North Vs Eagles

[daddy_4_eyes]

Seaby! Seaby!

I want to see this guy played this year. Has HUGE wraps on him, and I remember someone comparing his athleticism to Gardiner's. I bloody hope they are right, you can never have enough Gardiner's

 

[GoEagles]

heh anyone remember last year vs Kangaroos at Manuka when baldy Martyn tried to step on Wilson's ankle to stop him?

 

[Milkman]

Originally posted by GoEagles
heh anyone remember last year vs Kangaroos at Manuka when baldy Martyn tried to step on Wilson's ankle to stop him?

Yeh, Wilson was a very patient man that day.

 

[myee8]

Originally posted by GoEagles
heh anyone remember last year vs Kangaroos at Manuka when baldy Martyn tried to step on Wilson's ankle to stop him?

I remember that too, and it wasn't very good. It will be an interesting round 15 if both players are present...

 

[Tas]

As a fanatical North supporter I must admit I really love watching the Eagles play. They have always been a tough side and hard at it which reminds me alot of the shinboners. I am really looking forward to this game.

I don't think alot of 'experts' give our team the credit they deserve, and that has probably rubbed off on supporters of opposition teams and even some of our supporters.

As much as I was awed at the Eagles performance against Brisbane last round it is not a level of performance that is maintained by teams. They were red hot and probably would of beaten any team that has gone around in the last decade at their prime on that day, they were just unstoppable.

If the eagles play like that against us then we wont kick enough goals to get remotely close to winning. I expect the eagles to play well, but not as good as last round.

I think Eagles have to be the favourite given recent form, given its a home game and that is probably worth a good 5 goal head start. In summary, we will have to be at least 5 goals better on the day to get over the line and that is a tough ask, an extremely difficult task it its a very warm day on Sunday.

Alot will depend on the first quarter I think. We are slow off the blocks and play our best football in the second and third quarters. Our last quarters have been up and down, but they have been excellent the last month.

If we can keep pace with West Coast early then we will have a chance. We will need scoreboard pressure so will need to make the most of opportunities we have and convert those easy goals we tend to miss alot.

West Coast averages slightly more clearances than us but we average more tackles. It is a testament to our midfield that we get as many clearances with Porter playing most of the season as our number one ruckman.

Laidley will want to put the defensive pressure on early and hopefully keep the game to a low scoring affair. Unfortunately, that is not our strong point but our team has played pretty consistantly and solidly over the last four rounds.

The last two rounds we have come up against both a Tigers and Bombers outfit with their backs to the wall and desperate for a win, it was a good effort to get over those games where the pressure was on for four quarters and where we had to fight from behind to come home with the points.

Our strong point potentially has been our midfield but the eagles is as good as ours, they have the benefit of being younger and quicker but ours is both experiences and that they have played alot of football with eachother over the years.

I doubt Burton will play so the rucking contests will be one-dimensional. If its going to be like the last month then Porter/Brown will look to make body contact with Gardiner and put his ruck work off without actually winning a contest and our midfielders will read the ruckwork off Gardiner.

We are being smashed in ruck contests week in and week out without Burton but our midfielders are experienced enough to know what to do. Over the last month we have had 42, 40, 40 and 44 clearances and West Coast has had 45, 45, 34 and 35.

Effective tackles over the same period have been 53, 52, 48 and 54 for us and 35, 39, 38 and 47 by West Coast. If we can maintain that type of pressure we are definitely a chance, but it wont be easy over in Perth. We haven't played all that well in our interstate games this year.

Our potential trump card is going to be the forward line. Assuming Rocca, Morrel and Petrie all play and go forward then Sav will draw the number one defender. That may sound stupid considering how well Petrie is playing but if Sav gets a lesser forward he is capable of kicking a large number of goals, even if not 100% fit. Petrie wont do the same type of damage as he will get alot of his possession outside of effective scoring range.

Petrie is by far our best forward, has been for this year and last but he is extremely difficult to man up on. Being 197cm and over 100kg with great hands, good speed and the ability to get high off the ground he plays very well for a 21 year old kid. I think West Coast will look to crowd the room he has to lead into and make it difficult for him.

West Coast defenders are very good when the ball hits the ground, at times excellent and very damaging as their skill level is fantastic. Morrell will probably get the third best defender and could be damaging if he decides to lead and present himself but he tends to be like my shower and run hot and cold, last round he was cold so who knows what he will do this week. He might be fired up returning home to WA and may put in a bit harder.

Judd, Kerr, Fletcher and Cousins are the backbone of this Eagles team as they have accumulated 61, 58, 68 and 60 clearances this year. They have been very damaging this year but the Eagles have a high dependancy on these players as just those four represent 53% of the team's total clearances.

In the games where the Eagles lost/drew or were pushed these players did not accumulate anywhere near their average as the opposition put on alot of pressure in terms of tackles. A key for us to upse the Eagles at home will be to put these four under alot of pressure. Easier said than done though.

I hope this game is a close one, eagles are playing well and the real danger is if they get a run-on early in the first quarter and they pile on a large lead. We have been vulnerable this year to teams that have been able to pile on a large number of goals in a short period of time and the Eagles are good at that.

Eagles should play a short forward line against us, we do not have the small players that are able to play defensively at all, Sinclair does at times, but our other pocket in Makepeace is hopeless and has been carved to pieces by Matera on more times than i care to remember. Even if Matera doesn't play, Eagles have alot of players that can play that role. We will conceed more goals to midfielders and running players than we will to key forwards.

Good luck folks, I hope the game is enjoyable for both teams, it should be played in good spirit as I think there is a good level of respect for eachother over the years.

 

[tashibatts]

If we play anything like we did at Canberra last year, we will be thrashed, absolutely thrashed- WCE are even better at home - and have become a Very Good Side this year.

It will be a good match, enjoyable to watch, I have extreme doubts we can come away with the points, but going up a few days early should help, and having the break should also help.

Cousins & Kerr murdered us last year, we need to pay them a tonne of respect- and hope for the sake of sanity that Burton plays, Porter wouldn't have a hope in hell against Gardiner IMO.

Go Roos

 

[Sera]

We have a few injury problems atm and this is a genuine chance for the Roos to steal one away. I think the Roos have rejuvenated their side since last year and we could be a bit flat [I hope not] after the torrid Brisbane game. Having said that, I'm still expect us to win.

 

[Dingster]

Laidley says that he learnt a lot from playing at Subi last time. I hope this means that we will play more pressure and accountable footy. If we do, then we could frustrate you guys and will suit us better since we`re on your turf. If both midfields play wide of each other like the Bullies game, then I can see you guys murdering us after half time ala Freo.

Wouldn`t say no to some rain on the day either.

 

[jod23]

Nice round up Tas. Real pity that Fido is almost certain not to play because IMO he could really have his way up forward. Still, we have managed without him before so we will see how we go.

 

[llosis]

There is no doubt the Roos are a big show for this one. And if they are to win the thing the Eagles will have to watch is their RUN.

The bulldogs and Geelong both played quick sides when they did well against us at Subi and that could be the key for the Roos. The mistake will be to overload the forward line with Talls. Rocca, Petrie and Morrell may be a stretch for the Eagles backline but it has not been sides with an abundance (or reliance) on Talls that has stretched us so far this year.

If I were North I would be looking at the run that King and Harvey can provide to propel their team forward into attack. If theu win enough midfield ball and get it going forward quickly that will help them get the score on the board they will need to win.

Conversely, they may need to play Fletcher and Judd (or whoever) closely in the clearances with a negator or two as the ball can come out of the centre pretty quickly at times. Their backline will need to play with confidence and decisiveness as well because the we have a number of goal kicking options that will probably net us 16-18 goals +

I'm a touch nervous about this game after the bulldogs and geelong games, particularly if the Roos pick a quick team and get their defensive match-ups right. But if you asked me for a tip I'd still back the gold and blue in

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Originally posted by llosis
There is no doubt the Roos are a big show for this one

If recent articles are anything to go by, this is a mini Grand Final for the roos. Laidley and his staff have spent the last two weeks watching and analysing games of Subi games to work out WCE's weaknesses, why they have been so successful there, etc. Even trained at Whitten Oval to get used to the larger ground.

This is a real danger game.

 

[iceman]

Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
If recent articles are anything to go by, this is a mini Grand Final for the roos. Laidley and his staff have spent the last two weeks watching and analysing games of Subi games to work out WCE's weaknesses, why they have been so successful there, etc. Even trained at Whitten Oval to get used to the larger ground.

This is a real danger game.

No doubt every team is out to break the Subiaco hoodoo..... just seems that the Kangaroos staff are putting in a huge amount of work to come away with the points

Ive got confidence that we wont fall into the same trap we did with Geelong and the Bulldogs....

 

[RzrBlade]

Originally posted by iceman
Ive got confidence that we wont fall into the same trap we did with Geelong and the Bulldogs....

i share the same sentiments. while i think the roos will put up a mighty and gallant fight, i think we will be able to decipher their plans and be able to play the game accordingly to win in our own terms without having to try and play the style of footy they will attempt to produce for the game. although they like to run which is a strength of ours, i think they will need another gameplan too defeat us rather than try and beat us at our own game.

 

[Tas]

Originally posted by RzrBlade
i share the same sentiments. while i think the roos will put up a mighty and gallant fight, i think we will be able to decipher their plans and be able to play the game accordingly to win in our own terms without having to try and play the style of footy they will attempt to produce for the game. although they like to run which is a strength of ours, i think they will need another gameplan too defeat us rather than try and beat us at our own game.

All I hope is for all the boys to go out there and play four quarters and give 100%. I would not be disappointed with a marginal loss because I penciled in a loss at the start of the year, a win against you guys here would just be a bonus i think.

I think it would do us alot of good confidence-wise if we got over the line, but I do expect the Eagles to win. I'd just like to see a great game and then for us to go home and smash Collingwood the following round.

 

[chrisjudd3]

I read the paper today and it seems that there is a 40% increase in attendance to Kangaroo games. No surprise.

The magnificant endeavour of the Kangaroos to take on anyone, whereever and whenever makes them an exciting unit.

Like the WCE, its been the no namers who have stepped up and added strength and foundation to their top shelf players - Brent Harvey, David King, Stevens, Grant, Simpson - who are a formidable midfield.

I hate Vic clubs but not the Shinboners - so its good to see the Kangas buck the trends and enjoying a good year.

Trade us Brent Harvey.......no Judd