spirit of norm smith

Ben Brown. We knew he had knee problems at Nth and we picked him to help us climb the mountain. After overcoming the knee injury he was able to get onfield and was a key part of the team to get us into the finals. IN 2021 🏆🏆🏆He did it. We did it. We won the GF. 13 games. 25 goals. 3 important goals in the GF. 👏👏👏 In 2022 his form continued to be solid but started to taper off at late seasons end. 30 goals in 19 games. Only one goal in the two disastrous finals. 2023 started brightly with 8 goals in the first two games. Then an injury and we had a slow recovery finally getting back by round 16. But 2 goals in the next 4 games. Dropped/injured. He could hardly run after half time in the last two games. He then never really appeared at Casey or the Dees. It wasn’t mentioned but the Dees missed his forward line marking and leading. It wasn’t mentioned by the media. A forgotten man. I am not sure he goes on in 2024. He’s contracted for one more year. I am not sure we have the luxury of BBB and Tmcd taking up precious list spots if their bodies are shot. His knee is hopefully able to give it one more go. But he’s climbed the mountain. How much more can he give.

Fullerton is a free hit imv. He should be cheap $ and has some ability to relieve Gawn when needed. I think we give up a future 3rd round (or 4th) to the Lions who want points next year to pickup Levi Ashcroft.

COMBINE STARS TAKE SHAPE A NUMBER of draft hopefuls pushed their stocks over the weekend with excellent testing results in front of club recruiters at the Draft Combine. Gold Coast Academy talent Will Graham, who could be the fourth Suns Academy prospect to land at the club this draft, was a standout across three tests, finishing second in the 20-metre sprint (2.915 seconds), equal second in the standing vertical jump (78cm) and equal third in the running vertical jump (95cm). Small forward Aiden O'Driscoll blitzed the 20-metre sprint, claiming the top result with a run of 2.87 seconds ahead of Graham and Caleb Windsor (2.916 seconds). Lance Collard also ran a 2.92-second 20-metre sprint before winning the agility test. Collard, who is tied to West Coast's Next Generation Academy, ran 8.157 seconds in the agility ahead of fellow WA product Koltyn Tholstrup (8.194 seconds) and Angus Hastie(8.204 seconds). Zane Zakostelsky claimed top honours in the standing vertical jump (80cm) ahead of Graham, Phoenix Gothard and Mitch Edwards(78cm), while Darcy Wilson was the standout in the running vertical jump. The Murray Bushrangers midfielder/forward, who finished second overall in the 2km time trial, jumped 98cm to finish ahead of top-five talent Zane Duursma (97cm), Graham and Kane McAuliffe (both 95cm). Wilson was beaten in the 2km time trial by Sandringham Dragons wingman Tarkyn O'Leary, who stormed home with a run of 5:48 minutes before Wilson came through in 5:52. Ruckman Ethan Read, who could attract a top-10 bid for the Suns, was in third place with a run of 5:56 minutes.

2024 where are the improvements + Oliver back for a full season + Petty JVR development as key forwards + Howes + Woey + AMW + Daniel Turner all to push for senior footy + add in McAdam + Fullerton + 3-4 young draft picks

Hibbo Premiership player 2021 All Australian 2017 113 games for the Dees (197 games in total) MFC life member 100% effort every time He played and beat all the forwards he was on. Dusty, Papley, Elliott, Cameron to name a few. He just managed to grab that tackle, or spoil with that fist, or smother or correl, to pressure into his opponent making a mistake. I loved the Melksham farewell at the B&F. Such a tribute. And Hibbo’s response to all his family, to the club and players was very special. He was a highly valued and respected player and teammate. Farewell good luck Hibbo👏👏👏

@WERRIDEE FOLL: Edwards (pick 32)???

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Eden Zanker 🤮🤮🤮🤮umps were against us. Got Crows 4 of their 8 goals… costly 🤔🤔missed Paxy ❤️❤️Lize Mc Crows were physical and knocked us about. Umps didn’t see it our way Tayla Harris was down. She’s a huge difference and we need to get the footy to her more. We will bounce back

6 Zanker ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 McNamara 4 Hanks 3 Gay 2 Goldrick 1 Purcell

Trent Bianco axed by Pies. Behind too many similar players. He had a good under 18s career and looked good for them in 2021 and 2022, but seemed to lack opportunities this year despite his strong VFL form. We probably have plenty of similar types although I do admit he seemed like a one grab player with good skills and ability to kick a goal. Maybe another possible invite/train on summer option.

@david_neitz_is_my_dad👏👏👏agree. Summing up 2023 finals … “we genuinely lost both finals on the back of having no composure and being inaccurate in front of goals.

Will Brown is a smart footballer. He’s not a big ballwinner but uses his disposals and good decision maker. Is he a medium forward or a mid? Not sure. Might be somewhere in the late draft rounds or potentially a rookie. He’s leadership was apparently very good and that’s a great quality in a youngster.

We love Steven May 👏👏👏👏👏

I think so. Lots of silver medals

5th Gus 👏👏 4th May 👏👏 3rd Lever 👏👏 2nd JV7 👏👏 1st Trac 👏👏 Riv and Maxy 👏👏

Love the event so far Clint ⭐️ Kate Roffey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tribute to the legend Ronald Dale Barassi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Milkshake ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hibbo ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ choco ⭐️⭐️⭐️ JVR. TRENT. JUDD. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gus. Great to see you back ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hibbo and Jake. Best mates. 👏👏👏

Windsor is the type of outside running midfielder player needed by the Dees. He likes to run with the footy and gets good “Metres” gained through “run and kick” footy. His pace is his biggest asset but what I also like is his desire to run and chase and tackle down opponents. He’s not silky skilled but it’s no weakness. I think draft pick around 16-20 is where he gets picked up.

Chol to Hawks? D’Ambrosio to Hawks? Doedee to Lions? (5yrs @600k a year!!) Koschitzke to Tigers? Stephens to Kangas? Fisher to Kangas? (Clarko loves skilled left footers!!) Adams to Sydney? Hambling to Swans? Grundy to Sydney? Jordon to Sydney (swans salary cap 🤯) Gresham to Bombers? Goldstein to Bombers? Mckay to Bombers? Harmes to Bombers? Cats? X Duursma to Bombers? (bombers as a destination club 🤮) Dow to Saints? Henry to Saints? Shiel to Saints? Wines to Cats? McAdam to Dees? Fullerton to Dees? Brockman to Eagles? Flynn to Eagles? E Himmelberg to Giants? Fantasia to Giants? E Hollands to Blues? Sweet to Power? Zerk-Thatcher to Power? Ratugolea to Power? (and no picks to trade after JHF in 2022) Coffield to Dogs?

👏👏👏Clayton Oliver will be staying🏆⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ✈️ James Jordon joining Swans, Dees get end of 2nd round (circa pick 39) as compo. Good luck JJ 😘🏆 👍🏻Tom Fullarton requested trade to Dees. Ruck/fwd backup ✈️ James Harmes likely to be traded (we will always love you Harmesy 😘 🏆

Dees can get future 3rd as best deal likely. His contract cost will dictate who takes him in.

Sandringham Dragon Tarkyn O’Leary wins the 2km time trial at the Draft Combine with a run of 5:48 minutes ahead of Darcy Wilson (5:52 minutes). Both are also elite ball users and would fit in nicely in the red and blue, especially Wilson.

My prediction is 1st Viney 2nd Petracca 3rd Brayshaw 4th May 5th either of Lever / Gawn / Rivers

He kicked 30.22 in the VFL this year as a ruck/forward. He is a big bodied ruck/forward that could relieve Maxy in the 6-7 minutes a quarter but also be capable ahead of the big sticks. Means we’d let JVR be a permanent forward and potentially cover if Petty was delayed in his return.

Agreed. Sounds fair. Dees are usually good at negotiating and not dragging out arguing over loose change

Harmes is still a 50/50 to stay/go Ben Brown - can’t see him playing next year unless he gets elephant painkilling injections each quarter