Diamond_Jim

Spencer's form has not been good since his VFL return. He may be seeing his last year if he doesn't improve. Is it possible to rookie him as was done with Petrie?

North are playing 8 players who have less than 20 games each. Hard to see the desired result... getting tired of Essendon being talked up

you make a good point but remember a few years back where the SA supporters didn't turn up for the first final because they were saving their money for the bigger finals to come. Geelong will argue that the extra revenue from finals games is part of their stadium business case. Other clubs should simply say ... ok but we want 50% of the seats offered to non Geelong members. If that were to happen the Geelong members would soon be screaming for the game to be moved.

We will win if: 1. We kick straight 2. Port score more points than goals; and 3. we are in front at the end of the first quarter. 35/65 game but let's hope it marks a resurgence and that the path to September becomes the Boulevard of Our Dreams !!

Geelong will almost certainly get a final at Kardinia Park if they are playing an interstate team. The only reason there was any question over it a few years back was that the AFL had guaranteed a certain number of finals for Docklands. Now that the AFL own Docklands that problem no longer arises. Although the various governments funded the upgrade of Kardinia Park one wonders whether 11 home games will be enough to fund the ongoing maintenance of the stadium. It would be ironic if they have to put up ticket prices just to maintain their "new palace."

Adelaide,,, stopped to a walk in that last quarter,,, but some will never believe Footy is a game of inches... and never give a sucker an even break

Adelaide beat us by 8 goals ... so in the scheme of things ....

Starting to get close to the pointy end .... While none of this weeks matches spell success or failure from a final 8 perspective they are very important Adelaide v Geelong in Adelaide and Geelong possibly without Dangerfield... Will the Crows be affected by the dreaded Darwin Legs syndrome. Just to mention another couple of key games... Sydney v Saints at the SCG.. a win for either team means a strong chance of September action. (Sydney for mine) And my favourite non MFC match......... Toiges v GWS at the MCG. Go Orange Men !! Finally has North got one last hurrah left against the Bombers... (probably not but I can still hope.)

Interesting medical debate going on at present about pain management. Drug companies being looked at like the tobacco companies of old. Wont be long until it comes into the sports arena. The occasional jab is probably okay but when it comes to a player needing a weekly jab to get on the field perhaps we need to rethink it.

I've been to five VFL games this year and he has not exactly stood out at any of them. To expect him to suddenly do better at AFL level is wishful thinking at its best. He has got a game after just about the whole list has been tried in the seniors. Good luck to him but I'm not expecting much. He is likely the first to be dropped when Vince and Jones return. Love Jack but that is the reality of modern day football.

Just remember Jack T came back last year ...played one reasonable game and then went downhill a little before being dropped not to return. As much as we might like to think it ... he is not the messiah

Cannot understand the Trengrove selection but good luck to him. The others are very important ins who together with an improving Hogan and Gawn should give us a chance against Port. Perhaps more importantly they should all be match fit for North and the run home.

As I see it the AFL players will play in the VFL and the "not needed" VFL players will go back to the local leagues. In reality the only good non AFL players that will play in the AFL aligned VFL teams are those who want to have a crack at being drafted by an AFL team. The mature VFL players will head to the non aligned teams such as Port and Williamstown. Cannot see any solution other than increasing list numbers which is not likely to happen. Must have a real trickle down impact as players come and go from the lower leagues on a weekly basis.

I think the VFL (VFA) has lost its way. Might not be long and it will be an AFL reserves comp. The present structure is massively compromised.

Toiges have a much harder draw than the Dees They play: Giants at the MCG Suns at the GC Hawks at the MCG Cats at Kardinia Park Dockers at Freo Saints at the MCG Everyone of those games is 50/50 at best and you could make a good case that they would win 3 at most leaving them on 13 wins at best, Hard to see them ending up fourth or fifth. If they beat the Giants they will be doing well and perhaps they deserve to be rated.

Jurrah was special....... I need say no more but perhaps flowers were never meant to bloom in the concrete cracks

Interesting that everyone has Melksham in the team. He was taking a pasting from many on the forum earlier in the season. Great to see he has come good Would be interested to see who posters consider bottom 6 as that is often how team strength is measured. In no order my six would be: Melksham, ANB, Harmes, Hannan, Vince and perhaps Lewis (I have assumed JKH and Bugg are not in the team.)

makes sense but would you start one at VFL for a half? Probably not as none have been out for a really extended period. Perhaps Hogan would have benefited from a half at VFL level to blow out the cobwebs.

On the start time I have begun to like the 1:15(?) starts simply because the game is played in the winter sunshine and in good light. Very pleasant sitting in the AFL members in the winter sun. Even better if we are winning.

We play the Saints with what should be a full team bar Jones. Would be disappointed to lose that one. North will end up around 16th .. we really should put them away with some degree of ease. Still very confident of 13 wins

Good question I suppose because they are talking of finals on Thursday, Friday etc they want to make sure that the teams likely to play on the Thursday are given the full advantage of the bye. For example if a team playing Thursday were to play its final home and away game on the road in Perth on Sunday afternoon and then end up playing a team that played at home on the Friday night it might not be considered fair. Agree though.... once you have the bye the impact is substantially lessened.

Would it make sense to rookie Spencer next year as back up. The big call will be on Pederson. If we don't trade for an older KPF/ruck I see him getting one more year. He has been great for the club and deserves to be treated with dignity.

Saw that... My main concern with North is the venue. If we get caught on a windy wet day in Hobart it could be blind luck that determines the outcome. A little like those kicks off the ground in the wet that won Collingwood this weeks game against the Suns

Nah... that will be part of the joy and let's face it ... if we can't beat Collingwood (apparently Pendlebury is out for the rest of the season) with our full team we won't be going anywhere come finals time

Spot on Ricky ... 12 and a good percentage will probably get the 8th place but two other teams also on 12 will miss out. 13 wins (four more needed) definitely sees us playing on that fresh September grass ! Moreover we will be going into the finals on a winning streak