Preview Round 6, 2024: North v Hawks, 4pm 21st April, Marvel Stadium

[Strapping Young Lad]

He’s not up to it. If he was, they would have put him in the middle at half time after Nash and Newcombe were getting a bath. They went with HH who actually did a stellar job - big tick

Ward will never be an in a A grade in and under midfielder. To be honest I’m not sure what he is. For mine, looks to be a half back flanker at best

What utter crap.

 

[The Kipster]

Needs to be dropped for constantly taking short steps going to a contest,or doesn’t go at all, or his flimsy one arm attempts to tackle. Has talent, but is very soft. Can go back to Box Hill until he toughens up.

100%, he seems to be a fave with the selectors. I would much rather Butsy fill that role at the moment.

 

[Noel Gallagher]

What utter crap.

We will see. Just calling it as I see it. He’s not an in and under midfielder. Just like Reeves offers nothing around the ground as a ruckman. Meek has already proven to be a far more effective ruckman in just a few games

 

[nelk boys]

He’s not up to it. If he was, they would have put him in the middle at half time after Nash and Newcombe were getting a bath. They went with HH who actually did a stellar job - big tick

Ward will never be an in a A grade in and under midfielder. To be honest I’m not sure what he is. For mine, looks to be a half back flanker at best

"Ward will never be an in a A grade in and under midfielder" - what's this statement based off?

He's played 35 games. He's 20 years old. He's had multiple games over the 30 disposal mark. Patience is needed. The fact is that no one knows if he will become an A grade midfielder. Such a sweeping statement is lacking any sort of evidence.

 

[Noel Gallagher]

"Ward will never be an in a A grade in and under midfielder" - what's this statement based off?

He's played 35 games. He's 20 years old. He's had multiple games over the 30 disposal mark. Patience is needed. The fact is that no one knows if he will become an A grade midfielder. Such a sweeping statement is lacking any sort of evidence.

Correct - just my gut feel. I just don’t see it. I’ll be the first to put up my hand if I get it wrong and I sincerely hope I am, great kid with a great attitude. Time will tell

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

"Ward will never be an in a A grade in and under midfielder" - what's this statement based off?

He's played 35 games. He's 20 years old. He's had multiple games over the 30 disposal mark. Patience is needed. The fact is that no one knows if he will become an A grade midfielder. Such a sweeping statement is lacking any sort of evidence.

You’re talking to someone who also declared we should trade Josh Kennedy because he was no good…. Only to then come back years later to say that the club were idiots for trading Josh Kennedy.

 

[theiaofseed]

Correct - just my gut feel. I just don’t see it. I’ll be the first to put up my hand if I get it wrong and I sincerely hope I am, great kid with a great attitude. Time will tell

Will you though?

 

[triple treat]

Time to move Sicily forward.
Let's give Weddle some more responsibility in defence.
Adds some leadership and viable target up forward.

How about just trying Weddle forward?

 

[NICE1]

Butler in a high half forward role or midfield needs to be trialled. He's not a small forward. He's being wasted in the pocket everytime he's elevated to the senior side.

 

[Noel Gallagher]

Will you though?

Lol are you serious ? Ive gotten plenty wrong over the years. I was very bullish on Butler early days but looks like I got that one wrong as well. Unlike some others on this forum, I have no issues admitting when I got things wrong.

 

[Arrogant Frog]

In: Serong, Gunstan, Breust (if fit)

Out: Nash, Butler, McKenzie

Hardwick, Frost, Serong
Sicily, Scrimshaw, Mitchell
Amon, Newcombe, D'Ambrossio
Moore, Gunstan, Weddle
Breust, Chol, Ginnivan

Meek, Hustwaite, Worpel

Int: McDonald, Ramsden, Impey, MacGinness,
Sub: Ward

We are way to small at either end of the ground, Serong would free up Sicily to play more of the intercept role like last year, rather than lock down defender, also Weddle to play forward or on a wing at times. Amon to a wing for farrrkkks sake too.

Gunston was recruited for a reason, I don't think he was that bad against the Bombers, it was more his goal kicking accuracy (had 3-4 shots from memory and had 13 touches with 6 marks. Having him as sub was just silly in Rd2, having an experienced forward will help the team structure and will help bring the ball to ground.
If we have already given up on him, then it was a terrible decision to bring him back and take a list spot. Too many times the ball is kicked forward and their isn't even a player over 6"0 to compete in the air. We only have Chol and Ramsden up forward and one of them is usually relief rucking or on the bench. We need at least 2 making targets on the ground at all times in my opinion.

Give Moore, MacGinnes and MacDonald more midfield time and put the heat on Newcombe and McDonald that at least 6-7 tackles is required.

Anyway that's my two cents. Hopefully we get a win, which will help the confidence and then get CJ, Day and Lewis back in the next week or two without losing any players.

Ward can play a few midfield roles, so he would make a good sub, while his form is down, but Hustwaite deserves a crack.

 

[Hawker1167]

Time to move Sicily forward.
Let's give Weddle some more responsibility in defence.
Adds some leadership and viable target up forward.

I was actually going to say try playing Weddle as a lead up CHF - has the pace, the leap and is a long kick - none of the others want to lead at ball carriers so might not hurt to give it a crack.

This kid excites me more than any of our other high draft picks.

Frost has been pretty good this year and we need to free up Sis to play higher up the ground and rebound like we are used to and stop being deep back - Serong or Phillips as an in might help free him up.

I’m no Sam Mitchell but move the magnets around and never know what might happen

Just my thoughts.

 

[Ka Norkers]

our record against North at Marvel is pretty iffy. I would not be pencilling this in.
once again, where are the goals coming from? Whilst North have a poor defence, I'm actually wondering if we have an even worse attack.
Gunston will come in, but anyone who watched the BHH effort on Saturday will know he's not being picked on form, despite the 2 goals. He'll probably do OK this weekend, as he did v North for Brisbane last year, but will certainly go missing again after that.
Ditto Breust, like Gunston, an absolute champion of the Club, but now well past his best.
Our main avenue to goal last week was a tagger who had licked 4 goals in his entire career prior to Saturday night, the week before it was a bloke who has been a defender for the past seven years. Despite all the pre-season hype here about the "magical" new forward line, we have kicked the lowest score of any club this season, including North.
At least the AFL won't have any qualms of tanking this week, the battle of the wooden spooners is one both coaches desperately want to win. The numbskull narcissist will have to hold back his article on the Hawks tanking again for at least another week.

 

[FB19]

The AFL injury report last week would indicate no one on that list will be ready for this game but things change. Assuming that’s true this is what I would like to see
Mitchell Frost Weddle
Sicily Scrimshaw Impey
Butler Hustwaite Amon
Moore Ramsden Maginness
Hardwick Chol Ginnivan
Meek Newk Worpel
Serong CMac Morrison D’Ambrosio
Sub: Mackenzie

In: Morrison Serong
Out: Nash Ward

Give Serong a chance against not the toughest opposition to find his feet. Give butler a chance (last chance) to use his strengths playing up the ground. Amon back to the wing where he belongs he is a good defensive winger drifting in to help but not to play a man it isn’t working.
Nash has been poor all year and Ward needs confidence so hope they go back and go well for box hill after a poor showing from our vfl midfield.

 

[MasterSamurai]

I wouldn't drop Ward or Mackenzie, if anything I'd open up a spot for them to play more minutes in the midfield which means Nash takes the hit .

 

[matey]

Ward looks like a Merrett type

 

[TylerDurden]

I wouldn't drop Ward or Mackenzie, if anything I'd open up a spot for them to play more minutes in the midfield which means Nash takes the hit .

100%
I'd double down on those kids. And Huss.

 

[The Chad and I]

I was actually going to say try playing Weddle as a lead up CHF - has the pace, the leap and is a long kick - none of the others want to lead at ball carriers so might not hurt to give it a crack.

This kid excites me more than any of our other high draft picks.

Frost has been pretty good this year and we need to free up Sis to play higher up the ground and rebound like we are used to and stop being deep back - Serong or Phillips as an in might help free him up.

I’m no Sam Mitchell but move the magnets around and never know what might happen

Just my thoughts.

Weddle needs to settle into a role.
He has existing competence as a defender with the added bonus of his hard running/athleticism.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

Ward looks like a Merrett type

Possibly but he needs to get more urgency in his game.

And probably needs to become a bit more selfish about his own game.

 

[theiaofseed]

I wouldn't drop Ward or Mackenzie, if anything I'd open up a spot for them to play more minutes in the midfield which means Nash takes the hit .

For the first time we will be playing a midfield that has the same level of experience as our own, perfect time to give Ward and Mazkenzie the limelight and see what they can produce. Nash can find form in the VFL. Newcombe unless injured has to keep playing until he finds it.

 

[Blackhawk42]

He's into his third season. There are countless examples of high draft picks around pick 7 that have just flown past him in the same time frame or shorter.

Players taken around the same pick as Ward in the past few years...

Will Phillips
Phillipou
Ben Hobbs
Nik Cox
Braeden Campbell
Elijah Holland's
Erasmus
Tstats
Jhye Clark


Wardy is still 20 years old. Is he really going any worse than any of those other first round draft picks?

GIVE THEM TIME.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

our record against North at Marvel is pretty iffy. I would not be pencilling this in.
once again, where are the goals coming from? Whilst North have a poor defence, I'm actually wondering if we have an even worse attack.
Gunston will come in, but anyone who watched the BHH effort on Saturday will know he's not being picked on form, despite the 2 goals. He'll probably do OK this weekend, as he did v North for Brisbane last year, but will certainly go missing again after that.
Ditto Breust, like Gunston, an absolute champion of the Club, but now well past his best.
Our main avenue to goal last week was a tagger who had licked 4 goals in his entire career prior to Saturday night, the week before it was a bloke who has been a defender for the past seven years. Despite all the pre-season hype here about the "magical" new forward line, we have kicked the lowest score of any club this season, including North.
At least the AFL won't have any qualms of tanking this week, the battle of the wooden spooners is one both coaches desperately want to win. The numbskull narcissist will have to hold back his article on the Hawks tanking again for at least another week.

Yes whoever loses this Sunday will clearly be the worst team in the comp, that’s not something you want to have on your resume as a coach!

We must have a good start. If we start slow again it will be touch and go.

Geez it doesn’t bear thinking about, we just have to win this one

 

[SSSSSS]

Ward will be fine. He needs another preseason in the gym IMO. Probably 5kg off his full playing weight.

Frenchy is another. He looks about 10kg from his playing weight to be honest needs to pack some kgs on.

 

[matey]

Possibly but he needs to get more urgency in his game.

And probably needs to become a bit more selfish about his own game.

Would be good to compare the two at the same age but I think I can recall Bomber fans giving Merrett a fair bit of criticism in his earlier days.

Ward is young and aready a pro in his preparation and has some quality traits ……. it won’t happen overnight. I can see that he will be an A grader for the club in a couple of years!

 

[barbster]

Weddle needs to settle into a role.
He has existing competence as a defender with the added bonus of his hard running/athleticism.

To me it looks the opposite, I feel he is a liability in the backline, doesn’t put body on body pressure, makes bad decisions, iffy skills, two handed punches when he should be marking. The best I’ve seen him play is when he is up the ground, like the game against WC last year, where he received a Norwich Rising Star nomination and Brownlow votes.