20 hours ago, Ungarie boy said:

Most players rarely reinvent themselves, even those that do normally do so by bringing their strength to a new position/role. Kent is fast and aggressive, but also very lazy and an unreliable kick.  His attack at the contest (getting to it, while the ball is still there to be won; not arriving when the opposition have it and the only option is to apply belated pressure/tackle) was also lacking.  Against the quality of opposition on reported to be on display these poor qualities are not tested or shown out, while the strength will be exemplified.  He is not yet ready.  

On exposed form Hannan, Brayshaw and Stretch seem closest.

Although our defence has looked poor, it seems a lot of this stems from our wings and forward flanks.  Melskam has been out of form and our wings seem to be out of position.  This can be corrected by positional changes, but I believe the coaches are trying to teach players these new roles with an eye on the future.

Easy solution is for Jones to revert to Center and Salem to the wing (allows him space).  Hunt to the back flank to gain confidence is also an easy option. Jones, Lewis can rotate.  I'd look at Vince playing Half forward flank / wing where he could be threatening from 50-60 forcing oppositions to stretch their zones a bit further from goal (give him a checking role on their possession winner, so that he doesn't play lose).

Brayshaw in Bugg would be my option, but Bugg does seem to do a lot of the team things.  

 

 

 

Like your appraisals, but until Bugg learns 2 convert in front of goal he needs 2 spend time at Casey. Missing sodas is a momentum killer.

Interestingly, North have the second youngest list in the competition and second least experienced from a 'games played' point of view.

That said, if North go with an unchanged line-up the tale of the tape is quite similar and they're not nearly as youthful as their list demographic suggests. 

They had a more experienced side than St Kilda on the weekend.  They will also have less sub 50 game players than us and more 100 plus game players.  Their average age was the same as ours last round and games played is close with them averaging slightly more.

Average Attributes
	North Melbourne	Attribute	St Kilda
	187.0cm	Height	188.1cm
	87.4kg	Weight	88.4kg
	25yr 5mth	Age	24yr 10mth
	96.4	Games	82.9

Total Players By Games
	North Melbourne	Games	St Kilda
	7	Less than 50	7
	6	50 to 99	7
	2	100 to 149	4
	7	150 or more	4

Average Attributes
	Brisbane	Attribute	Melbourne
	188.6cm	Height	187.6cm
	87.9kg	Weight	87.6kg
	24yr 1mth	Age	25yr 5mth
	77.1	Games	92.4

Total Players By Games
	Brisbane	Games	Melbourne
	8	Less than 50	9
	7	50 to 99	6
	6	100 to 149	3
	1	150 or more	4

 

With that said there will be no excuses if we can't get the job done.  It shapes as one of the more important matches we've had since this late 2013 rebuild began.  

We simply cannot afford to lose this game and I'll have some concerns if we do.  Hoodoos aren't easy to break, so a one point win will suffice (even though I think we should be a six goal + better side), but a loss will prove the doubters have had justifiable concerns and it will show me that we're not as advanced as I'd hoped and expected.  We have a way to go to be as defensively organised behind the ball as Hawthorn, but I want to see a team that is hard to score against and one that has no mental lapses for 4 quarters.  

Dees by 27 points.

It was mentioned that Salem only had 64% game time.

Did anyone pick up an issue with him? That was the lowest percentage on the team. He makes things happen when he gets the ball and that number seems low for a mid.

salem may also have been playing a run-with player on dayne beams, whose influence was curtailed

On 31/03/2018 at 11:21 PM, Moonshadow said:

Hope Fritsch pulls up OK after the knee in abdomen

What did the AFL do about that tackle? It was very ugly. 

 

I think Lewis is affecting our back line balance (or at least something is) his role as sweeper is effectively what Lever did at the crows. I would have Lever and Hibberd marshaling and sweeping. If Hunt is injured we should rest him.  We seem to have too many half back flankers.

The number one priority is to address the fades we have which seem to be related to our centre clearances, the ball came out too quickly. Last week it was stemmed when Jones went into the middle and we looked a bit harder in there which is why we need Brawshaw if available.  

I like Bugg but if you cant kick you are simply not AFL standard. Surely we have a kicking coach who can drill a routine into him. 

1 hour ago, Demon77 said:

It was mentioned that Salem only had 64% game time.

Did anyone pick up an issue with him? That was the lowest percentage on the team. He makes things happen when he gets the ball and that number seems low for a mid.

Agreed D77

Salem had the lowest time on the ground ... lower even than Fritsch at 69% who was off injured for a while. The bulk of the mids had 80% or thereabouts.

Wonder what was up?

In : Frost, Hannan

Out: Bugg, Wagner

 

Frost just has to play on Brown, Oscar on Waite and for the love of god please let Lever be free.

3 minutes ago, Robbie57 said:

What did the AFL do about that tackle? It was very ugly. 

 

This is in relation to the Fritsch tackle. Anything come of it? Was appalling, dangerous and after he took the mark. Not even a 50m penalty.

He was off the ground getting treatment for some time yet haven't seen any media comentary on it? 

7 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

This is in relation to the Fritsch tackle. Anything come of it? Was appalling, dangerous and after he took the mark. Not even a 50m penalty.

He was off the ground getting treatment for some time yet haven't seen any media comentary on it? 

yes, really ugly and yet nothing. His neck could have been broken. I am gobsmacked its just passed without comment. 

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but Ben Brown scored 5 Brownlow votes from a possible 6 in his two outings against us last year (9 goals in total).

IMO it's imperative we play Frost as a back-up for OMac. We need two competing with him in the air.

3 hours ago, jnrmac said:

Balic has played 4 games at bottom side Fremantle. He's hardly the 'great white hope'. 

Did I say he was...? What an arrogant and antagonistic reply. I was curious as to how he was developing..thought I clearly prefaced that. <snip>

44 minutes ago, M_9 said:

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but Ben Brown scored 5 Brownlow votes from a possible 6 in his two outings against us last year (9 goals in total).

IMO it's imperative we play Frost as a back-up for OMac. We need two competing with him in the air.

My thoughts are the coaches plan to curtail Brown's influence will be to win the midfield battle and pressure across half forward to keep the ball in our half and ensure no easy goals out the back or on the lead into an open 50. They won't want to bring in another tall at the risk of upsetting our team balance. They'll also be relying on our defensive zone to push back and create a 3rd man up against him.

9 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

One change. Frost in for Bugg.

Frost to play on Waite and OMac on Brown.

Petracca to spend more time forward. 

Lewis to play midfield/wing not loose man.

Lever to play as a third defender or loose if we play a seven man defence. Even play him on the wing if they drag him to full back.

They have to [censored] Lewis right out of the backline he is a dead set liability. 

5 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

They have to [censored] Lewis right out of the backline he is a dead set liability. 

I know this gets said a lot so obviously a lot of people agree with you. But I don't. I think he's played his best football for us in the back half. Every mistake he makes gets highlighted but all the good that he does seems to be ignored. I'm very comfortable with him playing as one of our seven defenders.

1 hour ago, Leoncelli_36 said:

Did I say he was...? What an arrogant and antagonistic reply. I was curious as to how he was developing..thought I clearly prefaced that. <snip>

Apols I wasn't trying to be a smart alec.

Just wanted to say that we should have very low expectations.

1 hour ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

My thoughts are the coaches plan to curtail Brown's influence will be to win the midfield battle and pressure across half forward to keep the ball in our half and ensure no easy goals out the back or on the lead into an open 50. They won't want to bring in another tall at the risk of upsetting our team balance. They'll also be relying on our defensive zone to push back and create a 3rd man up against him.

That will absolutely be the plan but I'd suggest that was the same plan we had in the last two outings....and that didn't work out too well.

1 minute ago, jnrmac said:

That will absolutely be the plan but I'd suggest that was the same plan we had in the last two outings....and that didn't work out too well.

Because we lost the midfield battle. 

1 hour ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

 

5 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Because we lost the midfield battle. 

Agree. So if we lose the midfield battle again what flexibility do we have to cover someone like Brown?

5 hours ago, ProDee said:

First good game in 10 ?  We were heading into round 2.

On the sample size of one game you wanted our best small forward, who is a regular 40 goal a year forward, dropped.  He has elite pace and we're light on for pressure forwards.  It didn't make sense to drop him off the back of one game.

It had been quite a few games since his last good one ProDee I also had him in the gun and he responded well but it was about time.

7 minutes ago, loges said:

It had been quite a few games since his last good one ProDee I also had him in the gun and he responded well but it was about time.

I don't take too much notice of JLT matches for proven senior players and I certainly treat 2018 as a clean slate and don't factor in his drop off late last year.

After-all, that would have been highlighted in his exit interview and he'd be under no illusion as to what the coaching staff expected over summer.

We're also not privy to all training sessions, match simulations, etc.  

The poster I was responding to said he wanted him dropped after round one.  Very silly stuff.  I'm not suggesting the spotlight wasn't on him after a less than inspiring round one.  But you have to give your talented players a chance to respond.  He did in spades.

5 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Frost on Waite, OMac on Brown. Sensible. Lever to HBFlank and utility role. 

Bugg out, with Harmes and Salem, too. In with Brayshaw and Hannan, perhaps Kent on the bench.

Lewis out. Maybe bench new Oskar for a wing role. Bernie IN for Lewis loss. Bernie still has it when needed. 

Pedo CHFwd, Hogan FFwd, alongside Garlett and Fritsch. 

Cracker up the R's for those who do not add defensive pressure on opponents, those who do not run and chase, and those who bomb long into the forward line. Big warning for fwds who do not find space, read the incoming play or miss within 40 m of goal.

 

you must be joking we won on saturday maybe one change ,if that. would like to see frost in

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

Just wanted to say that we should have very low expectations.

I think you may have defined being a Dee's supporter.....

3 hours ago, M_9 said:

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but Ben Brown scored 5 Brownlow votes from a possible 6 in his two outings against us last year (9 goals in total).

IMO it's imperative we play Frost as a back-up for OMac. We need two competing with him in the air.

Often we have all 6 defenders competing in the air.  

3 minutes ago, pinkshark said:

Often we have all 6 defenders competing in the air.  

Ugh, so true