Preview Changes v North Melbourne - Round 7, 2021 - OUT Jones, IN B Brown

[Toump Ass]

I can't really see how Brown fits into our team right now but goddamn I'm TOEY AS * for it!
Woo hooo!

 

[Canary]

We've never had a better balanced side in my life. Ben Brown is the biggest risk to unbalancing it

So what he kicks 4? How many goals do we lose from him not marking it and then being rebounded. Him getting chopped off because he's the predictable kick. Him not being a contested marker.

I don't necessarily disagree with you, and will be curious to see how the forward line functions against a team that isn't North Melbourne however I do think BBB adds a different element to an efficient if not particularly high-scoring forward line.

For one, Brown takes the best defender each week, for two, he's a more traditional lead-up forward along the lines of Fritsch moreso than TMac. TMac's strength is his endurance and imo does his best work across the half forward line. I'd also trust Spargo and Pickett to rove if we can at least assume BBB isn't getting outright marked against.

This year's we've been consistently caught on the breaks having our smalls in the forward line on a fast break out of D50. The two Jackson goals and the ANB goal on Saturday night look good but there was still an element of danger to them. If we had an A-grade lead-up forward on the end of those they'd look even better.

Anyway, I'm going to reserve judgement until probably the Carlton game.

 

[Super Demon]

IMO - BBB coming in will only strengthen the team.

I for one am looking forward to handing out an old fashioned "Ass Whooping" to Norf and their motley crew.

 

[GatesOfHell]

The bloke is 200cm, solidly built and averages 5 good clunks a game. He’s a problem. He takes the oppo’s best defender and provides a genuine threat for every ball we send long within 40m of goal. He’ll also at least halve 4 out of 5 contests he finds himself in, providing more crumbing opportunities for the likes of Kozzy, ANB and Spargo. BBB also takes the heat off TMac and Jacko, both of whom have big tanks and will love the license to roam. As long as our runners remain conscious of lowering their eyes for better options this change can work and work well for us. If I’m Kozzy Pickett I’m loving the thought of this gangly big bloke coming in and worrying the s**t out of defenders.

 

[Topkent]

Ill more than happily eat humble pie on this but I can almost guarantee the better Brown plays the worse the rest of our forward line will function.

 

[Topkent]

'he takes the best defender'
So now the best defender will know where the ball is going, they've had no idea the first 6 weeks.

 

[Headless]

He's the biggest threat to our unbeaten start. Mark my words.

oh they’re marked

BIG TIME.

 

[LeverPuller]

See I think it’s more about delivery. Most of our F50 marks aren’t high balls; they’re darts to, funnily enough, leading players. Yes Brown might be the most obvious target but as long as he isn’t considered the only target and we continue to take best option on I50/F50 kicks we will be fine.

 

[Meds]

I'm excited to see a legit key forward in the red and blue. Outside of a 2018 cameo from TMac, and some early potential from Hogan we haven't had an in-the-Coleman-equation big man since Neita. Big forwards kicking big bags is an exciting part of footy and it's nice to think some of those big bags could be coming for our team for a change.

The question of balance is a great one and I too wouldn't be surprised if we struggled a little bit and even had to really fight to get a winning score up. But if everyone is clear on their role, and they adjust accordingly to accommodate then I can't see why it won't work - it's a really good test of the 'selflessness' we've been hearing about.

 

[Bluelegs]

There's every chance Jackson is rested this week which leaves our structure unchanged.

 

[Dory_77]

I see TK's point re balance and that BBB makes us more predictable to defend against.
However we have done well so far this season to pick good options going inside 50 (i.e. less blind bombing, picking out blokes on the lead) and have generally set up our forward line well. Brown is a pretty smart forward so while there could be some teething issues, I think he'll add another dangerous marking option to go with Slick, Tom, Jacko.

 

[Benwah83]

There's every chance Jackson is rested this week which leaves our structure unchanged.

This was my thought too. Probably a good time to give him a week off.

 

[Bluelegs]

This was my thought too. Probably a good time to give him a week off.

Yeah, a 2 metre tall 19 year old who apparently put on 15 odd kilos over the off season needs to be managed accordingly.

 

[adonski]

Mate I'm not saying don't play him, but he's not gonna plug into this forward line and improve it.

We are already number 1 in the comp for scores per inside 50. Adding a player whos only value is when it's kicked to them on the lead is a recipe for danger. There's no way he makes us more effective going forward.

Im honestly worried.

Are melksham and Jones doing much to lock it inside 50? Wouldn’t have thought we’re losing much

 

[stEdy]

One thing BBB does bring is insane workrate.

His running will create a lot of gaps for our other forwards to work with. It's also on the mids if they're dumping it on BBB's head consistently and our structure falls down, not BBB. He can get on his bike and run the best defender ragged.

Gotta trust the team to find a role for him in our forward line, given the bulk amount of goals he's kicked over a long period of time. We're much more dangerous if we can get him fit and firing. Jacko has been good this year but he's also had periods where he's been worked under the ball by big, experienced defenders.

They won't be able to do that against BBB

 

[LarryDavidNeitz]

To look on the bright side, if we can bring Brown in and still choose the right options and maintain forward pressure, it will be a great sign that we're finally learning about how to use the ball properly going forward.

I certainly won't be fainting in shock if we revert to bombing the ball in to him v 3 defenders or trying to pinpoint impossible passes though.

 

[The Dr]

anyone else reckon we should rest Gawn to bring in Brown?


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[netslave]

It's the perfect game to bring Brown in, even if there are some teething issues we should still win.
Surely if Goodwin and the coaches have coached us to 6-0 they can rejig the forward setup to work with Brown effectively.
As others have mentioned he'll take the number one defender which will improve the chances of our other forwards.
He'll clunk some good marks and win a few frees and definately add to our scoring potential.
Once he's in the team he won't be going anywhere, barring injuries, so we need to get used to functioning with him.
Weid will have to wait until Tmac's form drops off, which I don't see happening any time soon.

 

[KickLongTackleHard]

Mate I'm not saying don't play him, but he's not gonna plug into this forward line and improve it.

We are already number 1 in the comp for scores per inside 50. Adding a player whos only value is when it's kicked to them on the lead is a recipe for danger. There's no way he makes us more effective going forward.

Im honestly worried.

I get the concern. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, the Hawks lost buddy and scored more etc but I think we still have to see what works and what flexibility we have to match up different defences.

Only the other week Beveridge said the dogs were really keen on the 3 tall forwards with Naughton, English, Bruce and they were trying to replicate West Coast’s Kennedy, Darling, Allen. That’s realistically 2 tall forwards and a rotation/floating forward.

I don’t think our version can include all of Brown, Jackson, Fritsch, MacDonald let alone Weid but we’ve had no opportunity to try any of it out.

 

[PerfectFooty]

ngl i thought weid was tracking faster and better than brown in the 2's. But i assume they want Brown as a deep full forward type, and weid is more CHF but tmac is playing that CHF role very well atm

 

[ImissFrosty]

I love you Goody. Can't wait for sideshow bob to exact revenge on his old side.

 

[Grimesy87]

Ill more than happily eat humble pie on this but I can almost guarantee the better Brown plays the worse the rest of our forward line will function.

Are you just saying this because buddy came back and ruined the Sydney synergy 3 or 4 weeks back?

 

[GatesOfHell]

Are you just saying this because buddy came back and ruined the Sydney synergy 3 or 4 weeks back?

TK is hedging bets and going a bit of reverse psychology. He’ll enjoy a BBB bag of six along with the rest of us but jump on straight away for the “I told you sos” if it goes pear shaped.

 

[Imet Hassa]

Probably already been said but given the likely scenario is Jones and Melksham out for Chandler and Brown in doesn’t seem too much of a net loss of pressure. Take the point though that we will need to be wary of becoming Browncentric. Hopefully as well as kicking goals he can also be a decoy to take pressure away from the other forwards.
Excited to see how it works with a genuine specialist monster forward of our very own.

 

[Demon bhoy]

He's the biggest threat to our unbeaten start. Mark my words.

I’m a touch concerned with this, feels a bit forced