POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs North Melbourne

[Lucifers Hero 40,489]

We have a nice balance of small forwards:  Spargo and ANB play defensive fwds and protect the mids.  Kozzie and Chandler the pack scouts and attacking forwards while still doing their defensive jobs.

The tall fwds may need a bit of tweaking but we don't have a weakness on any line  And four premiership players outside the team:  Salem, Petty, TMc and Brown (five if we add Harmes). 

This may sound odd but I'm glad we have lost two games.  Allows us to go under the radar a little.  Especially with Carlton being the new 'love child'.

We are building nicely.  Very good chance we will be 10.3 at the bye.  Then go from there.

Edited April 30, 2023 by Lucifers Hero

[pitmaster 3,588]

9 hours ago, monoccular said:

Some guy on talkback SEN complaining about the last 5 minutes - we did have a 5 day break FFS.  Tracc at interview said that they were all absolutely buggered.  

Funny that- Goodwin made a similar slightly offhand comment in the same vein of disappointment.

 I remember the times we could not be relied on to win the obvious ones so happy to have the win but giving up a 100-point marker takes the edge off.

[BDA 22,961]

JVR had a quite night but the one chance he had, he nailed it from a tight angle. He has a great mentality.

We can't expect him to lead the line though. He's just a 5 gamer. We really need BB back in the side. 

[leave it to deever 17,564]

1 minute ago, BDA said:

JVR had a quite night but the one chance he had, he nailed it from a tight angle. He has a great mentality.

We can't expect him to lead the line though. He's just a 5 gamer. We really need BB back in the side. 

Yep. I'm more hopeful for Bbb than Tmac. I know Max will help out up fwd but his accuracy at goal is still a work in progress. Bbb back to his 21 form will go a long way to help cement another flag.

The obvious upside to our fwd line is Fritta is firing and Chandler is starting to shine like a star. Kozzie will string together more similar performances and with ANb, Chandler and Spargo, Kozzie can spend more time in the middle.

Aside from Bbb what other tall  options do we have up fwd rather than Petty or Schache? 

[leave it to deever 17,564]

1 hour ago, Dee Zephyr said:

People in the second row heard the snap i

Oh my goodness. Poor bloke. You know it's bad too when they don't show the replay. Sometimes I know I should step back and admire the courage of all these young men and women who play this great game and try and be less critical. 

Edited April 29, 2023 by leave it to deever

[ElDiablo14 5,011]

29 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

I had Chandler as a 'journeyman' type player.  He has very quickly become a key part of our line up.

Very impressive performance last night.  He has had quite a few shots from difficult angles recently and slotted them all.  Has great goal sense.  Reads the play really well giving him good fieldd positions.  Clubs may try and curtail his impact in future but hey they can't stop everyone!!

Most will struggle if they have to stop both Chandler and Kozzy.

[Lucifers Hero 40,489]

Thought Jordon had just an ok game with little impact offensively or defensively, even tho he played 83% game time.

Not sure last night helped his cause to stay in the 22.  Not saying he should be dropped.  Just not showing what many on here hoped he would. 

[Lucifers Hero 40,489]

1 minute ago, ElDiablo14 said:

Most will struggle if they have to stop both Chandler and Kozzy.

That was my point!

[Adam The God 30,542]

26 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

We have a nice balance of small forwards:  Spargo and ANB play defensive fwds and protect the mids.  Kozzie and Chandler the pack scouts and attacking forwards while still doing their defensive jobs.

The tall fwds may need a bit of tweaking but we don't have a weakness on any line  And four premiership players outside the team:  Salem, Petty, TMc and Brown. 

This may sound odd but I'm glad we have lost two games.  Allows us to go under the radar a little.  Especially with Carlton being the new 'love child'.

We are building nicely.  Very good chance we will be 10.3 at the bye.  Then go from there.

It was more how we lost those games that worries me. But everyone has had an off week or two.

3 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Thought Jordon had just an ok game with little impact offensively or defensively, even tho he played 83% game time.

Not sure last night helped his cause to stay in the 22.  Not saying he should be dropped.  Just not showing what many on here hoped he would. 

I felt he provided really good defensive transition, he would get back hard and fill holes and leading lanes to clog up North space, and then provided an option on the outside going the other way.

[fr_ap 2,531]

11 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Thought Jordon had just an ok game with little impact offensively or defensively, even tho he played 83% game time.

Not sure last night helped his cause to stay in the 22.  Not saying he should be dropped.  Just not showing what many on here hoped he would. 

Wasn't his best, his handballing was below standard as well hitting either grass or a metre behind his opponent. He makes up for it with sheer hard work and for a slower player his defensive pressure is very good

[Lucifers Hero 40,489]

4 minutes ago, A F said:

It was more how we lost those games that worries me. But everyone has had an off week or two.

I felt he provided really good defensive transition, he would get back hard and fill holes and leading lanes to clog up North space, and then provided an option on the outside going the other way.

I'm not too worried about the two losses as we were without Max and either May/Lever in each game.  And we came back with strong final quarters in both games.

Yeah, I thought Jordon had an ok game but not sure it is enough to keep him in the 22 as other players return.

[picket fence 17,752]

10 hours ago, Vipercrunch said:

They both fitted in the team fine before Spargo injury.  Why can’t that continue?

Who is he going to replace?

[DeeSpencer 26,094]

9 hours ago, demon3165 said:

And that will be the problem with today's style, it was a problem last year and remains so, if watch the replay there are numerous time the ball could have gone across the ground to players on there own with no one near them but we just kept going long, I will ask you this how do you think we will go against the pies defence and movement?

If you don’t go fairly long and direct against any team and especially a side like the Pies they’ll have folded 15 behind the ball and then you’re in trouble too.

I thought the first half was about the perfect balance last night. Forwards were getting deep and opening up space. Mids and backs were running and then using the half forwards and corridor.

Tracc, Nibbler, Pickett and Chandler were all buzzing up around half forward and getting it to leading targets.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

27 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

We have a nice balance of small forwards:  Spargo and ANB play defensive fwds and protect the mids.  Kozzie and Chandler the pack scouts and attacking forwards while still doing their defensive jobs.

The tall fwds may need a bit of tweaking but we don't have a weakness on any line  And four premiership players outside the team:  Salem, Petty, TMc and Brown. 

This may sound odd but I'm glad we have lost two games.  Allows us to go under the radar a little.  Especially with Carlton being the new 'love child'.

We are building nicely.  Very good chance we will be 10.3 at the bye.  Then go from there.

Nice LH

Note:  The AFL's love child (Carlton) is now in year 11 residing at AFL's boarding school.  Rumour has it he has had to repeat a number of years, however officials from the AFL are still confident he will graduate very soon and are happy to continue his long running scholarship, free tuition etc.

P.S. His older sister (Geelong) graduated last year.

[layzie 34,151]

Break out the orange aid.

[dees189227 12,441]

Steven may wasn't happy we coughed up the last 3 either. I think it's a good thing some players were a bit annoyed by that. It shows just how good we want to be.

[kev martin 10,501]

I thought the Roos banner, something about 5 interstate games, was a bit defeatist. The players look at that, feel tired, and have an excuse. They need motivational, emotional messages.

Edited April 30, 2023 by kev martin

[Macca 17,088]

4 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

JVR seemed to 'under-run' many of his opportunities against North. Slight misinterpretation of the incoming weaponry but getting to the front is critical and he certainly achieved this, taking a key opposition defender with him, out of the hot zone. 

He also likes to fly from behind a little too often and the coach won't be happy with that ... thus, he very nearly got dragged last week.  Looks exciting to us but not a great percentage play

Weideman did the same nearly all the time and most forwards who ultimately don't make it usually have the same fault

But van Rooyen has enormous potential and he is learning on the job.  But he is far from the finished article

Running under the ball is just a rookie mistake and a timing issue.  And these days, playing as a key forward is infinitely harder than it was back in the day

My expectations aren't huge so he doesn't have to be a gun footballer anytime soon.  Just play his role and adhere to team rules

He's progressing well and will most likely stay in the team for the foreseeable future.  Schache is first out if Brown or T-Mac can regain form

Edited April 30, 2023 by Macca

[jnrmac 20,207]

Was great to see the team not take their foot off the pedal - bar the last 3 goals :(

As good as the final margin was they worked hard defensively all night and even when Kozzie was streaming towards goal he checked himself and delivered a pin point perfect pass to a team mate in a better position. Could so easily have blazed away. For me that was particularly pleasing.

I think the team were really focused tonight on team play and structure. Our defence has been patchy most of the season but this was a complete performance that cemented the game plan and was thoroughly disciplined by all.

Now to Gold Coast and Hawthorn....

 

 

 

 

[jnrmac 20,207]

We are 7 and 0 for last quarters this year.

Burgess meh.... 

:)

[kev martin 10,501]

I noticed a sneaky car park area some were using.

It is between the on/off area to the domain tunnel, making for quick access to the freeway, or Batman ave.

It is on a service road that leads to the electrical station of the tunnel, via a dirt road.

To get to the MCG, cross the domain tunnel rd and go up the back stairs of AAMI park.

The other sneaky park is near punt rd, with an entrance under the freeway, off punt Rd heading north.

 

Edited April 30, 2023 by kev martin

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Class act by Goody to commence his post-match presser by wishing Comben and his family well. People in the second row heard the snap it was that nasty. 
Great touch by Gawn and Lever also by going over to Comben when play was halted for a little tap on the shoulder. 

That’s what I said at the time and was quickly told that Ricky only went over to fetch his mouth-guard. Talk about letting the truth get in the way of a good story. 😂

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,935]

Sounds odd to be saying this in a fairly 90 point win, but I (along with I suspect many others) thought that that at times our ball movement, forward entries and lack of a strong marking option up forward was at times horrible.  We often overused the ball by hand and didn't use the clear options we had down the ground by foot.

I like what I see with JVR in so many respects, but I don't think he's anything like ready to be our main goto option in big games.  Schache did a few good things (his foot passing was exceptional), but overall didn't impact as much as I'd like. 

Anyone other than North or the other well at dwellers last night and I think these things could have become a big issue and the 4 points could have been at risk.

That said, or small are burning.  Chandler has and continues to be a revelation.  Kossie was back to his best and his selfless pass to Chanler late in the game shows how he continues to mature and evolve.  ANB continues to have a great season and Fritta is just Fritta and nearly every time he gets the ball around goals, you want him to be selfish and have a shot, because that's his role and his conversion is so elite.

That all said, I like that we are daring to experiment and try to do things differently to go to that next level.  ROOOO and Schache will likely get better with more exposure to the team at the top level.  Getting back Petty and / or an in form T Mac / BBB up forward would help as well.

If we'd played to our potential there was a 150+ point thrashing up for grabs.

[jnrmac 20,207]

2 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

30,000.  Small profit in those numbers. 
Two home games within 5 days.
Plenty showed up on Anzac Eve. 

Very few Kangas fans given their situation, think they’ve zoned out !! 

 

We are the home team against Richmond, Collingwood, Carlton this year. We will do OK at the gate.

[kev martin 10,501]

At times last night, the  quietness of the crowd allowed me to hear all the noise the players make.

Loved the talking we do, mainly structural, calling for the ball, encouragement, from what I could make sense of. 

I could hear it from the Q area (level 4) of the Warne Stand.

The MCC has been opening the AFL Reserve Q area, to anyone, on those small crowd nights, so, was able to get a seat right in front of the wing area.

Edited April 30, 2023 by kev martin