spirit of norm smith

@roy11 well said. It’s hypocrisy of the highest order. They pretend to care then pile on the vitriol. I support Brad Green in his comments. And Jay Clark extorts volume about the Cats culture. How Oliver can be like Bailey Smith? Cats culture !! Jack Steven, Tyson Stengle, Tanner Bruhn. Three bad examples all seemingly forgotten. Phoenix Foster said many young players at Cats are alienated from the elite class. Nothing said.

The AFL top 25. Again by staff writers (aka faceless dribblers) Gawn squeaks in now at number 10. Wow. I’d say he’s the MVP in the league for the past 3 weeks. He’s behind Cameron 7, Warner 8 and Serong 9. That’s insulting. He’s twice the player of these blokes.

Jay Clark is a GEELONG supporter!! That’s the word on the street. His article is clearly biased.

@binman did you suggest (on podcast 28 April) that Gawn should be rested v eagles and Tom Campbell be promoted (after his 3/4qrr game at Casey).

By JAY CLARK 💩💩💩💩 “Clayton Oliver would look over the fence at what could have been. The fresh start at Geelong. The chance for more premiership success. The renewal and resurrection of Bailey Smith. There was a belief last year that Oliver was the missing link in the Cats’ premiership quest this season alongside Smith, but now he is in danger of falling by the wayside at the Demons in their push into a new era. One of the best ballwinners in the game a few years ago has polled only one AFL Coaches Association vote, averaging 28 touches and seven clearances across seven matches in 2025. The coaches’ trophy is an award he has won twice, but Oliver’s drop-off over the past 24 months is as steep as anyone’s in the game. And for this once blistering onballer, the slow walk towards what feels like another inevitable trade request has taken its toll on the player, as much as everyone at Melbourne has lauded his commitment and involvement over the past year. Oliver, 29, is a much better teammate, the Demons all say, after some serious talks and guidance in recent years, and captain Max Gawn deserves much of the credit for helping keep his mate on track. They play chess before games and on Monday night had a sauna together at Gawn’s house, the skipper said. And while the club is adamant Christian Petracca is staying, the door is clearly more open on Oliver and the prospect of off-loading his $1.2 million-a-year salary for a key forward in the exchange period. But as things stand, the Dees would be lucky to get even one first-rounder for Oliver, as that ship may have sailed – unfortunately for everyone – last year. It is no secret that when Oliver travelled down the highway to Rhys Stanley’s farm last year after Melbourne dangled him as trade bait, the midfielder saw, and wanted, a future down the coast. But now he is stuck, to a degree, as harsh as it sounds. Or at least he could be stuck, pending how hard Melbourne is prepared to keep him at the club for next season, and how much of his bumper wage the Demons would be willing to pay to send him to Geelong in return for a middling draft pick. At the heart of any Oliver trade is an important sliding scale. The more of his wage the Demons are willing to pay, the better the draft return they would expect from the Cats. If the Demons don’t pay any of his seven-figure wage, the Cats would likely either reject the deal entirely, or offer up a late pick in the draft to absorb all of his money. And the Cats might have the most disciplined pay structure in the game, meaning if Melbourne are at all interested in off-loading Oliver they will likely have to chip in several hundreds of thousands of dollars at least, like Collingwood did on Adam Treloar. The dump kick at Melbourne is ineffective and out under the “new way” to play under Simon Goodwin. Precise ball use is king in 2025. That hurts Oliver’s style and role, and he remains no certainty to stay in the senior side this year as first-year jet Harvey Langford’s growth continues. He’s the future, clearly, Langford. And the club has re-signed hard nut Jack Viney for four years, so he is locked in. Oliver is the expendable one. There is a real prospect Oliver may not keep his spot this year pending his form and it would be difficult for a four-time best-and-fairest winner to head out to suburban grounds in the VFL in his prime. If that does happen this year, the shoulders will slump and trade regret will hit overdrive as the Cats hunt another top-four berth. Oliver missed the trip west to play West Coast on Saturday night as part of a mental health break, but is expected to return to training on Tuesday and play this weekend after a breather. The mature way the Demons and Oliver have handled his time off last week is to their credit. But Oliver’s future is clouded, and there is a chance, too, he is stuck now. At least this trade period, the clubs will have had time to thrash out a deal, and that work will ramp up now, if in fact Geelong still wants him”.

Clayton Oliver’s future examined: The reduced price, what the Cats could offer, and the lurking SaintsClayton Oliver would be looking at the Cats wondering what could have been, writes Jay Clark. Now, the Demon is at risk of falling by the wayside if he can’t find a suitor, but what would he cost? Jay ClarkChief Football Writer Follow @ClarkyHeraldSun

Gerard Healy 💩💩💩💩💩💩still as arrogant as he was when he took the $$$ and walked out of the Dees to go to Sydney

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 🤣🤣🤣