spirit of norm smith

He’s just going tonight. Needs to be stronger in the marking contest. Getting pushed aside too easily.

Andrew Brayshaw played a very good game. Helped drag Freo up to win. Would have been a very handy addition if we’d had the chance to grab him. At 20, he’s still developing but showing signs of a top class mid.

We got Neeld. More talk than Trump. I’ll make this team “the hardest team to play against “. What a statement!! We simply went bacjwards with his bs. Whoever was the decision makers should hang their heads in shame. One G.Lyon may have been a part of the committee.

Some need to get to the point. Efficiency. You get the footy and then you must make the decision. It’s this area that we struggle in. Decision making and delivery. Simple but critical. Up to the coaches to fix and keep the standard. Not just words. Actions.

Saints plan is clear. Handball only to a running player. Keep running. Tackling is very physical but mostly fair.

Not panic if we lose just and show positive signs ... ok if we lose and kick less than 7 goals from 46 inside 50s and do multiple dumb things, then maybe start to realise Goody has no f@$)($n idea

Only club who would want Viney is the Crows. I firmly believe we need to retain Viney. There is no magic in trade picks as shown by many clubs over many years. The Blues and Dees and Suns have had countless top picks and 1st rounders yet go nowhere. You need to teach players and improve year on year. Viney has huge pluses that simply don’t get found easily. In round 1, he was clearly our best player. Like Oliver, his disposal and decisions need coaching. Coaching. You don’t simply trade away former skippers, current leaders. You invest and show that the club is loyal and values its players.

Expect the expected. More inside 50s. More tackles. More contested possessions. More handballs. More clearances. More 1%s. More disposals. All key stats. Yes these are the stats v Eagles, Cats & Tigers. Yet not guaranteed of winning. why? More turnovers, lower inside 50 conversions, less marks inside 50, low kicking efficiency. This is where the improvement is needed. Hope we see signs today.

Yes we have a full squad and should have beaten the Cats. They are flying right now yet if Tomlinson kicks the ball 2 metres to the right then we win. It’s a game of ifs. 3 losses. To Eagles, Cats & Tigers. Probably teams that will finish top 5. Need to improve dramatically but we are not as hopeless as the media are showing.

Yes in watching Brisbane closely they don’t slow down. They get the mark or free kick and quickly get back for room, look for options and indeed always seem to have RUNNING PLAYERS as handball options who then kick the footy. Brisbane are now one of the best KICKING efficiency clubs. Not by accident. Fagan has taken this SIMPLE SKILL REQUIREMENT from Hawthorn and Clarko. Not secret sauce. Goody seems unable to bring in plan B. Plan A is win contested footy. Plan B missing right now

No change

Viney is going nowhere. He’s a great tough player who needs to lift. A leader. Simply has to stay and get support to get better.

Simply must win this week

Yes I know. I hate them but it makes sense. In this mad year.

Get Perth setup for success. My favorite to host the 2020 GF. Makes sense. And I hate the sandgropers

Too late. We got Preuss. Peter Wright should have been trade pickup instead of Preuss two years ago. Should have been Tyson for Wright. Suns would’ve done deal. Wright could’ve been key forward option (Gawn in ruck) or be safety measure for Gawn.

I agree. It’s not “we”... it’s where will they play the AFL grand final. Perth. Yes football mad. ✅ 60,000 top class facilities. ✅ Play at 5/30pm and screen into eastern states at 7/30 pm Saturday night. ✅

Clarry is a bloody good footballer. Not the sharpest tool in the shed. If he’s kicking and decision making get real coaching, then he could be A grade.

Outs Smith: Suns talls are Day and King so bringing in OMac for height. Lever to play 3rd defender and intercept. No excuses. Smith and Lever have been ordinary so one had to go. Rivers: unlucky. Good kid. Glad he’s in red and blue. 200 gamer imo. Tomlinson: he’s no wingman. It was a bizarre statement. Yes he’s got athletic endurance but no pace or agility. He’s a CHB or CHF imo. Last week he went half paced and one handed so paid the penalty. At $500k a year for 5 years he’s an investment that needs an spark. Hunt: poor. Very poor last week. Good against Carlton but 2 weeks of disappointing form. I still think he should be tried as a half back or wingman again. That’s where he played his best footy in 2016-17! We are oversupplied with half forwards. ins. Weid: finally. NOW PLAY HIM FOR 5 GAMES. He’s critical now. He needs to be our key forward. It’s that simple. If he crashes in the 5 weeks, then sure an EOY trade may be needed. But give him a go and tell him not to always go under the footy. Jetta: he is showing signs of ageing and tough style of play. I think he’s still our best back pocket right now. He will be busy with Rankine or Ainsworth. They are quick and skilled. Bennell: the experiment continues. Skilled. Silky. But fragile. Fingers crossed but we gotta play him on and off this year. Play in the forward fifty on rotation. Omac - in for Smith. But he has been slow and ineffective of late and needs to have a few Red Bull shots of energy. Too hesitant mostly and career imo is on the edge. unlucky - Jones : hard to see where the elder statesman now fits. I love the bloke but difficult to see him getting back right now.

We knew Langdon would add pace and run but that he’s knock was his sometimes erratic disposal. I’m still backing him as a good trade. Ed Langdon for effectively a net 2020 2nd rd trade pick was good business.

Need to get Adam Tomlinson to do the next interview with our man Ben Gibson. Ben’s usual Hard hitting Questions like: 1- favourite cafe in Sydney 2- favourite restaurant 3- favourite pizza place Adam spent 8 years at GWS and should have insider knowledge.

I love it. Optimism. I believe it has been occasionally sighted here but disappears very quickly and is hard to locate. Thank you for refreshing my memory.

I’m more worried about “Connection forward of centre” and inside 50 conversions right now.

Sorry also disposals per goal - Dees 18th kicking efficiency deferential - Dees 18th forget the gym. Hit the paddock and spend 2 hours kicking the footy at pace or under pressure. Not just kick to kick.

Best German heritage AFL footballer is the great David Schwarz!!!