Gator

Frost is the matchup for the agile Waite. Oscar takes Brown with Lever supporting in his familiar Adelaide role. I wasn't expecting these selections, but I'm excited to see how the structure works. North have speed, so on reflection I can understand the changes. It will force the the team to control the ball more and start taking more uncontested marks and possessions. The connection between our mids and forwards hasn't been perfect, although Hogan got on the end of a few against Brisbane. We're currently 15th for uncontested possessions, which means our ball use isn't as efficient as it could be and we're not controlling play as much as we'd like. Top 5 UC possession teams after two rounds include GWS, Port, Geelong, and Adelaide. The Saints are there too, but that's an anomaly and shows it's not just one aspect of the game that will deliver results. They're also a lowly 17th for CP, whereas we're 5th (lower than last year). Last year we were 5th for UCP (as against 15th), so something is different. And that difference is our intent on getting the ball inside 50 with a view to either scoring or pressuring the opposition to keep it there. We're far more direct, but unfortunately we're giving the ball up with turnovers, or long bombs into the 50 only to see the opposition run it out. Which means we're under more pressure defensively than last year. I wouldn't want to be a defender at Melbourne at the moment. Last year we were no.1 for average disposals and this year we're 12th. We were also no.1 for handballs and this year 8th. In trying to be more direct we're giving up the footy too often. This also contributes to the opposition 'run ons' we find infuriating. The game-plan has some significant changes from last year, so it will take time to bed it down completely. The upside is we've gone from averaging 55 inside 50's, which was very good, to 60. But that won't help much if you're not controlling your entry and we haven't been as well as we could. Still, it's not all bad. Last year we were 11th for marks inside 50 and this year 6th due to more direct play (Hogan and Garlett the beneficiaries at times against Brisbane). I don't think a lot needs to change, just control the footy a bit more with some uncontested marks/possessions. In other words, the mids need to spread harder and smarter. As I said, I didn't see it coming, but I don't mind the strategy of going smaller in the F50. And unlike some, I don't see Pedersen as crucial to the game-plan.

Pedersen dropped. As I expected, Pedersen is not nearly as entrenched as some Demonlanders think. Apparently Goody has "disrespected" him.

I heard Goodwin's interview on SEN early this week and he was effusive with his praise for Bugg, so I won't get my wish of him being dropped. It won't surprise me at all if there's "no change".

Actually, I think you're right.

We won't need him back. Petty will be a gun. And we may not need him forward. Many have written off Weideman, but I haven't. If he comes along we may not need Tom in the forward-line either. What's he worth on the market ?

I never said he was perfect.

Ah, the great Milton Friedman. A conservative, a free market proponent, and anti big government. He also, rightly, didn't believe in a minimum wage. Thank you for quoting him.

Hoodoos always end. Now seems about right. Btw, the SEN article is factually incorrect. North's current winning streak against Melbourne is not in the 8th greatest winning streaks in VFL/AFL history, although it is the current longest. The next current longest is Geelong over the Dogs and Richmond over Brisbane, which are both 11. Funnily enough, it's not even the greatest winning streak between these two teams. Melbourne had a winning streak of 20 against the Roos between round 14, 1953 and concluding round 2, 1965. That streak is the equal 8th best of all time. The greatest winning streak of all time is Collingwood's 29 straight against the lowly Hawks from 1925 to 1941.

I'm talking weeks, not months.

Let's just say I disagree with your pseudo science. I fully accept these insidious machines are programmed to pay out less than is put in and I think they're vile. However, they are far from victims and I'm in the camp that believes addiction is not a disease. Take some personal responsibility, or don't. I'm all for assistance for people wanting to break their addiction, but they need to be ready to help themselves.

I'm not sure anyone craves your "respect". I disagree with your post and believe Weideman will replace Pedersen when the MC believes he's ready.

Someone suggested on another thread that you get inside info. I find that hard to believe.

They aren't "victims".

Were the moral crusaders up in arms when we took over these clubs ? Many posters weren't around when we took over The Bentleigh Club's debts years ago, but many were. I note the attached thread from 2010 doesn't have too many dissenters, although kudos for America de cali for expressing their concern, which wasn't one I shared. In fact, there weren't many posts at all. Seemingly, some of those who now laud this decision either didn't care at the time, or the dreaded pokies wasn't a popular enough cause. I'm glad some of you have now finally found your moral compass. Such a popular thing to do in 2018.

Seemingly, some supporters like how this makes them "feel" even though nothing will change for the customers of these machines. In some ways, a football club, which in essence survives through social cohesion, is better placed to support those who may end up having a problem with gambling than a profit-driven entity. That said, it's a legal product, a great revenue stream, and the club won't necessarily always be well managed. Unless there's a bigger game happening that I'm not privy to I think it's a poor and potentially short-sighted move.

Nothing will change, just the ownership.

That's great, but next time the club is broke don't come knocking on my door.

We have him for 10 years, not 10 weeks.

Perhaps there are different teams. This is the AFL Player Ratings team. Waite's player rating was 146 as opposed to Hogan's 133, so I guess there's no nuance.

Glad to see Jarrad Waite's 24 disposal one goal game landed him at full forward in the AFL's team of the week. Meanwhile, Hogan's 22 disposal 5 goal game didn't warrant a guernsey.

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.

My favourite bit...

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.

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.

Btw, I assume you won't be calling for Garlett to be dropped this week ?