Preview - Second semi final - Sydney v North Melbourne

[Doctor]

So let's have at it! With no Reid, I'm concerned about their third tall. I generally think we match up pretty well against them though.

[annew]

So let's have at it! With no Reid, I'm concerned about their third tall. I generally think we match up pretty well against them though.

i am a bit worried about how much yesterday took out of our players was a tough game much tougher than today's and we had the travel factor.

[aguy]

Interesting dilemma isn't it.

Smith will come back. Mcglynn is a worry amongst others.

We need some more targets in the forward line with Reid and buddy not there. Goodes was magic In the midfield and I think he should stay there instead of playing forward.

I think I would omit mcglynn and bring rose back. Rose should play as sub and jones starts. With jones and smith back in defence rohan can play forward and hopefully take some marks and find some form. Rose comes on as sub as does his thing like before :-)

Out: mcglynn reid
In: smith rose

Sub rose

[Ludwig]

We'll have to win a lot of footy in the midfield and not give them too much easy opportunity to kick the ball to their tall forwards. But we usually handle their talls fairly well. North are also prone to making a lot of turnovers, so our pressure will be important. They are a good contested team, but we should be better on the outside. Hopefully McGlynn is up to at least doing a defensive job on Harvey.

We probably need Tippett to play a lot more at forward and give the bulk of the ruckwork to Pyke. Hopefully Rohan can get his body up and going for this one because a lot may fall on him along with Towers to create chaos in their backline with forward pressure. I'd play Goodes more in the midfield to keep Firrito out of the defence. Their backline is good at marking, but not too quick. We'll need to turn this to our advantage.

If we play this smartly, we should have enough players to do it.

I don't know if it's good or bad, but we are pretty heavy favourites to take this one out.

[Hotpotato]

For their goal kicking practice :
Remove the point posts altogether ,should be q

[Doctor]

Good points Ludwig. I'd keep the changes to a minimum and just bring in Smith for Reid. McGlynn will be better for the run and I like your suggestion of running him with Harvey, or at least sharing it with someone like Lloyd. Cunningham's speed in our forward line could be handy, as might BJ (and hopefully Gazza). It'll have to be the class of our midfield that wins it though.

[Hotpotato]

Quite a good drill .

[Panttz]

Yeah I would keep McGlynn in as well. He will be filthy on himself for playing such a terrible game and will most likely have a blinder next weekend.

[Mountain Man]

From todays match V Richmond, Andrew Swallow received 5 free kicks and gave 0 away. On Friday, Hodge received 5 and gave away 1.

Maybe they are going for a Best and Fairest award

[longmile]

Normally I'd easily back us against the Kangas who we seem to have a good recent history against, but I think we gave absolutely everything against Freo and there will be alot of sore tired bodies out there in red and white. Let's hope Rohan can touch the footy

[dejavoodoo44]

We'll have to win a lot of footy in the midfield and not give them too much easy opportunity to kick the ball to their tall forwards. But we usually handle their talls fairly well. North are also prone to making a lot of turnovers, so our pressure will be important. They are a good contested team, but we should be better on the outside. Hopefully McGlynn is up to at least doing a defensive job on Harvey.

We probably need Tippett to play a lot more at forward and give the bulk of the ruckwork to Pyke. Hopefully Rohan can get his body up and going for this one because a lot may fall on him along with Towers to create chaos in their backline with forward pressure. I'd play Goodes more in the midfield to keep Firrito out of the defence. Their backline is good at marking, but not too quick. We'll need to turn this to our advantage.

If we play this smartly, we should have enough players to do it.

I don't know if it's good or bad, but we are pretty heavy favourites to take this one out.

Yes, that's what I was thinking in regards to Tippett and Pyke. That is, with North's tendency to have Goldstein rucking all day, it should be up to Pyke, now that he seems fitter, to more or less go all day in the ruck. Thus leaving Tippo to be our main tall target up forward. Hopefully Rohan will be fitter and will be able to play as an almost tall, lead out option.
And hopefully, Nick Smith will be fit, as he has a tendency to reduce Harvey to a snarly little man on a very short leash.

[Ludwig]

And hopefully, Nick Smith will be fit, as he has a tendency to reduce Harvey to a snarly little man on a very short leash.

I think Harry has played on Harvey in recent times. I'm not sure what the matchups will be, but Smith may take Nahas or perhaps even Higgins. He usually takes Thomas, but not sure Thomas will even be playing next week, especially considering Smith usually shuts him down easily.

The way McGlynn played, he may be best suited for a negating role. Harry is doing a lot more as an offensive weapon.

[Swansinger]

No disrespect to North - they will provide a stern test for us - but I'd sooner we play them than Richmond.
With a fully fit team , I'd be quite confident. That not being the case , I expect a very close-fought game.
Hopefully Thomas will get an early holiday , but Waite is finding a bit of form late in the season.
Heeney to put in a better performance and - if he can actually stay fit for more than half a game - our Mr.X Factor will be Gary Rohan.

[Hotpotato]

Surely a fit Rose would get more of the footy that an unfit Ranga.

[barry]

Very interesting selections this week. Plenty of reasons for a few changes.

My tip. Take a punt and only play fit players. Let those who are injured rest for the prelim. No point limping in.