Post Match Discussion - Round 18

[Deecisive 1,651]

While I would have obviously liked us to win, it was pleasing that we were so close to port at the end and not just due to poor kicking or us rushing lots of behinds. We were not competitive for a good portion of the match. Yes there were howling stuff ups by the umps, and poor decisiions by players, they will hopefully think more carefully next time. I think we need to remember that we have not had too many occassions where we have been just ahead of the opposition and only have a couple of minutes to go. I am sure Roos will be helping the players reflect on what they should have done. good effort dees

[mauriesy 6,790]

I don't like your choice of comparison.. North have beaten the top 4 teams - its just they also have been beaten by teams below them. They have head problems.

I didn't say North were not capable of beating anyone. Obviously history this year has shown that, although they did get some good teams (Port, Sydney, Collingwood, Freo) much earlier in the season whom they may not beat now.

But when you get behind a team like Carlton, 22 honest workhorses won't drag you in front. You need some outstanding leaders and elite footballers and I just don't think North enough of these players. (We certainly don't either.)

[Cards13 9,117]

I think Stewart is quite lucky to get off. It could potentially be argued that he "braced" but it looked like a bump to me

To be honest I'm amazed he didn't at least get sited. He looked at Jones a long way out and deliberately looked to bump him. He got him

high and took him out. By all of their logic that would at least get points for high and forceful?

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

To be honest I'm amazed he didn't at least get sited. He looked at Jones a long way out and deliberately looked to bump him. He got him

high and took him out. By all of their logic that would at least get points for high and forceful?

I'm more convinced that the MRP base their decisions on reactions in the media rather than actually watching each game and each incident.

[Binmans PA 26,053]

That's 5 maybe even 6 games this year we have held the lead in the last quarter and been beaten. Is this a fitness, composure or belief thing, I think a combination of all three, I think we are another preseason away from having the fitness to play the two way game that is required that is why we have lapses, we still have to many players that just make wrong decisions and we lack the killer instinct to put side away.

Yesterday was stupidity, once again dumb dumb dumb, we panicked when we needed to control the tempo of the game, we tried for the killer blow at the wrong time when we just needed to take time of the clock and once again it wasn't our youngsters it was our leaders they need to learn what is needed to win.

Take away that we played badly for 40 mins of the first and second quarters, we still had a chance to win and we made bad decisions.

I think you have it with the composure and belief angle. Our fitness seems to be pretty good. Not as good as Port's, but if you looked at many of their players yesterday, they appeared exhausted in the third term and we seemed fine. When you've got belief and an ability to execute, it's amazing how the luck will come your way. Fill the team with more good decision makers and we'll win these games.

I think we've been one of the best four win sides I can recall. If we did sit on 10 wins, with Brisbane and GWS to come, we'd be a chance of sneaking into the 8. On this basis, if we can improve our squad and learn how to win, it's not beyond doubt that we win 10-12 games next year. That said, we need to inject a lot more good decision makers, if that's to happen.

[low flying Robbo 979]

To be honest I'm amazed he didn't at least get sited. He looked at Jones a long way out and deliberately looked to bump him. He got him

high and took him out. By all of their logic that would at least get points for high and forceful?

Just watched the AFL MRP review video and I just don't get it anymore... They are saying it was accidental, but I'm pretty sure I see him change direction and initiate the contact...

[sue 8,430]

Just finally was able to watch the match. Was expecting at least an 8 goal loss. So was very pleasantly surprised despite that disappointment at the end. I've only bothered to read the first lot of postings in this thread and was surprised at the negativity. It was a brilliant effort despite the bungles - compare it to most of the rest of the season and it looks great.

I am not always able to watch the match live and can't attend matches but I always know if we win or lose before I do get to see a replay. Do I have a sixth sense? Sadly no. It is just that every time we win the MFC sends out a gloating email presumably to boost the enthusiasm of members. I do have to check my emails so I always know the result. If they do it again (yes we may win another game) I will explode in the club's direction.

[DemonOX 8,530]

No Nutbean its not.The question is; they are young we are young and they run out games better than most. So why cant our team?

Where have u been the last 7 yrs jack?

We haven't had a proper coach and the development of players has been non existent. As for fitness we r only just starting to get that right cause of Roos and Co.

[Tatu 416]

Anyone with any awareness of other professional competitions around the world saw it coming.

are you saying we should accept the corruption because it happens in other competitions? That we should just watch the performance each week, like we watch neighbours...

Personally id prefer to see legitimate results...

I dont really follow other professional competitions, so i guess I'm alone in not seeing money corrupt our game...

[Cards13 9,117]

Just watched the AFL MRP review video and I just don't get it anymore... They are saying it was accidental, but I'm pretty sure I see him change direction and initiate the contact...

Absolutely eyed him up and took him out, head high, forceful... Week. Buuup boooow no charge to answer, baffled.

[samcantstandya 919]

Tappy and Blease probably just did enough today to stick around next week. Both showed flashes of the players they can be. Hope these two make it.

Me 2.

[jackaub 1,402]

Where have u been the last 7 yrs jack?

We haven't had a proper coach and the development of players has been non existent. As for fitness we r only just starting to get that right cause of Roos and Co.

Ohh Dear is that right? So what sort of club allows that to happen Its just the bare minimum to expect fit players

[nutbean 8,837]

Ohh Dear is that right? So what sort of club allows that to happen Its just the bare minimum to expect fit players

What sort of club ? That's an easy question - our club. We have had years of complacency and setting the bar low. Misson came onboard and was horrified at the fitness levels of our players and intimated it would take 3 preseasons to get us to the level of the top clubs. The problem is that in the past 3 preseasons the other teams have gotten even fitter.

The issue is not that we are not fit. The issue is that other teams are fitter and stronger.

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

No friggin leadership when we needed it.

Who were the leaders when we needed them.

Grimes.... Stuffed up

Jones.......Stuffed up

Frawley....Stuffed up

Dawes......Stuffed up

Dunn........Stuffed up

This is what has cost us at least 5 wins this year.

Edit : When defence was required did we have anyone behind the ball?............NO

Edited July 21, 2014 by Chippy

[Optimus D 283]

One of the aspects of the modern game that annoys me most is that teams allow the opposition to switch the play from one side of the ground easily and without pressure when coming out of defence. I was at the game on Sunday and Port often had a chain of 4 or 5 players across the ground doing just this.

I cannot understand why players are not dropped back to play man on man on a least 2 players in the chain therefore the player with the ball either has to attempt a riskier long kick to a free man or are forced to kick to a contested situation up the ground. I hate it when opposition players rake up easy possessions in these situations and move the ball often without pressure.

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,615]

Did anyone else think Schutz's last mark was touched by Dunny . I thought the ball actually deviated off his hand before falling into Schultz's arms .Dunny thought so,too, and the ump must have had some doubt, or he would have penalised Dunn for tackling him after taking the mark.

It wasn't obvious from a different angle in slow motion, but in real time, I was sure it was touched.(before I saw Dunny claiming touched).

Similarly, with the Wyngard free from Watts, the ump tried to "soften" the decision against Watts by putting Wyngard on a far greater angle than he should have been on. There must have been doubt in his mind. If Watts wasn't watching the ball, how did he knock it away so cleanly.?? Error.

And early in the game when Stewart bumped Jones in the head, then Port got a soft free for a goal.

Don't try to tell me that the result wasn't affected by the umpiring.

Meanwhile, I thought it was our best performance of the season.

I just watched the replay and I must correct myself about the Stewart incident. There was no "soft free". After Stewart deliberately KO'd Jones with a bump to the head, Gray got the ball and was well tackled. He disposed of the ball with one hand after trying to evade the tackler ,after holding the ball for an eternity......an absolutely definite free not paid. Stewart then gathered the ball and snapped what was , ultimately ,the deciding goal. No report, no free, and the winning goal. And some sycophants claim the umps don't affect the result of the match!!!!!

[nutbean 8,837]

One of the aspects of the modern game that annoys me most is that teams allow the opposition to switch the play from one side of the ground easily and without pressure when coming out of defence. I was at the game on Sunday and Port often had a chain of 4 or 5 players across the ground doing just this.

I cannot understand why players are not dropped back to play man on man on a least 2 players in the chain therefore the player with the ball either has to attempt a riskier long kick to a free man or are forced to kick to a contested situation up the ground. I hate it when opposition players rake up easy possessions in these situations and move the ball often without pressure.

Modern football - one extra in defense will always allow this to happen. What it should mean though is no matter how many times they chip it around the backline, the backmen should look further down the field and see their forwards manned up with our extra defender in the hole making it necessary for the defenders to go laterally again or do a 20 metre chip pass.

What irks me is that sometimes we give up the 20 metre chip pass going forward too easily.

[Cards13 9,117]

One of the aspects of the modern game that annoys me most is that teams allow the opposition to switch the play from one side of the ground easily and without pressure when coming out of defence. I was at the game on Sunday and Port often had a chain of 4 or 5 players across the ground doing just this.

I cannot understand why players are not dropped back to play man on man on a least 2 players in the chain therefore the player with the ball either has to attempt a riskier long kick to a free man or are forced to kick to a contested situation up the ground. I hate it when opposition players rake up easy possessions in these situations and move the ball often without pressure.

No offence OD but have you tried to play the game the way it is played now? It is very very difficult to try and play the game in today’s format. Your need to run fwd to support but then to push back to cover space makes your fitness demands so high it is not funny and when you turn the ball over or have a quick kick out against you it is almost impossible to cover the around the ground switch. It has been in soccer and basketball for years prior to footy and it is a proven technique to break down an opposition defence.

[Slartibartfast 15,761]

He's doing a job at the moment. If he keeps doing that, he'll keep getting games.

He kept Boak under 20 possessions today. He had 39 last week.

He kept Boak to the second lowest number of possessions he's had this year.

If Boak had had 40 possessions the same people ignoring Jordie's input would be asking why we didn't tag him.

It's the football equivalent of being colour blind.

[jnrmac 18,954]

Just finally was able to watch the match. Was expecting at least an 8 goal loss.

On the basis of your natural pessimism or the fact we beat Adealide at Adelaide oval or the fact we led Port in Darwin in the last quarter?

Just sayin.....

[Deez 298]

looks like bernie might have gotten lucky with his throat whack on cornes. seems to have been overlooked.

Edited July 22, 2014 by Deez

[mauriesy 6,790]

One of the aspects of the modern game that annoys me most is that teams allow the opposition to switch the play from one side of the ground easily and without pressure when coming out of defence. I was at the game on Sunday and Port often had a chain of 4 or 5 players across the ground doing just this.

I don't particularly care how easily they kick the ball around in their back half, as long as they can't kick it easily past centre and inside 50.

Players properly covering the corridor can easily then move over to the other side of the ground, even if the opposition have six kicks to get it down there.

[DemonOX 8,530]

Ohh Dear is that right? So what sort of club allows that to happen Its just the bare minimum to expect fit players

Our club has not had a "bare minimum" of ANYTHING for the last 7 yrs and this is why we have been a basket case.

How old are u jack?

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,397]

Our club has not had a "bare minimum" of ANYTHING for the last 7 yrs and this is why we have been a basket case.

How old are u jack?

Correction: We've had a "bare minimum of wins". And enjoyment.

[sue 8,430]

On the basis of your natural pessimism or the fact we beat Adealide at Adelaide oval or the fact we led Port in Darwin in the last quarter?

Just sayin.....

on the basis of the form of the last few weeks (and later on, of having 6 unanswered goals kicked against us). I thought I was noted for my natural over-optimistic nature....