
The reason they will break Hawthorns record is Denis Pagan.
North have never really had a strong playing list under Pagan. It certainly hasn't been weak, but it has never had the best playing list in any given year. He took over a team that hadn't made the finals in 6 years, and had just suffered a humiliating Ansett Cup loss to the Crows by 150 points in early 1993.
The only difference that North experienced in 1993 when they became a good side was the arrival of Denis Pagan. I might add that Carey won Norths best and fairest in 1992. A lot of people like to use Carey as an "excuse" as to why North are a good side.
It's not becasue of Carey. It's because of Pagan. I'm sure Buckley would help if Pagan went to Collingwood for example. Pagan is a genius. He is easily the AFL's best coach. To do what he has donw, with the list he has is remarkable.
The team he took over hadn't made the finals for 6 years. He took them to half a game of top in 1993 (should have been top), and then the next 6 years, he made 6 consecutive preliminary finals. The on-field playing list now is only a shadow of what it was in 1993, so why are they still good ?
It's because of Pagan.
Look at the under 19's. When Pagan coached the under 19's, he got them into 9 consecutive Grand Finals. Now as we all know, in the under 19's there is a complete turnover of players every two years,isn' there ? Yet he kept on having success, even though the playing list changed every two years. Why ?
You can't say : "But he had good players to work with"
That's rubbish. Did North Melbourne under 19's coincidentally have the best playing list 9 years in a row ? Of course not. Pagan was the reason. He was the only constant.
Pagan then left North under 19's and took over Essendon reserves. He took them, in just one season to 22-3 (including finals) and the premiership. He then left and started caoching North seniors.
So, why is he so successful ? Why ?
He uses a simple, efficient, effective game plan based on percentages. In the long run, percentages can't fail. It's impossible. If North play the "percentages" for 120 minutes, more often than not they will end up with a higher score.
They also :
1.) Centre the ball at every opportunity. When North go forward they ALWAYS centre the ball. Last year, North were the most accurate kicking team in the competition, not because they kick accurately, but because they have their shots from the best positions. Why don't other teams do this ??
2.) They chip it around a bit in the backline, before, kicking it LONG from Centre half back to the forward line. They use the corridor at all times.
3.) They handball less than any othe team in the competiton. They work on an "efficiency" principle. Kicks go longer, and get more "yardage", so this is the most efficient way to gain ground and score.
4.) Becasue players know their team rules, they can kick without spending five seconds looking for an option. When North get the ball in the centre, or at half back, they kick to a position on the ground, not a person. They kick it long to their tallest marking target (whoever that happens to be)
Other teams spend vital seconds looking up the field at their options. North don't do this, becasure they know exactly what to do when they get the ball. This make them look quicker than they really are.
5.) They DON'T use a possession game. Now, a possession game can be successful with a SKILLED team. North are not, and have never been that "skilled". The less they possess the ball, the better they are. The less they poseess it, the less chance there is of them mucking it up.
Also, because they kick it long, there can't really be "clangers". The worst thing that will happen is that the kick slews off the side of the boot to a 50/50 contest. You don't need to be skilled to do this. It's called a "smart game plan". North basically get the ball, and kick it long. Not blindly, but to a system. This eliminates the need for quick decision making, and eliminates errors, because even if an error does happen, it is an error due to a long kick, which mean the ball is upfield, anyway !
6.) The forward line is kept open, and players run TOWARDS goal, rather than away from it. For 100 years, the traditional full-rorward has led AWAY from goal. North run back towrads goal instead, which, as well as making it easier for them, put the opposition defender under enourmous pressure. The opposition defender is running towards the opposition goals, which is not an envious proposition.
These are the main reasons, why North has been successful since Pagan took over. And it's why they will continure to be for as long as he is cocah. I firmly believe that North will break Hawthorns record of 13 consecutive finals appearances. I'm telling you, the playing list has nearly NOTHING to do with it.
Obviously Pagan couldn't do what he has done with Willimastown 4ths, but as long as he as AFL calibre players at his disosal, they will continue to have success. The man is a freak. North don't have much depth, and their "overall" team skill level is not that big (compared to Essendon and Carlton), but if you play the percentages, again and again, as North do, you are GUARANTEED to win more than you lose.
This year Essendon and Carlton are having success, due more to the TALENT at their disposal. Essendon and Carlton can get away with over-possessing becasue the players have such good skill. If North adopted a similar game plan, they would fail miserably. Essendon can get away with "leading into the pockets", and "handballing 5 times when only one will do", because the skill level of the playing list allows them to get away with that.
Denis Pagan eliminates the need for the best team to have the best playing list. He know that the best team (over a period of time), dosn't necessarily have to have the best playing list as long as that sub-standard list plays efficient, percentage football.
North do this, and will therefore continue to be in the top couple of team for however long Denis is coach. I predict 20 consecutive Finals appearances, and 13 or 14 consecutive preliminary finals, as long as Denis os coach. This year will be their 7th consecutive preliminary final. I think they can double that as long as this great coach is still there.
North have never really had a strong playing list under Pagan. It certainly hasn't been weak, but it has never had the best playing list in any given year. He took over a team that hadn't made the finals in 6 years, and had just suffered a humiliating Ansett Cup loss to the Crows by 150 points in early 1993.
The only difference that North experienced in 1993 when they became a good side was the arrival of Denis Pagan. I might add that Carey won Norths best and fairest in 1992. A lot of people like to use Carey as an "excuse" as to why North are a good side.
It's not becasue of Carey. It's because of Pagan. I'm sure Buckley would help if Pagan went to Collingwood for example. Pagan is a genius. He is easily the AFL's best coach. To do what he has donw, with the list he has is remarkable.
The team he took over hadn't made the finals for 6 years. He took them to half a game of top in 1993 (should have been top), and then the next 6 years, he made 6 consecutive preliminary finals. The on-field playing list now is only a shadow of what it was in 1993, so why are they still good ?
It's because of Pagan.
Look at the under 19's. When Pagan coached the under 19's, he got them into 9 consecutive Grand Finals. Now as we all know, in the under 19's there is a complete turnover of players every two years,isn' there ? Yet he kept on having success, even though the playing list changed every two years. Why ?
You can't say : "But he had good players to work with"
That's rubbish. Did North Melbourne under 19's coincidentally have the best playing list 9 years in a row ? Of course not. Pagan was the reason. He was the only constant.
Pagan then left North under 19's and took over Essendon reserves. He took them, in just one season to 22-3 (including finals) and the premiership. He then left and started caoching North seniors.
So, why is he so successful ? Why ?
He uses a simple, efficient, effective game plan based on percentages. In the long run, percentages can't fail. It's impossible. If North play the "percentages" for 120 minutes, more often than not they will end up with a higher score.
They also :
1.) Centre the ball at every opportunity. When North go forward they ALWAYS centre the ball. Last year, North were the most accurate kicking team in the competition, not because they kick accurately, but because they have their shots from the best positions. Why don't other teams do this ??
2.) They chip it around a bit in the backline, before, kicking it LONG from Centre half back to the forward line. They use the corridor at all times.
3.) They handball less than any othe team in the competiton. They work on an "efficiency" principle. Kicks go longer, and get more "yardage", so this is the most efficient way to gain ground and score.
4.) Becasue players know their team rules, they can kick without spending five seconds looking for an option. When North get the ball in the centre, or at half back, they kick to a position on the ground, not a person. They kick it long to their tallest marking target (whoever that happens to be)
Other teams spend vital seconds looking up the field at their options. North don't do this, becasure they know exactly what to do when they get the ball. This make them look quicker than they really are.
5.) They DON'T use a possession game. Now, a possession game can be successful with a SKILLED team. North are not, and have never been that "skilled". The less they possess the ball, the better they are. The less they poseess it, the less chance there is of them mucking it up.
Also, because they kick it long, there can't really be "clangers". The worst thing that will happen is that the kick slews off the side of the boot to a 50/50 contest. You don't need to be skilled to do this. It's called a "smart game plan". North basically get the ball, and kick it long. Not blindly, but to a system. This eliminates the need for quick decision making, and eliminates errors, because even if an error does happen, it is an error due to a long kick, which mean the ball is upfield, anyway !
6.) The forward line is kept open, and players run TOWARDS goal, rather than away from it. For 100 years, the traditional full-rorward has led AWAY from goal. North run back towrads goal instead, which, as well as making it easier for them, put the opposition defender under enourmous pressure. The opposition defender is running towards the opposition goals, which is not an envious proposition.
These are the main reasons, why North has been successful since Pagan took over. And it's why they will continure to be for as long as he is cocah. I firmly believe that North will break Hawthorns record of 13 consecutive finals appearances. I'm telling you, the playing list has nearly NOTHING to do with it.
Obviously Pagan couldn't do what he has done with Willimastown 4ths, but as long as he as AFL calibre players at his disosal, they will continue to have success. The man is a freak. North don't have much depth, and their "overall" team skill level is not that big (compared to Essendon and Carlton), but if you play the percentages, again and again, as North do, you are GUARANTEED to win more than you lose.
This year Essendon and Carlton are having success, due more to the TALENT at their disposal. Essendon and Carlton can get away with over-possessing becasue the players have such good skill. If North adopted a similar game plan, they would fail miserably. Essendon can get away with "leading into the pockets", and "handballing 5 times when only one will do", because the skill level of the playing list allows them to get away with that.
Denis Pagan eliminates the need for the best team to have the best playing list. He know that the best team (over a period of time), dosn't necessarily have to have the best playing list as long as that sub-standard list plays efficient, percentage football.
North do this, and will therefore continue to be in the top couple of team for however long Denis is coach. I predict 20 consecutive Finals appearances, and 13 or 14 consecutive preliminary finals, as long as Denis os coach. This year will be their 7th consecutive preliminary final. I think they can double that as long as this great coach is still there.