Preview Changes vs Gold Coast, Sat 12 April, Barossa (Gather Round) - SWING THE AXE

[zoomba23]

You are all overreacting, but I get it.

Perspective - Hawthorn lost three games by nearly 10 goals and one by 6 goals in there first 5 games last season, which were all losses. We are coming from an even longer way back then they were last season and at one point last year we didn't look like we would or could even win a game.

So far this season, we have been okay against dogs (who were good enough to win the flag), okay against melbourne (effort good, we butchered it for three quarters), okay against adelaide (effort, and butchered it) and then tonight, if we used it a bit better, perhaps we would have got into the game more as we weren't deplorable in that first half.... but it was a blip, we were off pace, they were fresh off the bye, and we were probably carrying too many ******s to cater for the fact all our good players minus sheezel stunk it up. Xerri, Larkey (both all australian chances), LDU (likewise), Comben, Zuharr... if I told you before the game that Xerri, LDU, Powell, Larkey, Zuharr, Comben were to play average to poor games tonight... what chance would you have given us? Not only that, we didn't have the right team balance.... Logue, Comben, Corr & Whitelock way too tall, we then put Sheezel down back for a big portion which worked well but took out a centre bounce mid from the team who actualy can win first possession / contested possessions.

Out: RHJ, Whitlock, Stephens

In: Archer, Phillips (Narrow ground), FOS

Mark my words, we are right in this game next week. Tonight was pathetic but it was a blip on the radar. Only one of our good players played well, and these would be three good ins. I know GCS are flying, but there coming off a finals type game which always makes teams a bit suspectible the next week. We weren't that far off Adelaide and if we make these changes, we strengthen up next week.

I think the problem is the required standard, and the fact that our required-standard games are inevitably statistical outliers.

We need, on a regular basis:
1) Midfielders to apply real pressure (ie. hauling arse to get within touching distance of ball-carrier)
2) Defenders/transition players to work out who flies for a contest and who stays down
3) The umpires to not fist us in the arse
4) All forwards to harass the ball carrier in our forward half
5) Skill errors from the 45 corridor kick (vitally important to the way we move the ball atm) at half-back to be kept to a minimum
6) All forwards to lead up at the ball carrier instead of away from him
7) To look and sum up the situation before we kick it inside 50
8) All players at stoppage to work out who holds width at the stoppage and who goes in as a ball-hunter

In an average North game, I'd say two-three of these happen to a satisfactory standard. And often, one of those is the umps having an ok performance. You just wonder where any form of consistency will come from. Before tonight, I felt a bit ginger about next week. Now I just feel dread

 

[roos 10]

We're not fair dinkum if we're dropping Whitlock (he stays - doesn't carry baggage and he'll be a player) after one game and leaving the likes of Corr, McDonald and Zurhaar running around.

McDonald was yuck tonight

 

[Horizons_00]

I don’t know why I have tickets to this game. We will show fight in the first quarter and then put the cue in the rack

Hear Clarko say 17 “um” and tell the fans how good the opposition is and how we are progressing well.

Rinse and repeat

 

[ChopChopDigDig]

I want to see changes based on the VFL output today. Make your case for selection, get picked. Simple.

 

[ChopChopDigDig]

McDonald was yuck tonight

I dont know what game you were watching, but Lmac was one of our only defenders who actually defended, and didn't panic with ball in hand.

His DE% was 100 and had it 18 times. Swans walked the ball from D50 to I50 so try defending that all night long.

 

[scottywiper]

I look forward to reading reports on here. Because I will not be watching games for a while . It's just a waste of time that does nothing for my mood. Especially when the club does not address the issues.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Scott and RHJ out for starters

 

[winalotroos]

Outs, Daniel, RHJ, Whitlock ( come in to soon ) Tucker.
In, Archer, Phillips, FOC, and Wardlaw (if fit )

 

[Chadwiko]

Copying what I wrote in the first post, but going into a bit further detail;

OUT: RHJ, Tucker, Whitlock, B. Scott, Stephens
IN: FOS, Wardlaw, Hardeman, Phillips, Archer

So that would give us a lineup that looks like this (inclusions underlined):

B: Archer - Corr - Logue
HB: Sheezel - Comben - Hardeman
C: O'Sullivan - LDU - Simpkin
HF: McKercher - Darling - Zurhaar
F: Curtis - Larkey - Konstanty
R: Xerri - Wardlaw - Powell
INT: Phillips, Parker, Daniel, McDonald


Tell me that doesn't look like an infinitely better squad.

 

[Spud11]

Copying what I wrote in the first post, but going into a bit further detail;

OUT: RHJ, Tucker, Whitlock, B. Scott, Stephens
IN: FOS, Wardlaw, Hardeman, Phillips, Archer

So that would give us a lineup that looks like this (inclusions underlined):

B: Archer - Corr - Logue
HB: Sheezel - Comben - Hardeman
C: O'Sullivan - LDU - Simpkin
HF: McKercher - Darling - Zurhaar
F: Curtis - Larkey - Konstanty
R: Xerri - Wardlaw - Powell
INT: Phillips, Parker, Daniel, McDonald


Tell me that doesn't look like an infinitely better squad.

On paper it looks great. But so did Marxism.

You just know they’ll squib it, lose by 10 goals plus, and laugh all the way from the changerooms to the bank.

The “coach” will sit there rubbing his neck trotting out the same lines. We will sit here banging the keyboards asking for the same changes.

The sun will come up, the sun will go down. And North will remain irrelevant.

 

[Possession]

There are too many changes to make in a single week. We are in a pickle here.

Best I can do is OUT: Hardeman

 

[Moti]

Copying what I wrote in the first post, but going into a bit further detail;

OUT: RHJ, Tucker, Whitlock, B. Scott, Stephens
IN: FOS, Wardlaw, Hardeman, Phillips, Archer

So that would give us a lineup that looks like this (inclusions underlined):

B: Archer - Corr - Logue
HB: Sheezel - Comben - Hardeman
C: O'Sullivan - LDU - Simpkin
HF: McKercher - Darling - Zurhaar
F: Curtis - Larkey - Konstanty
R: Xerri - Wardlaw - Powell
INT: Phillips, Parker, Daniel, McDonald


Tell me that doesn't look like an infinitely better squad.

It doesn’t look like an infinitely better squad


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Chadwiko]

It doesn’t look like an infinitely better squad

 

[Nate7]

Out: Hojuman (indefinitely), Nate7 (2 weeks)

 

[Chadwiko]

Copying what I wrote in the first post, but going into a bit further detail;

OUT: RHJ, Tucker, Whitlock, B. Scott, Stephens
IN: FOS, Wardlaw, Hardeman, Phillips, Archer

All of Phillips, Wardlaw, and Hardeman made very solid cases for an AFL callup in the VFL today.

Phillips especially.

 

[Sticksphat]

Copying what I wrote in the first post, but going into a bit further detail;

OUT: RHJ, Tucker, Whitlock, B. Scott, Stephens
IN: FOS, Wardlaw, Hardeman, Phillips, Archer

Hard to see 5 changes being made without any injuries, BUT today's game backs the Wardlaw, Phillips, Hardeman calls. I think Arch comes in as he's definitely in the long term plan, and FOS if he's recovered. Scott/Stephens as the sub so we have some run if needed.

 

[Poopybum22]

Out: RHJ, Whitlock, Zurhaar, Tucker, Scott
In: Teakle, Archer, FOS, Hardeman, Phillips

Too early for Wardlaw. Desperate and borderline bad management if we promote him already. Not completely against him playing as sub but you should be picking subs capable of playing the full game safely.

Whitlock should’ve been played as a loose interceptor. Unfair and stupid picking him knowing he would be stuck playing man on man.

Tucker won’t be dropped. Starting him over Hardeman was a joke.

I like Scott but he has been pretty ****ing average this season.

Zurhaar a soft **** and we need a genuine back-up ruck for Xerri.

 

[shintemaster]

Even though you don't want to concede any game this is 100% the week for the match committee to make a stand. Gold Coast are flying anyway. Be well worth making 1-2 strategic sacrifices IMO.

 

[Spud11]

I didn’t think we’d be swinging the axe as soon as round 4, yet here we are.

 

[muttley45]

After last nights result, there should be no limitation on the number of changes, the only unacceptable number is zero

 

[Horizons_00]

Xerri had his hammy iced up all post game in the rooms

He can't play injured unfortunately. Wish we had a back up

Ins: Will, Wardlaw, Archer, Pink, FOS?
Outs: Stephens, Whitlock, RHJ, Louge, and who the **** knows.

 

[kool kangas]

Phillips, Pink and Hardeman in

Whitlock, RHJ, Tucker out..

While l would like Wardlaw l would eer on the side of caution and give him another game in the vfl or bring him back for the Good Friday game....It might be enough to get me to change my mind about not coming to the game..

l would like to see Zuurhar, Scott, and a couple of other players made an example of but l cant see it happening.

 

[koshari]

People calling for Tucker and Stephen’s to be dropped is puzzling. They at least had a crack.

At least 10 blokes that need to go before them based on tonight’s insipid display..

Stevens didnt exactly set the world on fire but given few others did i can give him a pass for at least another week. Especially given scott again was ordinary. Elvis sure picked a bad week to get injured because a spot on the wing is wide open.

 

[koshari]

I dont know what game you were watching, but Lmac was one of our only defenders who actually defended, and didn't panic with ball in hand.

His DE% was 100 and had it 18 times. Swans walked the ball from D50 to I50 so try defending that all night long.

Lmacs definitely had a decent few weeks. Its fantasy to suggest he is dropped atm.

 

[leighlee13]

Xerri had his hammy iced up all post game in the rooms

He can't play injured unfortunately. Wish we had a back up

Ins: Will, Wardlaw, Archer, Pink, FOS?
Outs: Stephens, Whitlock, RHJ, Louge, and who the **** knows.

The biggest issue we have is if Xerri doesn't come up. Would rather rest him for 1 week than lose him for 3 or more. The question is who do we play in that role. Do they just have to roll the dice and bring Goad in regardless of whether he is ready?