VFL Game Day Essendon v North Melbourne, Windy Hill, 2:05pm, 2/5

[Yoda_]

Going to be a raft of changes next in the AFL side so this has a fair bit of meaning for a lot of guys.

North (9th) are just outside the 8 whilst we are 1/2 a game behind in 14th.

A few bodies back which will bolster the bottom line, Nik Cox, Matt Guelfi

35

Matt Guelfi

Age

28

Ht

184cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

8.1

3star

HB

6.1

4star

M

3.2

3star

T

2.9

4star

G

0.2

2star

D

10.5

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

5.5

3star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

G

0.0

1star

D

17.2

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

6.2

4star

M

5.0

5star

T

3.0

5star

G

0.2

3star

, Angus Clarke all back from injury and youngster Kieran Gallagher from Calder Cannons set to make his debut.

I like to point out a player who should be in the mix as draft able, Ben Hopkins on a wing has put together a decent season and Ollie Lowe is one to keep an eye on.

The Visentini versus Teasel / Goad battle will be fascinating as will the midfield battle. No real out and out stars (even at VFL level) to dominate this. Whoever does will go a long way to helping there side get the points

Essendon 11 points in a tight one

ESSENDON
B: S. McKay (80), D. Akuei (64), J. Nguyen (42)
HB: Z. Johnson (40), J. Eckersley (58), L. Lual (34)
C: N. Cox (13), A. Day-Wicks (44), A. Clarke (36)
HF: M. Guelfi (35), T. Sellers (75), R. Unwin (38)
F: S. El Hawli (41), K. Gerreyn (19), A. Davey (33)
R: V. Visentini (39), X. O'Neill (55), J. Hately (50)
INT: K. Gallagher (69), M. Foley (73), N. Quigg (83), C. Nyko (65), O. Smartt (63)
23rd Player: K. Gallagher (69)
EMG: J. Peris (53), J. Busuttil (68)

IN: A. Clarke, N. Cox, K. Gallagher, M. Guelfi
OUT: L. Hayes, W. Hoare (managed), S. Clough, J. Peris (omitted)
NEW: Kieran Gallagher, 18, 184cm, Greenvale/Calder Cannons

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: G. Logue (19), T. Pink (32), A. Corr (4)
HB: M. Bergman (27), Z. Fisher (16), O. Lowe (70)
C: B. Hopkins (53), M. Keast (64), D. Macpherson (50)
HF: R. Stevens (36), E. Ford (40), G. Payne (23)
F: W. Dawson (18), B. George (33), J. Tarrant (79)
R: B. Teakle (43), D. Tucker (13), L. Urquhart (14)
INT: T. Goad (22), M. Whitlock (35), C. Harvey (37), R. Hansen Jnr (46), N. Sulzberger (65)
23rd Player: N. Sulzberger (65)
EMG: M. Spiteri (77), O. Van dam (74), O. Hotton (62)

IN: A. Corr, Z. Fisher, B. George, G. Logue, N. Sulzberger, D. Tucker, M. Whitlock
OUT: K. Dawson, R. Hardeman, F. Maley, W. Phillips, B. Scott (AFL), A. Tomlinson (managed), M. Spiteri (omitted)
NEW: Nathaniel Sulzberger, 18, 188cm, North Hobart/Tasmania Devils/Sandringham Dragons

 

[Yoda_]

Late change

(OUT)
Lewis Hayes

(In)
Jarrod Eckersley

 

[cobra land]

Really looking forward to seeing this live & who wants to put their hands up for the senior spots that are up for grabs.

Davey has a real opportunity here, I don't want to see him run around & not putting his head over the footy or putting in pea hearted tackles, no Gresham & possibly Menzie dropped next week?, I know how I'd approach this game!

Visentini is the one I'm sure a few of us & the selectors will be having a good look at, I hope he does really well and puts his name up as a possible in.

Zak Johnson and SEH won't get a better chance to impress and the conditions couldn't be any more suited for a key forward as Gerreyn.

Not sure if Guelfi/Cox come straight in after their long layoff but it should be a great watch and we also get a look at the two boys mentioned by Yoda above.

 

[Yoda_]

Really looking forward to seeing this live & who wants to put their hands up for the senior spots that are up for grabs.

Davey has a real opportunity here, I don't want to see him run around & not putting his head over the footy or putting in pea hearted tackles, no Gresham & possibly Menzie dropped next week?, I know how I'd approach this game!

Visentini is the one I'm sure a few of us & the selectors will be having a good look at, I hope he does really well and puts his name up as a possible in.

Zak Johnson and SEH won't get a better chance to impress and the conditions couldn't be any more suited for a key forward as Gerreyn.

Not sure if Guelfi/Cox come straight in after their long layoff but it should be a great watch and we also get a look at the two boys mentioned by Yoda above.

Keen to see how Angus Clarke goes as well. Zak Johnson really took off when Clarke went out injured, with both kids now in, hopefully Zak can play midfield and Clarke can do what he does well at half back

 

[andleanback]

Vigo big strong mark in defence

 

[doug85]

Late change

(OUT)
Lewis Hayes

(In)
Jarrod Eckersley

Guessing Hayse is being rested to play the swans?

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Pretty low iq football from back half, refusing to switch and just kicking into the outnumber.

 

[andleanback]

Saady with a bit of run and dash leads to a shot for cox on the siren
Which he misses

 

[katana]

whos this commentator? some yorkshire bloke?

 

[andleanback]

Ridiculous playing sellers as a full back

 

[Petrify]

Guessing Hayse is being rested to play the swans?

Same thing as Tsatas last week

 

[andleanback]

Angus Clarke hits darts

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Dawson looking like a great forward prospect for them. Thought he was meant to be their KPD saviour.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Weak 50 but some nice set shot kicking from Unwin today.

 

[faible]

Thought Cox looked ok in the first quarter but has vanished a bit this one.

Unwin looks to have lifted a bit and getting involved up the field.

ADW got some midfield time. SEH and Cox both mostly lining up off a wing.

To half time not sure Guelfi deserves a call-up for Gresham's spot, though to his credit he took a ruck contest in the F50

Visentini going ok, but he's not physically dominating Teakle or Goad who aren't exactly mature AFL rucks, so keep expectations in check if he plays at AFL level.

 

[andleanback]

Dawson looking like a great forward prospect for them. Thought he was meant to be their KPD saviour.

He’s playing on akuei. Cox would kick 5 on him. He’s no good. If Hayes was playing he’d find it a lot harder

 

[andleanback]

Thought Cox looked ok in the first quarter but has vanished a bit this one.

Unwin looks to have lifted a bit and getting involved up the field.

ADW got some midfield time. SEH and Cox both mostly lining up off a wing.

To half time not sure Guelfi deserves a call-up for Gresham's spot, though to his credit he took a ruck contest in the F50

Visentini going ok, but he's not physically dominating Teakle or Goad who aren't exactly mature AFL rucks, so keep expectations in check if he plays at AFL level.

Teakle is a mature body, he’s in his mid 20s.

 

[faible]

Teakle is a mature body, he’s in his mid 20s.

I wouldn't call him AFL standard at this stage.

 

[andleanback]

I wouldn't call him AFL standard at this stage.

He’s a mature body who has played afl footy though

 

[faible]

He’s a mature body who has played afl footy though

6 games over 2 years in the ruck at Port. None at North.

 

[Lore]

Guessing Hayse is being rested to play the swans?

If it was just a debut you’d think the break is long enough not to need resting in advance, but I am wondering if they’re expecting him to play a run of games and want to keep him fresher for longer… so missing this one is more about still being useful in 5-6 weeks time than now

 

[andleanback]

Zak Johnson got some dog in him
Payne was getting into cox off the ball So Johnson goes over flattens him and big dogs him

 

[andleanback]

For the amount of afl experience north have in this sides are young guys are really playing well and making it a game, without Hayes aswell.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Huge grab by smartt! And actually backed it up with goal from the sideline too

 

[Red Black and Blue]

He’s playing on akuei. Cox would kick 5 on him. He’s no good. If Hayes was playing he’d find it a lot harder

He just looks strong and agile for a bloke that 200cm plus. Hes also 19 until after the season. Looks a great prospect.