Analysis 2018 Team Selection

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koshari

Brownlow Medallist
Mar 24, 2011
22,552
35,582
AFL Club
North Melbourne
The thing I don't get about this team is that we are at the start of a rebuild and we aren't playing any of our young key defenders. Surely one of the biggest priorities next year are for Durdin, Neilson and McKay to be playing as many games as possible?
sammy wrights gone, no one comes back from those kind of ankle injuries, sad as it is.
 

Psicosis

Brownlow Medallist
May 7, 2012
13,165
58,685
Bird Rock
AFL Club
North Melbourne
This fellow Pick 4 looks good on paper, but I think he needs to make a name for himself before he is gifted a round 1 spot. :rolleyes:

Regardless of who we take at four (Cerra, Stephenson, LDU, Dow, Rayner) they are likely to be our most talented recruitment in a decade, which was the case with Simpkin last year also. Happy to gift genuine A-grade talent games because it's something we seriously lack.
 

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Black2Blue

Premiership Player
Aug 15, 2013
3,943
10,299
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Regardless of who we take at four (Cerra, Stephenson, LDU, Dow, Rayner) they are likely to be our most talented recruitment in a decade, which was the case with Simpkin last year also. Happy to gift genuine A-grade talent games because it's something we seriously lack.
I'm actually with you, just taking an ounce of piss along the way...
 

Winter

Club Legend
Jan 3, 2013
1,880
2,418
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Assuming no trade activity, and we take our picks at the draft. If I had to bet on our Round 1 team today.

Williams, Tarrant, Thompson
Macmillan, Durdin, Vickers-Willis
McDonald, Ziebell, Atley
Preuss, Higgins, Cunnington
Wood, Waite, Garner
Turner, Brown, Simpkin
IC: Clarke, Dumont, Hrovat, Mountford

- Jacobs and Wright would need very strong pre-seasons to prove fitness
- Preuss v Goldstein H2H, if form even play Preuss
- Thompson was strong 2nd half of last year, holds out Neilson but he should be chasing that 3rd tall spot
- Waite if fit. Daw should be chasing that spot
- Simpkin and Hrovat over Thomas
- McDonald and Atley must exclusively play midfield this year
- Would like to see Ahern play before finding room for him in mid rotation
 
Apr 3, 2000
19,114
12,380
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Assuming no trade activity, and we take our picks at the draft. If I had to bet on our Round 1 team today.

Williams, Tarrant, Thompson
Macmillan, Durdin, Vickers-Willis
McDonald, Ziebell, Atley
Preuss, Higgins, Cunnington
Wood, Waite, Garner
Turner, Brown, Simpkin
IC: Clarke, Dumont, Hrovat, Mountford

- Jacobs and Wright would need very strong pre-seasons to prove fitness
- Preuss v Goldstein H2H, if form even play Preuss
- Thompson was strong 2nd half of last year, holds out Neilson but he should be chasing that 3rd tall spot
- Waite if fit. Daw should be chasing that spot
- Simpkin and Hrovat over Thomas
- McDonald and Atley must exclusively play midfield this year
- Would like to see Ahern play before finding room for him in mid rotation

Dude, the Rucks always go after the forward line (unless you were born after our last flag), in future have a little respect for your elders, it took me a couple of minutes to work out Turner wasn't first ruck. ;)
 

shimaburnsgrieg

Premiership Player
Apr 1, 2017
4,361
10,096
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Assuming no trade activity, and we take our picks at the draft. If I had to bet on our Round 1 team today.

Williams, Tarrant, Thompson
Macmillan, Durdin, Vickers-Willis
McDonald, Ziebell, Atley
Preuss, Higgins, Cunnington
Wood, Waite, Garner
Turner, Brown, Simpkin
IC: Clarke, Dumont, Hrovat, Mountford

- Jacobs and Wright would need very strong pre-seasons to prove fitness
- Preuss v Goldstein H2H, if form even play Preuss
- Thompson was strong 2nd half of last year, holds out Neilson but he should be chasing that 3rd tall spot
- Waite if fit. Daw should be chasing that spot
- Simpkin and Hrovat over Thomas
- McDonald and Atley must exclusively play midfield this year
- Would like to see Ahern play before finding room for him in mid rotation
That is a pretty good stab at the team - its not a bad team at all - maybe Neilson for Durdin plus an extra ruck to help Preuss but pretty much that is it.

On the negative side the backs and mids are painfully slow and very much of the same type of player - we need a better mix in there.

On the positive side the forward line looks great on paper - look at that half forward line! - but of course the issue will be can they get on the park?
 
Oct 4, 2006
15,852
33,716
The hood
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Assuming no trade activity, and we take our picks at the draft. If I had to bet on our Round 1 team today.

Williams, Tarrant, Thompson
Macmillan, Durdin, Vickers-Willis
McDonald, Ziebell, Atley
Preuss, Higgins, Cunnington
Wood, Waite, Garner
Turner, Brown, Simpkin
IC: Clarke, Dumont, Hrovat, Mountford

- Jacobs and Wright would need very strong pre-seasons to prove fitness
- Preuss v Goldstein H2H, if form even play Preuss
- Thompson was strong 2nd half of last year, holds out Neilson but he should be chasing that 3rd tall spot
- Waite if fit. Daw should be chasing that spot
- Simpkin and Hrovat over Thomas
- McDonald and Atley must exclusively play midfield this year
- Would like to see Ahern play before finding room for him in mid rotation

Neilson and Durdin should be getting a game every week. If one is injured or not performing then McKay plays down back.

We are rebuilding. Thompson is injury cover/vfl player development
 
Screenshot_2017-10-17-23-27-49-1.png
 
All I want to see is every wing, flanker or pocket (fwd & back or fwd only?) get rotations through the middle instead of the usual suspects.

If you can't roll through the middle and you're not KP, you're not giving enough flexibility. Give booked a crack and get their tanks developed!
 

Deep Wells

Senior List
Feb 10, 2009
250
150
Behind the Gasometer
AFL Club
North Melbourne
I'm going smaller, faster, more mid rotations and more pressure. Also, I'm leaving the really old guys out because this group needs to develop together.

B: M Williams, Tarrant, Nielsen
HB: Clarke, Durdin, Ahern
C: Atley, Cunnington, Mountford
R: Pruess, McDonald, Higgins
HF: Garner, Wood, Simpkin
F: Ziebell, Brown, Turner
I: Dumont, Hibberd, Hrovat, J Williams
E: EVW, McKay, Daw, Zurhaar, Anderson, Wright, Macmillan, Jacobs, Goldstein, Waite, Thompson, Swallow, Thomas, Larkey, Junker, Watson, D4, D23

We desperately need midfielders in the draft and hopefully a late trade for one of our ruckmen for another decent pick.

There's a lot of improvement in this team. A good injury run and we probably finish mid table. Although we are likely targeting bottom four to set up for next years draft.
 
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Winter

Club Legend
Jan 3, 2013
1,880
2,418
AFL Club
North Melbourne
I'm going smaller, faster, more mid rotations and more pressure. Also, I'm leaving the really old guys out because this group needs to develop together.

B: M Williams, Tarrant, Wright
HB: Clarke, Durdin, Macmillan
C: Atley, Cunnington, Higgins
R: Goldstein, McDonald, Jacobs
HF: Garner, Wood, Simpkin
F: Ziebell, Brown, Turner
I: Dumont, Mountford, Hrovat, Ahern
E: Preuss, Nielsen, EVW, McKay, Daw, Hibberd, Anderson, Waite, Thompson

We desperately need midfielders in the draft and hopefully a late trade for one of our ruckmen for another decent pick.

There's a lot of improvement in this team. A good injury run and we probably finish mid table. Although we are likely targeting bottom four to set up for next years draft.
 

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ansonholt

Premiership Player
May 12, 2009
3,928
9,008
All in Sunbury
AFL Club
North Melbourne
My best 22:

B: Williams Tarrant Nielson
HB: EVW McKay MacMillan
C: Clarke McDonald Atley
HF: Ziebell Waite Simpkin
F: Garner Brown Turner
R: Goldstein Cunnington Higgins
I: Wood Hibberd Dumont Mountford

I can see why we delisted who we did. Also, no place for Wright or Jacobs due to injury uncertainty. Nor Ahern yet as he is unproven. Could not also find places for Preuss :-(, Hrovat, Thomas, Zurhaar, Durdin, Daw, Larkey, J Williams or Anderson. Pick 4 remains to be seen as well, of course.

In terms of draft picks, it's an interesting line up (first round picks underlined, last four drafts in blue):

B: 2011 #35, 2007 #15, 2014 #25
HB: 2014 #36, 2015 #21, 2009 #37
C: 2015 #31, 2013 #8, 2010 #17
HF: 2008 #9, 2001 #46, 2016 #12
F: 2012 #15, 2013 #47, 2013 #25Rookie
R: 2006 #37, 2010 #5, 2005 #11
Int: 2012 #41, 2015 #33, 2013 #30, 2015 #60
 

koshari

Brownlow Medallist
Mar 24, 2011
22,552
35,582
AFL Club
North Melbourne
My best 22:

B: Williams Tarrant Nielson
HB: EVW McKay MacMillan
C: Clarke McDonald Atley
HF: Ziebell Waite Simpkin
F: Garner Brown Turner
R: Goldstein Cunnington Higgins
I: Wood Hibberd Dumont Mountford

I can see why we delisted who we did. Also, no place for Wright or Jacobs due to injury uncertainty. Nor Ahern yet as he is unproven. Could not also find places for Preuss :-(, Hrovat, Thomas, Zurhaar, Durdin, Daw, Larkey, J Williams or Anderson. Pick 4 remains to be seen as well, of course.

In terms of draft picks, it's an interesting line up (first round picks underlined, last four drafts in blue):

B: 2011 #35, 2007 #15, 2014 #25
HB: 2014 #36, 2015 #21, 2009 #37
C: 2015 #31, 2013 #8, 2010 #17
HF: 2008 #9, 2001 #46, 2016 #12
F: 2012 #15, 2013 #47, 2013 #25Rookie
R: 2006 #37, 2010 #5, 2005 #11
Int: 2012 #41, 2015 #33, 2013 #30, 2015 #60

technically speaking McKay was a 1st rounder before the priority picks. but yeah there are very few recently,
i would prolly have the rat in there given he is one of our better users and give Josh Williams some time on the wing. iam still are not sold on McMillan or Atley, but its a decent framework with a few options to work with. Zurhaar is one i would see as whilst not possibly a starting 22 player wouldn't surprise me to lock down a spot in the coarse of the year. and there will almost certainly be a 2017 pick 4 in the middle.
 
B: Marley Tarrant Durdin
HB: Atley Thompson Mountford
C: Clarke Ziebell McDonald
HF: Higgins Daw Wood
F: Simpkin Brown Garner
R: Goldy Cunners pick 4
I: Dumont Zurhaar Hrovat Ahern

Emg: Turner Swallow Waite Macmillan Anderson Jacobs Hibberd pick 23 pick 64 wright EVW Nielson Williams McKay

Surely we pick up a DFA instead of using a pick in the 90s
 
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Route57

Team Captain
Sep 7, 2016
444
588
AFL Club
North Melbourne
I can't believe how unrecognisable our team is going to look compared to previous years.

Core group of Ziebell, Macmillan, Cunnington, Atley, McDonald, Goldstein, Garner, Turner, Dumont, Thompson, Tarrant, Brown, Higgins, Willams, Waite, Swallow and Thomas will need to be consistent performers.

Expecting bigger things from Hrovat, Anderson, Daw, Clarke, Wood, EVW, Nielson, Durdin, Hibberd and Preuss. Each better develop quicker this pre-season and add something elite to their game.

Zuurhar, Mountford, McKay, Simpkin, Willams can continue to progress the way they have.
 
Jun 7, 2012
9,848
12,136
AFL Club
Western Bulldogs
Other Teams
San Antonio, West Ham, Renegades
2018 Team - Age at 31/12/17

B: Scott Thompson (31, 200) Robbie Tarrant (28, 105) Marley Williams (24, 81)
HB: Jamie Macmillan (26, 117) Sam Durdin (21, 8) Sam Wright (27, 116)

R: Todd Goldstein (29, 190) Jack Ziebell (26, 166) Ben Cunnington (26, 165)
C: Ryan Clarke (20, 21) Shaun Higgins (29, 178) Luke McDonald (22, 74)

HF: Taylor Garner (23, 34) Jarrad Waite (34, 231) Mason Wood (24, 26)
F: Kayne Turner (22, 36) Ben Brown (25, 77) Jy Simpkin (19, 13)

I: Shaun Atley (24, 154) Andrew Swallow (30, 224) Trent Dumont (22, 39) Nathan Hrovat (23, 52)

Vickers-Willis in for Wright if he can’t get back from his injuries. Would expect the midfielder taken at 4 comes in straight away. Probably for Swallow who I’d imagine will only be used sparingly next season.
 

Passmore

Brownlow Medallist
May 22, 2001
23,603
75,885
The Gasometer Wing
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Norf
2018 Team - Age at 31/12/17

B: Scott Thompson (31, 200) Robbie Tarrant (28, 105) Marley Williams (24, 81)
HB: Jamie Macmillan (26, 117) Sam Durdin (21, 8) Sam Wright (27, 116)

R: Todd Goldstein (29, 190) Jack Ziebell (26, 166) Ben Cunnington (26, 165)
C: Ryan Clarke (20, 21) Shaun Higgins (29, 178) Luke McDonald (22, 74)

HF: Taylor Garner (23, 34) Jarrad Waite (34, 231) Mason Wood (24, 26)
F: Kayne Turner (22, 36) Ben Brown (25, 77) Jy Simpkin (19, 13)

I: Shaun Atley (24, 154) Andrew Swallow (30, 224) Trent Dumont (22, 39) Nathan Hrovat (23, 52)

Vickers-Willis in for Wright if he can’t get back from his injuries. Would expect the midfielder taken at 4 comes in straight away. Probably for Swallow who I’d imagine will only be used sparingly next season.
I'd like to see Durdin start at CHF, Nielson slot into defence and Waite slide to the bench in a utility role.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
 
BACKS:
Williams Tarrant Nielson
EVW Durdin Macmillan
Atley

MIDS:
Preuss
Inside: Swallow Cunnington Dumont
Outside: McDonald Higgins

FORWARDS
Wood Ziebell Garner
Simpkin Brown Turner


I: Clarke Mountford Hrovat Ahern

E: Anderson Hibberd Zurharr

The team I would play. We have a leader on each line - Tarrant, Higgins/Swallow, Ziebell.

The forwardline is smaller and has more run. Turner, Garner, Ziebell capable of some great pressure. Every player has an eye for goal.

We have speed on the outside in McDonald, Atley and Higgins with some players from defence capable of pushing up.
 
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North’s 2018 best 22

B: Scott Thompson, Robbie Tarrant, Marley Williams

HB: Luke McDonald, Sam Durdin, Sam Wright

C: Shaun Atley, Ben Cunnington, Ryan Clarke

HF: Shaun Higgins, Jarrod Waite, Mason Wood

F: Kayne Turner, Ben Brown, Taylor Garner

R: Todd Goldstein, Jack Ziebell, Trent Dumont

INT: Ben Jacobs, Jy Simpkin, Declan Mountford, Nathan Hrovat
 

Kciza

All Australian
Jun 2, 2015
724
1,511
AFL Club
North Melbourne
2018 Team - Age at 31/12/17

B: Scott Thompson (31, 200) Robbie Tarrant (28, 105) Marley Williams (24, 81)
HB: Jamie Macmillan (26, 117) Sam Durdin (21, 8) Sam Wright (27, 116)

R: Todd Goldstein (29, 190) Jack Ziebell (26, 166) Ben Cunnington (26, 165)
C: Ryan Clarke (20, 21) Shaun Higgins (29, 178) Luke McDonald (22, 74)

HF: Taylor Garner (23, 34) Jarrad Waite (34, 231) Mason Wood (24, 26)
F: Kayne Turner (22, 36) Ben Brown (25, 77) Jy Simpkin (19, 13)

I: Shaun Atley (24, 154) Andrew Swallow (30, 224) Trent Dumont (22, 39) Nathan Hrovat (23, 52)

Vickers-Willis in for Wright if he can’t get back from his injuries. Would expect the midfielder taken at 4 comes in straight away. Probably for Swallow who I’d imagine will only be used sparingly next season.

Nielson comfortably ahead of Durdin at this point
 

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