GAMEDAY: Match SIM vs North Melbourne

[Dee*ceiving 1,736]

Could only want for AMW to have a swift recovery after that performance. Lot's to like... 

[Fanatique Demon 2,695]

2 minutes ago, BC_1718_DC said:

Harsh on Jefferson🤔

I said not so impressive. You were impressed by Jefferson today? 

[biggestred 5,259]

Jeffo still a year away i think. right spots, just needs another preseason of strength work to build up and he'll hold those marks and not be outbodied anymore like he was a few times today. but he'll make it.

[BLWNBA 1,477]

Outside of the potentially deviating result to AMW, I actually thought this was a pretty impressive result given our omissions against an almost full strength North. 
 

Sharp was really impressive and I thought AJ did a lot right when he was on. Campbell is a great addition as a ready to go depth player, and St Francis and Langford could be two of our most important additions since we brought in Petracca and Gus together. 

[Deemania since 56 6,767]

2 hours ago, DeeZone said:

33-27 our favour Roos just snagged one.

Thank you, DZ, a Far King score, at last. Scores are the output of the efforts of players on both sides, in essence.

[BC_1718_DC 1,717]

1 minute ago, Fanatique Demon said:

I said not so impressive. You were impressed by Jefferson today? 

‘Impressed’ would be exaggerating but I think for his first competitive hit out with the “big boys” he showed enough. Had shots on goal, showed some ground level work and got his hands to it. Always room to improve for a young key forward but with an actual run at it I think he’ll play games at senior level this year and kick goals with better players around him. (Considering who we were missing). 

[Lexinator 1,836]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1270304/north-melbourne-kangaroos-v-melbourne-demons-2025-afl-match-simulation-match-report

AFL match report for those who couldn't watch today.

[old dee 24,018]

Gee the MFC site is so far telling us nine tenths of nothing about the game. I watched the first half then sadly had to go out. Their only item is a 1 minute video of early in the game. Perhaps I am just expecting too much but surely good results mean membership numbers increase. 

[Cranky Franky 2,239]

20 minutes ago, bush demon said:

He was like a dumb extra. It was always Skull Murphy who applied the sleeper hold...

Did you actually see the wrestling ????

Mark Lewin did the sleeper hold although Tiger Singh had a variation.

Skull Murphy's speciality was the head button.

[titan_uranus 25,191]

As much as the result is pleasing given we had 10-12 best 22 out and they had maybe 2 out, it was a practice match so the result is largely meaningless. 

For those who were able to watch, I’m far more interested in our game plan - how did we set up, did we press high, how did we move the ball, etc?

[picket fence 18,013]

59 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Is Johnson playing?  Surely he should be the relief ruck. 

Agree what are they thinking??

[old dee 24,018]

15 minutes ago, biggestred said:

Jeffo still a year away i think. right spots, just needs another preseason of strength work to build up and he'll hold those marks and not be outbodied anymore like he was a few times today. but he'll make it.

If he is a year away he won't make it. 

[DeeSpencer 26,408]

15 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

I don’t know why they didn’t go with AJ in place of Jeffo. He does provide that 2nd ruck option to chop out Gawn. I don’t know if that’s the plan with Campbell.

Bill already has his ticket punched and Jeffo looking to be that way as well unfortunately for the both of them. 
 

I did however think Chandler worked really hard playing in that role. Often goes unnoticed as it’s a forward defensive role. 

AJ came on fresh in the ruck against a teenager and looked great but that doesn’t mean we need him for the 15% of game time Max will rest.

Jeffo was chosen because he replaced Fritsch which allowed Turner and JVR to play their roles as they will round 1.

Im yet to see anything that changes my mind that we will just play the 2 talls, Fritsch, Tracc and Langford.

[DeeZone 10,434]

Agree old Dee, the boys put on a clinic in the second half, Rooey, Sharp, Lindsay, AJ, TC, AMW (until that dumb half Arzzed tackle) the whole team really pulled away from the Roos. Our fitness really stood out and a 46 point win was a bit of a tonic in terrible conditions, thought that Billings, Spaz, Rick and Disco also stood out but no passengers today. I can’t believe that I left Clayton, Riv & Kozz out. AG punches well above his weight.😁👍

Edited 18 hours ago by DeeZone
Clayton, Riv & Kozz

[picket fence 18,013]

21 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

I don’t know why they didn’t go with AJ in place of Jeffo. He does provide that 2nd ruck option to chop out Gawn. I don’t know if that’s the plan with Campbell.

Bill already has his ticket punched and Jeffo looking to be that way as well unfortunately for the both of them. 
 

I did however think Chandler worked really hard playing in that role. Often goes unnoticed as it’s a forward defensive role. 

Chandler NEVER does enough in my book and yep agree Laurie wont make it, but Jeffo showed good signs Imo!

[Demons11 7,108]

1 minute ago, picket fence said:

Chandler NEVER does enough in my book and yep agree Laurie wont make it, but Jeffo showed good signs Imo!

It’s the 1st preseason game and you’ve already called them done??? Cmon mate! 

[Fanatique Demon 2,695]

19 minutes ago, BC_1718_DC said:

‘Impressed’ would be exaggerating but I think for his first competitive hit out with the “big boys” he showed enough. Had shots on goal, showed some ground level work and got his hands to it. Always room to improve for a young key forward but with an actual run at it I think he’ll play games at senior level this year and kick goals with better players around him. (Considering who we were missing). 

So we’re talking about impressive versus showed enough. Fine.

[bush demon 2,185]

8 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

Did you actually see the wrestling ????

Mark Lewin did the sleeper hold although Tiger Singh had a variation.

Skull Murphy's speciality was the head button.

Must admit, my memory has faded. The head-butt, l guess you meant there...

[DeeZone 10,434]

2 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Chandler NEVER does enough in my book and yep agree Laurie wont make it, but Jeffo showed good signs Imo!

I think that Jeffo showed he is on the way, now has an AFL body and could have nailed a couple.

[DeeSpencer 26,408]

2 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

As much as the result is pleasing given we had 10-12 best 22 out and they had maybe 2 out, it was a practice match so the result is largely meaningless. 

For those who were able to watch, I’m far more interested in our game plan - how did we set up, did we press high, how did we move the ball, etc?

I’d say we sat fairly deep especially against the wind, but half backs were getting forward. Bowey narrowly missed a goal and AMW had at least one inside 50. Hore came off early for Adams so we were bigger than we wanted inside d50.

With so many first choice backs out it probably hampered our ball movement but there was a plan to use corridor and we saw some targeted kick outs to Petty.

Midfield seemed to focus on cutting off the corridor but weren’t exactly busting it both ways. That said, I expected LDU, Powell and especially Sheezel to get us in space more.

Forward spacing (as much as it can be seen from tv) seemed drastically different. The wind incentivised long and strong but we did have plenty of kicks to JVR, Disco and Jeffo leading up.

Rivers, Pickett and Clarry all looked to run the ball and especially as the game opened up they found space.

[bush demon 2,185]

1 minute ago, bush demon said:

Must admit, my memory has faded. The head-butt, l guess you meant there...

PS l once got head-butted by Sabbo at Springy High. It was totally un-premeditated.

[DubDee 26,364]

I'm excited to see how Sparrow goes in the fwd half.

He has an eye for goal and can kick beautifully for goal

In some ways he seems to sacrifice his game too much for the team and defensive running

Give him some licence to run creatively, he will make space with his tank

[GS_1905 173]

8 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

As much as the result is pleasing given we had 10-12 best 22 out and they had maybe 2 out, it was a practice match so the result is largely meaningless. 

For those who were able to watch, I’m far more interested in our game plan - how did we set up, did we press high, how did we move the ball, etc?

Ball movement was better. Looks like we have been training the go fast and go slow modes. Kozzy Riv Oliver Billing’s Langford all look to be on the same page. I thought our forward line looked much more Open than what I was used to.
 

Given how much we were missing it’s going to be hard to take much away from this encounter. 

[BC_1718_DC 1,717]

I think overall we played well in tough conditions against an extremely poor side. A lot of our young guys stood up and strutted their stuff against North best 22 regulars. Competition for spots this year will be tight and almost ferocious. Which is brilliant 

[Dee Viney Intervention 1,986]

4 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

Ball movement was better. Looks like we have been training the go fast and go slow modes. Kozzy Riv Oliver Billing’s Langford all look to be on the same page. I thought our forward line looked much more Open than what I was used to.
 

Given how much we were missing it’s going to be hard to take much away from this encounter. 

I reckon there is plenty to take away from your first paragraph alone. If we sort out our forward line functionality and improve our ball movement the scoreboard and wins will take care of themselves. We have too much talent for it not to.