If we cannot do something about our midfield in the next few weeks, this could be our last win for the season. The Roosters haven't won a game yet, but they have been playing better and getting closer. We, on the other hand, are going backwards because of our growing injuries problems.
I would NOT be counting this as a certain win, as the Roosters have a good record against us.
Who is left fit to play is the question!
NORTH BALLARAT v. NORTHERN BLUES
Round 14 – 22/07/2017
01:00PM
MARS Stadium
North Ballarat
B: 13. T. Taurau, 40. L. Buckwell, 27. K. Mellington
HB: 11. M. Austin, 16. O. Tate, 23. S. Lyle
C: 3. N. Rippon, 15. B. Lusby, 8. L. Cassidy
HF: 25. M. Rodd, 21. J. Cooke-Harrison, 38. N. Hausler
F: 30. B. Edwards, 12. A. Hooper, 26. J. McQueen
R: 45. L. Meek, 9. L. George, 7. L. Kiel
Int: 24. B. Simpson , 36. C. Perry, 5. J. Keeble, 34. T. Speirs, 41. N. Weightman, 31. B. Jones, 28. K. Waterbury, 29. A. Cleary
23P: 32. L. Huppatz
In: L. Huppatz, J. McQueen, L. Meek, B. Simpson , T. Taurau, A. Cleary, A. Hooper, B. Jones
Out: X. Vearing, H. Walters, J. Korewha, J. Wheelahan
Northern Blues
B: 13. C. O’Shea, 34. J. Glass-McCasker, 70. T. Williamson
HB: 47. C. Sheehan, 25. K. Keppel, 49. D. Armfield
C: 62. B. Boekhorst, 5. B. Smedts, 42. J. Pickett
HF: 32. N. Graham, 48. K. Jaksch, 55. L. Sumner
F: 24. R. Palmer, 19. H. McKay, 56. A. Gallucci
R: 50. D. Gorringe, 60. D. Cuningham, 8. L. Russell
Int: 80. M. Korcheck, 76. K. LeBois, 4. S. Russell, 53. H. Payne, 11. T. Jones, 40. M. Stavrou, 6. G. Strachan, 1. T. Wilson, 3. K. Declase, 12. Z. Ballard, 57. F. Pearce, 20. D. Stevens
23P: 67. E. Penrith
In: K. Declase, H. Payne, L. Sumner, B. Smedts, Z. Ballard, D. Cuningham, S. Russell, T. Williamson, E. Penrith, N. Graham, B. Boekhorst
Out: M. Blakey, C. Barrett, H. Macreadie
17 Carlton players are named but only 12 AT BEST will play. 4 will be interchange for the seniors while 1 emergency will be held over. Billie Smedts has had 2 weeks 'rest' as he has been the emergency.
Of the guys named, only Thomas and Macreadie are certain to play seniors.
I would have dropped LeBois to the Development side: he needs to develop physically and mentally to cope with senior footy. At the moment he isn't coping with VFL footy, averaging 5 possessions and less than a goal per week.
One interesting thing is the naming of Ethan Penrith. I haven't seen him play yet, but he is a young aboriginal kid with extreme pace. We have access to him as a zone selection, which means that we can get him if we want him under the same rules as a F/S selection, or as a rookie, like an International Rookie.
CASEY DEMONS v. NORTHERN BLUES
Round 14 – 22/07/2017
04:00PM
Casey Fields
Casey Demons
B: 12. J. Lovett, 34. M. King, 51. B. Giobbi
HB: 18. B. Hillard, 8. T. Vander Haar, 46. D. Johnston
C: 24. J. Moncrieff, 22. G. Lok, 7. Y. Zijai
HF: 23. M. Cox, 31. T. Baker, 33. C. MacHaya
F: 72. M. Lefau, 25. D. Gordon, 35. A. Ferreira
R: 55. L. Hulett, 20. N. Gardiner, 32. J. Briggs
Int: 62. L. Gill-Renouf, 75. S. Dwyer, 86. J. Patterson, 66. P. Lewis-Smith, 39. J. Di Pasquale, 4. J. Freeman, 53. W. Collis, 29. J. Rout, 14. M. Lewis, 49. N. Foote, 16. J. Gains, 36. D. Johnston, 63. K. Byers
Northern Blues
B: 4. S. Russell, 3. K. Declase, 45. M. Blakey
HB: 75. J. Rafferty, 41. S. Glover, 71. D. Costanzo
C: 57. F. Pearce, 12. Z. Ballard, 23. C. Adams
HF: 53. H. Payne, 16. J. Thorpe, 9. J. Corboy
F: 21. C. Barrett, 18. B. Jordan, 52. S. Fowler
R: 30. S. Bolger, 40. M. Stavrou, 54. M. Romero
Int: 44. W. Krithararis, 61. M. Burt, 38. B. Malual, 79. J. Duscher, 64. J. O’Brien, 68. M. Lentini, 17. S. Peet, 63. S. Binion, 28. M. Harman, 66. D. Costigan, 22. O. Wilson, 69. M. Gleeson, 78. M. Walson
In: S. Binion, M. Harman, F. Pearce, S. Russell, J. Duscher, M. Stavrou, O. Wilson, M. Blakey, S. Fowler, M. Lentini, M. Burt, C. Barrett
Out: J. Mahon, C. McCabe, M. Dawson, J. Bradley
No Carlton listed players named. A big ask for an undermanned side, still without a proper ruckman.
Kerr is having a season-ending hip operation.
Where's Polson?
I read to today the VFL Development comp is being scapped.
Is it proposed or finalised, I now the AFL was listening to cases for both sides of the argument?
I heard they may in fact expand or remodel the TAC / Unders as an alternative with tighter guidelines about who can play in it. I think it is ridiculous you get some teams playing 25 year old AFL capable ruckmen, KPDs and KPFs playing a development league!
At the moment the preferred destination for VFL seniors not selected for the 1s is the VAFA Premier Divisions, the VAFA is loaded with experienced AFL coaches.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/vfl-reserves-afl-victoria-sounds-final-siren-for-development-comp/news-story/ee53738e9a5d6e5375917ad67b0bf310
A truly insane decision. Worse than the scrapping of the reserves and the creation of the present VFL, and that had problems that took years to manage.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFTdR6IVYAQUpOu.jpg)
You look at this team and you wonder.....
We lost the unlosable game. Unbelievable.
Northern Blues 6 - 13 - 39
North Ballarat 11 - 9 - 75
1 scoring shot the difference!
Peter Jackson VFL 2017
North Ballarat 4.3 5.5 9.8 11.9 (75)
Northern Blues 0.1 2.4 3.8 6.13 (49)
Peter Jackson VFL 2017
North Ballarat 4.3 5.5 9.8 11.9 (75)
Northern Blues 0.1 2.4 3.8 6.13 (49)
GOALS:
North Ballarat: Edwards 2 Rodd 2 Hooper 2 George Cooke-Harrison Keeble Meek Hausler
Northern Blues: Armfield 2 Jaksch Gallucci Sumner Strachan
BEST:
North Ballarat: Rodd Rippon Cassidy Kiel George Meek
Northern Blues: O'Shea Smedts Stevens Gorringe Russell Armfield
Well..... anyone with anything to say?
Still driving home, wondering why you bothered?
Almost did the 4 hr return drive to Ballarat with Mrs Baggers to watch this game. Phew! Same as last year... promising start, then it turns to cr@p.
OShea best again...should have the NB's B&F wrapped up by now and be a real chance to be rookied ....
:-\
Really disappointing result. Looking forward to hearing whether we were in the game at any stage. Or is it 'just' inaccurate kicking for goals. We started so well. I guess the injury toll is costing us across the divisions.
NB's feeling the injuries.
Very much so. Unfortunately the Carlton listed players we have left are not the ones that win games. If we lost LeBois and the like, we'd still be winning. :( We just don't have the depth as yet. I can recognize it, but I don't have to like it.
17 listed players and couldn't beat a winless VFL unit. Unacceptable.
Agree....half of that 17 know they are gone probably and cant be bothered...
Only 12 were there. They included Glass-McCasker, Sumner, LeBois and Korchek who struggle to average 10 possessions per game. Jaksch kicked 1 goal. Pickett kicked none and also struggles for consistent possessions.
All the same, being beaten by North Ballarat is unacceptable. Some of these guys, like Palmer, for example, need a start earning their money.
Thats some epic cliff jumping by the NB
Don't forget we had ASOS and Jones which is a top line AFL backline spine for the first few rounds. Take that out and the entire midfield and you're not looking at many wins.
Good effort to get that close.
(https://proxy.bigfooty.com/forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FbI6K2Tl.png&hash=69c500e970977ca8ce18b0719da0545c)
1 possession to Korchek. :(
4 to Gallucci: if this doesn't cook his goose, nothing will.
5 to Glass - McCasker - a real come down after a couple of good performances. I'd still like to try this guy forward, but it looks like he is toast.
6 to Gussy Sheehan - probably his worst ever numbers.
6 also to Penrith - you can't blame the kid for that.
I could go on, but this is hard enough to comprehend, let alone appreciate.
Cam OShea is clearly the best NB's player...better than Sheehan IMO.....
At the moment, he is the most effective player going around for us. Win, lose or draw, he has contributed every week and gets a LOT of ball against a lot of different opponents. I'd sign him in a heart-beat.
Be a rookie pick for me...ACOS to the senior list and OShea to take his place as my backup rookie experienced backman...
We have an ultra weak team in the VFL. It's not that hard to comprehend.
I agree. The Swans and Dogs will be into O'Shea IMO.
I think we add him as a rookie, as you said probably to take the spot of a potential upgrade to Alex Silvagni, who would/should take the senior spot of Simon White IMO.
I'm still not sure on Korcheck. I'd probably prefer to use his rookie spot as a backup developing ruckman on a state leaguer, or go after Darcy Cameron from the Swans, who is behind Naismith and Sinclair, probably Tippett also.
Therefore, my rookie list might look like:
Upgrade - A.Silvagni
Delist - A.Gallucci, M.Korcheck
1. K.Lebois
2. J.Glass-McCasker (???)
3. C.Sheehan (???)
4. C.O'Shea
5. ruck - eg. state leaguer
6. mid - eg. Mitch Grigg
I won't be surprised to find O'Shea getting a full draft spot, an associate of mine claims one of the Scott brothers is very interested. I'd think it would be Geelong who are draft pick limited and probably after insurance, cannot see O'Shea going main draft to a rebuild club like Norp.
Looking at back-lines, I wouldn't be surprised to see Collingwood pick him up either!
Probably right LP...I'd say he will poll well in the Liston, highlighting him a bit more and clubs will take more interest and a 5th/6th round pick for a readymade is a small price to pay...
Geelong have done well with Menegola who is a recycled ex Hawk/ WAFL player and I also think Essendon might look at Oshea..