Preview Changes v Geelong, Sun 14 April 1:00pm at VicGovFundedKardinia Park [Zurhaar (calf)/Shiels (GS)/KDaws (ankle)/Stevo OUT; Sellers/Big/Laz/Drury IN]

[FootySmartSimpson]

Ford - Sellers - Powell / Simpkin
Fisher - Larkey - Curtis

Int: Duursma

This forward line has potential. Promising mix of attributes.

Definitely got a better mix of:

• movement
• tackling
• leading marking power
• versatility

We’ll just have to wait and see if they can kick any goals.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

Comben down back and Sellers up forward strengthens us up incredibly.

It’s zygotal, but a spine is emerging, slowly.

 

[The Dougster]

Not really a fair debut for Biggie. Our defence will get monstered, and we'll get flogged, at a venue that hates us.

Mature aged recruit who gets his chance to perform. Sink or swim Biggie.

Go get it son!

 

[Only Forwards]

Mature aged recruit

He’s 22.

He’s speculative and raw.

Tipping Dawson is back quickly and this is very opportunistic to see if Biggie is remotely up to it.

Also suggests they’ve likely made some sort of judgement on Pink.

 

[justroyal]

Other than being a good trainer, what’s the purpose for the Drury call up?

 

[Tas]

Other than being a good trainer, what’s the purpose for the Drury call up?

To draw the circles on the team board.

 

[apollo_creed]

Must say I'm not keen on tuning in.

I already know exactly what the mentality of the team will be.

Meek defensive effort, get punished on turnover, drop heads, game over.

So sick of it.

And yes I realize im being negative but jeez.... Can't they just bring a positive, rabid effort?

we will concede scoring shots on more than 50 percent of inside 50 entries again.

we will be play in a way ignorant of the ground dimensions.

We will turn the ball over indiscriminately under little to no pressure and miss simple lead up targets.

We will make dumb decisions with the ball in hand exiting the defensive 50 and entering the forward 50 (kicking to short people on opposition giants, kicking to 1 on 3 contests).

The above are the NM constants.

The rest of the game is up for grabs though.

 

[RossHenshaw]

To draw the circles on the team board.

To make sure we still have 1 ranger in the team … (political correctness)

 

[apollo_creed]

Other than being a good trainer, what’s the purpose for the Drury call up?

Yeah he’s clearly not an AFL standard player so it’s a pointless exercise. He won’t be at the club in 2025. (Believe he’s not contracted?)

 

[RossHenshaw]

Let’s see if we can keep hand balling straight to the opposition to single figures in the first half this week .

 

[muttley45]

If i see Tom Stewart running around unaccompanied, as though he's got Ebola or something, in the immortal words of Terry Wallace, i'll spew up.

 

[Merlin007]

Other than being a good trainer, what’s the purpose for the Drury call up?

At a guess, for 2 reasons - if he plays more as a HFF, it’s for the last kick I50, which he shows some aptitude for, and; second, Clarkson is cycling through the list to see who fits the plan

 

[The Nostradamus]

Other than being a good trainer, what’s the purpose for the Drury call up?

Better sub option than shiels

 

[Merlin007]

If i see Tom Stewart running around unaccompanied, as though he's got Ebola or something, in the immortal words of Terry Wallace, i'll spew up.

Greenwood will get the defensive job again, as he did with Harris Andrews

 

[Karanicolas]

Greenwood will get the defensive job again, as he did with Harris Andrews

Would prefer Ford to have this role as he would be more effective from an attacking perspective.

 

[Merlin007]

Would prefer Ford to have this role as he would be more effective from an attacking perspective.

Have a look at Andrew’s stats for the season - greenwood did a good job

 

[Karanicolas]

Have a look at Andrew’s stats for the season - greenwood did a good job

I'm a Greenwood fan, but I think that Ford could be something special* and I would like him to be given more responsibility in the team.

* He reminds me a bit of Brereton

 

[Horace]

This has all the hallmarks of a terrible thrashing. From a statistical point of view, the average age of Geelong is is 26.9, second behind Collingwood at 27.9. We are 18th at 24.1. Average age across the competition is 25.8.

Games played, Geelong sits at an average of 123.8, third behind Collingwood at 133.9 and Brisbane at 127.2. We sit at 18th at 66.7 games. The average across the competition is 100.4.

If there is one glimmer of hope for us it is in centre clearances where we average 14.5 per game as opposed to Geeiong at 12 per game. The average per club is 12 per game. Amazingly we are equal second with GWS behind port adelaide at 16 per game.

The problem for us though against Geelong, as I read yesterday, is that Geelong mounts so many of their successful attacks off half back. Losing centre clearances is not a huge problem for them, given their capacity to turn the ball over and rebound the ball into attack.

To capitalise on that glimmer of hope, we need to find a way around their half back line.

 

[Horace]

If i see Tom Stewart running around unaccompanied, as though he's got Ebola or something, in the immortal words of Terry Wallace, i'll spew up.

Its incredible how teams leave him all alone game after game. Why don't teams put a hard tag on him, just as happens, or has happened in the past with some of the gun midfielders.

As other's here have suggested, this should be Greenwoods role. He should not leave his side all game long including at quarter time, half time and three quarter time

 

[Horace]

Better sub option than shiels

I think this is a good point. While I think Shiels experience is great to have, being the sub limits the value of that experience. Instead, we need to give younger blokes a go and in his second year at the club, now is the time to find out if Drury has got what it takes.

 

[nicko74]

This has all the hallmarks of terrible thrashing. From a statistical point of view, the average age of Geelong is is 26.9, second behind Collingwood at 27.9. We are 18th at 24.1. Average age across the competition is 25.8.

Games played, Geelong sits at an average of 123.8, third behind Collingwood at 133.9 and Brisbane at 127.2. We sit at 18th at 66.7 games. The average across the competition is 100.4.

If there is one glimmer of hope for us it is in centre clearances where we average 14.5 per game as opposed to Geeiong at 12 per game. The average per club is 12 per game. Amazingly we are equal second with GWS behind port adelaide at 16 per game.

The problem for us though against Geelong, as I read yesterday, is that Geelong mounts so many of their successful attacks off half back. Losing centre clearances is not a huge problem for them, given their capacity to turn the ball over and rebound the ball into attack.

To capitalise on that glimmer of hope, we need to find a way around their half back line.

By lowering our eyes and not bombing it in. Larkey will be double teamed. There should be options free somewhere

 

[Makeshift Park]

Some hopeful but realistic expectations.

I want to see LDU, Powell, Wardlaw and Simpkin win most centre bounces and stoppages.

I want to see Chom continue to build on last week’s promising effort.

I want to see good chemistry and choreography between Larks and Sellers.

Let’s achieve those three things, please.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

He’s 22.

He’s speculative and raw.

Tipping Dawson is back quickly and this is very opportunistic to see if Biggie is remotely up to it.

Also suggests they’ve likely made some sort of judgement on Pink.

Pink won’t be back.

You can’t lose 60% of 1v1 contests as a KPD and expect to stay in the side.

 

[The Dougster]

He’s 22.

He’s speculative and raw.

Tipping Dawson is back quickly and this is very opportunistic to see if Biggie is remotely up to it.

Also suggests they’ve likely made some sort of judgement on Pink.

I wouldn't mind seeing how Pink goes with Charlie in front of him but back to Biggie, he gets a chance and needs to take it.

 

[Gumble Frankieton]

My 1st guaranteed prediction is that Chom's jumper will end the match with Tom Hawkins

26

Tom Hawkins

Age

36

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.9

4star

G

2.1

5star

D

12.7

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

7.8

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

2.2

5star

handprints etched into the back.
The 2nd guaranteed prediction is the collective frustration of North supporters as Chom gets shoved in the back.