Around the League Round 6

[chook fowler 19,458]

I hate North. Come on dogs.

[Moonshadow 17,676]

A game of terrible mistakes and turnovers by both teams, almost farcical. 

[Demon Head 273]

Everything about the game is substandard.

Disposal, marking, decision making and of course, the umpiring.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

This game is painful.

[sue 9,104]

How are these teams at the top of the ladder?  Not sure who is the worst - probably the umpires.

[Deemented Are Go! 3,677]

3 minutes ago, AngryAtCasey said:

Is this the worst 1st v 2nd match ever?

Yes

[What 18,810]

This game reminds me of the Carlton-Freo game last week.

Except its the top 2 playing, not bottom 2.

[mrtwister 652]

Finally. Some Doggies forwards working together. 

 

And then rhat happens

[Moonshadow 17,676]

Could it be that the interchange cap has exhausted the players so much that skill levels have dropped?

[chook fowler 19,458]

The Dogs will plummet. Not enough depth to cover their injuries 

[Nasher 33,616]

This is absolutely awful.  It beggars belief that this is 1st vs 2nd.

[monoccular 17,428]

Awful game, but does this in any way dispel the "conventional wisdom " / myth that if you play your talls at Docklands you don't  win?

[chook fowler 19,458]

Harvey, Thomas and Brad Scott - a lot to dislike 

[mrtwister 652]

2 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Awful game, but does this in any way dispel the "conventional wisdom " / myth that if you play your talls at Docklands you don't  win?

I think it means if you play slightly less crap than your opposition, you win. 

[sue 9,104]

6 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Could it be that the interchange cap has exhausted the players so much that skill levels have dropped?

no, because they have played badly all night.

[DubDee 25,860]

Another game I've noticed where the team with more possession and inside fifties loses

dogs had 80 more touches. 15 more contested and 10 more inside 50,s. 

Ive noticed this a few times this year, not sure if this is a trend or coincidence. 

Contested possessions used to be a good marker of who will win

[Macca 16,967]

The Doggies bombed it in far too much tonight .. the leading patterns from their forwards hasn't been there and they've made it easy for the North defenders.  And too many of their forwards got caught out playing from behind.

Poor execution forward of centre ... they had enough of the ball to win the game but their game plan lacked imagination.  56 inside 50's for only 6 goals is a poor return.

Edited April 29, 2016 by Macca

[Moonshadow 17,676]

Stringer had a shocker, matched only by the umpiring.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

And to think, instead of watching that farce i could have gone out and had dinner at a vegan restaurant! 

[RalphiusMaximus 6,052]

It's interesting to look at how the Doggies get their clearances and contested ball wins.  It's not through having better or harder players.  They just get  lot of players to the ball.  We saw over and over again that the Doggies would have two or three extra players at the contest and when they lost it gave North an easy outlet.  I think we'll exploit that as well.  With Gawn and guys like Viney and Tyson getting first hands, we should be able to suck them in too close and get the free ball on the outside. 

This game also reinforced the impression I had in round one that while they run hard and get plenty of ball, the Doggies are actually a really poor kicking side.  Given the efficiency we're developing in attack, I think we'll see quite a few turnover goals against them in a few weeks. 

[mrtwister 652]

I'm not convinced that either of the teams are that great. NM have hardly beaten anyone of note except Adelaide and that as at Etihad. The Doggies 4 wins have been against teams in the bottom 6. 

If NM don't finish in the top 4 this year they never will. They only have 5 games away from their home stadium all year. 

Such a joke. 

[Whispering_Jack 30,102]

46 minutes ago, mrtwister said:

I'm not convinced that either of the teams are that great. NM have hardly beaten anyone of note except Adelaide and that as at Etihad. The Doggies 4 wins have been against teams in the bottom 6. 

And all of the Doggies' games so far have been at Etihad.

When we play them in a fortnight, it will be their first game away from their home ground.

[mrtwister 652]

2 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

And all of the Doggies' games so far have been at Etihad.

When we play them in a fortnight, it will be their first game away from their home ground.

Seems ridiculous doesn't it? They'll be 7 games in and won't have set foot anywhere other than their home ground.

[Lucifers Hero 39,779]

5 minutes ago, mrtwister said:

Seems ridiculous doesn't it? They'll be 7 games in and won't have set foot anywhere other than their home ground.

I suspect that was the deal struck with the afl for not getting a 'home' final last year.  They get more games at ES and prime time free to air games in 2016.

More wins, more members means more everything good.

Our turn will come.

[jnrmac 20,061]

I think I saw the worst ever deliberate OOB tonight and that is saying something. What a farce.

And did anyone else note the number of times players are now deliberately throwing the ball instead of handballing.

The umps stand in the corridor and can't see some of the stuff that happens nar the boundary.