Autopsy North v Hawks

[utility]

As annoyed as I was about kicking away four points, I feel more confident after Saturday night.

Hawthorn are the yardstick. If not for atrocious kicking we would have knocked them off in style. We were in no way intimidated, especially physically, and had fluency in our game that was lacking last week against Geelong.

Just need to make sure we have better polish. At quarter time it had a similar feeling to the Prelim last year. We can't afford to kick ourselves out of games like that.

 

[astrovic]

As annoyed as I was about kicking away four points, I feel more confident after Saturday night.

Hawthorn are the yardstick. If not for atrocious kicking we would have knocked them off in style. We were in no way intimidated, especially physically, and had fluency in our game that was lacking last week against Geelong.

Just need to make sure we have better polish. At quarter time it had a similar feeling to the Prelim last year. We can't afford to kick ourselves out of games like that.

Yeah I hear ya.

The Sydney loss was our worst game of the year. Followed probably by the Melbourne game (after quarter time).

But even in the Sydney game, when we were poor overall, we had periods of control. More of those periods for longer wins you the match. It wasn't like we were completely outclassed.

The Geelong game was just a cluster **** of injuries doing us in before we started, and even then we went into half time having counterpunched our way to a 10 point lead.

The Hawthorn game we simply threw away.

We're 10-3, had a shit run of injuries and never got our best players playing their best footy at the same time. There's still a lot of scope for improvement and no-one in this comp we should fear. Respect yes, but not fear.

 

[ferball]

Yeah I hear ya.

The Sydney loss was our worst game of the year. Followed probably by the Melbourne game (after quarter time).

But even in the Sydney game, when we were poor overall, we had periods of control. More of those periods for longer wins you the match. It wasn't like we were completely outclassed.

The Geelong game was just a cluster **** of injuries doing us in before we started, and even then we went into half time having counterpunched our way to a 10 point lead.

The Hawthorn game we simply threw away.

We're 10-3, had a shit run of injuries and never got our best players playing their best footy at the same time. There's still a lot of scope for improvement and no-one in this comp we should fear. Respect yes, but not fear.

They should be fearing us. We won 9 games in a row while playing shit football and its only lately that we've been starting to get it together footy wise. Our so called depth is real actual depth as the game against Hawthorn showed. (Even young Wagner played better than some Hawthorn premiership players.) That was without Spitta and Cunners who both bring serious physical pressure. Let alone the longer term outs. We haven't won the last 2 games but we have responded well to pressure and challenges. (Cept for about 15 mins in the third against the Cats.)

I wouldn't want to be playing us now with pressure on us to make the top 4 mounting and the business end of the season looming and a bunch of good young "depth" trying to cement a place or force their way into the side.

 

[realhawk]

Fricken umpires admitting that they cost us the game....

North 29 frees, Hawks 20 frees.

 

[Hearts to hearts]

North 29 frees, Hawks 20 frees.

Irrelevant. It's about costly wrong decisions. In a close game, if Lindsay got treated the same as Sicely, it would have made a difference. And of the umpire didn't "see" head high contact from Lindsay the MRP has settled didn't occur, that would also have helped.

 

[MoustachioNuts]

Irrelevant. It's about costly wrong decisions. In a close game, if Lindsay got treated the same as Sicely, it would have made a difference. And of the umpire didn't "see" head high contact from Lindsay the MRP has settled didn't occur, that would also have helped.

I agree.
It's like getting a lot of possessions but not doing anything with it.

What I liked most about this game was the shinboner spirit.
It was there for all to see.

 

[Orange Peanut]

North 29 frees, Hawks 20 frees.

North 3 bullshit frees, Hawks 9 bullshit frees.

 

[DrZaius]

North 29 frees, Hawks 20 frees.

North 155 contested possessions, Hawks 128 contested possessions
North 189 uncontested possessions, Hawks 149 uncontested possessions
North 13 contested marks, Hawks 11 contested marks
North 55 i50s, Hawks 48 i50s
North 53 turnovers, Hawks 69 turnovers
North 45 clearances, Hawks 41 clearances
North 29 scoring shots, Hawks 23 scoring shots

You guys got out of jail.

 

[SMaturin]

The uncontested possessions was what I liked. Our contested ball is usually good, but it was pleasing to see us control the ball and tempo for periods of play.

 

[scooby1279]

I expect North to play like this from now on. That is what the North Melbourne footy club is all about tough at the opponent and tough at the contest.

 

[Event Horizon]

As annoyed as I was about kicking away four points, I feel more confident after Saturday night.

Hawthorn are the yardstick. If not for atrocious kicking we would have knocked them off in style. We were in no way intimidated, especially physically, and had fluency in our game that was lacking last week against Geelong.

Just need to make sure we have better polish. At quarter time it had a similar feeling to the Prelim last year. We can't afford to kick ourselves out of games like that.

I feel we have achieved a lot in the Hawthorn game - agreed. We have found the physicality level that is required, we have shown we have depth, and our style of play was good enough to generate nearly 30 shots on goal.

However, all that will go to waste, if we can't find a way to beat Crows and Eagles away, or at least one of them at the very least.

 

[Viper2Jester]

As annoyed as I was about kicking away four points, I feel more confident after Saturday night.

Must have missed that game. Who'd we play?

 

[Viper2Jester]

The uncontested possessions was what I liked. Our contested ball is usually good, but it was pleasing to see us control the ball and tempo for periods of play.

Agree. It was a very complete performance (outside goalkicking ) against strong opposition.

 

[shintemaster]

I feel we have achieved a lot in the Hawthorn game - agreed. We have found the physicality level that is required, we have shown we have depth, and our style of play was good enough to generate nearly 30 shots on goal.

However, all that will go to waste, if we can't find a way to beat Crows and Eagles away, or at least one of them at the very least.

Not entirely to waste but I agree with the tone of your post. We need to claw back what in all honesty should have been 1 win minimum. Realistically I thought we should have won both games before hand. The Geelong result is not something we had as much control over so you concede that sometimes it's simply not your day. The Hawthorn game we needed to ice, now that we haven't we need to steal back two wins. I see the Adelaide game as the more important, which is hard because it's now looking like the tougher game - both form wise and also due to us limping towards the break with injuries. I'm rating West Coast less by the week to be honest and off the break I think that is a very gettable game.

 

[Viper2Jester]

I'm rating West Coast less by the week to be honest and off the break I think that is a very gettable game.

We have usually played terrible after the bye. Not sure if we have ever won actually?

But yes it would be a welcome change to see the opposite, especially with a higher compliment of best 22 players rested/recovered.

 

[Event Horizon]

We have usually played terrible after the bye. Not sure if we have ever won actually?

But yes it would be a welcome change to see the opposite, especially with a higher compliment of best 22 players rested/recovered.

Hopefully, this time we aren't planning a family holiday in Perth for the players leading up to the game.

 

[Only Forwards]

We have usually played terrible after the bye. Not sure if we have ever won actually?

Over the past 4 seasons we are 2-2.

So I am not sure that qualifies as terrible.

 

[Event Horizon]

Over the past 4 seasons we are 2-2.

So I am not sure that qualifies as terrible.

One win on the Gold Coast (Gibbo's first game) was by the skin of our teeth, at the time when the Suns were still a bunch of kids.

 

[Only Forwards]

One win on the Gold Coast (Gibbo's first game) was by the skin of our teeth, at the time when the Suns were still a bunch of kids.

Was it a win?

 

[Viper2Jester]

Over the past 4 seasons we are 2-2.

So I am not sure that qualifies as terrible.

I only looked at last 3 seasons and we were 0-2.
2015 Loss to the Suns
2014 Footywire didn't show - guess must have been a win. Checked AFL site and yes, smashed Lions
2013 Loss to Cats

So not as bad as I first thought. With WCE struggling it's a winnable game even knowing their advantage - I think Crows will be harder to beat.

 

[Viper2Jester]

One win on the Gold Coast (Gibbo's first game) was by the skin of our teeth, at the time when the Suns were still a bunch of kids.

Yes remember that, thanks. So it's 3 poor performances out of 4 off the byes - no better time to improve that record, do not want to be losing 5 straight if we can't get up on Thursday.

 

[Only Forwards]

2013 Loss to Cats

Wot?

We had the bye in round 12 and played and were beaten by Freo in round 13

our only games against the Cats were round 2 (3 point loss) and round 19 (10 point win)

 

[Only Forwards]

One win on the Gold Coast (Gibbo's first game) was by the skin of our teeth, at the time when the Suns were still a bunch of kids.

Yes remember that, thanks. So it's 3 poor performances out of 4 off the byes - no better time to improve that record, do not want to be losing 5 straight if we can't get up on Thursday.

I think that perhaps context is important here.

THe Gold Coast win was a catalyst to go on a massive charge to finals. Whilst the margin was not great and the win was more of a going through the motions. I would more than happily have a win that was exceedingly workman like to have it the start of a 10-3 run.

Looking at the Gold Coast win in isolation pay absolutely no credit to what came after it and the fact that it was the turning point in that season.

if we went on a run like that after the bye as that year we win 7 of 8 games in the run home.

 

[Viper2Jester]

Wot?

We had the bye in round 12 and played and were beaten by Freo in round 13

our only games against the Cats were round 2 (3 point loss) and round 19 (10 point win)

Oops. Read the year wrong - why did we have a week off before Cats in 2014 (rather than 2013)? I assumed a bye hence added it but obviously that is wrong.

 

[Viper2Jester]

Looking at the Gold Coast win in isolation pay absolutely no credit to what came after it and the fact that it was the turning point in that season.

We played very poorly that night. What happened after was great but I doubt you can attribute it to that performance, rather if anything it was a wake up call and time to switch on - which thankfully we did.