Opinion Commentary & Media VIII

[Caracas]

A lot of it is a mentality issue I'd say. Our players probably think they work hard but compared to good sides our workrate is miles away

It’s a lot easier to run all day when your confidence is up and you’re expecting to win. Our team don’t know what it’s like to win. For our guys, it’s like running through treacle, I suspect.

 

[Devington]

It’s a lot easier to run all day when your confidence is up and you’re expecting to win. Our team don’t know what it’s like to win. For our guys, it’s like running through treacle, I suspect.

The interplay between the mental and physical is complex. I'd guess a lot of blokes are hitting the mental wall before the physical one, and allowing that to sap them of energy. Hard to build up resilience and willpower without any nourishment (apologies).

I keep coming back to how we coulda shoulda won last week if we didn't start the game so limp, and then travel back further to how low intensity we took the pre-season games. The first one I thought was excusable, use it to get cobwebs out of 90% of the round 1 team, but the second one just had to be hell for leather from go to woe.

 

[Caracas]

The interplay between the mental and physical is complex. I'd guess a lot of blokes are hitting the mental wall before the physical one, and allowing that to sap them of energy. Hard to build up resilience and willpower without any nourishment (apologies).

I keep coming back to how we coulda shoulda won last week if we didn't start the game so limp, and then travel back further to how low intensity we took the pre-season games. The first one I thought was excusable, use it to get cobwebs out of 90% of the round 1 team, but the second one just had to be hell for leather from go to woe.

Agree. However, we all know these type of things can flip very quickly. I’m thinking back to R2 last year. We were on fire in the first half. We just ran out of legs later. If we can roll out that first half performance again…

 

[Devington]

Agree. However, we all know these type of things can flip very quickly. I’m thinking back to R2 last year. We were on fire in the first half. We just ran out of legs later. If we can roll out that first half performance again…

I'm not completely pessimistic, it's just that last week was a great opportunity to kickstart something. The longer we go without a win, the harder it will get to find a groove and build confidence.

 

[Chadwiko]

A lot of it is a mentality issue I'd say. Our players probably think they work hard but compared to good sides our workrate is miles away

An absolute lack of on-field leadership for years has been the issue.

And, this may be blasphemy to some, but I even include Ziebell in that basket somewhat. And I loved Ziebell as a footballer. But as a leader, setting the standard? Ehhhh.

 

[LB2Snake]

I know a lot of people didn't like Robbo but I don't think Whateley and Lyon are as good a combination as Whateley and Robbo. Each to their I own I suppose

I was/am a Robbo fan. Think he was like a normal supporter to listen to. Enjoyed his enthusiasm

 

[Marstermind]

An absolute lack of on-field leadership for years has been the issue.

And, this may be blasphemy to some, but I even include Ziebell in that basket somewhat. And I loved Ziebell as a footballer. But as a leader, setting the standard? Ehhhh.

We haven't had a strong set of on field leaders since Laidley's time 20 years back. And no top level captain since Simmo. Ziebell was hard as nails but made too many fundamental errors for him to lead effectively. Swallow was an underrated player, but seemed quiet on the field.

It's hard to judge leadership from the outside, but two decades of onfield disorganisation, panic and lack of accountability has hurt our culture and Shinboner edge.

 

[Devington]

We haven't had a strong set of on field leaders since Laidley's time 20 years back. And no top level captain since Simmo. Ziebell was hard as nails but made too many fundamental errors for him to lead effectively. Swallow was an underrated player, but seemed quiet on the field.

It's hard to judge leadership from the outside, but two decades of onfield disorganisation, panic and lack of accountability has hurt our culture and Shinboner edge.

I can think of something else that hurt our culture and shinboner edge, and it was by design. I am of course referring to Brad Scott.

 

[Possession]

I'm not completely pessimistic, it's just that last week was a great opportunity to kickstart something. The longer we go without a win, the harder it will get to find a groove and build confidence.

Need to come out blazing tomorrow, it doesn't get any easier from here. Next week against the Crows could be a genuine smashing, we just cannot let tomorrow's game be one too.

 

[DocSholl]

We haven't had a strong set of on field leaders since Laidley's time 20 years back. And no top level captain since Simmo. Ziebell was hard as nails but made too many fundamental errors for him to lead effectively. Swallow was an underrated player, but seemed quiet on the field.

It's hard to judge leadership from the outside, but two decades of onfield disorganisation, panic and lack of accountability has hurt our culture and Shinboner edge.

Yeah the unwillingness (or incapability) to properly work hard isn't just a Clarko thing or applicable to this current group. It's been a cancer for a long time now. So when you look at a team like Hawthorn or GWS and how hard they run and think it isn't all that complicated or far away, it's a bit naive. We don't have the players or mental fortitude to do that.

 

[Lavy_Panther]

Yeah the unwillingness (or incapability) to properly work hard isn't just a Clarko thing or applicable to this current group. It's been a cancer for a long time now. So when you look at a team like Hawthorn or GWS and how hard they run and think it isn't all that complicated or far away, it's a bit naive. We don't have the players or mental fortitude to do that.

Accurate post. I posted the below in May last year. I have no idea if the trend continued after this point (no way could I be ****ed going on the AFL app to see the stats each game after), but it’s pretty shocking:

Work rate in transition. Every single game this season we have had a slower average speed running in defence vs attack, whereas every single one of our opponents is faster in defence vs attack. That is an attitude/work rate issue.

I think that (unwillingness to work as hard/harder in defence vs attack) in addition to poor athletic profile over the years (players have said that once they left our club and went into a new training program at a different club they realised how far behind NMFC was) is a recipe for getting badly exposed at AFL level given modern rules.

 

[ferball]

Yeah the unwillingness (or incapability) to properly work hard isn't just a Clarko thing or applicable to this current group. It's been a cancer for a long time now. So when you look at a team like Hawthorn or GWS and how hard they run and think it isn't all that complicated or far away, it's a bit naive. We don't have the players or mental fortitude to do that.

It goes back to Brad Scott I reckon. Especially after 2016

 

[longyroos]

Matt Hill is a fantastic commentator. More of this please.

 

[Hotham FC]

Matt Hill is a fantastic commentator. More of this please.

Humble and impartial. Goes about it the right way. Makes it about the game, not himself. The only thing that tops his footy calling is his racing calling. Elite talent!

 

[Jeremy Jordan]

Watching every single footy show this week.

When we don’t win: every one of these shows is a joke. They know f all about footy’

When we win: ‘I could listen to Sam McLure talk footy all day long…..’

 

[czero]

Post game with parker

'Step in the right direction': Luke Parker excited after North Melbourne's big win

North Melbourne are on the board in 2025, with a convincing win over the Demons at Marvel Stadium. Veteran Luke Parker won his first game in the royal blue and white and he joined 3AW Football post-game. “Nice to get the monkey off the back at the start of the season,” Parker said on 3AW...

www.3aw.com.au

 

[koshari]

Will be really interesting to see the angle barret pots us this week?

 

[Themanbun]

Montagna just cooked B Scott lol

 

[RooStu15]

Will be really interesting to see the angle barret pots us this week?

He will give us little credit and just say this is the standard we need to be at

 

[Chadwiko]

Our best 'scores from centre bounce' result since Champion Data began tracking the figure in 1999, according to David King on First Crack.

 

[Jeremy Jordan]

First crack is footy show gold. Love it.

A 10 goal win and Brad Scott getting smacked pillar to post, surely God is rewarding me for those times I’ve thought about going to church. Most likely he will kill me during my sleep as today is my last meal.

 

[Chadwiko]

Montagna just cooked B Scott lol

(For anyone confused, he meant BRAD not BAILEY).

 

[HongKongRoo]

North has a win and suddenly Kane Cornes is unable to record "First up". More than coincidence.

 

[My Left Foote]

He will give us little credit and just say this is the standard we need to be at

It's a valid point.

 

[Themanbun]

(For anyone confused, he meant BRAD not BAILEY).

Whoops