Early Rounds 2012

[Jay-Z]

I have been watching quite a few replays of our 2011 games recently and one thing is blatantly obvious - Goldstein, Swallow, Wells and Ziebell are our number 1 team for the centre square. Which makes me wonder.. How are we going to fair in the early rounds without 2 of these 4 (Ziebell through suspension and Wells through injury)? Would be interested to hear others opinions on how much these loses will hurt our early season prospects

 

[Dan]

Won't have to worry about Rd 2 at least.

 

[stoja]

Think we got enough depth to cover for round 1. as dan said we should be right for round 2

 

[Deleted member 98541]

It's pretty dissapointing. But out of those 4 you mentioned, Goldie would have to be ranked m.v.p., then Swallow for his sheer consistency. If we go into it with these two we hopefully do have the depth to cover for the losses. Gibbo may well be the man for the job. A high possession outside/inside mid that kicks goals. -Sort of brings a bit of Ziebs muscle with a bit of Wells run, without the zip.

One positive is that the coaches have had 4 months to prepare for it. ...a massive plus.

 

[Old Skool]

Wells is not yet a certainty to miss.

As for Essendon, we're better than them without Wells and Ziebell.

Hansen, Harper, MacMillan, McIntosh and Garlett all missed against the scum last time and we still beat them. Grima, Ziebell, Anthony and Cunners we're all running on half a tank.

IMO, winning or losing this game lies squarely with the coach.

GWS, we'll cream.

JZ and Wellsy will be back for round 3.

 

[year of the roo]

I'm backing Cunners, Adams and Garlett to fill the void. Adams with more midfield minutes and the other 2 with just more minutes through improved endurance. Levi, Basti, Harper and Wright will all find another level from last year.

But that Essendon game is huge. I don't want to be blooding too many that day. I want our best, hardest, most experienced side possible throwing everything at them. A loss that day will be nothing short of a disaster and a disgrace.

 

[tazaa]

All round 1 does is gives blokes like Speight, Atkey and Wright to show what theyre capable of and cement a spot.

 

[The Chiefton]

It's extremely annoying that the last year or two, and then next year, we'll be without a gun player due to suspension.
Petrie was the difference v Eagles last year in rd 1.
Let's hope JZ is a bit more easier to cover.

 

[hilly]

Cunnington/Garlett will replace Ziebell.

More concerned about covering Wells. Great opportunity for a Speight/Atley.

 

[Jay-Z]

Cunnington/Garlett will replace Ziebell.

More concerned about covering Wells. Great opportunity for a Speight/Atley.

I'm excited to see how Garlett will go after a big pre season and I agree that with our array of inside midfielders, Ziebell will be the easier one to cover.

Wells I think is a huge out and will be hard to cover. Hopefully Speight has got his fitness up to a level where he could play a full game. Atley I don't think has developed enough of an outside game yet. I would almost be tempted to play Boomer as a permanent midfielder in this game to help cover Wells.

I am also interested in how much the stability of starting the same 4 guys in the middle every game had on the performance of the group, though as someone pointed out above, whoever will be our starting 4 will have a few months to practice together.

Whatever happens it will be a good test of our midfield depth. The Bombers typically start the season on a roll and it will be a tough game for us to win.

 

[GarnerSmash]

I have been watching quite a few replays of our 2011 games recently and one thing is blatantly obvious - Goldstein, Swallow, Wells and Ziebell are our number 1 team for the centre square. Which makes me wonder.. How are we going to fair in the early rounds without 2 of these 4 (Ziebell through suspension and Wells through injury)? Would be interested to hear others opinions on how much these loses will hurt our early season prospects

The absences will hurt for sure but Im not too sure how happy I'll be if Bon reckons an untried rookie in Gibson is a better replacement than the likes of Cunners, Levi, Adams, Atley, Garlett, Macmillan or Anthony. Wells is defo the bigger loss of the two with no other option showing the class in decision making or execution to the point in time that he has. Without Wells and JZ and the steadying influence that they bring, I'm not sure how we will go against the bombers, especially if they get a run on. Massive game for us and not just for the points because a win will bring great confidence to the rest of the young mids that they can get the job done.

 

[Daz]

In round 24 the core group of centre square mids was Swallow, Adams, Bastinac and Cunnington. Atley went in there once or twice.

 

[NMFC 1811]

Wells is not yet a certainty to miss.

As for Essendon, we're better than them without Wells and Ziebell.

Hansen, Harper, MacMillan, McIntosh and Garlett all missed against the scum last time and we still beat them. Grima, Ziebell, Anthony and Cunners we're all running on half a tank.

IMO, winning or losing this game lies squarely with the coach.

GWS, we'll cream.

JZ and Wellsy will be back for round 3.

Don't be surprised if Wellsy plays round 1. He's doing great apparently and might be a chance to wear the green vest when we start off the year with a bang.

 

[KiwiRoo]

I'm backing Cunners, Adams and Garlett to fill the void. Adams with more midfield minutes and the other 2 with just more minutes through improved endurance. Levi, Basti, Harper and Wright will all find another level from last year.

But that Essendon game is huge. I don't want to be blooding too many that day. I want our best, hardest, most experienced side possible throwing everything at them. A loss that day will be nothing short of a disaster and a disgrace.

No it wont be. Its round one..I want to win it for sure, but to call losing a game to a side thats pretty evenly matched to ours, who finished above us last year a disgrace is a bit over the top

If we lost to GWS thats another story...

 

[year of the roo]

No it wont be. Its round one..I want to win it for sure, but to call losing a game to a side thats pretty evenly matched to ours, who finished above us last year a disgrace is a bit over the top

If we lost to GWS thats another story...

Nah we need to start setting the bar higher, expecting more from our players. Now is the time to finally start off the season properly. Been way too long since we have done this. Losing to Essendon is not an option.

 

[KiwiRoo]

I'd like us to get out the blocks well too.

I just dont get into terminology like "disgrace" or "disaster" if we lose a game to an opponent ranked equally to ourselves.

We're supposed to be supporters arent we ?

 

[The Chiefton]

I'd like us to get out the blocks well too.

I just dont get into terminology like "disgrace" or "disaster" if we lose a game to an opponent ranked equally to ourselves.

We're supposed to be supporters arent we ?

It depends how you get beaten.

 

[Deleted member 98541]

Listen to Greenwoods 5aa interview on the north website. It may have been a slip of the tongue, or the guy has no clue and made a mistake. But if what he said eventuates, then we will all be very happy little vegemites.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Two little comments of interest I thought... not only having him back for round 1, but also "Wellsy off half back" earlier in the interview.

 

[Liam Boy]

Wellsy back for round one was commonly stated, most people brushed it off and said he'd need more recovery time. Personally I think he might need it, but it's up to the coaching staff.

 

[Deleted member 98541]

Would be great if we kept it under wraps for the whole preaseason, then made a "late" change and watched Wellsy run through the banner.

 

[NMFC 1811]

All aboard Wellsy for round 1.....Hopefully

 

[spurs]

I believe Gibson will be looked at for round 1 depending on his form from the nab cup.We recruited him for this exact reason-depth. Considering he is very fit and ave 28 touches a game last year in the VFL he would have to be a chance.