Carlton vs. North Melbourne A win is a win is a win, and a 1 point thriller is enough to call for medical intervention, but in the end, we still won.
Votes: Simpson, Kade 386 Kreuzer, Matthew 338 Henderson, Lachie 226 Garlett, Jeff 164 Curnow, Edward 69 Walker, Andrew 57 Yarran, Chris 21 Murphy, Marc 15 Tuohy, Zac 13 Lucas, Kane 11 Jamison, Michael 6 Carrazzo, Andrew 4 Rowe, Sam 4 Watson, Matthew 4
Matty Watson garnered his first votes for the season, while most of the rewards went to Simmo and Kreuzer. Juddy failed to poll a vote, and we still won.
Progressives: 2464 - Judd, Chris (0) 2120 - Henderson, Lachie (0) 1989 - Walker, Andrew (0) 1605 - Garlett, Jeff (0) 1549 - Simpson, Kade (0) 1364 - Kreuzer, Matthew (0) 1239 - McLean, Brock (0) 1039 - Murphy, Marc (0) 989 - Gibbs, Bryce (0) 865 - Waite, Jarrad (0) 737 - Jamison, Michael (0) 647 - Yarran, Chris (0) 500 - Armfield, Dennis (0) 424 - Cachia, Jarryd (0) 392 - Lucas, Kane (0) 375 - Warnock, Robert (0) 349 - Tuohy, Zac (0) 304 - Robinson, Mitch (0) 303 - Scotland, Heath (0) 225 - Curnow, Edward (0) 211 - Carrazzo, Andrew (0) 206 - White, Simon (0) 185 - Betts, Eddie (0) 98 - Rowe, Sam (0) 80 - Hampson, Shaun (0) 62 - Casboult, Levi (0) 29 - McInnes, Andrew (0) 15 - Bell, Tom (0) 6 - Ellard, David (0) 5 - Menzel, Troy (0) 4 - Watson, Matthew (0) 4 - Buckley, Dylan (0) 3 - Duigan, Nicholas (0)
Hendo closes the gap on Judd while things bunch up again behind the 2 leaders. Bring on some more wins!
Northern Blues vs. Coburg Sunday 28th July Preston City Oval at 1:00 PM
Northern Blues
B Coulson* Dirago Joseph HB A. Gianfagna Davies Duigan CDale Cachia O'Keeffe HF Wilson Laidler Temay FBuckley Casboult Menzel RWarnock Graham Lambert Int Posar Meese Bransgrove Thomas Lincoln Currie Mitchell T. Bell Marcon
Coburg B: Batchelor Elton Astbury HB: Ellis Dea Tuck C: Conca Clifton Lonergan HF: Carnell Griffiths Nahas F: O'Hanlon A. Edwards McGuane R: Stephenson Arnot Helbig Int: Groves Thomas McDonough N. Maric Uysal A. Saad Venditti Darrou Brandt McBean Derickx Boyd* Verrier
Nice to see Tom Bell named. I wonder if he'll play? Coburg have had the wood over us recently. Aaron Edwards has had leather poisoning and kicked heaps. I hope there are a few Tigers who are going to play senior footy, as their team looks much better than usual. Stephenson also tends to play well against us. I hope we can show some of the spirit and endeavour we displayed last week.
I am surprised that Cachia is out, unless he is getting a 'rest'. But funnier things have happened. I still have my worries about the sanity of the MC, but I thought last week that we'd lost it at the selection table.
You guys had a dream last night while I had a night mare. Essenscum get off with a small warning and still win a flag this year and next season too. Why didn't someone wake me up to save me so much pain ??
You just need an alarm clock, or a little less alcohol.
For me Robbo was the stand out - he will come back in for sure. I would also give Graham a run too. Must not go up there with one iota of complacency, this is definitely "a danger game".
The day was one that fit Robbo, and he delivered. Good chance of a call up. Interesting to see if Waite is available this week....
Team: B I wasn't super - impressed, but we did win against a side who usually beats us at a venue that hasn't suited us. I am pleased, as we have played fairly ordinarily against North in recent times.
Explanations: [3] Simpson: Simmo's best game of the season to date and an excellent one it was. He not only got possessions, he beat his man in one on one contests, managed to clean up across defence and show a lot of endeavour and courage in the way he approached the ball. Very pleasing. [2.5] Kreuzer: Not as good in the ruck, but he did control the North ruckmen (who usually pound us). His work around the ground and at the stoppages was excellent. He took some excellent marks and was the most effective big man on the ground. Pity about his kicking at goal.... [2] Henderson: An excellent target up forward, especially early. [1.5] Tuohy: Took on the North small forwards and did well. Managed 2 goals going the other way, which was excellent. [1] Walker: Lots of the ball, but not as good at quietening his opponents as he can be. [1] Carrazzo: Good job in the middle controlling the North mids. Not yet at his best, but steadily improving. [1] Murphy: Not as much of the ball as he (and I) would like, but his effectiveness once he got it was excellent. His tackling was brilliant: North didn't respect him and he managed frees and goals because he really put in. [1] Garlett: Not a heap of the ball, but very effective with it and always dangerous. His goals were telling. [1] Curnow: Very good at minimizing the effects of the North midfield. His goals were invaluable. [0.5] Yarran: Not his biggest night, but he did some really good team things: including 8 tackles. he also took 2 excellent marks by really putting his body in. Not 100%, but a significant improvement. [0.5] Jamison: Not at his best either, but he did control Petrie well.
Honourable Mentions: Judd: Like Murphy and Yarran, his possessions were more telling by their results than by their number, except his kicking for goal, which remains ordinary. Gibbs: Worked hard and did a negative job well, but his kicking was well off and his confidence appeared to be down. Lucas: OK. Not as timid as he can be. Watson: After a very quiet start, he managed to get on top of his man and provided some drive when it was really needed.
There will be a few boys from the NBs who'd be presenting a good case to be included. Few blokes in the midfield should be nervous. Murph must rest... he's obviously carrying an injury. Juddy will make up for his soft game against the Kangabies. Blokes in consideration would have to be Robbo, Levi, Graham and White.
Fair enough. Looking at the team on Friday night and we have a few guys who are struggling physically at the moment: Murphy and Yarran to name but 2. Murphy is definitely struggling with this butt injury of his. He played, and did OK, but he wasn't 100%. I guess it will depend on how he pulls up this week. I didn't expect him to play against the 'Roos. Yarran also looked quite restricted and didn't have the burning pace that is one of his hallmarks. I remember 2 moments when he needed his pace to break contact and it just wasn't there. Also he limped quite clearly when approaching the bench. Mind you, I was impressed by the way he put his body on the line for 2 very nice marks, and his 8 tackles was a significant improvement over what he can be like. Carrots looked a bit better on Friday: he must be getting some of his match fitness back. Eddie Betts was also one who looked less than 100%, but an improvement on what he has been recently.
Graham did his chances of getting a game no harm at all. He plonked himself at the front of the pack and managed a significant portion of our clearances on Saturday. Unfortunately he wasn't as successful at the centre bounce. But his 4 games at VFL level have been very promising. Robbo showed some real G & D and was excellent for the Baby Blues: very effective in the conditions. Buckley also showed a bit, but he went off with a shoulder injury that suggested to me that he probably won't be fit enough for next week.
I hate going to Box Hill - crap venue to watch football - today was crapper than usual because of the weather but I did go along to see the early game because I wanted to see Mitchell and I finally saw something of why we drafted him.
I don't think he was our best player by any stretch of the imagination but, despite the conditions, he took overhead contested marks and was able to out-body the slighter players at the lower level. Also, unlike other days when he has kicked multiple goals with minimal kicks, he could have finished with 8 to 10 today with the opportunities he created.
I didn't get a chance to ask him but I was wondering whether his demotion could have been at his request (similar to the decision Hampson made a few years back when he wasn't getting enough ground time in the Bullants' senior team). He is still as slow as a glacier but so were lots of others in the conditions.
Still to be convinced he can perform at the higher levels on a fast track but at least I saw something.
As for the senior game, in even worse conditions, I was completely satisfied with the efforts of ALL players in contributing to a team performance.
I am really happy to read that, especially considering the lack of spirit and endeavour in recent weeks.
With Gold Coast smashing Collingwood last night, next week's game ay Metricon Stadium is looking ... interesting. Last year we experienced a disaster at Carrarra. What is going to happen this time?
I hope RR managed to see this game: I respect his opinions, particularly as he is as close to the guys as he is. He also gets to see them up close and personal each week. However, here is my humble opinions about the guys who played today:
Davies: Not bad. The condition made his job easier, but he played very good one on one footy and beat his man most of the day. At this point, I'm afraid he won't be with us next year: decision making is just not good enough and he gives away too many frees. However, he had a strong game today.
Joseph: AJ played well today. His modus operandi was suited to the conditions and his tendency to kick long fit the circumstances of the game well. He played mainly back pocket, rather than a hard tag all day. He also played close and tight and could say he beat his man.
Bootsma: the conditions didn't suit Boots and he spent much of the 2nd half coming on and off the ground. Not his greatest effort, but he can say that he didn't have a mark against him on the day.
White: apart from a few minor blues later in the game, Simon really had it over his opponents and gave some decent drive from defence. Not likely to get his spot back with this performance, but he was solid and had his fair share of the ball.
Duigan: played forward and on the ball and produced his best effort for some time. His ability to make good decisions helped him a lot, while his kicking was pretty good in the conditions. One of our better players and one who really put his body in.
O'Keefe: for his first game he back, he was pretty good. His kicking was nice and he got some ball. He'd have been happy just to get through, but to have some influence would have pleased the coaching staff and O'Keefe a fair bit.
Temay: his best game for the year to date, especially after half time when Box Hill produced their best footy. He kept his head and got a lot more of the ball than he has been and didn't give away many frees. His ability to find the ball and not fumble was good.
Laidler: played back and produced his best game for ages. He read the ball well in the air and took quite a few marks in defence. His kicking was good as well. His opponent had only a handful of possessions and didn't respect him. One of the reasons Box Hill kicked their lowest score against Preston ever.
Menzel: conditions didn't suit his style of play at all, but he made a reasonable contribution. He'll be better for the experience and much better with another 5 - 10 kg of muscle on him. His kicking was good.
Casboult: one of his best efforts for the year, especially when conditions suited him so poorly. He was probably the most effective big man on the ground and the only one to look like taking a decent grab. He worked hard in the ruck and got some very nice taps, pounding the ball forward 15 m or more. he also managed some good goals, mostly for his ground work, which is not traditionally his strength. Kicking for goal? Hmmm: some work required here still.
Buckley: a very good game from Buckley until he was injured. Buckley was good in the packs and around the stoppages and was always dangerous. He got more of the ball than he usually does and gave the indications that he wasn't far away. I don't think he'll get a promotion because of his shoulder injury, but if he keeps up that effort, it won't be long in coming.
Warnock: did a good job in the ruck, making some pretty good efforts on a wet day. He didn't get many marks, but people didn't tend to kick it to the ruckmen much. His was an improved performance and one that suggested he wants a recall.
Robinson: probably our best player on the day, Robbo played a pretty typical game and really got in the Box Hill guys' faces. His body was at the bottom of most packs and his intensity was really up. His kicking was suited by the conditions, but he got his foot to the ball, which not everybody could manage, with his strength.
Graham: did his chances of getting a game soon no harm at all. He placed himself well at the boundary throwins and got most of our clearances from them. Not as many centre clearances though. he did put his body in and he appeared to have time that others lacked. he appeared to be tagged later in the game, but he lifted again in the last quarter and got plenty of the ball.
Dale: lots of leaping over packs, but not many marks. He was quite reasonable in defence, but didn't stand out. He gave away 2 frees up forward trying for speckies.
This had to be a good start to the day: ordinary conditions and Mitchell really makes the most of his opportunity. I'd be interested in how RR thinks he went, but that HAD to be a positive step.
2013 Peter Jackson VFL Box Hill Hawks 0.1 2.3 4.5 6.7 (43) Northern Blues 1.3 7.3 9.3 9.5 (59)
GOALS: Box Hill Hawks: Hallahan 3 O'Brien Murphy Wanganeen Northern Blues: Casboult 2 Wilson 2 Menzel 2 Lincoln Graham Duigan
BEST: Box Hill Hawks: Hallahan Kelly Mirra Cust Ceglar Iles Northern Blues: Robinson Graham Lambert Laidler Bransgrove Duigan
With last results, I couldn't be happier. Seeing the game on the box is not as good as being there, but much better than the alternative! And this week there really was some spirit in the place. Like some of the earlier games of the season, the Baby Blues really stepped it up and tackled and chased like they meant it! Hawthorn, sorry, Box Hill, players couldn't get a sniff without a Blueboy pressurizing him.
We still have issues: we don't come home very well, our forward line has issues and our midfielders were beaten at the clearances, especially at the centre of the ground. However, the relentless pressure, hard work and team spirit were excellent!
