spirit of norm smith

Agree. Narrm v Warrane The traditional Aboriginal name for Sydney is Warrane. The Gadigal people, who were the traditional custodians of this land, lived on the southern shore of the area around Port Jackson. Additionally, the Eora Nation encompassed a larger area, including Sydney. The name "Warrane" is also associated with the Eora language.

Jon Pierik. The Age. 👏👏 https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/he-s-an-animal-in-there-inside-clayton-oliver-s-reinvention-as-a-tagger-20250519-p5m0d0.html At least some consideration and context. “Oliver isn’t the first blue-chip midfielder to adapt his game for time in the shadows. Carlton legend Craig Bradley did it back in the day, so did Richmond great Trent Cotchin. Bartel even famously volunteered to take a stopping role on St Kilda’s Lenny Hayes at quarter-time in the 2009 grand final, slowing the rampant midfielder in a performance that helped Geelong to a two-goal win. Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury have spent time with run-with roles, Pendlebury even heading to Crows’ gun Jordan Dawson in the second term on Saturday and helping restrict him to five touches for the term. St Kilda skipper Jack Steele also knows how to find the ball, but has been a superb tagger”. Unlike Nick Riewoldt’s vitriolic outburst about Clarry as a “million dollar tagger” after one week v Hawks !!

Lawn mowed 👍🏻 Swimming pool cleaned 👍🏻 Vegemite Sandwiches & Tim tams packed 👍🏻 Scarves packed 👍🏻 Walking to the station now Agree with Binman… if we take our chances and kick straight, we will win !!! If our goalkicking is shizzzzen, then not !!!

Just some perspective Bullants are winless… are 0-8. Outright last. They have copped huge floggings Lost to the Bulldogs by 20 goals Lost to the suns by 20 goals Lost to VFL Port Melbourne by 100 points Lost to VFL Pies by 75 points A good win today and hopefully some players like JVR get more confidence, but honestly it was weak opposition and sub par

@Diamond Jim “Casey did a lot of switching of play but it was often too slow and without real purpose”. Ditto !!

Bombers must be happy with recruiting Archie Roberts at pick 54 in 2023 draft and Angus Clarke at pick 39 in 2024 draft. Both were excellent tonight and show how well prepared the youngsters are that come through the draft. Roberts especially is having a very good second year as a skilful hard running left foot defender. He was predicted as a top 25 chance and the bombers got a bargain.

And not playing at Casey. That’s managed.

Tom McDonald. Rested. Managed. Can the club call it properly !!!

Would rather to see the club have Tmac “managed”.

@binman thoughts on selection ? I’m so confused I know we are not within the clubs four walls but … Why is Spargo still in? Underperforming for 7 weeks. Last week he was a liability. Tmac has been good all year. I get team balance but bringing Lever back was supposed to allow us to potentially put Turner forward. Very harsh on Tmac. Culley an emergency? He was average for Casey last week Howes or Kynan Brown must be closer to selection I’m confused ! But again we must trust the brain power of the club insiders

@Random Task @KC from Casey @picket fence not sure how Culley gets added as a possible inclusion for this week v Swans !?!?! Didn’t see him as one to add. Howes and Kynan Brown were the two players who I thought warranted being in the selection committee conversation as possibles.

@WERRIDEE on paper, that team should be winning a VFL premiership. Perhaps if they kick straight 🤬

Bulldogs fans should be outraged. The free kicks for Geelong are a joke and fixed 26 to 12. Dogs got high shots and no free kicks. Cats goals from frees to nil. Seriously !!!

Strauss broke his leg and never ever recovered as a player. It was one of the worst breaks seen. Maric never worked hard enough or had the discipline for AFL footy. Recruiting has come along way since 2008!! Sinnema gets the footy, that’s not a worry. However just keep in mind ,he’s a runner, he’s an outside player.

Surprise 1. I’m very surprised. Culley looked very average last week. He’s a big too slow in a midfield role and actually was poor in the tackle and chase. His disposal is generally very good but that’s at a VFL level. He needs a serious addition of intangible Zing (intensity). Kynan Brown and Blake Howes must be scratching their heads as to what they have to do (Footnote, I don’t want Howes to get years end and ask for a trade to get opportunities) Surprise 2. Well not really surprised as Spargo is being week after week GIFTED another game !! He was so poor last week as I wrote in an earlier post. I don’t any club would want him if he was delisted or put up for trade. Honestly !

Ranking our team v lions in order of importance (in terms of impact if they were injured/unavailable) Gawn Petracca Oliver Pickett Rivers Bowey Langdon Tmcd May Turner Petty Melksham Salem Mcvee Chandler Sparrow Windsor Langford Lindsay AJ Fritsch Sharp Spargo (Disclaimer imv )

Spargo is being gifted games. That’s all we can say. Clearly below par in most measurements and not even contributing to any intangibles like smart knockons , shepherds, smothers etc. Compared to other small forwards he’s goal output is extremely underperforming. He’s never been a goalkicker but he know seems too scared to try to kick a goal. Definitely needs to go back to Casey.

Just got to work. Listened to the 2nd half of the pod. Entertaining and informative, and passionate. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating great discussion about Daniel “Disco” Turner. He’s a ripper. Binman was right about him being the player to watch this year as a breakout player. I agree that youngsters like Langford and Lindsay are having their game time managed. That’s smart. Definitely both are going to have huge futures ahead @binman . Thanks for adding in the metres gained, it’s a good stat to measure effectiveness. Rivers with 563 metres was excellent,and he had definite impact, especially considering he only had 66% time on ground (which amazed me). Go Dees

Petracca 200 👏👏👏👏👏 💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️

Opposition watch this week Stop Blakey Stop Warner Stop Heeney Watch out for Rowbottom to tag Trac and be in for the contested footy Don’t let McCartin be the interceptor

Watched Stingrays again this week. Only saw most of the 2nd qtr and 3rd quarter. Sinnema again showed his class. See him as an outside player and he’d need to work on just getting his pace up to really burn in the AFL. He already has the kicking skills. Noted a few other youngsters for Stingrays Jasper Russell. Tough energetic small defender. Just kept getting the footy and rebounding outside defensive 50. Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves. Prototype footballer. Looks about 6’2 with good pace and skill. Was used onball then forward and kicked nice goals. His kicking was good and just got to the right spots. One grab player. Probably again an outside type. Max Lee. A running half back. I had noted him previously and good to see again had good poise with the footy and a burst of speed needed across half back. Just some AFL traits.

I really hope young Kalani nominates the Dees. The red and blue blood is his veins. ❤️💙 He’s a quality youngster. But we would need to give him time to develop. Suns already have Dylan Patterson and Beau Addinsall as more young midfielder stars to add in their academy intake as both are definitely 1st rounders.

6 Gawn a leader a champion a legend 5 Melksham his 4 goals and assists were crucial 4 Bowey so composed and efficient 3 Oliver just brought the desire and his goal was crucial 2 Rivers energy and run and contest is his game 1 Trac had a very good game and nearly back to his best Apologies to Turner, Langdon & Kozzzy who were all very good too

@Demonland @binman Only part way in so far but again really insightful comments and review Especially liked Binman describing AJ as having “intangible Zing”. I agree. It’s that extra effort or second effort or Will to get to the contest or extra bump or block or body contact to bullock through. AJ is not the most skilled or most likely longer term option but drafted to serve a purpose. Riv has the zing too. He’s a ripper and had the energy and desire to get to the contest. Had a great game !!!

sorry bing181, I’m watching a different game Spargo was poor again on the weekend V Lions. First half. 7 handballs 3 effective … MINUS 3 METRES GAINED. 1 missed tackle allowing Wilmot to run through the corridor Third quarter His pass to Fritsch was poor. 15 metrs and it floated. Simple pass !! In fact, he was 25 metres out free… have a shot Trac bursts through the square and hits a perfect bullet pass to a free Spargo. 30 metre out from goal. His shot. Out in the full Both were momentum killers. He redeemed himself with a solid tackle but one tackle is hardly enough to justify selection As a small forward, in 8 games he’s kicked 1 goal !!! That’s so sub par for that position