Gawndy the Great

The first thing North need to work on is Defence. Relentless, boring defence. They may not score more than 40 pts a game but they should be aiming to minimise teams to 60-70pts. All great, effective systems are based on defence and atm Noble hasn’t got this right. Number of wins shouldn’t be the measure this year or next but margins and points conceded are definitely on the table. Hard to critique his coaching style or demeanour but he looks like one of those blokes with anger issues and capable of talking without thinking, which nowadays can be over the top for some players as the feedback isn’t always sugar coated. However the biggest factor I see is the onfield leadership (or lack of). As many have stated,the huge player turnover would have had a significant impact on this. They need to identify the right leaders, the right standards and make sure the playing group are upholding these standards and not David Noble. Until then, it will be hit and miss. Thai is as much a foundational component as player experience, gameplan and list quality.

At first it’s seems the obvious choice but I don’t think we need 3 HB flankers in the backline. Rivers is a general shut down defender whilst the other 3 are playing a HB role. Not saying it won’t work but it’ll mean another changed role which isn’t necessary as we have Rivers playing his role. But the big positive is just how versatile Gus is. I’m now 100% convinced we cannot afford to let him go anywhere , not even when we have passed our window. His footy IQ is just awesome.

A quick snippet on fox footy with Gawn in front of the Olympic Park Imaging. Played it down saying he didn’t want to be there but the club made him… sounds positive but could just be misdirection.

I think we have to use Salem at HF - The Lionel Messi of MFC. He can push up to the wings and be the link between our defence and forward line. Using ANB and Salem could allow us to attack from multiple positions and provide an alternative route to goal if Lingers is getting. Tagged. Not suggesting we do this now as I’m not sure you can just change a role midway through a season but should be looked at in preseason. For this year, hard call but we shouldn’t just drop Rivers - he needs to learn and develop. Maybe Gus moves into the midfield rotation ?

I have no tolerance for racists, bigots, sexists etc. Everyone is entitled to be treated equally and fairly. I also don’t condone how the Pies have handled this and working in the corporate world would expect some spin and dishonesty in the whole process, but at least there has been acknowledgement and progress on the issue. Even Eddie was forced to resign, which is a considerable outcome as many would think he was untouchable. I hear lots of apologies have been offered, discussions have been had between those involved so not sure why reconciliation cannot be achieved. ultimately Lumumba needs to come forward and outline what he expects publically because soon the tables will turn on him as the footy community are compassionate and understanding but are losing patience (rightly or wrongly). I think he would benefit greatly with some support and guidance behind the scenes on how he manages the whole affair as those with PR experience will take advantage of his inexperience and perceived irrational behaviour and we will miss a huge opportunity to learn as a society.

I reckon there has to be something in our approach to our loads and how we play in the H and A. It seems we have no interest in burying teams because it’s not worth the potential injury / exhaustion for a couple of %. If we get the Ws with 4-6 goal margins the overall % takes care of itself. It allows us to switch on the nitrous oxide in the finals without cracking the head gasket.

Great observation! I think his greatest issue of the past was trying to do much, but that’s Jack. Champion player. His playing within his means and does more with less.

We have a huge decision to make when Salem comes back. Brayshaw Is terrific off HB. Plays the defensive role and provides plenty of attack.

6 Gus 5 Lingers 4 Oliver 3 Trac 2 Kozzy 1 BBB (Almost gave it to TMac had he kicked the one in the 1st quarter)

Great first quarter ! Our core mids Trac Oliver and Viney not really in the game yet. Hopefully they get involved more in the link up an assert full ground dominance. Defensive setup is stifling the Saints ball movement, expect a change up.

If we do land him , some dominoes in the 22 reqd as he is too talented as ‘depth’. IMV he either takes Gus’s role on the wing and Gus either moves down to HB or the midfield rotation. Puts the heat on JJ, Harmes and Sparrow. Option 2, he moves to HF to mix it with Spargs, Kozzy and ANB. For me it’s a direct upgrade on ANB’s current role. ANB can then moved into the midfield rotation at the expense of players above or stay in the forward rotation as a pressure forward. Ultimately gives us lots of options to reshuffle and improve the 22. Biggest and obvious issue is salary cap space. Just cannot see it getting done with the current cap . Possibly a move to to keep ahead on the LJ front and/or tactics to keep Brayshaw’s mgt honest.

We have North and the Eagles to come in the next two. Even if we lose tomorrow , we’ll get it back. But it won’t stop the media from calling us down bill skiers coz we haven’t beaten anyone yet.

Shocking umpiring at the Gabba tonight. Given the opponents involved the AFL sent the d team and it shows.

So BT is the ARC? God save us all

Nothing sure in life like death , taxes and Doggies free kicks.

It is when we will make a new band. Fingers crossed that we will never plunge to the depths we have in the last 50 years.

Agreed but where do you start with the this. Its easy to say that forward half pressure is not the same as last year, but that could also be attributed to the shallow and rushed F50 entries that dont allow us to setup defensively. The opposition are putting pressure on our midfiled (as this was our strength last year) hence leading into the increase in dump kicks into the F50 only to see it rebound straight out. Our DNA is to create stoppages in F50 and ramp up the pressure from there, but we have not been able to do this effectively, allowing the ball to come straight back out. Given our primary scoring avenue is from Turnovers, we have to either score from turnover, or create a stoppage in the F50, anything else will see the ball come straight back. So in the end, (IMO) its not necessary being about our own pressure dropping but a combination of poor use going forward (shallow entries), inability to score (think about what the score would have been like against the Tigers had we been accurate) or create stoppage.

I don’t think we have seen anything like it at least since the Brisbane three peat midfield with Black, Scott brothers and Voss. Only time will tell whether our boys will etch their names into the history books. The May, Petty and Lever trio might also be something worth a mention given the points against records.

I have a feeling we may not get all 5 back. ANB would be the one that is most probable to miss one more. The other 4 had got it early enough in the week. Interesting we haven’t seen team photos from today.

I love how Whately has said that the Freos position is compromised due to 6 players out with COVID and playing the bottom team whilst he was completely mute on our position entering the Hawthorn game. In fact nobody has really acknowledged what we were able to do. All I have heard is we look a bit off. FFS.

I'm still so filthy about this and how the footy public just let it go through to the keeper. Any other player / team would have been rubbed out for 2 weeks minimum.

I don’t think that’s a possibility. He is not a FA or RFA - he will get his license revoked and have to sit out the year and then reapply for 2024. Otherwise the Suns wouldn’t have any players left.

So an interesting stat on afl 360 regarding our performance ytd . Pressure acts #3 (2021)>> #14 (2022) and defending ball movement #3 (2021) >> #13 (2022). Its quite an alarming stat and has really put too much pressure on our back 6. Thank goodness for May! I’d like to think these are the gears and we can up our pressure when required but I didn’t think we ranked that badly until tonight. What’s more concerning is that this is just against the bottom 10 teams. The Saints game will give us a real indication of where we are. They match up well and have the weaponry to really exploit our current vulnerabilities. Either way our boys desire and willingness to back up last year will be put to its first real test.

I think the May Lever picks trades were carefully planned master pieces. We knew that OMac and Frost were not going to cut it so we put together a plan which meant we would lose Hogan , but in retrospect I think it’s fair to say we came out in front in that deal. The only downside is May is 30 and will be lucky to get another 3 seasons out of him.

Its what we needed at the time and it has got us a premiership for sure. Both King brothers look to have dodgy knees so glad we didn't go down that path.