Squad v GWS

[Juryduty]

If we are on VFL form then McKenzie's 13 touches must have been amazing. My biggest arguement is that I want North playing there best team available every week especially in round 2 of the season and I don't care if it is GWS we are playing. I don't believe the best team is getting picked.

 

[jacko57]

I'm sure by virtue of current standing in the AFL that there are people who know better than me but if Anthony gets a game on last weeks effort then it's purely a numbers game. His defensive side is non existant and he doesn't offer enough going the other way.

Bingo.

 

[Old Skool]

If we are on VFL form then McKenzie's 13 touches must have been amazing. My biggest arguement is that I want North playing there best team available every week especially in round 2 of the season and I don't care if it is GWS we are playing. I don't believe the best team is getting picked.

I'm with you JD.

 

[R00StaR]

Note the word 'maybe'.

Don't panic. He probably won't play.

You need to identify players that can take their skills to afl level. If you pick players purely based on vfl form myles sewell would be a top 10 pick.

Spot on. VFL form doesnt mean that much, plenty of players dominate there that simply arent AFL standard. Their deficiencies just dont get exposed on the same level. Likely the same deficiencies that saw every AFL club over look them, or draft them very late since theyre rated a low chance of making the grade.

Every AFL game played your investing in the players. Do you invest more something thats likely to succeed longer term or something that isnt? We are no premiership challengers atm, bookies odds should tell you that, so we have to continue to develop our list and attempt to win as many games as we can.

Even reigning premiers need to blood new talent or face a stale list before long.

 

[Hunters Host #3]

Was an article earlier in the week, he was having scans, no hammy had been confirmed. If he plays it was obviously just a twinge.

Scott said in his presser that the Hamstring was a back related twinge.

Scans then confirmed it was a minor hamstring strain. So I'm guessing he was tight in the lower back.

I wouldn't risk him and I would rest him for Delaney's debut.

If McKenzie debuts, then it'll be a taste of senior football and a nice introduction. If he were to slot 10 from the HBF, he'd still make way for Ziebell.

 

[Daz]

None of us expected Harps to play as early as he did and he surprised us.

 

[Hunters Host #3]

Levi did a lot of the grunt work with little reward. It's important to remember that the Werribee rucks were absolutely slaughtered.

They were smashed. I thought Levi wasn't all too bad, with little support. His defensive running, like a whole host of others left a lot to be desired.

Though Levi was one I had marked down for a possible return this week. Surprised he wasn't named in the extended squad to be honest.

 

[Tas]

and rain predicted....

I have no confidence Brad Scott.

How I wish we had the money to get a decent coach....

Our style of play (bomb it in wildly into the forward 50) is amusingly compatible with wet weather football. Oddly enough, we try to over-possess and handball a lot in the wet.

You still need ruckmen in the wet, in fact, they become THE most important big man/men on the ground. It is the other KPP you don't need a mountain of.

I think brad is a decent coach, I just don't know if he will become a great coach or not.

We played well in patches and looked pretty good at times last week, we just didn't do it for four quarters. I am not sure who was missing from Essendon's team last week but we were missing Ziebell, Grima, Hansen, Greenwood and Pedersen and all are probably in our best 22. That is about a quarter of our side and is the crux of our problem, we have yet to establish a settled side.

 

[NMFC 1811]

I'm not.

Mullett looked shocked against the Bombers. If Mullet had of played well against Essendon, McKenzie wouldn't be getting a game. He get's his chance early, lets hope he has an impact.

 

[Jay-Z]

Brogan Reid Scully Power in for GWS

Anyone else notice that whilst the other three were listed as coming from their respective AFL clubs, Scully was listed as from Haileybury College. Perhaps he has asked not to be associated with the Dees anymore?

 

[year of the roo]

Anyone else notice that whilst the other three were listed as coming from their respective AFL clubs, Scully was listed as from Haileybury College. Perhaps he has asked not to be associated with the Dees anymore?

Geez that's quite the indictment on Melbourne. Preferring to be associated with Haileybury

 

[DarkPhoenix]

If McKenzie debuts, then it'll be a taste of senior football and a nice introduction. If he were to slot 10 from the HBF, he'd still make way for Ziebell.

Spot on HH, the only reason hes being considered is its GWS and we're travelling. No matter what happens he will only get a game sunday if picked.

 

[Black Diamond]

and rain predicted....

I have no confidence Brad Scott.

How I wish we had the money to get a decent coach....

Pathetic comment.

 

[LeFtBehinD]

Spot on. VFL form doesnt mean that much, plenty of players dominate there that simply arent AFL standard. Their deficiencies just dont get exposed on the same level. Likely the same deficiencies that saw every AFL club over look them, or draft them very late since theyre rated a low chance of making the grade.

Every AFL game played your investing in the players. Do you invest more something thats likely to succeed longer term or something that isnt? We are no premiership challengers atm, bookies odds should tell you that, so we have to continue to develop our list and attempt to win as many games as we can.

Even reigning premiers need to blood new talent or face a stale list before long.

Some really REALLY dumb comments in here. So nice and refreshing to read the occasional one that makes perfect sense.

 

[Saintly31]

Interesting difference of opinions here.

Im all for playing kids and focusing on developing "the next premiership team", not sticking with players not up to it. (eg: Anthony.....yet he gets picked which is another anomoly)

But where do you draw the line in terms of responsibility to fans and picking the best team?

The decision to leave Pederson and Greenwood in the reserves (I dont care if they played poorly - they have proven themselves at AFL level to be automatically picked if fit) and play kids just because they are very young is arguably irresponsible. Surely they need to show something and deserve to play for the NMFC, not just read out a birth certificate.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Perhaps non selection of certain 'proven' players is not so much a form thing but a structure thing? We don't know what the coaches plans are and perhaps certain players struggle to play certain roles so they don't fit in the team atm.

It does seem obvious to me that this is indeed the case and that the coaches will take the time they need to determine if their set up works and will be successful. So I guess we can expect to see some odd selections each week for a bit at least.

That said I am not particularly enthusiastic about the lack of genuine tall defenders. It won't work against the best teams as they have two tall forwards.

 

[liam_13]

Interesting difference of opinions here.

Im all for playing kids and focusing on developing "the next premiership team", not sticking with players not up to it. (eg: Anthony.....yet he gets picked which is another anomoly)

But where do you draw the line in terms of responsibility to fans and picking the best team?

The decision to leave Pederson and Greenwood in the reserves (I dont care if they played poorly - they have proven themselves at AFL level to be automatically picked if fit) and play kids just because they are very young is arguably irresponsible. Surely they need to show something and deserve to play for the NMFC, not just read out a birth certificate.

Imo that is just about the worst attitude to have. It's like the Australian cricket team, leaving players out of form in the team for a whole 6 months because 'his test average is still 43' or some crap. If they have played poorly in the VFL, then that current form is what matters most.

I doubt McKenzie will be named anyway. He is still only in the 25. And I don't think we should be playing kids against GWS, just because, well, they are GWS. That'll come back to bite us. Warren for Tarrant I reckon, don't want Delaney in or to drop Campbell because of chances of rain, and so the ball will be on the ground a lot.

 

[Saintly31]

Imo that is just about the worst attitude to have. It's like the Australian cricket team, leaving players out of form in the team for a whole 6 months because 'his test average is still 43' or some crap. If they have played poorly in the VFL, then that current form is what matters most.

I doubt McKenzie will be named anyway. He is still only in the 25. And I don't think we should be playing kids against GWS, just because, well, they are GWS. That'll come back to bite us. Warren for Tarrant I reckon, don't want Delaney in or to drop Campbell because of chances of rain, and so the ball will be on the ground a lot.

Disagree. Fact is they shouldn't have been demoted to the VFL to play "poorly" to start with. To use your analogy, would we have dropped Ricky Ponting in his prime to play for Tassie, and if he failed in a shield game refuse to bring him back? Absolute nonsense.

 

[Saintly31]

Perhaps non selection of certain 'proven' players is not so much a form thing but a structure thing? We don't know what the coaches plans are and perhaps certain players struggle to play certain roles so they don't fit in the team atm.

It does seem obvious to me that this is indeed the case and that the coaches will take the time they need to determine if their set up works and will be successful. So I guess we can expect to see some odd selections each week for a bit at least.

That said I am not particularly enthusiastic about the lack of genuine tall defenders. It won't work against the best teams as they have if forwards.

I see your point, fair enough.

But then we had Anthony playing. Pretty much throws any sense of reason about why others weren't picked out the window for mine.

 

[GarnerSmash]

LA's form was excellent over the preseason, moreso than Levi's, and both didnt have the best of games last weekend. Swapping a poor Levi for a poor Anthony is really a non-move.

 

[Saintly31]

LA's form was excellent over the preseason, moreso than Levi's, and both didnt have the best of games last weekend. Swapping a poor Levi for a poor Anthony is really a non-move.

It may have. I just dont rate Anthony in the AFL - period.

Levi at least (well he has previously) brings some toughness/accountability and can be a role player - if anything he is more suited to AFL and Anthony more suited to VFL in how the game is played.

 

[big_e]

Disagree. Fact is they shouldn't have been demoted to the VFL to play "poorly" to start with. To use your analogy, would we have dropped Ricky Ponting in his prime to play for Tassie, and if he failed in a shield game refuse to bring him back? Absolute nonsense.

I take your point, but the guys in question aren't the Ricky Pontings of our team.

 

[Booze Nasty]

Anthony takes the ball on his chest rather then in his hands, even when receiving a handball. This is U12 skill level not VFL or AFL. He is capable of getting the ball 20 plus times per game when most can only manage 13. Bastinac is the only other one capable of compiling decent numbers, and he has the fumbles too at the moment.
I'm happy to give Anthony a few more weeks to tidy up his disposal. He needs to know that escorting the opposition into goal is not acceptable.
I like the ideal of rewarding form and minimal crystal balling when picking the side.

 

[LB2Snake]

Dropping mullet calls absolutely astounds me. The bloke can seriously use the ball, give him a chance. He looked far from outclassed to me last sat night.
Anthony has to play, as Booze says, one of the few blokes in our side who can actually find the ball......he will improve his decision making and def won't put in too many more of those poor chases or he'll be gone for sure.
Levi's 13 p's are generally helicopter punts that are thrown onto the boot at first
opportunity......he's gotta work considerably on that IMO.

 

[DJ Dupree]

I think the honeymoon period of being able to justify finishing 10th-14th based on playing kids and plodders with an eye on the futute is now over.

So we're led to believe now that we've shedded the plodders and toilers, and apparently we're in this fantastic position of competition for spots because of so many superstars waiting in the wings. Yet we're playing two ruckmen out of position again, persisting with Anthony who needs to go, persisting with Cunnington who needs a spell, picking McKenzie who is an unknown, and ignoring Pederson, Garlett and Greenwood yet again. People have the right to be frustrated. There's a transition period when a new coach takes over, and after a few years it's to deliver and stop mucking around.

It's only round 2 and it's only GWS.. So what, that makes it fine not to pick your best team to win after 3 years supposedly building it? Not good enough. Start trying to win now, stop trying to leave an 'out' in case we lose, we can blame it on lack of experience and getting used to the game plan.

Comes a time, personalities aside, that a win loss record is average, and therefore the same as whoever the predecessor was - regardless of what hope you spin by talk.