Today is the day of the game; the game is on today. Hence the title. Duh.

So ... is anyone else very interested to see how Cam Pedersen will go today against his old team?

The guy is 26 and is in the first year of a THREE YEAR CONTRACT (I know, right?).

He is in his prime, and should be a leader on the field. This is his chance to make something of himself. Let's hope he can.

And ... Go!

Who the hell decided it would be a good idea to sign Cam Pedersen to a 3 year contract? I just can't believe somebody would think that was a good idea.

Anyway...

Hopefully we show some fight today, previously the week after Darwin hasn't been to kind.

Cam Pederson - not up to it

"previously the week after Darwin hasn't been too kind."

Add our favourite venue to that and a disrespected opponent in the media, desperate to show their ability, and there's a recipe.

I'm heading in with a Roo's mate and am very nervous. A mild pasting I've grown to accept and I only hope we can keep it fewer than 10.

Annual game v North at Ethiad = annual loss.

We will get raped. I just hope we dont stop having a crack

No rational reason to believe we can win today.

Why not though?

It's only Norf.

Somebody smack Brent Harvey immediately .

Get a good start-and who knows.

Somebody smack Brent Harvey immediately .

That'd make me as happy as a five goal win these days.

Sometimes if you cant win the games then winning the fights is the way to go.

Is it just me or are we all a bit harsh on Pederson? Yes he squibbed a couple of contests in his few games, and he can look a little casual, but considering his value as depth, versatility and the fact he probably is on little more than 150k a season makes me think he probably isn't our biggest issue. He kicks well, can take a mark and provides a bit of run out of the backline. He has some pretty obvious flaws, but even though he has been signed for 3 years, his position on the list as a handy 4th defender isn't probably the biggest issue on pur list.

I do hope he has a solid game and plays pretty hard for his sake though.

Get a good start-and who knows.

I think we got a good start a couple of years ago when we kicked 6 of the first 7 and then blew a 4 goal lead at quarter time (Jurrah & Juice 2 each). Scott made a couple of changes, Harvey staged a few and before we knew it they were in front. Lost by 7 goals.

I swore I'd never come back to Etihad.

Melbourne fans need to harden up about Etihad. It's oval shaped, has grass on it and is located in the CBD.

I'm surprised at all the gloom and doom on this thread about a North Melbourne hoodoo at this stage of the morning. It surely couldn't be the consensus among Demon fans these days because we have a 16 page thread elsewhere titled "Melbourne has moved on from Roos".

Melbourne fans need to harden up about Etihad. It's oval shaped, has grass on it and is located in the CBD.

You would think that it shouldn't be an issue. Under bailey we played terrible football there.

Under Neeld it was all pretty bad where ever we went so i forgot about how we hadnt played well there.

we haven't won there since 06 i think?

Lets see how they play the ground under old man craig.

I think we're a very, very good chance today - for one reason alone.

There's no doubting North will have a handy lead late...and we all know what happens then!

Melbourne fans need to harden up about Etihad. It's oval shaped, has grass on it and is located in the CBD.

And presumably it hasn't only got goal posts at one end.

Hopefully we show some fight today, previously the week after Darwin hasn't been to kind.

As opposed to all the other weeks, that have been kind? Most of the time the week after we play anywhere is unkind. We lose so often that it's impossible to say if Darwin is a factor or not.

Today is the day of the game; the game is on today. Hence the title. Duh.

So ... is anyone else very interested to see how Cam Pedersen will go today against his old team?

The guy is 26 and is in the first year of a THREE YEAR CONTRACT (I know, right?).

He is in his prime, and should be a leader on the field. This is his chance to make something of himself. Let's hope he can.

And ... Go!

An inside source has told me the players are very [censored] off he is on the money he is on as they dont rate him at all...

There will be over 20,000 there today it may even be more if north members get this game as a substitute match for there tassie games. We can win today we need to get the ball onto our forward 50 there backline is no good

Is it just me or are we all a bit harsh on Pederson? Yes he squibbed a couple of contests in his few games, and he can look a little casual, but considering his value as depth, versatility and the fact he probably is on little more than 150k a season makes me think he probably isn't our biggest issue. He kicks well, can take a mark and provides a bit of run out of the backline. He has some pretty obvious flaws, but even though he has been signed for 3 years, his position on the list as a handy 4th defender isn't probably the biggest issue on pur list.

I do hope he has a solid game and plays pretty hard for his sake though.

150K? Haha if only.

Didn't we beat Collingwood in a Nab cup game last year at Etihad?

Finally, we are a club that seems to be rebuilding. Lets all have patience as we now have the right man running the place.

If we get inside 8 goals of North today I will be amazed. We are coming off two energy sapping slow tracks in the rain of Geelong and the heat of Darwin to play probably our biggest bogey side at our biggest bogey ground which happens to be the fastest track in the land. Everything says massacre to me but I will be there as thats what you do.

I'm curious to see how much playing in darwin last week holds us back this week, half expecting a fairly sluggish game from our boys.

I put 20 on at 16 to 1 for a win in a two horse race.

If we are in it for the first 15 minutes we are in it for a long way.

It's a big if but there are some midfield improvements happening with Max and Fitzy on the ball.

I'm hoping for a massive input from Pedo to justify his career and contract.

Go Redlegs.

I put 20 on at 16 to 1 for a win in a two horse race.

If we are in it for the first 15 minutes we are in it for a long way.

It's a big if but there are some midfield improvements happening with Max and Fitzy on the ball.

I'm hoping for a massive input from Pedo to justify his career and contract.

Go Redlegs.

I also have money on us, based on the off chance that i would find money and take it as a sign haha.

But i do think we can win, i think North will come very very hard at us early on and try and blow the game apart, if we're able to hold our nerve it will be game on,

looking for a big game from Jones, dawes, howe and Watts and some more improvement from Trenners and Grimes