spirit of norm smith

Howes only played first half. If there’s a last minute change , he’s in as a sub. Hopefully no late changes.

Tarion is a great young kid and has huge potential. His younger brother Corey is also a young talent.

Lukewarm Tigers banter. They are still admiring the three premiership cups from 2017,2019 & 2020 !

Might have to revisit adding him to the list for 2026. He’s still not getting a game at GWS despite excellent form. Behind Taylor, Buckley and Idun as key defence and Giants might prefer to give Aleer the first call up. Derksen would be a handy addition to fill a future key defence role from May and Tmcd.

Best ave metres gained: Jake Bowey, 473.67m (19th overall) Top 5 players: Jake Bowey (19th), Christian Petracca (28th), Kysaiah Pickett (33rd), Steven May (37th), Trent Rivers (72nd) Best game in 2025: Jake Bowey, 649m gained v Frem, R6

As I posted earlier stop Taranto & Hopper at the contest. Stop the distribution of Vlastin and Short out of their defence. AFL UPDATE - Richmond Best ave metres gained: Jayden Short, 458.33m (24th overall) Top 5 players: Jayden Short (24th), Nick Vlastuin (39th), Tom Brown (76th), Jack Ross (92nd), Tim Taranto (142nd) Best game in 2025: Nick Vlastuin, 661m gained v GC, R6

BALTA PLEADED GUILTY CCTV WAS DAMNING BALTA’s assault was severe and serious. He deserved 6-month suspended jail sentence The $3000 fine was too low … $50,000 would have been the bare minimum It was not one punch - there were 7 punches to the VICTIM Yes BALTA is not the victim He was the offender HE GOT OFF VERY LIGHTLY BALTA = COWARD KING HIT OFFENDER JUSTICE IS NOT SERVED

The FACTS Mr Washbrook was waiting for a courtesy bus at the club when he tried to intervene in an altercation between another man and Balta's younger brother Oskar. The court was told Balta saw Mr Washbrook touch his brother on the shoulder and felt a need to defend him. CCTV footage shown to the court showed Balta shoulder charge the victim before punching him several times in the head. Balta punched Mr Washbrook several more times, with the assistance of his brother, who has also been convicted of assault. Balta turned himself in to police two days later on New Year's Day. THE SENTENCE Balta was sentenced at Albury Local Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to repeatedly punching Thomas Washbrook, 27, outside the Mulwala Water Ski Club, in the NSW Riverina, on December 30. He was fined $3000, given an 18-month community corrections order and assigned a curfew, restricting him to his home address between 10pm and 6am until July. In sentencing Balta, Magistrate Melissa Humphreys said the attack was at the higher end of the medium threshold and disagreed there was a risk of death beyond a reasonable doubt. Assault occasioning actual bodily harm carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment in NSW. —-———————————- opinion BALTA PLEADED GUILTY THE VIDEO OFF CCTV WAS DAMNING BALTA got off very very lightly BALTA’s assault was severe and serious. A 6-month suspended jail sentence was warranted The $3000 fine was far too low … $50,000 would have been the bare minimum This hardly penalizes a KING HIT OFFENDER JUSTICE IS NOT SERVED

The JVR call is a bold one - centre half forward? Why not give it a try. He’d have to work a lot harder and build up his aerobic agility.

Nash knocks out Miers. 👏👏but that’s 6 weeks minimum Atkins. Drops knee into Newcombe head. Atkins is a [censored]. Deserves 1 week Both will test MRO and the AFL favouritism

Agree. Umps love the cats Miers kicks it 12 metres and it’s a mark !! Holmes throws the footy with two hands - play on Miers in protected zone !!! Intercept Ridiculous umpiring

The swans kid lets slip a paper flag out his hands towards Allir. Not good and deserves a sanction. But the Penalty? He cops a 2 year ban from attending any footy match Noah BALTA. Bashes a member of the public senseless in a cowardly criminal act and receives an AFL 4 week suspension….. anyone explain to me how the AFL thinks !!! I’m totally confused.

Changes ? Turner & Sharp or Milkshake are outs. Howes to the sub role. McVee and May/Adams in. Like to see McVee in as it releases Riv to play more mid or running back in an aggressive style. If May doesn’t come up, happy to give Adams a debut. He can play in a young Tiger forward such as Armstrong or Faull. McDonald plays on Lynch. ** the two keys to stop the Tigers 1) Vlastin. Can’t allow him to play unmanned as a loose defender. He’s too good. This is Goodys priority. No loose defenders 2) Contested footy. Taranto and Hopper were the winners and distribution machines to outside runners like Ross and Short. That’s the big focus to stop.

Yes I’m nervous with Salem now. Unless it’s a 15metre kick sideways, he seems too cautious to hit a target 30 metres away. Lost his penetration and when pressed, just kicks a high up and under. His style is to lean back when should kick through the footy. I’m sure the many astute coaches at the club have worked through this with him.

Last year Saints had Lennox Hofmann in their NGA. Cats bid on him (pick 66) and strangely Saints didn’t match it. He was a dinkum young Aussie who played footy from Beaumaris junior under 8s all the way through his junior years to Sandy Dragons. Born in Switzerland … but is as Aussie as vegemite on toast !! AFL need to get real !! STK Academy's, Lennox HofmannBorn in Switzerland and raised in Australia, Lennox Hofmann is keen to make a name for himself as he progresses through Moorabbin Airport STK Academy. Hofmann was born in Switzerland, and moved to Australia at six months of age

AFL needs to be clear re NGA. Tarion Ah-mu needs to be eligible. We have no Polynesian players in the AFL and it’s a key diversity segment being missed by the AFL. Such is the NGA MADNESS… Tom Steinfort (son of former cats player Carl) is NGA eligible to the @GeelongCats because he was born in Finland & has a Finnish mum !!

Tom Morris “I'm told he gave a stirring speech to everyone in the rooms after the game about the need for the club to stay together." @tommorris32 reveals some very good signs for Dees fans about how invested Christian Petracca is at Melbourne.

@the pearl @binman a great week to go through the stats - they tell the key to our success this week both across the team as well as the great performance of our stars. But this is now the standard that must be weekly, not just a lightning flash game.

Key stats. 16 goals. 56 entries. 28% efficiency. Fast ball movement created opportunities. Needs still to be better. Missed 6-7 goal chances that needed ti be kicked. Gawn. Trac. Sparrow. Spargo. Missed sitters. Clearances 38-33. Last 2 games, Freo destroyed us at clearances. Our mids stood up 59 tackles. 27 in forward50. The pressure was huge as we locked it in. A little reminder to us of 2021. Bounces 7. Not often covered. We typically have 1-2. This showed our run. Individual stats Bowey 649 metres gained (Trac 529 metres gained, but Clarry 81 metres gained ) Max Gawn 10 Clearances (Trac 6, Clarry 5, JV 5) Max Gawn 18 contested possessions (Clarry 13) Viney 8 tackles (Clarry 6, Trac 5) Kozzzzy. 5 goals 10 contested possessions, 24 possessions, 475 metre gained Pressure acts. Viney25 Clarry 23 Bowey 15. Most important stat Melbourne 16.11.107 defeated Dockers 14.13.97.

Langford seems like a young boy but is quite mature. I think the preparation through the underage system really helps and prepares these youngsters. He speaks well in interviews. But he’s still learning. Sometimes is perhaps hesitant but I think he’s watching for the spread when we/they get it. Solid tackler too. Important two goals v Dockers. Whilst many others missed, Langford nailed his two chances. Match winner in the end. 👏👏

I heard a rumour that the Dees heard Andy’s rant and that set the wheels in motion. The [censored] bombs were delivered out of disappointment and hurt and passion for change. What a game? Extend the podcast to 2 hours this week. The excitement. The goals. Wow. Riv, Trac, Chin, Viney and of course Kozzzzy. Excitement. We come to the footy for excitement. Wow they delivered. We love kozzzzzy. The kids all jumped for joy for kozzzzys mark !! The game plan. It was a more dynamic style today. Not perfect but better. More run and dash off half back, and playing on from a mark often. No boring sideways useless sideways boring useless kicks. Guess what? It works. Play on and overlap running and kicking puts defenders under pressure. Simple stuff. Don’t wait for the defence to zone and flood back. Yes 2 + 2 = 4. Simple footy. Pressure count. Yes over 200 consistently. Not the pathetic 135 from last week. The tackling. Better. More contested footy. Still too many MISSED tackles or where Freo got the handball away. Work to do but better. Max and JV7. The leaders stood up. Viney was huge all day. Tagging and running and his kicking was 1000% better. Boy what a difference. Jake Bowey. Cool and efficient. Good decisions. Get it to him and get him to kick it. With McVee back, we have a good running defence. (Salem was ok but on notice) Petty up forward. Great game. Yes showed his marking and goalkicking. Needs more support but played a great game. Sorry … still have to call out … as George does…” stop guarding grass”. Clarry was caught out twice in defense and with two other clangers, he was poor defensively. Clarrys heart was all in (100% endeavour) but needs to think more. Key stats. 16 goals. 56 entries. 28% efficiency. Fast ball movement created opportunities. Needs still to be better. Missed 6-7 goal chances that needed ti be kicked. Gawn. Trac. Sparrow. Spargo. Missed sitters. Clearances 38-33. Last 2 games, Freo destroyed us at clearances. Our mids stood up 59 tackles. 27 in forward50. The pressure was huge as we locked it in. A little reminder to us of 2021. Bounces 7. Not often covered. We typically have 1-2. This showed our run. A great win 👏👏👏 Go Dees ❤️💙

Kozzzzzy Pickett - for his excitement and goalscoring Max Gawn - strong ruckwork all day Jake Bowey. Clean and efficient. Harry Petty. 4 goals. Strong marking. Pearce is no mug. Jack Viney. Inspirational. Took on Serong. Seemed like a new man. Tom McDonald. Great game. Beat Treacy and defended all day. Special mentions to Riv, Trac and Langdon. Of course to Langford for two crucial second half goals. He nailed them when others missed chances Negative votes. None this week 👍🏻

I agree with Damo … honestly I cannot believe it. I agree with him. BALTA pleaded Guilty to cowardly bashing someone outside a pub. King hit the guy. Video was conclusive and he had no defence. He should cop a good behaviour bond, anger management and with a suspended 6- month jail sentence. That is ok to be free provided without any further offending. Court ruling this week so why not wait until after the ruling. But Tigers played him. AFL DISGRACE. RICHMOND DISGRACEFUL! He king hit a guy. Lucky not to have killed him. It’s a [censored] disgrace

What gets us excited? It’s who gets us excited?? Of course …

Kozzzy. ❤️💙❤️💙 We all love you💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️ please stay please You are the excitement My kids love it. To see their joy is my joy. You are blessed Please stay please !!!