spirit of norm smith

Nailed it. This is perfect for any of the AFL talk fest shows to dissect. It’s clear to the fans. Unfortunately doesn’t seem clear to Simon and co. Slow and steady and then turnover footy is a horror show. We can improve with better ball use and run, but the complete loss of winning contested footy and clearance work (our previous number 1 strength) is a huge concern. Being outworked, outrun and outbodied.

Thanks. Spargo needs to do a lot more. A lot more. He wasn’t impressive at all in 2022 and 2023 and as we know was out injured in 2024. Seems to be our players have average performances and still get new deals and extensions. Accepting mediocrity is our weakness.

Melksham. Tmac. Billings. All will retire. Doubts over so many … Laurie, Woey jnr, Sestan, Kentfield, Adams, Hore, McAdam, Spargo. That’s 11 to go. Some might question or think that’s harsh. I think it’s needed. There’s young players needed and the talent is available.

Suns destroyed us. Embarrassing skill errors. Easy soft 15 metres passes then turnovers. Dees very poor in the midfield especially. At the clearance and in contested footy. Trac and Clarry and JV7 looked 2nd rate. Rowell and Anderson just ran away from them. Votes ? 6- Bowey 5- Langford 4- Langdon 3- Sharp … that’s enough

The Game in reflection 1st qtr 🤮Henderson turnover inside 50 🤮Oliver turnover inside 50 💔Lindsay knee injury - subbed off 👍🏻Sharp to Chandler (miss) 🤮Ump free and fifty50 (Oliver brain fade to kick the ball away) 🤮Petracca 30 metre out -miss - kicking for goal (looked devoid of wanting to kick the goal , very unsure) 🤮Fritsch - turnover 🤢Langford miss on the run 👏👏👏Langford to Bowey … goal 🤮🤮🤮rivers poor lazy handball - asleep Noble runs and goal 🤮Trac kick to inside 50 but straight to a suns 2v1 🤮May error dropped mark Suns 4.5.29 Dees 1.4.10 2nd qtr 🤮Langdon poor kick into fwd50. Turnover 👏👏👏Langford to Melksham ☠️umps. Johnson two tackles - players had prior opportunity - not rewarded 🤮Fritsch miss from 25 metre out 🤮Oliver fumbles and fumbles 🤮Fritsch miss from 40 metre out ☠️umps 1/2 time Dees 2.9.21 to Suns 5.8.38 3rd 🙌lucky. Sharp goal 🤢umps Billings grabbed without the footy … miller goal 🤢may 20m away from king 👏👏Melksham to Trac - left foot goal 👏👏Sharp goal ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Rowell ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👏👏Chandler goal 🤮🤮Viney disposal - killing us dees 29 points down 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮Fritsch drop mark 15 metre out !!! Unmanned … drops the mark then fumbles and falls over 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮umps - suns goal in last 0.0000171 seconds of third quarter Dees 6.12.48 to Suns 12.10.82 4th 🤮🤮🤮🤮Skill errors Langdon. Viney. Oliver. Seriously poor 🤮Fritsch miss shot 🤮Oliver disposal poor again 🤮Trac disposal - lazy 👏👏Langford - goal on the run 🤡Salem disposal - so poor 🤮johnson dropped mark - 25 metres out !! 👏👏JVR mark and goal ☠️☠️☠️Umps - free kick to King against May 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮smashed at centre clearances and at the contest Could not match the Suns midfield Dees 8.14.62 to Suns 18.12.120

Turner and Bonner would be handy inclusions. So imv only Turner (as Bonner is not AFL listed). Not sure why he wasn’t considered to recruit as he’s only just turned 28yo but has excellent left foot disposal. Disposal is much better than most of our AFL listed squad.

Lever May Salem Rivers Petty Bowey Windsor. Viney. Langdon Sharp. Turner. Petracca Fritsch. JVR. Pickett Gawn. Oliver. Langdon Tmac. Sparrow Chandler Johnson Sub. Melksham

In. Lever. Windsor. Pickett. Turner Unavailable. Throlstrup. McVee. Outs. Billings. Henderson. Howes. Lindsay (knee)

🤮🤮🤮🤮Skill errors Langdon. Viney. Oliver. Seriously poor 🤮Fritsch miss 🤮Oliver disposal 🤮Trac disposal 🤡Salem disposal 🤮johnson dropped mark

Ever !! Worst ever !!! Missed shots. Missed tackles. Dropped marks. Worst ever !!! Basic footy errors.

🙌lucky. Sharp goal 🤢umps Billings grabbed without footy 🤢may 20m away from king 👏👏Melksham to Trac 👏👏Sharp ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Rowell ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👏👏Chandler goal 🤮🤮Viney disposal 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮Fritsch drop mark 15 metre out !!! Unmanned then fumbles and falls over 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮umps suns goal

WATCHING MELBOURNE FOOTY CLUB IS A HEALTH HAZARD

2nd qtr 🤮Langdon kick into z50. Turnover 👏👏👏Langdon to Melksham ☠️umps. Johnson two tackles not rewarded 🤮Fritsch miss from 25 metre out 🤮Oliver fumbles and fumbles 🤮Fritsch miss from 40 metre out ☠️umps

Yes do your blood pressure a favour … errors and turnovers killing us

1st qtr 🤮Henderson turnover 🤮Oliver turnover 💔Lindsay knee injury - subbed off 👍🏻Sharp to Chandler 🤮Ump free and fifty50 (Oliver brain fade) 🤮Petracca 30 metre out -miss - kicking for goal (looked unsure) 🤮Fritsch - turnover 🤮Langford miss 👏👏👏Langford to Bowey 🤮🤮🤮rivers poor handball - asleep Noble goal 🤮Trac kick suns 2v1 🤮May error dropped mark Suns 4.5.29 Dees 1.4.10

Who’s missing? (From best 22) Pickett. Lever. Windsor McVee Throlstrup

Surely there’s an experienced sports administrator available and willing to take the job. Bizarre that it’s vacant to be honest.

Starting to feel the dreaded Dees injury curse again Injury & Suspension List: Round 3 [player, injury or suspension, estimated return] Jake Lever — ankle / fitness test Steven May — larynx / test Jake Melksham — hamstring / test / likely Casey Kysaiah Pickett — suspended / 1 week Matt Jefferson — hand / 1 - 2 weeks Caleb Windsor — infection in his foot / 1 - 2 weeks Koltyn Tholstrup — back / 2 - 3 weeks Judd McVee — hamstring / 2 - 3 weeks Jai Culley — foot / 2 - 3 weeks Marty Hore — calf / likely 2-3 weeks Luker Kentfield — illness / 3 - 4 weeks Shane McAdam — Achilles / next season Andy Moniz-Wakefield — knee / next season ——————————————————- ps Darren Burgess - fitness coach at the Crows. Their injury list is two players probably ranked in the last few on their list

MFC COACHING STYLE

“Players wanted to see the uplift in their coach and being happy “ constant dialogue around the players growing and reaching their potential. lots of words around the journey and learnings and being your best and love and openness etc etc etc basically all the phrases like you hear from a “life coaching consultant”

How can 2025 be successful “Curiousity Create fun Love and allow people to show their strength Love and healing and connection Put the pieces together to create Feeling intensity to succeed”

On Clarry … “Thoughts were … do we need him to have a fresh start and considered that we got it wrong that we didn’t discuss with Clarry first … we looked at trade options for Clarry but now he feels happy and excited about the year ahead there were worries in pre season 2023 that he’d be playing footy going ahead “

Petracca injury in 2024. The hurt what was the issue? Trac didn’t feel the love from the club We hope he feels the love now !! we were worried that he might seek a trade and had to lean into it … so we had honest and open conversations and had to show the love and every player can feel they can feel the best that can be

Low points two of them 1- “2019. The doubts as a coach. But out of darkness you find strength and mentors and learnings !! “ And 2… not discussed

“Lost two finals in 2023 by goalkicking. Successful years !! (???)” my words … heartbreaking years!!