spirit of norm smith

Again Tim Lamb will have a big whiteboard and is setting out an agenda midfield depth Key defender (May ageing, Tmcd on last legs, Tommo will go elsewhere, Adams still a work in progress) Ruck relief for Gawn … Verrall & Fullarton seen as unlikely. Try to keep JVR as key forward impact Protect Pick 5 … hands off !!! Get pick 25 off Crows for ANB Wishlist … Peatling (GWS) pick up the phone to managers of …Angus Sheldrick (Swans), Neil Erasmus (Freo), Seamus Mitchell (hawks ) Jai Serong (hawks) , Nick Bryan (ess) , Ben Hobbs (ess) Peter Wright (ess) Out of contract …Davies (suns), Kreuger ( pies) Names to see what they could add … Parfitt (cats) Rosas (suns), Brodie (Freo)

Thanks Turner good call and good reasonings

Thanks Dubdee. Agree that hawks will be stretched to fit all their defence in. Jai Serong also had a standout 2024 in the VFL for box hill hawks.

Is Deven Robertson contracted to end 2025? I think so. He was courted by the Eagles but stayed at Brisbane. I’m sure Eagles might try again - though they have Reid, Ginbey, Hewitt and will add pick 3 midfielder this year most likely so could be already setup with next gen mids.

Names in the hat …Parfitt (cats) Rosas (suns), Brodie (Freo) Wishlist … Peatling (GWS) Unlikely but worth a discussion… Davies (suns) Hobbs (ess) Wright (ess) pick up the phone … Jai Serong (hawks)

Maybe … in a strange twist Finn O’Sullivan might slip to 5 that would be Xmas He has star qualities Like a smaller version of LDU Tigers see Harvey Langford as the next Bont and pick him #1 (could happen) (Levi Ashcroft bid matched by Lions) Kangas go taller at 2 with Trainor Eagles see Jagga Smith as the perfect wingman for Reid Crows want homegrown star Sid Draper Dees get to pick O’Sullivan though he’s still likely at pick 1

And his November phantom draft had the first 7 picks correct including Dees getting Windsor. Twomey has very good intel and once it gets close to the draft , we will watch his predictions closely.

https://bit.ly/4dLkVR8 The door remains open for a Christian Petracca trade in 12 months’ time despite a move this off-season being ruled out as new details have come to light surrounding the saga. If there was a way that Petracca could have got out, he would have explored it,” Morris revealed on SEN radio on Monday morning. “He actually tried to find a way for several weeks and there was no avenue for him to. His management told him from the very start that it would be almost impossible to orchestrate. “So Petracca’s view was: ‘We don’t know until we try’. Since the manager works with the player, Robbie D’Orazio did his best in an impossible market. That’s how it played out. it goes on and on and on and on …

Elite is the correct description. Kate is a star ⭐️

I would have Langford, Lalor, Lindsay all ahead of Reid. Sam Lalor - is a Dusty Martin/Cam Rayner type. Likes physical style of play but also has the skills and decision making to support his top 5 status. Kicks to advantage and creates. Midfield - forward type. Harvey Langford - plays like the Bont. 190cms. Bigger midfielder. Contested ball runner. Can mark forward and hit the scoreboard. Long left foot. Can hit targets but not elite skills. Getting better as the year progresses. Dominating games. Xavier Lindsay - plays like Josh Kelly. Midfielder/half back. Elite left foot kick. Slightly built but excellent step and evasive skills. Can play inside but likely outside running mid in AFL. Unfortunately now injured and unlikely to be in finals of at draft combine.

Finals week 1 Stingrays won by 5 goals Harvey Langford. Best on ground again. 32 possessions. 15 kicks. 17 handballs. 5 marks. 4 tackles. 2 goals. Kicked the first goal of the game. Kicked first goal in the last quarter. He’s actually playing so well, he may actually shoot up to the #1 pick.

North can get Trainor with pick 2. He’s what they need. A taller player who can play back and set up attack or a marking forward who kicks goals. Dees should KEEP PICK 5 (as is). No splitting. @5 gets us at least either Langford, Lalor, Smillie. Based on current trajectory and baring injury, are all highly likely to become elite midfielders.

Absolutely farkkkkn yes !! Mids with first 3 picks. Casey and list is devoid of next level mids behind Petracca 29, Oliver 28, Viney 30. We would experiment with Riv and McVee which robbed us of our backline strength imv. Absolutely mids a Priority !!!!

I agree. He’s a quality player and unlucky not to be getting regular footy. Not sure MFC would offer an “automatic” inclusion though. It’s going to be hard to shake players out of the hawks but they will face a player squeeze at the end of next year. They will also find the $$$ tightening as they pay for guys like B$attle and B$arrass. Also will see higher $$$ into others. Get into Mitchell manager early that Dees are interested.

Definitely recruiters will lift Jesse Dattoli ranking in the 20s now. Another excellent games yesterday with 30+ possessions and goals. Best on ground again. Showed his skill and pace and goalkicking. Leading Knights midfield and has the decision making and class to make it in the AFL. If we get pick 25 off the Crows for ANB, then Dattoli has to be on the potentials sheet.

At least 8 players from the Dragons could be drafted. Another hugely talented team this year.

He was never going to play on the wing. That was fanciful. I liked him as a tall defender who reads the play, could play on big forwards and disposal was composed. Played on Lynch and McKay one year and kept both goalless. Would still have value to teams like Kangas and Crows in my view that need tall defenders.

6 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Hore 5 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Goldrick 4❤️❤️❤️❤️Mackin 3❤️❤️❤️Heath 2❤️❤️Pearce 1❤️Gillard

Sam McClure!!! Cop that !!!

Positive karma!! ❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙

Dees supporters everywhere !!!

SENSATIONAL NEWS. YES YES YES WE LOVE TRAC 💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️👏👏

Thanks DD36. Maybe we can develop Ricky Mentha and ANW as two small defenders in the next few years. With Salem ageing and Riv earmarked for more time in the midfield, there will be a role there in the near future.

The Go Home Factor. That little piece of the recruitment decision that surely must be considered when making a choice on draft picks. There is no denying it is demonstrated how risky it can be to recruit players from interstate. There was previously some discussion that it was riskier for interstate (non Victorian clubs) teams. I actually think it is now shown as more difficult for Victorian clubs trying to retain their interstate recruits especially from WA and SA. Or is it simply the lure of $$$s. Not necessarily in my view. For the Demons, we look back. Early days … Once the Crows came in, Todd Viney and Steven Stretch were on their radar. Both were loyal Demons and committed the club resisting offers. Earl Spalding left in strange circumstances He wanted to go home to the Eagles. The club said ok go. His manager then shopped interest and the Tigers and Blues were making offers. He went to the Blues and won a premiership. Andrew Obst went back to Port Adelaide after they came in. Scott Thompson. Went back to Adelaide after 4 years at MFC (40 games). Traded to the Crows as he wanted to go back for family reasons. Played 269 games over 13 years at the crows, including two time B&F winner. We know the others Jeff Farmer 😭 Jesse Hogan 😭 Luke Jackson 😭 Now … Alex Neal-Bullen 😭 Yes it does work both ways. We got Lever, Langdon & Jeff White as come back to Victoria players. Though Melbourne probably has had the least players brought back for this reason (famously missing out on Chris Judd due to $$ and brown paper bag ambassador roles). So we worry about Kozzzy, Riv, JVR, Petty, Sparrow, McVee, Tholstrup. Will they decide the lure of family or the surf will call them back home. Do we look ahead and look to prefer Victorian youngsters. This year most of the top 25 draft picks are Victorian. Probably 21 of the 25. So no shortage of talent. Is it a factor? The discussion continues…

Goodwin … early sign of his madness? The Age. October 2019. Adam Tomlinson is looking forward to some consistency in his playing role after being earmarked for a spot on the wing at Melbourne. The Demons recruit was unveiled at AAMI Park on Tuesday after joining the club as a free agent on a five-year deal on Monday. Melbourne have identified Tomlinson primarily as a wingman. Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin spoke about him playing a consistent role, and once games start, being cemented in that spot.