Is there something wrong with the way we play?

[year of the roo]

I probably did.

So since you watched that game maybe you can tell us what was wrong about the way we played that game where we were laying perfect tackles and not getting rewarded with free kicks.

There is nothing the club can do but the AFL can do something.

I am not saying the umpires/AFL are not partly to blame. But saying we cannot do anything about it, ie we cannot modify how we play, how we tackle, etc is incredibly naive. Of course we can.

 

[Mr Reliable]

I am not saying the umpires/AFL are not partly to blame. But saying we cannot do anything about it, ie we cannot modify how we play, how we tackle, etc is incredibly naive. Of course we can.

When the diving on the ball rule first came in Arch was diving on it and getting pinged all the time. Then he adapted. He curbed his natural instinct to see ball get ball by not diving on it head first.

 

[roobear]

When the diving on the ball rule first came in Arch was diving on it and getting pinged all the time. Then he adapted. He curbed his natural instinct to see ball get ball by not diving on it head first.

I was thinking about exactly that yesterday. Jack needs to make the same adaptation, as ridiculous as that is. We thought it was going to prematurely end Arch's career for a while there, he just couldn't get used to the new interpretation.

 

[Twinkletoes]

I would say do a very good homework your way to play will be good automatically. Wish you good luck

Reading that, and watching Webber just win the British F1 GP, has made my night. Genuine lols marshmichi, intended or not.

 

[Mav]

I do think the umps have a mentality of looking after certain glamour sides and players.
They don't rate us.

Do you honestly believe that? Sounds like small man syndrome to me

 

[scottywiper]

Do you honestly believe that? Sounds like small man syndrome to me

Lol.its definitely not small man syndrome. Maybe I just hold umps in similar regard to how you hold LT?
Anyway., umps definitely have their faves. Giesch has said they look after "fair ball players", which to me contradicts the principle of judging each contest on its merits.
We dont have enough big names yet to get that treatment.

 

[Quinz]

I was looking at the free kicks from the game, by the type of free kick awarded because I thought there were a lot of HTB free kicks paid.

Frees for West Coast/against North Melbourne
Marking infringement- 10
Holding the ball- 4
Tackle in the back- 4
Block off the ball- 3
High tackle- 3
Ruck infringement- 2

Frees for North Melbourne/against West Coast
High tackle- 9
Holding the ball- 5
Block off the ball- 2
Holding the man- 2
Marking infringement- 2
Tackle in the back- 1
Ruck infringement- 1

North gave away a very high amount of free kicks in marking contests. Have no idea if this is a trend observable in your other games, could be a factor or maybe just a once off.

 

[year of the roo]

High tackle 9-3 WCEs way? I think you need to review your stats.

 

[Quinz]

Yep, 9-3 against us. Strange one for sure, can't remember us giving away so many high tackle frees in a game before. I have no idea if 11 HTB is a high number compared to other games but it seemed a bit over the top on the day.

 

[Mr Reliable]

Yep, 9-3 against us. Strange one for sure, can't remember us giving away so many high tackle frees in a game before. I have no idea if 11 HTB is a high number compared to other games but it seemed a bit over the top on the day.

Marking infringements 10 -2

Mate, I've been banging on about the frees in marking contests. I reckon we were badly in the negative against the Saints too. Where did you get those stats?

 

[Old Skool]

Frees for North Melbourne/against West Coast

Block off the ball- 2

They missed an awful lot of these.

 

[Mr Reliable]

Tackle in the back frees 4/1. Pity it wasn't 4/2.

 

[Waynesworld]

arse sphincter says what?

You really need to get off the computer and out of the house more mate!

 

[DarwinRoo]

And you need to pay more attention to your own team.

 

[blackshadow]

We were lucky a couple of high ones weren't awarded to the duckers in their goal square - looked to be two clear frees to them the umps missed from where I was sitting - me and the guys I were with breathed a huge collective sigh of relief when they were let go.

 

[mark73]

I watch every game mate.

Did you watch our game against Fremantle in 1997?

I did. It was Harvey's first game of relative dominance.

 

[grimface_87]

I have no idea if 11 HTB is a high number compared to other games but it seemed a bit over the top on the day.

There were some shockers in the first half against the Eagles (Kerr one from memory). Tackled straight away pinning in the ball but "made no attempt" so holding the ball. Shocking interpretation of the rule

 

[Quinz]

All of NMs HTB frees were in the first half, and all of ours were in the second half. Inconsistencies that just drive you crazy.

Marking infringements 10 -2

Mate, I've been banging on about the frees in marking contests. I reckon we were badly in the negative against the Saints too. Where did you get those stats?

Went through them on the AFL game analyser- http://www.gameanalyser.afl.com.au/ Have to do it manually, the AFL don't seem to like collecting stats about umpiring.

 

[Mr Reliable]

All of NMs HTB frees were in the first half, and all of ours were in the second half. Inconsistencies that just drive you crazy.

Went through them on the AFL game analyser- http://www.gameanalyser.afl.com.au/ Have to do it manually, the AFL don't seem to like collecting stats about umpiring.

That AFL website is too scarey for me. I'll fly by the seat of my pants.

What do you think of your marking infringements stat (10/2)? If I said the stats would have been similarly adverse (to North) the previous week, would it suggest a problem with our spoiling technique?

Let's assume for the sake of the discussion that the umpires pay them when they see them.

 

[blackshadow]

Let's assume for the sake of the discussion that the umpires pay them when they see them.

I'm assuming OPSM need to lift their game!

 

[Quinz]

That AFL website is too scarey for me. I'll fly by the seat of my pants.

What do you think of your marking infringements stat (10/2)? If I said the stats would have been similarly adverse (to North) the previous week, would it suggest a problem with our spoiling technique?

Let's assume for the sake of the discussion that the umpires pay them when they see them.

Well... Marking infringements usually occur when a player is out of position and has to make an unreasonable attempt to contest a mark. Could be caught behind the forward (where Darling got two frees) or just out of position and run in anyway, collecting the opposition player (in your own forward line or midfield). It's a defensive issue, but the top sides try and limit the amount of times their defenders are caught one out.

From what I've seen, it's a lack of defensive pressure off HB and in the middle that allows teams to move the ball quickly, catch the opposition off guard, and either hit up a free player or get a free kick. Not just a North thing, that's league-wide. NM score heavily but also get scored heavily against. Lack of pressure in the middle was noticeable at times in the second half on Saturday, and the defence struggled with the quick entries. Once you can slow the ball down you get a free man in defence and the long kick into the 50 isn't so dangerous. It also comes with experience though, like Dean Cox just has the ability to see where the ball is going next and get there.

IMO anyway, but you guys see more of North than I do.

 

[Waynesworld]

And you need to pay more attention to your own team.

And what makes you an expert on what I do or don't know about Nth Melb? Or for that matter what makes you an expert on them?

 

[mark73]

Well... Marking infringements usually occur when a player is out of position and has to make an unreasonable attempt to contest a mark. Could be caught behind the forward (where Darling got two frees) or just out of position and run in anyway, collecting the opposition player (in your own forward line or midfield). It's a defensive issue, but the top sides try and limit the amount of times their defenders are caught one out.

From what I've seen, it's a lack of defensive pressure off HB and in the middle that allows teams to move the ball quickly, catch the opposition off guard, and either hit up a free player or get a free kick. Not just a North thing, that's league-wide. NM score heavily but also get scored heavily against. Lack of pressure in the middle was noticeable at times in the second half on Saturday, and the defence struggled with the quick entries. Once you can slow the ball down you get a free man in defence and the long kick into the 50 isn't so dangerous. It also comes with experience though, like Dean Cox just has the ability to see where the ball is going next and get there.

IMO anyway, but you guys see more of North than I do.

I agree with all that and it's interesting to note that North's defence other than McMahon and Firrito don't have a shitload of AFL experience. But it would've been nice if the coach had made some moves, like Petrie to defence, where he has been ultra good before, and tried to stifle the Cox influence as he was giving us nothing up forward. The midfield thing I'm not that concerned about. Our oldest midfielder is Swallow who is 23. We all expected the Eagles to get their shit together at some point, they're a top side, but it would've been nice to have held on to the 4 points.

 

[HighettBomber]

You won't like to hear this, but over your 22 you are a bit slow, a bit soft and don't run hard enough. Swallow and Ziebel are great at the contest but have little help, Wells is your only quick onballer. The result being you are second to the ball a lot and when you aren't you often get caught, add to this the girly tackling of Anthony and Harvey and you have a recipe for a poor free kick differential.

 

[mark73]

You won't like to hear this, but over your 22 you are a bit slow, a bit soft and don't run hard enough. Swallow and Ziebel are great at the contest but have little help, Wells is your only quick onballer. The result being you are second to the ball a lot and when you aren't you often get caught, add to this the girly tackling of Anthony and Harvey and you have a recipe for a poor free kick differential.

Can someone else respond to that. It's not only wrong it's stupid.