Preview Round 3: Essendon vs North Melbourne, Saturday 28/03/26, 7:35 PM

[bombreys]

Don't love the outs but happy to see ADW and Farrow in. Saad needs to get a chance, and Gresham right now is better than HEA so I don't mind HEA and Nguyen getting time in the VFL.

Guelfi I'm hoping is the heldover emergency. I'd rather May and Nguyen actually playing ahead of him, especially since May had no game time last week.

Guelfi has literally not been up to VFL standard - him being emergency further illustrates Scott’s complete and total incompetence

 

[andleanback]

Totally different players and roles.

To his credit I think Perkins has actually tried the first two weeks, which is better than a number of others playing this week.

You obviously weren’t there to watch him round 1. His effort was disgraceful

 

[Call Me Cake]

Wright rn:

 

[Skarrz]

it feels like the first time in history North and Dons fans are united in how shit we both are - someone put us out of our misery

 

[gillon]

it feels like the first time in history North and Dons fans are united in how shit we both are - someone put us out of our misery

Your team and list is much better than ours. Personally think the loss last week was overblown but I can understand the frustrations, given recent history.

 

[MiguelM]

Langford was the senior player that should have been dropped IMO. He has no second effort, consistently gives up or winges for a free even during play. Looked disinterested.

Parish, while defensively bad still topped clearances, 2 MP awful but was ok in ruck, Perk actually gave a fck just turned it over so can see why they stayed in.

Nguyen was beaten and didn't lay a tackle, just needs more time, Kondo & HEA too IMO.

Good to see Farrow & ADW rewarded. Gresham probably should have got a game last week. Just needs a 4 quarter effort.

Tsatas on the outer for selection, can't see him staying on the list TBH.

So Langford for mine should be playing VFL.

 

[Bombers36]

Dont mind the changes...

Farrow for Redman an obvious one and as others have pointed out he could/should have played rnd 1

ADW showed some good form in the pre-season and surely can bring more than HAS has

Gresham deserves a run and can play mid minutes if required

SEH for pace - hope he plays more wing/forward than in defence

I think we are a sneaky chance if we can somehow minimise Xerri’s output - North’s defence is crap and they may well play the likes of Langford and 2MP back into some sort of form. Comon you Dons..!!

 

[eth-dog]

Guelfi has literally not been up to VFL standard - him being emergency further illustrates Scott’s complete and total incompetence

Being named as emergency means very little. In fact it's one of the smarter things he's done.

How many mature aged players do we have fit and missing out on a game in the seniors this week? Guelfi, Edwards, Jones and Ridley. Edwards and Ridley are coming back from injury and need time in the VFL. Jones didn't play a full game last week so is likely still building his fitness base too.

Guelfi is the most obvious player to miss out on a game at either level this week because we want these kids who've been dropped to play VFL.

 

[ant555]

Can understand why they have picked a side that may be a better chance of winning. Coach and senior players are under the pump.

Problem is the messaging. Yes the young guys left out made mistakes and will more than likely get back into the side but it is the free pass that some senior guys are getting that is questionable.

 

[Calthorpe14]

Can understand why they have picked a side that may be a better chance of winning. Coach and senior players are under the pump.

Problem is the messaging. Yes the young guys left out made mistakes and will more than likely get back into the side but it is the free pass that some senior guys are getting that is questionable.

They’ve probably earned a reprieve due to the lack of genuine depth coming through the VFL. Wright probably keeps his spot as ruck cover, while Parish gets a bit of leeway given how much footy he’s missed over the past couple of years.

Think it speaks to whether we’ve got enough senior backup coverage on the list, which for mine, we don’t

 

[Vindicater]

After the disappointment of selection I am back and looking forward to seeing Farrow and Day-Wicks kick some ass.

Reckon Guelfi is a sneaky late in for Sharp as well as one final kick in the guts however.

 

[cAsEy_18]

Guelfi has literally not been up to VFL standard - him being emergency further illustrates Scott’s complete and total incompetence

Get in here R t james

 

[windyhill]

it feels like the first time in history North and Dons fans are united in how shit we both are - someone put us out of our misery

 

[King Patty]

Langford was the senior player that should have been dropped IMO. He has no second effort, consistently gives up or winges for a free even during play. Looked disinterested.

Parish, while defensively bad still topped clearances, 2 MP awful but was ok in ruck, Perk actually gave a fck just turned it over so can see why they stayed in.

Nguyen was beaten and didn't lay a tackle, just needs more time, Kondo & HEA too IMO.

Good to see Farrow & ADW rewarded. Gresham probably should have got a game last week. Just needs a 4 quarter effort.

Tsatas on the outer for selection, can't see him staying on the list TBH.

So Langford for mine should be playing VFL.

Agree with pretty much all of this.

I would have dropped Langers.

But the guys that came in were all having a crack at VFL level.
And young guys got multiple games before getting the axe.
Yes they weren't the only reason we sucked.

I think we need more seasoned bodies to compete, as we are already very young and inexperienced.

Maybe an excuse for the midfield is they have barely played much footy together last few years - Blakiston only on the list mid season and only ruck this year. Parish injured pretty much all last year. Maybe it will take more than 2 games to Gel.
I think putting Wright in the ruck might be better as they may know what he is likely to do better due to longer playing together and make Blakiston second relief ruck.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Don't love the outs but happy to see ADW and Farrow in. Saad needs to get a chance, and Gresham right now is better than HEA so I don't mind HEA and Nguyen getting time in the VFL.

Guelfi I'm hoping is the heldover emergency. I'd rather May and Nguyen actually playing ahead of him, especially since May had no game time last week.

Wasn't he terrible in the VFL as well?

 

[King Patty]

Wasn't he terrible in the VFL as well?

Better to hold over a guy like Guelfi, than May or Ngyuen miss VFL matches and thus development.

 

[cAsEy_18]

Wasn't he terrible in the VFL as well?

Yes, but you've got to look at the disposals he's not getting to fully understand his impact.

 

[faible]

Wasn't he terrible in the VFL as well?

Careful, you'll summon his dad.

But yes, 8 disposals and a single point.

If someone has to miss a game out of the Emergency list, Guelfi is the one. Let May and Nguyen build continuity.

 

[BomberManU]

They’ve probably earned a reprieve due to the lack of genuine depth coming through the VFL. Wright probably keeps his spot as ruck cover, while Parish gets a bit of leeway given how much footy he’s missed over the past couple of years.

Think it speaks to whether we’ve got enough senior backup coverage on the list, which for mine, we don’t

That's not really 'earning' a reprieve though.

 

[Calthorpe14]

That's not really 'earning' a reprieve though.

Fair. Gifted is probably more accurate.

 

[Milanista28]

Scott is trying to save his job, if Setterfield was fit Sharp wouldn't be playing either.

He knows this is one of the very few games we can win in the 1st 10 or so.

 

[boncer34]

They’ve probably earned a reprieve due to the lack of genuine depth coming through the VFL. Wright probably keeps his spot as ruck cover, while Parish gets a bit of leeway given how much footy he’s missed over the past couple of years.

Think it speaks to whether we’ve got enough senior backup coverage on the list, which for mine, we don’t

I dont understand this logic.

Parish has always been a one way runner. He was before his injuries and has continued to be so after.

Send him back to the VFL, make him change. Don't just keep picking him because he has missed games.

 

[Calthorpe14]

I dont understand this logic.

Parish has always been a one way runner. He was before his injuries and has continued to be so after.

Send him back to the VFL, make him change. Don't just keep picking him because he has missed games.

FWIW, I agree with that argument. At the same time, where he is in his career, he’s never really been a genuine two-way runner, and it’s hard to have much confidence that suddenly changes now. If you're picking him, you're doing that with the acceptance that you're going to have to work with his limitations.

That said, I could see that the argument that Scott & Co would make for sticking with him being that he just needs some continuity, then giving him a solid month to settle into his role and find some rhythm before making a call on his spot

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Yes, but you've got to look at the disposals he's not getting to fully understand his impact.

Virtual possessions. Always underrated.

 

[bombreys]

Being named as emergency means very little. In fact it's one of the smarter things he's done.

How many mature aged players do we have fit and missing out on a game in the seniors this week? Guelfi, Edwards, Jones and Ridley. Edwards and Ridley are coming back from injury and need time in the VFL. Jones didn't play a full game last week so is likely still building his fitness base too.

Guelfi is the most obvious player to miss out on a game at either level this week because we want these kids who've been dropped to play VFL.

You're thinking about it logically - which isn't what he does. If there's a late out and Guelfi comes into the senior team, he plays for the rest of the year.