Preview R14: Changes vs. Sydney Swans

[BACCS]

Shiels is purely playing for on field leadership. No idea if he actually provides that, but it's a Clarkson special

I'm confident, however, that Laird does not provide on field leadership

I'm not sure how any of us are in a position to make that call, Laird is very popular with teammates, that much I do know as fact.

 

[BACCS]

I dont give 2 ****s for Shiels

Laird is cooked

Laird is cooked as a midfielder, but he could eek out another year or two as a HBF. His best patches of form this year have been the short stints at HB.

 

[WeeBlake]

In the Richmond game he got a handball receive from Borlase on 50 and 5 years ago he never misses those; he completely shanked the kick and didn't make the distance. Been a theme for a while with his goal kicking too.

His prime was still a good 6-7 years, any player coming into the system would be happy with that.

Rung below Sloane, was a bit better for longer I think, but never had such a peak

 

[GreyCrow]

Laird is cooked as a midfielder, but he could eek out another year or two as a HBF. His best patches of form this year have been the short stints at HB.

Maybe but he is either injured now or has given up

His lack of or outright refusal to take an extra step and tackle makes Rory Atkins look like Rory Sloane

If he is injured step away and rest for next year - if not the coach needs to - oh why bother

 

[bonehilda]

I'm not sure how any of us are in a position to make that call, Laird is very popular with teammates, that much I do know as fact.

This might be true, but that doesn’t equal leadership

 

[FR0GGY]

The fact they sent Ned to still play SANFL last week after playing as the sub suggests he's likely the out.

Or they game him a game so he can be sub again?

 

[FR0GGY]

Well, I’ve been right with pretty much everything my source has told me so far. If I’ve got one wrong, so be it. But he did say Tex didn’t get up.

That doesn’t rule him out and you could both be right we’ve played him injured before.

 

[chrisso crow]

So does Burgess stay in? Or we go smaller

I’d probably take the risk and just swap Burgess for Cook

T.Murray?

 

[FR0GGY]

I'm not sure how any of us are in a position to make that call, Laird is very popular with teammates, that much I do know as fact.

Popular, but he’s never been in the leadership group has he?
And half the side is in it yearly.

 

[Jarman3]

Popular, but he’s never been in the leadership group has he?
And half the side is in it yearly.

There are so many players in there that I feel like it kind of loses most of its meaning. Especially when you consider more than one of them have been dropped this year.

 

[FR0GGY]

There are so many players in there that I feel like it kind of loses most of its meaning. Especially when you consider more than one of them have been dropped this year.

Doesn’t it mean something that he’s never been in it though?

 

[maxlilly]

How many players actually retire on their own terms though? It's the best salary they will ever earn, most are not giving it up easily unless they absolutely have to.

I've heard people like Dale Thomas talk about it, the club usually tap you on the shoulder and hint that either you retire or we are delisting you. So even when a player 'retires', it's rarely on their terms.

I loved that Richie Douglas presser when the club said he was 'retiring' too

 

[Gtowncrow]

Might be better running 2 rucks against Grundy though

I'm happy if junior Murray gets that role. Might be Borlase though.

 

[davos44]

If Smith, Tex and Laird are all out this week and ROB comes back we will go to about 1300-1350 games of experience total...

North Melbourne play with about ~1800 each week (including Shiels) and Ben Keays

2

Ben Keays

Age

29

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.1

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.9

5star

G

0.4

3star

D

13.7

3star

K

8.7

3star

HB

5.0

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.7

4star

G

0.3

3star

D

13.0

4star

K

4.8

2star

HB

8.2

5star

M

1.4

2star

T

4.4

5star

G

0.4

3star

will be our most experienced with 126 games sans Walker.

Most sides will go in with about 2100-2700.

Frightening level of inexperience for an established side.

 

[Mutineer]

Might be better running 2 rucks against Grundy though

Hayden McLean is also probably the best chop out ruck in the AFL.

 

[CromradeCromulent]

 

[Mutineer]

 

[Gtowncrow]

Hayden McLean is also probably the best chop out ruck in the AFL.

Have you watched enough of Toby to say whether he's ready yet?

 

[Bearded Clam]

North still role out Liam Shiels, there are far more cooked midfielders still floating around than Laird.

Laird isnt just cooked..

His skills and decision making is bgrade level..

 

[Mutineer]

Have you watched enough of Toby to say whether he's ready yet?

Well he's certainly as ready as Oscar Ryan and he's a forward/ruck which is more than you can say for either Borlase or Burgess that's without even factoring the extra height.

 

[MarcusP2]

If we put in a competitive performance that should actually increase pressure on Nicks.

 

[chrisso crow]

So with the snippets gleaned so far on who is out, the in's and outs I'd like to see are

Out:
Smith
McHenry
Murphy
Strachan (inj)
Laird
Burgess

In:
Rankine
ROB
Murray
Cook
Curtin
Taylor

Team

Michalanney Butts Hinge
Nankervis Murray Hamill
Sholl Rankine Jones
Dowling Fogarty Rachele
Keays Borlase Cook

R: O'brien Dawson Soligo
Int: Shoenberg, Curtin, Keane, Taylor
Sub: Berry

Is there any reason we shouldn't be looking at T. Murray over Borlase, a guy that is an actual ruck/forward?

 

[MrBarry]

Ok, so we are taking the pragmatic approach here which I really like.

 

[Gtowncrow]

Well he's certainly as ready as Oscar Ryan and he's a forward/ruck which is more than you can say for either Borlase or Burgess that's without even factoring the extra height.

Get him in!!!

 

[ams4crows]

I'm glad we are giving Walker another week plus the bye to rest.

I'd love both Murray's to get a gig.

I wish Taylor got some love from the selection panel I'd rather see him than some others who we know aren't up to it.