Preview Do or Die vs Dons pre match discussion thread.

[Saintly31]

OK, we're all getting ahead of ourselves and this discussion will probably be had all over again on Sunday evening and next week, but the obvious next question is, who is the sub?

Campbell. He is a damaging sub at AFL level.

Jmac has played mostly on the wing with spurts at hbf. Wright and atley have played more time at hbf and will continue to do so.

I wish that was the case, not sure if right though in recent times. I'd love to know the amount of goals that have been kicked against us directly because of his turnovers in our back 50.

I dont mind JMac as a player, (Mullett will be better) but he needs a spell - usually the selection committee dont bother meeting when we win a game and just pick someone out of a hat to replace an injured/suspended player (and make cursory references in press conference pretending like they they actually thought about it), but hopefully that changes with 3 huge games coming up.

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

Campbell. He is a damaging sub at AFL level.

Um yeah, but I was responding to PD's suggestion that if Cunnington maintains his form we drop Campbell.

 

[Saintly31]

Um yeah, but I was responding to PD's suggestion that if Cunnington maintains his form we drop Campbell.

Sorry CharlieM. No, Campbell stays as sub - its a unique position to be used for advantage.

We dont drop Cunnington. People rate games on stats, but I dont. Cunners was far better than Basti on the weekend.

 

[The Nostradamus]

imo our best 22 when fully fit is
B: McMahon Thompson Firrito
HB: Wright Grima Atley
C: Wells Cunnington Bastinac
HF: Harvey Tarrant Adams
F: Thomas Petrie Hansen
R: Goldstein Ziebell Swallow
I: Harper Gibson Anthony
S: Mullett/Campbell

from last weeks side
IN: Ziebell, Adams, Thomas
OUT: Garlett, Macmillan, Mullett/campbell

obviously adams comes in this week so i reckon macmillan makes way.
then the week after ziebs and LT will come in for garlett and one of campbell/mullett

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

Sorry CharlieM. No, Campbell stays as sub - its a unique position to be used for advantage.

We dont drop Cunnington. People rate games on stats, but I dont. Cunners was far better than Basti on the weekend.

I tend to agree. Which really only leaves Macmillan in the firing line.

imo our best 22 when fully fit is
B: McMahon Thompson Firrito
HB: Wright Grima Atley
C: Wells Cunnington Bastinac
HF: Harvey Tarrant Adams
F: Thomas Petrie Hansen
R: Goldstein Ziebell Swallow
I: Harper Gibson Anthony
S: Mullett/Campbell

from last weeks side
IN: Ziebell, Adams, Thomas
OUT: Garlett, Macmillan, Mullett/campbell

obviously adams comes in this week so i reckon macmillan makes way.
then the week after ziebs and LT will come in for garlett and one of campbell/mullett

I think that currently is our best 22 too. But I don't think Macmillan goes this week, I think it will be Garlett or Mullett.

 

[breeno]

Ziebell can't match Watson's endurance.

Cunners to Watson, give the kid some responsibility, he relishes it.

 

[shinboner magic]

Flash as sub is great as long as we don't cop an early injury.
Flash is next to useless if he plays more than half a game.

Real dangerous to have a one trick pony as sub when we have big games coming up.

Mullet to be kept in team at a minimum as sub but preferably as a starter.

 

[Saintly31]

Ziebell can't match Watson's endurance.

Cunners to Watson, give the kid some responsibility, he relishes it.

Not really, tried that early this year (and last year) and it ruined his confidence and was dropped. As it would to 99% of young players.

Surely he can continue to play at 1s level without given herculian tasks every week.

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

Flash as sub is great as long as we don't cop an early injury.
Flash is next to useless if he plays more than half a game.

Real dangerous to have a one trick pony as sub when we have big games coming up.

Mullet to be kept in team at a minimum as sub but preferably as a starter.

Flash is worth the risk I think. Him and Mullet are the only ones who've shown much as a sub that I can recall. If we cop an early injury we're in the shit regardless.

 

[Saintly31]

Flash is worth the risk I think. Him and Mullet are the only ones who've shown much as a sub that I can recall. If we cop an early injury we're in the shit regardless.

Mullett has shown he is a good sub because the kid can play - just never gets a proper chance due to Scott's favourites dictating selection. (Fish isn't the only one)

Campbell is purely suited to the role, totally different story.

 

[Husk]

I thought Basti played close to his best game on the weekend (not really counting the one against GWS).

Go back and have a look at some of his in close work. He is starting to slip tackles a bit more, and is getting handballs out in traffic where earlier in the season he was getting caught.

 

[themilkman888]

Mullett has shown he is a good sub because the kid can play - just never gets a proper chance due to Scott's favourites dictating selection. (Fish isn't the only one)

This talk of Scott's favoritism never ceases to amaze me. He shows faith in players ability, and more often then not they reward it, as all good coaches do. We need to give the kids confidence ffs. If we yo-yo players we get nowhere. And just because we bigfooty experts don't know the reasons, doesn't mean the match committee that's right a committee not just Scott, don't have perfectly valid reasons. After all the are the ones that deal with the players on a daily basis and set these players tasks in a game.

 

[Dan]

50/50 game this one, don't underestimate the crowd factor given it's their home game...they'll have 30K show up and we'll fill up the rest with 10-12K. Narni to get the job on Hurley with McHmon chipping in to help. Fletcher's an interesting one, do we put Tarrant deep to sacrifice his game against Fletcher and have Drew play a bit further up? Swallow, Wells, Bastinac, Anthony...the more you get the ball the less impact Watson has, nullify Watson's game and we are on our way to victory.

Although they lost, you can't dismiss their form last week. They bring that to Sunday's game and it'll be a handful.

I'm tipping a draw.

 

[THRILLHO]

Dan

Do you really think we'll get 12k to an away Sunday twilight game?

 

[Dan]

Dan

Do you really think we'll get 12k to an away Sunday twilight game?

10-12K I think is realistic. Big game, we are in form, win this and we are just about secured for finals.

 

[showusyacunningt]

I thought Basti played close to his best game on the weekend (not really counting the one against GWS).

Go back and have a look at some of his in close work. He is starting to slip tackles a bit more, and is getting handballs out in traffic where earlier in the season he was getting caught.

He did a crazy spin out of traffic in the dying moments of the Richmond game, only to miss the target with an easy handball. Basti and Cunnington can make time stand still when they have it in tight.

 

[THRILLHO]

Basti and Cunnington can make time stand still when they have it in tight.

My girlfriend's said the same about me a few times.

 

[fishardansin]

You have no idea. It's like no-one has noticed the fact that we've had similar problems for 11 years.

mufassa, I don't rate Wells, you don't rate Stanton. Get over it. Is every bloody discussion we could potentially have going to end with you bringing up these points? I'm allowed to think Wells is overrated and you're allowed to think Stanton's overrated. Am I wrong about Wells? The general consensus says yes. Are you wrong about Stanton? The general consensus says yes

But of course you don't think anyone from Essendon is good

You're both wrong!! Wells and Stanton are both VERY good players. Stanton can dominate a game with his hard running getting himself into space and providing outs for defenders, link ups in the middle and even running forward to take a mark inside 50. Stanton would have be BOG or close for 3 or 4 out of the first 6 games. The fact that he's received a heavy tag since is a pretty good reason for Jobe dominating since. Wells can break a game open with 400m runner style pace. This allows him to break the lines and follow up his work. It also allows him to execute his fantastic skills at a higher pace than most because he is so well balanced at 85% speed and this is a speed beyond most mortals.

Re the game I think Watson and Hocking doing a job on Swallow will see Essendon win the inside battle. If Wells and Harvey can cut loose in the middle with run and carry and get plenty of support from players like Atley and Thomas then North can still cut a swathe through the bombers. Whether North can keep up their best for 4 quarters remains to be seen though.

North's reliance on three tall forwards wont be a massive advantage this week with Essendon bringing 4 decent tall defenders to the game. Personally I'd like to see Hooker go to the dish, Carlisle to Hansen and Pears to Tarrant. Fletcher can take any of your smaller/medium players. If any of the backs are losing their position Fletch can take their role and they can either be subbed out or in the case of Carlisle or Pears, swung forward.

Essendon too will have plenty of pace forward of the ball with Jetta, Davey and Colyer. If we win the inside battle and feed the ball out to these fellas your undersized defense could struggle with Gumby, Hurley and Crameri. If Crameri plays then I'd imagine Hurley will be playing as a lead up. I personally think that Firito is physically one of the best match ups for Crameri. He'll occassionally get done for speed but wont get done for strength or endurance like a lot of Crameri's opponents do.

Interesting match up because with Ryder and Zaka back for the game after you guys, on top of those already returning, a win this week should see Essendon win the following two and certainly make finals with 14 wins. Also for North a win this week with games against Freo here and GWS should see 14 wins and certain finals. I think Collingwood are losing enough momentum that both sides will think they're a chance against them too. Especially with you guys not having to worry about Swan and Essendon hopefully having every player back too.

Well I didn't mean to get into that rant I was only trying to respond to the Wells Stanton comments. Oh well ... sorry!

 

[mark73]

You're both wrong!! Wells and Stanton are both VERY good players. Stanton can dominate a game with his hard running getting himself into space and providing outs for defenders, link ups in the middle and even running forward to take a mark inside 50. Stanton would have be BOG or close for 3 or 4 out of the first 6 games. The fact that he's received a heavy tag since is a pretty good reason for Jobe dominating since. Wells can break a game open with 400m runner style pace. This allows him to break the lines and follow up his work. It also allows him to execute his fantastic skills at a higher pace than most because he is so well balanced at 85% speed and this is a speed beyond most mortals.

Re the game I think Watson and Hocking doing a job on Swallow will see Essendon win the inside battle. If Wells and Harvey can cut loose in the middle with run and carry and get plenty of support from players like Atley and Thomas then North can still cut a swathe through the bombers. Whether North can keep up their best for 4 quarters remains to be seen though.

North's reliance on three tall forwards wont be a massive advantage this week with Essendon bringing 4 decent tall defenders to the game. Personally I'd like to see Hooker go to the dish, Carlisle to Hansen and Pears to Tarrant. Fletcher can take any of your smaller/medium players. If any of the backs are losing their position Fletch can take their role and they can either be subbed out or in the case of Carlisle or Pears, swung forward.

Essendon too will have plenty of pace forward of the ball with Jetta, Davey and Colyer. If we win the inside battle and feed the ball out to these fellas your undersized defense could struggle with Gumby, Hurley and Crameri. If Crameri plays then I'd imagine Hurley will be playing as a lead up. I personally think that Firito is physically one of the best match ups for Crameri. He'll occassionally get done for speed but wont get done for strength or endurance like a lot of Crameri's opponents do.

Interesting match up because with Ryder and Zaka back for the game after you guys, on top of those already returning, a win this week should see Essendon win the following two and certainly make finals with 14 wins. Also for North a win this week with games against Freo here and GWS should see 14 wins and certain finals. I think Collingwood are losing enough momentum that both sides will think they're a chance against them too. Especially with you guys not having to worry about Swan and Essendon hopefully having every player back too.

Well I didn't mean to get into that rant I was only trying to respond to the Wells Stanton comments. Oh well ... sorry!

So to break it down, you're an Essendon supporter and you think Essendon will win? Ok. You could've just said that.

 

[scottywiper]

So to break it down, you're an Essendon supporter and you think Essendon will win? Ok. You could've just said that.

We'll win. Easily.

 

[Kimbo]

We'll win. Easily.

So, you're flying over then?!

 

[fishardansin]

So to break it down, you're an Essendon supporter and you think Essendon will win? Ok. You could've just said that.

No. I'm an Essendon supporter so I HOPE Essendon win. I don't think anyone can be totally confident in the outcome of this game. North have shown better form over the last month or more and with the small amount of injuries are also enjoying a consistency to the line up and all the benefits that brings. Essendon did show some improvement and have some quality players back this week. Probably 55% chance that North will win!!

 

[mark73]

So, you're flying over then?!

Are you? It'd be nice to say hello in person?

 

[Kimbo]

Are you? It'd be nice to say hello in person?

Love to, but sadly no. Besides, I'm a bizarro Scotty when it comes to lucky charm status.

 

[MagicalRoos]

Did you see how uncomfortable they were kicking out from full back last week without Fletcher?
Heart in mouth stuff (and we can all relate).

Hope Fletcher doesn't play.