How important was this win?

[verypoorboy]

Does anyone else feel this Suns win is the “sliding doors” moment? Sure, we’ve had the odd win over last 5 years that gave us some hope, but to me this one feels different.

We lose, and all belief is gone. We had the toughest 5-wk stretch of the season. GWS/SYD/GEE/ADE. And we’re getting pumped by the Suns as well by 43-points. And we would’ve come out the other side of the test 0-5.

But suddenly we start playing well in the 2nd half, against the best midfield in the league and deliver a statement in the one of the largest comebacks in club history.
Suddenly our kids start to believe. We go into the break with a pep in our step, refresh for a fortnight.

Just feel like if we continue to build and hopefully challenge for the premiership in a few years, this may well be the moment that we look back and say that everything changed.

 

[Twangler]

Does anyone else feel this Suns win is the “sliding doors” moment? Sure, we’ve had the odd win over last 5 years that gave us some hope, but to me this one feels different.

We lose, and all belief is gone. We had the toughest 5-wk stretch of the season. GWS/SYD/GEE/ADE. And we’re getting pumped by the Suns as well by 43-points. And we would’ve come out the other side of the test 0-5.

But suddenly we start playing well in the 2nd half, against the best midfield in the league and deliver a statement in the one of the largest comebacks in club history.
Suddenly our kids start to believe. We go into the break with a pep in our step, refresh for a fortnight.

Just feel like if we continue to build and hopefully challenge for the premiership in a few years, this may well be the moment that we look back and say that everything changed.

Honestly not really. Don’t get me wrong, it was a great win and coming from behind shows a level of maturity we haven’t seen from this group till this year. But it still doesn’t feel like a scalp. Gold Coast is one of the few teams we have beaten in recent years especially at Marvel. It would feel different if we beat them in Darwin or in QLD.

If we win at least two of St kilda, Collingwood, Bulldogs or Melbourne, or beat Freo or Hawthorn then that’s a true scalp and we’ll be justifiably thought of as a finals team.

We aren’t quite there yet -oddly the closest I’ve felt is when we almost beat Sydney.

 

[Topparoo]

It's a significant step in the right direction and it definitely is an important one. The resilient way we refused to lie down and accept an honourable loss yet again, is why this game was important. Further efforts like this eventually become your DNA. Yes it is one win, but you have to start somewhere and against a side so cheery ripe full of AFL gifted talent it was bloody marvellous! Enjoy the moment, don't over think it and go out and do it again next week.

 

[SammyRoo]

I don’t know if is a ‘sliding doors ‘ per se?,

…but I think it’s a very important game as we haven’t seen a big shift in momentum to “go and win”. game for a long time imo

Especially being 6 goals down ( and weak priors thrashing) etc - heads would have historically dropped and doubts about “here we go again” thoughts in their head.

If nothing, it must instil some belief that even if the game is not on their terms or regardless of the scoreboard - they are now capable of turning it around and winning.

 

[Only Forwards]

We will only understand whether it was truly important or not in retrospect.

I think that there are a few things going on at the moment.

Our performance record in terms of win loss has improved this season. You have to go back to 2018 to see a season with more wins at a comparative point.

However there is also the factor of the way our fixture has fallen this year giving us more games early against sides around our level. Meaning that the likelihood of winning games increases.

There is something less tanigible in here though and it is the level of effort and output in our losses. Of our losses there have been:

Poor - Adelaide, Geelong
Mediocre - West Coast, Brisbane
Close - Sydney, GWS

This represents a shift, to round 11 last year our losses looked more like:

Poor - Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast, Carlton, Collingwood
Mediocre - Western,
Close - Port, Essendon
Draw - Brisbane

So putting to the side that we have lost less, the manner in which we have lost is also different. We are typically not being opened up as much and we are competing much more. We are becoming harder to beat. Especially at home, which I think is a factor in and of it self.

I think that every win we get this year is important. But that we are also getting moments in games where we can legitimately learn from on how we can improve. Further to that point in typing out the above abitrary grading I gave our losses, there is commonality between some of them. In the Adelaide and West Coast games we had poor second quarters we could not recover from. In the Brisbane and Geelong games we had poor last quarters that cooked the games.

So the shift that was visible in the Gold Coast game, was not merely that we won. It was the heart and effort to fight back. This is a more intangible shift. That we are seeing this more consistently is the proof of the improvement in where we are.

We are not yet a good side. We have good elements, but I don't think we are there yet. However we are no longer a shit side and that in itself is huge progress.

We may not be a good side, but it is in the post, just not sure when it will be delivered.

 

[Ashley B]

We are hopefully starting to get a new reputation amongst our peers that North now fight it out . They may start to mentally focus on trying to save games as they expect us to finish games strong . Even Mr Gorringe said it “North are never dead”, it’s starting to change for the better

 

[shinboner magic]

Extremely important for the players- all they need is belief that they can compete with the better teams.
Especially already on a 4 game losing streak and freo to follow.
It’s the guys that really turned it on in that second half like warlord, fos , pc , bath ect that will push us to the promised land

 

[ferball]

So putting to the side that we have lost less, the manner in which we have lost is also different. We are typically not being opened up as much and we are competing much more. We are becoming harder to beat. Especially at home, which I think is a factor in and of it self.

I think that every win we get this year is important. But that we are also getting moments in games where we can legitimately learn from on how we can improve. Further to that point in typing out the above abitrary grading I gave our losses, there is commonality between some of them. In the Adelaide and West Coast games we had poor second quarters we could not recover from. In the Brisbane and Geelong games we had poor last quarters that cooked the games.

The Swans kicked five in a row from late in the first until late in the second but we stayed in the contest. They had a three goal run on in the third but we turned it around and fought it out goal for goal after that. (One two goal for two goal period.)
GWS had three unanswered goals at the start of the second (and kicked five of six goals) and three at the start of the last quarter. Otherwise it was one or two goals a piece.

The Eagles dominated us for a half. Immediately after quarter time we scored. Then during the 6-7 minute of the second they started a run of four goals. We kicked one late and they kicked four more in the first ten minutes, we went goal for goal for a couple and they finished the quarter with three more. They kicked twelve goals to four across the middle half of the game.

Against Brisbane they kicked seven goals to three and also kicked nine behinds in the middle half. They also kicked three late to seal it. They kicked eleven goals to five after quarter time and 13 to five if you don't count the last half of the first quarter.

We were in front of Geelong at the 20 minute mark of the third quarter. From 22.48 in the third to 23.02 in the fourth they kicked 11 goals to three. Otherwise the game was dead even.

Adelaide kicked 13.8 from the 22 minute mark of the first to the 22 minute mark of the third. We didn't kick a goal in the second quarter.

We completely dominated Port, completely dominated * for three quarters but let them kick four goals to none inn the last.

In the middle half of the Carlton game we kicked four goals and they kicked eight but we kicked seven in the last to win. We pulverised Richmond off the back of their poor kicking in the first half.

The Suns doubled our score by half time but the game was still on a knife edge. They never kicked more than four goals in a row against us at any time.

There's alot going on there.

When we can control the run on that a team gets we stay on the game. When we can't we lose. Generally. Brisbane game wasn't like that tho. Neither was the Swans game. They kicked five in a row early but we hauled it back.

Our two worst losses occurred on long narrow grounds. That's an issue for us. We couldn't control the game at all.

The Eagles one ... I think the weather played a part. We were cooked in the sun, otherwise we were okay for half the game but I could be wrong about that. We'll know in a few weeks. We did finish strongly when it was cooler.

There's a thread on the MB right now suggesting the game is now about momentum and energy management. That teams can win with a run on but they also tire out if the go too early. We can start and finish strongly but the middle section is a struggle.

This is valid I think and should be considered when we think about our results so far. It could work in our favour as we've finished a few games strongly. But that's still in the "if.." category for me not 100% on board with that idea.

So the shift that was visible in the Gold Coast game, was not merely that we won. It was the heart and effort to fight back. This is a more intangible shift. That we are seeing this more consistently is the proof of the improvement in where we are.

This has almost been consistent across the season. We've fought back against Carlton, Suns, Port to an extent and only a couple of games have we had poor last quarters. Its nothing like its been in recent years.

We are not yet a good side. We have good elements, but I don't think we are there yet. However we are no longer a shit side and that in itself is huge progress.

We may not be a good side, but it is in the post, just not sure when it will be delivered.

We ain't there yet but you can see it from here.

 

[King Corey]

I didn't recognise it going in but after the fact it was a bit of a signpost game.

Sydney games often have the same potential reward imo and I remain convinced had we held on vs Collingwood in 2024 we would've brought our resurgence forward.

At some stage coaches, players and supporters need to see something concrete to validate the approach.

 

[The Nostradamus]

If we lost by a lot (2 weeks in a row) heading into the bye then shit would be hitting the fan right now

 

[Cyber_punk]

It was a shot in the arm we needed. I'd pretty much lost faith in Clarko for the first time at half time because we have seen how often that type of margin deficit has played out over the years against decent sides.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Belief is a wonderful drug.

 

[winalotroos]

I have been following North since 1975 seen a lot of ups and a lot of downs this last 5-6 years would test any supporter we have looked like absolutely crap for a long time, over the past 3-4 years our drafting has been better than than the 2-3 years before that and it is starting to show, the way they want to play Hard fast football the second half on Saturday showed this, are we there yet Hell No but the light is looking brighter at the end of that tunnel.
I am sure there will be games this year that we will be disappointed in because they are still learning but this ride is getting exciting.

 

[speedy]

Would feel like we were back to ground zero if we got smashed again.

We still have plenty to prove because the ugly north of the last 6 years keeps popping up too often. But the way we won (and against a high ranked team) might just be the boost the players need to take another step.

 

[BlueanWhiteKanga]

I don't think this win should or can be understated.
Especially with the bye. The belief and confidence should be high for a fortnight.

That performance in the 4th quarter shows that we are definately a club on the up, and hopefully will puts us in good stead with retaining players and being attractive to others we want to bring in.

Without that 4th, that'd be 5 straight losses and as well as the 5th straight time we've conceded 100+ (interestingly, 3 of those games it was 105). Couldn't keep Suns below 100, but at least we've shaken the losing streak.

Could be huge for us, but at the same time, could mean nothing if we get spanked by Freo and lose to West again.

 

[shinboner magic]

I don't think this win should or can be understated.
Especially with the bye. The belief and confidence should be high for a fortnight.

That performance in the 4th quarter shows that we are definately a club on the up, and hopefully will puts us in good stead with retaining players and being attractive to others we want to bring in.

Without that 4th, that'd be 5 straight losses and as well as the 5th straight time we've conceded 100+ (interestingly, 3 of those games it was 105). Couldn't keep Suns below 100, but at least we've shaken the losing streak.

Could be huge for us, but at the same time, could mean nothing if we get spanked by Freo and lose to West again.

Hopefully 2 weeks between games doesn’t let the players get to big headed after the win

 

[franjon]

The Swans kicked five in a row from late in the first until late in the second but we stayed in the contest. They had a three goal run on in the third but we turned it around and fought it out goal for goal after that. (One two goal for two goal period.)
GWS had three unanswered goals at the start of the second (and kicked five of six goals) and three at the start of the last quarter. Otherwise it was one or two goals a piece.

The Eagles dominated us for a half. Immediately after quarter time we scored. Then during the 6-7 minute of the second they started a run of four goals. We kicked one late and they kicked four more in the first ten minutes, we went goal for goal for a couple and they finished the quarter with three more. They kicked twelve goals to four across the middle half of the game.

Against Brisbane they kicked seven goals to three and also kicked nine behinds in the middle half. They also kicked three late to seal it. They kicked eleven goals to five after quarter time and 13 to five if you don't count the last half of the first quarter.

We were in front of Geelong at the 20 minute mark of the third quarter. From 22.48 in the third to 23.02 in the fourth they kicked 11 goals to three. Otherwise the game was dead even.

Adelaide kicked 13.8 from the 22 minute mark of the first to the 22 minute mark of the third. We didn't kick a goal in the second quarter.

We completely dominated Port, completely dominated * for three quarters but let them kick four goals to none inn the last.

In the middle half of the Carlton game we kicked four goals and they kicked eight but we kicked seven in the last to win. We pulverised Richmond off the back of their poor kicking in the first half.

The Suns doubled our score by half time but the game was still on a knife edge. They never kicked more than four goals in a row against us at any time.

There's alot going on there.

When we can control the run on that a team gets we stay on the game. When we can't we lose. Generally. Brisbane game wasn't like that tho. Neither was the Swans game. They kicked five in a row early but we hauled it back.

Our two worst losses occurred on long narrow grounds. That's an issue for us. We couldn't control the game at all.

The Eagles one ... I think the weather played a part. We were cooked in the sun, otherwise we were okay for half the game but I could be wrong about that. We'll know in a few weeks. We did finish strongly when it was cooler.

There's a thread on the MB right now suggesting the game is now about momentum and energy management. That teams can win with a run on but they also tire out if the go too early. We can start and finish strongly but the middle section is a struggle.

This is valid I think and should be considered when we think about our results so far. It could work in our favour as we've finished a few games strongly. But that's still in the "if.." category for me not 100% on board with that idea.



This has almost been consistent across the season. We've fought back against Carlton, Suns, Port to an extent and only a couple of games have we had poor last quarters. Its nothing like its been in recent years.



We ain't there yet but you can see it from here.

They're maturing. That's the best part, I think the wins will come more continually as long as that upward spiral continues.

 

[GreatBradScott]

You're going to see a lot of good and bad footy for the rest of the year.

We're not ready just yet, we're probably another 15 to 20 games away from kicking into gear.

Some improved personnel will help this along, but you can see the midfield is ready to turn it on when it needs to.

 

[roos_tt29]

One thing to add to all these - we've made it to the bye with a relatively fit list.
No significant injuries attained during that period which is huge for a young side.

Sets us up as well as we could've hoped to attack the back end of the season.

 

[zoomba23]

You're going to see a lot of good and bad footy for the rest of the year.

We're not ready just yet, we're probably another 15 to 20 games away from kicking into gear.

Some improved personnel will help this along, but you can see the midfield is ready to turn it on when it needs to.

What bearing does the stagnant/dysfunctional forward line have on our trajectory, do you reckon? In regards to our other lines, I've been relatively impressed by the midfield's (LDU's in particular) ability to tighten up defensively, and I've accepted that the backline is inconsistent and lapse-prone until we get someone down there who is both a gun and a leader (not likely).

But the forward line has no excuses. It's stacked with talent. Yet the viewing experience of our movement into the 50 during the first three quarters of Good Friday and the first 2 1/2 quarters of last week was akin to pulling toenails. Opponents that we were in with a shout against, that we underperformed against, until we ran over both teams in the last. Part of this is probably Trembath's inexperience (he doesn't seem to have a grasp of leading yet), but the others... the issues seem pretty embedded to me. Doesn't help that LDU and Sheezel are both prone to ballooning their kicks, but both are easily capable of hitting leading targets with pearlers. We know that, but we don't maximise that possibility, because half the time they're forced to kick it in the vague direction of the forward line