spirit of norm smith

@Demonland So the “State of play” at end of 2025 @No Coach - interim @No President - interim @No CEO - awaiting September @No home base - still waiting waiting … will it ever happen in our lifetime —-—————————- Club has been dismantled from the 2021 premiership: Burgess departing to the Crows Restaurant drama and reported players punch up Finals 2022 & 2023 … Two x straight set finals departures Board room dramas Key Players retiring, leaving or injured (Hibbo, LJ, Gus, ANB, Ben Brown, JJ, Bedford, Harmesy) Gus’ sad concussion retirement Trac on field injury and subsequent off field dramas and trade dramas Clarry off field issues and trade dramas Missed finals 2024 and 2025 Did I miss anything … ?

6 Gawn Daylight 5 Rivers 4 Petracca 3 Petty 2 Viney 1 Oliver Apologies to Salem , JVR & Bowsa Long list of players marked as absentees yesterday

It was embarrassing Disappointing Disheartening Pathetic And … 👍🏻Riv tried and must be part of the future 👍🏻Gawn is a warrior & is one of our greatest 💔kozzzzy was totally disinterested - long term contract but looked like he’d rather than be somewhere else 💔Salem - ok he tried but little slow sideways kicks or kick too often to a contest 💔McVee - looks like he’s going elsewhere 💔Team - too slow to move the footy and cannot hit targets - skills are so sub par 💔💔more inside 50s again !!! - 5 goals from first 50 inside50s … get a real coach next year 💔Chaplin - contracted for 2026- sorry, Bowey is half back, not HFF …given he was sitting with Goody over the last 4 years, not sure he has any answers 💔missed tackles - “stay in the tackle” !!! 💔forward smarts / if you watch guys like Taylor Walker or Thilthorpe at Crows, they are working to create space or physically contacting the backman before they lead or contest. It’s smart! Not sure our key forwards can be described as smart. 💔May250 has lost any dynamic ability and labour now to compete 🤞Tom Sparrow- tried - where does he go? Where does he fit in?

@Demon Dynasty can’t argue

Pies versus “the bye” next week We were truly pathetic v hawks!!

Votes for Sparrow… Madness

Update shortly

First half in a word … Embarrassing!! @Demonland

AFLW Dees have been underrated for years. Injury hit hard last year and missed out. This year the team needs to stay healthy to be a chance. There is plenty of talent and blend of youth and experience.

@Demon Dynasty There's alot more to the decision than just 'a new voice'. What a dumbass bunch the AFL press are (again with a few exceptions) Agreed. If the media believe this, then they haven’t been watching up play for the past few years.

1st round (likely up to 30 selections) 1,Cooper Duff-Tytler Vic Ruck 2 Zeke Uwland(** academy GCS) Def Suns 3.Dyson Sharp. SA Midfielder 4.Willem Duursma VIC Midfielder 5.Daniel Annable(** academy Bris) Midfield 6.Dylan Patterson(** academy GCS) midfielder 7.Josh Lindsay VIC halfback/quarterback 8.Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves VIC midfield/HF Max King (**academy Swans) Fwd Sam Grlj VIC halfback/midfield Oliver Greeves VIC midfield Archie Ludowyke VIC ruck/fwd Sam Cumming SA midfield/Hff Beau Addinsall(** academy GCS) midfield Mitch Marsh SA fwd Harry Dean (**Carlton f/son) def 17. Louis Emmett VIC ruck/fwd Fred Rodriguez WA midfield Jacob Farrow WA def/halfback/quarterback Aiden Schubert SA. Fwd/ruck Zac McCarthy (**Collingwood NGA)key fwd Riley Onley tall mid Lachlan Carmichael(**acdemy Sydney) halfback/quarterback Rory Wright. Gun midfielder👍🏻 Adam Sweid (*Ess NGA) small mid Noah Chamberlain(**academy Sydney) Cody Curtin Key fwd/ruck Ryder Corrigan (**academy Giants) 👍🏻 Koby Coulson (* Suns academy)👍🏻 Harley Barker. SA. Mid 2nd round 31-50 Xavier Taylor Jevan Phillipou Matthew LeRay Sam Swadling Lachlan Dovaston. Harry Kyle. (*Swans academy ) halfback/quarterback Jack Dalton Thomas McGuane(**Coll FS) Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier👍🏻 Liam Hetherton (*academy Giants) Felix Kneipp👍🏻 Tairon Ah-Mu Jesse Mellor (*GEELONG NGA) Harrison Bridge (*Lions academy) ☀️ Kalani White(** Melb FS/ … or academy GCS)☀️ Louis Kellaway(**Rich FS) Jai Murray (**academy GCS) Noah Roberts-Thompson👍🏻 Xavier Bamert Taj Murray 51+and rookie hopefuls (to 81) Hussein El Achkar Sam Niklaus Sam Ainsworth Tyan Prindable (* Lions academy) Thomas Burton Blake Kelly Jack Ison (*Carlton NGA) Jett Dahlitz def/halfback/quarterback Brodie Atkins Zac Harding Kobe Evans (*WCE NGA) Wes Walley(*WCE NGA) Tyah Williams WA Hunter Wright⭐️ Jobe Scapin Toby Simmema (*Dees NGA)☀️ Callum Smith Hugo Mikunda Kye Fincher (*Saints NGA) Talor Byrne Sam Lewis Aaron Sharkie Tom Ryan Finnegan Davis Sam Allen ⭐️ Oskar Taylor Ben Rongdit (**Cats NGA) Andrew Barker Hunter Holmes Jasper Russell Smokies Connor Ryan Oliver McKenzie. Mitch Moate Harry Tatterson.

I was 95% certain he’d sign a new contract. But as time goes on, the confidence level is dropping. Now 50/50 he stays. Maybe he waits until the new coach is appointed.

Ummm. No. Certainly Petty McVee Chandler and JVR are part of the future. Viney as vice captain was also very good in last few weeks. His tackling will be needed in the contest.

Mcvee May. Tmcd Salem Turner Bowey Langdon Viney Culley Langford Petty Trac Kozzzzy JVR Fritsch Gawn Riv Clarry Sharp Chandler Howes Melksham Sub. Sparrow Emerg Billings Adams Johnson Unavailable. Windsor Lever Lindsay

Nailed it

Could represent good value as a pick in the 60s or in the rookie draft. His strength is his running and speed. Timed at 2.835secs over 20 metres in pre season testing. He’s pushed off the ball in contest, is very lightly built and whilst his kicking is good, it’s not elite.

Code sports survey 3600 votes 60% say Nathan Buckley is the best choice to coach the Dees in 2026 Let’s see if the Dees powerbroker panel agree?

West Coast have been linked to Brisbane Lions premiership hero Callum Ah Chee, according to The West Australian. The report also linked gun Melbourne defender Judd McVee to the Eagles and Geelong veteran Mitch Duncan, who could head to Western Australia as well to finish off his AFL career.

Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier played for North Adelaide reserves on the weekend. He starred with 30 possessions and had strong inside contest as well as clearance work. Although he looked at times like a young Luke Parker (wearing 26 in the red and white) he has similar attributes but a little quicker through clearance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdlJZR3KOZc

I still have Ryder Corrigan in the 20s at this draft. He’s tied to the Giants which is unfortunate. He has starred this year as a 186cm midfielder who can play inside or outside, win a tough footy or distribute it also with the ability to kick 50+. Not sure why he had dropped down to only be in state combine list. Maybe the clubs know the Giants will grab him as another AFL gift through the academy. He worthy of late round 1 or early round 2. Hunter Wright added to the state combine, after racking up big possession tallies at 80+% disposal efficiency. 188cm classy midfielders don’t grow on trees. He also picked up his pressure and tacking and averages over 5 tackles a game in the last month.

Amazing that some here had to wait for the 2nd listings to be announced STATE COMBINE ADDITIONSRod Ali - Vic M, Eastern Ranges Brodie Atkins - Vic C, Gippsland Power Blake Chambers - Vic M, Eastern Ranges Cooper Collins - QLD, Gold Coast Suns Jack Cook - SA, Woodville-West Torrens Ryder Corrigan - NSW/ACT, Murray Bushrangers Archie Dollman - Vic M, Oakleigh Chargers Nicholas Driscoll - Vic M, Northern Knights Riley Hamilton - NSW/ACT, Giants Academy Jim Houston - NSW/ACT, Giants Academy Jesse Johnstone - Vic C, Bendigo Pioneers Blake Kelly - WA, Swan Districts Leon Kickett - WA, Swan Districts Tallis McMillan - NSW/ACT, Giants Academy Sam Niklaus - Vic C, GWV Rebels Dale Sutherland - WA, Perth Harrison Wilson - NSW/ACT, Murray Bushrangers Lucas Wooton - TAS, Tasmania Devils Hunter Wright - Vic C, Bendigo Pioneers

Hawks missing three from their best 22… Day, Weddle and Maginness. I think Maginness is best 22 but they’ve put him in & out at times !! Player Injury Timeline Will Day Foot Season Sam Frost Ankle Test Finn Maginness Kidney Season Harry Morrison Quad 1-2 weeks Noah Mraz Knee 2 weeks Josh Weddle Back Tbc

I also heard “Chappy” on the wireless SEN this morning with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson. Chappy spoke very well and came across as an experienced mature well balanced coach. He spoke about the change in the team ball transition over the year to improve the movement into forward50 looking the try players in different positions to see what they offer and gave examples - Windsor in the middle for run & carry, Langford down forward, and Bowsa trialled forward in the last qtr why he is not putting his hand up … 1/interim coaches rarely go on to be the next coach and 2/hd thinks the team does need to hear a new voice to uplift them and drive the leaders and team forward He is contracted for another year and would like to stay on. He was looking for a refresh at the start of 2025 and moved away from his long term defence coach role and into the forward line coach (note, would have loved more discussion on this with Chappy around how he sees this and what aspects he is adding) Tim Watson raised the Petracca vision about him appearing selfish and downhearted. Chappy said he hadn’t seen the specific vision but that Trac is a competitor, he wants to win and Trac wants the best outcome. Garry Lyon asked about what’s needed next year (for the list) and Chappy said it is now about skills and footy transition , which he said they’d indentified with adding Langford, Lindsay and Windsor (note, excluded Kolt in this comment) Interesting to see how he handles the next two weeks and the challenge of stopping two top-4 teams.

INTERIM coach Troy Chaplin has praised his side’s spirit and intent following Melbourne’s Round 22 performance against the Western Bulldogs. Stepping into the role last week, Chaplin commended the playing group for the way they’ve approached training and match day during a challenging period for the club. Access | Chaplin Round 22 addressTroy Chaplin delivered his first post-match address as interim coach, highlighting the club's third quarter as the way forward for the side. “I cannot question your effort and intensity,” Chaplin told the team post-match. “After the week you’ve had, your attitude to training, the way you’ve come into work, the leadership you’ve shown - you fought so hard today.” While the result didn’t go Melbourne’s way, there were clear positives to take from the afternoon, including the opportunities for emerging players and a standout third quarter that saw the Demons kick seven goals from relentless pressure around the ball. “That 30 minutes right there - that is the pathway forward for you,” Chaplin said. “Your pressure and intensity gave you the reward. Now we just have to get better at doing it over and over, sustaining it.” Chaplin encouraged the group to hold onto that level across the final fortnight of the season. “It’s been a tough week for everyone, but you should be proud of what you’ve put out there tonight - playing for that jumper and everything it represents. Let’s make sure we finish off strong.” Melbourne will now turn its attention to Round 23, determined to carry that same purpose and connection into the final two matches of 2025.

@picket fence beautiful part of the world … what time is sunset ? 11pm ??