Certified Legendary Thread Race for the flag, in squiggly lines

[Lsta062]

You never know, with Deledio back this week it could help them but if they keep on playing shit then I dunno, Carlton will probably finish in front of them on the ladder.

I am not confident that things will turn around after Deledio comes in. The cracks have been there since 2014, so I think that the dam might have bursted this time around

 

[GarnerSmash]

They smashed you in possession and inside 50's. Yet they had a shocker.

I reckon Swans will belt you in a few weeks. Saints may even come close next week.

They beat everyone in contested possession, clearances, overall possessions and inside 50's, not just us. But given they are prone to over possess so as to protect from quick rebound they allow opposition to get back and block their space. Until their KPP are up to speed they will be beaten more often than not by good teams who limit the dogs chances and take advantage of their own. Dogs will be a flag threat sooner than later but looking at stats and saying they dominated and should have won means nothing if you can't apply stats to what teams are trying to do.

 

[GoBlues13]

They smashed you in possession and inside 50's. Yet they had a shocker.

I reckon Swans will belt you in a few weeks. Saints may even come close next week.

Who are you kidding - you think the saints will come close to beating North. No way mate!

 

[Pykie]

They smashed you in possession and inside 50's. Yet they had a shocker.

I reckon Swans will belt you in a few weeks. Saints may even come close next week.

We lose the possession count every week.

Our game plan is based around a 50-50 contested possession split and better forward efficiency.

I50's diferantials mean nothing if you get 7-10 in a row in a defensive battle like last night.

 

[nowhereneargeelong]

They beat everyone in contested possession, clearances, overall possessions and inside 50's, not just us. But given they are prone to over possess so as to protect from quick rebound they allow opposition to get back and block their space. Until their KPP are up to speed they will be beaten more often than not by good teams who limit the dogs chances and take advantage of their own. Dogs will be a flag threat sooner than later but looking at stats and saying they dominated and should have won means nothing if you can't apply stats to what teams are trying to do.

Absolutely your talls were the difference on the night.

But I am far from convinced that North can win the flag in 2016. Early days, time will tell! Should be interesting.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Absolutely your talls were the difference on the night.

But I am far from convinced that North can win the flag in 2016. Early days, time will tell! Should be interesting.

Very early days indeed. Real tests come from round 10 onwards but having watched North a long time this year is the first time I see a team that is playing it's opponent in a manner to expose it's weaknesses and managing players within games. With this team I am ignoring stats and points for and against. How they are playing can only really be garnered from watching what they are trying to do in any given game. This North team is very much a squiggles worst nightmare.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Always a worry playing the Crows when a team is on struggle street, there isn't a bigger coach killer side than the Crows.

Reckon Lyon is safe as freo rebuild.

Return showdown may be interesting though...

 

[Lsta062]

Bulldogs having more inside 50s and disposals yesterday does not necessarily mean that North Melbourne were lucky to win. It just goes to show that North Melbourne does not need to bust a gut to beat teams. They can just expose their weakness and persist on opening their opponent up through that weakness.

Last year in Round 6, Richmond had more disposals and inside 50s than North Melbourne, yet lost by 35 points because they punished our turnovers.

 

[A Swallow]

Bulldogs having more inside 50s and disposals yesterday does not necessarily mean that North Melbourne were lucky to win. It just goes to show that North Melbourne does not need to bust a gut to beat teams. They can just expose their weakness and persist on opening their opponent up through that weakness.

Last year in Round 6, Richmond had more disposals and inside 50s than North Melbourne, yet lost by 35 points because they punished our turnovers.

This. Bulldogs were bobbing the ball around in the middle or across half back racking up touches, because North had their forward line comprehensively beaten. They had no options. North much more clinical using the ball and going inside 50.

I was impressed with Scott during the week saying it wouldn't be a shoot out, as he suspected the Dogs could get us that way. He then applied it.

 

[Doggstats]

This. Bulldogs were bobbing the ball around in the middle or across half back racking up touches, because North had their forward line comprehensively beaten. They had no options. North much more clinical using the ball and going inside 50.

I was impressed with Scott during the week saying it wouldn't be a shoot out, as he suspected the Dogs could get us that way. He then applied it.

More like we couldn't transition out of half back because we were missing our 3 best half backs kicks/runners in Murphy, Johanissen and Suckling. If we can get atleast 2 of them back by next time we play and dominate contested possessions, clearances and inside 50's again then it will be a different story.

 

[Lsta062]

This. Bulldogs were bobbing the ball around in the middle or across half back racking up touches, because North had their forward line comprehensively beaten. They had no options. North much more clinical using the ball and going inside 50.

I was impressed with Scott during the week saying it wouldn't be a shoot out, as he suspected the Dogs could get us that way. He then applied it.

Yeah. It is easy to look at stats and derive assumptions from it, but it doesn't really tell the whole story. If their forward delivery is bad and they are trying other options, then of course they are going to have more disposals in a way. North however have it figured out and didn't need to use the ball as much to kick a higher score.

It is not the first time this happened with Bulldogs. They had more inside 50s and disposals against Hawthorn and still lost. Hawthorn were much luckier than North Melbourne were last night against them.

 

[A Swallow]

More like we couldn't transition out of half back because we were missing our 3 best half backs kicks/runners in Murphy, Johanissen and Suckling. If we can get atleast 2 of them back by next time we play and dominate contested possessions, clearances and inside 50's again then it will be a different story.

You can preach what ifs, but North were also wasteful with the ball last night. It would be a different game with those half backs, no doubt, but you had zero options in the forward half due to North's pressure and defence. It is what people have always questioned, and they were brilliant last night.

I don't think you can just say it was the missing half backs either. The Dogs' forward structure was soundly defeated by North's backline. Beveridge clearly wasn't sure what to do. Stringer was taught a lesson by Thompson and became frustrated by his lack of space and time and tried to be Jesus.
You weren't missing anyone of note up forward (I think Boyd can be good eventually, but not right now).

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Both sides played like garbage; North were significantly better at capitalising on their chances while we continued to kick the ball to the exact same point in the 50 every single time and watch it bounce straight out. Doesn't matter who "should have" won, North did better at making the most of their opportunities and deserved the win. Should be very happy with their ability to grind out wins like that, even if it wasn't exactly fun football to watch.

 

[Number37]

Both sides played like garbage; North were significantly better at capitalising on their chances while we continued to kick the ball to the exact same point in the 50 every single time and watch it bounce straight out. Doesn't matter who "should have" won, North did better at making the most of their opportunities and deserved the win. Should be very happy with their ability to grind out wins like that, even if it wasn't exactly fun football to watch.

Last night was horrible to watch because the skills were atrocious not because it was a defensive game.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Last night was horrible to watch because the skills were atrocious not because it was a defensive game.

It was incredibly frustrating. Every time you felt like the game was about to open up there were four turnovers in quick succession that left you scratching your head and wondering what the **** was going on. I don't mind watching defence (and although feral at the way we were playing, I did appreciate North's pressure) but the skills last night made it borderline unwatchable.

 

[Kickin Goals]

Both sides played like garbage; North were significantly better at capitalising on their chances while we continued to kick the ball to the exact same point in the 50 every single time and watch it bounce straight out. Doesn't matter who "should have" won, North did better at making the most of their opportunities and deserved the win. Should be very happy with their ability to grind out wins like that, even if it wasn't exactly fun football to watch.

Couldn't have put it better myself!

 

[GoBlues13]

More like we couldn't transition out of half back because we were missing our 3 best half backs kicks/runners in Murphy, Johanissen and Suckling. If we can get atleast 2 of them back by next time we play and dominate contested possessions, clearances and inside 50's again then it will be a different story.

Murphy's is gone for the season and JJ won't be back for a while. Suckling's looking the most promising to return out of the three. The Roos made the dogs pay for their mistakes.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

It's good to see our defence holding up to a pretty high standard, though. North helped us a bit last night but we were still able to neutralise a lot of scoring chains ourselves against a very dangerous offensive team. I think we've got a nice attack/defence balance now (considerably better than last year's), it's just our entries inside 50 that are really hurting us and stopping us from putting that balance on the scoreboard.

Another test of our defence next week against the Crows. Hopefully we turn up for that one.

 

[Number37]

It was incredibly frustrating. Every time you felt like the game was about to open up there were four turnovers in quick succession that left you scratching your head and wondering what the **** was going on. I don't mind watching defence (and although feral at the way we were playing, I did appreciate North's pressure) but the skills last night made it borderline unwatchable.

Both sides were terrible (skills wise), Bulldogs were just more terrible.
Hard to say what that game will mean long term.
On top of poor skills both sides look completely stuffed in the 2nd quarter, perhaps the reason the skills got worse in the 2nd half?

 

[The Swans Blog]

North riding that wave of Irish luck at the moment that could be the difference between a semi and a prelim. I'd say that North stand an excellent chance of making another prelim, but their issue is that they're clearly 1-dimemsional going forward, and without Waite they would probably be scrapping with Richmond/St Kilda. Waite has already won 3 games for the roos this year, and they been lucky enough to catch good teams down on form or down on injuries.

But you can only play what's in front of you. Will probably be undefeated when they play the Swans in 4 weeks time. Certainly not of the dominating ilk of teams previously, but they're doing the absolute bare minimum to win.

 

[swansfan51]

I'd say that North stand an excellent chance of making another prelim, but their issue is that they're clearly 1-dimemsional going forward

Jarrad Waite (3.7 goals per game)
Ben Brown (2.2)
Brent Harvey (2)
Todd Goldstein (1.5)
Drew Petrie (1.3)
Sam Gibson (1.3)

Lance Franklin (3.6)
Kurt Tippett (1.6)
Tom Papley (1.6)
Isaac Heeney (1.6)
Ben McShank (1.3)

Yet Norf are 1-dimensional going forward?

 

[The Swans Blog]

Jarrad Waite (3.7 goals per game)
Ben Brown (2.2)
Brent Harvey (2)
Todd Goldstein (1.5)
Drew Petrie (1.33)
Sam Gibson (1.33)

Lance Franklin (3.6)
Kurt Tippett (1.6)
Tom Papley (1.6)
Isaac Heeney (1.6)
Ben McShank (1.3)

Yet Norf are 1-dimensional going forward?

Based on the fact that Waite has single handedly won them 3 games this season and he was their only avenue to goal last night.

 

[Kcrack]

Based on the fact that Waite has single handedly won them 3 games this season and he was their only avenue to goal last night.

Waite was the only multiple goal scorer last night from both teams. It was that scrappy.

 

[Gydafud]

Live squiggle is being very harsh on the Hawks

 

[Doggstats]

You weren't missing anyone of note up forward (I think Boyd can be good eventually, but not right now).

Tom Boyd gives us a tall option that can at least bring the ball to ground. He makes a huge difference to our forward structure. Last night Stringer was literally our tallest forward, which really showed.

Don't forget Crameri as well. Who is great overhead and makes a big difference to our forward structure as well.