VFL Game Day VFL Round 6: Northern Blues vs. Essendon (8 point win; 76-68)

[Doss]

A pretty important match for both teams. Both teams are sitting 2-3, Essendon with a percentage just over 100, and Northern Blues just a few points worse.

We had a fairly disappointing 23 point loss to Box Hill at home, while the Blues lost to North Ballarat by 21 points at Etihad Stadium.

The corresponding match between the sides last year was at Windy Hill and was won handsomely by Essendon; 44 points in fact.


With the constant state of rather violent flux in the selection of Carlton's senior side, the make up of the Blues' senior side is no easy task to predict, but it's fair to think some blood will be spilt after their woeful performance against GWS.

We'll have a good chance of regaining Chapman, Cooney, Carlisle and perhaps Zaharakis for the senior side this weekend coming, so this could mean a bolstering of the reserves side as a flow on effect.

Anyway, it's a fair way back in season 2015 for the loser of this game, so we better be up for it. Preston City Oval is right near Preston Station which is on the South Morang line. Parking can be tricky in the area, but is far from impossible. So get along!

 

[eth-dog]

Haven't been out to Preston so I'll probably make the trip down. Good that it's at 2, I can catch the whole match after finishing work. Expecting a side somewhat like:

Ashby - Steinberg - Gwilt
Tipungwuti - Freezer - Marigliani
J Merrett - O'Brien - Dalgleish
Fantasia - Pears - Langford
Laverde - Giles - Hardingham
Tagliabue - Schroder - Polkinghorne
Long - McKenna - Kavanagh - Browne - Purcell*

 

[vaughany]

Haven't been out to Preston so I'll probably make the trip down. Good that it's at 2, I can catch the whole match after finishing work. Expecting a side somewhat like:

Ashby - Steinberg - Gwilt
Tipungwuti - Freezer - Marigliani
J Merrett - O'Brien - Dalgleish
Fantasia - Pears - Langford
Laverde - Giles - Hardingham
Tagliabue - Schroder - Polkinghorne
Long - McKenna - Kavanagh - Browne - Purcell*

Edwards playing seniors this week? (Hopefully)

 

[Doss]

Edwards playing seniors this week? (Hopefully)

No.

He's nowhere near it at present, and I'm not really sure where the idea that he is comes from. Doesn't do anywhere near enough consistently during the VFL games.

He undoubtedly has the talent, but that's all it is at this point.

 

[eth-dog]

Edwards playing seniors this week? (Hopefully)

No. Give up on that idea. You're getting too obsessed on it, when all of these players would be ahead as smalls from that side alone:

Ashby, Merrett, Dalgleish, Fantasia, Langford, Laverde, Kavanagh. Not to mention I forgot to put in players like Hams and Aylett (both of whom would be ahead).

 

[efcboy]

Edwards could be a specialist sub but no more than that.

 

[Doss]

Edwards could be a specialist sub but no more than that.

I suspect eth-dog is right though- others would be ahead of him even for that sort of role at present.

 

[efcboy]

I suspect eth-dog is right though- others would be ahead of him even for that sort of role at present.

Probably correct given they just seem to pick the 22nd best player instead of a specialist sub (which I disagree with)

 

[Doss]

Probably correct given they just seem to pick the 22nd best player instead of a specialist sub (which I disagree with)

Yes, the whole concept of a 'specialist' sub is a fair distinction and not something we tend to do well.

 

[eth-dog]

I think Licha will be the specialist sub when he gets back.

 

[efcboy]

I definitely like a quick impact player that takes the game on as sub. NLM was perfect back in the day as he wasn't quite best 21, was quick, versatile and an impact player.

Players I don't like as sub: slow mids who work into games over 4 quarters eg Stanton, O'Brien, Myers, kavanagh, hocking, Howlett, aylett. We've seen this type used far too often for mine.

Good sub options: Chapman, winderlich, Zaharakis, Cooney, Edwards, Colyer, Fantasia. Some of these guys suited when returning from injury or needing to be nursed through.

 

[eth-dog]

I definitely like a quick impact player that takes the game on as sub. NLM was perfect back in the day as he wasn't quite best 21, was quick, versatile and an impact player.

Players I don't like as sub: slow mids who work into games over 4 quarters eg Stanton, O'Brien, Myers, kavanagh, hocking, Howlett, aylett. We've seen this type used far too often for mine.

Good sub options: Chapman, winderlich, Zaharakis, Cooney, Edwards, Colyer, Fantasia. Some of these guys suited when returning from injury or needing to be nursed through.

Whilst I somewhat agree with your assessment, Aylett isn't slow.

 

[efcboy]

Whilst I somewhat agree with your assessment, Aylett isn't slow.

True but he's a workhorse kind of player - not an impact player who takes the game on.

 

[eth-dog]

True but he's a workhorse kind of player - not an impact player who takes the game on.

That I can agree with.

 

[Sanj48]

Have been waiting for this match up to be played in Preston for a few years now - will definitely swing by to catch a bit of it!

 

[Howard Moon]

Edwards was just steak knives with aylett yeh?

Might try and sneak down if not too rainy, my neck of the woods.

 

[Demz]

does anyone know more info on this Purcell guy? height etc ? all i know an been told he's an unlisted player

 

[Zach Package]

does anyone know more info on this Purcell guy? height etc ? all i know an been told he's an unlisted player

All I know is he's Matt Little's mate from his EDFL side

 

[eth-dog]

In VFL news, former Bomber Ben Jolley is playing his 200th VFL game this week.

 

[Doss]

All I know is he's Matt Little's mate from his EDFL side

Just realised we don't appear to have a player thread for him on the VFL board.

 

[Demz]

Just realised we don't appear to have a player thread for him on the VFL board.

a bit pointless since he's an unlisted Player

 

[Zach Package]

Essendon
B Freezer J. Langford Steinberg
HB Ashby Pears Dalgleish
C Polkinghorne Coghlan Tipungwuti
HF Heavyside McKernan Fantasia
F Hardingham Giles Ferry*
R Tagliabue Schroder Hams
Int Howlett Kavanagh Gwilt
Edwards Browne McNiece Aylett O'Brien
Dempsey Hickey K. Langford McKenna Laverde

By my count there's 5 in there named in the AFL team

 

[eth-dog]

Just realised we don't appear to have a player thread for him on the VFL board.

We don't have any info on him and he isn't listed so can only play the three matches as 23rd man.

Essendon
B Freezer J. Langford Steinberg
HB Ashby Pears Dalgleish
C Polkinghorne Coghlan Tipungwuti
HF Heavyside McKernan Fantasia
F Hardingham Giles Ferry*
R Tagliabue Schroder Hams
Int Howlett Kavanagh Gwilt
Edwards Browne McNiece Aylett O'Brien
Dempsey Hickey K. Langford McKenna Laverde

By my count there's 5 in there named in the AFL team

I'm not sure how Ferry can be 23rd man again since he's been that 3 times already which is the limit or so I'm lead to believe, and I'm pretty sure Ashby and Kyle Langford won't play since they're injury outs for the AFL side. Colyer and Chappy are definitely playing AFL however.

 

[Bombers36]

Is our captain Muscles Marigliani injured?
Second week in a row hes out..??

 

[Maddogm]

Is our captain Muscles Marigliani injured?
Second week in a row hes out..??

I believe so.
I think I remember someone mentioning it at the sponsorship night