spirit of norm smith

@Demonland Why? Why?? Why do we bomb it inside 50 to a pack so so many times… the opposition often marks it (Howe, Wilkie, Ratugolea in the last 3 weeks) or spoil it and we have no crumbing forwards. It’s bombed in high … each time with the same result !! It’s mindless. It’s either the coaches or the players. So after 3 1/2 years, who’s accountable? @binman Q1. Burgoyne goal 32 min mark Q2. JHF goal 29min mark, Georgiades goal 31 min mark Q3. Rioli goal 31 min mark do we have any stats on our Junk time goals against? Watching the Dees is a nervous experience as we miss easy goals, but ALSO I get anxious as MFC leak goals each week in the last 2 minutes (sometimes last 10 seconds) of quarters? Sure two were umpire clangers that killed us but it happens as a weekly event Do we switch off… it must be as it’s systemic each week !! @george_on_the_outer Our goalkicking. I think it’s time for a big rant. The 3rd quarter was a horror show. Six chances. 4 behinds. Petty. Gawn twice. Sparrow (Eishold like miss) and the two from Trac and Clarry snaps from 15 metre out that didn’t make the distance. (Whilst I’m a passive person normally, the swear jar got a few coins added in that 3rd quarter) . Do you have techniques for passionate fellow DLers to keep calm during such times? 🤣😊

I think it’s the corporate speak that is really frustrating “The learnings…” “The pivot…” “It’s the process … not the outcome” Footy can be a simple game. But the definition of madness is repeating the same thing over and over again with the same result!!! Our mids bomb the ball in high. Our goalkicking is horrible. Yes on the players, but it’s on the coach and coaches too. 3 1/2 years of poor conversion has to have consequences. If not, we accept mediocrity and accept weakness.

Ready for it … blah blah blah … what is really needed is to call out the goalkicking and the poor really poor kicking inside50 (bombing it in) Simon Goodwin talked about a reset, but it's one that's meeting with some resistance. The Demons sit in 15th spot with five wins and nine losses, their season on life support as finals become little more than a mathematical possibility. "We have changed a lot in the last 12 months, we certainly took stock at the end of last year," Goodwin said after the match. "We've made some progression in the last eight to nine weeks after a really slow start to the season, but we've never looked at outcome as where we want to be as a footy club, we want to look at our process, make sure we keep building. "We've still got work to do to be the team we want to be, and to be consistently challenging all teams in the competition, and we won't waste a day, we won't waste a week in our pursuit of doing that. "Ultimately, our challenge is to be a really strong footy team again."

Changes. @Demonland Make a statement !! Sparrow. Rivers. Melksham. Sparrow needs a new role He’s had a very hot and cold year On dry days, he fumbles constantly Riv is one of my favourites This hurts me but he’s lost it for now He turns into trouble He misses tackles He fumbles He kicks high high bombs into 50 where is his run and carry and strength and ability to bullet a pass He had it! He’s lost it We need him to rediscover himself Melksham He is struggling to move and compete against bigger bodies We cannot play him v key defenders He was killed by Wilkie and Ratugolea Was is Goody thinking ? Time to change to get a taller forward in If Goodys fair dinkum, they go out. Ins. Jefferson, Woey jnr, Verrall We need marking power. Jeffo We need more run and skill. Woey in. We need to give him his chances over 3 or 4 weeks. Not in, out, in, sub, sub, out. We need a 2nd ruck. We need to keep JVR forward and not allow a small forward structure to consistently get out marked. Verrall in. Give him a go.

I’m so so angry and frustrated. So so disappointed. 100% heart and effort. At full strength. But … We lose games We beat ourselves We miss chance after chance We are like a cricket team that cannot catch the ball One of the most fundamental skills is being butchered by professional full time footballers Goalkicking !!! It’s a skill. Probably now the most important skill for the Melbourne footy club Today’s 3rd quarter was the prime example The Dees had all the momentum Dees got within 5 points and had 3 goals in a row But had butchered opportunities to get in front The misses … Gawn (hooked it again, 2.13 so far , and a miss from 25 metrs out), Gawn a running shot from 20 metrs out, Petty miss from 20 metres dead in front, Clarry left foot snap from 15 metre out (no score) , Trac a snap from 20 metre out (no score), Sparrow a miss from on the behind line that is a goal probably scored 85% of the time … such basic errors SIX chances … four behinds … no excuses … none !!! No breeze , no moisture !!! (Sure Ports two goals were umpiring favourable to Rioli & Georgiades) Zero scoreboard impact is DEMORALIZING for players and supporters It’s depressing !! Port got in top and took their chances What to do? @Demonland thats a 3 1/2 year question to Goodwin, Choco and all the professional coaches Goalkicking … the ability to score is the most crucial part of our game

6 Gawn - 100% heart , but his goalkicking is beyond horrific 5 Pickett (electric in 1st half until Butters elbow to the jaw) 4 Fritsch - looked determined and took some opportunities, but missed shots were costly 3 Turner - solid 2nd half 2 Howes - one of the only solid composed players in the back half 1 - Bowey. Usually consistent with disposal. BUT was poor with the two turnovers in the first qtr that cost goals !!! Lots of negative votes.

Dees 9 times out of 14. Kicked more points than goals. Systemic. Horrible. Pathetic. Frustrating. It’s a killer!!!

STATS GEEKS. ANY TEAMS THAT HAVE KICKED MORE POINTS THAN GOALS IN A SEASON? OR HOW MANY TIMES IN A SEASON THAT A TEAM KICKS MORE POINTS THAN GOALS?

Very hard to find six players this week. Good luck everyone.

Name names Petracca Oliver Petty Sparrow Liabilities … terrible … frustrating…farrrrk !!!! 4 chances within 15 metres of goals. All within 2 minutes. Port rebound. Umps free to port and 50 and goal and Dees left frustrated @george_on_the_outer that 2 minutes summed up the game so far ! And yes that’s 4 goals conceded today in the last 90 seconds of a quarter. @Roost it far @picket fence

@Demonland 1st half. Marks inside50. Port 10. Dees 2. A season low for a 1st half !!! Terrible kicks inside 50. Terrible battling by forwards. Melksham is being thrashed. Need another tall forward. @georgeontheouter is correct

@joeboy Half time Bowey - having a shocker Trac - slow and ineffective Kozzzzy - worth every dollar Oliver - so so disappointing Gawn - just 100% heart Viney - has lost it RATUGOLEA - Dees best forward (sorry they kick it to him so much , I thought he plays with us) BUTTERS - an absolute fuc@$&)w@t Umps - clearly Ports best

@binman 1st half seriously our skills are sub standard !! We kill ourselves with turnovers. Trac. Clarry. JV7. Worst offenders. our kicking inside50 … straight to Ratugolea every time Kozzzy is our only contributor Goals in last 2 minutes of every quarter. It’s a pandemic now as Dees leak goals.

2nd Port centre clearance easy goal 🤮 Kozzzzy magic twice 🤩🤩 Umps 👺allowing port holding the ball no rewards for Dees tackles Gerard Healy 👺👺barracking for port. “That’s out on the full to Port” 👺“Is that friendly fire” (butters elbows kozzzy) Roo is that a free? 👺👺 Dees butchering ball inside 50. Petracca turnover and port rebounds two goals !!! Ump gives free to Georgiades 🤮🤮🤮🤮 Petracca kick for goal 🤮

1st clearances ✅ JVR ✅ Kozzzy ✅ Bowey ❌turnover and overcommit Umps free to Georgiades 🤮🤮 Bombing it’s inside50s 🤮🤮

Agreed but Bombers have relegated a few senior players recently like Shiel, Hobbs, Menzie plus added mid season draftees like McMahon who’s unlucky not to get an AFL game. Bombers upgraded their youth v Cats yesterday (although some of their youth like May and Blakiston were not quite ready) yet still has Tsatas running around. It was a good win by Casey after being challenged.

Agree. Just needs to come in after the bye

Kalani 🤩🤩on fire

Paddy Cross. Might find himself on recruiting lists at years end.

It’s only mid season so still time to see what players can shine in the back half and who might take their opportunities. The veterans. Over 30. Age at start of 2026 Tmac (33) - not sure he gets another year Melksham (34) maybe one more year Billings (30). Likely will be delisted Tom Campbell (34) One more year in the absence of young rucks The fringe … Laurie. Excellent VFL player but lacks the pace and killer skills to get regular AFL footy. Stuck in the middle. Contracted but may get offers elsewhere We may let him go Hore. Unfortunately injuries have again meant he has missed his chances. Likely delisted at end of year Fullarton. Was given his opportunity but showed he’s not up to it. To be delisted imv Sestan, Kentfield, Verrall, Woey jnr deserve another year Ricky Mentha has shown enough to get another year AMW - yes he showed plenty and unlucky to get injured. I’d sign him up for 2 years Adams contracted to 2026 Ruthless decisions? Spargo. Thanks but we need more from a small forward then 6 possessions and 2 kicks for 15 metres. 1 goal in 10 games is not good enough McAdam. His 3 year deal may save him. Was looking okay in 2025 preseason until injured. Unsure if he stays but likely will.

Pitch looks like a road now. Likely to have a tight finish coming up !!!

Hawks v crows. Shocker. Looks like 16th v 17th quality. Scrambly. Free kicks 17-8 Crows way. Turning off now to watch the cricket !!!

I assume Tmc and Kolt will travel with the squad to Adelaide Sestan (hamstring strain) misses again Culley, Sharp and Jeffo back in after being rested last week This is a key match to win this weekend to stay in the finals hunt

HOW DID WE LOSE TO THE SAINTS ?? Oh yeah … 7.21 !!!

Excellent work again this week 👏👏👏 @binman I think the discussion on the stats this week was really good. You talked about the game and what your observed, then backed it up with stats and the impact. And it showed that Goody got the game on our terms. Yes the umpiring ☠️discussion again triggered deep emotional scares but was therapeutic to know we have the passion to get angry about the umps incompetence and bias. Hard not to have a rant. I’ve had several about the poor umpiring in the last few days Loved the kozzzzy 💙❤️⭐️ contract talk. He is box office. He’s worth every $$. We all love him and know he can be even better. And like Robbie Flower, we wish we had two kozzzzy’s, one in midfield and one in the forward-50. Go Dees