Probably one for another thread, but something that really stood out to me today wasn’t just the younger/newer players coming into view — it was what they bring and how well we’ve managed to set ourselves up for the future.

It’s not as if we’ve got just one future star mid or a single key player to build a team around. It genuinely feels like we’ve got every position covered with emerging talent ready to take us forward for the next 10 years.

People talk about rebuilds - it looks like we had one without even noticing.

2 hours ago, Mgdee said:

Even when complimenting a player you can still sound negative

And give two completely unnecessary drive bys, not to mention a backhanded compliment - so much negativity in so few words is quite a skill

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by binman

3 hours ago, Go Ds said:

No Gawn.

Also at half and full time first it was pretended North needed a goal with 2 mins left in a real game (they failed). Then at full-time we needed a goal to win in two pretend minutes... we managed to goal with maybe a minute and a bit to go and held on from there so technically we won three times.

good to bank 12 points early on.

2 hours ago, At Least I Saw a Flag said:

Hmm, just happy to get the 4 points and move on ...

Said Alan Jeans after Hacks won the first semi . . . seriously.

18 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Nah! Harvey broke out last year!

He's having a Breakout Decade

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by John Demonic

How good to be able to watch the game live, Casey ground looked great the crowd mostly happy, the team played so much better than I expected, Kozzie a level above, Latrelle excitement machine, Moose Heath exceptional, Kentfield surprise packet as was Howes, Steele, Langdon, Chin, Fritta, Disco, Rick, Riv, doing their thing. Roo, Langford, Lindsay, Windsor, Kolt, Taylor and Sharp stepping up as required playing to the new game plan, fast exciting football. I kept thinking when are North going to hit back, we dominated them.

1 hour ago, The end is nigh said:

Happy for them to practice end of match scenarios, this ‘round’ were not even afl preseason matches. These are match simulations and I’m just happy they were made available for viewing.

Glad we took in extra players and were easing in players. Other than mihocek seems we got through without any injuries.

People are undervaluing the 2 minute Sims. When we were down by 2 points the coach put Turner up forward, which is precisely what should happen in a match . I think the 2 sessions were of real value

And slightly off-topic, but not great for anyone that after all this time North still look poor. Sure, players out, yadda yadda, but it's much the same for every team.

Sacking Clarkson would be a shock to the system, but there are already murmurings. But who would touch them in 2027 if that happened? Too early perhaps for Goodwin, too hard for Bucks. Coax an old-boy like Adam Simpson out of retirement?

This enough to get me excited for 26. I’m pumped ❤️💙

3 hours ago, deanox said:

Having just got home, is there a replay? Scores? Details?

Can't find much online!

did you get an answer to replay in full Vs highlights (7min pkg on afl.com)

3 hours ago, Go Ds said:

All summer I felt that we're probably better than the general football public think. Now I'm probably slightly more confident than even before. Latrellelooks like he'll make the grade.... and then some!

got some Flash A-HA Davey about his moves

33 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

…..

Caleb Daniel is a liability,since he has no other option other than short kicks. .….

A prime very memorable example was his short chip to Angus in the GF, which Gus converted to put us ahead.

The rest, as they say, is history.

11 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Said Alan Jeans after Hacks won the first semi . . . seriously.

that's right QBD - Jeans dd say that - the great leader of all those fine players: Dippa, Brereton, Matthews.

Only seen the 1st quarter so far but looks like a decent hit out, good way to blow out the cobwebs in Feb.

Mihocek, Steele, Jiath and Heath all slotted in well and the Pickett² combo is gonna be a fun watch.

36 minutes ago, binman said:

A breakout year in his second season?

The phrase ‘breakout year’ feels like it is having a breakout year.

33 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

good to bank 12 points early on.

If we were both, say, competing for a place in the finals it would have the classic 24 point game.

2 hours ago, DubDee said:

In Fairness North were missing:

Corr, Wardlaw, McKercher, McDonald, Spargo, Urquhart, Fisher, Dawson, Goad, Thredgold, Curtis, Mikuda, Goater, George, Jackson, Whitlock, Stevens, Banch, Trembath

They will be a much tougher proposition in the season proper

It’s been addressed already but that’s 3, maybe 4, good players missing.

2 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

They were short 4 of their best, we had 3 of ours in Gawn, Viney, and Mihocek missing >3/4’s and maybe Culley out.

They’ll improve for the real stuff but the big question is how much we can get better too.

Bowey too.

But anyway these are not hugely important comparisons for a practice match on 20 February in 30 degree heat. The result is not very instructive

The way we tried (and succeeded) to move the ball, the roles of Steele, Heath, Kentfield, Latrelle and Howes, and the hopeful confidence of a win, is what we can take from today.

I’m so keen to see what we do with JVR, Jeffo, Kentfield and Heath (plus Gawn and Mihocek).

2 hours ago, Go Ds said:

Are intra club games better than these games?! Of course those 2 minutes simulations have nowhere near the same gravity as in a Home and away or final s game. But s surely it's better we can go allout in any simulation against another club then against teammates. While I wouldn't be happy to watch 20 of these two minute simulations in a row but why would anyone be bothered by them??

Considering how we merde the bed last year against St Kilda, I am more than happy to practice never ever doing that again.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

i'm calling it now - it’s going to happen

52 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Probably one for another thread, but something that really stood out to me today wasn’t just the younger/newer players coming into view — it was what they bring and how well we’ve managed to set ourselves up for the future.

It’s not as if we’ve got just one future star mid or a single key player to build a team around. It genuinely feels like we’ve got every position covered with emerging talent ready to take us forward for the next 10 years.

People talk about rebuilds - it looks like we had one without even noticing.

No offense but I noticed ;-P, but seriously, it’s a good point, there are some guys whose ceilings are unknown, I count 8 as either A or probable A listers and some very solid B’s, our worst 6 are not that shabby either

Just finished watching the game and liked what I saw.
Very happy with the young fellas, Kentfield looks the part, Big Moose did some real nice work in the ruck, Latrelle reminds me of Bobby Hill.
The Kozzie and Latrelle show will be something to behold.
Looked slick outta the middle.
Both Mihocek and Howes are bigger than I thought.
Already I'm far more confident with the ball in Steeles hands than Petraccas.
We're positioned nicely for the next few years IMO.
This year we'll win some, we'll lose some but I'm not fussed.
Got a fresh young side with a game plan that I'll enjoy watching develop (thanks Kingy).
Get a few wins, abit of confidence, let the youthful enthusiasm kick in and we'll be fun to watch.
If Kozzy can kick 5 every week and a good run with injuries we'll give the flag a shake.
Onward and upward.
Go the Demons 💪👹🔥

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Fork 'em

King has won me for the single fact we kicked more goals than points

I watched the first half and then had to tske the boy to cricket practice so only caught snippets of Q3 & Q4. Dees looked very good. New boys Mihocek and Steele looked very good, Latrelle Pickett looks to be a livewire and Kentfield might have some potential.

A very good first hit out by the Dees 👍

For me the fast ball movement will make us much more interesting to watch and far more dangerous than the last couple of years. There will be games this year where it blows teams away like today but also games where it hurts us and we get blown up instead. But what today also demonstrated was we have some very good young players across every line with key players still to come back. I was unsure of using pick 12 on latrelle but if he can hold that form for the majority of the season and build on it moving forward then Jason Taylor has hit another home run! Not sure that we’ll be taking any big steps forward other than consolidating the new game plan this year but we definitely won’t be going backwards I don’t think

For the "it's just a practice match and the score is irrelevant" thinkers - worth considering how ropable we'd all be if it was reversed!!