spirit of norm smith

@ChaserJ yes agree Neocleous has talent and deserves a spot in the best talent group. @whatwhat say what again ANOTHER COMPROMISED DRAFT with likely 10 of the best 25-30 youngsters being unavailable

Suns v Dons Suns are NOT letting Dons play the uncontested kick mark kick mark game. Pressure footy creates turnovers. Dees coaching was lazy last week to allow the Dons control the play and restrict our running game. Dees were witches hats last week Dons have some good youngsters. Caddy Farrow and Roberts are future stars.

AUSTRALIA U18 TEAM LIST # PLAYER STATE STATE LEAGUE CLUB COMMUNITY CLUB 4 Arki Butler VIC M Sandringham Dragons Beaumaris 5 Garrison Kenh WA East Perth Ellenbrook 6 Gabriel Patterson SA Glenelg Plympton 7 Noah Williams VIC C Geelong Falcons St Joseph's 8 Harrison Chapman VIC M Eastern Ranges Boronia 9 Heath Mellody WA Claremont Wembley Downs 10 Archie Hill QLD Gold Coast Suns Academy Broadbeach 11 Caylen Murray QLD Brisbane Lions Academy Maroochydore 12 Tanner Armstrong VIC C Murray Bushrangers Shepparton United 16 Marlon Neocleous^ VIC C Gippsland Power Traralgon 18 Cody Walker VIC C Bendigo Pioneers Echuca 20 Darcy Szerszyn* VIC C Dandenong Stingrays Seaford 21 Jack Gordon SA Central District Port District 22 Jack Pickett* VIC C Geelong Falcons Torquay 23 Ethan Matthews NSW/ACT GWS GIANTS Academy Ingleburn 24 Kodah Edwards SA South Adelaide Willunga 25 Aidan McCartney* NSW/ACT Sydney Swans Academy Willoughby 26 Wil Malady VIC C Gippsland Power Bairnsdale 27 Koby LeCras WA West Perth Manning 28 Kale Matthews-Hampton^ SA Sturt Strathalbyn 29 Tate Hodgson VIC M Northern Knights Park Orchards NRP 33 Xavier Ladbrook VIC C Gippsland Power Nar Nar Goon 34 Ethan Herbert SA North Adelaide Walkerville 35 Lewis Houndsome VIC M Northern Knights Yarrambat 38 Benji van Rooyen WA Claremont Wembley Downs 39 Dougie Cochrane* SA Central District

Melbourne FC listed (11) R. Onley, J. Adams, R. Mentha Jnr, A. Moniz-Wakefield, T. McDonald, J. Henderson, P. Cross, L. Kentfield, K. White, T. Matthews, O.Berry. Prediction- Lions by 18 points

Outs. Lindsay (injured/managed) Melksham (injured) Tmcd (omitted) Salem (injured) Ins. Heath. Jefferson. Taylor. Laurie (??) Taylor Petty Lever Howes Turner Kolt Langdon Steele Windsor Sharp JVR Chandler Latrelle Mihocek Fritsch Gawn Sparrow Kozzzzy Int. Langford Laurie Heath Culley Jefferson Emerg. Kentfield McDonald. Henderson That’s a weakened team in my view. Small defenders. Who?? Why no AMW??????? @binmanCharlie Cameron might have a day out UNAVAILABLE- Bowey, Rivers, Viney, Jiath, Lindsay, Salem (all potentially in best 23), Melksham, McAdam , Campbell, Johnson

TW7. Really hoping to the see midfield guns Jackson Phillips and Ethan Drever at the National championships. Both super impressive.

Out. JVR (omitted) Melksham (injured) Tmcd (managed) Salem (injured) Ins. Heath. Kentfield. Jefferson. Taylor Taylor Petty Lever Howes Turner Lindsay Langdon Steele Windsor Sharp Kentfield Chandler Latrelle Mihocek Fritsch Gawn Sparrow Kozzzzy Int. Langford Kolt Heath Culley Jefferson Emerg. Laurie JVR Henderson Why no AMW??????? @binmanwho plays on Charlie Cameron

@DubDee is Lindsay out? Twice he put his body on the line v bombers and copped a heavy hit. Others didn’t on some occasions. Is he sore and to be rested??

You did 🤣🤣🤣

And away we go. Xavier Taylor to debut in round 6, 2026 v Lions.

@Roost it far @picket fence Xavier Taylor in. Given injuries to Rivers, Bowey and Salem. I think AMW also is a must include. He should get first crack at Charlie Cameron. With McVee departing, we need a steady small defender to pickup quick small forwards.

@WERRIDEE B: W.Lual, Adams, Berry HB: Gatt, McDonald, Mentha C: Sinnema, Stanley, Onley HF: Henderson, Johnson, Craven F: Jefferson , JVR, Matthews FOLL: Pipicelli, Bonner, Laurie IC: White, D'Angelo, L.Lual, *Scapin, Cheffers. Emerg Sruk, Bryce, LaPlanche

I agree given our injuries and positions , we might need to debut Xavier Taylor . @picket fence It’s early, and he needs more development, but he has the talent Out. JVR (omitted) Melksham (injured) Tmcd (managed) Salem (injured) Ins. Heath. Kentfield. Moniz-Wakefield. Taylor ANW Petty Lever Howes Turner Lindsay Langdon Steele Windsor Sharp Kentfield Chandler Latrelle Mihocek Fritsch Gawn Sparrow Kozzzzy Int. Langford Kolt Heath Culley Taylor Emerg. Johnson Jefferson Laurie

And Heath in and JVR out Kentfield plays key forward alongside Mihocek Fritsch Chandler and Sharp as forwards Laurie or Henderson come in but that shows our current injuries list and lack of depth

Agree Henderson has shown little but I ran out of options It was between him and Laurie , but unfortunately Laurie has not taken his chances White, Onley, Taylor, Mentha, Matthews, Berry are not ready yet and all need more development at Casey Adams has shown very little With recommending to get Kentfield in, it keeps Johnson and Jeffo to impress more at Casey.

Get onboard the Ethan Drever train. Rebels midfielder who can play inside or outside role. Plays like a smart and tough footballer Good 188cms size who can win contest and tackles when beaten to the footy. Has kicked nice goals including a burst from the pack and banana kick v jets to win the game. Averages 28 possessions & 6 tackles so far this year.

@Demon Disciple yes we cannot throw big $$$ at others, especially when we have $700,000-850,000 a year being spent on a bloke for the next 5 years to play for the Giants. I also think (not fully confirmed) that we are potentially still paying some of Angus Brayshaws contract and the Geelong football administration (sorry AFL) ruled we had to include it in our salary cap.

Here’s my moves Out. JVR (omitted) Melksham (managed) Tmcd (managed) Salem (injured) Ins. Heath. Kentfield. Moniz-Wakefield. Henderson ANW Petty Lever Howes Turner Lindsay Langdon Steele Windsor Sharp Kentfield Chandler Latrelle Mihocek Fritsch Gawn Sparrow Kozzzzy Int. Langford Kolt Heath Culley Henderson Emerg. Johnson Jefferson X.Taylor

Darcy Wilson / St Kilda - their first pick in 2023 drsft at pick 18. We chose the Kolt ahead of him.

Rivers was one of our better players v Freo, gets dropped for whatever reasons … then had an injury explanation with no confirmation… misses 3 weeks … plays in scratch match !!?! He’s a key part of our future and must be back in this week “if fit”.

@picket fence @Demongirl35 Here’s my moves Out. JVR (omitted) Melksham (managed) Tmcd (managed) Salem (injured) Ins. Heath. Kentfield. Moniz-Wakefield. Rivers. ANW Petty Lever Howes Turner Rivers Langdon Steele Windsor Sharp Kentfield Chandler Latrelle Mihocek Fritsch Gawn Sparrow Kozzzzy Int. Langford Kolt Heath Culley Lindsay Emerg. Henderson Jefferson X.Taylor

I watched quite a bit of this game. Ah-mu is not a big bodied mid like a Cripps or Bont. He played a key forward then ruck role for most of what I saw. He is a good mark. Ok kick without being too effective. Was smart in the way he used his size to outbody opponents. Could be a player but not imv as an AFL mid. Likely he’s a CHF type in my opinion.

Bombers supporters post on Facebook The difference was 1. Ridley and Langers provided confidence and a calmness for Reid and McKay to stop any of their marking forwards 2. Our back line has some great users of the ball in Ridley, Roberts and now Farrow. We were allowed to play uncontested kick and mark footy. Unfortunately we don’t play the Dees every week 3. Our forwards are now moving and creating targets, with Kako and even Gresham providing pressure and holding the ball in the F50. Caddy will be a gun forward very soon 4. Wight & Blakiston did a fantastic job in the ruck and competed hard to eventually wear Gawn down 5. Darcy Parish had his best game for a year. He tore them apart. 6. Scott simply our coached King in all areas Well done bombers and yes we know Tsatas is a real player and stays in for the season

Dees fans tonight

Essendon had 128 uncontested marks v Dees. @binman Shows how little pressure and our poor manning up