Game Day Community Series. North Melbourne v wc Saturday 1/3/25 Bunbury WA

[DuckYeah]

Surely with the amount of money being tipped into the AFL by betting companies and the amount fans are wagering on every game, if it came out that the AFL were actually instructing the Suns to lose it would be the biggest scandal in Australian sports history.

Would you not put it past them?

 

[The Talent Scout]

This post will certainly have me exiled from Sensible Street, never to return, but I thought the performance in Bunbury was very encouraging. For the first time in a long while, we played some effective possession football, and did so without causing palpitations waiting for a disastrous skill error - to take one example, in the second half of the second quarter, with WC having got a run on, the team moved efficiently to F50 and then moved the ball back and forth across the top of the arc until Phillips put a long ball in. Commentators were bemoaning the slowness of the entry, lack of movement by the forwards, etc etc but IMO that wasn't the point of the play, which was to keep possession and allow the defence to set up behind the play and thereby take the heat out of the WC game.

Looking at this feature of the game from a list management perspective, we finally have a team that can move the ball by foot effectively, and handball at speed around the contest to get into open play. That to me was the biggest take away from the outing. And it's not just the usual suspects like Sheezel with the great foot skills - the replay is instructive for blokes like Archer showing real deft touch by foot.

I guess people see what they want to see - sure, Comben turned over a howler in the last quarter, so that moment tends to dominate impressions of his overall day. I prefer to look at his play in the second quarter, when he initiated a close-in handball movement under pressure in D50, kept running to be the last handball receive out of that congestion, and then hit a 25 metre dart to Larkey on his chest.

The eye of the beholder, and all that

And just like that, Merlin007 waved his magic wand and came up with a very positive but logical post, well thought out. Yes Colby made a few mistakes, that's a good thing because he'll learn from them and like all good young players he'll make a few more. Another good hit out, of course there are things to work on or shall I say fine tune, but that'll come in time, why didn't .......play? why didn't ........get a run?

Alastair knows what he is doing, even if some don't, we got beat, so, we made some mistakes, good, they kicked goals in a hurry against us, I did see that, so did Alastair, some positives and negatives, what you would expect from a practice match now for the real stuff, the Bulldogs expect to win, their supporters expect to win and some of our supporters expect us to lose, lets see how that pans out!

 

[Samsquanch]

Who told them to do that, if you don't mind me asking?

"They".

 

[DuckYeah]

I prefer to look at his play in the second quarter, when he initiated a close-in handball movement under pressure in D50, kept running to be the last handball receive out of that congestion, and then hit a 25 metre dart to Larkey on his chest.

We are aware he hit that kick, we all saw it. I gasped at the fact he attempted it and was lucky he pulled it off. He’s good for one a game and will turn it over like he did multiple times a game.

The argument that Mcdonald was asking for it and shouldn’t have called for that kick is valid. But he should have some nous about him and not just be brain dead an pull the trigger on that kick.

Goals against hurt too much from poor turnovers.

 

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[hilly]

Dominated the game seems a bit much. We should have won though.

 

[zoomba23]

Dominated the game seems a bit much. We should have won though.

These two sentences are applicable to a further five separate games that we've lost over the last two years. How good's not being able to win off your own initiative

 

[Spud11]

Your definition of quality and mine differ.

We are building a list where we now are starting to have options, albeit that they are not 100% ready.

If we are going to lose games because of constant brain fades from senior players, which Corr is a big offender, then I would rather lose those games while blooding guys that will eventually take us forward.

People bag McDonald, but Corr makes just as many blunders as he does and I wouldn’t exactly say he balances those blunders out with exceptional defending.

The goal he gifted Dempsey last year sums up his level of defending perfectly and it wasn’t a one off.

This side loses games because our defence is like a leaky sieve that can’t hold up and gives sides a sniff due to momentum sapping brain fades. It’s not going to improve with the current personnel.

As for taking a rest. Aren’t we here to talk football and the players that represent this club or do we stick our head in the sand like the last 5 years and say it’s only practice and it will be right when the real stuff starts. That’s gone so well in the past.

This place needs more of your level-headed honesty. If people don’t like it, that’s cool. I haven’t liked watching my football club for six years. This is where I will come to discuss it.

 

[Ashley B]

We didn’t win that game. Gold coast were told to lose it so we didn’t gain pick 1&

I think they also benefited by dropping ladder positions and gaining extra draft points . Was an interesting result . We have only been able to win any games for yrs by less than a goal. Yet somehow won this easily by 5 or 6 goals.

 

[zoomba23]

I think they also benefited by dropping ladder positions and gaining extra draft points . Was an interesting result we have only been able to win any games for yrs by less than a goal. Yet somehow won this easily by 5 or 6 goals.

Gold Coast cut it to three goals with something like four minutes to go, a situation which we lost from last year. We needed a TT centre clearance and Curtis cleanness to seal it

 

[Big_H]

That Larkey pass was unforgivable. Just didnt get anywhere near the intended target and turned it over in the most dangerous part of the ground.

It was a mistake in a practice match, by our gun forward, vice captain, in 28 degree heat, in the last quarter. Call me a Christian, but I’m ready to forgive him.

 

[Roosurgence]

This place needs more of your level-headed honesty. If people don’t like it, that’s cool. I haven’t liked watching my football club for six years. This is where I will come to discuss it.

People don’t have to read it if they don’t like it.

But like you this is the place that I also come to discuss issues with our club with other supporters. 100% it’s not overly positive a lot of the time, but as you stated their hasn’t been a lot to be positive about for the last 5-6 years.

My posts aren’t always level-headed LOL

But rightly or wrongly it’s my opinion and if that offends some of the happy clapper crowd, then that’s their issue. It’s what the ignore button exists for.

 

[Spud11]

People don’t have to read it if they don’t like it.

But like you this is the place that I also come to discuss issues with our club with other supporters. 100% it’s not overly positive a lot of the time, but as you stated their hasn’t been a lot to be positive about for the last 5-6 years.

My posts aren’t always level-headed LOL

But rightly or wrongly it’s my opinion and if that offends some of the happy clapper crowd, then that’s their issue. It’s what the ignore button exists for.

I don’t expect much level-headedness after losses, especially with what we’ve put up with. But when the dust settles and so do the emotions, there’s always a lot of truth being stated here.

 

[Karanicolas]

We are aware he hit that kick, we all saw it. I gasped at the fact he attempted it and was lucky he pulled it off. He’s good for one a game and will turn it over like he did multiple times a game.

The argument that Mcdonald was asking for it and shouldn’t have called for that kick is valid. But he should have some nous about him and not just be brain dead an pull the trigger on that kick.

Goals against hurt too much from poor turnovers.

I don’t agree with this entirely. What should be happening is that a number of players provide options, and it is then for the kicker to decide what is the best option.

I haven’t gone back to look, but my recollection is that Comben and McDonald were trying to do the right thing, one looking to find a short kick through the zone and retain possession and the other providing an option. As it unfolded (you sort of knew what was going to happen), I don’t think enough other players offered realistic options for Comben to hit, meaning that he only had McDonald as an option.

Also, in a well drilled side, they will usually find a way to get the ball into the hands of their designated kicker - for example, have a look at how Zorko is generally found by Brisbane when exiting D50 (although Andrews is also able to find a target as well).

Anyway, I would prefer them trying to pick their way through the zone rather than kicking long down the line. I suspect it makes more fun for them (sort of).

 

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[FootySmartSimpson]

Won’t go as far as all this, but I was really disappointed with his intent to defend. For a bloke blessed with so much pace, he just jogs back the other way far too often. I mentioned to a mate that was watching with me, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him dropped back to the vfl at some stage for a kick in the pants if he doesn’t address this. Did not want contact at all today, and same again last week.



I’m prepared to die on this hill alone if I have to, but we are wasting everyone’s time playing Chom in defence, I know we aren’t blessed with ready made options but he is not and will never be a defender. His 1 on 1 stuff is shockingly bad. The only effective thing he does back there is take a few uncontested intercept marks a game but then he has to kick it. Still think he’s better served at CHF so we can complete in the air up forward.

I don’t think Logue was that bad tbh, Corr was a mile off it, every time you seen him he was trailing Waterman by 5-10m. I can’t see us getting ourselves too far off the bottom with this defensive unit.

Big brain thought: we develop both Chom and Duursma as wings allowing both to work back and impact the defence with their marking.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

I would just love it if we developed some reasonably smart defenders who can keep their cool and control their emotions. How many f*cking stupid goals and fifties were gifted away because our defenders acted like some petulant flog and the umpires pounced.

It’s extremely difficult to win games off the back of 10-12 goals. Impossible when the McDonalds, Corrs and Combens of our side a gifting at least one goal a game to the opposition for free off the back of undisciplined sh*t that would ordinarily mean a dragging, a spray and maybe even a one week club funded holiday.

 

[DuckYeah]

What should be happening is that a number of players provide options

No other options? Are you sure?

 

[DrZaius]

Didn't get to see the game live, just finished watching now. Don't know what some of you chicken littles are talking about. We dominated the game, just didn't finish. Half their goals came from preventable skill errors - in saying that, our skills were better than in the intraclub and v Melb last week, so improving through practice matches.

If we just tidy up the finish, we win that game by 10 goals.

Therein lies the crux of the problem though, we've had those big fat if's hanging over our team for years now.
IF we'd just done x or y or z we could have won an extra 3-5 games last season - but we didn't.

We controlled the game on Saturday, absolutely dominated possession and our repeat inside 50's led to more scoring shots but we still found a way to lose, partly due to skill errors but partly due to how we are still easily carved up in transition due to our defensive setup and that ain't gonna fly against better teams than West Coast.

There are so many positives we can talk about with individual players but I'm kinda sick of that because that's all we've had to hang our hats on recently, now should be the time where our positives are becoming more systemic in nature.

 

[ferball]

Therein lies the crux of the problem though, we've had those big fat if's hanging over our team for years now.
IF we'd just done x or y or z we could have won an extra 3-5 games last season - but we didn't.

We controlled the game on Saturday, absolutely dominated possession and our repeat inside 50's led to more scoring shots but we still found a way to lose, partly due to skill errors but partly due to how we are still easily carved up in transition due to our defensive setup and that ain't gonna fly against better teams than West Coast.

We have improved all of those things in bold. WE lost cos we didn't kick straight at a windy ground. It shouldn't be an issue at Docklands.

If we play like we did on the weekend and kick straight we're a real chance against the dogs.

 

[hilly]

The concern is that we are elite at finding ways to not win.

 

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[the big lebowski]

The concern is that we are elite at finding ways to not win.

 

[Only Forwards]

So I have been thinking about this game and there is an element that troubles me.

Jack Graham manhandled multiple players especially kids and not one peep from any of our players.

There is a story and Pagan telling the team in the race before a West Coast game that Worsfolds treatment of Abraham stopped that day.

If you are a player and you are 25 and physically mature if any of our kids are targeted by any opposition f***knuckle like Graham it is your f***ing job to remonstrate.


Enough is enough of this meek we just take what we’re given bullshit.

 

[Themanbun]

So I have been thinking about this game and there is an element that troubles me.

Jack Graham manhandled multiple players especially kids and not one peep from any of our players.

There is a story and Pagan telling the team in the race before a West Coast game that Worsfolds treatment of Abraham stopped that day.

If you are a player and you are 25 and physically mature if any of our kids are targeted by any opposition f***knuckle like Graham it is your f***ing job to remonstrate.


Enough is enough of this meek we just take what we’re given bullshit.

Yep. We folded like a deck of cards.

Even Tim Kelly, one of the gentlest blokes in the AFL, was manhandling us.

 

[Themanbun]

Our midfield was beaten by a midfield whose only notable name was Tim Kelly, who only had 22 disposals himself. After we flew out of the blocks winning almost every clearance but butchering it.

LDU, Sheezel, Phillips, Powell, all need to get better as a unit when Parker and Jy aren't there to setup. Wardlaw too when he's back.

 

[Samsquanch]

Yep. We folded like a deck of cards.

Even Tim Kelly, one of the gentlest blokes in the AFL, was manhandling us.

I'm not convinced that there was too much in the way of malicious treatment going on. I think after one event late in the game, it may have been Logue, running alongside Kelly having a laugh.

 

[Themanbun]

I'm not convinced that there was too much in the way of malicious treatment going on. I think after one event late in the game, it may have been Logue, running alongside Kelly having a laugh.

They weren't over the line. Just unsociable mostly in the middle. It's the difference between wrapping the bloke up in a tackle vs bringing him to ground, engaging physically before the ball goes up at a stoppage etc.