Sydney v Nth Melbourne Gameday Thread - Jetta sub

[dimelb]

I thought we had a forward line today when Reid and Johnston lined up together with supports like McGlynn, Kennedy and Bolton. Johnston dropped a couple, but imo he got a big shove in the back more than once that wasn't paid. Goodes was patchy, loose and brilliant in turns, heavily (and sometimes illegally) marked. Shaw was magnificent, reducing Boomer's input to negligible; won us the match more than any other input. Seaby serviceable, but I really would rather see Pyke out there, with Mummy of course. The all-too-frequent slow start, but several players improved as the match went on: Hannebery, McVeigh, O'Keefe, Grundy come to mind.
We are a developing side, but there was some character today in the way they recovered from that awful start and the way they hung on in the last minutes. More work to do, but if we don't expect too much too soon, we can enjoy the ride. And it's good for the heart to get a workout like that now and again!

[Big Al]

I thought we had a forward line today when Reid and Johnston lined up together with supports like McGlynn, Kennedy and Bolton. Johnston dropped a couple, but imo he got a big shove in the back more than once that wasn't paid. Goodes was patchy, loose and brilliant in turns, heavily (and sometimes illegally) marked. Shaw was magnificent, reducing Boomer's input to negligible; won us the match more than any other input. Seaby serviceable, but I really would rather see Pyke out there, with Mummy of course. The all-too-frequent slow start, but several players improved as the match went on: Hannebery, McVeigh, O'Keefe, Grundy come to mind.
We are a developing side, but there was some character today in the way they recovered from that awful start and the way they hung on in the last minutes. More work to do, but if we don't expect too much too soon, we can enjoy the ride. And it's good for the heart to get a workout like that now and again!

Great post except for that last bit.

[Bas]

Maybe I should give up living in the now a la Kirky and focus on the future. Anything is possible there!

Erica it's perfectly Ok to practise mindfullness but depends on what you are focusing on. In case of the Swans, I practise thenfullness instead.

Great to see some forward line up today.

I recorded the game on IQ as I had a pleasant afternoon soire with 10 Ladies today. So when I got home I must admit the nerves were given some help with the fast forward button.

I'm sure Big Al is wondering what I was up to.....................

[ShockOfHair]

It wasn't pretty but showed our young guys are learning how to scrap.

Loved Shaw's efforts on Harvey and Reg on Petrie. Bird's best game for the year, Melcho finding some form. I thought LJ's debut was pretty fair - kicked a beautiful goal from 50.

One of McVeigh's best games this year. Anyone else notice his fluffed kick was exactly the same mistake as in the trial game against Gold Coast? Both were costly turnovers.

The 2nd ruck situation still unresolved. Seabs and LRT got smacked 53-22 in HOs, took just 4 marks between them.

[Melbournehammer]

It was really pleasing to grab the win. That really was a game we needed to win if we are a chance to make the eight. Pre-season. Thought we were certainities to finish between 5 and 8 . I am much more doubtful now and think if we jag a result in the top eight we should be pleased.

Some key thoughts. I do think Jesse was unfairly maligned by the board and coaching staff. I am not privy to all of the directions he has been getting but I am sure that he is both a better second ruck than LRT and he does straighten us up better going forwards.

Lj (23) is a beautiful kick but he is in a difficult position. He is not quite quick enough to be a hff and he is not strong enough to be a kpp. Glad he got a run but I do think Jesse offers more at the moment and was harshly treated on the back of two really wet tracks.

Grundy clearly changed our defense from being too open to really reducing the effectiveness of Petrie (speaking of which how much better would we have been if Petrie was standing in our goal square).

Tadgh played loose in defence. I don't think we really got full value from that. He is struggling a little bit when trying to run away from defenders. I think he has to be more prepared on some occasions to kick it long down the line to a contest rather than the handball under pressure when he really is not getting the ball disposed to the teams advantage. When I think how Carlton did everything they could to keep him away from the ball last year and this year the Roos were prepared to let him have it is a bit concerning.

Goodes was awful. There is no other word for it. His hands were rock hard and he must have dropped half a dozen marks. But I don't think that was the worst aspect of his game. The worst aspect was that he spent a lot of the match running past the ball and neither taking man or ball. It was like he was unwilling to properly engage with what neded to be done by such a talented footballer. I can be quite critical of him but often it's a consequence of him not doing the easy things first and trying too much. Today there was a real absence of doing anything that park footballers are taught to do. I hope he has a close look at this game and gets back to what makes him so good - a real ball getter who does not run forward of the ball but gets and gives it.

Shaw was fantastic. His delivery was good and he kept their best midfielder largely out of the game.

Bolton was good.

Mcveigh is a great user of the ball but he needs to use it more and get his own ball a bit more. He is playing very wide and swinging behind the ball winner too often. His non-decision in the last could have been really costly. He did his job to take on his man but then failed to actually shoot.

Reid is a great lead and times his lead really well. He needs to develop his kicking obviously.

Overall it was a poor performance in that we were clearly the better team for three-quarters of the game but simply were unable to go on with the game. I think north are a bottom four side - not because they don't give it a go but because they lack enough depth. They really do try hard but a score similar to last hears 30 point win would have been a more accurate reflection of the difference in teams but the one point win showed the flaws in the team. There'd are positives but we are a long way from where we were last night.
Alex j really impressed me. I thought he was calm on the ball contested well and was not beaten easily.

[Melbournehammer]

And one other thing. The north crowd's attitude towards lachie Hansen was nothing short of disgraceful. There were some "supporters" sitting in front of me who wre obnoxious generally but were beyond the pale with their criticism of one of their own. If I was him I'd tell the club to shove it

[Goal Sneak]

Goodes was awful. There is no other word for it. His hands were rock hard and he must have dropped half a dozen marks. But I don't think that was the worst aspect of his game. The worst aspect was that he spent a lot of the match running past the ball and neither taking man or ball. It was like he was unwilling to properly engage with what neded to be done by such a talented footballer. I can be quite critical of him but often it's a consequence of him not doing the easy things first and trying too much.

Don't get me wrong, Goodes is a superstar player. I beleive the worst aspect of his game is that he is a whinger. It's something that has bothered me a little in the past, but since he has become a captain it bothers me much more. He is constantly looking for free kicks with arms up and a sooky face. I think a good captain (and player for that matter) plays the game without counting on the umpires to get it right. You just have to go as hard as you can, and if you get a free, great. If not, then just get on with it.

I truly believe the umps would be more inclined to give him a free if he just stopped trying to tell them when he deserves one. it's not a good look for a captain and shows the opposition that you are frustrated.

[Captain]

Just got back from the game and agree with pretty much everything youv'e said but not sure on Mcveigh,at least 2 or 3 unpressured skill errors from him in the first half 2 of which resulted in goals,easily the best game ive seen Bird play,and while ive knocked Tadgh a bit this year and still am not sure on him his game today was easily his best since coming back last year,biggest issue is everytime he's just put in a run or big effort the next 2 or so minutes is spent with hands on hips walking no matter whats going on around him,great turn around after the first blitz by north and grundy and ted swapping positions early was a big difference.

That's one long sentence!

[ScottH]

Don't get me wrong, Goodes is a superstar player. I beleive the worst aspect of his game is that he is a whinger. It's something that has bothered me a little in the past, but since he has become a captain it bothers me much more. He is constantly looking for free kicks with arms up and a sooky face. I think a good captain (and player for that matter) plays the game without counting on the umpires to get it right. You just have to go as hard as you can, and if you get a free, great. If not, then just get on with it.

I truly believe the umps would be more inclined to give him a free if he just stopped trying to tell them when he deserves one. it's not a good look for a captain and shows the opposition that you are frustrated.

+1 from me.
Stayed off too many tackles today, too. Needs to work on his defense.

[rb4x]

Jesse was injured in the 2's today but apparently Currie played extremely strongly. Ruck situation after Jesse's injury was so dire that Nipper was used as relief ruck. Would seem Currie is our only other ruck option until either mummy or Pyke are back. We got thrashed in the clearances in the last quarter when Seaby was stuffed and LRT absolutely useless in the ruck. If we had controlled the ruck we would have had time to open the game up and get some run. As it was we had to scrap extremely hard to survive something we seem to be accustomed to. We need two decent ruckmen so fingers crossed that mummy returns next week and we retain Seaby to give us a chance of first use of the ball. If mummy is not back the only option is Currie as LRT proved again he is not the answer. Another lazy six goals to TDL today so he should come in to give us a forward target. Outs on todays showing Parker and LRT. Oh and LJ to give some goalkicking lessons to our juniors Goodes, ROK and McVeigh. His goal was something really special.

[wolftone57]

Don't get me wrong, Goodes is a superstar player. I beleive the worst aspect of his game is that he is a whinger. It's something that has bothered me a little in the past, but since he has become a captain it bothers me much more. He is constantly looking for free kicks with arms up and a sooky face. I think a good captain (and player for that matter) plays the game without counting on the umpires to get it right. You just have to go as hard as you can, and if you get a free, great. If not, then just get on with it.

I truly believe the umps would be more inclined to give him a free if he just stopped trying to tell them when he deserves one. it's not a good look for a captain and shows the opposition that you are frustrated.

Goodsie was always looking for the easy kick today & he has games when he does that & I think it is an attitude problem that affects his teammates. I also think he is better playing on ball & resting in the forward line than as a key position player. We have to get the on ball brigade right ASAP as we were getting killed in the clearances today.

[wolftone57]

Jesse was injured in the 2's today but apparently Currie played extremely strongly. Ruck situation after Jesse's injury was so dire that Nipper was used as relief ruck. Would seem Currie is our only other ruck option until either mummy or Pyke are back. We got thrashed in the clearances in the last quarter when Seaby was stuffed and LRT absolutely useless in the ruck. If we had controlled the ruck we would have had time to open the game up and get some run. As it was we had to scrap extremely hard to survive something we seem to be accustomed to. We need two decent ruckmen so fingers crossed that mummy returns next week and we retain Seaby to give us a chance of first use of the ball. If mummy is not back the only option is Currie as LRT proved again he is not the answer. Another lazy six goals to TDL today so he should come in to give us a forward target. Outs on todays showing Parker and LRT. Oh and LJ to give some goalkicking lessons to our juniors Goodes, ROK and McVeigh. His goal was something really special.

i agree with everything except for Parker going out, it is his first full game & I think he was OK but you have to realise the 2's here is a lot slower than the 2's in Melb & about 1/2 pace to Seniors. I think the kid is a talent. LJ's goal was exceptional! I think even though Mummy comes back Seaby's performance was not good enough, 22 H/O's & 4 marks to 53 H/O's 8 marks & he should drop down & give Currie a go. Danny boy is not backward in throwing his weight around & he is pretty handy in front of the sticks unlike Seaby.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Favourites to beat the Lions,
50/50 against the Tigers,
No chance against the Blues,
Even less chance against the Magpies.

The Blues are by no means a certainty to beat us. We were right in the game against them until Jack got injured, so if he plays and keeps Judd relatively quiet we're a decent chance.

We must beat the Lions and Tigers.

[Captain]

i agree with everything except for Parker going out, it is his first full game & I think he was OK but you have to realise the 2's here is a lot slower than the 2's in Melb & about 1/2 pace to Seniors. I think the kid is a talent. LJ's goal was exceptional! I think even though Mummy comes back Seaby's performance was not good enough, 22 H/O's & 4 marks to 53 H/O's 8 marks & he should drop down & give Currie a go. Danny boy is not backward in throwing his weight around & he is pretty handy in front of the sticks unlike Seaby.

Parker does have talent, but dropping him for a Jack would make sense. Won't hurt the boy to learn his craft in the reserves after getting a taste of the seniors. Just like Nipper.

TDL MUST come in. It's almost tear up memberships time if he doesn't

[Triple B]

..Danny boy is not backward in throwing his weight around.....

That's twice you've trotted that line out and I couldn't disagree more.

I just don't know where you get that impression from. I find it hard to believe you've gained it from watching him in the2's...