The Curse of Norm Smith

[GC2015]

September 19, 1964 - Melbourne claim the premiership with a 4 point victory over Collingwood, their sixth flag in 10 years.

July 23, 1965 - Norm Smith is famously sacked after four consecutive losses, despite sitting third on the ladder at the time and winning the first eight games of the season prior to the month of poor results.

July 27, 1965 - Norm Smith is reinstated as Melbourne head coach due to popular demand but the damage was already done. The Dees would not play finals again for 23 years. This quote came from Norm Smith himself in his final year as Melbourne coach:

"It will be a long, long time before Melbourne wins another premiership." - Norm Smith, 1967

Two questions.

Is it real? And does it continue tonight or will it finally be broken?

 

[Duskfire]

Two questions.

Is it real?

And does it continue tonight or will it finally be broken?

No, curses are not real. Regardless whether Melb win or lose, something that happened 50+ years ago has zero bearing on what happens in todays game. No idea why people keep bringing it up.

 

[LeverPuller]

Yes it is real.

And

 

[masai]

Why was Norm Smith given the arse ?.

I know he was a tough person, maybe told some committee men, some home truth’s ?.

 

[troybe]

I’d like to think it’s Melbourne‘s turn to win


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Johnny Karate]

Why was Norm Smith given the arse ?.

I know he was a tough person, maybe told some committee men, some home truth’s ?.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/679009

This article explains it the best possible way. The Red Fox by Ben Collins (the same author of the linked article). Is the most comprehensive tome in existence of Norm Smith and explains that whole saga in excellent detail.

 

[VineySMASH]

Two questions.

Is it real? And does it continue tonight or will it finally be broken?

Head says no it isn't real. The whole sacking was an insane thing to do though - we got rid of probably the greatest coach of all time over a minor disagreement he had with a member of the administration.

But it would be a great monkey to get off our back.

 

[GC2015]

I’d like to think it’s Melbourne‘s turn to win

I remember people saying the same thing about Fremantle in 2013...

 

[Dangerousfield]

I’d like to think it’s Melbourne‘s turn to win

The AFL likes the good feel of breaking a long drought and the umpires do their bidding to make it happen. Dogs won't get their usual very favoured treatment because it is Melbourne's turn in 2021. Freo and Gold Coast (Clarko's first season) next two cabs off the rank, eventually Saints will have to be gifted one.

The Norm Smith curse is real, so is the conspiracy around Covid, the Bill Gates thingy in every Covid vaccine, the sinister 5G network, the world being controlled by pedophile Freemasons, oh they're all real alright!

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

eventually Saints will have to be gifted one.

Hmmn via relocation of Saints and North to Tas?

I imagine a red,white,black and blue striped jumper with a green map of Tassie in the middle will not look great on the Telly.

 

[troybe]

The AFL likes the good feel of breaking a long drought and the umpires do their bidding to make it happen. Dogs won't get their usual very favoured treatment because it is Melbourne's turn in 2021. Freo and Gold Coast (Clarko's first season) next two cabs off the rank, eventually Saints will have to be gifted one.

The Norm Smith curse is real, so is the conspiracy around Covid, the Bill Gates thingy in every Covid vaccine, the sinister 5G network, the world being controlled by pedophile Freemasons, oh they're all real alright!

I’d like them to win because my next door neighbour barracks for them and she was 13 when they last won, so that would be nice


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

I remember people saying the same thing about Fremantle in 2013...

Kicked themselves out of it in the first half.

 

[GC2015]

The AFL likes the good feel of breaking a long drought and the umpires do their bidding to make it happen. Dogs won't get their usual very favoured treatment because it is Melbourne's turn in 2021. Freo and Gold Coast (Clarko's first season) next two cabs off the rank, eventually Saints will have to be gifted one.

The Norm Smith curse is real, so is the conspiracy around Covid, the Bill Gates thingy in every Covid vaccine, the sinister 5G network, the world being controlled by pedophile Freemasons, oh they're all real alright!

Interesting that you think the Suns will get the rub of the green if (when) Clarko takes over. Is that based on anything?

Kicked themselves out of it in the first half.

Sure did. It felt like more than a 15 point win for Hawthorn that year.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

Sure did. It felt like more than a 15 point win for Hawthorn that year.

Hawthorn weren't much better, they tried their hardest to lose it. Gunston kicking straight won it for them.

A very unmemorable game.

 

[HurlsMeister18]

Amazing that the curse lasted 57 years and Norm Smith was 57 when he died.

 

[HurlsMeister18]

And just to make sure the curse was well and truly broken Melbourne kicked in the last quarter 9.3.57.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

No. Curses are not real.

Anything else?

 

[LightTower4]

No. Curses are not real.

Anything else?

I agree. More to do with decades of mismanagement than voodoo.
It started when idiots who ran the club and knew nothing about football sacked Smith, but after that the club continued to be run by top end of town campaigners on an ego trip that decimated the club.