spirit of norm smith

Not sure where Culley or Melksham are at with their likely availability for round 1. But prediction mode for round 1 Round 1 Lever. Petty. Jiath. Salem. Turner. Howes. Langdon. Steele. Windsor Langford. JVR. Chandler Fritsch. Mihocek. Latrelle Pickett Gawn. Rivers. Kozzzy Pickett Int. Heath Sparrow Lindsay Culley* Throlstrup Emerg. Laurie Melksham* Tmcd Midfield rotations of Kozzy, Steele, Riv, Langford, Lindsay, Sparrow & Culley (if fit & available) Like to see Max Heath debut for us v Saints too Depth. Sharp Adams Cross Berry Xtaylor Onley Matthews Mentha Unavailable. #Bowey #Viney Kentfield Henderson AMW JEFFO AJ Campbell White Mcadam (really only Bowey & JV7 would be best 23, although Luker would have been close to a debut before his injury)

Definitely want to see Max Heath and Jack Steele in round 1 versus the Saints.

Premier: Melbourne Brownlow: Jack Steele. Rising Star: Latrelle Pickett Story of the season: Dees win the flag from 10th position On the rise: Eagles finish 17th On the slide: Geelong after losing premiership points due to AFL Salary Cap breaches being self reported. Headline you won’t see: Chris Scott admits to taking cash payments from club sponsors Fans’ biggest gripe: Collingwood fans want to see their players interviewed during the Brownlow in between every round, including checking in with Nick Daicos after every second round, and then an explanation by Andrew Dillon as to why Nick Daicos didn’t get the 3 votes in every match he played. An AFL final 10 will mean: a very very long finals series

Great news. Tassie can f^%k off!! Harvey4Langford ❤️💙is the future for the red and the blue

@KC from Casey I believe Deakyn Smith has a ripped calf muscle and had surgery. Long term recovery so will likely miss most of the 2026 season.

Given last week’s list and recent updates. The current (guesstimate) injury list:- Jake Bowey (foot) Jack Viney (Achilles) Kalani White (glandular fever) Luker Kentfield (knee) Tom Campbell (neck) Jai Culley (arm) Jack Henderson (back/sacrum) Matthew Jefferson (foot) Aidan Johnson (hamstring) Shane McAdam (Achilles) Brodie Mihocek (concussion) Andy Moniz-Wakefield (knee) Bayley Fritsch (hand) Of the 44 listed, likely 13 could be unavailable for round 1. That’s nearly a quarter of the list without a ball kicked in meaningful AFL action.

And not even round 1 yet !!!!

Ethan Stanley can play wing or half back or as an onballer. Definitely need his talent at Casey given the offseason mass exodus of players.

That would be great news. Casey needs more experience in their VFL ranks and Stanley has talent. Might see the Dees as a future pathway.

@paulamy375 VFL: big Marcus Krasnadamskis has hit the track at Casey Demons after training with Richmond as an SSP hopeful. The Dees believe he'll also remain at Eastern as over-age player.

This is typically 6-8 weeks. A month in a brace and then strengthen the ligament. I hope he likes swimming. Recovery will be also in the gym so he can continue to build his upper body. Probably aim for a round 6/7 return at Casey. Unfortunately injury has meant he won’t debut. He was odds on for round 1 in my view so tough one to handle. Luker will be back.

Loved this comment “Changed the course of our history. We never win a flag without him. Best MFC defender I’ve seen”

Maybe they also see the chance to get Ah-mu listed. He has the ability too.

Bump and agree with @picket fence @Demonland get the call to Jacob Blight now. Very very unlucky to get delisted. Has all the qualities we need in a full back. Plays like Sam Collins from the Suns (who was also delisted and came back to become an elite defender).

Sorry can’t see that … he’s played every game as a strong marking Tom Hawkins type key forward.

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