Confident against Kangaroos?

[Blasé]

Well, what is your confidence against the Roos?

Personally, as I've written in other threads prior to games, I wasn't confident against St Kilda or Adelaide.

However this game differs in several aspects.

Firstly the opposition is not an experience one, such as the saints and crows. Yes, they have a few old heads that have won premierships, but there are many young faces. It makes a more even playing field IMO, because we too have a young team.

Secondly we enter the game as hunters, rather than the hunted. The Roos are second, and have good form coming into the game, which we appear to be lacking. In this frame of mind, we should be isolating where they could hurt us, and how we stop them, rather than the other way (against the other 2 teams).

Thirdly we're playing at home, where we were beaten at away venues: Telstra Dome and Adelaide. Our record's good in Tassie, and should aid us.

Fourthly (?), we beat the Kangaroos with basically the same team last time, and we also beat them in Tassie last year.

Lastly, Thorp's playing.

Conclusion: If we had Boyle I'd be certain of victory, but without I'm still quite confident of another 4 points, and to jump back to 2nd spot.

 

[macdaddio]

quietly confidant on the basis that we have not lost 2 in a row this year or lost at tassis........

the kangas are good and travell good, they beat freo over there, but i think that your theory that we are the hunters and not the hunted will work for us but if we are to be a formidable side then wether we are hunters or the hunted then we should win regardless

 

[Mojo]

quietly confidant on the basis that we have not lost 2 in a row this year or lost at tassis........

the kangas are good and travell good, they beat freo over there, but i think that your theory that we are the hunters and not the hunted will work for us but if we are to be a formidable side then wether we are hunters or the hunted then we should win regardless

I totally disagree with your theory of the hunters and hunted! For the kangaroos to be considered the hunted they have to be seen as a serious potential premiership contender, to date no one believes they will win the grand final and have not been up the top of the ladder for a lengthy period, which they need to do to adopt the hunted label.
Hawthorn on the other hand have been up the top for a majority of the year and given it is at our 'fortress' we will definately be considered the hunted! In addition the betting has us at favourites to win and usually that dictates the 'hunter' - 'hunted' label! Roos will be looking to be one of the few to knock hawthorn off in Tasmania!

 

[apiro]

Hawks will win easily.

 

[JezzHawk]

Bring it on. That's how confident I am.

 

[year of the roo]

I totally disagree with your theory of the hunters and hunted! For the kangaroos to be considered the hunted they have to be seen as a serious potential premiership contender, to date no one believes they will win the grand final and have not been up the top of the ladder for a lengthy period, which they need to do to adopt the hunted label.
Hawthorn on the other hand have been up the top for a majority of the year and given it is at our 'fortress' we will definately be considered the hunted! In addition the betting has us at favourites to win and usually that dictates the 'hunter' - 'hunted' label! Roos will be looking to be one of the few to knock hawthorn off in Tasmania!

Agree, you guys go in as favourites and rightfully so, thus making you the hunted. We are excellent as the hunters BTW

 

[lethalselbow]

110% confident. Bring 'em on!

 

[thatswhatimtalkinabout]

I totally disagree with your theory of the hunters and hunted! For the kangaroos to be considered the hunted they have to be seen as a serious potential premiership contender, to date no one believes they will win the grand final and have not been up the top of the ladder for a lengthy period, which they need to do to adopt the hunted label.
Hawthorn on the other hand have been up the top for a majority of the year and given it is at our 'fortress' we will definately be considered the hunted! In addition the betting has us at favourites to win and usually that dictates the 'hunter' - 'hunted' label! Roos will be looking to be one of the few to knock hawthorn off in Tasmania!

I think you would find most observers don't think either sides deserve to be called the 'hunted'.

Infact most would say that the young Hawks are on an upward learning spiral to be a power of the competition.

Most would also be dumbfounded that the Kangas are where they are. I am, I thought wooden spoon after Thommo did his knee.

Aurora, last win, etc. aside - we must respect this mob.

A win is essential if we are to be competitive, if and when, we play finals.

 

[Tas]

Fourthly (?), we beat the Kangaroos with basically the same team last time, and we also beat them in Tassie last year.

Team difference from the earlier game as follows:

North-
In: Archer, Smith, McMahon (Interchange possible: Whyman, Lower)
Out: Gibson, Thomas (Emergency possible: Sansbury, Campbell, Edwards, Green, Brown)

Likely that Campbell, Edwards and Lower will be emergencies (Lower out for Wells probably the only change)

Hawks-
In: Croad, Smith, Bateman (Interchange possible: Thorp, Murphy, Tuck, Vandenburg)
Out: Williams, Boyle, Ellis (Emergency possible: Jacobs, Young, Osborne, Campbell)

There are some important changes for both sides. Williams kicked 4.1 last game, he is missing. Gibson for us also played well this year, will be missed.

Franklin kicked 3.3 and Williams 4.1, they were the two effective forwards last time. Williams and Boyle wont be there this time.

Edwards is named as a possible interchange, doubt he will play. He kicked 1.1 last time, took a fair few marks. His kicking is a bit dubious though, McMahon has his spot currently, is more reliable in front of goal. Whyman has Thomas' spot atm, he was pretty good last week although Melbourne wasn't great.

It should be interesting, the matchups will be critical.

Lastly, Thorp's playing.

You expect a lot from him this weekend or just happy he is playing?

Conclusion: If we had Boyle I'd be certain of victory, but without I'm still quite confident of another 4 points, and to jump back to 2nd spot.

Boyle didn't really do much against us last time, it was Williams and Franklin that did the damage at TD although Boyle tends to bob up when another forward is quiet.

If we go tall forward it may force Roughead to go back into defence, I feel if we can contain Franklin and Roughead is forced into defence then Hawks might have problems kicking a winning score.

Should be an interesting game, I can see it going either way, really depends on how the midfield battle goes I guess.

 

[borgo]

If we go tall forward it may force Roughead to go back into defence, I feel if we can contain Franklin and Roughead is forced into defence then Hawks might have problems kicking a winning score.

Should be an interesting game, I can see it going either way, really depends on how the midfield battle goes I guess.

No chance in hell that Roughead will go back. Not with Croad, Gilham, Brown and Jacobs/Smith/Murphy? back there. If anything, Croad will go forward to try and stretch you guys for height.

The three keys for the Hawks are Mitchell, Hodge & Sewell. If they are quiet then we're in trouble. If not, watch out...

And statistically this is Crawford's best ground possesion wise. Interesting midfield battle looming...

 

[Sharkey]

Very confident of a win. I don't rate north melbourne at all. Battlers.
Have been playing above themselves all year, it's amazing what an underachieving coach in the last year of a contract can do.

Us by at least 5 goals!

 

[eros]

Team difference from the earlier game as follows:

North-
In: Archer, Smith, McMahon (Interchange possible: Whyman, Lower)
Out: Gibson, Thomas (Emergency possible: Sansbury, Campbell, Edwards, Green, Brown)

Will Wells play?

 

[BigAl3001]

This game will come down to a battle in the mid-field and how well each team use the ball when going inside 50. There is a flukey breeze down there, usually to one end and we have an advantage in that we have dealt with it before. However, I am not confident of victory because the kangaroos play with more spirit and desperation that most teams. We try and break teams down with our ball movement and skills, whereas they have better pressure and inside skills that we do. So we have to be ready for a scrap and to match them in the stoppages and then hurt them with quality inside 50’s. Mitchell, Crawford, Lewis and Bateman need to step up, they gave us nothing last week. Under-rate the Roos at your own peril, give them the respect they deserve.

 

[Mojo]

Will Wells play?

Yep, he hurts us everytime we play! I say we sacrifice Guerra to take him out! that should solve things.

 

[Boyler_Room]

Not really confident, I think that a lot of teams over the last couple of months have gone in confident against the Roos and look what has happened.

I prefer to be the underdog.

 

[Useful_Idiot]

Very confident of a win. I don't rate north melbourne at all. Battlers.
Have been playing above themselves all year, it's amazing what an underachieving coach in the last year of a contract can do.

Us by at least 5 goals!

I personally am very confident of a win but not because of these reasons. Champ they are second after round 17. They can obviously play!

 

[Mojo]

I personally am very confident of a win but not because of these reasons. Champ they are second after round 17. They can obviously play!

Why then?

 

[Useful_Idiot]

Why then?

Cause i think we struggle against the sides who really choke us up and block our run through the middle of the ground which is our strength. i dont believe the kangas will play this style of game as st kilda did very well last saturday night and if we get to play our running game on our terms honestly believe we have just about any side covered. Aurora Stadium only makes our game plan work more effectlively. Im just really hoping Corey Jones dosent pop up in a Luke Ball kinda way and take the game away from us.

 

[Halk Tawker]

I see a couple of small things that tip it slightly in our favour.

1. It's at Aurora - we seldom lose down there

2. The Roos are due. They've been up for a long time and a loss is just around the corner.

3. We have more scoring power. Franklin, Roughead, Thorp, Hodge (at times) and possible even Croad. I think we will really stretch their defence.

3. We haven't lost 2 in a row all year.

I am quietly confident, whereas last week I always thought the Saints would beat us.

 

[Boyler_Room]

Cause i think we struggle against the sides who really choke us up and block our run through the middle of the ground which is our strength. i dont believe the kangas will play this style of game

Yep, was thinking the same thing. Less errors would help.

 

[Blasé]

Team difference from the earlier game as follows:

North-
In: Archer, Smith, McMahon (Interchange possible: Whyman, Lower)
Out: Gibson, Thomas (Emergency possible: Sansbury, Campbell, Edwards, Green, Brown)

Likely that Campbell, Edwards and Lower will be emergencies (Lower out for Wells probably the only change)

Hawks-
In: Croad, Smith, Bateman (Interchange possible: Thorp, Murphy, Tuck, Vandenburg)
Out: Williams, Boyle, Ellis (Emergency possible: Jacobs, Young, Osborne, Campbell)

There are some important changes for both sides. Williams kicked 4.1 last game, he is missing. Gibson for us also played well this year, will be missed.

Franklin kicked 3.3 and Williams 4.1, they were the two effective forwards last time. Williams and Boyle wont be there this time.

Edwards is named as a possible interchange, doubt he will play. He kicked 1.1 last time, took a fair few marks. His kicking is a bit dubious though, McMahon has his spot currently, is more reliable in front of goal. Whyman has Thomas' spot atm, he was pretty good last week although Melbourne wasn't great.

It should be interesting, the matchups will be critical.



You expect a lot from him this weekend or just happy he is playing?



Boyle didn't really do much against us last time, it was Williams and Franklin that did the damage at TD although Boyle tends to bob up when another forward is quiet.

If we go tall forward it may force Roughead to go back into defence, I feel if we can contain Franklin and Roughead is forced into defence then Hawks might have problems kicking a winning score.

Should be an interesting game, I can see it going either way, really depends on how the midfield battle goes I guess.

Don't expect a great deal from Thorp, it's a bit of tongue in cheek, because he's been pretty hyped up on our board.

It is indeed a battle of midfields, and I reckon that it has always been that way for north this year. It's the only reason that can explain the succesful year. The backline and forward lines look useful, but hardly menacing. May be biased, but we should be able to match up fine defensively on your attack, as I expect most teams think, and our forwards, if on (particulalry buddy, because if he kicks a goal early he will be extremely challenging there on), could be a problem.

As I underlined above, yes we may, but your team will also if they lose the midfield battle. Both our foward lines aren't menacing, yours because it looks makeshift having Petrie and Hale there, and ours inexperienced, with Thorp, Roughead and Thorp there. However, having Harvey and Grant does provide some experience that could give the edge, where as we only have Dixon, who is the reason why we put Hodge up there.

Still think (and hoping!) we'll win, based on home ground advantage.

 

[Robber Baron]

This is a massive game thats gunna show whos the secon best after Geelong and with the massive home ground advantage weve got in ou r second home and North dont even have a home and are guna get relocated were gunna win easy. Were getting better and better and with Vanders comming back weve gotten the experience and leadership and with Crawf singng up again theres just to many positives going for us. Well put in a big one for Vanders return.

 

[hundini]

This is a massive game thats gunna show whos the secon best after Geelong and with the massive home ground advantage weve got in ou r second home and North dont even have a home and are guna get relocated were gunna win easy. Were getting better and better and with Vanders comming back weve gotten the experience and leadership and with Crawf singng up again theres just to many positives going for us. Well put in a big one for Vanders return.

With your troubled spelling, I think a visit to Doctor Whan might me in order.

BTW, Should be a cracker of a match.
I am very much looking forward to the game.

 

[awesome wells]

the match will be won in the middle... looking forward to this i just wished it was @ MCG

 

[Nubby]

The only reason i am a Litttle bit confident is because its in Tassie.
Other than that i think after last week we showed how easily we can crumble.