Preview Round 5: North Melbourne vs Essendon, Marvel, Friday 19/04/19 @ 4.20PM

[MiguelM]

Can understand the changes in light of how Pies are performing. we need midfield at 100% for ANZAC day

 

[ant555]

This is why we should have persisted with Francis:

Francis played the final five rounds of last season. According to the AFL player rankings, the most advanced metric we have for player production and impact, Francis ranked second at Essendon during that period (behind Merrett). Among all defenders - both key and general defenders - his average impact per game would have ranked second across the season behind only Harris Andrews. In those five games, admittedly an uncomfortably small sample size, he played with the type of impact that one would expect from an All-Australian defender.

Francis was poor in round one. He has that in common with 20 of his teammates. This board named him best on ground in round two. We dropped him by round four.

Last season the tandem of Hurley, Hooker and Francis worked extremely well. Francis excelled in that third defender position surrounded by two guys who understand their craft and know when to lock-down their guy and when they need to support their teammates. Ambrose is capable of nothing else beyond locking down his opponent. He has a low football IQ. He certainly cannot do much of anything with the footy in hand. This is backed up by the best impact metrics we have.

Now if I had a football player who is capable of playing at an All-Australian standard I would back him in to return to his best form. I certainly wouldn't drop him in favour of a limited 27-year old who plays a good game once in a blue moon. We give guys like Ambrose and Baguley the benefit of the doubt all the time. All they have to do is play a solid game every three weeks and they earn themselves another month in the seniors. Francis was amazing in the run home last season, best-on-ground for us in round two and solid in round three. Now he is in the VFL.

Now I cannot speak to his attitude. Perhaps a decision that is inane on the surface can be understood if I had access to the effort he puts on the training track. But based on actual game day data, the decision appears to be misguided and unfair and not conducive to success across the course of a season.

Who has Ambrose played on ?
I would have to go back and check but I think it was mainly Cameron in the first round.
Josh Bruce in round 2 for most of the game.
Tom McDonald round 3
Hipwood round 4.
So far this year Ambrose has been good. Not once in a blue moon but good. No surprise really as it is the first time in two years he has been injury free.
He has easily beaten the two best forwards in the opposition line up the last two weeks.
Not even sure why last year is relevant . It is what is going on right now that is and the simple fact is Ambrose has been in good form and is the best one on one stopper we have.
The issue Francis has is Ridley has been better so far this year. Once Hooker came back there was going to be a choice. You can not argue that it is Ambrose v Francis because they play different roles. As I said before Francis has never been a lock down defender. He is an intercept defender.

At the end of the day unlike most I do not have strong emotional attachments to certain players. We had our best win of the year last week and it was the best defensive effort / set up I have seen from us. If Francis is in the VFL so be it. You want players to be rewarded on current form. Ridley and Ambrose have been better this year. Last year was last year.

 

[MiguelM]

Ham on Good Friday WTF

 

[eth-dog]

Can someone who’s watched him play give a little run down on ham?

From the 2 and a half games I've seen of him, I don't think he's ready. He's quick, neat skills but only shows up in fits and spurts.

 

[JT_the_Man]

Ham on Good Friday WTF

Daniher selected when he’s not even an emergency
Ham on Good Friday

This ****ing club.

 

[Barry Roundhouse]

Is the roof open or closed today?

 

[eth-dog]

Who has Ambrose played on ?
I would have to go back and check but I think it was mainly Cameron in the first round.
Josh Bruce in round 2 for most of the game.
Tom McDonald round 3
Hipwood round 4.
So far this year Ambrose has been good. Not once in a blue moon but good. No surprise really as it is the first time in two years he has been injury free.
He has easily beaten the two best forwards in the opposition line up the last two weeks.
Not even sure why last year is relevant . It is what is going on right now that is and the simple fact is Ambrose has been in good form and is the best one on one stopper we have.
The issue Francis has is Ridley has been better so far this year. Once Hooker came back there was going to be a choice. You can not argue that it is Ambrose v Francis because they play different roles. As I said before Francis has never been a lock down defender. He is an intercept defender.

At the end of the day unlike most I do not have strong emotional attachments to certain players. We had our best win of the year last week and it was the best defensive effort / set up I have seen from us. If Francis is in the VFL so be it. You want players to be rewarded on current form. Ridley and Ambrose have been better this year. Last year was last year.

Like I understand why they picked him. But his first two games he got beaten, Cameron would have gotten Brownlow votes for me in round 1 and Bruce killed us. He beat McDonald and Hipwood, credit to him, but at the same time i think Hurley is better playing on exactly the same type.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

All these late changes

 

[VelvetSledge]

God this is funny

 

[Bunk Moreland]

lol..Whats the bet Sheedy surreptitously hinted something and started this...

TIE DOWN THE WINDSOCKS!

 

[ant555]

Like I understand why they picked him. But his first two games he got beaten, Cameron would have gotten Brownlow votes for me in round 1 and Bruce killed us. He beat McDonald and Hipwood, credit to him, but at the same time i think Hurley is better playing on exactly the same type.

Bruce only kicked 2 goals from 15 odd possessions. He did not kill us. Our turnovers and lack of run killed us.
As for Hurley he has never been our number 1 lock down defender. Hooker has been that guy in front of Hurley. I think we have the best balance when Ambrose is lock down allowing Hurley and Hooker to play more intercept and the 3 running small defenders.

 

[Keystone agony]

Whos out for Brayden Ham?

 

[Doss]

All these late changes

You never have a good feeling though.

 

[Whispering_Jack]

Is the roof open or closed today?

It will be closed - it’s a twilight game

 

[jmoo wan]

It will be closed - it’s a twilight game

late change! it’s open!

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

Whos out for Brayden Ham?

Zaharakis apparently.

 

[ant555]

Did somebody make that argument? I specifically argued that Ambrose's metres gained, or lack thereof, was evidence of limited disposal. Or in other words, playing within his capabilities. That is a very reasonable argument.

And that is his role in the side. We have plenty of players who can gain meters. Ambrose locks down. Hooker takes a shit load of marks. Hurley plays more on instinct and can be third man up. Saad , McKenna and Redman provide the running meters. Ridley plays the last defender as he defends well, marks well and is good when he has the ball.

 

[Harlequin]

Game day thread this way

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/thre...19-4-marvel-stadium-4-20pm-lmao-aest.1216281/