Where are north at?

[Super Hans]

Ablett? Is Scarlett, Ling, Ottens, SJ, Chappy, Corey, Kelly and Stokes still playing for them. They were going to fall off the cliff for a decade as well.

I presumed you were talking about at the end of the 2010 season, when they lost Bomber and Ablett. That's when the talk started and they went on to win the flag the next season.

 

[MotleyLemon]

But weren't you going to be bottom 4 for years when the stars left? It doesn't always happen as planned.

We never retired 6 in a year though.

 

[Ron The Bear]

How much influence do North supporters think the EF will have on list changes? A week to freshen up, backs to the wall... a few careers will surely hinge on that match.

 

[Wild Bill]

How much do North supporters think the EF will influence list changes? A week to freshen up, backs to the wall... a few careers will surely hinge on that match.

We need the break. The only year it will happen is a good year for us. We maybe able to get a game into Waite if the Vfl play that weekend. Resting old bones is always good.

 

[Flags_In_The_Bag]

You're entitled to think / hope that will happen. Try not to be too disappointed when it doesn't.

i wont be as i have no warmth towards the Bombers, but as far as young players that have big promise goe's, the Bombers have stacks more then North.

 

[FastLife]

Lazy Football team. Who'll turn up and Eliminate 5th in the first week of the finals.

 

[Thats Wright]

Lazy Football team. Who'll turn up and Eliminate 5th in the first week of the finals.

Cheers Brad.

 

[Thats Wright]

How much influence do North supporters think the EF will have on list changes? A week to freshen up, backs to the wall... a few careers will surely hinge on that match.

Won't be as many excuses. Anything interstate will be a disaster but locally could push the Dogs or Cats with our peaking, desperate mediocrity.

 

[Football Tragic]

The writing has been on the wall for years. Supporters have been loath to acknowledge that as the injuries and retirements mount at North they will drop rapidly down the ladder (a bit like Richmond did this year but for a longer period I suspect). Norths older players will no longer be able to maintain consistency. They will have games where they tease you with yesteryear form but others where they struggle. Every team has a few players like this, and some are not reaching their careers end, but the issue with North is amount of these type of players they have.

Injuries have cruelled them this year and will continue to until they bite the bullet, admit the gamble has failed and begin to play more of their youth. At the moment your youth may have potential but they have not been given the game day experience to develop into consistent AFL mainstays. You won't know this until the older players move aside and they are given a chance. Unfortunately Scott is still holding onto the fleeting chance everything goes right, every player performs to their maximum and you pinch a miraculous flag - I think his luck has run out.....

 

[Toump Ass]

It's funny how differently the two Scott brothers have managed their lists.

One has had no problems discarding older players- Stevie J, Chapman, whatever; and the other just plays old timers until they're so far past their prime all bigfooty can do is point and laugh.

 

[Bomberblitzer]

Are North fans really trying to argue they have more young talent (i.e. under 23) than us? I mean they've been a better team than us in recent times but surely now with all our kids playing its clear to see that the Bombers are far ahead in that particular area.

Essendon has Darcy Parish, Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett, Aaron Francis, Marty Gleeson, Orazio Fantasia, Dyson Heppell, Kyle Langford, Jayden Laverde, Michael Hartley, Jake Long, Conor McKenna + pick one etc. Obviously most of these guys have more to offer as they continue to develop.

North Melbourne has Anderson, Dumont, Clarke, McDonald, Turner and Wood. I'm not sure if you'd take this group of guys ahead of Essendon's.

 

[Rion]

Are North fans really trying to argue they have more young talent (i.e. under 23) than us? I mean they've been a better team than us in recent times but surely now with all our kids playing its clear to see that the Bombers are far ahead in that particular area.

Essendon has Darcy Parish, Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett, Aaron Francis, Marty Gleeson, Orazio Fantasia, Dyson Heppell, Kyle Langford, Jayden Laverde, Michael Hartley, Jake Long, Conor McKenna + pick one etc. Obviously most of these guys have more to offer as they continue to develop.

North Melbourne has Anderson, Dumont, Clarke, McDonald, Turner and Wood. I'm not sure if you'd take this group of guys ahead of Essendon's.

+1. Hell of a lot of teams ahead of North in the youngster stakes and their middle-rangers (Cunnington, Ziebell, Swallow etc) aren't really good enough to pick up the slack.

 

[Wild Bill]

Are North fans really trying to argue they have more young talent (i.e. under 23) than us? I mean they've been a better team than us in recent times but surely now with all our kids playing its clear to see that the Bombers are far ahead in that particular area.

Essendon has Darcy Parish, Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett, Aaron Francis, Marty Gleeson, Orazio Fantasia, Dyson Heppell, Kyle Langford, Jayden Laverde, Michael Hartley, Jake Long, Conor McKenna + pick one etc. Obviously most of these guys have more to offer as they continue to develop.

North Melbourne has Anderson, Dumont, Clarke, McDonald, Turner and Wood. I'm not sure if you'd take this group of guys ahead of Essendon's.

Same argument 5 years ago with Ryder, Crameri and Carlile. End of the day your Essendon. That ends any debate.


And did you put Heppell in the under 23s hoping we didn't know he was 24?

 

[Bomberblitzer]

Same argument 5 years ago with Ryder, Crameri and Carlile. End of the day your Essendon. That ends any debate.


And did you put Heppell in the under 23s hoping we didn't know he was 24?

I find it amusing that you can't give us a simple 'Yes, North has limited young talent at the moment' or 'No, North has more young talent and here's why' because you know the truth and refuse to admit it. Instead you have to make remarks that aren't even relevant to the conversation by mentioning players that don't even play for the club anymore, and bring up how Heppell is a few months past 23. I mean you can take Heppell out of the list and it's still comprehensively in Essendon's favour.

 

[Rion]

Same argument 5 years ago with Ryder, Crameri and Carlile. End of the day your Essendon. That ends any debate.


And did you put Heppell in the under 23s hoping we didn't know he was 24?

Do you think North Melbourne have a better group of young talent/elite 24-27 yr olds than any of the top 8? What about Melbourne, St Kilda, Collingwood, Gold Coast etc? Its not whether you've got youngsters who you reckon will be decent, its how those guys compare with the quality/quantity of every other team in a 18 team league.

In my mind due to being in and around the 8 for the last 5+ years and missing out on that elite talent you might be forced to dip down and rebuild for a couple of years.

 

[Wild Bill]

Do you think North Melbourne have a better group of young talent/elite 24-27 yr olds than any of the top 8? What about Melbourne, St Kilda, Collingwood, Gold Coast etc? Its not whether you've got youngsters who you reckon will be decent, its how those guys compare with the quality/quantity of every other team in a 18 team league.

In my mind due to being in and around the 8 for the last 5+ years and missing out on that elite talent you might be forced to dip down and rebuild for a couple of years.

Tigers have more top end talent than the Roos - it's why they were going to finish higher than us on the ladder this year.

Until any of those team finish higher it doesn't matter how many young players they have.

How long were the cats up for? They only had 1 year dip. Things change so quickly in this game - especially with player movement. Would you be surprised if you played finals next year?

 

[Wild Bill]

I find it amusing that you can't give us a simple 'Yes, North has limited young talent at the moment' or 'No, North has more young talent and here's why' because you know the truth and refuse to admit it. Instead you have to make remarks that aren't even relevant to the conversation by mentioning players that don't even play for the club anymore, and bring up how Heppell is a few months past 23. I mean you can take Heppell out of the list and it's still comprehensively in Essendon's favour.

And I find it amusing the wooden spooners want to be compared with a team heading towards their 3rd finals series. You finished bottom 4 even before your ban for doping your players. We haven't been forced to play our young kids. We still have developing kids in the VFL. Your list of kids have had game time - yet not striking fear into anyone. You named Jake long, Gleeson and McKenna for god sake.

Maybe wait and see how good Durdin and few others are before comparing to a clearly superior team. Your every chance to be bottom 4 for a third year in a row than to try and take our spot in the top 8.

You also continue to lose your talented players so the chances of all kids still being at Essendon in 5 years is slim to none.

 

[Bomberblitzer]

And I find it amusing the wooden spooners want to be compared with a team heading towards their 3rd finals series. You finished bottom 4 even before your ban for doping your players. We haven't been forced to play our young kids. We still have developing kids in the VFL. Your list of kids have had game time - yet not striking fear into anyone. You named Jake long, Gleeson and McKenna for god sake.

Maybe wait and see how good Durdin and few others are before comparing to a clearly superior team. Your every chance to be bottom 4 for a third year in a row than to try and take our spot in the top 8.

You also continue to lose your talented players so the chances of all kids still being at Essendon in 5 years is slim to none.

Again dodging the crux of the argument. Have fun falling down the ladder having achieved nothing of importance whilst younger, more talented sides fly past you. Maybe North will pick up some 30 year olds to delay the inevitable this trade period.

 

[Wild Bill]

Again dodging the crux of the argument. Have fun falling down the ladder having achieved nothing of importance whilst younger, more talented sides fly past you. Maybe North will pick up some 30 year olds to delay the inevitable this trade period.

The crux is you believe your kids are better than ours.

Like you did 5 years ago. Happy to go on bumping spree if you like. Every chance it will turn out the same with the Roos being clearly better.

You may not be old enough to be able to remember what it's like to win a final but it's really enjoyable. Especially from 33 points down and winning one in front of over 90,000. You can play this down as nothing of note but it was incredible.

 

[Bomberblitzer]

The crux is you believe your kids are better than ours.

Like you did 5 years ago. Happy to go on bumping spree if you like. Every chance it will turn out the same with the Roos being clearly better.

You may not be old enough to be able to remember what it's like to win a final but it's really enjoyable. Especially from 33 points down and winning one in front of over 90,000. You can play this down as nothing of note but it was incredible.

Every supporter from every team would acknowledge that North has shit youth. Simple as that. Things can change but as it stands North is old and hasn't achieved anything noteworthy for their troubles.

 

[Wild Bill]

Every supporter from every team would acknowledge that North has shit youth. Simple as that. Things can change but as it stands North is old and hasn't achieved anything noteworthy for their troubles.

What's noteworthy? Greatest sanctions of all time?

Every supporter from every team would acknowledge that Essendon is what? How do you think we view your club?

 

[Bomberblitzer]

What's noteworthy? Greatest sanctions of all time?

Every supporter from every team would acknowledge that Essendon is what? How do you think we view your club?

Nice deflecting. Are all North supporters as immature as Brad, or is just you?

 

[Pykie]

Are North fans really trying to argue they have more young talent (i.e. under 23) than us? I mean they've been a better team than us in recent times but surely now with all our kids playing its clear to see that the Bombers are far ahead in that particular area.

Essendon has Darcy Parish, Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett, Aaron Francis, Marty Gleeson, Orazio Fantasia, Dyson Heppell, Kyle Langford, Jayden Laverde, Michael Hartley, Jake Long, Conor McKenna + pick one etc. Obviously most of these guys have more to offer as they continue to develop.

North Melbourne has Anderson, Dumont, Clarke, McDonald, Turner and Wood. I'm not sure if you'd take this group of guys ahead of Essendon's.

Dyson Heppell is 24 and Ben Brown is younger than him, you obviously left off quite a bit.

 

[Bomberblitzer]

Dyson Heppell is 24 and Ben Brown is younger than him, you obviously left off quite a bit.

Do you think that North's bunch are objectively better than Essendon's?

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Getting rid of Brent Harvey would be a very good start,

Stayed for 4 seasons too long!

At this point he's still in the better half of the 2 most games. He'll stay another year if he wants to.
Petrie, Firrito, and a few others (probably Waite despite his early form, dal Santo) should be out the door as soon as possible now. And possibly a few reasonable mid-career players who are clearly not going to make the step up; as happened with Bastinac last year.

North gave it a crack with a dual preliminary final team to see if the next step could be taken. It can't. Time for an orderly transition.