North Melbourne pre-game discussion (with teams)

[msb]

You are 100% correct, which is why I'm saying I'd rather have seen Johnston / Meredith etc in the 18 so we know they'd definitely be playing. In other words, Roos has signaled with this team that the only changes will be those forced by injury rather than form, not playing to team rules etc. Extraordinary after he labeled them the worst team in the comp.

I highly doubt he was referring to them as the worst team in the comp! If its what im thinking your talking about, he said we have lost to the bottom team and thats where we are at, meaning there is a hell of alot of work to do to improve, hardly meaning we are the worst in the comp IMO. West Coast are the worst team in the comp at the moment by a country mile.

[BSA5]

Another brave decision by the match committee!

Sarcasm? Because I would have thought that was quite reasonable. We all like to see young guns in the side, but Mattner is our most defensively minded rebounder (out of himself, Shaw, Malceski and Kennelly), so bringing in Bevo if he's out makes sense.

[Captain]

I think Johnston and Vez should be the 2 who come in.

[msb]

Sarcasm? Because I would have thought that was quite reasonable. We all like to see young guns in the side, but Mattner is our most defensively minded rebounder (out of himself, Shaw, Malceski and Kennelly), so bringing in Bevo if he's out makes sense.

Agree, bevo must come in if mattner is out, i also think we have to go the conservative approach. Having kids play their first game ie. johnston in such a crucial game is ridiculous IMO. Wait until the season is gone, which will pretty much be the case if we lose this week.

[UglyDuckling]

Agree, bevo must come in if mattner is out, i also think we have to go the conservative approach. Having kids play their first game ie. johnston in such a crucial game is ridiculous IMO. Wait until the season is gone, which will pretty much be the case if we lose this week.

Not really that ridiculous if the alternative is ted richards. Yes it would be Johnston's debut but he probably still adds more than ted, both now and with an eye to the future.

If we bring in vez and johnston our forward line would be

Vez Johnston McGlynn
TDL Goodes Moore

Thats a really inexperienced forward line but its fast and skillful

[msb]

Not really that ridiculous if the alternative is ted richards. Yes it would be Johnston's debut but he probably still adds more than ted, both now and with an eye to the future.

If we bring in vez and johnston our forward line would be

Vez Johnston McGlynn
TDL Goodes Moore

Thats a really inexperienced forward line but its fast and skillful

I hear ya re richards, but the words inexperienced forward line is the issue and surely can not be relied upon to kick a winning score in such a crucial game. At least perhaps consider white ahead of johnston for this game.

[Mr Magoo]

I hear ya re richards, but the words inexperienced forward line is the issue and surely can not be relied upon to kick a winning score in such a crucial game. At least perhaps consider white ahead of johnston for this game.

Whoever is chosen out of this lot is not going to make the difference to the result - its just tinkering at the edges. Do you really think that Johnston or Vez or any of the others will contribute more than about two goals at most.

Regardless of experience / inexperience the side should be chosen on where they need players the most. If Mattner comes out then Bevan is a good choice of replacement (as compared to vez, meredith or johnston). If you are looking for a player to drop in the hole at the back then Richards is best suited , if you want an extra forward then Vez or Johnston as well as TDL, if you need more midfield run or if a midfielder is partly injured then meredith. Surely you pick on positions needed and not just on the basis of giving someone a run.

[liz]

I hear ya re richards, but the words inexperienced forward line is the issue and surely can not be relied upon to kick a winning score in such a crucial game. At least perhaps consider white ahead of johnston for this game.

White isn't in the squad, and may or may not even be fit enough to play in the reserves game after injuring himself last week. So White over Johnston is a non-consideration this week.

[AnnieH]

All I can hear is our season going down the drain if we don't win this one.

[Go Swannies]

All I can hear is our season going down the drain if we don't win this one.

Got your boots polished and studded Annie - because we seem to be running out of other players so you might get a run? Do you have a favoured position?

I reckon you're right - despite the bookies odds this'd have to be 50:50 at best. With so many injuries we're like the Hawks last year but without the benefit of the Premiership the year before.

[hammo]

I highly doubt he was referring to them as the worst team in the comp! If its what im thinking your talking about, he said we have lost to the bottom team and thats where we are at, meaning there is a hell of alot of work to do to improve, hardly meaning we are the worst in the comp IMO. West Coast are the worst team in the comp at the moment by a country mile.

Regardless of what he meant, it seems no one was deemed worthy of being dropped. Very strange considering we had a convincing win over Port and Vesszpremi was dropped for apparently not having a high enough workrate. Is Roos saying all 22 on Sunday had a high workrate and played to instruction?

[aardvark]

The selection panel is always going to choose who they think can best get the job done on the weekend. Having a hard and fast selection criteria is a crock and leads to the inclusion of players that really shouldn't be there. It really is a stupid concept IMO. The players know where they are in the pecking order and if they don't like it they work harder,retire or go elsewhere.

[Jewels]

Regardless of what he meant, it seems no one was deemed worthy of being dropped. Very strange considering we had a convincing win over Port and Vesszpremi was dropped for apparently not having a high enough workrate. Is Roos saying all 22 on Sunday had a high workrate and played to instruction?

Where did you get that from?

[hammo]

Where did you get that from?

A post over at BigFooty

*ducks*

[giant]

A post over at BigFooty

*ducks*

Who should have been dropped?

While I hope we see Johnston some time this season, I think Richards gives us more versatility and experience in a critical game.