Where are north at?

[Jobe Watson]

The only guarantee is when we lose games next year, there won't be some sort of massed circle jerk and standing ovation for a good effort unlike your abortion of a football club.

In which round do you think we start seeing the has Woosha lost the players threads?

I'm tipping round 6-7.

I would take Brisbane's list over Essendon's every day of the week.

This is a North Melbourne thread. Why are you derailing it with Essendon talk?

Getting back on topic, I think the results of this thread and the "Which team's list would you least want going forward?" thread show that most people would take pretty much anyone's squad over North's at the moment.

 

[ArjenTheGreat]

This is a North Melbourne thread. Why are you derailing it with Essendon talk?

Getting back on topic, I think the results of this thread and the "Which team's list would you least want going forward?" thread show that most people would take pretty much anyone's squad over North's at the moment.

I won't be able to sleep tonight on the back of this damning assessment.

 

[Jobe Watson]

I won't be able to sleep tonight on the back of this damning assessment.

Obviously not, considering how salty you're getting about Essendon supporters having an opinion on your club which is widely tipped by pundits and bookies alike to finish bottom 4.

 

[Pykie]

Obviously not, considering how salty you're getting about Essendon supporters having an opinion on your club which is widely tipped by pundits and bookies alike to finish bottom 4.

Can you explain how Petrie, Wells, Harvey, Dal Santo and Firrito 2016' represent 9 wins?

 

[Jobe Watson]

Can you explain how Petrie, Wells, Harvey, Dal Santo and Firrito 2016' represent 9 wins?

Just looked at your Best and Fairest results and these 3 guys were in your top 7 players, including two of them in your top 5.

That's gotta have some effect. Fremantle and Richmond fell a lot further than anyone expected in 2016; might be North's turn in 2017.

 

[ArjenTheGreat]

Obviously not, considering how salty you're getting about Essendon supporters having an opinion on your club which is widely tipped by pundits and bookies alike to finish bottom 4.

I'm not salty, I've spent the last 20 years getting overs on my team.

Why the bloody hell would I be salty?

 

[Pykie]

Just looked at your Best and Fairest results and these 3 guys were in your top 7 players, including two of them in your top 5.

That's gotta have some effect. Fremantle and Richmond fell a lot further than anyone expected in 2016; might be North's turn in 2017.

Brent Harvey was the only one that was a major contributor last year. Petrie and Dal Santo were absolutely cooked, Firrito the only other one with a passable year imo.

Fremantle were one of the favorites for top 4 by pundits and bookies alike in 2016, so sorry if I don't hold too much stock in the absolutes you're preaching in either thread.

 

[Jobe Watson]

Brent Harvey was the only one that was a major contributor last year. Petrie and Dal Santo were absolutely cooked, Firrito the only other one with a passable year imo.

Fremantle were one of the favorites for top 4 by pundits and bookies alike in 2016, so sorry if I don't hold too much stock in the absolutes you're preaching in either thread.

You left out Wells, who had his best season in years and then walked to Collingwood.

You can say all that but the fact is Harvey and Dal Santo were rated as two of your best seven contributors last season. Losing so much experience in one hit - even though Firrito and Petrie weren't much chop - will take its toll. You went from the oldest list in the league to the 2nd youngest, in one off-season. It's going to have an effect.

 

[Blue1980]

In your face Richmond! I will now post how Richmond being 3 months older than us equates to they must beat us by 1000 points in round 1 to break even.

 

[Blue1980]

Interesting that everyone is predicting bottom 4, whilst at the same time advocating that we carried 4 cooked veterans. I think we will get at least 10 wins, especially with a far easier draw than last year.

Petrie was cooked, Ferrito and NDS were retired at the right time but were still decent contributors.

Harvey was still one of your best players

 

[Bomberblitzer]

I'm not salty, I've spent the last 20 years getting overs on my team.

Why the bloody hell would I be salty?

If you're trying that hard it is a given that you're pretty mad.

 

[Beerfish]

I would take Brisbane's list over Essendon's every day of the week.

That's because your jimmies are rustled.

 

[Pykie]

Petrie was cooked, Ferrito and NDS were retired at the right time but were still decent contributors.

Harvey was still one of your best players

Agreed

 

[perplexed]

You left out Wells, who had his best season in years and then walked to Collingwood.

You can say all that but the fact is Harvey and Dal Santo were rated as two of your best seven contributors last season. Losing so much experience in one hit - even though Firrito and Petrie weren't much chop - will take its toll. You went from the oldest list in the league to the 2nd youngest, in one off-season. It's going to have an effect.

Shouldn't you update your profile?

 

[Handsome.B.Wonderful]

The last 10 pages of this thread have been a variation on the same theme.

North Melbourne supporter:
"Not really that worried, we took our best shot and came up short, bound to rebuild eventually. Probably still finish about 10-12 for a few years like we usually do then go again."

Essendon/Richmond/Bulldogs/Melbourne supporters:
"You guys are going to finish in the bottom 4 for the foreseeable future, no talented youf, no one has debuted in the last 5 years, which means your youf is no good and you have no stars, Essendon/Richmond/Melbourne will replace them in the 8"

 

[Handsome.B.Wonderful]

You left out Wells, who had his best season in years and then walked to Collingwood.

Wells had a decent season in 2016 in that he made it onto the park 19 times, but I wouldn't think it goes anywhere near his Syd Barker years in 2011 & 2013.

He has just done his calf at Collingwood training again today.

 

[Handsome.B.Wonderful]

Rebuilding after taking a swing at it?

When was the last time your club decided to have a proper crack at it?

I'm not talking 'leading teams', 'five year plans' or any other buzzword bullshit.

I'm talking put the best possible team on the park, with corresponding list management decisions and see if you can win a flag.

So yeah, they'll probably be shit in 2017, 2018.

But hey - they took a shot.

It's true, North don't do whatever it takes.

 

[Jade]

It's true, North don't do whatever it takes.

Is that seriously a crack at humour?

 

[Handsome.B.Wonderful]

Is that seriously a crack at humour?

I don't know, seems like we have differing opinions on "really having having a proper crack at it."

Apparently winning multiple finals in consecutive years and playing off for Grand Finals is not "really having having a proper crack at it", there was obviously something we didn't do to tick the "I'm talking put the best possible team on the park, with corresponding list management decisions and see if you can win a flag" boxes.

 

[Jade]

I don't know, seems like we have differing opinions on "really having having a proper crack at it."

Apparently winning multiple finals in consecutive years and playing off for Grand Finals is not "really having having a proper crack at it", there was obviously something we didn't do to tick the "I'm talking put the best possible team on the park, with corresponding list management decisions and see if you can win a flag" boxes.

Geezus christ....

Go back and read my post.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Indeed. Excuse me indulging your apparent interest here Bazza.

For me, there are three groups I’m keen to see get more opportunities or extend the limited opportunities they’ve had till now:

Group 1. Those who have played some games over the past few years, but unable to cement a regular spot:

1. Mason Wood (16). Didn’t bring the defensive consistency until 2016, then broke through, only to suffer a knee injury. High hopes.
2. Trent Dumont (20). Kid has shown he's got it, but limited chances. Problem is his pace and the fact that this places him in direct competition with Swallow, Cunnington and Ziebell in the middle where we’re already too slow. (Was really hoping we’d trade Swallow out.)
3. Taylor Garner (16). Paper hamstrings delayed his early years, only to break down again in '16. Has skills and aggression if he gets a go.
4. Kayne Turner (21). Footy smart (knows where to position himself) and hard as a cats head. Sabotaged 2016 with his drink driving. Hoping he’s well poised to make amends.
5. Majak Daw (25). I’ve been pretty skeptical about whether he’ll make it, but the EF gave me a glimpse that he might just have clicked that with Drew’s departure there are no excuses. Others have said he needed the continuity of games he finally got in 2016; I hope they’re right.
6. Jed Anderson (19). Has had injury issues, at Hawks and for a good portion of 2016. Some more continuity, building on 2016 games, would be good as he was a Rd 1 selection.
7. Nathan Hrovat (30). Hoping he gets plenty of opportunity as he brings a point of difference to our midfield, and that he stays injury free.
8. Marley Williams (68). Has a point to prove, and needs to mature, but at the very least I hope he puts pressure on the likes of Mullett who has stagnated.

Group 2: The 2015-2016 smaller midfielder types with no/limited experience:

1. Ryan Clarke (6). Gets the ball, great endurance, good link player. Can see him contributing in a similar way to Michael Barlow at his best.
2. Declan Mountford (0). Looking forward to his pace through HB/midfield.
3. Corey Wagner (4). Needs more games to see what he’ll bring.
4. Jy Simpkin (0). Some ‘x factor’, hopefully. Will get some opportunity in 2017 for the taste, if nothing else. Who knows, might seize it.
5. Josh Williams (0). Don’t expect much for a year or more. Lots of pace, decent kick, but skinny.

Group 3: The 2014-2016 taller/key position types, all with NO AFL experience:

1. 2014 recruits (Sam Durdin, Daniel Nielson, Ed Vickers-Willis). Like to see them all injury-free, good pre-season and all at least debut, with one (EVW most likely at this stage) to begin to stake a claim down back. Durdin is a bit lighter framed and I don’t expect him to stake a claim till Thompson retires. Has the capacity, not sure yet about the desire or consistency.
   
2. 2015 recruits: Mitch Hibberd. Not sure what to expect; at this stage holding my breath till he shows he can get on the paddock. Not a Rd 1 selection as K4E suggests imho. Ben McKay. Young, but a big frame. We’re carefully managing him in both player development and injury prevention. Will have a big impact I reckon, when he’s ready. Will be 2-3 years away from that I reckon, though could debut sooner.
3. 2016 recruits. Declan Watson (defender), Nick Larkey (tall utility) and rookie Oscar Bunker (tall utility, with potential to be a big Bontempelli-type mid in time.

We're going to need to get games into some of these Group 3 guys for succession's sake as we've only got Thompson, Tarrant and Hansen down back.

Are you ****ing shitting me??

You have two players called Declan?!!

 

[perplexed]

Geezus christ....

Go back and read my post.

I read your post too. Twas confused. Please edit for coherence.

 

[perplexed]

Are you ******* shitting me??

You have two players called Declan?!!

Yes, but none misspelt 'Jobe'.

 

[Handsome.B.Wonderful]

Are you ******* shitting me??

You have two players called Declan?!!

This is something we pride ourselves on since the days of Cruize Garlett and having both a Benjamin Warren and a Warren Benjamin on the list at the same time.

You can guarantee we had our sights set on Kobe Mutch before Essendon stole him away.

 

[Jade]

I read your post too. Twas confused. Please edit for coherence.

Imagine it if I was answering the OP.....