Preview Changes next week

[Heaps of fun]

First time all season I'm not excited about a game. Sort of like been following the tour of an ageing rock band around; there's been good gigs and bad gigs and they've kept things together for the most part but they're getting a bit tired and jaded, look sick of each other and it's easy to see that they don't care about what they're doing as much as they used to.

 

[Only Forwards]

After next week we won't be out of the 8 again.

You hand on heart think that is good enough?

 

[hilly]

If we play well tonight then some on here should be really embarrassed.

Honest question. Were you happy with the effort shown last week?

 

[King Corey]

Fwiw got a lot more problems with the outs than the ins.

Dropping Adams and Bastinac would have more long term impact than the short term gain of not somehow damaging our own 'structure'.

And I say that as someone who rates both those players, in fact I really like Patch but he's been terrible.

 

[hottieburger]

Not sure where else to post this, so will do here.. Are ppl not going tonight because of last weeks effort and the changes made last night? I'll be honest I am still 50/50 as to whether I go. Major factor in this is I am a 11 game home member. Normally sit level 3, first 5 or so rows on the half forward flank. Tonight's game is a A Reserve Game so only Gen Admin areas are the top rows level 3 between the pockets at each end of the ground. I go along with the missus, 4 year old and a few other friends and family. Worried that my son wouldn't be able to see much from up there. To sit in our normal seats it will cost over $60, this coupled with last nights changes has me leaning towards staying at home. Sad but true.

 

[hottieburger]

Honest question. Were you happy with the effort shown last week?

Even if we win tonight I won't be happy. Winning tonight will mean nothing if we don't back it up over the following 7 weeks. Until we do that one off wins mean nothing.

 

[nicko74]

Agree - we have been hit hard by injury - everyone is calling for Wood and Dumont to be brought in but we saw with Warren that VFL form does not mean they will stand up in the AFL. Bringing these 2 in V the reigning premiers and best side in the comp is fraught with danger. Ziebell going out all but saved Bastinac.

If we play well tonight then some on here should be really embarrassed.

But how do you know if you don't give them a go? They should have played before this week anyway. The selection committee just keeps backing underperforming players, week in week out. Black, Bastinac, Adams have been putrid most of the year, amongst others.
I guess we will just have to see how they go tonight. I personally think we don't have enough leg speed to go with them. Miss Wells more and more as the weeks go by. And Nahas to a lesser extent

 

[King Corey]

Even if we win tonight I won't be happy. Winning tonight will mean nothing if we don't back it up over the following 7 weeks. Until we do that one off wins mean nothing.

Disagree. Winning tonight would still mean plenty.

Not convinced we're giving ourselves anywhere near the best opportunity to do it though.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

If we win tonight I'll be even more annoyed.

 

[Event Horizon]

I am not as scathing on the changes as most people here. Firstly, not having been part of the game review, it is hard for us to say who did or didn't do what, as per coaching instructions. So Adams and Bastinac staying in the side is neither here or there. They could be on their last chance, we just don't know. I would back them both to deliver tonight. And then we will worry about next week, and whether they can sustain it. But right now, tonight has got to be the prime focus, and if Scott believes these two will do better than Dumont and Wood, against a top side, then that has to be the key factor IMO.

As far as the ins go, like I said, this may not be the time to bring in debutantes. And if LA, Sammy and Loose were best performed in the VFL for the past several weeks, then there is nothing wrong with giving them a game. That's why you carry players for depth - for exactly that reason. We aren't a list full of kids - we carry experience for a reason, and if we can somehow get over the line, this will be vindicated. If we can't, and they all perform poorly, I would not be surprised if this is a last game for North for at least 2 of them. But you have to give them a chance. Dumont's and Wood's chance will come.

In fact there will be at least 5-6 players in the current side who will know this could be their last game for a while if they don't perform. And for that reason I expect a strong effort from everyone.

 

[Event Horizon]

If we win tonight I'll be even more annoyed.

That is something I just don't get. We aren't a best 22 - we are a list of 40+. And everyone is there for a reason. If we get it done with the 22 we've picked, then this is great - we forget about Brisbane and move on.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

That is something I just don't get. We aren't a best 22 - we are a list of 40+. And everyone is there for a reason. If we get it done with the 22 we've picked, then this is great - we forget about Brisbane and move on.

I'd love a win, don't get me wrong. But it would just further highlight that we aren't taking the same unconditionals into every week, and that we need a rocket to get going.

And we're clearly not a list of 40+, we're a list of 25-26. Your comment about "this could be make or break for Wright, McMahon etc" has been said about 10 times in the last 18 months. But they keep coming back in, getting dropped, coming back in.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Disagree. Winning tonight would still mean plenty.

Not convinced we're giving ourselves anywhere near the best opportunity to do it though.

Correct.

 

[Psicosis]

Thoughts if Jacobs starts as sub? Would probably turn the TV off.

 

[Event Horizon]

I'd love a win, don't get me wrong. But it would just further highlight that we aren't taking the same unconditionals into every week, and that we need a rocket to get going.

And we're clearly not a list of 40+, we're a list of 25-26. Your comment about "this could be make or break for Wright, McMahon etc" has been said about 10 times in the last 18 months. But they keep coming back in, getting dropped, coming back in.

Look, it is hard to win playing 100% committed footy every week. It takes its toll on the young mids in particular. Hawks don't win playing manic footy, neither does Geelong. They win on class. Very few teams can sustain the same effort week in week out.
We just don't have the class to win games based on the 70% output. And that's a problem. Nobody can win on a 100% output 22 times a year - it simply doesn't happen.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Thoughts if Jacobs starts as sub? Would probably turn the TV off.

Would probably get up and leave to be honest.

 

[Event Horizon]

Thoughts if Jacobs starts as sub? Would probably turn the TV off.

It would be hard for me to turn tv off, being at the ground. But I will be annoyed. Won't happen though.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Look, it is hard to win playing 100% committed footy every week. It takes its toll on the young mids in particular. Hawks don't win playing manic footy, neither does Geelong. They win on class. Very few teams can sustain the same effort week in week out.
We just don't have the class to win games based on the 70% output. And that's a problem. Nobody can win on a 100% output 22 times a year - it simply doesn't happen.

The difference between us and good sides is they don't have the ridiculous lapses we do. First quarter against GC, second quarters against Brisbane and Richmond were just ridiculous. 2012 we made the finals (admittedly on a soft draw). 2013 we missed but lost a lot of close ones. 2014 we're looking at 7th or 8th at best, and are still a complete mystery over which side will turn up each week.

We have players consistently performing in the VFL, but the changes are the same fringe guys who haven't been able to cement a spot over the past 2-3 seasons. I'm glad you can convince yourself everything is okay but I've had a gutful of it. I don't see progress being made.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Thoughts if Jacobs starts as sub? Would probably turn the TV off.

Surely with both McMahon and Wright in Wright will start as sub?

 

[Heaps of fun]

Surely with both McMahon and Wright in Wright will start as sub?

McMahon as sub just to keep them on their toes.

 

[GarnerSmash]

McMahon will be eating a foot long sub just to keep them on their toes.

EFA

 

[King Corey]

If Ben Ross comes in I wonder what the boys have planned for him post-game? Hopefully someone is taking care of it.

Hamish got a bouquet and guard of honour for managing to come back from injury but Ben has come back from delisting. At the least he'll get a bottle of plonk and hand shandy from the player of his choice.

 

[Heaps of fun]

EFA

"I love that this bib's red" - Scott McMahon on the red vest while spilling Napoli sauce down his front.

 

[hilly]

The difference between us and good sides is they don't have the ridiculous lapses we do. First quarter against GC, second quarters against Brisbane and Richmond were just ridiculous. 2012 we made the finals (admittedly on a soft draw). 2013 we missed but lost a lot of close ones. 2014 we're looking at 7th or 8th at best, and are still a complete mystery over which side will turn up each week.

We have players consistently performing in the VFL, but the changes are the same fringe guys who haven't been able to cement a spot over the past 2-3 seasons. I'm glad you can convince yourself everything is okay but I've had a gutful of it. I don't see progress being made.

I reckon we're out to save our percentage tonight.

 

[scooby1279]

Surely with both McMahon and Wright in Wright will start as sub?

that will be the most interesting thing tonight, who will be sub. Better not be Jacobs he deserves his chance, Wright is a shit sub and you would think they brought him in to do a job, Mcmahon would be pointless as a sub and there is no way Brown will be sub.