Review Round 9, 2025 - North Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions

[M Malice]

Take the 2 points, still on top of the ladder and likely our lowish percentage wont come into play now, take it as a wake up call.

Very hard if not impossible to be up for every game of such a long demanding season.

Difficult to find a Fab 5, I went for Josh Dunkley

5

Josh Dunkley

Age

29

Ht

191cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.8

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.3

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

3.2

5star

D

20.7

5star

K

7.0

3star

HB

13.7

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

5.3

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

14.2

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

7.0

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

4.0

5star

CL

1.4

4star

, Hugh McCluggage

6

Hugh Mccluggage

Age

28

Ht

187cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.3

5star

K

11.4

4star

HB

7.9

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.0

5star

CL

2.2

4star

D

19.0

4star

K

12.0

5star

HB

7.0

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

2.0

4star

D

13.2

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.8

4star

CL

0.6

3star

, Eric Hipwood

30

Eric Hipwood

Age

28

Ht

204cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

2.6

2star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.3

3star

G

1.5

5star

D

11.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

2.7

2star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.1

2star

G

1.1

5star

D

10.6

3star

K

8.4

4star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.4

5star

, Jack Payne and Cam Rayner.

 

[BangyBangy]

Just watching it now but saw the result by accident.
Just starting the first quarter. Love the commentators saying the bump that put Bez out wasn’t an intentional bump. Clearly a bump with an unfortunate ending.

Yeah agree. My first thoughts was there's nothing in it, play on.

Not sure it'll play out like that. And watching the replay, I think he'll go.

 

[MSB ROYS]

I don't think he had HIA test? Was on the bench got head taped up and come back on.

I hope for his sake that he did.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Bloody Sunday twilight game.

100%.

 

[Brizzys Squizzy]

I remember feeling as flat as hell GF morning when the reports were going around that Joe was pulling the pin. Obviously the result later that day doused that at the time, but even then I remember worrying about backing up the next year without him. Such a huge loss and if I’m redoing our most important players over the last 5-6 years he comfortably sits at number one.

We are really struggling to fill that void and I still think it will end up costing us later in the year that we don’t have that one true KPF that can win a game for your team like he did. Certainly don’t want to be relying on Oscar and/or Fort in that role anyway after tonight’s game.

Got smashed around the ground and had Gardiner as sub , nothing to do with not having daniher, which by the way we sit on top of the ladder. Last year with daniher 13th at this stage.

 

[Sunny Land]

I remember feeling as flat as hell GF morning when the reports were going around that Joe was pulling the pin. Obviously the result later that day doused that at the time, but even then I remember worrying about backing up the next year without him. Such a huge loss and if I’m redoing our most important players over the last 5-6 years he comfortably sits at number one.

We are really struggling to fill that void and I still think it will end up costing us later in the year that we don’t have that one true KPF that can win a game for your team like he did. Certainly don’t want to be relying on Oscar and/or Fort in that role anyway after tonight’s game.

Find that a bit harsh. We got well beaten in the midfiled. Dont think our forwards did such a bad job. You give them decent feed and they will do the job. The feed into our forward 50 was disgraceful tonight.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Yeah agree. My first thoughts was there's nothing in it, play on.

Not sure it'll play out like that. And watching the replay, I think he'll go.

He is not in the contest and bumps.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Does Kiddy come in and Fletcher plays wing with Bez out?

 

[ZoBlitz]

Win some/any clearances in the second half and we win that game. Hippy and Cam were doing damage when the ball got to them. Logan might also got a free kick eventually with some more contests...

 

[Elixuh]

Dis agree. He would have struggled the same as all the forwards. We got smashed in the midfiled. Thats where we got owned.

Even with the midfield getting pantsed we still had enough entries to win.

 

[Squizz89]

Does Kiddy come in and Fletcher plays wing with Bez out?

Would be getting him in as soon as he thinks he’s ready now. Need as many games as possible before finals with him and Zorko to work out those roles.

Would be a bit unfair on Jaspa though to get moved, I actually had him close to our best tonight off HB.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Would be getting him in as soon as he thinks he’s ready now. Need as many games before finals as possible with him and Zorko to work out those roles.

Would be a bit unfair on Jaspa though to get moved, I actually had him close to our best tonight off HB.

I reckon Jaspa wouldn't care if he was HBF or wing.

 

[mpal6]

Gallop come on down for next round. Hipwood has to relief ruck when needed.

 

[Section 5]

North played well considering their ladder position.
They also deserved to win the game because they put in an effort the whole time.
A few cool heads and they get the win but not to be for them tonight.

Like when playing the Eagles & Tigers we were not switched on in the first quarter.
We eventually got those two teams measure and thought we could do the same today.

Last week it was obvious we were there to win the game from the start, and we got the job done.

When you lose contested possession by 16 to a near bottom team you are in trouble.
Lost clearances by 15 all being at stoppages. Centre clearances equal.

I agreed with playing Fort this week under the circumstances but think they may reassess that move.
We lost the 2-ruck v 1 ruck contest and neither Oscar nor Fort are forwards.
Hard decision for selectors coming up next week in that regard.

The draw against the Crows was a catalyst for our good run home last year.
Hopefully this may do the same.

No real positives from the game and Berry won't play next week

 

[Del35196]

One of the worst games we’ve had. To the second worst team in the league

 

[010203]

Can't have any complaints about a draw. In fact, we're lucky this won't go down as the biggest upset in goodness knows how long.

 

[Lion_LegacyXL]

Had we lost, this would have been one of our worst since 2019. We really got out of jail with that performance. Hope this is a wakeup call for the players, can't keep playing in 1st gear for significant periods of games and expect to win.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Lester had more disposals than Neale. Telling.

 

[BangyBangy]

Lester had more disposals than Neale. Telling.

To be fair, when the teams are released no one puts a magnet next to old number 35 & says, we have to stop him at any cost if we are to win the game.

 

[Elixuh]

Lester had more disposals than Neale. Telling.

Your complacency from the preview thread seeped through to the boys 3kz, I did warn you.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

To be honest I really don't think Coleman and/or Doedee are the answer. The player we really need to see back is Starcevich, with his contested style of play.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Lester had more disposals than Neale. Telling.

Froggy to the middle, Lachie to the back line!

 

[Nunez]

In: Gallop, Coleman
Out: Berry, Gardiner

Fort sub to come in and help Oscar if needed, otherwise put Tunstill or Beecken as sub.

 

[Nunez]

To be honest I really don't think Coleman and/or Doedee are the answer. The player we really need to see back is Starcevich, with his contested style of play.

Coleman, Doedee (at his best) and Starce in would be very nice.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

FWIW if the choice at the moment is between Coleman and Doedee I'd be picking Doedee. I still think Coleman needs a bit longer.