Review Round 9, 2025 - North Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions

[Nunez]

So our second mother's day draw in a row?

Clearly wanted to keep all mums happy today. **** we are too selfless.

 

[Tom14]

lol

@aflxscore.bsky.social

#AFLNorthLions Q4 31:39 xScore update: NMFC 70 from expected 96.3 BL 70 from expected 72.6 Pregame: BL Win 89.3% 39.6pts

bsky.app

 

[martinson]

Gotta get rid of Gardiner and Answerth ASAP.

Answerth was great.

Dizz as sub is a complete head scratcher.

 

[troppo]

Losing Bez so early in the game really hurt us(as well as him) His gut running and courage would have been very handy in such a tough game. Having so many tall players seem to unbalance the team. In any season you drop games you would expect to win, luckily we walk away with the draw. Hopefully we can get our mojo back next week at the Gabba.

 

[LoganMorrisFan]

Poor week at selection. Respect the loyalty from Fages but Big O Fort was a bad call

 

[MSB ROYS]

Embarrassing effort tonight, but I hope mcdonald gets 3 weeks for knocking out Berry that had a huge impact on the game aswell.

It was similar Archer in the way that he recklessly went into the Berry as the mark was being taken. Both weren't even in the contest. I also was surprised that McDonald passed an HIA after that kind of contact.

 

[Mooch]

Was about to say that. They played well all game and deserved to win.

If they hadn't kicked so many shots for goal OOF they would have.

 

[Toffee Lion]

I’m overseas so couldn’t watch but I had a feeling North would be up for this. They remind me of us in 2017/2018. Some quality kids but just not sure how to win. Can be competitive in some matches and lapse in others.

Naturally easier to get up for a match like us as they have literally nothing to lose, no expectation, so an easier mindset for their younger players to have a crack. Kudos to them, seems like they deserved the win.

For our boys, disappointing result but hopefully a decent kick up the bum that we still have a lot of work to do.

Should add our percentage this year is not amazing, irrelevant now with this draw and could be a blessing later in the year.

 

[martinson]

lol

@aflxscore.bsky.social

#AFLNorthLions Q4 31:39 xScore update: NMFC 70 from expected 96.3 BL 70 from expected 72.6 Pregame: BL Win 89.3% 39.6pts

bsky.app

Yeah .

They had so many chances the 3rd quarter.

We stole those 2 points.

 

[braddsey]

Zero scores and 2 marks from our ruckmen. This is why we can’t play 2 rucks.
I actually thought Fort contested the ruck better. Big-O 16 hitouts, 5 disposals.
Fort 24 hitouts 11 disposals.
Xerri 36 hitouts 18 disposals.

Need a different plan against Gawn next week.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Looks like a good week to miss the game

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Gawn next week

 

[Squizz89]

Thought Answerth was a bit shaky with his disposal again today, but he’s improved on it so much I’m sure he’ll be right.

There needs to be an enquiry into wtf the coaching staff were thinking with Dizz as the sub though, I agree.

 

[Paul Mac]

Jack Payne, prefer you not to be trying to do a little short pass kicking it 15 metres in defensive 50. Stick to your basics and pump the ball 50 metres down the line.

 

[Tom14]

Answerth was great.

Dizz as sub is a complete head scratcher.

Noah was ok. Lost his positioning a few times pushing up aggressively and zurhaar got free up forward. Would have helped if his teammates could stick tackles.

 

[MSB ROYS]

I’m overseas so couldn’t watch but I had a feeling North would be up for this. They remind me of us in 2017/2018. Some quality kids but just not sure how to win. Can be competitive in some matches and lapse in others.

Naturally easier to get up for a match like us as they have literally nothing to lose, no expectation, so an easier mindset for their younger players to have a crack. Kudos to them, seems like they deserved the win.

For our boys, disappointing result but hopefully a decent kick up the bum that we still have a lot of work to do.

Should add our percentage this year is not amazing, irrelevant now with this draw and could be a blessing later in the year.

All North need is a few more key position players (and luck with injuries) and they will be pushing for the top 8 next year.

 

[Tom14]

Yeah .

They had so many chances the 3rd quarter.

We stole those 2 points.

Now our poor percentage doesn’t matter!

 

[DevRoboGun]

In terms of our final ladder position this year, I think a draw tonight will be as good as a win. Got out of jail.

 

[braddsey]

Pretty certain a behind is worth 1 point...

Logan Morris being denied marks and frees in front of goal is the reason we didn’t win…
Playing generally like crap is the reason we didn’t win.
North generally kicking like shit is the reason we didn’t lose.

One standard defensive action doesn’t make the match.

 

[tate13]

Playing fort and mcinerney and Gardiner as the sub is insane

This! Even thought this pre-game. We’ve played two rucks on so many occasions and it’s rarely worked.
And then to have Dizzy as sub made absolutely no sense. There was more than enough height in the team to cover injury to a key position player, and as much as I like Dizzy, what impact is he truly going to have on a game? It set us up for a small or mid to go down and cost us.
McKenna, Tunnstill, Robertson, McLaughlin whilst not world beaters would have all been better options.
Not the reason we didn’t win, but an absolute glaring error from a coaching panel that haven’t made too many.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Playing fort and mcinerney and Gardiner as the sub is insane

This is a very good post. Of the Rucks, Fort was much better than McInerney. Gardiner as Sub was a waste of a player. Would have been much better with McKenna out there.

I thought Lester was SENSATIONAL TONIGHT. We look so much better when he is in charge of transition out of defence. Payne was great, apart from the shocker of a kick out of defence that put Harris under the hammer and cost us a goal when we were 8 points up. Fletcher was good, McCluggage and Dunkley were honest and W. Ashcroft played well. Zorko played very well and Rayner and Hipwood had good games.

I won’t list the players who had ‘shockers’ because we all saw who they were.

 

[pod17]

There were a lot of half efforts, especially at marking contests that smacked of self preservation. Fagan needs to send a message after that, as for me it’s not so much about the result but the effort. Doedee and Coleman in as a start, Smith would have been too if fit as Xerri smashed us.

Whilst I’m at it, and I’m not using it as an excuse more an observation, don’t send the premiers to places like Ninja or Mars stadiums. The amount of slipping tonight was dangerous, and the viewing poor on TV given the time slot and the camera vantage points.

The positives. Payne and Answerth were fantastic whilst being under siege all night. Take the two points and move on with some lessons learned.

 

[Dalions]

Another game where I just can not find it in me to put a vote in for a midfielder.
Shocking effort in there

 

[Surly Boy]

Ugly. Would be nice to get through a handful of games without someone breaking one of our players. Thought we missed Berry after he was subbed...

Positive - Kai seemed to get through th e game unscathed....

 

[MSB ROYS]

Answerth was great.

Dizz as sub is a complete head scratcher.

Agree, Answerth made a few mistakes but overall played OK. Again, they are playing against AFL level players who are all awesome players. To think that they are never going to get a kick is ridiculous.