Tmcd is good but not in the class of the real key forwards. Weid is still a boy who has the talent but not the intensity or aggression needed. He’s a really nice kid who needs 2000 volts to make him “want it “.

He is a Legend. Great bloke too.

2003. What a shocker of a year. In fact it mirrors the disappointment of 2019. We failed with only 5 wins. Perhaps this game showed the vulnerability early. After a finals campaign of 2002, we were expected to challenge. The losses of the Wiz and Woey hit the supporter base hard. This win wasn’t a great memory. We were 6 goals up only to see them kick 6 goals into the breeze. We almost through the game away!!!

It’s faster now and more handballing than ever. But the foot skills are not any better and the goalkicking skills today is actually declining. It’s actually amazing given today’s footballers are Professional Full Time and have countless high performance specialist coaches.

Hutchy is spot on. Gawns hair is a key issue and may impact our season. Another great piece of journalism from Hutchy. NOT !!!!!!!!! Hutchy is a f&)(#n tool !!!!

I remember a game in the EPL of Etihad v Emirates. Cannot actually remember the teams. !

Maybe add sponsors on socks and have them focussed on when the players are lining up for goal. It’s a material world ... unfortunately

Another shocker. Stick to RED and NAVY blue. Ok with the MFC LOGO

We hung on ... just. It was a worry that we let them get close and they may consider their trajectory is now ahead of us !!

Spargo and Brown are outs. Salem and Jones are ins. But need the Weid back in as a key forward. So for team balance , I have Bedford as the unlucky out. Blues are missing tall forwards in Curnow and McKay so perhaps Hore could replace Omcd for balance Jetta may omcd (Hore) salem Lever Hibberd Tomlinson Viney Langdon Petracca Tmcd Melksham Fritsch Weid kozzzy Gawn Brayshaw oliver Lockhart jones Harmes Anb emerg - Bedford Hore Hunt