- Joined
- May 18, 2003
- Posts
- 792
- Reaction score
- 1,232
- Location
- Arden Street
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
- Other Teams
- North Melbourne
Fair showing, handicapped by 4 man forward line, Spicer and Captain Jack gave zero.
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They have kept their crabs way too long. We cut deep and will come through with a talented group. While Heppell, Stewart, ham, guelfi, snelling, Kelly play they are miles off it.We are never going to pass them or anyone unless we learn how to run and carry, it is a struggle for us to hit 3+ targets consecutively and there is too much butchering of the ball.
It just looked painful all night, our attempts to move the ball out of defensive 50, move the ball from centre clearance into the forward 50. If Larkey goes out on a strong lead the ball isn't going to anywhere within 5m of where it should be, it is a bit like being a professional darts player and being unable to hit the board.
He took Dangerfields to the cleaners two seasons ago. He's at his best going for the ball.
I think I need to update the Bonars bio.
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Bill Berry once took Paul Salmon to the cleaners.
Ziebell be a Captain and drop yourself.
I think the delivery into the forward line is the big and perennial problem. We win centre clearances consistently yet finish the match with six or seven goals. How is that? It’s the guys streaming forward with the ball who constantly miss targets. Yes, the forwards don’t seem to be able to get separation (in the way that Wright and Stringer were today) but we so miss those days when Wells and Harvey would almost always find a teammate inside 50.Inability of the forwards to create a contest.
Inability to defend full ground transition.
Bingo.
It does plenty. Means we don’t have to watch an inanimate object.He has 3 more weeks dropping him now does nothing.
Can’t be Captain next year.
Is it Berrys or Berries?
It does plenty. Means we don’t have to watch an inanimate object.
Salmon and caper berries is an underrated dish. I probably need to eat.Bill Berry once took Paul Salmon to the cleaners.
Salmon and caper berries is an underrated dish. I probably need to eat.
If Mahony played we probably wouldn’t have noticed.If Jack Mahony played we would’ve won
Perhaps huckleberriesIs it Berrys or Berries?
6 changes from the team last week. Not sure how many times in the last 20 years a team has won after having 6 changes, but it wouldn't be many. Anyway...
Positives:
Stoppage work was very good. Goldy, Greenwood, Simpkin and LDU absolutely pulled Essendon's pants down in the contest, but we just weren't clean enough thereafter.
Simpkin: Was very good. He's turned it around in the last month or two and I'm thrilled for him
JHF: Played his best game since the Sydney game
Bailey Scott: Would be up there with LDU in the B&F
Zurhaar: Just a star
Stevo: Ball use and run off the back flank was excellent
Kallan Dawson: I was as vocal as anyone regarding his recruitment, but I thought he showed enough in his first game. Hopefully builds his confidence for the remainder of the season and can be a mainstay next year
Turner: Thought he was very good - cant remember the last time he played as well as he did today
Negatives:
I think our loss comes down to 3 things. Firstly, our forward line's inability to get the ball to ground - the amount of intercept marks guys like Redman, Laverde, Kelly and Zerk-Thatcher were allowed to take in contested situations was ridiculous. Secondly, our forward line's inability to apply pressure when the ball hit the deck - we have guys inside 50 who offer absolutely nothing in this regard and even one of those kills you at this level. Thirdly, our delivery inside forward 50m was poor. Two guys stood out for me with having particularly poor games:
Ziebell: He's done. Way too slow to get separation on the lead and due to being slow, he offers very little when the ball hits the ground.
Spicer: Needs to go back to VFL level and develop some confidence in winning the footy, sticking tackles and applying effective defensive pressure.
Takeaways/thoughts as a result of the above:
- I wonder if our club has the balls to drop Ziebell for Ford - it's the most obvious change you could possibly make but I'm not sure it'll happen.
- Our strength in the contest leads me to believe we should place Sheezel at the top of our draft short-list over Wardlaw.
- We need to prioritise getting in another pressure small forward - we really missed Curtis
- We also really missed Tarryn's ball use and class through the midfield and going inside 50m
Bit harsh cutting Anderson twice tooBit harsh on Dawson.
3 more weeks. Never looked forward to the end of a season more.It like most things this year will just need to be endured