Preview Essendon vs North Melbourne

[Flawed Genius]

Happens often does it?

How did he go on the weekend?

 

[Ben the Gooner]

I think nowadays Wells & Swallow need to be the first two tagged in our side, as they're probably in better form than Boomer.

Hocking's your best tagger, no? So he goes to Wells as Wells is in career best form.
If Howlett is your second best, he goes to Swallow. So yes, you're correct.

Who's a better run-with player out of Slattery & McVeigh?

If Stanton plays FP, he'll probably get Rawlings, which would be one hell of an enthralling contest.

It's not so much about better as it is about who we want in the BP and how we want the match-ups to work from our point of view.

I'd be shocked if those two didn't take Harvey and Thomas between them.

 

[Flawed Genius]

It's not so much about better as it is about who we want in the BP and how we want the match-ups to work from our point of view.

I'd be shocked if those two didn't take Harvey and Thomas between them.

Well, yeah, obviously we're looking at it from two different points of view. It sounds like the right match-ups though.

 

[stay true]

While I agree that Harvey would probably get the better of Colyer in the long run, maybe run Colyer with him for a quarter - let him get a close up view of what (personally) I think his role as a play should be.

We played Hocking on Harvey for a quarter a couple of years ago and he got slaughted in a game we lost. Don't think we're in a position to try this in an absolute must win game.

 

[Flawed Genius]

We played Hocking on Harvey for a quarter a couple of years ago and he got slaughted in a game we lost. Don't think we're in a position to try this in an absolute must win game.

Fair enough. As I've said though, I do rate Colyer extremely highly.

 

[sup3rfish]

how about Melksham on Harvey? know he isnt known for his defensive work but think it might be a good learning curve for him. Plus id love to see Jake punch boomer right in the mouth. haha

 

[Macca18]

Essendon coach James Hird is set to make at least four changes for Saturday's crunch clash with North Melbourne in a bid to revitalise his side's waning AFL season.

Hird was disappointed with his side's work ethic in their 34-point loss to Fremantle on Sunday, and said ruckman Tom Bellchambers, Heath Hocking, Brent Stanton and Sam Lonergan were near certainties to return against the Kangaroos.

"There's four guys that haven't played this weekend, and I think it's important with the shorter week and the break that we bring some fresh players in as well," Hird said.

Defender Dustin Fletcher, who was subbed off at half-time against the Dockers due to a corked quad, was expected to be ready to go against North Melbourne.

"It looks to be fine. He was out jogging this morning. It's bled a little bit, but we're very confident he'll play," he said.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl.../story-e6frf3e3-1226074471504?from=public_rss

 

[Duckworth]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl.../story-e6frf3e3-1226074471504?from=public_rss

Interesting. I wonder if they will drop Hille or Ryder?

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Didn't TBC play for Bendigo?

 

[yaco55]

Can I ask a question or should we argue about rivalries and Norfs demise?

Who do you guys think will match up on Petrie and Edwards?

What do you think will be the most influential matchup? I think Goldstein vs Bellchamber could be it.

All the best for Saturday (Bombers are surely favourites by the way!!). Surely beating GC gives us no credence but a win this weekend might go someway towards respect.

I will go opposite to BTG.

On the assumption that Pears plays

Pears vs petrie
Hooker vs Edwards

two reasons

Petrie plays closer to the goalsquare and Hooker is best suited away from the goal-square.

Of course the Coaches will have the opposite match ups.

 

[yaco55]

Myers will take Hansen/Pedersen pending the former's injury IMO.

Think Hansen suits Fletcher - And Fletcher usually gets the weakest tall.

 

[yaco55]

how about Melksham on Harvey? know he isnt known for his defensive work but think it might be a good learning curve for him. Plus id love to see Jake punch boomer right in the mouth. haha

OMG

Harvey cut up Scully in the last quarter of Round 22 in 2010 - And Scully is much better defensively than Melksham.

 

[yaco55]

Agree Dave.

3 weeks of pea hearted performances has nearly done it for me

It must be about time for you to re-enter your self-imposed exile.

 

[sup3rfish]

OMG

Harvey cut up Scully in the last quarter of Round 22 in 2010 - And Scully is much better defensively than Melksham.

TOTALLY AGREE... I am just saying it would be a good chance for young Melksham (even just for some patches of the game) run with Boomer. He would learn heaps and it would help him in the long run. and even better for us if Jake give him a couple of quick jabs...

 

[eth-dog]

I will go opposite to BTG.

On the assumption that Pears plays

Pears vs petrie
Hooker vs Edwards

two reasons

Petrie plays closer to the goalsquare and Hooker is best suited away from the goal-square.

Of course the Coaches will have the opposite match ups.

And rightly so IMO. Pears doesn't have the height for Petrie- Hooker does

 

[Gen Y]

Essendon unlucky to draw North in a week that Boomer Harvey breaks the record for most games played for North Melbourne!

 

[BuffDog]

Essendon unlucky to draw North in a week that Boomer Harvey breaks the record for most games played for North Melbourne!

uuhhh...not sure where you've been or how long you've been sleeping for but he did that last week.

However every game Boomer continues to play for north means he sets a new record!!! So we can all celebrate every week

 

[Gen Y]

However every game Boomer continues to play for north means he sets a new record!!! So we can all celebrate every week

right on

 

[marcuz]

Too all those attending the essendon vs Hobart game please be generous and give to those rattling the tins. It's all for a good cause, all money raised for the " Give that they may go" appeal goes to relocating north to the south of tassie.

Dons by 40 points.

 

[fishardansin]

Hurley then.

Hardingham shouldn't be taking Edwards and if he does we shouldn't be complaining in that ridiculous thread like we do.

Simply means we were totally undermaned.

Hardingham is 2cms taller then him. 186-184. Edwards is an explosive player with a quick turn of speed and a big leap. Hardingham is perfect for him. With Hocking back McVeigh can go and play small defender to cover Hardingham not being in this role. Hooker will take make forward and Fletch can take Hansen or resting ruck, if North do rest their ruck forward.

Regards the game if Wells is in top form we're going to struggle to curb the speed of him, Harvey and Swallow. Getting hands on the ball first becomes super important. Personally I'd back Watson, Lonergan, Hocking and Howlet to get their hands on it first.

I'm expecting us to win the inside 50 count again. Where we could lose it is by not fixing the holes in our zone and once again allowing at least 6 easy goals coast to coast, not keeping on the move so there is always a handball option that isn't stationary and we need forwards working hard to provide a moving target.

God I hope Paddy plays forward and Thompson goes to him and tries some dirty tricks. Might be just what is required to fire him up. He is capable of kicking 6+ goals while playing 30% of the game in the ruck.

 

[yaco55]

And rightly so IMO. Pears doesn't have the height for Petrie- Hooker does

Playing on Petrie is a matter of strength. Petrie is a similar player to Cloke - strength wise - which has always been a difficult match up for Hooker.

And Hooker is more valuable playing at CHB - where he chops up kicks into the fifty.

 

[yaco55]

Hardingham is 2cms taller then him. 186-184. Edwards is an explosive player with a quick turn of speed and a big leap. Hardingham is perfect for him. With Hocking back McVeigh can go and play small defender to cover Hardingham not being in this role. Hooker will take make forward and Fletch can take Hansen or resting ruck, if North do rest their ruck forward.

Regards the game if Wells is in top form we're going to struggle to curb the speed of him, Harvey and Swallow. Getting hands on the ball first becomes super important. Personally I'd back Watson, Lonergan, Hocking and Howlet to get their hands on it first.

I'm expecting us to win the inside 50 count again. Where we could lose it is by not fixing the holes in our zone and once again allowing at least 6 easy goals coast to coast, not keeping on the move so there is always a handball option that isn't stationary and we need forwards working hard to provide a moving target.

God I hope Paddy plays forward and Thompson goes to him and tries some dirty tricks. Might be just what is required to fire him up. He is capable of kicking 6+ goals while playing 30% of the game in the ruck.

Fish

The ideal scenario will for Hocking to play on Wells and Swallow and Watson to go head to head. And need an experienced head like McVeigh or Slattery to play on harvey.

 

[LETSGOKANGAS]

Patty pancakes will kick 5.

Watson 34 possies Essendon to beat North inside 50 count.

North by 1 pt.

 

[Slattery_20]

I think North are a side we should beat because they only seem to win (or playing well) when they're winning clearances and they rely on one bloke for the majority of them (even more than we do). Couple of other kids will have a good quarter here or there but not serious players just yet.

Stop Swallow, Harvey & Wells won't come into it. Hocking the man there.
Wells probably gets the better run-with player from the start but I wouldn't be surprised to see Harvey getting the better tag by the end of the match.

They're not terrible but I don't rate their formline whatsoever (Beat Dees @ TD, and both Adelaide sides @ TD). Couple of kicks worse than their side last year IMHO, we're a couple of kicks better and that game was pretty much even.

Us by 2-3 goals.

 

[MaddAdam]

I think North are a side we should beat because they only seem to win (or playing well) when they're winning clearances and they rely on one bloke for the majority of them (even more than we do). Couple of other kids will have a good quarter here or there but not serious players just yet.

Stop Swallow, Harvey & Wells won't come into it. Hocking the man there.
Wells probably gets the better run-with player from the start but I wouldn't be surprised to see Harvey getting the better tag by the end of the match.

They're not terrible but I don't rate their formline whatsoever (Beat Dees @ TD, and both Adelaide sides @ TD). Couple of kicks worse than their side last year IMHO, we're a couple of kicks better and that game was pretty much even.

Us by 2-3 goals.

We're better than last year, have been very unlucky in some of our losses and are now stringing very good form together.

Our emerging strength is the spread and quality of our midfield: Swallow, Wells, Ziebell, Atley, Cunnington, Adams, Greenwood, Bastinac, Boomer.

Every one of those players has the capacity to have a huge impact on a game, both through disposals and goals.

You can shut a couple down, but not all.