Prediction Round 2, 2026: Changes vs North Melbourne

[stallon]

Some of the best moments out of defense last week were Hough and Ginbey breaking the lines with run and carry, so I'm keen to see what it looks like when they get more responsibility there

Duursma and Allan will be back there at stages too, its not like we have no run/drive from d50

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Duursma and Allan will be back there at stages too, its not like we have no run/drive from d50

It's more about hitting targets than drive.

 

[duffmalind]

With all the hubbub regarding Lindsay omitted, it's interesting to note he was our lowest ranked player vs Gold Coast. Archer Reid was our second worst. Kelly will have more impact even with an average game. Also allows a rotation in the mids which is important. I really hope Kelly plays well. He could be very important if he wants to be. Newton needs a very good game this week with a likely Hewitt return. Maric out is fine, not best 23.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

With all the hubbub regarding Lindsay omitted, it's interesting to note he was our lowest ranked player vs Gold Coast. Archer Reid was our second worst. Kelly will have more impact even with an average game. Also allows a rotation in the mids which is important. I really hope Kelly plays well. He could be very important if he wants to be. Newton needs a very good game this week with a likely Hewitt return. Maric out is fine, not best 23.

I ain't gonna complain about Lindsay getting dropped, he got a game cos Baker was out, Baker's back so Lindsay's the first to go. McQualter's said all pre-season he'll be trying to balance the kids/experienced players ratio so not all the kids were playing at once, given how Gold Coast played in Opening Round I was amazed Lindsay was even picked.

McQualter said a couple weeks ago that the young blokes weren't going to play every game this year, but I know Lindsay will be back in in no time.

 

[WCErevival]

Its not like Lindsay and Maric were regularly kicking bullets last week.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

people saying balance buts its the seniors playing like shit not the kids

What seniors listed for Sunday “played like shit” on Sunday?

 

[Mighty Eagles]

It’s not like Lindsay and Maric were regularly kicking bullets last week.

You’re dead right. But that’s life. They’ll both get opportunities as the season progresses.

 

[amazingjoshy]

Its not like Lindsay and Maric were regularly kicking bullets last week.

This. Some are talking like we're leaving out prime Jetta. Lindsay got a taste, he'll be much better for it but he hardly blew the game apart last week

Maric has a nice kick but I couldn't even remember the last time he hit a damaging kick out of defence that launched an attack.

McCarthy going back is far more dangerous than both of them which is likely alot of thinking with bringing Kelly in to play more mid imo

 

[dinnaz]

Rough to drop 100% Maric

 

[WCEswift]

Sone of yo


It's been one ****ing game mate...

Calm down.

i mean thats based on the last 18 months to 2 years, but pop off queen

 

[WCEswift]

What seniors listed for Sunday “played like shit” on Sunday?

All of them in the first half source: minis presser

 

[THE A5]

I watched only the last half against suns and like Marics game. That said his best passage came in the third where he had some real great pick ups and clean/creative handballs under pressure. I wanted him playing wafl going into the game and I reckona stintbin WAFL for him ain’t bad idea

 

[squashface]

With all the hubbub regarding Lindsay omitted, it's interesting to note he was our lowest ranked player vs Gold Coast. Archer Reid was our second worst. Kelly will have more impact even with an average game. Also allows a rotation in the mids which is important. I really hope Kelly plays well. He could be very important if he wants to be. Newton needs a very good game this week with a likely Hewitt return. Maric out is fine, not best 23.

Yeah but Mini’s dog Archer will probably get half the season before he gets dropped

 

[Coasters7]

Its not like Lindsay and Maric were regularly kicking bullets last week.

Would rather both getting experience over someone like Duggan hacking it out of the back half but that change would never happen.

Don’t mind the ins but it feels a bit desperate to bring in 3 senior players and drop 2 kids who weren’t that bad last week.

 

[EdCurnowRules]

This is a great opportunity to confuse the **** out of every afl lover out there. Gives a shit if it’s a false dawn. I hope we do a number on north this week, for the commentary after will be lolly

 

[Matele]

It's more about hitting targets than drive.

I’m one of Maric’s bigger supporters, he gets dunked on every game thread about being shit/ a necessary drop, the MC finally does it and everyone’s now in here arguing he should be in the team? Weird.

He admittedly played a better game than usual last week but pressure for selection can only be a good thing. We’re relatively well off with back 6 players on the list, so I think it’s only fair we rotate guys around to find a mix that works. Maric still has some form to find and he can do that in the WAFL.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

All of them in the first half source: minis presser

The devil is in the detail. That wasn’t the point he made.

 

[BSD]

This. Some are talking like we're leaving out prime Jetta. Lindsay got a taste, he'll be much better for it but he hardly blew the game apart last week

Maric has a nice kick but I couldn't even remember the last time he hit a damaging kick out of defence that launched an attack.

McCarthy going back is far more dangerous than both of them which is likely alot of thinking with bringing Kelly in to play more mid imo

Lindsay would do better than Dump Kick Duggan.

 

[Tricove]

I’m one of Maric’s bigger supporters, he gets dunked on every game thread about being shit/ a necessary drop, the MC finally does it and everyone’s now in here arguing he should be in the team? Weird.

He admittedly played a better game than usual last week but pressure for selection can only be a good thing. We’re relatively well off with back 6 players on the list, so I think it’s only fair we rotate guys around to find a mix that works. Maric still has some form to find and he can do that in the WAFL.

Agreed everyone knew the back six was going to be a squeeze this season and now it’s happening. Wait till Starc comes back…

 

[Matele]

Lindsay would do better than Dump Kick Duggan.

Like it or not our captain isn’t getting replaced by a guy that’s played one senior game.

 

[stallon]

Agreed everyone knew the back six was going to be a squeeze this season and now it’s happening. Wait till Starc comes back…

Surely thats the queue for Baker to move elsewhere...

More likely means Allan is out, Davis vs Allan for the wing opposite Duursma in 3-4 weeks time hmm

 

[Rowan18]

Lindsay out is lame and less fun for everybody but i get it.


Ball movement out of our backline is going to be brutal though, gee whiz. McCarthy has got to go back there,surely.

Just hoping the senior player brigade of Kelly, Cripps, Yeo etc can all lift and get the job done. 2 of them are underdone from injury/fitness, the other is about to turn 34.

Yeah, I get the need to bring experience, but we dropped 2 of our 3 good distributors. I'd have Maric in for Duggan if they want to go the experience angle. Baker applies better pressure and both he and Duggo are bad kicks. The other option would be Maric for Allen, but I'm glad they've kept him in to develop.

 

[duffmalind]

Liam Duggan

14

Liam Duggan

Age

29

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.4

4star

K

10.1

4star

HB

5.3

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

283.7

4star

D

16.0

4star

K

12.0

5star

HB

4.0

3star

M

5.7

5star

T

1.1

2star

MG

283.7

4star

D

13.2

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.2

3star

led our metres gained last week, and also total kicks. He had 4 kick ins out of 11, so average them at 40 metres from play ons. So he got a free 160 metres of gains. Using in play metres gained he becomes our 10th best in that stat. Statistics . Just sayin...
Maric and Lindsay had 6, Young had 1.
Who the hell is going to take our kick ins this week with Maric, Lindsay out? I suggest McCarthy through necessity.

 

[duffmalind]

Surely thats the queue for Baker to move elsewhere...

More likely means Allan is out, Davis vs Allan for the wing opposite Duursma in 3-4 weeks time hmm

Davis will be out before Bo Allen I think. And rightly so at the moment.

 

[Corn69]

TK in for his annual Grand Final game before he fu*ks off for rest of the season.

As others have stated, minis point about needing more experience than youth is pretty pathetic considering our actual sh*t players are the seniors them selfs lol.