Re: Blues V North - Pre game thread
Reply #11 –
I'll play.
In an ideal world I hope we play a heap of kids who contribute well, and fight it right out to the finish line, but it won't happen like that. We won't win, and you guys know we won't, which is a shame because if we were serious we could roll this mob.
Although I decided to cut back on my AFL content this year I have had the misfortune through chance to see a bit of a club I despise in the kangas. Those of us who sat through the 24 goal loss back in the days will understand.
Expect rotten treatment from officialdom this week, its a given for every Friday night game we have against this mob. It's normally worth about 4 goals.
There are two North Melbournes... a lazy, slow, skill deficient, one way running side that uses the ball worse than we do, and another version that rips you to pieces through the middle.
If the first side fronts up we will be more than competitive. If the second fronts up we will lose by 20 goals.
Frankly I don't see a lot of difference between North and us... we both have patchy work rates and can be scintillating or awful within short periods. They also have a lot of slow players but unlike us they seem to get away with them.
There are a number of players that constantly give us trouble and I don't understand why.
1. Petrie is one. In the past I have watched tall backs, including Henderson, take this bloke to the cleaners. One was Henderson and he flogged him with his mobility... yet I have seen Petrie kick bags on Henderson... I reckon Rowe can match this bloke in the air but when it hits the ground will be a concern.
2. Boomer Harvey is still a critical component to that mob winning games. Wake up Mick. He is fast, rat cunning, sly and suckers cheap frees. I think he leads the AFL in score assists? He needs to be watched like a hawk by somebody who is prepared to sit on him and run with him all day. He also gets frustrated with close attention and can get a bit err, distracted. I would be tempted to sit maybe Robinson on him in a defensive role, yet tell him to run forward an attempt to hurt the other way at any opportunity. It is critical to shut this bloke down.
3. Lindsay Thomas. I have no idea who we have to sit on this bloke but they need to play him close and smart and be aware of what this guy does. If he gets of the chain it will get ugly.
I'll be watching you Mick and await with interest what strategies you will put in place against this mob. I know we are light on for personnel but how's about something innovative for once?
Great post.