spirit of norm smith

AFL WEBSITE. 4th May 2025. 6:47pm. A disgrace!! No wonder it’s by “staff writers”. Nameless and shameless!!

If we had top 5 pick, then Cooper Duff-Tyler is a chance or even Louis Emmett as top 15-20 pick. But with Dees likely having lower draft capital, Taj Murray is the youngster who I’d target as a ruckman of the future. Murray is part of the AFL academy, NT academy, but he’s actually playing at SANFL North Adelaide’s under-18s and school footy at Prince Alfred College. At 201cms, he’s got the competitor edge and second efforts that rucks need in the modern game. One to watch this year in the carnival.

AFL REPORT by staff writers In the second quarter at Optus Stadium, Melksham shoved West Coast's Jeremy McGovern in a marking contest and the Eagles defender was concussed as he collided with Demons tall, Harrison Petty. The incident had some similarities to that earlier in the season in Richmond's game against St Kilda, which saw Tiger Rhyan Mansell cop a three-game ban. However, despite the injury suffered by McGovern, the Match Review Officer has ruled Melksham has no case to answer and is free to play Hawthorn next week. “With his eyes on the ball, Melksham makes contact with McGovern's back and simultaneously, Melksham makes contact with McGovern's foot as he positions himself to take the mark, resulting in McGovern being put off balance and his head making contact with Petty's back while Petty is contesting the mark," the AFL said in a statement. "It was the view of the MRO that the contact from Melksham was not of a forceful nature and that having regard to all of the circumstances, it was not reasonably foreseeable that McGovern and Petty would make contact in the manner that occurred." SACK WHOEVER WROTE THIS. 1. MELKSHAM DID NOT “SHOVE” MCGOVERN. HE FAIRLY USED HIS HIP TO BUMP MCGOVERN, CREATE SPACE AND MARKED THE FOOTY (WITHIN THE RULES) THERE IS NO SIMILARITY TO MANSELL INCIDENT AT ALL. MANSELL PUSHES HIS OPPONENT WITH BOTH HANDS INTO THE ONCOMING MARKING CONTEST. WHO ARE STAFF WRITERS??? Incorrect inaccurate comments. Ps. Logan Morris incident v Darcy Moore was more similar to the Mansell incident as he pushed Moore with both hands into the contest. Morris was surprisingly clear with no penalty !!

Bring this v hawks and we are in trouble Need to have high pressure for all four quarters Team pressure Dees v Eagles Quarter For Agn Diff 1 170 173 -3 2 156 204 -48 3 179 162 +17 4 191 185 +6 Match 173 182 -9

Agree. Maximum again for Maxy Imv Brownlow votes so far V giants Trac - 2 votes Nil votes for Dees v Roos, Suns, Cats or bombers V Freo Gawn 3, Brayshaw 2, Kozzzy 1 V tigers Gawn 3, Trac 2, JV7 1 V Eagles Gawn 3, Trac 2, JV7 1 So … likely Gawn 9 (3 x 3 votes v Freo, tigers, eagles Petracca 6 (3x 2 votes v Giants, tigers, eagles) Viney 2 Pickett 1 (v Freo)

Allan should get 2 weeks … in his debut game.

Looking forward to the DL pod this week 3 wins on the trot, but to be honest, versus some lightweight opposition (still you can only beat who’s your opponent). HUGE TEST V HAWKS NEXT WEEK ! Eagles match. “Game of two halves”. Shocking 1st half. Much much better run and attack in the 2nd half. A decent 5 goal victory after poor first half What I enjoyed? 1- Max Gawn. Our legend. Our hero. Our leader. What a champion. 2- Kade Chandler. He’s desire. His run and carry. His goal sense. Has taken up the high half forward role from nibbler. In career best form. 3- Windsors goal in the 3rd. Run and run and goal. Loved it Honorable mentions to Ed Langdon. He’s in very good form. Run run run. Jake Melksham. His smart use of the footy and his goal from 50 out. Not young anymore but very smart footballer. Winning A 4th Quarter. Wow 6 goals and didn’t stop running. We didn’t get lazy. Stats file ✅Clearances 49 to 26 (built from Gawns domination) ✅Tackles in fwd50…17 ✅marks inside50… 16 💔1st half 3 goals 27 inside50s. Wish we had a real tall key forward 💔turnovers 70 !! Skills still a problem The “what I didn’t enjoy” file Eagles 5 goals in a row (in 2ndqtr + early 3rd qtr) Seeing Hunt run and run in full flight. I’d like to still see him in red and blue! Scofield commentary over the Melksham incident “I’ve seen multiple weeks suspensions for less”… he’s a grub. In fact the biased commentary was very hard to take. And finally a question - likely team changes If Petty … Will either or perhaps both JVR & AJ come in? Go Dees

Jake ‪Melksham fairly nudges (with his hip) McGovern to protect the drop zone AND MARKS THE FOOTY. Umpire clearly GOT IT WRONG. Melksham was right to protest that. Cannot believe the West Australian media are calling for a Melksham suspension. Eagles are the worst losers in the AFL. ‬

Spargo. In 108 minutes of footy… 5 kicks 9 handballs 86 metres gained, pressure rating Low, 1 tackle (when Hunt rang into him). 1 goal from that tackle !! Two missed tackles. Just barely barely a game. Lucky he got that goal in the last quarter. We need much much more from him!!!

Brownlow votes 3 Gawn 2 Petracca 1 Viney Umps tend to surprisingly not recognise guys like Chandler. They work so hard with and without the footy. Chandler is having an excellent year and unheralded by many. @binman - please raise in this weeks pod

Such a disgraceful headline. It was good play by Melksham. Used his body to nudge McGovern under the footy AND TAKE THE MARK !!! no free kick. That’s a mark. Dees will fight and suggestion otherwise!!! Must be written by the now unemployed Dutton campaign managers. Sickening !!

Ditto

Murphy Reid is overrated. Smart player. Bit too smart really. Doesn’t work hard enough in defence. Had zero tackles versus Saints. Wanted the easy footy or the one out the back !! So glad we didn’t pick him. Lindsay and Langford were my choices and we nailed it 👏👏👏👏

Thanks @joeboy generally agree Dees - good second half Dees - improvement still needed Gawn - absolute bloody champion

6 MAX GAWN 👏👏👏👏 Another 3 Brownlow votes 5 Chandler 4 Trac 3 Turner 2 Viney 1 Langdon

Hunt ran into Spargo 👏👏👏👏👏🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

3 votes. Max Gawn 👏👏👏

Out. Goodwin In. Penny Wong She is more inspiring 🤣🤣🤣

Sharp 👏👏👏👏👏

Disco 👏👏👏👏👏

Gawn 3 votes 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 He is a champion My captain My leader But … Outs. Fritsch and Spargo Both are super disappointing Anyone with heart can be added in

Kozzzzzzy ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

We chose Kolt ahead of Darcy Wilson. Too early to call but the Kolt has been very disappointing tonight.

1st half summary 🤮🤡🤮🤡🤮🤡🤮🤡 Horrible game dees drinking their own bath water dees had chances but inaccurate goalkicking Eagles got a sniff and took their chances Dees inside50s 29 … 3 goals Spargo is one of the worst players to wear red and blue. You simply cannot defend him. Delist him and see that no other AFL club would be interested Simply must respond Simply must win !!

Goalkicking Any chance of getting it even close Ffs