Preview Changes v Melbourne Demons, Sunday 3:20pm Marvel Stadium

[Masked Avenger]

I think we'll need him across half back with Archer out.

He should never be sub again though. Stephens I reckon is a good sub option.

Love your ins but I can say with some confidence that we don't need Tucker across HB (or in the team including as sub) Ditto Stephens.

Not that we should move on from them - we have to. We just have to

There's another 3 or 4 in same boat but we'll need at least a few weeks for that to happen - but I digress.

RHJ was borderline a revelation last week and I wouldn't have him as Sub.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

Oddly feel more confident going into this game than last week.

I am significantly more confident. Any team with dangerous tall forwards (or smalls for that matter) who are clinical going forward will pose us major problems, even if we win the middle. Lower scoring, defensively orientated teams should be right in our wheelhouse and the Dees really fit this bill, even with their changes. We will score well all season, but be far too easy to score against. The back line needs to get a lot better.

 

[marklovesbeer]

Is there a more punchable head in the AFL?

One of his team mates would go close…

 

[innercircle]

What kept us in it was our pressure. Tackles from Konstanty etc. Despite our lack of structure, willingness to tackle and pressure can go along way. D1 pressure in their face etc etc

 

[Caracas]

Either of the Dawsons (my preference is Will) for Logue and both of them if Comben doesn’t get up. Are they both available? Bergman or Hardeman for Archer. I’m easy either way. Bergman has been my biggest disappointment and hasn’t improved in the way I expected earlier in his career. Based on that, my preference is slightly for Hardeman. I’d love if we had a player that could inject life into us as sub. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case since Flash. RHJ is starting to play like he could me the man. However, he fully deserves to start. Maybe, Cooper Harvey in for Tucker. Darcy didn’t make the slightest impression when he came on.

 

[King Corey]

Is there a more punchable head in the AFL?

The kid was raised in a basement by his sister-mother ffs. A modicum of sensitivity wouldn't go astray.

 

[Caracas]

Will Dawson was holding his spot in the team before he got injured last year. Based on that alone, I’d expect him to get the nod.

 

[shintemaster]

I'm not so upset. As soon as it was concussion I knew the AFL were going to put their finger on the scale. I'm actually just glad Jacko didn't break his leg... could have been a lot worse than three weeks out for him.

He's a young player, will bounce back in three weeks and as a 24-game player isn't going to win/lose us the next three games.

Agree with all of that.

My main concern is that (IMHO) this will make the game more dangerous for all players. It will only encourage players to take further risks with their own safety.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Will Dawson was holding his spot in the team before he got injured last year. Based on that alone, I’d expect him to get the nod.

He’s had an interrupted preseason

And I reckon Whitlock has jumped him

It’s only for the one week but this seems not a bad time to give him a taste of it before Logue comes back next week

 

[King Corey]

Will Dawson was holding his spot in the team before he got injured last year. Based on that alone, I’d expect him to get the nod.

Prob bit generous mate.

Has only played 2 meaningful games and his returns were more in the 'blooding a kid' realm than demanding a spot territory.

 

[backtothedraft]

Based on suggested changes in this thread, i think most posters are going to be disappointed with whats announced on Friday. Has a real Toby Pink and Darcy Tucker feeling to it.

 

[Disco Dew]

Based on suggested changes in this thread, i think most posters are going to be disappointed with whats announced on Friday. Has a real Toby Pink and Darcy Tucker feeling to it.

Take it to the bank.

 

[Event Horizon]

We normally suck against good rebounding teams. Not too sure how good Melbourne is in that department.
It's a familiar feeling we get when our forward entry (even a deep one) is picked off by the opposition, they normally have numerous options to move the ball out of there, and at best (from our point of view) get it to the wing for a stoppage. At worst, it goes end to end to their forward line. When it's other way around and we get the it deep in our backline, we typically have no options to go to and just go long down the line at best.

It shits me that it's been that way for a very long time...

 

[The Nostradamus]

Trac, viney and clarry usually have their way with us

Wilphil seems a good matchup for viney

LDU and Sheezel take the other 2

 

[King Corey]

Trac, viney and clarry usually have their way with us

Wilphil seems a good matchup for viney

LDU and Sheezel take the other 2

Will should be able to head to head with a short, hard at the ball inside mid like Viney. It should be his perfect match up.

It would give us a fair idea where he's at.

 

[TheKanga]

Oddly feel more confident going into this game than last week.

Need to at least replicate the performance last year against them we should of won that.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

Thinking back to the game against Footscray, that might be the first time this decade that I thought we were truly competitive while simultaneously not playing very well.

The Bulldogs had some key players missing, but much worse sides on paper have had their way with us on days like the one that we had this past saturday.

Most of our best players were well down on their average output, our team structures were all off to start the game, and in general we played with a tangible sense of rust. That's been a surefire recipe for a 40+ point loss in previous years, regardless of opposition, yet we were well in that game and had plenty of chances to take the win.

I still have a shred of confidence left for this season, and find myself wondering what this side looks like with players like LDU, Sheezel, Comben, McKercher, and Powell all playing their best, and players like Daniel, Simpkin and Zurhaar not being so wasteful with their disposal. Part of me thinks that version of North Melbourne is good enough to beat Melbourne this weekend, and I'm looking forward to finding out.

Uncle_Leo an absolute gold mine here!

 

[Star]

Is there a more punchable head in the AFL?

 

[Star]

Is there a more punchable head in the AFL?

 

[Uncle_Leo]

Uncle_Leo an absolute gold mine here!

 

[Waynesworld]

Some serious doom and gloom on here after a 3 goal loss to a prior year finalist but maybe this is a sign we are on the right track??

Interesting assignment this week, but if there is any silver lining we are better stocked in the defensive end with replacements then we are in the front half.

Ins - K Dawson, D Stephens (Sub)
Outs - Archer (Susp), Logue (Inj)

Tucker moves to half back and replaces Arch and Dawson replaces Logue. Much like the Doggie were, the Dees are gettable this week without May and Pickett and I fully expect another competitive performance, hopefully with a different result.

How dare you bring logic into this discussion!

 

[Uncle_Leo]

Some serious doom and gloom on here after a 3 goal loss to a prior year finalist but maybe this is a sign we are on the right track??

Interesting assignment this week, but if there is any silver lining we are better stocked in the defensive end with replacements then we are in the front half.

Ins - K Dawson, D Stephens (Sub)
Outs - Archer (Susp), Logue (Inj)

Tucker moves to half back and replaces Arch and Dawson replaces Logue. Much like the Doggie were, the Dees are gettable this week without May and Pickett and I fully expect another competitive performance, hopefully with a different result.

• A finalist who got belted in the first round and eliminated by a club who has rebuilt quicker than us who were missing at least 4 of their best 10 players
• Stocked in the defensive end? Good God
• The Dogs were gettable, we didn't get them

 

[Hearts to hearts]

Whitlock not even mentioned in the NMFC 'In the Mix' article.

I saw someone suggest he’d be good on Jefferson - but we have to remember that Jefferson may have been a debutant last week but he has spent plenty of time in the VFL biding his time and building up strength and experience against men, even while Melbourne were desperate for forwards. We all want (need) Whitlock to be an asset but let’s be realistic about when that will happen.

 

[Possession]

Need to at least replicate the performance last year against them we should of won that.

Was quite a lackadaisical start to that one, disappointing as we had them on the ropes in the last (when does that ever happen?)

 

[chubbspeterson]

I saw someone suggest he’d be good on Jefferson - but we have to remember that Jefferson may have been a debutant last week but he has spent plenty of time in the VFL biding his time and building up strength and experience against men, even while Melbourne were desperate for forwards. We all want (need) Whitlock to be an asset but let’s be realistic about when that will happen.

Yep. It's 2-3 years of gym work with Jefferson vs 1/2 a year with Whitters. I'd be surprised if he plays this early.