Preview Essendon vs North Melbourne

[footycool]

Serious crunch game for us.
What do we make of it?

Also, See these classy fans: http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=836254

 

[emblurr]

Yeah that's actually their whole supporter base in that thread.

 

[eth-dog]

Aaaahhh yes, moral outrage from a supporter of the most unethical sporting club in Australia.

Countdown to outraged Essendon supporter .. "well i likd the kangaroos and woz happy u didnt go to the gold coast disgusted ur happy a champ like Fletch got injured.id never clap if <struggles to think of a non-Essendon player> was injured"..

Etc.

This is piss weak. Cheap shots against one of the games greats. And please tell me how we're the most morally unethical club in Australia? Keyboard heroes.

 

[Skeeta Olly]

Classy stuff.

Huge game for us, Hocking, Stanton, Lonergan should be likely inclusions, Pears maybe half a chance. Watson and Hurley will also be better for the run. Wouldn't be surprised to see a raft of changes with us being shit, and stuck interstate.

Reimers and Prismall appear to be in contention after solid output in the VFL according to reports.

 

[cAsEy_18]

We're being called 'unethical' in a thread where they are celebrating an injury to a player. Top group

Never understood North fans, they build it up as if this is a huge rivalry, and yet us Essendon fans never take any notice of it. They'd sit about 6th on our rivalry list I'd say.

A solid, battling side who will always finish 6th-12th range through spirit, but just a serious lack of talent here. After all these clubs supporters celebrating us losing a couple and apparently "getting ahead of ourselves" I'm looking forward to knocking off these "wannabee pretenders" who have 'hit form' after knocking off Adelaide in Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

Dons by 28, Watson back to his BOG's.

 

[raskolnikov]

This is piss weak. Cheap shots against one of the games greats. And please tell me how we're the most morally unethical club in Australia? Keyboard heroes.

Those posts say a lot more about North Melbourne supporters than it does about Essendon.

 

[Skeeta Olly]

Those posts say a lot more about North Melbourne supporters than it does about Essendon.

Their inability to count?

 

[Ben the Gooner]

OUT: Fletcher (inj.), NLM, Monfries, Browne
IN: Stanton, Pears, Lonergan, Hocking

It's at Etihad and North are a bit poo. We should win.

 

[Macca18]

North Melbourne. LOL.

Don't get me started... the biggest bunch of tin rattling knobends in the game. It would be typical of them to celebrate the injury of an opposition player in the manner they did in that thread on their board. Most of their supporters, especially the ones on Bigfooty, have massive chips on their shoulders and think their minnow of a club is exempt from any form of criticism. Their mods are like the Nazi regime in Germany when it comes to anything even remotely negative being said about them on their board or any of the main boards so I'd advise other posters to not even bother this week.

They've beaten Adelaide (14th) in Melbourne & the Gold Coast (17th) and suddenly this mob is talking about being finals contenders. Give us a break. We're hardly setting the world on fire ourselves but with a few necessary changes this week our best is more than capable of putting one of the final nails into their season. Their wins prior to the last two weeks were against Port Adelaide (16th) in Melbourne & the Demons (at Etihad where they haven't won in five years). They are already talking favouritism over at North in this game against us, so we're in a perfect position here. Recent clashes suggest to me the underdog will usually get up and we are in desperate need of a win. We will be relieved to return to Etihad in front of our home crowd (North will find the concept of playing in front of a big crowd at the venue foreign) where we haven't lost a game this year (4-0).

Always get myself up for this game. We cost them a place in the finals last year when we were in horrific form and got no doubt we can dent their season further again this year.

Home ground. Home crowd. My birthday. Saturday Afternoon. Perfect time for redemption after such lacklustre efforts. The equally perfect gift.

 

[fairlight_cmi]

Huge game, seriously seeing those North fans having a wank over Fletch being injured is low. Hope we can lift, as per early season form, and smack the shit outta them.

 

[whats_at_stake]

OUT: Fletcher (inj.), NLM, Monfries, Browne
IN: Stanton, Pears, Lonergan, Hocking

It's at Etihad and North are a bit poo. We should win.

Do not see why Hocking should be in. Should come back via VFL. We all saw how having three match unfit players in Watson, Hurley and Welsh worked out.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Do not see why Hocking should be in. Should come back via VFL. We all saw how having three match unfit players in Watson, Hurley and Welsh worked out.

Because he hasn't been injured and is better than most of today's team?

Because he has a crack?

Because he's accountable and damaging at the same time?

 

[yaco55]

Thought we weren't allowed to discuss team changes until the day after a game.

 

[Rocky_Star_Pro]

Why are these flogs out of their rocks all of a sudden? Where were they at the start of the year?

Oh well, let them enjoy what they can, they won't be around in 5 years anyway

 

[andon]

North are playing way better than we are at the moment.

North by 19

 

[Colin D'Cops]

North will not be looking forward to a close to full strength Essendon side coming there way with steam coming out of their ears.

If we do not win something's wrong, in particular the instructions given to the players/game-plan.

 

[Bomber32]

I certainly hope we can come out firing with a big performance and put these North flogs back in their place.

The Bombers by 24 points.

 

[Atavistic]

Do not see why Hocking should be in. Should come back via VFL. We all saw how having three match unfit players in Watson, Hurley and Welsh worked out.

Can you honestly believe that he'll miss? I'd go with BtG's changes, although I'd consider giving Williams a run just to see how he goes. What was he like for Bendigo today?

If we lose to North we're ****ed.

 

[whats_at_stake]

North will not be looking forward to a close to full strength Essendon side coming there way with steam coming out of their ears.

If we do not win something's wrong, in particular the instructions given to the players/game-plan.

I thought that was meant to happen against Richmond or wait Melbourne or wait Fremantle.

Blah blah. We will either draw, win or lose based on which Essendon rocks up. I am more interested in the changes and what message Hird will send.

I also am glad they are stranded in Perth- serves them right for getting there the day of the game and not spending a few days acclimatising.

 

[whats_at_stake]

Can you honestly believe that he'll miss? I'd go with BtG's changes, although I'd consider giving Williams a run just to see how he goes. What was he like for Bendigo today?

If we lose to North we're ****ed.

I do not think he will miss but think he should. Anyway if Hird is willing to bring in a unfit player who is yet to play an AFL game this year, bypasses Bendigo and is unfit into the senior team then he will have no problems bringing in Hocking who has not played a match for a month.

 

[eth-dog]

Do not see why Hocking should be in. Should come back via VFL. We all saw how having three match unfit players in Watson, Hurley and Welsh worked out.

The thing is that they were injured so were somewhat unable to do fitness work; Hocking has been able to run and train a lot more than them

Out: Fletcher (inj), NLM, Browne, Monfries, McVeigh
In: Pears, Stanton, Hocking, Lonergan, Carlisle

Hardingham-Pears-Hurley
Hibberd-Hooker-Heppell
Stanton-Watson-Howlett
Zaharakis-Carlisle-Crameri
Jetta-Hille-Colyer
Ryder-Lonergan-Hocking
Welsh-Melksham-Slattery-Myers

 

[beev]

After reading the posts on Norf's board I'd say we have no chance.

Massive game for us, obviously. We need to bounce back and clear our heads of today's debacle. Hopefully the volcanic ash has no affect.

I haven't heard anything about Bendigo today so I can't really forecast the ins and outs. Pears is the obviously replacment for Fletch (if he misses), but if he's not ready then I don't want him risked.

Before today I thought that Hocking should have a game in the two's but we need him back. Hopefully he can make up for his stupid act on the field.

Hopefully Lonergan and Stants are back. Anyone no were they're at?

 

[Colin D'Cops]

I also am glad they are stranded in Brisbane- serves them right for getting there the day of the game and not spending a few days acclimatising.

Brisbane or Perth?

 

[Skeeta Olly]

Carlisle?

 

[benno87]

It would be a shame to turn this pre-game thread in what is a critical match for both teams as a playground piss contest. There are some respectable North Melbourne fans on Bigfooty that don't have an interest in celebrating an injury to an opposition player and genuinely want to see our top 22 v your top 22.

For me this is my favourite game of the year, North Melbourne v Essendon is always a close exciting game and as we tend to play each other mid-season it usually has a serious impact on the back end of the season.

I must admit I haven't seen a lot of Essendon this year but I would be interested to hear what you think the critical match ups and potential game breakers are?