Preview R2: Changes v Port

[Mr_Moogle]

I was only thinking this during the week. Blighty saw trends within our club and smashed them with some hard calls. We all know the result. The problem for Pyke is that Walshy's death glued this group together, making it very hard for him to do something similar, as it would possibly fracture the whole group.

I was (and am) really in favour of Pykes appointment, but I do miss Phil's aura and leadership around our club. He was a club changer, like Blight, which is exactly what we needed. I really hope Pyke doesn't turn out to be vanilla.

Walsh wasn't like Blight at all or at least he didn't really get the chance to be. Look how he played Van Berlo and Mackay. We never got to see the uncompromising Phil Walsh.

 

[footy4ever]

Yep you could have done with that, one key defender short tonight.

See!!

Even a clueless Port numpty floggity flogg flog could see it. (luv you Alfred)

It stood out like dogs gonads in the moonlight, even before a ball was kicked in anger.

 

[feenix67]

Walsh wasn't like Blight at all or at least he didn't really get the chance to be. Look how he played Van Berlo and Mackay. We never got to see the uncompromising Phil Walsh.

He was a club changer nonetheless though

 

[Scorpus]

You expect Pyke to be overruled? By the people who report to him?

That's ridiculous. How do you think team selection works and how powerless do you think a senior coach is?

The players that are there are the players Pyke wants. He won't get forced to play players who he thinks are garbage. That's such a fantasy it's hilarious.

Well I can't explain why a smart, tactical coach would pick two spuds when we have a full squad to choose from including players who were clearly best 22 last year.

To be fair, I can sort of understand picking VB and Mackay while players like Cameron, Henderson and Knight are returning from injury. But these players, particularly Knight, passed their fitness test in the SANFL this week with flying colors. If Pyke still wants to keep VB and Mackay in despite these players being available, then he's either an idiot, or being overruled by someone else

 

[mattymac]

I reckon if Menzel played we won last night. I know he hasn't been super fit but he doesn't miss chances around goals in big games

 

[FantasticShirt]

Its a forum. We are here to have an opinion, oh great one

And yours is ridiculous.

 

[Mego Red]

Well I can't explain why a smart, tactical coach would pick two spuds when we have a full squad to choose from including players who were clearly best 22 last year.

To be fair, I can sort of understand picking VB and Mackay while players like Cameron, Henderson and Knight are returning from injury. But these players, particularly Knight, passed their fitness test in the SANFL this week with flying colors. If Pyke still wants to keep VB and Mackay in despite these players being available, then he's either an idiot, or being overruled by someone else

Well, he's not being overruled.

I do think you can get TOO close to the playing group, and not see the forest for the trees.

Doesn't mean they're "mates" - just that you see improvement in the track and you see them doing exactly what you need.

But on the ground ...

 

[earlsta]

Well I can't explain why a smart, tactical coach would pick two spuds when we have a full squad to choose from including players who were clearly best 22 last year.

To be fair, I can sort of understand picking VB and Mackay while players like Cameron, Henderson and Knight are returning from injury. But these players, particularly Knight, passed their fitness test in the SANFL this week with flying colors. If Pyke still wants to keep VB and Mackay in despite these players being available, then he's either an idiot, or being overruled by someone else

It's almost embarrassing now, like it's getting really bad to watch.
I asked my cousins who are bombers supporters about VB & I asked them to compare a past Essendon player to him.

Ty zantuck was the answer, that's how bad it's gotten to. Ty ****en zantuck

 

[Viva la Mattner]

Walsh wasn't like Blight at all or at least he didn't really get the chance to be. Look how he played Van Berlo and Mackay. We never got to see the uncompromising Phil Walsh.

Walshys mantra was elite standards, Pyke needs to flow on from this and continue that.
Starting by not accepting 2nd rate efforts, as such make a statement VB dropped, Brouch I love the guy but you put your hand as fit and once you cross the white line you're expected to perform and he didn't he's on notice 2 performances like that and he will playing in the reserves to regain touch

 

[Viva la Mattner]

I reckon if Menzel played we won last night. I know he hasn't been super fit but he doesn't miss chances around goals in big games

same goes with Eddie 2 chances he'd normally eat up the one that hit the post on half time siren and the left foot scrubber in the last, 90% of the time eddie kicks those
the one at halftime would have really hurt north going into the break

 

[Tex200]

same goes with Eddie 2 chances he'd normally eat up the one that hit the post on half time siren and the left foot scrubber in the last, 90% of the time eddie kicks those
the one at halftime would have really hurt north going into the break

Kicking for goal was poor again last night. A number of culprits

 

[rezagun]

Van berlos performance was shit. His lack of pace, inability to hit a target and poor defensive work on harvey and others make his position in the team untennable.
For too long weve allowed him and 'others' to be pedestrians in a formula 1 environment.
Out.

 

[hey shorty]

Well we had a number of underperformers and a few non events. With the SANFL boys having a huge win it puts pressure on said players which is great. Regardless of last nights result I don't think we are far away.

OUT

VB- I'm one of his few fans but enough is enough. Yeah he puts his head over it but thats all. Next years SANFL captain.

DMoo- Again enough is enough. I thought early on we were gonna be treated to a decent display but he fell off the pace badly.

Milera- Harsh on the kid, and wouldn't be upset if he stayed in but he just didn't do enough. Loved what he did do but hardly had an impact.

IN

Lyons- Felt he was unlucky not to play and think he should be an inclusion. Adds more scoring power and midfield depth.

Knight- Straight swap with Mackay, except Riley has the ability to make an impact.

Hartigan- Was a mistake not playing him IMO, and Shaw although a better player probably can't go with the Dixons and Westhoffs of the world.

As i said I don't believe we are far away. We had a number of key players down and should still have jagged the win. Cameron, Menzel, Hendo and Cam not far away either. Gov on the block although he played reasonably well.

Hopefully Matt isn't suspended, he shouldn't be.

 

[Doctor B]

Ben Brown 200cm 99Kg Jake Lever 194cm 85Kg
Drew Petrie 198 102 Daniel Talia 196 95
Jarrad Waite 194 95 Kyle Cheney 186 87

When the team was selected I posted these match ups as my main concern, and that Talia would be dragged away to expose Cheneys lack of height. I think all 3 of these defenders tried their guts out, but they were up against it before the game started. Maybe we should select teams based on our opposition, not just a generic team to go against everyone, teams like North and Port etc. with huge forwards need extra tall defenders to match them up.

One thing I was hoping to see us be better at was control momentum effectively, when North were on a roll I would have liked to see us slow the game down a lot more.

When I re-watch the replay I want to look at who was on Harvey for his 3 quick goals and Garner for the one he got running into the goal and also one he set up, I could be wrong but maybe it was VB. Time to make some hard calls for faster team improvement.

 

[mattymac]

same goes with Eddie 2 chances he'd normally eat up the one that hit the post on half time siren and the left foot scrubber in the last, 90% of the time eddie kicks those
the one at halftime would have really hurt north going into the break

Eddie looked a bit flippant last night. It's a worry. Same with Tex and Sloane etc. It's a worry because it wasn't just last night. NAB 3 our senior leaders were not switched on either. Why are we coming into the season when we have the toughest first 8 rounds imaginable yet our senior leaders aren't mentally ready to perform?

 

[mattymac]

VB- I'm one of his few fans but enough is enough. Yeah he puts his head over it but thats all. Next years SANFL captain.

Isn't this his last year under contract? Plus he's already 30. Just sack him already, jesus. We don't owe him anything like honorable captaincy of the reserves. We're not a charity

 

[VSTone]

Eddie looked a bit flippant last night. It's a worry. Same with Tex and Sloane etc. It's a worry because it wasn't just last night. NAB 3 our senior leaders were not switched on either. Why are we coming into the season when we have the toughest first 8 rounds imaginable yet our senior leaders aren't mentally ready to perform?

something going on behind the scenes maybe?

 

[kirky]

Actually he didn't.

Goldstein 44 hit outs to 35.
Goldstein 13 disposals to 10.

He beat him but did not smash him but Jacobs did tire.

Well being at the game he certainly dominated when it counted (last quarter).

 

[FR0GGY]

Kicking for goal was poor again last night. A number of culprits

Remember the freo game, must have been the wind.

 

[FR0GGY]

something going on behind the scenes maybe?

Haven't thought about it

 

[Puddy]

Out:VB
In:Hartigan or Shaw

You guys need a taller defender

Out: DMac
In:Lyons

Lose speed but get a AFL quality mid/forward.

Also think Thompson is a liability for your team, would consider dropping him for CEY

 

[hey shorty]

Isn't this his last year under contract? Plus he's already 30. Just sack him already, jesus. We don't owe him anything like honorable captaincy of the reserves. We're not a charity

I'd like him to hang around the club, and he's more than capable of playing SANFL at a good level. Unless we aren't able to have a 'marquee' signing then I agree.

 

[fuddrooster]

No way Matt Crouch should be rubbed out. He didn't bump the head, he bumped his shoulder. Shouldn't have even been a free. Waite took a dive to play for a free, which the North Melbourne players make an art of to influence the umps, infront of their home crowd. Piss weak diving is being paid!!!


Where was our players sticking up for eddie? On telly he looked to be getting roughed up by 2 or 3 north players twice his size, with no crows players to be seen. Probably happened about 10 times thought out the game. North obviously targeted eddie. He needs protection. Poor from our crows blokes.

 

[Paladin]

Out:VB
In:Hartigan or Shaw

You guys need a taller defender

Out: DMac
In:Lyons

Lose speed but get a AFL quality mid/forward.

Also think Thompson is a liability for your team, would consider dropping him for CEY

Knight and Cameron need to come in as well with Menzel being very close. Selection will be very interesting.

 

[Elite Crow]

Should we consider playing Milera playing off half back? He's struggling to find a lot of the ball but we need to keep him in the side. When Cameron and Menzel come in it's going to put his place under pressure.

He played off half back in the championships and we could do with another great user of the ball off half back. Also gets VB out of there.