Thought our intensity after the first quarter was ok today with an average midfield and makeshift forward line.

Thought Paul Johnson and Chris Johnson were both good and Buckley showed some real spark that opened up the game for us at times. I think he is doing the right thing in taking the game on instead of playing safe. better than not learning anything.

Though Jamar was ok today as well, but have still yet to see enough in Juice to get me excited enough. JUst too far one dimensional and cannot keep his feet in the contest.

Morton played well as well, which was good to see. Less said about Sylvia the better today.

Disappointed to see Dunn lose his cool and make some costly mistakes. To be reported twice in such a short time is pretty bloody dumb.

Also JMac's disposal today was atrocious. For the most experienced player on the ground today, to see him kick the ball straight to a Roos player was a disgrace.

IMO, it was one of our worst games for the year. Fortunately, it was also North Melb worst game of the year.

Agreed.

We were lazy, we lacked intensity, our lack of tackling was pathetic, our ability to win clearances was non-existant, we couldn't hit a target by hand or by foot, and we played incredibly dumb (sometimes selfish) football.

The worst part of the day was that our 2 most senior players, and captains, were nowhere to be seen and had an absolute shocker.

Add to that the creepy attack of the seagulls all over the ground, the freezing weather and the pathetic morons who get paid to umpire the game, and it was not a good day for football.

IMO, it was one of our worst games for the year. Fortunately, it was also North Melb worst game of the year.

Geez thats a bit harsh, i thought after our first quarter we improved immensely and i think we at least held Nth Melbourne for each of those quarters.

Where to start...

Given our state at quarter time, today could have been a lot worse. After the midfield was completely unable to find the ball in the first 30 minutes, we at least battled the rest of the game out in that area. I thought we should have made up more ground than 8 points after the first break, but gifted North almost all of their goals after quarter time with our own errors or utter stupidity. Valenti battled hard. Buckley frustrates me. He finds so much of the ball, but his decision-making and skill level is irritatingly ordinary. Newton doesn't seem to realise he is playing for his career. North were very poor for three quarters, let's not forget that.

And what price Bradley Miller for the All-Australian CHF spot?

Disappointed to see Dunn lose his cool and make some costly mistakes. To be reported twice in such a short time is pretty bloody dumb.

Also JMac's disposal today was atrocious. For the most experienced player on the ground today, to see him kick the ball straight to a Roos player was a disgrace.

Reported twice only because of over officiating – no problem with what Dunn did because Harvey was acting it up.

Am with you on JMac

Add to that the creepy attack of the seagulls all over the ground, the freezing weather and the pathetic morons who get paid to umpire the game, and it was not a good day for football.

A Kangaroo's supporter about 3 seats over to my right felt the full brunt of the 'attack', copping a fresh, steaming bird-poo on his head. Poor guy. I'm just glad it wasnt me.

After today, we can clearly see that our forward line has serious deficiencies. Newton is just not any good, and we really need a replacement and fast. I think it showed how important it is to get Watts

Terrible game today. Was flat but the end result wasn't too bad i guess.

PS. Scott McLaren is a disgrace. What a tool

Woeful first quarter but after that we at least had a crack despite some unbelievably bad turnovers. I would hazard a guess that at least 9 of North`s goals were from turnovers. Liked the way the boys started the last quarter with very good intensity and had a sniff for a few moments. We won the second half which has been rare for 2 years! Can`t remember being so bloody cold at a game of footy in a long time.

Thought Sandy did OK vs North at the MCG today....

Thought Sandy did OK vs North at the MCG today....

Cleverrrrrrr!

How much do we miss Green ATM?

How much do we miss Green ATM?

absolutely miss greeny.... and on today , it was a SHOCKER. PJ, Buckley CJ and Miller played well.... some triers but the rest forget it !!! :angry:

I think only the margin made the loss look "honourable", the overall standard was officially rated as "embarrassing". Understandable given the relative inexperience of the side and the number of players missing, but we shouldn't be deluded - there was nothing honourable about our skills and the fact that we made only four tackles in the first quarter.

I thought we were not much better today skill wise, than we were early in the season, but we were not pants by 100 points.

This tells me that this young group is showing a bit more resolve than some of their soon to be retired elder teamates, and are learning how to defensivley stop the bleeding when needed.

Now, if we could just get first hands on the ball and have a target to kick to(apologies to B.Miller)......

Thought Sandy did OK vs North at the MCG today....

haha good one

What in the HELL was with 11, ELEVEN, tackles in the first half?!?!

Two years ago we averaged 16 per quarter, today was inept. We looked better after 1/4 time obviously, save for some poor decision making/players in the half forward line, but 11 tackles in a half, 4 in a quarter you lose by 6 goals should definitely be addressed

Almost fell over when i saw it on the scoreboard.

And i know many people will probably have a teary over this, but Bruce's disposal of the footy today was just awful. A guy who is an awesome runner and knows how to find it, but 20 touches at 55% efficiency is just not good enough, not to mention that includes about 3-4 hospital handballs behind a player and one selfish snap around the corner from 45 out

Not as good as the scoreboard attendants in the Olympic Stand

Not as good as the scoreboard attendants in the Olympic Stand

Yeah, that was a bit of a farce, eh? Lucky for me I was facing the other way.

Agreed.

We were lazy, we lacked intensity, our lack of tackling was pathetic, our ability to win clearances was non-existant, we couldn't hit a target by hand or by foot, and we played incredibly dumb (sometimes selfish) football.

The worst part of the day was that our 2 most senior players, and captains, were nowhere to be seen and had an absolute shocker.

Add to that the creepy attack of the seagulls all over the ground, the freezing weather and the pathetic morons who get paid to umpire the game, and it was not a good day for football.

You are certainly a tough critic Jaded. This week we had two invisible men, our co -captains who were quote,'nowhere to be seen'. Junior had 26 possessions and Bruce 20.( A lower number of posessions than his usual high quota). Did you attend the game? Bruce also laid 4 tackles and ran his usual 15 kilometres in pain. They tried their guts out for the team as they do EVERY week. 46 possessions but not one seen by you! Be fair and don't be a knocker.

I think only the margin made the loss look "honourable", the overall standard was officially rated as "embarrassing". Understandable given the relative inexperience of the side and the number of players missing, but we shouldn't be deluded - there was nothing honourable about our skills and the fact that we made only four tackles in the first quarter.

I agree - the way we played, the margin could have easily been at least double what it was, and no one would be talking about an 'honourable' loss.

I thought it was a very disappointing performance (relative to recent performances, which have generally been disappointing when seen in isolation).

I guess the Kangaroos did enough to win, but they looked pretty poor for a team that's now ranked #5, thanks to a few upsets.

Can`t remember being so bloody cold at a game of footy in a long time.

Same

We had a young side uo against a team with finals aspirations. After half time, I don't think North kicked a goal without it being due to a gift from the maggots or from a self-inflicted turnover. Considering we had McLean, Green, Rivers, Wheatley, Moloney and Aussie out and we're not playing most of our over 30's, North should be ashamed that they won by less than 5 goals.

just watching the replay. First half down... gees it is hard work waching it.

Terrible, lackluster, lazy first qtr.

Bell had one of the worst first qtrs of footy ever. 3 goals in the first 6 mins from his direct opponent. 2nd qtr he was battling away well trying to provide run out of the back half.

Newton was not as bad as I would have thought in first half. Dropped a couple of marks he clrearly should have taken but he was leading hard, running and chasing the whole time. Didn't think it was a lazy half from him

Miller was good for the opportunities he had.

Junior had a terrible first half coming back into the side.

PJ looked really good. His skill below the knees is fantastic and his kicking is good.

Bucks was running very hard but turn overs sometimes. Whether or not that is a result of lack of movement up the ground or not is hard to see on a replay

Our midfielders were nowhere to be seen in the first qtr at all, very ave display. Working back into it in 2nd qtr.

Sylvia is frustrating. He is the almost there... always looks like he is almost there but never quite gets there. Will he come on that next step next season. Will it be at MFC?

Jamar was not sighted.

Davey might be in trouble along with Newton for reports. Mclaren's reports on Dunn were ridiculous.

You are certainly a tough critic Jaded. This week we had two invisible men, our co -captains who were quote,'nowhere to be seen'. Junior had 26 possessions and Bruce 20.( A lower number of posessions than his usual high quota). Did you attend the game? Bruce also laid 4 tackles and ran his usual 15 kilometres in pain. They tried their guts out for the team as they do EVERY week. 46 possessions but not one seen by you! Be fair and don't be a knocker.

But what did either do with them? they were terrible for what they should be able to do, junior I'll give some slack cos he has just come back from injury, but he looked mighty slow today, neither were damaging today.

I think Juice is gone at years end, he might be ok in a team that hold a forwards structure and can deliver it well but that's not us and wont be for a few years yet.

I took a lot of positives out of this game, we fielded again a very inexperienced team and we learnt a little bit more about our young list. Despite there being almost nothing to play for they played a good defensive game (after the first quarter).

Throw Rivers/Petterd in for Bell. Drop Newton for Watts. And I think we would have been a couple of goals closer to them at least.