spirit of norm smith

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

Key stats Melbourne 14.15.99 Defeated Brisbane 13.10.88 That’s it !!!

Umps votes likely M.Gawn L. Neale C.Petracca Gawn clearly BOG 👏👏👏👏

Mouthguards in at Casey training tonight Seriously though, the team played boring footy and needs to learn about quick ball movement and scoring strategy. The 3rd quarter v Southport was a horror show of wasted opportunities and poor decisions. Need to see a huge response this week and a 10+ goal victory is the prediction.

A win for the ages!! Indeed it was. DEFEATING THE REIGNING PREMIERS AT THEIR HOME GROUND … a very special pod this week 💙❤️💙❤️ What got us excited Jake Melksham. His goalkicking won the game. His goalkicking gives us confidence. His kick on the left to hit Sparrow was superb. Great game to kick 4 and to nullify Andrews. 👏👏 Xavier Lindsay. Such a bright future. His 3rd quarter was special. Run down tackle. Pass to Melksham inside50 to goal. 11 possessions in the quarter. Gave us momentum. His last quarter run and so nearly a special goal. XL20👏👏 Clarry. Love ya Clarry. His 3rd qtr effort's were special - firstly his contested ball and kick to goal and second to tackle, bump, desparate knock on to Langdon to Kozzy for the goal. 👏👏 Max Gawn is simply the greatest EVER. Loved he punched the ball forwards with grunt. 46 hitouts. 8 clearances. We won centre clearances again (which is one of best stats) 18-11. Not sure if we turned centre clearances into scores @binman . Maxy also was superb with interception marking. 👏👏 Trac was good. Signs of him getting back to his best are getting close. A few fumbles but he was good. Backline of May, McVee, Tmcd, Turner were good. Loved AJ as 2nd ruck , just a bullock type player & gives 100%. All heart & loved the goal celebration Bowsa is having a great year and just behind Maxey in B&F. His composure and delivery were excellent Fritta as our super sub. He was energised. He ran, he tackled, he took contested marks Who was this man ? Shades of 2021 even What worries me? Charlie Spargo is so below AFL standard. His missed tackle in the first as Wilmot pushed him aside. Poor. He was negative 3 metre gained at half time. His 3rd qtr. Pass to Fritsch was pathetic. In fact 20 metres out, stud the shot. Then Trac bursts through centre, bullet pass to Spargo marks 25 metre out. Kick out of bounds on the full. 🤬Had 2 good tackles in the 3rd. That’s it. Must go. Must be dropped. Goalkicking accuracy. Apart from Melksham, I’m not confident in our goalkicking. Sharp twice , Spargo, Petty, Trac, Kozzzy, Fritta all missed shots from 30 metres out. They didn’t look confident. Love Kozzzy but 2.4 …what might have been. Windsor ball use. Had 6 kicks & 3 shocking turnovers, two were Lions rebounds and goals. Love the kid but needs to fix up ball use. ? Only one question this week - can we request these umps next week ? Overall they were okay with only a few rough ones … but overall I thought they didn’t overumpire and let the play flow

Easy. In. Viney and Lever (if fit) Out. Sharp (if only he’d taken his chances) Spargo (not AFL standard by a long way) Fritsch stays as sub. @Demonland Fritta seemed energized surprisingly as the super sub. Kicking for goal still got the yips AJ stays in as he loves the contest. 2nd ruck work was ok and did some good bullicking work. If Lever is not fit, bring in Kynan Brown

Actually made the call “wish we had two Daniel Turners”… one back and one forward. He was very good today. Very good

Melbourne- what a win !!! Kozzzzy - we love you Melksham- the goalkicking ace Max - simply the greatest Zorko - Go get F$&&(&)d Oliver - silenced the critics Lindsay - huge future ahead Fritsch - our super sub Spargo - (censored) (censored) (censored)

@Demonland Huge win. 👏👏👏👏👏👏 Beat the reigning premiers at home Massive effort and never gave up Lots of great performances this week Jake Melksham 💙❤️that’s a very special day out Love ya Kozzzy Gawn is THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME ❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙Go Dees

4th. 🤮Melksham miss 🤮Kosssy miss 🤮Gawn turnover 🤮Langford turnover. Terrible !just terrible … giving it to lions 🤮McDonald turnover 👏Bowey to Melksham goal 👏goal Fritsch 💔kozzzy miss 35 metres 💔miss Petty 👏AJ GOAL 👏Langdon 14 up !!! Trac to Lindsay and … miss from 40 🤮🤮🤮 Goal to McKenna Lindsay brave !!! 🤬🤬🤬Trac miss Langford smart

@dazzledavey36 How can they defend Spargo now !! Not AFL standard. Actually a liability today.

3rd 💔Trac poor. Left handed nothing handball. Turnover. Goal. Morris. 👏Melksham kick. To Sparrow. 👏Oliver Desparate. Goal kozzzzy 🤮🤮🤮🤮sharp miss 💔Lindsay late tackle. goal Gardiner 💔Windsor and Salem. Mark bailey. Dees 50. Spargo 30 out. Pass to Fritsch. Poor pass. [censored]. Goal to lions on rebound 👏Clarry goal Trac. Burst. Through 50. 🤬🤬🤬🤬Spargo 30 out and miss everything!!! Farrrrrk me Spargo is [censored] REALLY FUCCCCHHHN 👏Lindsay to Melksham. 🤬Turner. Goal Gardiner. ⭐️Lindsay. Tackle. Disposal. Run. More please

Spargo. Get off now !!! That’s [censored] 30 metres out Kick the goal Hit a 15 metre pass

Spargo. First half. Metres gained MINUS 3. 1 tackle. Poor. Very poor Want to see a massive lift in him Wish we had an Elliott, Hill, Greene, Papley etc as a small forward to kick goals.