Preview Essendon vs North Melbourne (12/08/12)

[60sbomber]

They have a very suspect backline. Licka would have been so dangerous, but I'll back Gumby, Hurley and whichever other talls are fit to monster a reasonably poor Thompson/Grima combo in the air.

From what I have seen of North of late, I would say Thompson and Grima are very underrated. They get the job done without fuss and without taking your notice that much. I would happily have them in our team. Marking forwards regularly play well against us. Our guys concede more uncontested marks to key forwards than most good defences. By uncontested I mean marks like Jenkin (2) and Walker took on Sunday.
(NB am I allowed to call him Walker without putting Taylor in front, ala "triple Brownlow Medallist Bobby Skilton"?)

 

[GarnerSmash]

explain these:

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...49&type=A&fid1=P&fopt1=2011&fid2=P&fopt2=2011
http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...49&type=A&fid1=P&fopt1=2010&fid2=P&fopt2=2010
http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...49&type=A&fid1=P&fopt1=2009&fid2=P&fopt2=2009

He had one good season, coincidentally when Swallow was dominating. He had one alright season, coincidentally when Swallow was good. The rest have been overrated. Wells is a simple beast to tame. Shut down Swallow, shut down Wells.

If Wells' form can be put down to the influence of any one person it would be Steve Saunders who sorted out his OP.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

From what I have seen of North of late, I would say Thompson and Grima are very underrated. They get the job done without fuss and without taking your notice that much. I would happily have them in our team. Marking forwards regularly play well against us. Our guys concede more uncontested marks to key forwards than most good defences. By uncontested I mean marks like Jenkin (2) and Walker took on Sunday.
(NB am I allowed to call him Walker without putting Taylor in front, ala "triple Brownlow Medallist Bobby Skilton"?)

They structure up well but if you isolate them they're suspect. I suppose we're much the same.

 

[bomberfan11]

I think North are coming out of a bit of form and us into form its fairly hard to beat the crows in Adelaide. we should win this then the next 2 to go in against the pies hopefully with no more injuries. Looking forward to seeing when we have Ryder, Hurley and Gumbleton in the same forward line

Will be so angry if North win

 

[GreatBradScott]

I can't believe that it's come down to this. The team we beat to kickstart our great early season form in Round 1 will now be the team that could end our injury plagued
season in Round 20...

 

[The Dustbin]

We dominated North for 3 quarters and 10 minutes in round 1. If we kick straight the second time around we should have a comfortable win.

 

[benno87]

Hope you don't mind the intrusion lads.

Regarding our defense, it's a bit of a loaded stat that we concede a lot of points; before the bye certainly we averaged 106 points against per game but since Round 10 we have averaged 86 points against.

Scott McMahon and Nathan Grima missed big chunks of the season early, we have been a much better unit defensively since their return.

 

[yaco55]

They have a very suspect backline. Licka would have been so dangerous, but I'll back Gumby, Hurley and whichever other talls are fit to monster a reasonably poor Thompson/Grima combo in the air.

Gotta find a way for Grima to play on Hurley - This will be a clear win - May mean that Gumby plays more of a negative role.

Think Firrito will play on Crameri.

 

[yaco55]

Simple. Stop Swallow. Wells is ******* overrated, can't do anything when Swallow isn't feeding him, and Petrie doesn't do anything without Wells giving the ball to him. Cunnington may tag Watson, that takes away another ball winner for them, and Anthony isn't much chop. Harvey is a gun, but can he do it by himself? And Bastinac is a player that could help them. My solution:

Hocking to sacrifice his game to stop Swallow, and that clogs their inside ball winning
Force Bastinac to do all the work himself by dragging Cunnington to the square against Watson, making everyone else get their own ball, Heppell Stanton, Monfries included
Deliver the ball into the forward 50 with precision for once

Wow

Wells is over-rated - Ignore Wells and he will destoy us.

 

[yaco55]

I wouldn't play Monfries this week - North is a team that has a high handball to kick ratio - They love running the ball out with hands - So defensive pressure is paramount - Kangaroos are slow into defensive transition - These two factors rule out Monfries. Need forwards who are quick on their feet and can take advantage of turnovers.

Wells must get a hard tag - Think Hocking is the man - Harvey's form has been solid - spends 70% forward and 30% on the ball - Willing to take a chance and play Dempsey on him - Could hurt him on the turnover.

 

[GreatBradScott]

I wouldn't play Monfries this week - North is a team that has a high handball to kick ratio - They love running the ball out with hands - So defensive pressure is paramount - Kangaroos are slow into defensive transition - These two factors rule out Monfries. Need forwards who are quick on their feet and can take advantage of turnovers.

Wells must get a hard tag - Think Hocking is the man - Harvey's form has been solid - spends 70% forward and 30% on the ball - Willing to take a chance and play Dempsey on him - Could hurt him on the turnover.

For your mob to win, everything here needs to be implemented. I hope of course it doesn't, but spot on.

 

[bomberswarm2]

Let us all unite and say
"GO THE CROWS THRASH FREO"

 

[Lord Nicholson]

Let us all unite and say
"GO THE CROWS THRASH FREO"

Nonsense. Freo winning would make life far more exciting.

 

[bomberswarm2]

Well if we beat North then Freo beats North were in the finals

 

[RoyalBlue]

I think this is a game where Essendon should probably start favourites really, we've come off two nine goal wins - but frankly Melbourne and Footscray are an embarrassment and should be delisted immediately.

Dons very stiff last week and we're struggling to keep a young team up for a third month.

We're ripe if you guys are on.

 

[TheKanga]

We do seem to lift for the big games.
Like we did for St Kilda, Carlton & Richmond.
All of those were ''elimination finals'' at the time.
It's such a close season!

 

[Oneiros]

Yes. We have been waiting for this since Big H's miss on the 31st of March.

Just so happens now it has something other than pride riding on it.

Should have kicked it to Hawkins.

 

[Jade]

They have a very suspect backline. Licka would have been so dangerous, but I'll back Gumby, Hurley and whichever other talls are fit to monster a reasonably poor Thompson/Grima combo in the air.

Now THIS is the game for Gumby.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Now THIS is the game for Gumby.

I thought it was the game for Hansen?

 

[vaughany]

Open training session on Saturday at 9.50am @ Windy Hill

Going to have a look?

 

[Jade]

I thought it was the game for Hansen?

Never heard of him.

 

[VelvetSledge]

Open training session on Saturday at 9.50am @ Windy Hill

Going to have a look?

I'll be there.

 

[DavidCauseARukas]

Even with Stanton and zaharakis in the team I would say north have better outside class. We need to beat up their so called meat grinder midfield like we did in round 1 and hopefully they turn to water again. Both teams have improved a lot since round 1. This will be interesting, our backs are against the wall. I have a feeling we will win.

 

[The Speaker]

Well if we beat North then Freo beats North were in the finals

Best case scenario IMO.

 

[laxation]

Richmond were destroying North in half of one quarter the other week by kicking long and fast up the ground.

What's our chances of playing like that? Is North always susceptible to that style of play or was that just a poor passage from the team?