Midfield vs Melbourne

[The Zebra]

Really looking forward to this game now. Didn't hold much interest at the start of the season, but watched the Dees on Saturday and they looked sharp.

Both teams are going to be pretty young. Dees side vs Brissy had an average age of 23yrs 11 months, we were 23yrs 6 months vs the Hawkies.

These will not be the actual matchups, but looking at type vs type

Moloney vs Swallow - Moloney ws on fire vs Brisbane. He has definitely got drive. Swallow is still a maniac and didn't stop in the centre vs Hawthorn but needs to find the space he did last year and find it more to get back to 2009 level

Trengove vs Ziebell - Trengove looked great. Classy, ready made, much like Ziebs. Doesn't go in head first like Ziebs, but looks like he will start regularly racking it up this year

Scully vs Bastinac - Time for the 2IC to teach his boss a lesson. Will know each other's game inside out, both have elite tanks, love to see then go head to head

Jones vs Levi - A couple of hard nuts. Jones looked on a bit of a downward spiral to me last year, but has bounced back and hit some form late in 2009 and has kept going.

Green vs Anthony - LA going a bit under the radar. Already a key link man. Green is Melbourne's most consistent and keeps them moving more than anyone

Davey vs Wells - Davey had put a gap on Wells, but Wellsy definitely pulling it back. Wells' best is defintely better, but no doubt Davey has done more so far

Sylvia vs Boomer - the two prime movers. Both goal kicking mids. Sylvia finally coming good, Boomer still performing like a champ.

Then of course we have Cunnington and Adams...

 

[Brad Roo]

Rawlings will take Sylvia.

 

[Z_K]

They have more experience in their mid set-up than I thought. Add McDonald and Green and it starts to look quite settled and seasoned.

Will be interesting.

 

[Z_K]

Rawlings will take Sylvia.

Davey for sure.

 

[Brad Roo]

I think Harding might come back in and get Davey.

The talls will decide this match anyway.

 

[Tas]

I'd give Greenwood a quarter on Scully and give him a Hodge-like bump.

 

[Z_K]

I think Harding might come back in and get Davey.

Could do. I'd imagine Levi would go to Sylvia.

The talls will decide this match anyway

Agree. Confident they don't have a tall to hurt us forward, but they'd say the same thing.

 

[B-Rock]

The talls will decide this match anyway.

Oh yeah.

I bet ya Brad Scott will be tossing and turning in his sleep tonight trying to come up with a plan to stop Stefan Martin and Co.

 

[The Zebra]

They have more experience in their mid set-up than I thought. Add McDonald and Green and it starts to look quite settled and seasoned.

Will be interesting.

Yeah, and they have been kicking almost all of the goals from the midfield.

Forward line is where they are pretty bare in terms of experience and talent.

Only really have to stop Petterd and Bate.

The midfield battle is where it is at.

 

[Brad Roo]

I'd imagine Levi would go to Sylvia.

Now there's a match up for the purists.

Confident they don't have a tall to hurt us forward, but they'd say the same thing.

I'm very confident that our tall defenders can do the job.

As for the other end, I want to see what all the fuss is about this Frawley kid.

Warnock will probably take Hale, and I would back David to contribute at least 3 goals.

After that it gets interesting.

 

[Dez!]

I know you already noted that these won't be actual match-ups but don't expect to see much if any of Green in the midfield, this year he's finally being used as a forward target.

Also who do you think would match up on McDonald and McKenzie?

 

[B-Rock]

James McDonald is in very good form.

Would like to see Levi get first crack at him.

 

[The Zebra]

We don't need to waste Levi on McDonald. He is hardly damaging. More likely McDonald will go to Swallow I reckon.

Levi to Sylvia. He is definitely the one to stop.

 

[RoyalBlue]

We need to pump these ****ers.

Absolutely, stone cold, **** them.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

This should be a very good battle of two young and talented midfields.

I think we might fall over the line.

 

[Hunters Host #3]

If we win, it will be the most significant win of our season - No doubt in my mind at all.

Melbourne in good form, and will come out all guns firiing. Battle of the young guns that both teams boast, it will boost our teams confidence tenfold if we win. Our midfield and younger brigade at the club have been talked up somewhat this year and this is a litmus test against a squad going places we want to beat them to.

I think a fair emphasis on this game will come down to the tackling of both sides.
It could be quite fierce actually.

Last Round>
Melbourne: 66 Tackles
North Melbourne: 93 Tackles

Yet, Melbourne are 2nd in tackles per game, (74.0), North Melbourne are ranked 6th (69.0) for tackles per game. Pressure should be a feature from our side, and it should be a cracker of a match.

 

[Event Horizon]

We need to pump these ****ers.

Absolutely, stone cold, **** them.

This!
And for some unknown reason, I reckon we'll do just that.

 

[B-Rock]

A win will give us massive momentum.

Huge game for us.

 

[Swampfox]

If we win, it will be the most significant win of our season - No doubt in my mind at all.

Melbourne in good form, and will come out all guns firiing. Battle of the young guns that both teams boast, it will boost our teams confidence tenfold if we win. Our midfield and younger brigade at the club have been talked up somewhat this year and this is a litmus test against a squad going places we want to beat them to.

I think a fair emphasis on this game will come down to the tackling of both sides.
It could be quite fierce actually.

Last Round>
Melbourne: 66 Tackles
North Melbourne: 93 Tackles

Yet, Melbourne are 2nd in tackles per game, (74.0), North Melbourne are ranked 6th (69.0) for tackles per game. Pressure should be a feature from our side, and it should be a cracker of a match.

Agreed

Fact is your Swallow is leading our McKenzie in the competition,s tackle count

Will be a great test for both sides

 

[tazaa]

On a serious note. Our midfield is not normal. You look at all our onballers. Lower, Ziebell, Swallow, Cunnington, Adams, Greenwood, Harding. They only know one way to playing footy. Suicidally. Its actually a cause for concern as teams will put their frontrunners into place and well get beaten. Happend plenty of times yesterday. Our mids are crazy.

 

[r_boy]

On a serious note. Our midfield is not normal. You look at all our onballers. Lower, Ziebell, Swallow, Cunnington, Adams, Greenwood, Harding. They only know one way to playing footy. Suicidally. Its actually a cause for concern as teams will put their frontrunners into place and well get beaten. Happend plenty of times yesterday. Our mids are crazy.

Yep. Scott's biggest task is to evolve a gameplan that is conducive to this aspect of our team. Absolutely crucial to our premiership aspirations.

 

[CrazyQ]

Rawlings will take Sylvia.

Sylvia too big and strong.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Sylvia too big and strong.

Agreed Q. I'd have Spud on Sylvia. Similar strengths and both in good form.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

I would also have Spud on Sylvia and Greenwood on Moloney.

 

[Twinkletoes]

I would also have Spud on Sylvia and Greenwood on Moloney.

Good matchups. It's good to have a Melbourne v North Melbourne game with some hype for a change actually.