North Vs Eagles

[gigs]

just like to hear ur thoughts on the upcoming game, as a staunch north supporter i really think this is going to be a great tussle...where will the game be one, is the loss of chad going to have any effect....and
what north player in ur eagle eyes is the biggest threat and why?
cheers, have a good one!
p.s GO ROOS!

[Au_Blue#24]

Originally posted by gigs
just like to hear ur thoughts on the upcoming game, as a staunch north supporter i really think this is going to be a great tussle...where will the game be one, is the loss of chad going to have any effect....and
what north player in ur eagle eyes is the biggest threat and why?
cheers, have a good one!
p.s GO ROOS!

I cant see north troubling us at home - but i didnt think we'd struggle against tbe bullies either. One bloke I reckon who may trouble us is that Perrie guy !!

[eagleskickass]

Originally posted by gigs
just like to hear ur thoughts on the upcoming game, as a staunch north supporter i really think this is going to be a great tussle...where will the game be one, is the loss of chad going to have any effect....and
what north player in ur eagle eyes is the biggest threat and why?
cheers, have a good one!
p.s GO ROOS!

Welcome. I too agree it should be a cracker of a game, both have decent midfields with a few other good players around the ground. But having said that i honestly believe in this case it will, like most of our games, be won in our midfield. I dont think your good midfield will eb able to match our many options of Cousins, Kerr, Judd, Fletcher, Braun, Adkins, Wooden. Also having said that i always worry about Harvey as he seems to usually have a good game against us, and one can NEVER underestimate David King. One place i am worried about is our backline but if they play anything like they did against Brisbane we'll be fine, and have another avenue for run as our HB line against the Lions was superb but i still think you will go ok down forward, just that IMO we will get more inside 50's and this year we've had a pretty good conversion rate so will win it due to that.

Should be a great game though and i am sure glad its at Subi not in Melbourne.

[NorthBhoy]

I can't see us winning.

But...

If anyone was going to give you blokes a push at Subi this year, I reckon we could have the side, but more importantly, it could be at just the right time.

The Eagles will have 2 weeks to sit on a smashing of Brisbane, at the GABBA. You are not going to have trouble beating a side who is 6th, unrated and away from home are you? Only this attitude will see us in with a shot.

Gardiner will do inhumane things to Porter, so Spider has to come up. Watt will take Wilson. Matera always flogs us, and our backline struggles against small crafty blokes. Ralwings could run a full tag on Cousins, and I would bet that Laidley lets Simpson, Grant, Harvey Stevens and Harris go at the game.

Simpson, Harvey and Grant have been as good as any midfield trio in the game for a month, including your blokes. They will get 80 between them no worries.

Brown will start in defence and follow Gardiner around, effectively becoming a 4th onballer, a role that has turned his seaosn. All this will ahve to come off, plus a bit for us to win.

[ozzult]

We will lose if we go into the games like we did against Geelong and Bulldogs.


Hopefully the fact that we can actually really belt sides when we want to (Brisbane), will give us the wake up call that we need to really want to win, to be able to win.

Hopefully we really turn it on, and if we do, it could get ugly.

[eagleskickass]

Originally posted by NorthBhoy

Gardiner will do inhumane things to Porter

Love It:D:D hehe Nah you bring up some good points, and your midfield has been very good of late so will be a GREAT game to watch i reckon. Also the one thing you say giving you a shot, our complacency, is something i doubt we will now have. Having played 2 games with that attitude and being EXTREMELY lucky not to lose both then with the win we just had i think the boys will not just "want to win" but will wanna flog you guys. Not saying we will do that, but the will will be there and so complacency SHOULDNT happen, i hope

[wattie]

North bhoy you don't give your team enough credit, I think most people would have to rate the roos by now. Even if your wins have been hard fought and scrappy, they're still wins and they're starting to make a bit of a habit of it.

Interesting to note this will be the first Laidley vs Worsfold match. Think they'll be a bit more fired up than usual?

[hilly]

Originally posted by ozzult
We will lose if we go into the games like we did against Geelong and Bulldogs.

Hopefully we really turn it on, and if we do, it could get ugly.

I don't think we'll win and I also doubt we'll get flogged hopefully no one remembers this if we lose by 20 goals Our last trip west was v.ordinary and hopefully the break helps us a bit.

WC by 28

[noodle]

Originally posted by NorthBhoy

Matera always flogs us, and our backline struggles against small crafty blokes.

matera probably won't be ready to play. sampi will have to do the job.

[Darky]

Could someone please be a good sport and put up a likely squad of 22 in the next few days?

Porthos did a brilliant post a few weeks ago (before the North vs Port game) which was pretty much spot on. Didn't help us though - we still got flogged! :D

Is there a WAFL round this weekend, or is this the WA vs SA state game weekend? Is there any sort of game which might contribute to the selection process?

I'm not 100% sure about Port Melbourne's next VFL game. I know it's against Tassie, but dunno if it's this weekend or the weekend the AFL resumes. I think it might be the latter. Also not sure if Port Melbourne have a VFL fixture this week to give some desperately un-(match)fit blokes a run if it's allowed.

At this stage, Burton will come in for Porter if fit, and Watson or S.Motlop might be a chance to return at the expense of Firrito. The injuries sustained by Wells and Robbins in the Essendon game are not serious and I believe both have been cleared to play against your mob.

[daddy_4_eyes]

I imagine the only changes will be:
OUT: Morrison (knee)
IN: Phil Matera

unless Matera doesn't come up by then, in which case it could be anyone of Cox, Carroll, Munro, Read, Humm, plus a few outsiders in Lynch, Collica, Chambers and Seaby.

[ozzult]

There is no WAFL this weekend.


I'd say the likely 22 would be something like ...

B: David Wirrpunda, Darren Glass, Michael Braun
HB: Drew Banfield, Trent Carrol, David Haynes
C: Andrew Embley, Ben Cousins, Rowan Jones
HF: Daniel Kerr, Glen Jakovich, Daniel Chick
F: Phil Matera, Troy Wilson, Ashley Sampi
R: Michael Gardiner, Chris Judd, Chad Fletcher

IC: Damien Adkins, Kasey Green, Andrew McDougall, Josh Wooden.


Depending on whether or not Phil Read is fit, he could come in for Josh Wooden. Also, Cox could be a chance, but considering Doogs did alright, who could you drop for him?

So that would be,

IN: Phil Matera Trent Carrol
OUT: Ash McIntosh, Chad Morrison

[Darky]

Good stuff Ozzult...

So how would you attack thre three-pronged forward line of Rocca, Petrie and Morrell?

Gaspar on Rocca, Carroll on Petrie and Haynes on Morrell? It becomes the age-old quandary of size vs speed/mobility.

Can McDougall hold down a second ruck spot, allowing Gardiner to push forward, or maybe Cox in (snigger, snigger)? That would well and truly f*** us. (oh behave!)

Midfield rotation and opponents could go several ways, but if I had to nominate an opponent for each player :
Stevens - Cousins
Simpson - Jones
Rawlings - Fletcher
Wells - Kerr
Harris - Judd
Baird - Embley

[Mead]

I'm very worried about Petrie- we just don't have the cattle to handle a forward of his style and calibre. We'll probably end up putting Glass on him and hoping for the best.

Gaspar is out for at least six weeks, so you won't see him. Haynes on Morrell might actually be the way to go.

I think there is no question your forward line will kick a pretty big score, but given the good form of a few of our guys against you (Wilson, Matera) and the coming of age of Sampi, if we get decent run for our midfield, I'd be confident that if this game degenerates into a shoot out we have the firepower to win.

[Darky]

Originally posted by Mead
I'm very worried about Petrie- we just don't have the cattle to handle a forward of his style and calibre. We'll probably end up putting Glass on him and hoping for the best.

Gaspar is out for at least six weeks, so you won't see him. Haynes on Morrell might actually be the way to go.


Oops! I meant Glass, not Gaspar.

Funnily enough, I'd also prefer a shoot-out. because when our forward line fires it can kick decent scores... but when the delivery is poor/infrequent or the forwards aren't taking their chances, they are terrible and will struggle to kick 10-12 goals.

Midfields are a worry... I think ours has plenty of attacking flair, and if Wells and Watson play they are two guys that don't waste kicks into F50. But I don't know if we are capable of stopping some of your guys. We have Ben Robbins, who I didn't mention earlier, but there is no specific opponent that really stands out for him.

Who do you think will play on Corey Jones? Daniel Chick maybe?

[eagleskickass]

I wouldnt be surprised if Chick got given an unexpected role ie he played on Pavlich in the reo game(well i didnt expect this at least:P) and towelled him BUT yes i would put chicky on Corey Jones. I truly rate your midfield but really feel that in a shoot out we would see more of the ball due to our midfield, and SHOULD be able to convert that onto the scoreboard. The lions game is a bit of an example, especially the third term. Was goal for goal, but game was already over as wed matched them early.

What Pivotal for Norths chances? Well West Coast are very strong at the start, and are very strong at the end, its what happens in the middle that CAN be worrying. Therefore it is IMPERITIVE that you guys are up with us at 1/4 time and have a lead at 3/4 time IMO for you guys to win, anything less than that and we should get the victory. Wont be an easy game but i think by games end we will have out run you guys and will win by 26-36 points

[eagleskickass]

Also i want to sincerely thank the north supporters. This is one of the first games where the pre-game talk has been a) of this calibre and b) civil. Makes for very good discussion when both teams can talk honest and frankly bout the sides chances rather than the usual my **** is bigger than yours arguments that start nowhere and go nowhere.

[NorthBhoy]

It is inevitable that it will be high scoring. For all the things we have done really well this year, we don't seem capable of really putting the clamps on the opposition with it's tail up. Freo and Port got away from us in a quarter, and West Coast are playing better footy ATM, than those two were.

With the massive player turn over recently, we have evolved into a running footy side, able to stretch most on the break or by use of the footy through the wings and pockets.

Petrie has to have a big one. Digby is struggling, and Sav is barely going, so Drew has to pull another huge one out. JOnes has been sensational as a forward target, Harding will kick 3, but the midfielders, namely Grant and Harvey, will need to get 4 between them I reckon.

I would consider running a near tag on Wirrapunda, as the bloke is carving everyone, and really gets it going. Wells could go with him across the turf running backwards, but we will need him playing attacking footy.

[eagleskickass]

Would be very strange(and a major comment to Wirra!) seeing a player playing in the backline...being tagged:D

[jod23]

We should win but then again, we should have beat the Dogs so no game is a given. It seems that every game is won in the midfield nowadays and at the end of the day, if North's midfield can break even with ours then it will turn into a tight game much like the Geelong and Bulldogs game.

But if Gardy, Cuz and co get on top we should romp home. The guys Im worried about are Harvey, he always seems to play well against us, Sinclair, he is very good form and creates a lot of run out of defence for the Roos. Also wary of Simpson, think a tag could be thrown his way, perhaps Wooden.

[GoEagles]

Should be a good match!

If any Victorian side will test us at home, it will be the Kangaroos. Their midfield has been one of the best this year with Simpson, Grant, Stevens, Sinclair & Harvey all being really impressive.

One bloke who has looked the goods is Petrie. Seems to be taking over Rocca's position of Full Forward. Will probably see Glass go onto Petrie and maybe Tommy Carroll or even Quinten Lynch come in to take on Rocca/Morrell.

[Geonet]

Originally posted by wattie

Interesting to note this will be the first Laidley vs Worsfold match. Think they'll be a bit more fired up than usual?


Good point ! I was thinking the same. They are both part of the new generation of coaches and I sense stronger rivalries among coaches who have just started.

[myee8]

North's record at Subi ain't too bad, so hopefully it will be a good game and North will not get flogged like earlier in the season. Hopefully Sav and Diggers will play, meaning that it leaves secondary defenders on the likes of Petrie and Jones. Embley is the one i am also worried about. Not much else to add as everyone else had said it all!

[Shagga#6]

Going on last years game in Canberra we need to seriously respect Kerr. He tore us apart in that game.

Glad to have Watt instead of Mick for the match up on Wilson.

It should be a cracker of a game, but our midfield will need to be winning the ball out of the middle to be copeditive. If Garnier, Cousins, Judd, Kerr and co. get going, will be hard to stop.

[Voice of Reason]

Always a difficult game to predict after the two week break. I remember years ago that Carlton were given no chance against the Eagles in Perth, but their experienced players played a blinder to get them over the line. North has some similar experienced players who will probably appreciate the break and it will be hard for us to mentally come up after such a crushing victory at the Gabba.

Having said that, we've shown that we generally play to the same game plan with confidence and you'd have to tip a shoot-out. I did watch the very entertaining Kangaroos v Bulldogs game (which I think was the week before we played the Bulldogs) and it was a similar game to ours. That was a classic example of a team getting a run-on to change the result. North were gone deep in the 3rd, but Digby started to take some marks, then kick some goals and all of a sudden they were right back in it.

Hopefully we'll get more run-ins than North and win, but it could certainly go either way.

We will have to replace Morrison (knee) and McIntosh (hamstring) and you wouldn't expect many changes after such a win. Carroll would be the likely replacement for McIntosh (and we need another tall defender against your big 3 - pity Milli's out because he would take Sav - you might even see Jako back on Sav at some point). Morrison's a more difficult one to pick and partly depends on injuries as both Collica and Read would have claims if fit. Humm might get another chance, or we go tall with either Cox or Lynch (who has had good but not outstanding WAFL form and can play front or back). Obviously I hope Matera is fit, but I can't see it.

[daddy_4_eyes]

Seaby! Seaby!

I want to see this guy played this year. Has HUGE wraps on him, and I remember someone comparing his athleticism to Gardiner's. I bloody hope they are right, you can never have enough Gardiner's ;)

[GoEagles]

heh anyone remember last year vs Kangaroos at Manuka when baldy Martyn tried to step on Wilson's ankle to stop him?

[Milkman]

Originally posted by GoEagles
heh anyone remember last year vs Kangaroos at Manuka when baldy Martyn tried to step on Wilson's ankle to stop him?

Yeh, Wilson was a very patient man that day.

[myee8]

Originally posted by GoEagles
heh anyone remember last year vs Kangaroos at Manuka when baldy Martyn tried to step on Wilson's ankle to stop him?

I remember that too, and it wasn't very good. It will be an interesting round 15 if both players are present...

[Tas]

As a fanatical North supporter I must admit I really love watching the Eagles play. They have always been a tough side and hard at it which reminds me alot of the shinboners. I am really looking forward to this game.

I don't think alot of 'experts' give our team the credit they deserve, and that has probably rubbed off on supporters of opposition teams and even some of our supporters.

As much as I was awed at the Eagles performance against Brisbane last round it is not a level of performance that is maintained by teams. They were red hot and probably would of beaten any team that has gone around in the last decade at their prime on that day, they were just unstoppable.

If the eagles play like that against us then we wont kick enough goals to get remotely close to winning. I expect the eagles to play well, but not as good as last round.

I think Eagles have to be the favourite given recent form, given its a home game and that is probably worth a good 5 goal head start. In summary, we will have to be at least 5 goals better on the day to get over the line and that is a tough ask, an extremely difficult task it its a very warm day on Sunday.

Alot will depend on the first quarter I think. We are slow off the blocks and play our best football in the second and third quarters. Our last quarters have been up and down, but they have been excellent the last month.

If we can keep pace with West Coast early then we will have a chance. We will need scoreboard pressure so will need to make the most of opportunities we have and convert those easy goals we tend to miss alot.

West Coast averages slightly more clearances than us but we average more tackles. It is a testament to our midfield that we get as many clearances with Porter playing most of the season as our number one ruckman.

Laidley will want to put the defensive pressure on early and hopefully keep the game to a low scoring affair. Unfortunately, that is not our strong point but our team has played pretty consistantly and solidly over the last four rounds.

The last two rounds we have come up against both a Tigers and Bombers outfit with their backs to the wall and desperate for a win, it was a good effort to get over those games where the pressure was on for four quarters and where we had to fight from behind to come home with the points.

Our strong point potentially has been our midfield but the eagles is as good as ours, they have the benefit of being younger and quicker but ours is both experiences and that they have played alot of football with eachother over the years.

I doubt Burton will play so the rucking contests will be one-dimensional. If its going to be like the last month then Porter/Brown will look to make body contact with Gardiner and put his ruck work off without actually winning a contest and our midfielders will read the ruckwork off Gardiner.

We are being smashed in ruck contests week in and week out without Burton but our midfielders are experienced enough to know what to do. Over the last month we have had 42, 40, 40 and 44 clearances and West Coast has had 45, 45, 34 and 35.

Effective tackles over the same period have been 53, 52, 48 and 54 for us and 35, 39, 38 and 47 by West Coast. If we can maintain that type of pressure we are definitely a chance, but it wont be easy over in Perth. We haven't played all that well in our interstate games this year.

Our potential trump card is going to be the forward line. Assuming Rocca, Morrel and Petrie all play and go forward then Sav will draw the number one defender. That may sound stupid considering how well Petrie is playing but if Sav gets a lesser forward he is capable of kicking a large number of goals, even if not 100% fit. Petrie wont do the same type of damage as he will get alot of his possession outside of effective scoring range.

Petrie is by far our best forward, has been for this year and last but he is extremely difficult to man up on. Being 197cm and over 100kg with great hands, good speed and the ability to get high off the ground he plays very well for a 21 year old kid. I think West Coast will look to crowd the room he has to lead into and make it difficult for him.

West Coast defenders are very good when the ball hits the ground, at times excellent and very damaging as their skill level is fantastic. Morrell will probably get the third best defender and could be damaging if he decides to lead and present himself but he tends to be like my shower and run hot and cold, last round he was cold so who knows what he will do this week. He might be fired up returning home to WA and may put in a bit harder.

Judd, Kerr, Fletcher and Cousins are the backbone of this Eagles team as they have accumulated 61, 58, 68 and 60 clearances this year. They have been very damaging this year but the Eagles have a high dependancy on these players as just those four represent 53% of the team's total clearances.

In the games where the Eagles lost/drew or were pushed these players did not accumulate anywhere near their average as the opposition put on alot of pressure in terms of tackles. A key for us to upse the Eagles at home will be to put these four under alot of pressure. Easier said than done though.

I hope this game is a close one, eagles are playing well and the real danger is if they get a run-on early in the first quarter and they pile on a large lead. We have been vulnerable this year to teams that have been able to pile on a large number of goals in a short period of time and the Eagles are good at that.

Eagles should play a short forward line against us, we do not have the small players that are able to play defensively at all, Sinclair does at times, but our other pocket in Makepeace is hopeless and has been carved to pieces by Matera on more times than i care to remember. Even if Matera doesn't play, Eagles have alot of players that can play that role. We will conceed more goals to midfielders and running players than we will to key forwards.

Good luck folks, I hope the game is enjoyable for both teams, it should be played in good spirit as I think there is a good level of respect for eachother over the years.

[tashibatts]

If we play anything like we did at Canberra last year, we will be thrashed, absolutely thrashed- WCE are even better at home - and have become a Very Good Side this year.

It will be a good match, enjoyable to watch, I have extreme doubts we can come away with the points, but going up a few days early should help, and having the break should also help.

Cousins & Kerr murdered us last year, we need to pay them a tonne of respect- and hope for the sake of sanity that Burton plays, Porter wouldn't have a hope in hell against Gardiner IMO.

Go Roos

[Sera]

We have a few injury problems atm and this is a genuine chance for the Roos to steal one away. I think the Roos have rejuvenated their side since last year and we could be a bit flat [I hope not] after the torrid Brisbane game. Having said that, I'm still expect us to win.

[Dingster]

Laidley says that he learnt a lot from playing at Subi last time. I hope this means that we will play more pressure and accountable footy. If we do, then we could frustrate you guys and will suit us better since we`re on your turf. If both midfields play wide of each other like the Bullies game, then I can see you guys murdering us after half time ala Freo.

Wouldn`t say no to some rain on the day either.;)

[jod23]

Nice round up Tas. Real pity that Fido is almost certain not to play because IMO he could really have his way up forward. Still, we have managed without him before so we will see how we go.

[llosis]

There is no doubt the Roos are a big show for this one. And if they are to win the thing the Eagles will have to watch is their RUN.

The bulldogs and Geelong both played quick sides when they did well against us at Subi and that could be the key for the Roos. The mistake will be to overload the forward line with Talls. Rocca, Petrie and Morrell may be a stretch for the Eagles backline but it has not been sides with an abundance (or reliance) on Talls that has stretched us so far this year.

If I were North I would be looking at the run that King and Harvey can provide to propel their team forward into attack. If theu win enough midfield ball and get it going forward quickly that will help them get the score on the board they will need to win.

Conversely, they may need to play Fletcher and Judd (or whoever) closely in the clearances with a negator or two as the ball can come out of the centre pretty quickly at times. Their backline will need to play with confidence and decisiveness as well because the we have a number of goal kicking options that will probably net us 16-18 goals +

I'm a touch nervous about this game after the bulldogs and geelong games, particularly if the Roos pick a quick team and get their defensive match-ups right. But if you asked me for a tip I'd still back the gold and blue in ;)

[daddy_4_eyes]

Originally posted by llosis
There is no doubt the Roos are a big show for this one

If recent articles are anything to go by, this is a mini Grand Final for the roos. Laidley and his staff have spent the last two weeks watching and analysing games of Subi games to work out WCE's weaknesses, why they have been so successful there, etc. Even trained at Whitten Oval to get used to the larger ground.

This is a real danger game.

[iceman]

Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
If recent articles are anything to go by, this is a mini Grand Final for the roos. Laidley and his staff have spent the last two weeks watching and analysing games of Subi games to work out WCE's weaknesses, why they have been so successful there, etc. Even trained at Whitten Oval to get used to the larger ground.

This is a real danger game.

No doubt every team is out to break the Subiaco hoodoo..... just seems that the Kangaroos staff are putting in a huge amount of work to come away with the points

Ive got confidence that we wont fall into the same trap we did with Geelong and the Bulldogs....

[RzrBlade]

Originally posted by iceman
Ive got confidence that we wont fall into the same trap we did with Geelong and the Bulldogs....

i share the same sentiments. while i think the roos will put up a mighty and gallant fight, i think we will be able to decipher their plans and be able to play the game accordingly to win in our own terms without having to try and play the style of footy they will attempt to produce for the game. although they like to run which is a strength of ours, i think they will need another gameplan too defeat us rather than try and beat us at our own game.

[Tas]

Originally posted by RzrBlade
i share the same sentiments. while i think the roos will put up a mighty and gallant fight, i think we will be able to decipher their plans and be able to play the game accordingly to win in our own terms without having to try and play the style of footy they will attempt to produce for the game. although they like to run which is a strength of ours, i think they will need another gameplan too defeat us rather than try and beat us at our own game.

All I hope is for all the boys to go out there and play four quarters and give 100%. I would not be disappointed with a marginal loss because I penciled in a loss at the start of the year, a win against you guys here would just be a bonus i think.

I think it would do us alot of good confidence-wise if we got over the line, but I do expect the Eagles to win. I'd just like to see a great game and then for us to go home and smash Collingwood the following round. ;)

[chrisjudd3]

I read the paper today and it seems that there is a 40% increase in attendance to Kangaroo games. No surprise.

The magnificant endeavour of the Kangaroos to take on anyone, whereever and whenever makes them an exciting unit.

Like the WCE, its been the no namers who have stepped up and added strength and foundation to their top shelf players - Brent Harvey, David King, Stevens, Grant, Simpson - who are a formidable midfield.

I hate Vic clubs but not the Shinboners - so its good to see the Kangas buck the trends and enjoying a good year.

Trade us Brent Harvey.......no Judd :D