Autopsy AFL 2025 Round 1 - Dogs v North Sat March 15th 7:35pm AEDT (Marvel)

[RedWhite4Ever]

Shocking loss for North Melbourne.

Maybe that 8 win season is still at least another year away. Last night they had a golden chance to start the season strong.

It's only round 1 but I think you're right. The barometer will be to see where they are at in round 10.

 

[Mofra]

The singular incompetence of Charlie Comben and Cam Zurhaar is what lost it for us in the end.

Replace them and we would have probably won.

Oh well.

Comben was on a red-hot Darcy though, I'd legit back Darcy against just about anyone except Sam Taylor.

You're a better team without Zurhaar out there. I genuinely believe that - you'd got a bunch of 'team first' players running around next to Cam who seems to play selfish football, and even worse he can't finish.

Would you ever consider throwing Caleb Daniel onto the HF line at times? North will be a 50% better side if they get someone who can really nail that last inside 50 kick.

 

[Sentinel]

Darling and Parker were awful.

I’d be surprised if North win more than 4 games this year, I think that is their ceiling.

You couldn’t get the dogs at a better time with the amount of outs.

I thought Darling was quite good

 

[dean33]

Looking at their fixture and that missed chance, they’re likely to be 0-9 before they meet Richmond.

Let's hope so, love another top 3 pick

 

[Bulldog1954]

You're a better team without Zurhaar out there. I genuinely believe that - you'd got a bunch of 'team first' players running around next to Cam who seems to play selfish football, and even worse he can't finish

He's a fraud. Prior to re-signing I believe there was talk from Zurhaar's camp about wanting to see improvement before signing on, despite him being a part of the problem and at an age and experience level where he should be one of the players driving the improvement.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I’d back us in to beat North.

At the MCG, its a near-certainty. We're more familiar with Kardinia Park than the MCG. At Bellerive, 50-50, maybe trending towards Richmond if one reads too much into round one.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Would you ever consider throwing Caleb Daniel onto the HF line at times? North will be a 50% better side if they get someone who can really nail that last inside 50 kick.

Damn straight I would. Some of the early career CD highlights of him doing more of that stuff are scintillating.

That was also the thinking behind moving Sheezel and Kerch upfield, to have a decent attacking kick available there. Unfortunately neither of them put on great performances last night, but they’re the least of our worries.

You're a better team without Zurhaar out there. I genuinely believe that - you'd got a bunch of 'team first' players running around next to Cam who seems to play selfish football, and even worse he can't finish.

I’d be happy to see him dropped for Duursma next week.

Re Comben, he wasn’t just poor 1v1, his decision making with ball in hand was terrible. His seemed rattled and nervy.

 

[Mofra]

Damn straight I would. Some of the early career CD highlights of him doing more of that stuff are scintillating.

That was also the thinking behind moving Sheezel and Kerch upfield, to have a decent attacking kick available there. Unfortunately neither of them put on great performances last night, but they’re the least of our worries.


I’d be happy to see him dropped for Duursma next week.

Maybe they'll grow into the role?

It would be very interesting to see how North + Miles Bergman would fare next year, if you could lure him across. A gun rebounder who can run on the wing would suit North perfectly. I actually think most of the parts are there, just 1-2 players and a bit more synergy and North are a much stronger outfit.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Maybe they'll grow into the role?

It would be very interesting to see how North + Miles Bergman would fare next year, if you could lure him across. A gun rebounder who can run on the wing would suit North perfectly. I actually think most of the parts are there, just 1-2 players and a bit more synergy and North are a much stronger outfit.

Hope you're right mate! Yeah, I'm hopeful Hardeman knocks McDonald out of the side soon, but I suspect our list is still three or four good players short of contending.

 

[Mofra]

Hope you're right mate! Yeah, I'm hopeful Hardeman knocks McDonald out of the side soon, but I suspect our list is still three or four good players short of contending.

I genuinely think you're closer than many expect. When it clicks (look at the Hawks last year) it could happen pretty quick. Fans deserve it after sticking fat for a few years now.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Just think it’s funny to say the result would’ve been different with your three injuries.

Think you misunderstand me. Hardeman, Duursma and Wil Dawson aren't injured. They're just young and pushing for selection. With our dearth of a senior core, there's been a real reluctance to drop the likes of McDonald and Zurhaar in the past, even when they aren't looking up to it, which is a lot of the time. This is the problem I was alluding to. I'm not saying that in a different timeline where the best version of our list goes up against the best version of yours, we would win, because we're clearly not at that stage yet.

 

[Outback Footy]

He was reckless but allowed to go for the ball. Accidents do happen.

Yes. But he wasnt going for the ball. Reckless at best.

 

[Outback Footy]

Umpiring was fine. A few bad calls both ways but not too bad

Agreed, nothing aggravated me so Im saying umpiring was ok

 

[Outback Footy]

Just think it’s funny to say the result would’ve been different with your three injuries.

I’m sure if Bont, Treloar, Weightman, JUH, Jones and JJ were all playing it would’ve been a bit different too.

He was talking about different selections, not injuries.

 

[Outback Footy]

Darling and Parker were awful.

I’d be surprised if North win more than 4 games this year, I think that is their ceiling.

You couldn’t get the dogs at a better time with the amount of outs.

Did Parker play? Unsighted. Boosting his super as they say.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

Did Parker play? Unsighted. Boosting his super as they say.

His role will be a little like what Hodge did up at the Lions in his Northern Superannuation tour. Don’t expect him to be 30 touches and 1.5 goals a game. More getting into that Midfield group and showing how to set up, driving standards and making everyone accountable. His debut was very quiet and I’m sure a 290 game competitive beast like him will bounce back next week. Darling played a great first up game to fee up Larkey and Zuurhar. If the latter had kicked straight, it might have been a different result.