spirit of norm smith

@WERRIDEE I agree with this team setup. However you assume Kolt in for Windsor. Dees might choose between Spargo, Sharp or Woey. I’d choose Sharp for his pace as the Hawks have fast run and we need someone to replace Windsor. That’s not Kolt imv @Demonland

Apparently Dees are using Sinnema as the 23rd player for the vital VFL last game versus Box Hill Hawks.

Who ? What? Parkin… the bloke that loves the Hawks and Blues. I’ve never heard him speak with any affection for the Dees at all.

“If we’re clearing that as a football action, we’re going down the wrong path.” Paul Roos and Ben Cameron were shocked the Henry Smith/Nick Blakey 'inappropriate contact' incident was cleared.

Apparently Blakey was not offended and didn’t lodge any incident. Ummmm. That raises more questions than answers.

Agree. Kozzzy goes for a spectacular mark and knees the opposition player, who is slow to get up. I was also thinking they will cite him for “unreasonable conduct” aka the Latin term “****um-AFLisium”.

What the??? Number 20 MRO and AFL biased ridiculous decision Henry Smith That’s insane what he did. Sticks his finger and pushes into Blakey rear end. It’s clear! It’s disgusting !! Seen less probing during a colonoscopy!!! There is no legs getting tangled or accident here. It’s base!! It’s more like … AFL INTEGRITY UNIT PROCESS is QUESTION 1. what team is the player from ? Answer. Brisbane. MRO : Move on. Nothing to see here.

Jai Newcombe. Careless High Severe But … MRO assessment - all fine Match Review Officer Michael Christian said Newcombe's attempt to tackle Howe was 'not unreasonable in the circumstances' and did not constitute a reportable offence. What the ? (What The number 19 for the year so far !! ) It’s more like … MRO ASSESSMENT PROCESS … QUESTION 1. what team is the player from ? Answer. Hawthorn. MRO : Move on. Nothing to see here.

@adonski shhhh. Smoky. C0nn0r Evans - Bendigo Pi0neers … He kicked 5 goals in the weekend v Falcons. He is a footballer. Kicks like a classic left footer with strength. Smart. Breaks tackles. Was good in the air. Kicked 5.4 with two close misses. One of his goals from the pocket was very very clever. After being selected in the Vic country u18s squad in 2024, unfortunately he had a car accident which cruelled his ‘24 draft year. On his return this year in round 1 he was outstanding v Devils. Watched around 30-40 minutes on the app and he showed good marking, run and toughness out of half back. This week in his return after missing quite a few weeks after a hamstring injury, he played deep forward and some rotations on ball. The kid just wants to play footy and have the football in his hands. One to watch in the next few weeks. https://www.facebook.com/bendigopioneers/videos/coming-into-the-bendigo-pioneers-program-from-the-kangaroo-flat-fnc-connor-evans/1093006919544953/

And then Kane defends MFC as a better option for Buckley than Tassie. MFC closer to a premiership which is what Buckley truly wants. Tassie is a pipe dream however Caro weighs in … “It's even been suggested that there'd been unofficial conversations between [Melbourne] and Nathan Buckley before they sacked the coach." 🗣️ Caroline Wilson 🤡 on the Demons' interest in Nathan Buckley That’s just speculation … she follows up with “I think”… that’s just speculation that she again is just mud journalism

“The [censored] kissing of the Melbourne players just goes to extreme levels." Kane thinks Melbourne's hierarchy are petrified of offending the club's senior players. KANE CORNES 💩💩💩💩💩

Dees lost by 6 points and Western Bulldogs v Sydney10 Ed Richards WB 7 Aaron Naughton WB 5 Max Gawn MELB 4 Marcus Bontempelli WB 2 Tom Liberatore WB 1 Bailey Dale WB 1 Tom McDonald MELB Voted as … Hmmm - prediction without evidence 🧐Chaplin … 5 Richards 4 Naughton 3 Gawn 2 Libba 1 Tmcd 🤡… 5 Richards 4 Bont 3 Naughton 2 Gawn 1 Dale

Gerard Healy hates the Dees Every week he says things that show he is biased not to us but against us !!! Example 3rd quarter Baker clearly crunched Langford in the neck Healy - “just bumped him off the ball”… “fair in love and war” Ball passed to Naughton and Dogs goal Tom Hawkins - “Langford probably deserves a free kick high there”

Looks like there will be 13 names in the first round as pre nominated players through father son, NGA or academy zone preference. Many will go to teams already in the top 8 to cement them with a pathway of potential future stars. For the Dees, we’d love to grab 1st round youngsters like Duursma, Greeves, Dovaston, Cumming to add to our list. But at the moment pre trade period and no 1sr round, JT has a challenge this year. If we can’t break into the first round, JT will be looking for value picks who might have been late developers or who might slide due to injury or recent form. I always think there is still value past the first round in the 30s and 40s as shown year after year. I am looking at players who use the footy to a high standard even under pressure. Players who I think have upside in round 2 and round 3 (30-60) include Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier - NTH ADELAIDE, SA, MID-HFF - saw him in one of the early SA games then he kept on getting more of the footy, getting more CBAs and winning it then using it superbly. Has a burst of speed and long penetrating kick to really create opportunities for teammates. Reminds me of Rivers when he was in the underage year but B.O-B is probably a better kick imv. Rory Wright -Sandringham, MID- highly skilled left foot midfielder who has starred for Caulfield Grammar and Sandringham Dragons. Gets the footy and evades and hits targets. Usually very creative by hand with forward linking handballs Felix Kneipp - CALDER, SML DEF- another very skillful left footer who hits targets. Reminds me of Archie Roberts in his ability to run and rebound and make good decisions. Has been injured in 2025 so might slide into the late 40s or later Harrison Bridge -Brisbane- MED DEF. We would have to steal him away from their academy and it’s possible they don’t match a pick. He was outstanding in my view in early Coates league games again before getting injured in the first Allies game in national championships. He reads the game well, can compete to take relieving marks and rebounded strongly to push the ball with connection into forward 50. Again another left footer with elite disposal Jett Dahlitz Sturt SA, MED DEF - another running halfback/quarterback type who I think really caught the recruiters eye in the championships with run and carry. Reminds me of Bailey Dale with his ability hit targets or gain metres. Thomas Burton - WESTERN, SML DEF- smallish type mid who loves getting the footy, competes hard in contest to win clearances and then run hard and distribute accurately. His decision msking and footskills separate him from other smaller mids. His burst of pace would be very handy in any AFL congestion Noah Roberts-Thompson Sturt SA, MID,HFF - he was excellent for SA showing elite left foot disposal and making smart decisions He hit up several forward leads inside fwd50. Good pace and runs the lines to get involved contest to contest. Not outclassed by higher ranked teammates. Hunter Wright - BENDIGO/MID- another smooth running midfielder but taller type mid at 188cms and just has that onballer class like a Pendlebury type. Hits targets and kicks goals as a midfielder. Somehow not ranked higher despite top performance in many many Coates league games where he hits the scoreboard and gets 20+ possessions regularly.

We called it 12 months ago Let’s all dance @Ted Lasso Harvey will be a star in years to come 👏👏

BUCKLEY TO COACH THE DEES My Vote is YES Simpson is uninspiring imv Longmire is burnt out and comfortable in his footy director role in Sydney I think Buckley is driven to succeed. He wants an AFL premiership. He has experience and knowledge about what works and doesn’t. He doesn’t tolerate mediocrity. He will command respect from the playing group and from the media. I think he has mellowed from his early days as a grumpy hard taskmaster who wanted players to reach his standard. He admitted he needed to build relationships with players and get to motivate some in different ways. His commentary reflects a new instructive method that is more purpose driven. Melbourne cannot go back to being an irrelevant bottom 4 club. We have talented players who need support and structure to succeed. Buckley will command to bring in a high calibre team to support him and will generate high interest from assistants Buckley imv might attract players more than perhaps a rookie coach. Maybe not in year 1 but once he knows what is needed I think Buckley will push to get the best available high performance fitness program and head of player performance Buckley is comfortable and capable in the media and handing the spotlight that a coach in today’s game. Let’s get it done 👏👏

@Demonland Max Gawn. Simply the best 👏👏👏👏👏👏

Sorry yes the hatred was because he was an excellent A grade star and wore the “black and white jumper” and beat us time and time again.

I love Trac. I’ve met him several times and he’s always been a great personality and with my kids when they’ve met him. He brought real star power to the team, an elite player over many years and was amazing in our GF win in 2021. I think his recovery this year has been great. It was a traumatic experience and he had to take time to mentally and physically recover. But there are glaring weaknesses to his game that were at higher output and performance to where he has slipped from being one of the very best, an A grader to being a very good player he simply fumbles and fumbles and stumbles too much now. The fumbling is definitely a problem. Not sure why? Pressure?? He even goes to ground in key moments when he was always so strong over the footy Goalkicking? He looks nervous. Uncertain. Would like to do anything but kick the goal ? The constant looking up at the scoreboard or spinning the ball countless times simply cannot be good and it shows. He is on track again for more behinds than goals. Tackling pressure. Despite the max Viney jujitsu training, Trac’s tackling is poor. Players break his tackles too easily. It’s something to work on and bring back. I’m in the minority perhaps that really wants TRAC to stay in red and blue. I know many want him gone for picks (in a weakened draft pool year) but I say he needs to focus now on the above keys and get back to an A grade weapon in our team. @george_on_the_outer @picket fence @adonski

Langford fluffs his kick to a wide open melksham in the sqaure ...balls goes oob. in the last ? End of the second quarter and yes Melksham had every right to go nuts. It was a simple 35 metre kick that would have seen a goal. Your 3 examples count in such a close game.

@binman “Who Will Be Our Next Coach?” Can we have a few minutes discussion on possibility of Nathan Buckley as our new coach for 2026 and beyond. From your post yesterday in the other thread , I agree with many of your thought on misgivings but also the many many positives. Perhaps talk us through your post. I’d also add that whilst Buckley never has tasted AFL premiership glory, I think it makes him driven to succeed. He still has the hunger to drive himself. I think he sits amongst others in the media and would like to taste that premiership glory. Whilst I hated him as a player, he has really great insights on SEN and on the commentary. He has my vote.

In: Lindsay, May Out: Windsor (inj.), Adams McVee May Tmcd Howes Turner Bowey Langdon Rivers Langford Trac Petty Fritsch Melksham JVR Pickett Gawn Trac Oliver Lindsay Culley Viney Chandler Sub Sparrow

6 Gawn 5 Rivers 4 Petty 3 Bowey 2 Tmcd 1 Salem ? Trac getting votes … ???

@Demonland 💔another close loss. That’s 6 this year where the Dees were right in the contest but couldn’t get the win. What’s the issue? The onfield leadership? Decision making? Goalkicking? Strategy? All are shown to be lacking at the crunch) 💔💔our midfield? Once much adored, but was shown as a weakness. Gawn 50 hitouts and yet we LOSE CLEARANCES 31-46 and LOSE CENTRE CLEARANCES 10-19. What’s wrong? Setup? Strategy? Trac was particularly poor in stages. Fumbles fumbles fumbles. He needs to regain one touch footy.

Another close loss !!!💔 agree @Dannyz a plea to JV7