Unofficial Preview Practice Match: North Melbourne v Collingwood, Mars Stadium, Ballarat, Sunday March 1st, 3:10 PM

[Gone Critical]

I’m hoping I read correctly and we play a U30 squad!

I would reckon all the senior players available play then bring it up to 26 with the hopefuls that are the front of the queue.
With 26 you can manage players but you want the senior team to have a hit out together before the 1st game. Too many kids also drops the standard. That was for last week, this should be closer to a full dress rehersal

 

[Harry O]

Is the VFL practice game Sat or Sun

 

[TradeDraft]

Will sides come out This Evening or Tommorow?

 

[Jen2310]

Is the VFL practice game Sat or Sun

Sun
10am Arden st

 

[Peters_Nuts]

I’m probably overreacting though why did the AFL schedule 3 games in 3 days in Ballarat? Is the ground in that good of shape that it won’t be impacted by 2 games and rain by the time we play?

 

[manicpie]

If we lose to Norf ,we would have lost both our practice matches. I'll have to change my prediction from Premiers to top 4.

 

[manicpie]

I’m probably overreacting though why did the AFL schedule 3 games in 3 days in Ballarat? Is the ground in that good of shape that it won’t be impacted by 2 games and rain by the time we play?

Maybe Ballarat will be the 20th team.

 

[stormskye]

If we lose to Norf ,we would have lost both our practice matches. I'll have to change my prediction from Premiers to top 4.

Given the team we are likely to field (along with north) I’m not concerned at all with scores.
I do however want to see an improvement on us defending transition from defence. After how easy it was for GWS it’s time to tighten up a little.

I’m also hoping Steene plays. I’m in the minority but I thought he was well beaten whenever Briggs was rucking and went to ground far to often. Want to see how he does against Xerri.

 

[sr36]

Given the team we are likely to field (along with north) I’m not concerned at all with scores.
I do however want to see an improvement on us defending transition from defence. After how easy it was for GWS it’s time to tighten up a little.

I’m also hoping Steene plays. I’m in the minority but I thought he was well beaten whenever Briggs was rucking and went to ground far to often. Want to see how he does against Xerri.

I hadn't noticed this sadistic streak before.

 

[Harry O]

Blamires to debut for North on Sunday

 

[Aussie pie]

Given the team we are likely to field (along with north) I’m not concerned at all with scores.
I do however want to see an improvement on us defending transition from defence. After how easy it was for GWS it’s time to tighten up a little.

I’m also hoping Steene plays. I’m in the minority but I thought he was well beaten whenever Briggs was rucking and went to ground far to often. Want to see how he does against Xerri.

Will be obliterated by the helmeted one.

 

[granniewolf]

Will be obliterated by the helmeted one.

If he is I bet he improves by the end of the game.

 

[Scodog10]

I’m probably overreacting though why did the AFL schedule 3 games in 3 days in Ballarat? Is the ground in that good of shape that it won’t be impacted by 2 games and rain by the time we play?

It’ll be contractually motivated. After the Dogs v Port debacle last year they’ve lost rights to H&A AFL matches until the works are complete. This scheduling will be the trade off. My curiosity is what happened to the community shield? I thought it was a decent enough idea, but apparently not.

Given the team we are likely to field (along with north) I’m not concerned at all with scores.
I do however want to see an improvement on us defending transition from defence. After how easy it was for GWS it’s time to tighten up a little.

I’m also hoping Steene plays. I’m in the minority but I thought he was well beaten whenever Briggs was rucking and went to ground far to often. Want to see how he does against Xerri.

I was ticked off with it last week more than the result, but the more I reflected the less I cared. Our transition defense in the three way clash last year was significantly worse than v GWS and through 12 rounds last year we had one of the statistically best defenses of the 21st century. That’s the benefit of experience once the real stuff starts that will sort itself out and this time of year is to test a few things out without worrying about our DNA.

 

[Harry O]

It’ll be contractually motivated. After the Dogs v Port debacle last year they’ve lost rights to H&A AFL matches until the works are complete. This scheduling will be the trade off. My curiosity is what happened to the community shield? I thought it was a decent enough idea, but apparently not.

I was ticked off with it last week more than the result, but the more I reflected the less I cared. Our transition defense in the three way clash last year was significantly worse than v GWS and through 12 rounds last year we had one of the statistically best defenses of the 21st century. That’s the benefit of experience once the real stuff starts that will sort itself out and this time of year is to test a few things out without worrying about our DNA.

A watch for me is the stricter stand rule interpretation
We were the masters of dropping off the mark and blocking up space for the next possession
Will this inpact us more than most teams ?

 

[Scodog10]

A watch for me is the stricter stand rule interpretation
We were the masters of dropping off the mark and blocking up space for the next possession
Will this inpact us more than most teams ?

It’ll take some adaptation because clogging those short angle kicks was a big factor in preventing ball movement like v GWS. I think that again is the big benefit of an experienced squad. With the hrs of training tape on how it’ll be implemented I’m confident the coaches have got something in mind and it’s much easier for an experienced squad to implement that over an inexperienced one.

I think the ruck rule is the one I’m most intrigued by assuming it isn’t reversed by Easter. I’ve been pretty staunch in my support of that 3rd tall fwd being able to ruck a little, but with more action on it this preseason I think we’re a decent chance to see a reversion to a more traditional two ruck setup as we had when Cameron supported Grundy. That’s assuming of course that Steene remains fit.

 

[larrikan]

A watch for me is the stricter stand rule interpretation
We were the masters of dropping off the mark and blocking up space for the next possession
Will this inpact us more than most teams ?

The drills at training suggest we are going to play on quickly and play the angles to get a jump on the man on the mark. I would love to see some set plays like GWS run. They are masters at knowing where the next man is.

It will be interesting because there’s a fine line between playing on and the man on the mark moving. I think we may see another ‘Collingwood have taken advantage of this new rule’

 

[Rorzza]

Willy, Charlie and Ed are the big three for me that look primed to take the next step and move the club forward. I hope Fly is flexible with out the need for injury.....

 

[sr36]

Willy, Charlie and Ed are the big three for me that look primed to take the next step and move the club forward. I hope Fly is flexible with out the need for injury.....

Without injury, I don't think they've done enough to have pushed into the best team. Allan and Hayes would need to have pushed past someone like Lippa or Sidey, let alone the other hopefuls.

There will be injuries though and if they're performing well enough, they'll get a chance and if good enough will hold their spot.

 

[stormskye]

Willy, Charlie and Ed are the big three for me that look primed to take the next step and move the club forward. I hope Fly is flexible with out the need for injury.....

Fly was a development coach before head coach, Pretty sure he knows how to develop kids that are “good” enough.

There’s no benefit to gifting games for development. They need to earn their spots

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Fly was a development coach before head coach, Pretty sure he knows how to develop kids that are “good” enough.

There’s no benefit to gifting games for development. They need to earn their spots

To be fair there’s a hell of a difference between an assistant coach developing players as a specialist one on one mentor….. to being head coach and finding ways to actually give them a senior game ( not to mention a block of games).

 

[Rorzza]

The team Fly is going to roll out round zero will look awfully like the team that performed so well against Lions, baring injury and trades in the off season. Second half prelim 2025, CFC 4 G 4 B, BL 11 G 4 B, now that's getting flogged!

 

[stormskye]

The team Fly is going to roll out round zero will look awfully like the team that performed so well against Lions, baring injury and trades in the off season. Second half prelim 2025, CFC 4 G 4 B, BL 11 G 4 B, now that's getting flogged!

It will have the additions of a fit degoey, pendles, a fit mcstay. Improvement there already.

 

[Rorzza]

It will have the additions of a fit degoey, pendles, a fit mcstay. Improvement there already.

Time will tell...I hope you're right.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

It will have the additions of a fit degoey, pendles, a fit mcstay. Improvement there already.

Not to mention an injured Howe and a Mihocek on one leg.

 

[stormskye]

Not to mention an injured Howe and a Mihocek on one leg.

Howe ain’t playing so I didn’t include him