Saturday Talking Point: The NAB Challenge

[whatwhat say what 22,658]

pies, dogs, cats, dockers, hawks, and kangas all look like pretty handy sides.

[Sir Why You Little 36,955]

18 minutes ago, DemonAndrew said:

pies, dogs, cats, dockers, hawks, and kangas all look like pretty handy sides.

Nought are going to be obliterated  unless Whorethorn pull the handbrake...

[whatwhat say what 22,658]

first half they were really good.

 

hawks are just a steamrolling machine. easter monday should be a ripper with dangerfield in the sort of form he's in currently.

[DeeSpencer 25,437]

Might only be a practice match but the Hawks still look so superior to any other side. They are so good at getting in the right spots defensively and instantly going from defending to attack. 

Bulldogs were very good today as well and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt in the second half. Their good footy is as good as any other team but their personnel isn't as good right now.

North and the Pies have plenty of talent but don't see to have nearly the same level of defensive smarts or ball movement as the Dogs and Hawks showed. Freo and Geel are a bit like that too. 

Not as impressed by Richmond, Sydney or Port. All had positives but I get the feeling they aren't as good as others right now. Same for Adelaide. 

Besides from what happens with us I'm keen to see West Coast and GWS. They should both win easily and show their class tomorrow.

[whatwhat say what 22,658]

Richmond looked awful, Port weren't much better and Sydney would have to have some concerns you'd think.

 

Crows and Gold Coast were an interesting match up I thought - hard to know what the Suns are actually going to be like until the little master returns, but they definitely look to lack tall goal kicking options. Crows looks like they're just going to be super competitive and tough to beat but not in the class of the best six or so sides in the comp.

[Willmoy1947 4,081]

Really interesting watching Mitchell tonight against North. The way that his "immediate proximity" team mates protect him to the point of delivery by him

to a position of advantage. They usually have no intention of  taking a handball unless he is being tackled. There is a "go to man" and a "get from man"

If he has unimpeded delivery it is usually super effective and can be devastating.

To play/ nullify him is another story, ambidextrous and ambifootstrous would be a necessity.

[Whispering_Jack 29,758]

One team and one team alone can replace Fremantle from the top of the tree as the NAB Challenge reaches a crescendo on the last day of a memorable series:-

Fremantle 3 - - 242 168 144.0 12

Collingwood 3 - - 323 305 105.9 12

Melbourne 2 - - 167 136 122.8 8

Sydney 2 1 - 252 223 116.1 8

Adelaide 2 1 -  324 201 107.6 8

Hawthorn 2 1 - 211 216 97.7 8

Geelong 1 2 - 305 238 128.2 4

Western Bulldogs 1 2 - 269 252 106.7 4

Port Adelaide 1 2 - 229 221 103.6 4

GWS Giants 1 1 - 167 164 101.8 4

Gold Coast Suns 1 2 - 204 207 98.6 4

North Melbourne 1 2 - 274 283 96.8 4

Richmond 1 2 - 179 216 82.9 4

Essendon 1 1 - 119 146 81.5 4

West Coast 1 1 - 103 200 51.5 4

Brisbane Lions - 1 1 43 68 63.2 2 *

St Kilda - 1 1 73 117 62.4 2 *

Carlton - 3 - 136 239 56.9 0

* Abandoned match 6/3/16 unofficially called a draw. 

[Cards13 9,117]

Caught the first qtr of the Dogs game, Boyd did a couple of nice things. 

[CBDees 3,167]

3 hours ago, Cards13 said:

Caught the first qtr of the Dogs game, Boyd did a couple of nice things. 

I'd still prefer Tyson and Salem.

[rjay 24,852]

14 hours ago, DemonAndrew said:

Richmond looked awful, Port weren't much better and Sydney would have to have some concerns you'd think.

 

Crows and Gold Coast were an interesting match up I thought - hard to know what the Suns are actually going to be like until the little master returns, but they definitely look to lack tall goal kicking options. Crows looks like they're just going to be super competitive and tough to beat but not in the class of the best six or so sides in the comp.

The only thing that will save Richmond is their draw, getting EFC and Carlton twice. Still think they will struggle to make the 8 though.

This could be the year for the Swans, the year they really do struggle. No one wants to write them off and they traditionally start slow but I think they may struggle to make the 8. Good mid field, some good forwards but in the past they have generated a lot of attack from defence and like to play rope a dope.

Their defence is ageing and they've lost key components plus they have no ruck strength (really miss mummy and now Pike gone). 

Edited March 13, 2016 by rjay

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Interested to see how a full strength GWS goes against Brisbane.  They've looked pretty good in their first two games but I still think we can match them.

[Sideshow Bob 2,341]

Lions giving the giants a little touch up at present 30 to 13 at quarter time in a first quarter that looks terrible.

Both sides going in slow motion. If this is it for the giants they're not going to worry us in rd 1. Stevie J looks well past it or perhaps just like a bloke getting a retirement cheque and not giving a duck about a praccy match

Edited March 13, 2016 by jako13
they're there and there.... stupid auto correct getting my grammar wrong

[Wiseblood 24,637]

14 minutes ago, jako13 said:

Lions giving the giants a little touch up at present 30 to 13 at quarter time in a first quarter that looks terrible.

Both sides going in slow motion. If this is it for the giants they're not going to worry us in rd 1. Stevie J looks well past it or perhaps just like a bloke getting a retirement cheque and not giving a duck about a praccy match

Spoke a bit too soon Jako, Stevie J has 3 before half time.  Not quite past it yet.

[Sir Why You Little 36,955]

24 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Spoke a bit too soon Jako, Stevie J has 3 before half time.  Not quite past it yet.

Stevie J will be an excellent recruit if he stays fit. 

Our backline will need to play well in Round 1

line ball decision as to whether Geelong were a year too early...

[whatwhat say what 22,658]

Stevie J is brilliant to watch. Would happily have had in our side and we'd be three goals better off per game - he is involved in at least that many per match.

 

Dude is an absolute freak.

[DeeSpencer 25,437]

10 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Stevie J will be an excellent recruit if he stays fit. 

Our backline will need to play well in Round 1

line ball decision as to whether Geelong were a year too early...

I don't think Geelong are planning to be at their best this year or even next. They know they need a couple of years for the recruits to settle in and for their kids to come good. Looking 2018-2020 by which time Stevie J, Lonergan, Mackie, Bartel and Enright will all be gone. They plan to have Selwood, Harry Taylor and Hawkins winning flags at 30+ just as the Hawks have done with so many old guys still playing at their peak. So they needed the room to give games to Cockatoo, Lang, Gregson etc instead of having Stevie J on a forward flank.

[Moonshadow 17,675]

Cockatoo will go at least 3 weeks for his sling tackle on Johnson. Lifted up off ground, pinned arms, slammed head first into the ground nearly knocking him out. 

[Sir Why You Little 36,955]

2 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

I don't think Geelong are planning to be at their best this year or even next. They know they need a couple of years for the recruits to settle in and for their kids to come good. Looking 2018-2020 by which time Stevie J, Lonergan, Mackie, Bartel and Enright will all be gone. They plan to have Selwood, Harry Taylor and Hawkins winning flags at 30+ just as the Hawks have done with so many old guys still playing at their peak. So they needed the room to give games to Cockatoo, Lang, Gregson etc instead of having Stevie J on a forward flank.

Yes i know the theory. I just wonder whether they went a year too early

we will know very soon 

[DeeSpencer 25,437]

Just now, Sir Why You Little said:

Yes i know the theory. I just wonder whether they went a year too early

we will know very soon 

Doesn't matter how he players, It will only be if Geelong get close and he would've been the difference maker. Which I doubt. I think there will still be a huge gap between them and the top teams.

[Sir Why You Little 36,955]

5 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Doesn't matter how he players, It will only be if Geelong get close and he would've been the difference maker. Which I doubt. I think there will still be a huge gap between them and the top teams.

You could well be right. He is still a very smart Big Game player though

Popcorn??

[scarlett 247]

cameron may be out for a high bump for our round 1 clash

[whatwhat say what 22,658]

If Sandilands went for his hit, Cameron should go too.

 

But I bet he doesn't.

[Cards13 9,117]

Ess down by over 100 with 5mins to go in the 3rd. Love it!!! 

Edited March 13, 2016 by Cards13

[daisycutter 29,600]

1 minute ago, Cards13 said:

Ess down by over 100 with 5mins to go in the 3rd. Love it!!! 

near the end of 3rd Q and essendrugs have over 100 interchanges. how does that work?

[bing181 9,193]

Jamar with 2 goals, Don's equal top scorer. 

Says something about where they are. Long season ahead, but I wonder which team they'll beat.