1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

Backline:
Lever was sensational - it's just a matter of how to get him, Hibberd and Hunt in the best positions and surrounded by the right players. 
Oscar started slowly and was lucky Brown was off early but he got stronger as the game went on and he's a nice kick around the ground. 
Bernie and Wagner both started poorly and improved
Lewis was good, but not 100% DE!
Brayshaw looked solid off half back

Predicted 7 for Rd 1: Oscar, Lever, Hunt, Hibberd, Jetta, Lewis, 1 of Brayshaw/Wagner/Vince

Midfield:
Gawn was great. Clarry started slow but built up. Jones' fast kicking in space was great after some early rust. Petracca explosive. Salem silky. Harmes consistent and strong. Stretch not strong enough but his run opened up great options, it's a matter of weighing up what he produced. Maynard crash and bash and not far off it.

Predicted 8 for round 1: Gawn, Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Jones, Salem, Harmes, 1of Tyson/Stretch

Forwards:
Tommy presented hard. Hogan had some great moments and leapt well and looked to impress at the drop of the ball. Fritsch was flighty early but classy, his attacking game looks up to standard, it's just a matter of what he can bring defensively. ANB very solid. Melksham with some quality. Bugg worked hard all game. Hannan did some nice things. Pedersen limited game time it seemed.

Predicted 7 for round 1: T Mc, Hogan, ANB, Melksham, 3 of Hannan/Bugg/Garlett/Fritsch

Lever sensational???? I thought he was very very average! Stretch not up to it and never will be. Stopped at one stage and hesitated cards are marked if I were to judge. Maynard reasonable, Wagner not bad, Brayshaw might struggle for a game.

If Max gets injured we are in all sorts. He was phenomenal today. Fritsch reminds me of Yze, Clarry Choo Choo great , Lewis 1st half sensational, Bernie terrific, Salem superb, Hogan dangerous and Melksham has become a hard at it player. Good signs ahead. Oh and Oscar continues to improve but need Frost for Wagner IMO

Felt it was a very even team performance.

If there were standouts, I'd say Melksham, Gawn, ANB and probably Harmes were up there.

But Oliver grew into the game, exhibiting unusually sloppy ballhandling early on, but as the pressure dropped off, his hands became really important.

Our transition from back to front was impressive despite the lack of pressure at times.

Jones looked a little rusty too. And I'm still not convinced we can play both Vince and Lewis in the same team. Teams will look to exploit their lack of pace at every opportunity. But we'll see.

Really looking forward to the season ahead, although the Kangaroos should finish in the bottom 4.

1 minute ago, picket fence said:

Oh and Oscar continues to improve but need Frost for Wagner IMO

I think you mean Jetta for Wagner

57 minutes ago, layzie said:

I was actually impressed with Oscar. Sure he did get done for a few holds but I thought he showed more confidence with his kicking and hit some key targets. There’s gonna be time when he’s playing above his weight but hopefully having someone like Lever there to block up the holes will free him up a bit.

Yep, he marked a few as intercepts, he did kick several accurately to a position or a player moving into a position and these were as good as you could expect. It is an improvement on last year so there is some hope for a better 2018. I just believe Tom is our best resource for FBK for marking, kicking and positioning, and his ability to clear or destroy opponents' marks through his spoiling/punching skills. 

Did north have their best team out  there  is there anyone important for to came back?

11 minutes ago, A F said:

If there were standouts, I'd say Melksham, Gawn, ANB and probably Harmes were up there.

But Oliver grew into the game, exhibiting unusually sloppy ballhandling early on, but as the pressure dropped off, his hands became really important.

Our transition from back to front was impressive despite the lack of pressure at times.

Jones looked a little rusty too. And I'm still not convinced we can play both Vince and Lewis in the same team.

I would add gutsy Bugg, Salem's poise and delivery, and Tracca's drive to the 'standout' list. Gawn was great all game.

 

19 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I agree with most of your analysis Dee, but this is a head scratcher.

It's the JLT series and we've flagged that we want to use Jesse in the midfield a little more.  It's the perfect time to trial it when there are no points up for grabs and losing a couple of centre clearances means nothing.  If the experiment doesn't work, then I assume we don't do it much at all in the future.  It's harmless to do it now.

To suggest sticking him in there a little today makes a mockery of getting rid of Jack Watts, that he's out laziest trainer etc is one of the most bizzare things I've read on here.  Seems like an outrageous over-reaction to me.

We've trialled it several times before with him in previous seasons and it hasn't worked - he's no Garry Lyon - isn't a quick enough decision-maker.

As I've said elsewhere, happy for him to be trialled in the ruck when Gawny rests because he has the natural tank for that role. But sick of genuine midfielders losing their chance at glory to a petulant, albeit freakish, natural talent. 

1 hour ago, GawnWithTheWind said:

Judging on the back of today’s performance, my opinion of the team in round 1 is shaping up to be..

FB: Hibberd - O-Mac - Jetta

HB: Lewis - Lever - Hunt

C: Salem - Viney - Harmes

HF: ANB - Hogan - Melksham

FF: Fritch - TMac - Garlett

R: Gawn - Trac - Oliver

I: Tyson - Chunk - Vince - Hannan 

E: Bugg - Brayshaw - Pedo

Nathan Jones not in the starting 18 ? Your brave!  Angus to miss Round 1 only if injured. The depth is getting deeper and deeper and some will have to work harder to maintain their positions in the side. Only a Jlt. However it's a good start. Bring it on.

4 minutes ago, Deespicable said:

We've trialled it several times before with him in previous seasons and it hasn't worked - he's no Garry Lyon - isn't a quick enough decision-maker.

As I've said elsewhere, happy for him to be trialled in the ruck when Gawny rests because he has the natural tank for that role. But sick of genuine midfielders losing their chance at glory to a petulant, albeit freakish, natural talent. 

Have we?  That's news to me.  We might have thrown him in there rarely during the main season, but I don't recall us doing it 'several times'.

But your opinion is totally blinded by some sort of hatred for the bloke, which is evident in your last few posts.  Not sure what you have against him, but it seems as if he's personally offended you or something.

Lever played well but not 'sensational'.

He is class. Though made at least 3 bad errors, two of which that cost us goals. The indecision and holding onto the ball and getting be pinged as a result  right in front of goals. Failing to spoil an easy mark to the smallish north player who is prematurely balding.

And most frustrating of all when in the second quarter he spoiled a marking attempt, didn't kill it, hit into into the corridor and straight to a north player, releasing him to carry the ball though the center and into an open north forward line. Lucky for him that TMac's younger brother wrapped up Brown, got the ball over the boundary line and saved another goal from his errors. But he is young and will learn.  

Nice win. Anyone else think the navy of our jumper was a really, really dark navy. Loved it. 

See how Bitchmond are beating Essonscum. Maybe it is a hint of what’s to come in the season ahead.

Meh.

Norf are our bishes.

 

38 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I agree with most of your analysis Dee, but this is a head scratcher.

It's the JLT series and we've flagged that we want to use Jesse in the midfield a little more.  It's the perfect time to trial it when there are no points up for grabs and losing a couple of centre clearances means nothing.  If the experiment doesn't work, then I assume we don't do it much at all in the future.  It's harmless to do it now.

To suggest sticking him in there a little today makes a mockery of getting rid of Jack Watts, that he's out laziest trainer etc is one of the most bizzare things I've read on here.  Seems like an outrageous over-reaction to me.

I'm not sure the playing of Jesse in the midfield is an experiment in testing him out as. midfielder. I have a feeling it is only going to be used to get him into games when things aren't going his way or to unbalance opposition match ups at the start of games/quarters. They're probably giving him more time in the middle during JLTs to get him used to our midfield under match conditions.

7 minutes ago, binman said:

Lever played well but not 'sensational'.

He is class. Though made at least 3 bad errors, two of which that cost us goals. The indecision and holding onto the ball and getting be pinged as a result  right in front of goals. Failing to spoil an easy mark to the smallish north player who is prematurely balding.

And most frustrating of all when in the second quarter he spoiled a marking attempt, didn't kill it, hit into into the corridor and straight to a north player, releasing him to carry the ball though the center and into an open north forward line. Lucky for him that TMac's younger brother wrapped up Brown, got the ball over the boundary line and saved another goal from his errors. But he is young and will learn.  

Welcome to the Dees Lever..... where we focus on 3 things you did in a 50 point win first practice game of the year and not the other dozen times you made great decisions, made north second guess coming through the middle by floating back or killed contest.

1 minute ago, ding said:

Meh.

Norf are our bishes.

 

I hope this post ages well considering it is your 1000th post. Congrats.

1 hour ago, ProDee said:

I sometimes wonder what people watch.  I've been critical of Oscar at times, but he showed his development today.  He spoiled well, he's a far better kick than his Brother and hits targets, and he outbodied Brown to win a 1v1 marking contest.  He looks stronger and more composed.  And he's 3-4 years from his best footy.  

McDonald takes Brown.  Brown is beaten and has a stinker.  McDonald is criticised. 

Amazing isn't it.

Some just can't believe what they see.

Oscar has been on a steady improve all through last season.

Centre square:  Gawn taps to Harmes: goal.  Sublime!  If that's a sign of things to come ......

That Tigers v Bombers score is an eye opener.

Not as though Bombers weren't playing their near best team.

PS: Apparently it is 33 degrees in Wangaratta so perhaps that is some excuse for the Bombers

Edited February 24, 20187 yr by Diamond_Jim

Bayley looked like he has real footy smarts. Him and Hannan and jeffy will be fighting for spots.

 

Anb and harmes impressed.

 

Hogan looked strong and Lever is gonna be worth every cent and then some.

 

Good hitout. Hopefully sign of things to come this season.

 

11 minutes ago, tappysquads said:

Welcome to the Dees Lever..... where we focus on 3 things you did in a 50 point win first practice game of the year and not the other dozen times you made great decisions, made north second guess coming through the middle by floating back or killed contest.

Yes agree tappy. It is silly to focus on the errors some players make not what they do well, particularly when it is a function of confirmation bias, i will stop doing it and hope others do as well. 

9 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

That Tigers v Bombers score is an eye opener.

Not as though Bombers weren't playing their near best team.

PS: Apparently it is 33 degrees in Wangaratta so perhaps that is some excuse for the Bombers

But I don’t see why it would give Richmond an advantage over them.

Both winners today booted 19.10.124.   

The other interesting statistic is Essendon had almost as many possessions as the Tigers. We easily outstripped North possession- wise.

Edited February 24, 20187 yr by dieter

42 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Have we?  That's news to me.  We might have thrown him in there rarely during the main season, but I don't recall us doing it 'several times'.

But your opinion is totally blinded by some sort of hatred for the bloke, which is evident in your last few posts.  Not sure what you have against him, but it seems as if he's personally offended you or something.

He went in a few times last preseason. The first time he went in the middle got 3 clearances in a row. Also a game against Port he got a couple too. 

So I’m not sure “hasn’t worked” is correct.