spirit of norm smith

Thanks @Demonland Steven May should be applauded. He had the courage to come to the Melbourne Footy club to help us get that ultimate prize, the long awaited Premiership. May & Lever. They arrived and became a rock of defence. May was strong and was the premier Full Back for many years. 🏆thank you Steven. You will be always remembered as a key player in our premiership year. You had the passion to succeed and get the best from you and your teammates. Best wishes for your future.

If it was decided to let #1-S.May retire, then I’d get immediately on the phone to Jacob Blight. He held down a key position defensive post for the Tigers under extreme pressure and accounted himself well. Our tall defender stocks would be Petty (if it’s decided he stays back) , Tmcd (farewell year before retirement) and Jed Adams (jury still out on whether he makes it or not).

SAINTS like the HAWKS, FREO & BULLDOGS have only one player who are likely to not be available for Round 1. How did they achieve that? Dees looking at 6 or 7 players at least as being unavailable.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/casey-demons/squads/vfl Huge changes at Casey. Currently seeing 28 players listed for Casey Demons. From the VFL Casey Demons website for 2026 STAYING: 9 Riley Bonner Paddy Cross Lachie Bryce Wardell Lual Tyson Sruk Jesse Craven Jarrod Gatt Olliver Green Brayden La Planche Unknown: Deakyn Smith (???) ARRIVING: 18 Miller Bergman (North Melbourne), Xavier Hampton (West Adelaide reserves), Braedyn Bowden (Berwick), Luis D'Angelo (Traralgon), Jehi Esler (Tooradin-Dalmore), Joel Scholtes (Traralgon), Sam Hoghton (Officer), Nate Pipicelli (Nar Nar Goon), Clancy Pope (Nar Nar Goon) Jackson Long (Mt Eliza) Tanj De La Rue (Dandenong Stingrays), Toby Sinnema (Dandenong Stingrays, MFC NGA), Tairon Ah-Mu (Dandenong Stingrays, MFC NGA), Louis Hodder (Dandenong Stingrays), Jasper Russell (Dandenong Stingrays), Jobe Scapin (Gippsland Power), Luke Cheffers (Gippsland Power), Jonah Walker (Gippsland Power) DEPARTING: 15 Mitch Hardie (Wangaratta Rovers), Caleb Lewis (Gold Coast Suns), Riley Baldi (South Adelaide), Noah Yze (Sandringham VFL) Mitchell Kirkwood-Scott (Sandringham VFL), Max Gregory (Frankston VFL) Roy George (Port Melbourne VFL), Jack Ferraro (Sandringham VFL TBA) Max Roney (Tassie Devils VFL), Jack Behnk (St Kilda VFL), Tyler Edwards (Rowville) Chance Doultree (Red Hill) Kobe Shipp (Beaconsfield) Patrick Ireland (Leongatha) Charlie Peters (Sydney Swans VFL) DEPARTURES TO BE CONFIRMED: 4 Tom Freeman, Jenson Graham, Andrew Green, Kai Windsor ARRIVALS To be confirmed: 2 Harry Tatterson (Gippsland Power) Luamon Lual (Essendon)

Had to go down to the shops. Looks like I didn’t miss much at all !!! 34 to 81. Ouch. Did the Tigers kick 9 goals in a row.

Ouch. Lots of depth gone at Casey. Long year ahead if MFC get injuries like we are seeing right now.

Tough start for the Dees. Saints are definitely an improved group on 2025.

Already can see Casey has lost a lot of experience as a core group. Not sure apart from Bonner about their core leadership in 2026. Lots of youngsters getting a run which is what should happen and see what they show. Guys like Cross are showing that they’re getting close to an AFL list.

Assume guys like Sharp, Taylor and Matthews will play for Casey today. Maybe even get Tmcd suited up for a run.

Melbourne supporters heading into the 2026 season after a 💪 pre-season, youngsters looking 🔥 & Steven King as their coach

Kentfield 🤞

I’m not expecting amazing things from Tommy in 2026. He’s coming back from a serious knee injury. But he showed real spark last week in the practice match for Casey. We need to be patient but also allow ourselves to get a little bit excited too at his future.

Actually pleased to hear that the Blues listed him. Strange feeling !!! He wanted to join the Dees and the Giants blocked it. Then when he was “available”, the Dees weren’t seemingly interested anymore. Derksen is a big strong young key position back or can play forward. He has the talent and dominated VFL games last year before getting injured. Hope he goes well. Just not against us!!!

Ouch. Thats not great. Jeffo needs to step up this year. Out of contract at year end so hoping he gets back on the park and can show that he deserves a future.

KOZZZZZY & LATRELLE. I’m starting to get excited They looked great v Kangas still early days but 2026 might see some exciting highlights 💙❤️

Goody said it’s not about the result, it’s about the process and the learnings. No, it’s getting the result and EXCITING THE CROWD. That’s the aim. I loved the attacking mode from our first practice game. Predictions? 18 teams. 6 finals spots. 4 wildcard spots. Except for Eagles, Tigers & Kangas, I think 15 teams can genuinely say they are a chance to be in the finals. But 15 into 10 does not fit.

Still think Jeffo needs to get more aggressive at the footy and with his 2nd efforts. I think another preseason has helped build his frame. Unfortunately think he might end up like Sam Weideman. Very good junior. But transition to senior footy is tough. He’s a good mark. Okay kick. Tackling and pressure very low. 2nd efforts occasional only. Aggressive nature low. Plays more like a 3rd tall than a key forward. It’s another hope and fingers crossed year ahead.

I don’t think Mr Ben Crowe will add Mind & Spirit coach at MFC 2025 to the list of his key achievements.

AFL WEBSITE The Demons' new-look midfield has been hit hard with Jack Viney (Achilles) set to miss most of the first half of the season and Jai Culley (arm) out for a month after a promising summer. Max Gawn has been nursing a finger fracture but played in AAMI AFL Origin on Saturday, while Jake Bowey will miss several months as he recovers from a Lisfranc fracture in his foot. Harry Sharp (hamstring) and draftee Tom Matthews (groin) returned to match sim training last week, while Shane McAdam (Achilles), Jack Henderson (back/sacrum), Tom Campbell (neck) and Andy Moniz-Wakefield (knee) are all in various stages of recovery. Christian Salem has been restricted to running laps in recent sessions but the club reportedly said in late January there were no concerns with his fitness. Father-son tall Kalani White has returned to Queensland to spend time with family as he recovers from a bout of glandular fever. - Michael Rogers

Unavailable/ Injury list (12) Jack Henderson (sacrum stress fracture) - tbc Round 1-2 Bailey Laurie (fractured hand) - tbc Round 1-2 Brody Mihocek (toe) - tbc Round 1-2 Tom Campbell (neck) - TBC Luka Kentfield (face) -TBC Shane McAdam (knee) - TBC Tom Matthews (knee) - rehab group - likely round 3-4 Jai Culley (Arm/shoulder) - TBA/ round 1-2 Jake Bowey (foot) - indefinite/ round 13 Jack Viney (achilles) - indefinite/Round 12/13 Kalani White(glandular fever) - indefinite Steven May (TBA) - tbc

You’d have to blind to miss him. He is a Tom Hawkins type. Big. Strong. Good kick for goal. With the right guidance from blokes like Mihocek, he could be a very good AFL player.

@Demongirl35 I agree with Jacob Blight as one to watch. He was very good for the Tigers in several games, often when the Tigers defenders were under pressure from superior opposition. He stood up. I know a few Tigers supporters were puzzled why he was let go. One player to have on the “keep an eye on” list.

Ah-mu showed today that he could be a very good player. Definitely need to see him develop at Casey. Has the size and skill. Dees might swoop in and give him a chance if a list spot frees up.

Agree. Like to see Paddy Cross get a chance if a list space became available. He knows how to win the football and kick a goal !!

Where was Derryn Hinch? What about Neil Mitchell? Not in the young cool A grade status anymore? We could have got Baz Luhrmann to direct , he’s a Dees faithful supporter too