good evening daniel,
despite the title of this post there will not be a discussion of little house on the prairie and other tediously good-willed christian drama. this is all about just how great an afternoon sunday was.
as you know i have been fairly positive about our form this year - with the exception of the indoor debacle against hawthorn of which the less that is said the better - and i was optimistic about our chances against gee-long.
it was truly a great victory, and ultimately satisfying because it was built on an unwavering attack on the ball and the opposition. it was as if the determination and resolve that characterised the pagan era had been reawakened. the relentlessness was too much for geelong and was entirely heartening. i see that dean has labeled this as potentially a turning point for the team and also used the opportunity to throw in the word "imprimatur" in a reminder of the way that he played the game. i noticed that this reminiscence did not include any reference to exceedingly tight shorts or a shocking mullet. still, if the team keeps playing with this type of attitude he may well be coaching in 2008.
our simmo was magnificent all day and his hard work in and around the packs was decisive, his constant presence meant that we were going to win more of the contested possession and he was ably assisted by daniel harris and andrew swallow. it was pleasing to see that swallow's kicking was better and that he wasn't being run down from behind.
and what about hamish? he looks like he can barely run with the weight of his enormous freak head but he has been great - the absence of david hale has not been keenly felt (speaking of which the club is advertising the AFLPA mother of the year award, although it is unclear if yvonne hale has been nominated for any awards). according to the age hamish is the second best player in the competition this year. his skills around the park have been great and his ruckwork continues to improve.
i was also impressed with aaron edwards - his hands are excellent - who works hard and uses the ball well. i have a feeling that a bag of goals is just around the corner for him and i have the surveillance tapes to prove it. josh gibson and michael firrito were excellent in the backline and it seems that they are given a little latitude if they continue to provide attacking options. arch was good again, although he does seem to be averse to having an opponent these days.
i do wonder, though, about shagger. had the umpiring been more sensible he may well have finished with four or five goals, but he seems to have lost a little of what zip he still had and even though he reads the play beautifully he can no longer find the space take advantage of this.
this week against sydney will be a real test. hopefully, we can keep the ball moving quickly and avoid being bogged down in the kind of game that sydney love. apparently, adam goodes has been offered a week by the match review tribunal although, like in the case of adam selwood, he may be found guilty and innocent all at the same time. we have really struggled with goodes in the past and this would be a bonus if he were to miss. they also seem to have a couple of injuries which could also help us out.
our selections will be interesting - will jesse smith be brought back for corey jones? will hale come in, if so, for who? will leigh brown play yet another game of ineffective swill - well, most probably. does lindsay thomas come back in? who plays on hall - i would think spud would get the job, but there don't appear to be too many other options. watt is quick enough but would get touched up as both he and brown have in the past. petrie is probably too slow and he may be used in the forward line again, although this is a worrying tactic. gibson may be the next in line but i think he will play o'loughlin and watt or green will play on o'keefe.
i wonder, also, whether two hard games will start to take a toll on some of the younger players ... still if we keep winning i am sure that there will be no feelings of tiredness.
lets keep this roll a'rolling ...
justin
30.4.07
22.4.07
Everything suddenly seems ok
Dear Justin,
Well, everything suddenly feels a lot better after a win: only our first win, a win against a fellow struggler, a win described in the paper as scrappy, but a win nonetheless.
Now I know you didn't have the chance to see the game, so I'll try to be a little more descriptive than usual. We went in to the match small - much too small, in my (pre-match) view. But Dean pulled a surprise by playing Firrito on their Brown, freeing up Petrie to play (ineffectually) at full-forward and in the ruck. Our Brown also played forward (more on that later).
We started well. Shagga had more touches in the first ten minutes than he did last week. Uncharacteristically, we took our chances while they didn't. I remember good goals from Wells, Thomas and Brown. Their Brown was inaccurate, as he would be throughout. Although they could have matched us if they'd kicked straight, on balance we were still on top in the middle.
In the second quarter, things turned around. Their midfield got right on top, although they still couldn't kick for goal. So, although we were just up a halftime, you'd have to say that you felt they might run over the top of us, a la the past few weeks (as they'd say in Paris).
However, we managed to turn things around in the midfield in the second half. Wells and Simmo, in particular, were instrumental in this (each had 18 touches in the second half). Monster continued to ruck well (more on that below too). In fact, we failed to capitalise on our dominance in the third - due not so much to kicking for goal, but due to such incompetence as CJ dropping two chest marks on his own, 30 from goal, in two minutes.
So we started the last about a goal up. Thanks in part to a gem of a soccer goal from Hamish, we found ourselves two goals up as the game tightened. It looked like we were going to go negative and try to lose it. But thankfully Arch went crazy tackling and smothering, and we hung in in defence. And then, for the first time in a long time, we kicked two late goals so that the margin flattered us (including a ripper from Wellsy).
Undoubtedly, BOG was Hamish. He rucked alone for much of the game, got about 20 touches, and kicked a goal. One key contest in their goalsquare in the last, he got down to make a contest, then kept his feet to push it through on the ground. He suddenly looks like he will be a top-line player - the first player to show that since Wells.
Wells was good again. Although he still does team thing too much, he is our best player now by a mile (possible apologies to Boomer, who was good again). In fact, he was probably the classiest player on the ground.
Our backline actually impressed me. Firrito did a good job on their Brown, although if he'd kicked straight I might not be saying that. Arch was, well, Arch. Pratt was solid again, as were Watt and Gibbo, who impressed me last week too. And we should have Petrie to go back there next week, and Smith to come in soon.
As for the forward line... Edwards impressed, playing more at half forward. He presented, contested, and showed he can contribute other than out of the square. A smart player. By contrast, CJ was abject. And not smart. Petrie had no impact in the forward line, but will be back "at home" on Mooney next week. Brown was patchy, but kicked a couple of goals. One in particular, where he got in front and marked a quick, miskicked ball, was impressive. Campbell impressed again, keeps trying, even though he weighs as much as Jonathan Brown's left leg.
So all in all, a satisfying win (although at this stage, there isn't any other type). Dean almost cried with relief, and I felt sorry for him. I'll leave any negative comments for this week.
Big game in Geelong next week. Hopefully this win, and the lack of any expectation of rolling them down there, will see us play some good footy next week.
You should buy the DVD.
Dan
Well, everything suddenly feels a lot better after a win: only our first win, a win against a fellow struggler, a win described in the paper as scrappy, but a win nonetheless.
Now I know you didn't have the chance to see the game, so I'll try to be a little more descriptive than usual. We went in to the match small - much too small, in my (pre-match) view. But Dean pulled a surprise by playing Firrito on their Brown, freeing up Petrie to play (ineffectually) at full-forward and in the ruck. Our Brown also played forward (more on that later).
We started well. Shagga had more touches in the first ten minutes than he did last week. Uncharacteristically, we took our chances while they didn't. I remember good goals from Wells, Thomas and Brown. Their Brown was inaccurate, as he would be throughout. Although they could have matched us if they'd kicked straight, on balance we were still on top in the middle.
In the second quarter, things turned around. Their midfield got right on top, although they still couldn't kick for goal. So, although we were just up a halftime, you'd have to say that you felt they might run over the top of us, a la the past few weeks (as they'd say in Paris).
However, we managed to turn things around in the midfield in the second half. Wells and Simmo, in particular, were instrumental in this (each had 18 touches in the second half). Monster continued to ruck well (more on that below too). In fact, we failed to capitalise on our dominance in the third - due not so much to kicking for goal, but due to such incompetence as CJ dropping two chest marks on his own, 30 from goal, in two minutes.
So we started the last about a goal up. Thanks in part to a gem of a soccer goal from Hamish, we found ourselves two goals up as the game tightened. It looked like we were going to go negative and try to lose it. But thankfully Arch went crazy tackling and smothering, and we hung in in defence. And then, for the first time in a long time, we kicked two late goals so that the margin flattered us (including a ripper from Wellsy).
Undoubtedly, BOG was Hamish. He rucked alone for much of the game, got about 20 touches, and kicked a goal. One key contest in their goalsquare in the last, he got down to make a contest, then kept his feet to push it through on the ground. He suddenly looks like he will be a top-line player - the first player to show that since Wells.
Wells was good again. Although he still does team thing too much, he is our best player now by a mile (possible apologies to Boomer, who was good again). In fact, he was probably the classiest player on the ground.
Our backline actually impressed me. Firrito did a good job on their Brown, although if he'd kicked straight I might not be saying that. Arch was, well, Arch. Pratt was solid again, as were Watt and Gibbo, who impressed me last week too. And we should have Petrie to go back there next week, and Smith to come in soon.
As for the forward line... Edwards impressed, playing more at half forward. He presented, contested, and showed he can contribute other than out of the square. A smart player. By contrast, CJ was abject. And not smart. Petrie had no impact in the forward line, but will be back "at home" on Mooney next week. Brown was patchy, but kicked a couple of goals. One in particular, where he got in front and marked a quick, miskicked ball, was impressive. Campbell impressed again, keeps trying, even though he weighs as much as Jonathan Brown's left leg.
So all in all, a satisfying win (although at this stage, there isn't any other type). Dean almost cried with relief, and I felt sorry for him. I'll leave any negative comments for this week.
Big game in Geelong next week. Hopefully this win, and the lack of any expectation of rolling them down there, will see us play some good footy next week.
You should buy the DVD.
Dan
16.4.07
Dear Dan,
I still find myself in moments of disbelief about how particularly woeful our performance was yesterday. I read that Graham Duff was talking about preserving Melbourne members of the club and I just wonder how enticing that performance might have been to any North fan considering membership.
I understand your thoughts about Laidley but I am not sure how responsible he can be for what the players do ... Dean doesn't make Corey Jones fumble almost every time he touches the ball, it was not his fault Shannon Grant can't really remember what a football feels like or that Andrew Swallow gets run down from behind a number of times a game. Obviously, the instruction that gave rise to the pre-half-time farce was sheer lunacy. What were they thinking? If we hold on to this 2 goal lead now, there is no way Hawthorn will have enough time to hit the front during the course of the entire second half? Do they seriously have the estimation of the collective skill level of our team?
And if Laidley goes now who will replace hime? Donald MacDonald? Darren Bewick? I don't see any replacement coming from another club at this point of the season. This means we are looking at a caretaker or someone like Grant Thomas whose tenure in the North coaching box has a fraught history.
Selection continues to baffle - and I thought after Shane Clayton was delisted I would not have too much to complain about - and the persistent selection of Brown and Sansbury is symptomatic of either a complete lack of depth or lack of confidence in any of the younger players on our list. Sansbury is like a deer in the headlights and utterly useless in the face of any kind of pressure. He did, however, kick five goals on Adam Cooney once. Leigh Brown appears trapped in the middle of being not tall enough, not fast enough and not imposing enough.
The question is who replaces these guys and who else can we bring in? Sadly, Callum Urch has done another hamstring - maybe a hamstring transplant is required - and I now concede that we may never really see him again. Hopefully, Blake Grima and Jesse Smith stay uninjured and get some match fitness in a hurry. What has happened to Daniel McConnell? As you know I am not a Brad Moran disciple - his newness to the game is so glaringly a weakness which is manifested in almost every aspect of what he does out there - his athletic ability is incredible, but I think the VFL is the best place for him to learn more for the time being.
I think our backline has been OK and until Sunday we seemed to have played relatively attacking football. We need to continue this, but our forward line is too stagnant. The forest of midgets isn't going to take too many pack marks so Edwards (who is the best mark on the lead we have had at the club for some time) and Jones need to be constantly presenting. Another leading target is required - or someone who can at least take the occasional contested mark. This is where David Hale won't make it as a forward - not quick enough on the lead and not a great contested mark. If we didn't need him in the backline and the midfield I would think that Spud would even be worth a shot in the forward line. Shannon Grant needs to play closer to goal and quicker delivery will let him use his ability to read the play to advantage.
And now I discover that our game is not on free-to-air at all - I thought the Carrara games were to be shown on FTA on delay?
Perhaps not seeing the game would be better anyway ...
Maybe, things can only get better?
Justin
I still find myself in moments of disbelief about how particularly woeful our performance was yesterday. I read that Graham Duff was talking about preserving Melbourne members of the club and I just wonder how enticing that performance might have been to any North fan considering membership.
I understand your thoughts about Laidley but I am not sure how responsible he can be for what the players do ... Dean doesn't make Corey Jones fumble almost every time he touches the ball, it was not his fault Shannon Grant can't really remember what a football feels like or that Andrew Swallow gets run down from behind a number of times a game. Obviously, the instruction that gave rise to the pre-half-time farce was sheer lunacy. What were they thinking? If we hold on to this 2 goal lead now, there is no way Hawthorn will have enough time to hit the front during the course of the entire second half? Do they seriously have the estimation of the collective skill level of our team?
And if Laidley goes now who will replace hime? Donald MacDonald? Darren Bewick? I don't see any replacement coming from another club at this point of the season. This means we are looking at a caretaker or someone like Grant Thomas whose tenure in the North coaching box has a fraught history.
Selection continues to baffle - and I thought after Shane Clayton was delisted I would not have too much to complain about - and the persistent selection of Brown and Sansbury is symptomatic of either a complete lack of depth or lack of confidence in any of the younger players on our list. Sansbury is like a deer in the headlights and utterly useless in the face of any kind of pressure. He did, however, kick five goals on Adam Cooney once. Leigh Brown appears trapped in the middle of being not tall enough, not fast enough and not imposing enough.
The question is who replaces these guys and who else can we bring in? Sadly, Callum Urch has done another hamstring - maybe a hamstring transplant is required - and I now concede that we may never really see him again. Hopefully, Blake Grima and Jesse Smith stay uninjured and get some match fitness in a hurry. What has happened to Daniel McConnell? As you know I am not a Brad Moran disciple - his newness to the game is so glaringly a weakness which is manifested in almost every aspect of what he does out there - his athletic ability is incredible, but I think the VFL is the best place for him to learn more for the time being.
I think our backline has been OK and until Sunday we seemed to have played relatively attacking football. We need to continue this, but our forward line is too stagnant. The forest of midgets isn't going to take too many pack marks so Edwards (who is the best mark on the lead we have had at the club for some time) and Jones need to be constantly presenting. Another leading target is required - or someone who can at least take the occasional contested mark. This is where David Hale won't make it as a forward - not quick enough on the lead and not a great contested mark. If we didn't need him in the backline and the midfield I would think that Spud would even be worth a shot in the forward line. Shannon Grant needs to play closer to goal and quicker delivery will let him use his ability to read the play to advantage.
And now I discover that our game is not on free-to-air at all - I thought the Carrara games were to be shown on FTA on delay?
Perhaps not seeing the game would be better anyway ...
Maybe, things can only get better?
Justin
15.4.07
Not our best night
Dear Justin,
Well, that was a bad afternoon / evening (twilight?) at the football. Hard to recall many worse performances in the past decade. Was thinking I should not write tonight, given how negative I feel - but then again, I feel negative because it was so bad.
Thank Christ for the following: Adam Simpson, Harro, Spud and of course Wellsy, although he faded. Boomer tried hard, and I thought Pratty was ok, although had his usual quota of brain explosions along the way. Campbell showed something. But there were many negatives - of our players who are senior quality, Shagga and CJ were terrible. And in the "not up to senior football" category: Sansbury, and Brown spring to mind.
I'm increasingly convinced that Laidley is at the heart of the problem with North, and that he should go sooner rather than later. If he's going to coach next year, he shouldn't stay for the rest of this year. There is a certain feel, much like at the end of Schimma's reign of error, to the club at the moment.
Now I don't want to harp on it, but look at his post match comments this evening: “That’s probably been the fallout from the three games – we didn’t take our opportunities ... It’s my job to keep the boys up. It’s been disappointing for everyone for the last three games because we’ve either been in it or had our chances … But there’s no good in patting us on the back for solid performances.”
Patting us on the back for solid performances? The only explanation for this is that Dean was watching the little league, who did indeed put in a solid performance. But otherwise... well it wasn't so much the loss, as the inexplicable game plan, and the incompetence, that was the problem. And I've never booed North before the way we did when they did that weird chipping the ball around thing, when ten points up before half time.
I could go on (is the club in a better position than when Laidley took over? why don't we appear to have a strategy to rebuild the list? why is everything, including our game plan, so reactive? why is there no feeling of excitement around the younger players? why are so many players, from Well down, not developing as we'd hope?). But I don't think I will tonight.
Speak soon,
Dan
Well, that was a bad afternoon / evening (twilight?) at the football. Hard to recall many worse performances in the past decade. Was thinking I should not write tonight, given how negative I feel - but then again, I feel negative because it was so bad.
Thank Christ for the following: Adam Simpson, Harro, Spud and of course Wellsy, although he faded. Boomer tried hard, and I thought Pratty was ok, although had his usual quota of brain explosions along the way. Campbell showed something. But there were many negatives - of our players who are senior quality, Shagga and CJ were terrible. And in the "not up to senior football" category: Sansbury, and Brown spring to mind.
I'm increasingly convinced that Laidley is at the heart of the problem with North, and that he should go sooner rather than later. If he's going to coach next year, he shouldn't stay for the rest of this year. There is a certain feel, much like at the end of Schimma's reign of error, to the club at the moment.
Now I don't want to harp on it, but look at his post match comments this evening: “That’s probably been the fallout from the three games – we didn’t take our opportunities ... It’s my job to keep the boys up. It’s been disappointing for everyone for the last three games because we’ve either been in it or had our chances … But there’s no good in patting us on the back for solid performances.”
Patting us on the back for solid performances? The only explanation for this is that Dean was watching the little league, who did indeed put in a solid performance. But otherwise... well it wasn't so much the loss, as the inexplicable game plan, and the incompetence, that was the problem. And I've never booed North before the way we did when they did that weird chipping the ball around thing, when ten points up before half time.
I could go on (is the club in a better position than when Laidley took over? why don't we appear to have a strategy to rebuild the list? why is everything, including our game plan, so reactive? why is there no feeling of excitement around the younger players? why are so many players, from Well down, not developing as we'd hope?). But I don't think I will tonight.
Speak soon,
Dan
12.4.07
Arch's arches?
Dear Dan
Just thought I would update you on some team news as this is, no doubt, your first source of information in relation to what remains of our football club.
And the news is the our Glenn (with two ns) is out of the team for your glorious rooturn. Apparently he has a foot injury and is "having scans." I am not sure what the scans are expected to reveal but one must know that it is a proper injury if it requires scanning to determine its severity. I imagine there will be some speculation that this injury is an scheme cooked up to cover an unthinkable omission. Ever since you cut Thommo down with a metaphoric scythe through the knee our Glenn had been playing forward ... but he played 5 minutes there in round 1 and was subsequently removed to the backline where he stayed. It's his last season - it's time for him to not have to worry about an opponent too much, and to kick a few goals for the fans.
The extended bench - I am glad there is an extra 24 hours for the team to be finalised - includes Riggio, Hansen, Trotter, Campbell, Gibson, Sansbury and Green. Josh Gibson would seem the likely replacement for Archer and may allow Firrito to play in the midfield. Riggio has been pretty good, Hansen is still finding his feet (and hands) and Trotter has not been that impressive. I don't think the inclusion of Sansbury or Green really makes us a better team unless there is a specific role for Green.
Disappointingly, the charmed life of Leigh "the Boggler" Brown continues - the only real explanation appears to be that the magnet has been permanently stuck to the whiteboard and no one wants to admit that they can't get it off. Imagine Donald McDonald including that in his high performance report. Urch and Grima are presumably being given another game at North Ballarat to make sure that they do their collective hamstrings at VFL, rather than AFL, level.
Perhaps, we can discuss the Brad Moran issue at another time?
I read during the week that a group of shareholders is having clandestine meetings to consider selling shares out to the AFL ... if this happens it can really only be a matter of time before we don't really have a club anymore. Somehow, it makes it harder to get excited about a game we have a reasonable chance of winning.
See you on Sunday,
Justin
Just thought I would update you on some team news as this is, no doubt, your first source of information in relation to what remains of our football club.
And the news is the our Glenn (with two ns) is out of the team for your glorious rooturn. Apparently he has a foot injury and is "having scans." I am not sure what the scans are expected to reveal but one must know that it is a proper injury if it requires scanning to determine its severity. I imagine there will be some speculation that this injury is an scheme cooked up to cover an unthinkable omission. Ever since you cut Thommo down with a metaphoric scythe through the knee our Glenn had been playing forward ... but he played 5 minutes there in round 1 and was subsequently removed to the backline where he stayed. It's his last season - it's time for him to not have to worry about an opponent too much, and to kick a few goals for the fans.
The extended bench - I am glad there is an extra 24 hours for the team to be finalised - includes Riggio, Hansen, Trotter, Campbell, Gibson, Sansbury and Green. Josh Gibson would seem the likely replacement for Archer and may allow Firrito to play in the midfield. Riggio has been pretty good, Hansen is still finding his feet (and hands) and Trotter has not been that impressive. I don't think the inclusion of Sansbury or Green really makes us a better team unless there is a specific role for Green.
Disappointingly, the charmed life of Leigh "the Boggler" Brown continues - the only real explanation appears to be that the magnet has been permanently stuck to the whiteboard and no one wants to admit that they can't get it off. Imagine Donald McDonald including that in his high performance report. Urch and Grima are presumably being given another game at North Ballarat to make sure that they do their collective hamstrings at VFL, rather than AFL, level.
Perhaps, we can discuss the Brad Moran issue at another time?
I read during the week that a group of shareholders is having clandestine meetings to consider selling shares out to the AFL ... if this happens it can really only be a matter of time before we don't really have a club anymore. Somehow, it makes it harder to get excited about a game we have a reasonable chance of winning.
See you on Sunday,
Justin
8.4.07
Dear Dan,
Well, I am not quite sure where you are now, or whether you managed to keep up with today's game. It was a bit of a nostalgic experience for me - listening to the game on the radio, except that it was on a Sunday and against a team from the SANFL. It is still a bit difficult to know exactly what to make of the result.
In the end we lost by three goals after twice getting close in the last quarter. Listening to the radio it seems as though there were a number of observations that can be made from our performance:
It feels a little like some previous North era that I can't quite put my finger on ... that things are just not quite falling into place, but when they do we will actually play some reasonably good football. It was also encouraging to see that Blake Grima and Callum Urch were in North Ballarat's better players on Saturday and that Urch kicked five goals from centre-half forward. I still think that he would be a good option in the forward line with Jones and Edwards.
It will certainly be good to have you back for our foray into the twilight next Sunday evening.
The off-season has certainly not been one that we would normally associate with the club but it does seem to have a certain farcical element that is very North Melbourne. The highlight of this being the inimitable Wayne Carey and his sparkling insight into his own contribution to the club. In confronting Laidley the other night our Wayne appeared to be - the only doubt is as to whether he could have really been stupid enough to believe this, and even this doubt is negligible - suggesting that his contribution to the club included the drafting of Daniel Wells. If only someone could fondle his brain and suggest he get a bigger one?
Until next time.
Justin
Well, I am not quite sure where you are now, or whether you managed to keep up with today's game. It was a bit of a nostalgic experience for me - listening to the game on the radio, except that it was on a Sunday and against a team from the SANFL. It is still a bit difficult to know exactly what to make of the result.
In the end we lost by three goals after twice getting close in the last quarter. Listening to the radio it seems as though there were a number of observations that can be made from our performance:
- We seemed to have good pressure in the backline but conceded 37 shots at goal, a number of marks in good scoring position and a couple of 50 metre penalties that were not only actually 50 metres but resulted in goals
- We finished the game strongly but appeared to go almost completely missing in the second and third quarters
- Wells seemed to start ok, but faded out of the game and did not have a very strong impact.
- Hamish played reasonably in the ruck, but our defensive pressure in the midfield was patchy and despite both Burgoynes getting plenty of the ball at and around stoppages there did not appear to be a move to play them in any way that was not extremely loose
- Corey Jones kicked all four of our second quarter goals but was barely sighted otherwise.
- Boomer was inspirational in the second half kicking four goals
- Aaron Edwards worked his way into the game taking a number of marks and finishing with one goal
- Leigh Brown and David Hale are not causing too much concern in opposition planning meetings
- Watt, Petrie and Firrito were good in the backline but Arch and Pratt were not so great, and Arch should really go back to the forward line so that at least someone there has a taken a contested mark in the past three years.
- In the last quarter we had five consecutive shots at goal for four points and one out of bounds on the full.
It feels a little like some previous North era that I can't quite put my finger on ... that things are just not quite falling into place, but when they do we will actually play some reasonably good football. It was also encouraging to see that Blake Grima and Callum Urch were in North Ballarat's better players on Saturday and that Urch kicked five goals from centre-half forward. I still think that he would be a good option in the forward line with Jones and Edwards.
It will certainly be good to have you back for our foray into the twilight next Sunday evening.
The off-season has certainly not been one that we would normally associate with the club but it does seem to have a certain farcical element that is very North Melbourne. The highlight of this being the inimitable Wayne Carey and his sparkling insight into his own contribution to the club. In confronting Laidley the other night our Wayne appeared to be - the only doubt is as to whether he could have really been stupid enough to believe this, and even this doubt is negligible - suggesting that his contribution to the club included the drafting of Daniel Wells. If only someone could fondle his brain and suggest he get a bigger one?
Until next time.
Justin
5.4.07
Not quite North Melbourne
Dear Justin,
Bear was my attempt at some kind of cyber-anonymity - but if you don't like it, well I'm happy to just go with your plain old name (if indeed it really is Justin...)
I see that we have included Green, Sansbury and Edwards in the extended bench for Sunday's game. The third, at least, is a good option, and it is indeed a slight mystery as to why he was left out last week - at least he can kick. As for the other two, I would be disappointed to see Trotter , Thomas, Hansen or Campbell miss out for either of them, but then again I didn't see last week's game.
The Carey-Laidley thing is one of many things this summer that has seemed not very North Melbourne. All the speculation about the Gold Coast and our future is fine - it wouldn't be summer if someone didn't say we should be merged / relocated / bought by someone else / go out of existence. In fact what was unusual was that it wasn't accompanied, like most years, by reports that we were behind in players wages.
But the spat between two former champion players, and the boardroom instability, were both very unlike North. I don't ever recall North tearing itself apart in either of these ways before - whereas teams like Carlton and Richmond seem to do it most years. And before you raise the Carey-Stevo incident, that was somehow different - it actually created the new exemplification of the shinboner spirit in Arch and Stevo.
The problem is, if course, that it will mean the pressure on Laidley will rise very quickly if we lose a few in a row. And we'll see more selections like Green and Sansbury. At least there's no Lance Picioane anymore.
And at least there was some sensible adjudication at the tribunal during the week.
Good luck on Sunday. I look forward to hearing about a glorious win, highlighted by 8 goals from midfield from Wells. Or failing that Simpson.
Dan
Bear was my attempt at some kind of cyber-anonymity - but if you don't like it, well I'm happy to just go with your plain old name (if indeed it really is Justin...)
I see that we have included Green, Sansbury and Edwards in the extended bench for Sunday's game. The third, at least, is a good option, and it is indeed a slight mystery as to why he was left out last week - at least he can kick. As for the other two, I would be disappointed to see Trotter , Thomas, Hansen or Campbell miss out for either of them, but then again I didn't see last week's game.
The Carey-Laidley thing is one of many things this summer that has seemed not very North Melbourne. All the speculation about the Gold Coast and our future is fine - it wouldn't be summer if someone didn't say we should be merged / relocated / bought by someone else / go out of existence. In fact what was unusual was that it wasn't accompanied, like most years, by reports that we were behind in players wages.
But the spat between two former champion players, and the boardroom instability, were both very unlike North. I don't ever recall North tearing itself apart in either of these ways before - whereas teams like Carlton and Richmond seem to do it most years. And before you raise the Carey-Stevo incident, that was somehow different - it actually created the new exemplification of the shinboner spirit in Arch and Stevo.
The problem is, if course, that it will mean the pressure on Laidley will rise very quickly if we lose a few in a row. And we'll see more selections like Green and Sansbury. At least there's no Lance Picioane anymore.
And at least there was some sensible adjudication at the tribunal during the week.
Good luck on Sunday. I look forward to hearing about a glorious win, highlighted by 8 goals from midfield from Wells. Or failing that Simpson.
Dan
2.4.07
some developments
hi dan,
i would really appreciate it if you refrained from the use of the term bear in our written communications. this title is something i have really been forced to tolerate on the football field (predominantly outdoor but i note your occasional use at the altona home of indoor football) and would rather that we just let this slide into the past ...
there is still a lingering feeling of disappointment from the weekend, but i guess it is all part of the post 90s experience of being a north supporter - it is certainly not as grim as 1984 or as frustrating as the early 90s ...
you will be disappointed to hear that our jessica has been rubbed out for a week for bumping whichever of the lonies plays for collingwood. i don't recall the incident but i don't like those lonies and, perhaps, as we play the abstract concept this weekend it was decided to prevent jess from collecting the lonie quinella. it should also be noted that jessica is looking big, blond and tanned, but the additional length in his locks gives him the appearance of a norse god - a loose, half-back flanker version of beowulf.
in other news that is likely to end only in something bad dean laidley is appearing on channel 9's new "footy confidential" show to face up to caroline wilson, wayne carey and others ... our wayne has had another dig at dean over the weekend - calling him arrogant and aloof and without friends amongst his premiership teammates. i know you are a sack laidley advocate but i just wonder about wayne and arrogance and just how he might have treated some of his former premiership teammates.
anyway, this viewing pleasure awaits a later time (courtesy of the vcr) and i will let you know whether it is mildly horrific, horrific or really horrific.
justin
i would really appreciate it if you refrained from the use of the term bear in our written communications. this title is something i have really been forced to tolerate on the football field (predominantly outdoor but i note your occasional use at the altona home of indoor football) and would rather that we just let this slide into the past ...
there is still a lingering feeling of disappointment from the weekend, but i guess it is all part of the post 90s experience of being a north supporter - it is certainly not as grim as 1984 or as frustrating as the early 90s ...
you will be disappointed to hear that our jessica has been rubbed out for a week for bumping whichever of the lonies plays for collingwood. i don't recall the incident but i don't like those lonies and, perhaps, as we play the abstract concept this weekend it was decided to prevent jess from collecting the lonie quinella. it should also be noted that jessica is looking big, blond and tanned, but the additional length in his locks gives him the appearance of a norse god - a loose, half-back flanker version of beowulf.
in other news that is likely to end only in something bad dean laidley is appearing on channel 9's new "footy confidential" show to face up to caroline wilson, wayne carey and others ... our wayne has had another dig at dean over the weekend - calling him arrogant and aloof and without friends amongst his premiership teammates. i know you are a sack laidley advocate but i just wonder about wayne and arrogance and just how he might have treated some of his former premiership teammates.
anyway, this viewing pleasure awaits a later time (courtesy of the vcr) and i will let you know whether it is mildly horrific, horrific or really horrific.
justin
1.4.07
Dear Bear,
In fact I was in Tagaytay, a lovely hilly town about three hours from Manila, on Saturday when the game was played. Well, lovely might be an overstatement, but it sure beats Manila - whose traffic system was apparently designed by the same guy as Adam Simpson's kicking style. Although arguably Simmo's kicking is more efficient than Manila traffic design.
I had harboured fantasies about watching the game on the Australian cable TV channel, as I did last time I was in the Philippines (in fact, we may well have been playing Collingwood then too) - but the slightly crappy resort-type place we are in has no cable TV.
Instead I relied on text messages from others, and at some point during the morning's proceedings at the workshop I was attending (people were making presentations about the terrible evictions of urban poor communities in Indonesia and India) I heard that we were up by 17 points. This was promising (the score, not the evictions) - although I noted that we seemed to have kicked a lot of points at that stage.
Later in the afternoon, the workshop moved on to the South African example, where there have been some fantastic cases won about evictions. My enthusiasm for this jurisprudence was rather tempered, though, when I got the message saying we had lost by three points, in a terrible game, and that Shagga had missed from point blank range in the dying minutes. Oh well - at least for the first time in three hours I was able to concentrate on the workshop properly.
At least it appears we played some good footy, and that we should have won the game. Really, in a season where we aren't expected to make the finals, aren't moral victories just as good? (answer: not against Collingwood - in fact, not at all). And in Thomas it appears we have unearthed another tragically inaccurate small forward.
Anyway, I'll be in Malaysia for next week's game. I think it's against Port - although I could be wrong - I really am taking it one week at a time. If it is Port, we are practically a statistical certainty to win. Not sure I'll catch the game (I have a feeling it's on Sunday, and we'll be en route to a small island) - so I'll have to rely on your report again.
Hoping for some sensible umpiring next week (especially in the quantification of 50-metre penalties)...
Dan
In fact I was in Tagaytay, a lovely hilly town about three hours from Manila, on Saturday when the game was played. Well, lovely might be an overstatement, but it sure beats Manila - whose traffic system was apparently designed by the same guy as Adam Simpson's kicking style. Although arguably Simmo's kicking is more efficient than Manila traffic design.
I had harboured fantasies about watching the game on the Australian cable TV channel, as I did last time I was in the Philippines (in fact, we may well have been playing Collingwood then too) - but the slightly crappy resort-type place we are in has no cable TV.
Instead I relied on text messages from others, and at some point during the morning's proceedings at the workshop I was attending (people were making presentations about the terrible evictions of urban poor communities in Indonesia and India) I heard that we were up by 17 points. This was promising (the score, not the evictions) - although I noted that we seemed to have kicked a lot of points at that stage.
Later in the afternoon, the workshop moved on to the South African example, where there have been some fantastic cases won about evictions. My enthusiasm for this jurisprudence was rather tempered, though, when I got the message saying we had lost by three points, in a terrible game, and that Shagga had missed from point blank range in the dying minutes. Oh well - at least for the first time in three hours I was able to concentrate on the workshop properly.
At least it appears we played some good footy, and that we should have won the game. Really, in a season where we aren't expected to make the finals, aren't moral victories just as good? (answer: not against Collingwood - in fact, not at all). And in Thomas it appears we have unearthed another tragically inaccurate small forward.
Anyway, I'll be in Malaysia for next week's game. I think it's against Port - although I could be wrong - I really am taking it one week at a time. If it is Port, we are practically a statistical certainty to win. Not sure I'll catch the game (I have a feeling it's on Sunday, and we'll be en route to a small island) - so I'll have to rely on your report again.
Hoping for some sensible umpiring next week (especially in the quantification of 50-metre penalties)...
Dan
a certain sense of deja vu ...
Dear Dan,
In some ways being in Manila was probably an advantage for you.
In the first instance it spared you the embarrassment of your parents discovering your responsibility for Nathan Thompson's season ending knee injury. Secondly, you managed to avoid the desperate disappointment of losing to Collingwood in a game that should have been well and truly over by three quarter time.
Yet again we were witness to a display of woeful inaccuracy - it did not have the same sinking feeling of 2.11 in the second quarter of the 98 grand final - that leads to the sense of inevitability that north seems to have. For three quarters we were doing pretty well. Hamish was starring in the ruck and around the ground, simmo was unstoppable and most of his disposal seemed to be pretty good (except for the two flying shots at goal in the second quarter, neither of which ended up as drop punts, and combined for a total of one point), boomer was working hard and the backline was working well.
Spud got to play on Travis Cloke who really appears to have very little idea and drew was good on the lesser of the roccas. Riggio played in defence all day and played quite well.
Despite controlling the play and putting on great pressure all over the ground we just couldn't kick enough goals - lindsay thomas had five points for the day and hale, swallow, harris and others missed set shots that should have been goals.
When three quarter time rolled around 8.15 should have been 15.8 and the lead should have been 10 goals not 4. Collingwood goaled early in the last, but shagga scored from the next centre clearance. Still they came back and back and the ball seemed not to spend much time in our forward line. The level of pressure dropped off and a bit of inexperience set in. By the 25 minute mark we were 5 points behind. At this point shagga marked 40 metres out from goal - heath shaw hung on for too long and a 50 metre penalty was awarded ... yet somehow the mark was set about 12 metres out from goal on a slight angle ... as shagga skipped it seemed that the certain goal would, at least momentarily, put us back in front, but the slow spinning drop punt hit the post twenty metres from us - it was not quite the same as being behind the geelong goals in the last quarter of the 1994 preliminary final, but by now the game was gone ...
in a game we should have won there were some other concerns ...
despite swimming in your goggles in the lead up to the game wells was quiet and appeared to be avoiding contests.
archer was very quiet and shifted back after abusing an umpire early in the second quarter
corey jones has an unhappy knack of fumbling at crucial times
daniel harris was very very quiet
whilst there was a reduction in the amount of happy handball we saw earlier there is still a degree of "unpredictability" in this regard
overall, it was extremely disappointing to lose a game we should have won - admittedly against a team that really looked pretty bad - but at least we showed that there might be some good moments for the year.
Here's hoping you haven't been drugged, bound and robbed.
There was some good footy north.
Justin
In some ways being in Manila was probably an advantage for you.
In the first instance it spared you the embarrassment of your parents discovering your responsibility for Nathan Thompson's season ending knee injury. Secondly, you managed to avoid the desperate disappointment of losing to Collingwood in a game that should have been well and truly over by three quarter time.
Yet again we were witness to a display of woeful inaccuracy - it did not have the same sinking feeling of 2.11 in the second quarter of the 98 grand final - that leads to the sense of inevitability that north seems to have. For three quarters we were doing pretty well. Hamish was starring in the ruck and around the ground, simmo was unstoppable and most of his disposal seemed to be pretty good (except for the two flying shots at goal in the second quarter, neither of which ended up as drop punts, and combined for a total of one point), boomer was working hard and the backline was working well.
Spud got to play on Travis Cloke who really appears to have very little idea and drew was good on the lesser of the roccas. Riggio played in defence all day and played quite well.
Despite controlling the play and putting on great pressure all over the ground we just couldn't kick enough goals - lindsay thomas had five points for the day and hale, swallow, harris and others missed set shots that should have been goals.
When three quarter time rolled around 8.15 should have been 15.8 and the lead should have been 10 goals not 4. Collingwood goaled early in the last, but shagga scored from the next centre clearance. Still they came back and back and the ball seemed not to spend much time in our forward line. The level of pressure dropped off and a bit of inexperience set in. By the 25 minute mark we were 5 points behind. At this point shagga marked 40 metres out from goal - heath shaw hung on for too long and a 50 metre penalty was awarded ... yet somehow the mark was set about 12 metres out from goal on a slight angle ... as shagga skipped it seemed that the certain goal would, at least momentarily, put us back in front, but the slow spinning drop punt hit the post twenty metres from us - it was not quite the same as being behind the geelong goals in the last quarter of the 1994 preliminary final, but by now the game was gone ...
in a game we should have won there were some other concerns ...
despite swimming in your goggles in the lead up to the game wells was quiet and appeared to be avoiding contests.
archer was very quiet and shifted back after abusing an umpire early in the second quarter
corey jones has an unhappy knack of fumbling at crucial times
daniel harris was very very quiet
whilst there was a reduction in the amount of happy handball we saw earlier there is still a degree of "unpredictability" in this regard
overall, it was extremely disappointing to lose a game we should have won - admittedly against a team that really looked pretty bad - but at least we showed that there might be some good moments for the year.
Here's hoping you haven't been drugged, bound and robbed.
There was some good footy north.
Justin
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