Game Day North vs Hawks, 4:40pm, Sunday, Shepparton

[Kangaroos4eva]

Tommorrow's Herald Sun here in Melb has a poster of Ben10 with the dont argue..

Brad cunnington.

 

[Dugdale2Dwyer]

Good solid win North Melbourne. You guys played very well, especially after quarter time. Good signs down back with Tippett, Tarrant and Wright. All the best in 2015.


See you in this years Grand Final.

After todays showing you blokes won't make the 8

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Geez, Wrighty was good. Didn't miss a beat.

He was exceptional.

 

[roosmad]

Happy with that, not sure about Adams game?, black needed the run should be better next week

 

[DarkPhoenix]

After todays showing you blokes won't make the 8

Geez the offseason was good without you trolling the place.

 

[scottywiper]

Overall, a very pleasing performance. We rested some blokes and Hawks, who wouldn't be worried, had a much better side in than last week, with both sides coming off similar preps.
I was happy with how we went about it, although we butchered the ball a lot.
No injuries either.
Main thing was fringe players showing good signs.

Positives:
Wright very good
Taz was solid
Wood was impressive for two quarters
thought McKenzie looked ok down back
LT in great nick
Jacobs solid
Basti improved as game went on.
JMac looks primed
Cunners in the last

Negatives
Black unsighted
Nahas struggled
Adams looks cooked

 

[Souup]

Is Petrie ok? Was listening on the radio while and may have missed it, but I checked fanfooty after the game. He's got the red cross next to his name - anything serious?

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Is Petrie ok? Was listening on the radio while and may have missed it, but I checked fanfooty after the game. He's got the red cross next to his name - anything serious?

Think that means subbed.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Jacobs 20 disposals 8 marks.

 

[COOL-A-ROO]

Is Petrie ok? Was listening on the radio while and may have missed it, but I checked fanfooty after the game. He's got the red cross next to his name - anything serious?

Saying hammy on 9 News.

 

[SnowRoo]

Saying hammy on 9 News.

2 weeks?

 

[Coalface]

I've just moved to Jakarta and moved into an apartment yesterday, couldn't believe my luck when I turned on the TV and the game was on! ...and live no less!!!! Plenty of positives on show today, getting very excited for the season proper!

 

[LT Smash]

Smacked in inside 50's but still managed to run over the top of them and make the most of the opportunities late.

Inside 50s was 43-50. As I recall, we were ahead on that stat in the first half despite being behind on the scoreboard. Poor choices going inside 50 for immediate rebounds can rack up the inside 50 stat for no scoreboard value. On the other hand, if you hold up and refrain from going inside 50 if there's no clear scoring option, then your inside 50s actually count for something. That's pretty much how the game went. It's also how 2014 went for us - we were most efficient for scores per inside 50.

 

[ozzyoslo]

Goldy overhead mark +1

For those who are keeping track even after the Geelong final

Brings the career tally to what, 20?

 

[True North]

I liked Jacobs and Wright's games down back. Spud looks in the same nick as his stellar 2014. Tazza looked ok and will keep improving.

We are absolutely primed for a serious tilt. If Wells has the year that he is threatening and we are praying for, then lookout.

 

[ozzyoslo]

Great timing Andy.

But he should those .....running in to an open goal.

 

[LT Smash]

We win by 13 points or 10 depending on who is correct re LT's 9 pointer.

Seeing as these games no longer count for anything in terms of prize money or silverware and are now openly regarded as practice for the real thing, why do they persist with 9 pointers? Absolutely pointless.

 

[TooUglyForFugly]

I'm happy that our ragtag bunch of unknowns (our Lindsay Cunningtons, our Josh Tippetts, our Brent Kents) beat the side full of premiership stars.

I'll be back tomorrow ... depending on school load ... to lurk and like posts. Since I have no right to celebrate by posting.

 

[Egga]

Wish we had a player like Josh Gibson.

Hi!!!

 

[Devington]

I'm happy that our ragtag bunch of unknowns (our Lindsay Cunningtons, our Josh Tippetts, our Brent Kents) beat the side full of premiership stars.

I'll be back tomorrow ... depending on school load ... to lurk and like posts. Since I have no right to celebrate by posting.

Of course you have the right to celebrate by posting!

 

[Dugdale2Dwyer]

Seeing as these games no longer count for anything in terms of prize money or silverware and are now openly regarded as practice for the real thing, why do they persist with 9 pointers? Absolutely pointless.

Technically they are not, they're worth 9 points.

 

[Lums23]

View attachment 114595
Hi!!!

What a head!

 

[Dugdale2Dwyer]

I've just moved to Jakarta and moved into an apartment yesterday, couldn't believe my luck when I turned on the TV and the game was on! ...and live no less!!!! Plenty of positives on show today, getting very excited for the season proper!

Coal miner?

 

[Lums23]

Is Petrie ok? Was listening on the radio while and may have missed it, but I checked fanfooty after the game. He's got the red cross next to his name - anything serious?

He was icing it after he was subbed. The commentators didn't make a fuss about it but that was pretty common of anything that happened concerning us

 

[Flawed Genius]

McKenzie - only 9 touches but 3 tackles and didn't look out of place down in the backline. Didn't notice him much so I guess he didn't stuff up too badly. Needs to get more of the pill but an increase in physicality is a really positive sign. Joining in in 2-man tackles and dumping blokes. Happy enough

Bastinac - shit first three quarters had me thinking Wood had his spot sewn up but a really nice last quarter including the game winner after multiple efforts. I'll say this for him, he just will not stop running. Will need to continue playing well to keep his spot however, for mine

Jacobs - 20 touches, the most marks on the ground with 8. Playing tremendously in the backline. Had Rioli at stages, had Puopolo at stages, had Gunston at stages. Absolutely not disgraced at any stage. Did turn it over a few times but his endeavour compared to this time last year would be of an extraordinarily higher standard. I think he's playing his way into a Round 1 spot

Ziebell - 17 touches, 8 clearances, 7 I50s. If he can get into space more and make those I50s count he's going to have a massive, very dangerous year. Kidd Vicious mentioned it in this thread, even his hacks out of space are looking more assured, more confident. Hugely important in the scheme of things for our clearance work and matches really well with Cunnington. I think his swinging forward is more of a Plan B now. He's too valuable at the coal face

Swallow - best on. Lot of the ball, lot of positive movement, popped up everywhere, kicked a goal, had 6 tackles. The most clangers on the ground, but to be expected as he'd be rustier than most. Does what a captain does. Good to have him back and nearing full strength

Cunnington - made some un-Ben like mistakes today, but still ended up with 19 touches and 8 clearances of his own. Just so strong through the hips and the core. I'm confident of his stiff-arms working every time and he delivered a few beauties today. Will hit round 1 at full pace. I am expecting a massive year

Firrito - if he keeps playing like this he will be extremely hard to lose next year. Rebounds at pace, attacks the footy and generally finds someone who is wearing the same colours as us. Smart footballer now, doesn't lose his head as much as he did 2 years ago, just does his job and does it well. 17 touches is a great return

Thomas - less of the stupid shit which is positive. Kicking was good, nose for goal was on, nailed that supergoal. Doing his bit with 3 tackles. Should be hitting his prime at this stage so it's good to see him having a good pre-season

Adams - done

Thompson - a welcome return. 20 touches and just doesn't make mistakes. Somehow ends up with the footy more than most times and rebounds effectively. I think a few were worried about injuries but he showed no sign of that today. Pretty dangerous Hawthorn forward line and he said in the post-match interview with Mooney that he's comfortable playing on the little blokes because Tarrant and Tippett have the bigger blokes covered. Building nicely

Atley - I don't know if he needs to move into the midfield. Looks so assured playing in the backline. His rebound is fantastic and the way he hits the footy at speed is great. Set up a terrific goal in the last. Just a great footballer who keeps developing. Happy with his game

Wright - surprised me. In a good way. Floats back and just clunks them. Looks to be continuing his form from late last year. 20 touches, 7 marks, 5 R50s. Very pleasing. Could be a really vital point of difference in the backline this year and will keep MacMahon out if his form doesn't taper

Petrie - subbed out with hamstring soreness. Nothing to write home about

Goldstein - meh. 23 hitouts, but meh. Gota round the ground OK. Didn't have to beat much. +1 contested mark

Tarrant - not as bad as everyone was saying, IMO. 15 touches (93%), 7 marks, most of which looked really controlled and assured. Comes off his man at the right time most of the time, hits the footy at its highest point, and his hands are strong. I think there's plenty to work with as a defender and he should be persisted with back there. Tippett is a bit more of a worry at this stage

Nahas - largely anonymous. Turner has gone past him

Harvey - did what Harvey does. Nice supergoal

Waite - looked dangerous, then couldn't kick straight. Got reported, it'll get thrown out. Then Nahas nearly broke his neck courtesy of Brian Lake. Then he got subbed out. Weird game, but we knew what we were in for. Take the good with the strange

Wood - salivating. Moves incredibly well for a man his size. Smooth. Kicks the footy brilliantly, can jump, can mark, can move. A lot to work with. Could make the wing his very very own. If he keeps playing like he did today, he will be coming for Basti's spot like a freight train. Must get games this year. 10 touches, 3 marks

MacMillan - marshalls the backline. Hits the footy at pace coming off halfback. Smart footballer - see his kick to the middle of the ground in the last quarter off the outside of his right foot? Set up a goal to Turner. Not many other players would attempt something like that. Firmly entrenched in the 22 for Round 1

Black - yuck.. Don't like

Tippett - outshone by Tarrant. Did OK though. Gave away a dumb free kick. Needs to be persisted with as obviously we do not have many other options

Daw - showed signs. Blinding pace in the last, staggering game unawareness in the third. Nowhere near the luminary effort from last week but still pretty good. 6 hitouts in limited game time. Suggest he will get a full game next week

Turner - Hyperspace button (tm ianl)

Gibson - typical Gibson game. Matched up on a wing with Hill, went with him for some of it and then didn't for other parts. Got his fair share of the footy, presented well. Not unhappy with his performance

Brown - same as Daw really. Didn't get much of an opportunity. Led at the footy, marked well, should've passed the footy going for that supergoal in the last. Not sure he has a spot in the Round 1 team at this point




Thompson said in the post match interview that we'll "be winding down" now. I'd suggest that Adelaide was a ramp up, Hawthorn was the real hitout, and Richmond will be the warmdown, play the kids (Durdin, Fordham, Dumont, Preuss maybe, Wallace et al) game. Overall, really pleasing to bounce back from both a disappointing performance last week and a shocking first quarter this week to beat the reigning premiers at full strength, while ourselves missing three of our best users of the footy (Wells, Higgins, Dal Santo). A lot to like, positive signs from many of the guys, and I guess we'll look forward to seeing some of our prized draftees get a go around next week.

Oh and no injuries. This is also good