spirit of norm smith

As long as he enjoys his footy. No pressure on the kid.

Florent. Offer 4 year deal. $500k per year. Bang. He’d walk into our starting 18 and add more talent.

Free agents ? Only Sydney’s Ollie Florent is realistically any target in my view. Others are too expensive, too old , not good enough , not a good fit or not required. Florent has skills and pace. Offer him a 4 year deal and press the Swans into serious coin to keep him.

If BBB didn’t come up, Patrick Voss would be best option for key forwards outside of AFL right now.

Too soon for Jefferson. Needs 2024 in Casey and development of his physical strength and competitiveness. He is a prospect but key position forwards need 2-3 years development. High risk but also potential high reward strategy in drafting key forward in 1st round !!!

66 kgs. How dare that stat be published? So 2023 and so yesterday.

Is that Cameron Schwab ??

Outs. Melksham - long term injury. Oliver - indefinite. Joel Smith - suspension TBC. Kozzy missing round 0 but available for round 1. Billings may get the nod ahead of Chandler at the start. Hopefully Brayshaw and Petty are right to play. Best 44 B: Lever, May, McVee HB: Salem, Tomlinson, Rivers C: Langdon, Petracca, Hunter HF: McAdam, van Rooyen, Neal-Bullen F: Pickett, Petty, Fritsch FOLL: Gawn, Sparrow, Viney IC: Bowey, Billings, Brayshaw, Tmcd Sub. Spargo Casey B: Hore, Adams, *Freeman HB: Connelly*, Turner, Woewodin C: Windsor, Laurie, Howes HF: Tholstrup, Schache, Chandler F: Moniz-Wakefield, B.Brown, Jefferson FOLL: Fullarton, White*, Steele* IC: Shipp*, Verrall, K.Brown,Szybkowski*

AFL WEBSITE IN Jack Billings (trade, St Kilda), Kynan Brown (Rookie Draft, father-son), Tom Fullarton(trade, Brisbane), Shane McAdam (trade, Adelaide), Koltyn Tholstrup (No.13 draft pick), Caleb Windsor (No.7 draft pick) OUT Luke Dunstan (retired), Brodie Grundy (trade, Sydney), James Harmes (trade, Western Bulldogs), Michael Hibberd (retired), James Jordon (free agent, Sydney), Deakyn Smith (delisted), Kye Turner (delisted) they seem to have forgotten about Marty Hore !!!

McAdam obviously as a mature player should play from round 1. Woewodin is looking good and a big chance for round 1, likely off the bench. He looked good in limited opportunities in 2023. Really hoping Blake Howes gets to showcase his talent. A big pre season to get his body right and fitness to peak standards. He also loves a goal which could add to our scoring power.

Melksham long term injury. With Oliver and Joel Smith missing likely through the early parts of 2024. Billings may get the nod ahead of Chandler at the start. Hopefully Brayshaw and Petty are right to play. @WERRIDEE Quite optimistic on Caleb Lewis. He’s a talented youngster but not sure he’s the type for the high possession midfield role. B: Lever, May, McVee HB: Salem, Tomlinson, Rivers C: Langdon, Petracca, Hunter HF: McAdam, van Rooyen, Neal-Bullen F: Pickett, Petty, Fritsch FOLL: Gawn, Sparrow, Viney IC: Bowey, Billings, Brayshaw, Tmcd Sub. Spargo Casey B: Hore, Adams, *Freeman HB: Connelly*, Turner, Woewodin C: Windsor, Laurie, Howes HF: Tholstrup, Schache, Chandler F: Moniz-Wakefield, B.Brown, Jefferson FOLL: Fullarton, White*, Steele* IC: Shipp*, Verrall, K.Brown,Szybkowski*

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1059777/eye-on-the-future-10-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-2024 predicted top 10, with 9 midfielders Ashcroft and Welsh go as father son picks to lions and crows respectively just outside top 10 are … Camporeale twins also to the blues Sam Marshall is another very high academy pick as a huge bonus gift for Lions 😡 Archer Day-Wicks is a very classy left sided mid and one to watch across this year Zac Johnson and Harvey Langford are highly likely top 10 types that I think would be ideal for the Dees , and again both young guns are midfielders Jonty Faull is probably the only key forward type available around the mid to late first round. Will be highly sought after

The nucleus of the team surrounds Mitch White, Tom Freeman, and Roan Steele, with these 3 expected to play majority of games. They’re backed up the next 12 players likely to get some games depending on MFC availability, being Riley Baldi, Jack Bell, Paddy Cross, Tyler Edwards, Tom Freeman, Max Gregory, Ned Moodie, Harvey Neocleous, Charlie Peters, Tom Sheridan, Ziggy Toledo-Glasman, Ryan Valentine. All showed the ability although very limited action. ARRIVALS: Leo Connolly should be a consistent place in Casey’s team across half back. Youngsters like Szybkowski, Shipp and La Planche should get their opportunities throughout the year. La Planche had a very good 2022 and was unlucky to not get drafted. He is a taller rebound defender. Kai Windsor is a good midfielder whose injury problems have restricted him. He has the talent and it’s nice to see him join his brother at the Dees. Jack Billings, Tom Fullarton and Marty Hore are likely inclusions in the early stages of the year. DEPARTURES: The loss of Munro and Grey are big, big outs at Casey. Grey especially was on the fringes of a potential rookie place and matched up against any AFL talent. Goonan, McRae and Briggs were serviceable but only very limited games so little impact. Departing of Harmes, Dunstan and Deakyn Smith weaken the carry over depth.

MFC TOP 5 MARKS 2023 MFC TOP 5 GOALS 2023 Our top five marks & goals of the year are in.

AFL WEBSITE COMMENTS Melbourne may take a short-term hit to its tall defensive stocks, losing both Birch and Wilson, as well as Gay across half-back, but injury replacement player Hill provides a bit of depth. West had been squeezed out of the midfield late in the year, while the loss of Sherriff will hurt across half-forward. The Dees may have taken one step backwards in order to go two steps forward, hitting the draft hard for the first time since 2020. Pisano could play straight away in the forward line, the Demons pushed hard to lock away raw but exciting half-back flanker Wotherspoon, and father-daughter pick up Rigoni will provide plenty of pace on the wing or flanks. Hose will sit out the year with a torn ACL. We lose 4 best “21” players in my view. Gay. Birch. West. Sherriff. Wilson was on the fringe but still a loss. Opportunity now for some others to push through. Yes I think Pisano plays straight away. She’s a talent and will play half forward role. Others are 2025. Rigoni has great pace but skills need improvement (kicks like Ingo!!) But huge future ahead and will bring excitement.

Ins: Lily Johnson (Port Adelaide), Alyssia Pisano, Ryleigh Wotherspoon, Jacinta Hose, Jemma Rigoni, Delany Madigan (draft), Grace Hill (Greater Western Sydney, injury replacement) Outs: Libby Birch (North Melbourne), Maddi Gay (Essendon), Casey Sherriff, Eliza West (Hawthorn), Charlotte Wilson (Gold Coast), Georgie Fowler (retired), Jordi Ivey, Sammie Johnson* (delisted)

Long term pick. Will miss 2024 with rehab from knee injury (second ACL). Thought Ruck stocks were ok with Pearce and Campbell and Gillard (Gall and Harris can rotate as well). A player for 2025 and beyond.

Pick 55 Delany Madigan. We raided the Esstern Ranges. Huge draft night. Missed out on Mikayla Williamson at pick 12 but otherwise very good picks.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1478752/aflw-draft-pick-no29-rigoni-legacy-continues Skills and pace. Jemma’s got star quality. Daughter of Guy. Love it. 👏👏👏⭐️⭐️⭐️

👏👏👏welcome Alyssia

Yes just the type of youngster that the AFLW Dees need.

Not sure they can continue with the stay at home or national option in the draft. Highly compromised even with other concessions. Top prospects in WA or SA can elect to stay at home. Piper Window (great name) is probably a top 3 pick but choose to stay in SA so nominated state and not National. Port gets a free hit as long as they stay in the draft ahead of the AFLW crows. Time to equalize the rules!!! (Oh sorry it’s the AFL way!!!)

Lost 4 quality players but the team still looks strong enough to challenge again next season. Add 2-3 quality youngsters and would like to see a fit TAYLA HARRIS back and firing.

Dees will be boosted by the addition of Jemma Rigoni. She’s got real pace and plays like a youngster who’s grown up with footy skills built up over many years. AFL website write up… Position: Winger Height: 172cm State: Victoria, Oakleigh Chargers/Ashburton Nomination: Victoria Slightly older at 19, Rigoni missed out on her draft year after suffering a torn ACL in 2021. She's returned to both under-18 and VFLW level (with Casey Demons) in fine style, providing plenty of pace and neat kicking skills on the wing. Can also play off the flanks if needed.

Looks like Mikayla Williamson is a potential draftee.. AFL website write up Position: Midfielder Height: 174cm State: Victoria, Dandenong Stingray/Pines Nomination: Victoria One of the very top athletes in the draft, Williamson set a new Combine record for the 2km time trial, taking five seconds off Nina Morrison and Tarni Evans' long-standing time of 7:14. She finished second in the agility test and fourth in the standing vertical jump. Wins the footy and can clear congestion with ease.