North.. On the wrong track?

[DeadlyAkkuret]

I'm loath to judge North too early because we play them in two weeks, and they could definitely beat both Geelong and Sydney but they're a team that needs to be at 95% to win most games. When they drop off it's usually quite dramatic.

I think the bigger thing is how much a lot of people are underrating Collingwood. They won a flag in 2010 and made the grand final in 2011, with largely the same team they have today. Their depth is the best in the league and there's still no shame in going down by 2-3 goals to a side that should easily be top 4 this season.

Win or lose, the next two games will tell us a lot about the Kangaroos. They generally struggle against hard opponents and Geelong and Sydney are as hard as they come, so if they lose both games comfortably then it'll be fair to make the call that they haven't improved. I think they'll seriously push both teams and might pull off a win.

 

[Bigeasy]

Yep. Junk etihad player.

For all the faking, sniping and diving, he does manage to titilate some of the throng.

Who needs finals wins when you can watch Lindsay's dramatics in a few mid season games at etihad.

Is that you Bucks?

 

[Sons_of_a_Gun]

Don't think North are in a heap of trouble it's only round 1 but I have to say that Petrie is one of the biggest downhill skiers in the game. Can't play for shit against quality opposition.

Very Very ordinary call. He has torn us up a couple of times in the last 5 or 6 years, and we have gone ok in that period no? The delivery to him was dead set woeful today, Cloke was a real beast out there, but if he had of been getting the delivery Petrie had, he would have done about as much.
Numerous posters have said how poor their ball use was today, which is 100% spot on, well surely that equals a struggle for their key forwards. Underestimate Drew Petrie at your own peril, i know i wont be.

 

[Sons_of_a_Gun]

PMSL. You were terrible. You played a half strength Collingwood team and was still embarrassed. And lets not talk about Petrie.

Yeah lets not talk about Petrie hey? The same Petrie that last 3 times he's played your mob he's kicked 7, 4 and 6 and just about single handedly won the game for North last time you played, killing your momentum, and possibly costing you the slim chance you had of making finals? Yeah i wouldnt wanna talk about him either if i was in your shoes.

 

[telsor]

North has one problem, and as soon as they get to it, it'll be raining premiership.

They need to play Majak as center half full ruck rover wing back forward.

 

[Hearts to hearts]

The knee jerk reactions to the Dees, Lions and Saints losses were understandable. Those losses were alarming and pretty soul crushing for the team. All 3 clubs looked a long way off where they expected to be.

Losing to a certain top 4 side by 16 points doesn't warrant one of these threads. Even stranger that a North supporter started it.

Would be strange if it was a North supporter. But it wasn't.

 

[Bollox]

After watching the other teams go about it (except for Hawks vs Geelong) I am pretty confident we could have rolled pretty much anyone else....

oh yes that was plainly obvious ..unfortunately though the reality was you were outrun, outskilled, outpressured, outcoached and pretty comfortably outscored by a mob that didnt even make top 4 last year and were forced to test their depth due to injuries and cramped up the last qtr. Only took one half of the real thing to expose the gap.

Scott has so far shown he's wonderful at simply copying gameplans from top 4 mobs rather than do any innovation of his own. The only thing North can take out of that game is they seemed fit enough...the other mobs arnt witches hats nor are their gameplans, which if coached well usually hold up regardless of personnel.

North are in their prime right NOW...it was a very disappointing loss to a not so strong opposition, and a fierce reality check to a mob that have totally drained the well of excuses.

 

[jacko57]

North has one problem, and as soon as they get to it, it'll be raining premiership.

They need to play Majak as center half full ruck rover wing back forward.

he could give a chop out in defence, too.

 

[Jars458]

What's a dispersion as it relates to comments on players?

 

[istillbelieve]

Massive over reaction, was a very high standard of game & ultimately Pendlebury, Swan, Sidebottom & Cloke were at the top of their game which was the difference. I think the Roos need to get Atley up the ground however as there is a lot of sameness in their midfield. Swallow is a gun & Mullet really impressed me. North would have beaten perhaps at least another 12 teams today

 

[TheKanga]

Jacobs needs to do more, wasn't great in his debut for North.
Selection for Geelong next week will be interesting.

 

[Black Diamond]

I think the Roos need to get Atley up the ground...

Certainly do. We've got others who can play the lockdown role so it's better to use Atley's speed where it will be more dangerous.

 

[The Goon]

Now I eagerly wait for the result of the Geelong vs Hawks game so that a thread about the loser will be started by someone along the lines of "......: is their premiership window closed"

I confidently predict the loser (either team) to be accused of being "too old" and "past it". They will then be advised to trade their stars for draft picks to assist the rebuild

 

[Ancient Tiger]

Much better team with Boomer in it. Anyone have win/loss stats with Boomer in or out of the team?

 

[Black Diamond]

Much better team with Boomer in it. Anyone have win/loss stats with Boomer in or out of the team?

We typically start the season off slowly (we haven't won the first round since 2006) so I don't think it's a Harvey issue.

 

[Obeanie1]

Yea nah, only account but you are right.

I wish that Lindsay Thomas played at another club.

Hate that he's a sook, diver, sniper, cheat and a d grade footballer with a few tricks.

This guy is a major reason north start seasons badly, travel badly and get flogged in finals.

How many years of this crap do you fools need to watch.

The same old junk moment goals, dumb decisions and frees against.

Pathetic footballer that will keep the club the mid season heroes, but that's obviously enough for some of the Roos fans hey.

Except that today he was one of the most dangerous and effective players for North. If North had of had two more like him they would have won IMO. When he got near the ball something good happened. Lots of people getting upset over his bump on Ried but that was just an unfortunate head clash from a neutral view point.

Sure Thomas does fall over at time to suck in umpires and it is annoying but he's no where near as bad as Hayden Ballantyne and he's more effective.

 

[HFF]

I'm very happy we managed to win a danger game, particularly with all our outs and injuries.

With North, I think they play their best football on the outside when they break into space and carry the footy. I think Scott is trying to alter that or find a more contested style balance because whilst they look impressive during home and away games, their style hasn't been able to hold up in finals.

They aren't on the wrong track at all, however they missed an opportunity to claim victory against a weakened top team.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I think we need someone like a Jetta or Bennell who break the lines, has X factor, blazing speed and good skills, I mean an ultra outside player who demands the ball

who doesn't?

Maybe Sydney and Gold Coast, but even they'd take another.

It's the hardest skill-set to find in footy. Good luck.

 

[GarnerSmash]

I'm very happy we managed to win a danger game, particularly with all our outs and injuries.

With North, I think they play their best football on the outside when they break into space and carry the footy. I think Scott is trying to alter that or find a more contested style balance because whilst they look impressive during home and away games, their style hasn't been able to hold up in finals.

They aren't on the wrong track at all, however they missed an opportunity to claim victory against a weakened top team.

Bang on the mark. This is a team in a transition of playing style and we struggled to be as slick as Collingwood with the clearances we did win. As a consequence we either bombed it long or gavve the Pies enough time to get numbers deep after we finally got past the frst line of pressure. Their intensity and skill execution on the whole was excellent and they deserved to win by more.

 

[Tas]

who doesn't?

Maybe Sydney and Gold Coast, but even they'd take another.

It's the hardest skill-set to find in footy. Good luck.

Not really, it is hard to find an outside player that is a complete footballer, I think we can afford to take on someone with a lot of limitations as long as the offensive ones exist. A lot of indigenous players have the traits. Campbell used to be that explosive damaging player before he had troubles with injuries. It has been a long time since we recruited anyone under 185cm with that potential to have a big frame, it has probably been a bit of a weakness not to replace someone like Campbell.

 

[BomberFan355]

We typically start the season off slowly (we haven't won the first round since 2006) so I don't think it's a Harvey issue.

2009 - Round 1
Melbourne 10.7 (67) def. by North Melbourne 15.11 (101)

 

[Black Diamond]

2009 - Round 1
Melbourne 10.7 (67) def. by North Melbourne 15.11 (101)

Cheers for that. Point remains we have been hitting our strides in the middle of the season. Non-issue that Harvey wasn't playing.

 

[captain peanut]

It's only round 1, but the bottom line is this - north went into this game missing Brent Harvey from their best 22, collingwood went in missing Thomas ball shaw beams young fasolo and possibly didak and krakouer who are fringe best 22 this year with the development of Sinclair and Elliott. They then lost Johnson by half time and Reid half way through the 3rd quarter , yet even with a man down on the bench and all that quality missing they were putting north to the sword until the inevitable tired legs kicked in midway thru the last quarter. Bottom line , in the circumstances north should have won this game in a canter. A horrendous result for them

 

[Black Diamond]

It's only round 1, but the bottom line is this - north went into this game missing Brent Harvey from their best 22, collingwood went in missing Thomas ball shaw beams young fasolo and possibly didak and krakouer who are fringe best 22 this year with the development of Sinclair and Elliott. They then lost Johnson by half time and Reid half way through the 3rd quarter , yet even with a man down on the bench and all that quality missing they were putting north to the sword until the inevitable tired legs kicked in midway thru the last quarter. Bottom line , in the circumstances north should have won this game in a canter. A horrendous result for them

Agreed, we should have won. I'll add we were missing McMahon from our best 22.

 

[Tas]

It's only round 1, but the bottom line is this - north went into this game missing Brent Harvey from their best 22, collingwood went in missing Thomas ball shaw beams young fasolo and possibly didak and krakouer who are fringe best 22 this year with the development of Sinclair and Elliott. They then lost Johnson by half time and Reid half way through the 3rd quarter , yet even with a man down on the bench and all that quality missing they were putting north to the sword until the inevitable tired legs kicked in midway thru the last quarter. Bottom line , in the circumstances north should have won this game in a canter. A horrendous result for them

Collingwood is a top 4 team, we aren't. Cloke, Pendlebury and Swan stood up and lead the team. Swallow, Wells and Petrie... a big difference, only Swallow stood up for us. Collingwood did well to take the pressure off their younger players, we didn't.

We had more disposals, more inside 50s, a lot more clerances, Goldstein pantsed Jolly again. There was just a lack of composure with the decision making and execution, that is the difference between two teams in very different positions.

We should have won, had enough of the ball to win and it was largely down to the lack of manpower for Collingwood, we just weren't good enough. There was just too much variance between the good players and the poor players, Collingwood were just a lot more even across the ground.

I don't necessarily think it is something you need to put North down for, it is not like we put in a Melbourne or Brisbane effort, it was a fierce contest, we just lacked polish and Collingwood deserve to be congratulated for their effort in difficult circumstances.