Review Round 14, 2021 - North Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions

[Mighty Lions]

I don't think you can include Rayner, & Gardiner as best 22 this year
Zorko comes in for Matho
Berry senior or junior?
Junior could replace Coleman
Senior will need a few games in the twos then see where he is at
Payne played yesterday in the twos. His last seniors appearance was round 3. So think he goes around in the twos again assuming the twos play someone
I noticed you did not include Lester. Possibly an oversite. However I would play Madden again even if Lester was available. Different type of player i know
However we all know Fagan rightly or wrongly sticks to the same team
So changes for Geelong are probably only Zorko for Matho

I think after last nights game the only 2 omissions could/will be are Matho & Coleman. In come Zorko and maybe Berry Jnr if they want someone to tackle all day and apply defensive pressure. Madden has the attributes that Fagan is looking for in the backline. ( ie. speed/run as well as applying pressure on the opposition in defense) Starc is good & reliable against their best small but we need more than Starc as most oppositions have more than one slippery small.
If Gardner isn't able to play again this year, we will need Payne to play an important role down back come September so hopefully he gets his form back quickly.

 

[jackess]

Took 9 contested possessions, played his role in traffic very well and did not let a clean getaway whenever he was involved. He did the same against Melbourne too, when he was on Petracca or Oliver he evened the contest and stopped them from having a clean release on the outside. That's pretty impressive for a 20 year old, he has great game awareness and only going to get better from here.

Yeah he’s good for a 20 year old but 43% disposal efficiency and 6 turnovers is very poor for a low possession game.

He’s developing but all I said was last night wasn’t the best example of what he’s capable of.

 

[Happy_Neale]

AFL app has Charlie with 5 disposals but 6 contested possessions? How does that work.

Weird stat line either way - 5 touches, 3 marks, 2 goals 3 behinds. Scored with every possession.

 

[Section 5]

I think after last nights game the only 2 omissions could/will be are Matho & Coleman. In come Zorko and maybe Berry Jnr if they want someone to tackle all day and apply defensive pressure. Madden has the attributes that Fagan is looking for in the backline. ( ie. speed/run as well as applying pressure on the opposition in defense) Starc is good & reliable against their best small but we need more than Starc as most oppositions have more than one slippery small.
If Gardner isn't able to play again this year, we will need Payne to play an important role down back come September so hopefully he gets his form back quickly.

I hope they retain Madden also
In the Preview thread MSB ROYS suggested that Zorko comes in for Coleman and we retain Matho for the Geelong game
I think it has some merit This was my reply
...
Your point on retaining Matho for this game has some merit
I thought like most that Zorko just comes in for Matho
But Coleman is on shaky ground. Depends what coaches want for team structure I suppose
If Zorko replaces Coleman & Matho is retained, a few things could happen
A bigger mid in Matho v Geelong may be beneficial
I imagine a bigger body at clearances helps Neale
McCluggage spends more time on the wing which I prefer
McCarthy & Bailey not required much in the middle and both are good pressure players forward
If the coaches want to retain Coleman you get a similar result if you drop Prior

 

[knaf]

In my opinion the ruck is our achillies heel coming into finals. Big O hasnt come on as well as I think Fagan & Co would have liked. He gets dominated by good quality opposition ruckman. Daniher is simply filling a hole while Big O has a spell. Not sure we can match it against good sides with quality ruckman like Gawn, Steff/English, Lycett, Nankervis/Soldo, etc. It will be interesting how we compete there this Thursday against Geelong because they also are weak in that department.

I was thinking about this after the game. We lose the hit outs, but does it effect the outcome of the games? The opposition ruck man dominating around the ground or clearing the ball from pack is a bigger problem, for example, Gawn when we played Melbourne. Generally Oscar breaks even in terms of his around the ground work. but got a lesson against Melbourne.

In some ways I worry more about the Geelong set up where their ruck can become a spare midfielder unless Oscar and Joe are on their game.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Just got through watching the replay after I only watched snippets last night...

- People underestimate how much top end talent North were missing early in the year. Their defence look infinitely better with Tarrant back. He's a criminally underestimated player. McDonald too. Likewise, Cunnington back along with Dumont gives their midfield far more depth and experience.
- We got better a Neale worked back into some form
- Zorko is far more important than people give him credit for. Sure, he's got his faults, but he really gives us some go ahead and zip. Bailey is getting there though, but I think TBerry might have been a better inclusion.
- Madden stays in for mine. Lester probably stiff.
- Birchall is going fine.
- Joe looks a little out of sorts bit is still presenting and contributing.
- Oscar plateaued a bit in his ruck craft around the ground. Goldy is very experienced, but as other have mentioned I'd like to see him grab front spot more often.
- Kiddy near invisible. Struggled to notice him all game. Not sure if he was given a role or not.

Overall, not as bad s people were making out, but then again that's not unusual - some people aren't happy unless we're thrashing someone by 100.

 

[Gadzorks]

It looked like Oscar almost halved the ruck contest against a very good ruck, which is about the most you can hope for given the level he's at, and then got on top against the backup. It was definitely good to see Oscar frequently taking front position on throw-ins as well.

t
Laughed when Oscar crumbed the ball at one point. A mighty effort for a big man.

 

[Mighty Lions]

I was thinking about this after the game. We lose the hit outs, but does it effect the outcome of the games? The opposition ruck man dominating around the ground or clearing the ball from pack is a bigger problem, for example, Gawn when we played Melbourne. Generally Oscar breaks even in terms of his around the ground work. but got a lesson against Melbourne.

In some ways I worry more about the Geelong set up where their ruck can become a spare midfielder unless Oscar and Joe are on their game.

With Gawn it wasnt just the hit outs. From the game I watched, Gawn was the deciding factor in us losing the game. He dominated all over the ground, not just centre bounces. He also brought Petracca & Oliver into the game more. That is where we lost it. I like the Big O and think he is a good choice longer term for us but he hasnt come on as quickly as I would have liked this season. I know its past history but, Steff & O together would make me much more at ease.

 

[Gadzorks]

AFL app has Charlie with 5 disposals but 6 contested possessions? How does that work.

Weird stat line either way - 5 touches, 3 marks, 2 goals 3 behinds. Scored with every possession.

That's why he is so dangerous and has to be locked down by opposition.

 

[Tom14]

Just got through watching the replay after I only watched snippets last night...

- People underestimate how much top end talent North were missing early in the year. Their defence look infinitely better with Tarrant back. He's a criminally underestimated player. McDonald too. Likewise, Cunnington back along with Dumont gives their midfield far more depth and experience.
- We got better a Neale worked back into some form
- Zorko is far more important than people give him credit for. Sure, he's got his faults, but he really gives us some go ahead and zip. Bailey is getting there though, but I think TBerry might have been a better inclusion.
- Madden stays in for mine. Lester probably stiff.
- Birchall is going fine.
- Joe looks a little out of sorts bit is still presenting and contributing.
- Oscar plateaued a bit in his ruck craft around the ground. Goldy is very experienced, but as other have mentioned I'd like to see him grab front spot more often.
- Kiddy near invisible. Struggled to notice him all game. Not sure if he was given a role or not.

Overall, not as bad s people were making out, but then again that's not unusual - some people aren't happy unless we're thrashing someone by 100.

Lester is out for at least a few more weeks so you'd think Madden keeps his spot unless we want another tall in and think Payne is ready. Even then I'd probably drop Kiddy and move Ah Chee up forward.

 

[jackess]

With Gawn it wasnt just the hit outs. From the game I watched, Gawn was the deciding factor in us losing the game. He dominated all over the ground, not just centre bounces. He also brought Petracca & Oliver into the game more. That is where we lost it. I like the Big O and think he is a good choice longer term for us but he hasnt come on as quickly as I would have liked this season. I know its past history but, Steff & O together would make me much more at ease.

Would’ve been good if Stef had a couple more years left. Tough ask for a ruck in his mid 30s

 

[T Rick]

I dont go near the match day thread as peoples emotions often temporarily take away their brains. I like the review 2-3 hours after the game is done & dusted when the excitement has eased a bit.

Agreed 100% - wouldn't touch the match day thread in a fit - just too emotional and irrational for my liking...everyone to their own but not for me!

 

[martinson]

Oscar's all we have at present ,that's it. He's reasonably good around the ground ,gets in the way in packs . His ruckwork is improving on occasions and it really helped when he got to the front at boundary throw ins yesterday.

Pointless ruminating on what happened against Melbourne because Gawn is a freak and Oscar did as well as he could. We should've done a better job of feeding off him ,which all but collapsed in the 2nd half. Hopefully we are able to work harder next time

 

[Lion_LegacyXL]

With Gawn it wasnt just the hit outs. From the game I watched, Gawn was the deciding factor in us losing the game. He dominated all over the ground, not just centre bounces. He also brought Petracca & Oliver into the game more. That is where we lost it. I like the Big O and think he is a good choice longer term for us but he hasnt come on as quickly as I would have liked this season. I know its past history but, Steff & O together would make me much more at ease.

Our overall effort & pressure around the ground in the 2nd half was the deciding factor especially our mids and defenders. They started to win center clearances in the 2nd half but I thought that was more a reflection on our mids than Gawns influence.

 

[LongLion]

Steph missing a lot of games with injury for the doggies. Was the correct decision to move him on at this time of his career.

 

[irish]

Well being there and watching first hand we were ordinary at best apart from the last qtr thanks to Lochie . The number of missed marks and tackles made you cry. Defence was just that half a meter behind , things will need to improve a lot against the cats.

on the positive side lyon was fantastic all night , very impressed with dev , moves well. Linc was close to bog
Not impressed with Coleman he stood off the contest a fair bit

Lochie got us over the line by himself , getting better each week

was cold and damp and unfamiliar to our boys it must be said , well done fages on the 100th nice you coached it at home

 

[bungalow_bill]

agree. He has been good & his upside is huge once he gets more game time. I do know the coach's think highly of him so I suggest he stays in our best 22 until fatigue of form comes into play. (if ever)

There's a reason why they made the effort to trade up to draft him. Out of curiosity where was he expected to go?

 

[bungalow_bill]

Bit of a slog but a wins a win

Highlight for me has to be Hipwood's mark and goal in the third. Was Brown like and even impressed Derm who likened it to the sort of footy he played in the 80's

McStay's field kicking is very very good, his kick to spot up Hipwood? was another highlight

 

[Berry Picker]

I reckon Oscar is still carrying an injury. I reckon he was good yesterday, but we need to realise what his limitations are. For a guy his size he doesnt have alot of core strength so he is going to get beaten by the real big strong rucks around contests where he can not get a run and jump at the ball. Where he can hurt opposition is workrate around the ground, giving us a chop out mark on the wing or resting in the forward line.

 

[martinson]

I reckon Oscar is still carrying an injury. I reckon he was good yesterday, but we need to realise what his limitations are. For a guy his size he doesnt have alot of core strength so he is going to get beaten by the real big strong rucks around contests where he can not get a run and jump at the ball. Where he can hurt opposition is workrate around the ground, giving us a chop out mark on the wing or resting in the forward line.

He's still relatively young for a ruckman so he can still build his core and keep improving.

It's conjectural whether he'll ever become a top flight ruckman but there's hope and it won't be for want of trying.

 

[BuntonRules]

Regularly pops up, for one off the ground, The Rat.

It annoys the shit out of me when posters refer to Zac as "Ther Rat". He has publicly stated it does not fit well with him, and doing so just entrenches the disrespect.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Tell that to his team mates.

 

[Dalions]

Tell that to his team mates.

And the media, who were all over it.
Nik names stick.

 

[BuntonRules]

Tell that to his team mates.

Zorko was heard once, and Zac stated he was not a fan. Good enough for me.

 

[bungalow_bill]

Zorko was heard once, and Zac stated he was not a fan. Good enough for me.

Yeah all that matters as fans we should respect his feelings. We need to come up with a better one.