spirit of norm smith

@Redleg yes re Blake Howes … I meant back to Casey next week and adopt the taller HFF role

@DeeZone Was posting earlier Just got the news … relief. XL20 👍🏻 Probably miss a few weeks though and look to bandage /strengthen the knee

Xavier Lindsay will be a star. Showed it in his first two games already. Fingers crossed on his knee scans! As many know, I posted numerous times last year that he was the player that the Dees needed. Has footy IQ, good pace and ballwinning, with elite skills. Imv Worth trading out our 2025 pick. What was strange was the add-ons in the trade. I think gave up too much Bombers - pick 9 plus 2025 third-round pick to Melbourne. Dees -2024 picks 28, 40, 46, 54 & 65 PLUS first-round pick in 2025.

Interesting now that JVR seems to have gone backwards. Not sure how our development goes. 2022 he looked good as a 19 year old at Casey. 2023 debut v Swans (just turned 20) was very good with 3 goals and big strong marks But in 2024 and start of 2025, he couldn’t catch a cold (his inability to mark or hold the footy is really poor) … is he wearing oven mitts was one posters comments. He looks hesitant to lead up. When he does, he often has to wait whilst the midfield overuses or kicks it “on his head” and it’s impossible to compete. I think JVR is part of our future. But he needs to move more and actually fuc@$&)n one grab the footy. A more accurate delivery from the mids might also help.

Howes played really good footy for Sandy Dragons AND Casey as a wing/half forward. He’s a capable goalkicker. I’d like to see him put back to Casey next year and adopt that role. Try to slot him back into MFC as a taller half forward. The role as a last line defender is not his go in my view.

Fritsch is the obvious one to go !!! He cost us with missed tackles, missed shots and missed goals. Turn the opportunities in 3-4 goals and we were within a 2 goal reach at 3/4 time. Unfortunately once it blew out, the umps and suns turned up the heat.

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

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