spirit of norm smith

I’m not sold on Armstrong. Prefer others at 9.

NGA Academy is for players from multicultural and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds opportunities to progress their individual development and footballing ability. Saints NGA Lennox Hoffman was born in Switzerland and moved to Australia after 6 months (grew up for the past 17 1/2 years in Australia). Bombers NGA Isaac Kako. His parents, Laith and Samiya who were both born in Iraq … young Isaac was born in Australia and is a born & bred fair dinkum Aussie youngster. So what’s the [censored] ambiguous rule? AFL … how many Polynesian youngsters are in the AFL? Nil. How many Polynesian youngsters are in the NRL … 132 !!! Pathways for young Polynesian origin boys to the AFL. Nil according to current rules.

https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-draft-the-leading-father-son-nga-and-northern-academy-prospects-for-2024-156624/amp/ Empty cupboard for MFC ?!?!?!?!

Jack Bell has committed to Old Haileybury in VAFA 2025 A grade for next year as a full-time player. Not sure if Casey offerred him another year or if he said “I’m out”. He was good in 2022 and 2023 with 30 games across the 2 years. But only 5 games in 2024 and used in limited minutes only. Farewell #73.

Brad Crouch. I’d offer him the Casey captaincy. Though he would get better $$$ elsewhere. He’s a good tough contested player but injuries and now wear & tear have eroded his body. Could play a few good games but not for the campaign needed.

Teams often need a blend in the midfield. Inside contested bulls. Running skilled mids. Smart footy IQ decision makers. You can rotate various ways depending on opposition and your strengths. example. Lions. Neale. Ashcroft. Berry. McCluggage. Rayner. Dunkley. Fletcher. They all have various skills to compliment each other. Dees are loaded for inside bulls. JV7, Trac, Clarry, Sparrow. Need to add the class and running power. That’s why we grabbed Windsor. Thats why we are looking to convert Rivers. Hope we add two more guns to our midfield.

Agree. Caleb wasn’t recruited for his disposal efficiency which was average 55% at best. It’s his run and carry and metres gained, as well as his competitive nature. He’s a ripper. Just need to compliment him with other mids including an elite ball user.

Not imv. Lindsay kicking at 82% in disposal efficiency at Coates league. Averages 27 disposals per game. Averages 4.2 tackles. He compares more to Josh Kelly in my view. Billings went at 60% kick efficiency this year and 1.8 average tackles. Dees need elite kickers.

No. Salem is certainly up and under kicks. Certainly not sharp in the last 3 years. Often kicked it 15 metres sideways. Windsor is too early to call. I would say he runs and gets metres etc and love that but disposal efficiency this year was low at around 55% Mcvee was composed and assured but I wouldn’t say his kicking is elite. Definitely good with ball in hand and around the 70/75% level. We need midfielders with high kicking efficiency to deliver forward connection

Lindsay is an elite ball user. Not sure if you could say that about anyone in our current midfield or our list.

https://www.afl.com.au/video/1251142 point of difference is versatility

Mostly very good. Prediction is Langford at “5” and Reid at “9”. Happy with Langford. Reid is a very good and smart player however I prefer Allan or Lindsay if that’s the available players for that choice.

http://mfcde.es/3Ai2bKF Your chance to crown 2024's best performer 🏆 Vote for your chance to win a team-signed guernsey.

Here’s the AFL media website team 2024 AFL.com.au All-Australian team B: Bre Koenen (Brisbane), Jenna Richardson (Hawthorn) HB: Emma O'Driscoll (Fremantle), Maddison Gay (Essendon), Tilly Lucas-Rodd (Hawthorn) C: Ally Anderson (Brisbane), Ash Riddell (North Melbourne), Sophie Conway (Brisbane) HF: Kate Hore (Melbourne), Aishling Moloney (Geelong), Ella Roberts (West Coast) F: Caitlin Gould (Adelaide), Taylor Smith (Brisbane) Foll: Mim Strom (Fremantle), Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide), Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne) Int: Mon Conti (Richmond), Charlie Rowbottom (Gold Coast), Aileen Gilroy (Hawthorn), Eliza West (Hawthorn), Aisling McCarthy (Fremantle) Melbourne captain Kate Hore has continued to show why she is a star of the competition But who were the unlucky names to miss out? Up-and-coming Brisbane midfielder Isabel Dawes has taken her game to another level in 2024, while Essendon ball-magnet Maddy Prespakis has also put together another strong campaign. Melbourne's Eliza McNamara had a strong season as a mainstay in the Demons' onball brigade, while Adelaide forward Danielle Ponter has also had flashes of brilliance. North Melbourne duo Alice O'Loughlin and Kate Shierlaw have had impressive campaigns, while in defence Charlotte Thomas, Brenna Tarrant and Harriet Cordner have been strong contributors for the Eagles, Swans and Blues respectively.

My post was from 30 August prior to the pick swaps. Eagles had pick 3 at that date On 30/08/2024 at 16:31, spirit of norm smithsaid: I prefer Langford over Smillie, no doubt. However some foreboding that Langford may be on the Eagles radar.

If we had a pick in the mid 20s then definitely Hannaford would be an option. He’s good but others are better. He’s not pick “9” worthy in my view.

Thanks Meggs. Yes looking forward to the end of season review. It was a season of two halves … a season that could have descended into darkness but emerged with some blue skies ahead. So much to work with … we must retain the key players and continue to develop the youngsters. We have the nucleus again of a premiership team. This season was a reset due to departures and injuries. Go Dees in 2025.

@red and blue forever Dees AFLW Team got top up players this year. List of 30, and we had 8-10 on the injury list by mid season. Just had 21 players to choose from and we had to have top up players brought in as emergencies. Thats why we see Lin and D’arcy listed. They automatically drop off. All the young draftees debuted due to the desperate shortage of players. But we saw some surprise development in players that was probably accelerated by the absence of some of our stars. Have to sign up Chaplin and Gillard on 2 or 3 year deals. They are young stars.

Agree … huge year ahead. Stay tuned for the 2025 season.

Dees lost Birch, West, Gay, Sherriff and Wilson from their best 21 last year and did an excellent job this year covering these five players and the many players injured through the season including most for significant parts of the year. No big clean out needed in my view. It’s now giving more opportunities to younger players and the returning stars like Mackin and Harris.

Dees 11 matches 7 matches versus top 8 teams for 2 wins 5 losses 4 matches versus bottom 10 teams (10th, 11th, 16th, 18th) 4 wins Clearly the best team outside the top 8. Some clubs would have been anxious if Dees AFLW team had got in the finals.

Likely to see the Dees consider saying farewell to Grace Hill, Rhi Watt (already retired) and either Gabby Colvin or Paxy. Other clubs might come knocking to attract TAYLA HARRIS. I think the Dees have supported her strongly and should see her repay that if she’s happy in our environment. Tayla is a premium player who can command a key forward or key defender role.

@BAMF agree… It would be a huge shock for the Crows to pick someone else at pick “4”. If they picked Langford, and Draper was available, I’d be a huge supporter of picking Draper. His class, skill, pace & footy IQ is elite. He played senior footy this year and adapted against bigger stronger opponents. Definitely a future star like many of his peers in the top 10 imv

Kolt is just a young man, only 19. He has the inner competitive edge that JT often looks for. His energy and strength will be as asset. I see him as a Cam Rayner type, with his start being half forward and then rotation through the midfield as required.

add 3 new youngsters at maximum … we have high quality team and need to keep them together!!!