spirit of norm smith

“All Of The Above” Farewell to the big Cox

Agree. That was a hit. She is a warrior. Love her in the red & blue. #TH7⭐️

Good win. Not great. Good. Last quarter again was … I get disappointed that we didn’t keep rolling on to a really really big smashing. I guess a short turnaround after a big road trip to WA Zanker. Yes. Get her a bigger contract. ⭐️ Kate Hore. Wow. Build her a statue. ⭐️ Lizzie Mc. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Heart & soul Tyla Hanks 🤩is just a star. Shelley Heath. 100% every week 👏👏👏 Tahlia G. 💙💙💙💙💙 still only 21 but commands the backline

He’s certainly come on this season as a bolter up the order. His pace over 10-15 metres will definitely appeal to clubs.

🤩Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves is the “smoky” choice for the Dees with say pick 8. There’s something about him that gives AFL traits. He’s similar in style to Hugh McCluggage. He can win the footy but also play out wide and hurt you in the scoreboard. He kicked plenty of goals for the Stingrays. In the 4-5 games I saw at the Stingrsys, he was clearly a standout player. He wins it and can connect with the footy through run and carry. He could reconnect with his former Stingrays teammate in Harvey Langford.

Would of course like to try to get Duursma, but he’s now a virtual lock in for pick 1 to the Eagles. (We will probably be one of many clubs who will keep in touch and eventually be asking him to “come home”). Then it’s Cooper Duff-Tytler at 2 for the Eagles in my view. Then it’s a jumble as bids as likely bids on the academy and father son picks come through! As it stands today , my picks at 7&8 from the likely available players … ⭐️Sam Grlj - best comparison is Butters or Rozee. Would be a perfect fit for the Dees future midfield. He had the speed and sidestep and can repeat run. Whilst he needs upskilling, his base is definitely AFL quality. (Unfortunately I think the Tigers or Bombers will grab him ahead of us) ⭐️Josh Lindsay - who’s the best kick in the draft? Lindsay is. He is super composed and makes good decisions. Was a potential number 1 pick at the start of the year. Some have questioned pace but I see him being smart enough and good over 5-10 metres. I do like the fact that his coaches say he’s a natural leader If he’s available, he’s a must pick ! Plays like ?? Perhaps Errol Gulden , as he’s such a damaging kick with the footy. We would love to have such a skilled user of footy in a red & blue jumper 🕊️ Lachie Dovaston - who’s the best small forward in the draft? Dovaston. Has comparisons to Nick Watson but doesn’t have the electric pace over 5 metres like Watson. Dovaston is smart. Clever with his skill and goalkicking IQ. He’s maybe not a top 10 rated player in the draft but works as a “future need selection”.

Agree. Lock in Steele for number 9. 👏👏 It’s a famous one too. 🏆Brian Dixon, Laurie Fowler, Alan Johnson Neita and … 🏆Charles Spargo

I believe he has already spoken with one other AFL club located in the inner western suburbs. Hope he gets a rookie chance elsewhere or has a crack again through a VFL program.

HE CAME TO A MEETING HE DIDN’T WANT TO BE ATGuerra says Jack Steele’s capacity to fall in love with the Melbourne football club in 24 hours proves Steven King’s path ahead is the right one. St Kilda had told Steele to consider his options as they revamped their midfield but the 2025 captain wanted to stay despite telling the club he would step down from his leadership position. “Jack’s an amazing story. Captain of St Kilda, All Australian recently. It signifies to us we are on the right track,” Guerra said. “The pitch that we gave Jack was unbelievable in terms of who we thought he was, where we thought he was at with his footy and how we would transform his game, but importantly, how we would value his leadership, and we painted what the next three years for him was going to be like, and the role that he’s going to play, and the impact that he can have across the whole of the football club. “It’s probably my proudest day so far as CEO. Seeing the people in that meeting. Steve King, Alan Richardson, (list boss) Tim Lamb, (assistant coach) Nathan Jones. They were all saying Jack, this is your home. “Jack was wrestling with leaving St Kilda and Max (Gawn) and Jared Rivers spoke to him that afternoon. He came to a medical at 9am Wednesday morning and by midday he spoke to our high performance manager and said do I start following your program or the St Kilda program. By midday he wanted to come to us which was significant. He wants to help us win our next premiership.” Guerra says Steele’s leadership will be invaluable, just as Mihocek will help Matthew Jefferson and Jacob Van Rooyen with their leading patterns and growth. “We have Jack (Steele) and Jack (Viney) running through the midfield and the young crop on the outside. Then either Max Gawn or Max Heath through the middle so at point are we short of leadership in there because with Max, Jack and Jack we have strong experience through the middle.”

@dazzledavey36 Agreed. It’s s very positive and insightful story. Paul Guerra has gone through the key player issues and conversations. Have to say it’s the best story and journalism in a long time about the Melbourne footy club. Importantly it doesn’t snipe or comment on off field issues with Trac, Clarry or Goody. It’s a fresh start. Jack Steele will be a huge addition. His leadership. Culture. Helps out immediately. I’m really pleased and amazed that we landed him. In 36 hours !!!

Keep our available spots for young guns now Definitely a NO from me … too late now Zak Jones had a decent career but he’s AFL days are likely to be at an end So NO to MFC But could be a handy pickup for Casey Demons

Casey Demons need to pickup the phone !!! Be nice to see him finally play at the Demons

AI says Steven King's coaching style for the Melbourne Football Club (MFC) aims to create an aggressive, expressive, and attacking game with more freedom in possession, while building on the team's strong foundation in defense and contest. His philosophy is to empower players to be more daring in attack and to play with a uniquely "Melbourne" brand of football, a balance of fun, freedom, and competitiveness that taps into the club's premiership experience. Player empowerment: King wants to give players more ownership and freedom in possession, moving beyond the team's established strengths in defense and contest structure. Attacking football: He aims to be more aggressive in attack, challenge opponents more, and score more consistently. Aggression and physicality: He intends to tap into the team's past success by emphasizing physicality and aggression. Freedom and expression: King wants to create a fun, stimulating environment that allows players to express themselves on the ball. Unique brand: He aims to develop a distinct style of play that is uniquely "Melbourne" and adaptable to the current players' skill sets

Delisted : Marty Hore, Tom Fullarton, Oliver Sestan, Will Verrall, Kynan Brown, Jack Billings AND TAJ WOEWODIN Departed, Free agent: Charlie Spargo North Melbourne) Going home/ trade departure: Judd McVee (Fremantle) Farewell/ Traded out with sadness: Christian Petracca 💔 (Suns) Clayton Oliver💔(Giants) 11 departures - a huge turnover of 25% of the list Who’s arrived: Max Heath (trade, St Kilda), Brody Mihocek (trade, Collingwood), Changkuoth Jiath (trade, Hawks) , Jack Steele (trade, St Kilda) MFC list key defenders: May, Tmcd, Adams tall defenders: Lever, D.Turner, Howes med/sml/running defenders: Bowey, Salem, Lindsay, AMW, Jiath. inside Mids: Viney, Steele, Langford , Laurie Runners/outside Mids: Rivers, Langdon, Windsor Mid/fwd: Kozzzy, Kolt, Sparrow, Culley key forwards: Mihocek , JVR, Petty, Jefferson , Kentfield, Johnson med-tall forwards: Fritsch, Melksham, Mcadam small forwards: Chandler, Sharp, Henderson, Mentha Rucks: Gawn, Campbell , Heath Likely arrivals - Kalani White (Father son), Toby Sinnema (NGA, rookie) Also likely to bring in 3 new players through the draft/SSP

Steele is an absolute “steal” 🤣🤣🤣had to say it !! Smart buying Perfectly fits our needs in transition from the JV,Trac and Clarry midfield era into the Kozzy/Langford/Lindsay/Windsor midfield.

Toby Sinnema?

Settle! This was my post … Tim. Tim Lamb. Don’t cave in now !!! Don’t talk a big game and then bottle it at the end. You need to screw the Suns if they want Petracca. If they don’t give up Humphrey, then it’s going to cost them heavily in picks. My deal is Trac and pick 27 for “7 &8 and Suns 2026 1st round pick”. He got us the extra future 1st round pick … I commented as well played on the trading thread. It should help us get Humphrey next year.

Jason Taylor. It’s your turn …

Over and out from Tim Lamb. Here’s the representation of Tim’s last week

Tim Well that’s over for another year Bring in BAILEY HUMPHREY next year !!

Ok let’s go … 2026 trade period Bailey Humphrey to the Dees Suns get 2 x 2026 1st rounders (MFC 1st round AND Suns 1st round) 🤣🤣🤣

Agree but also got Bowey (2020) Windsor (2023) , Langford and Lindsay (2024). Happy to keep 7&8 and grab Josh Lindsay Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves Then use 37 on Latrell Sumner-Pickett White and Sinnema I am being too optimistic

So it’s 7&8? Let’s see how that might work out WCE -Willem Duursma Suns match bid …Zeke Uwland (academy) WCE -Cooper Duff-Tytler Rich Dyson Sharp. Lions bid match … Daniel Annable (academy) Rich. Sullivan Robey 🤩 Suns bid match … Dylan Patterson (academy) Ess. Sam Grlj 🤩 Blues bid match. Harry Dean (Carlton f/son) Ess. Xavier Taylor 7&8 contenders Josh Lindsay (Vic)✅✅ Jacob Farrow (WA) Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (Vic)✅ Sam Cumming (SA) Lachlan Dovaston (Vic)✅ Oliver Greeves (Vic) Beau Addinsall (Suns academy)✅

Yes it looks like he will miss out. With Jiath and Steele coming in plus White plus Sinnema plus 2 x first rounders, we are “1 too many”

Delisted : Marty Hore, Tom Fullarton, Oliver Sestan, Will Verrall, Kynan Brown, Jack Billings. Departed, Free agent: Charlie Spargo North Melbourne) Going home/ trade departure: Judd McVee (Fremantle) Farewell/ Traded out with sadness: Christian Petracca 💔 (Suns) Clayton Oliver💔(Giants) 10 departures Who’s arrived: Max Heath (trade, St Kilda), Brody Mihocek (trade, Collingwood), Changkuoth Jiath (trade, Hawks) , Jack Steele (trade, St Kilda) MFC list key defenders: May, Tmcd, Adams tall defenders: Lever, D.Turner, Howes med/sml/running defenders: Bowey, Salem, Lindsay, AMW, Jiath. inside Mids: Viney, Steele, Langford , Laurie Runners/outside Mids: Rivers, Langdon, Windsor, Woey jnr Mid/fwd: Kozzzy, Kolt, Sparrow, Culley key forwards: Mihocek , JVR, Petty, Jefferson , Kentfield, Johnson med-tall forwards: Fritsch, Melksham, Mcadam small forwards: Chandler, Sharp, Henderson, Mentha Rucks: Gawn, Campbell , Heath Likely arrivals - Kalani White (Father son), Toby Sinnema (NGA, rookie) Also likely to bring in 3 new players through the draft/SSP