Bean Dailey Takes Charge: Season 2008

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Danger in Texas said:
Logger I feel like a Werewolf that has died posting in here (only SFAers will get that ;) ) but great effort nonetheless. In fact you have given me inspiration...
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I don't even know what you're talking about.

Have been pretty busy lately but should hopefully get back on this shortly.
 
Logger said:
I don't even know what you're talking about.

Have been pretty busy lately but should hopefully get back on this shortly.
Click to expand...
You weren't in a Werewolf game, weren't you? Don't worry then... ;)

Like I said, magnificent effort, and now you have given me inspiration...
 
Laidley Looking to Next Week Already
By Trent Chang
laidley.jpg
Dean Laidley at Carrara during the Kangaroo's training today. Photo:Costanzo St.Sebastian​
Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley says he is so confident of a win this week he already has half an eye on North Melbourne’s encounter with Collingwood next week.

Ahead of Saturday’s clash with Melbourne on the Gold Coast, Laidley said he was “looking forward to facing the Pies with a win under our belt,” and that he “had full faith that the boys can get the job done this week and face Collingwood on level ground on Saturday [night]”

Laidley downplayed his side’s terrible start to the season, crashing to the Bombers, Tigers and Hawks in the first three rounds, insisting that the heavy pre-season that they endured was designed to have them peaking at the business end of the season. “We really felt that we could have won the Premiership last year with a little more run in our legs at the end of the season, so we made sure that we really targeted the end of the season and we had a longer and later preseason to normal. We haven’t been happy with the performances so far, but we’re confident that we’ll be able to turn it around this week.”

Vice-captain Brent Harvey reiterated his team’s confidence after North Melbourne’s training session on the Gold Coast, stating “We know we’re better than a lot of teams that are above us on the ladder at the moment, and Melbourne are one of those teams.”

Harvey, who leads the league in kicks, handballs, marks and is second in the league for clearances, said he had been disappointed by the lack of support he had received from teammates but was sure they would start to pick up the slack against the Demons and be in full flight come next Saturday night’s big game against Collingwood. “It’s always easy to get up for a game like that and I think with the way the boys are training we should have a really good game this Saturday and be raring to go by the time we take on the Pies.”

North completed their training on the Carrara turf in what could be one of their last trips to the venue, after James Brayshaw’s “white knights” ticket succeeded in defeating the previous board and pledging to stay at Arden Street in the face of massive pressure from the AFL Commission to re-locate to the Gold Coast.
 

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Preview: Round 4

Friday, April 11
Bombers vs Bulldogs (Telstra Dome): Sure, they’re currently averaging less than two goals in the last quarter, but the Doggies have managed to scrape through for three wins against both decent and despicable teams. They come up against a Bombers outfit who have boomed against two poor opponents and been busted wide open by a very good one. Matthew Knights will be hoping the Dons show they aren’t just flat-track bullies, Rodney Eade needs to show his team are the real deal.

Saturday, April 12
Saints vs Cats (Telstra Dome): At the start of the season there were a few pundits tipping this could be the Grand Final match-up. Those poor journos must be feeling like one out of two ain’t bad. Geelong are sweeping all before them in a formidable start to their first Premiership defence in 44 years. The Saints have crashed and burned twice and snuck home against the Blues. This was not the way it was supposed to be for Ross Lyon’s troupe of hardened warriors, unburdened by injury and ready to finally show what they are made of. An upset here could put them back on track.

Kangaroos vs Demons (Carrara Stadium): The Demons have shown more than a bit of pluck under Bean Dailey and are the only team to really worry the Cats so far last week. The Roos have been appalling, there is no other way to describe it. Most would have expected the roles to be reversed, and there is little doubt that North will seek to start putting things right this week, if the comments coming out of Arden Street are anything to go by.

Swans vs Eagles (Telstra Stadium): In their last 7 games, these two teams have played games decided by 4, 4, 2, 1, 1, 1 and 12 points respectively. One of the great modern rivalries will have a new chapter written as the top of the ladder Swans take on the third placed Eagles. Fanatical defence has been the cornerstone of Sydney’s success this year, coupled with an inconsistent but occasionally devastating ability to pile on scoreboard pressure. The Eagles are throwing their considerable weight around and so far the big, bad, pack-busting style has worked, leaving a considerable injury toll in its wake.

Power vs Lions (AAMI Stadium): There was speculation in the aftermath of Port Adelaide’s very public Grand Final emasculation that the loss would lead to some serious mental trauma. It’s clear that’s not the case, instead everyone involved seems to have had a frontal lobotomy, rear lobotomy, and both sides lobotomised, resulting the whole team playing like shuffling zombies. The Lions haven’t fared much better in the wins column, but have pushed each and every opponent to the physical brink. At least one of these sides will break their duck this week.

Sunday, April 13
Hawks vs Crows (York Park): The Hawks were hapless against Melbourne, hopeless against Freo and scraped a win off the back of some poor kicking for goal by North. As for Adelaide, well they were hapless against the Bulldogs, hopeless against the Eagles and scraped a win off the back of some poor kicking for goal in the Showdown. Neither side has delivered on their promise for their fans so far this season. It’s now time to step up.

Blues vs Magpies (MCG): It is disappointing this is the only fixture at the MCG this week, What with York Park, Telstra Stadium and Carrera all getting a run, this could be labelled “Aren’t The Farmers Doing It Tough At The Moment Round.” Oh, the game? It’s the Pies against the Blues at the 'G. What else do you need to know?

Dockers vs Tigers (Subiaco): The Tiger Army is up and about! Terry Wallace is a genius! Richmond are a changed team! Flag favourites for sure! That’s what an undefeated Richmond would have you believe, just 3 games into the season. By contrast, a new coach has done nothing to change Freo’s ability to look like kings one week and dunces the next. Which Dockers outfit shows up this week will likely determine the outcome of this one.

What we’re looking forward to:
  • Swans and Eagles, Maggies and Blues, Port and Brisbane. There’s some history in them-thar’ games.
  • Dean Laidley and Brent Harvey have thrown some bait in the water against the Demons. Let’s see if they get a nice little catch or if the surprisingly gutsy Demons make them wonder if they don’t need a new boat.


What we’re not looking forward to:
  • The AFL have decided to schedule all three boutique stadiums on at once, plus the dodgy Telstra Stadium and the still NQR Telstra Dome. If there was a week to have a spate of knee injuries, it would be this one. At least that’d mean us journo’s don’t have to travel to some hole like York Park.
  • The first reports about "coaches under pressure" emerging if a few clubs lose again this week. Those damn articles just keep getting written earlier and earlier every year!
 
Still thoroughly enjoying this Logger. We were gallant in defeat to a strong Cats outfit, so no disgrace there. Big chance to notch up another win against Norf. Votes from last game:

3 - Frawley
2 - White
1 - McDonald
 
Last week's team:
Code: 
FB: Garland - Frawley - Bell
HB: Morton - Rivers - Bruce
C: McLean - Moloney - Jones
HF: Sylvia- Holland - Yze
FF: Maric - Neitz - Robertson
R: White - McDonald - Green
Int: Martin - Dunn - Wheatley - Petterd


As far as outs go, Dunn gave us nothing with limited game time, Moloney didn't offer a lot in his first game for the season, Dan Bell has done nothing to write home about in three rounds, while our forward line really looks shaky. Robbo, Neitz and Holland aren't taking enough marks or kicking enough goals, but with Bate and Miller out, we really only have Newton or PJ to bring in as genuine targets. Another option would be to play Green and Bruce forward and bring back Davey as well.

At Sandringham Jamar and PJ were dominant in the ruck, Chris Johnson was very good down back, and Newton kicked 4.5 in blustery conditions (to make a total haul of 11.9 in three games) in a win over Port Melbourne. But it was Simon Buckley who starred with 33 possessions, 6 clearances, 7 tackles and a goal from the midfield.

As a starting point for this game, how about:
Code: 
FB: Garland - Frawley - C.Johnson
HB: Morton - Rivers - Buckley
C: McLean - Moloney - Green
HF: Sylvia - Newton - Bruce
FF: Maric - Neitz - Petterd
R: White - McDonald - Jones
Int: Martin - Yze - Wheatley - Robertson
IN: Buckley, C.Johnson, Newton
OUT: Dunn, Bell, Holland

Emergencies (i.e. arguably worth a shot this week) Davey, PJ, Bartram
On Warning (i.e. definitely gone next week if they don't improve) Moloney, Robertson.
 
lanky_wes said:
Can I suggest switching petterd to the back line to replace Morton, and bring yze into the forward pocket. Morton to start from the bench.
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Really? Morton is by far our leading possession getter. Sure he butchers it a little bit but it's not a bad effort for a guy playing his first 3 games of AFL-level football. Petterd was also excellent off half-forward last game.

But if others agree, then I shall make the move.
 
Davey needs another week at Casey.

I'm worried about having Juice and Robbo in the same team, can see them both flying for a mark at the same time and getting injured. Would like to send a message to Robbo - to focus more on training and the team, and less on trying to win some stupid Channel 7 karaoke competition and trying to get into the pants of a certain big-titted 80's pop singer. But there's really nobody knocking down the door to take his spot.
I would consider keeping Holland in at CHF (but on notice), drop Robbo until he gets his priorities straight and Newton on the bench.
 
Yeah, I like that team Logger - think that Davey should be considered for a forward pocket role over Maric.

What about Bartram?

What's he doing.
 
ThePuppetMaster said:
Yeah, I like that team Logger - think that Davey should be considered for a forward pocket role over Maric.

What about Bartram?

What's he doing.
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Maric hasn't had much of it but when he gets it stuff happens. Davey has just been anonymous.

Bartram has had 2 good weeks and one stinker at Sandy, playing mostly in defence.
 
I'd be happy to bring in Barty instead of CJ as well, tougher competitor - we've already got one shirker in Morton in the back half!
 

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Logger said:
Really? Morton is by far our leading possession getter. Sure he butchers it a little bit but it's not a bad effort for a guy playing his first 3 games of AFL-level football. Petterd was also excellent off half-forward last game.

But if others agree, then I shall make the move.
Click to expand...
Personally I just reckon Petterd would give us a bit more courage down back. Would think about starting Morton on the wing as I reckon that's his most suited position, in place of McLean who I reckon is to slow for the wing. Just personal opinion though.
 
Code: 
FB: Garland - Frawley - Bartram
HB: Wheatley - Rivers - Buckley
C: Morton- McLean- Green
HF: Sylvia - Newton - Bruce
FF: Holland- Neitz - Petterd
R: White - McDonald - Jones
Int: Martin - Yze - Moloney - Maric
IN: Buckley, Bartram, Newton
OUT: Dunn, Bell, Robertson

Emergencies: Davey, PJ, C.Johnson
On Warning: Moloney, Holland

Any disagreements?
 
Logger said:
Code: 
FB: Garland - Frawley - Bartram
HB: Wheatley - Rivers - Buckley
C: Morton- McLean- Green
HF: Sylvia - Newton - Bruce
FF: Holland- Neitz - Petterd
R: White - McDonald - Jones
Int: Martin - Yze - Moloney - Maric
IN: Buckley, Bartram, Newton
OUT: Dunn, Bell, Robertson

Emergencies: Davey, PJ, C.Johnson
On Warning: Moloney, Holland

Any disagreements?
Click to expand...
Looks pretty good to me
 
Harding 5 Handy as Roos Scrape Home
By Melanie Cartwright

Kangaroos: 1.1 2.4 4.7 10.13.73
Demons: 3.3 6.7 7.13 9.14.68

The Demons have let slip the perfect opportunity to record its first win at Carrara Stadium since 1990 when a 37 point three quarter time lead was demolished almost single-handedly by a rampant Leigh Harding. The Demons had dominated almost the entire game, but slightly concerning fade outs at the end of each quarter turned into total panic at the start of the last quarter as a mix of old and young legs refused to work quickly enough to cope with North Melbourne’s run.

The game had started amidst heavy rain in front of a small but vocal crowd and the conditions took a toll on the spectacle, with most of the first half spent in scrappy, end to end football without score. Despite the ball spending a fair amount of time close to either goalmouth, neither team was able to get out of the blocks until Cam Bruce kicked a brace of behinds. A lucky free kick to Colin Sylvia 20m out directly in front saw the Demons notch up the first goal of the game shortly thereafter, but the North defenders were otherwise untroubled in clearing the many Melbourne inside fifties as the Demons’ midfield began to get on top in the middle. The crowd for the most part couldn’t make up their mind whether to support the nominally home side or barrack against them for turning their backs on the Gold Coast over the off-season, but they were united in their disapproval of the umpires when they gifted Melbourne another goal through Ben Holland.

The game remained a scrubby affair with poor skills combining with the rain to make for a cacophony of clangers, but for the most part it was played out in Melbourne’s half. The umpires tried to even up the ledger by awarding some baffling frees to Michael Firrito and Daniel Pratt, but no one could do anything to stop a superb Addam Maric snap from a ball up from sailing through the goals to put Melbourne up by 21 points. Indeed, it took until the 23 minute mark before North could score at all, and came from a Jared Rivers shank right in front of the Roos’ goal. From that point on the ball barely budged from North’s attacking 50, and were it not for two goal-saving marks by Ben Holland the Demons would have gone into the first break significantly closer than their 14 point lead turned out to be. They could thank their midfield for that gap, with Bruce, Jones and Green particularly influential, but at either end of the ground it was a dourer affair, with youngsters Bartram and Petterd both contributing in the back- and forward-line respectively.

During the quarter-time break, the rain eased up, although showers would continue throughout the rest of the match. The quality of play didn’t improve, however, and it took another five minutes before the scores were added to. Maric speared a 35m pass right into Michael Newtons hands directly in front of the goals and the rangy forward didn’t disappoint. From the centre bounce Nathan Jones hoofed it forward to a pack that David Neitz obliged in crashing heavily, leaving Bruce the lone skittle standing, and he duly kicked a goal. But it was immediately cancelled by North Melbourne as the arrested the dangerous slide by getting one back. Melbourne’s young defenders were shuffled to allow promising full back James Frawley to move onto Shannon Grant, the man who looked most dangerous around goals as the Demons sought to regain momentum in the next phase of the game. They did so with more than a little help from Ricky Petterd, who spotted up Newton. “Juice” missed the setshot but from the kick in Captain Neitz again broke open a pack, leaving Holland free to mark and boot his second. From there, though, North shut the game down and waited for half time.

When the siren went, the crowd had clearly made up their minds as to whether they were supporting North Melbourne or not, booing them loudly as they trudged into the rooms 5 goals arrears. Promising players Jones, Frawley and draftee Cale Morton were all upstanding in the second quarter, while Roos coach Dean Laidley looked like he needed a warm drink and a lie down as he confronted his players.

Whatever it was he said to them, it worked, as Corey Jones got on the end of a lightning quick passage of play to kick a goal just 8 seconds in to the second half. North threatened to come roaring back into the game, but Stefan Martin, in just his second game of AFL, stood up to be counted. Quiet up until this point, Martin cut off three dangerous North Melbourne attacks and hit the post with a shot on goal of his own in the space of 3 minutes, coming alive when his team needed him most.

North’s momentum was halted when the game stopped after a nasty head clash between Colin Garland and Jeff White in a marking contest in their defensive 50. Garland ran headlong backwards to take a mark but collided heavily with White who had received a push out from David Hale. White appeared to have broken his nose and was helped from the ground bleeding heavily, while Garland was stretchered off unconscious and rushed immediately to Gold Coast Hospital.

Melbourne regained control of the contest but were unable to capitalise, missing four gettable chances on goal, before North made the most of Melbourne’s inaccuracy, kicking a goal despite the ball barely leaving Melbourne’s attacking 50. Ricky Petterd was everywhere and finally got sick of setting up his teammates only for them to let him down, kicking one of his own with 5 minutes to go. But from there Melbourne lost their dominance, and their players, young and old, tired appreciably. Now it was North Melbourne’s turn to control the play, but they too were unable to convert possession into score.

Melbourne entered the last quarter with just two men on the bench as White continued to have his nose treated and Garland was undergoing scans revealing he had avoided serious injury, though he was heavily concussed. The handicap had immediate results, with Leigh Harding hunting down a speculative Brent Harvey hoof from the centre bounce and snapping truly. Maric again set up Newton to get his second in a carbon copy of his first but Harding responded again little more than 30 seconds later. Clint Bartram, who had gathered a fair amount of the ball himself, had still managed to have five of North Melbourne’s seven goals kicked by his direct opponent and James Frawley was moved on to Harding. But this did little to stem the tide as Harding kicked his third in 2 minutes to bring North within a straight kick, and would have had a fourth if not for a desperate, sprawling dive from Bartram on the goal line.

By this point the game was played solely in North’s half of the ground as Melbourne’s previously dominant midfield looked dead on their feet. Coach Bean Dailey tried to shake things up by throwing Neitz, Petterd and Green onto the ball but it had little effect. Instead, Neitz was twice pinged harshly by the umpires, gifting Lachlan Hansen two shots on goal, both of which he missed. The Demons began to kick long in hope, unable to run and carry, and it paid off for Cameron Bruce, who managed to get on the end of one such passage. Alas for Melbourne supporters, it bounced awry and into the hands of Firrito, who passed to Harvey, who ran the length of the centre square and passed it lace out to Corey Jones, directly in front of the goals and 15 metres out, but the pressure was too much for him and it barely scraped in for a point.

The Demons couldn’t force the ball out of their defensive 50 and when Harding set up Harvey (for another shanked behind) Dailey moved Frawley off him and James McDonald on to him in an attempt to tag the man most likely to win the game out of it. The tactic worked and Melbourne found the going easier, but with just two minutes on the clock, not a single jolt of energy left, 2 spots on their bench and 5 points behind, they needed everything to fall in their favour. Ricky Petterd picked Brent Harvey’s pocket and passed to Adem Yze, who speared a kick to Simon Buckley, who punted in an agricultural fashion in the general direction of Michael Newton… who flew… and marked... and twisted in mid-air… and hit the ground running… and set sail for home… and fell just 20cms short, right into the outstretched arms of Lindsey Thomas. North Melbourne went coast-to-coast and Corey Jones kicked the match-winner he had missed earlier, but there was fight yet in the Dees. A quick break from the centre bounce saw Michael Newton take his second Hahn Super Dry Mark of the Year contender and kick his third with 20 seconds left on the clock. The Kangaroos put every player around the centre bounce and fought out those twenty seconds to the delight of the now firmly North-supporting crowd, and when the siren sounded, the Demons fell to the muddy ground as if they’d lost a Grand Final.

The Moment: Leigh Harding had contributed 21 fairly innocuous touches to North Melbourne’s cause in the first three quarters, but when he bowled over a hesitant Cale Morton, grabbed the bouncing ball, dodged a grasping James Frawley and outran his direct opponent Clint Bartram in a matter of seconds to boot home his first goal, you felt that perhaps the whole ballgame was about to change.

The Number: 1 minute 56 seconds. The amount of time it took Leigh Harding to undo most of the last 83 minutes worth of work that the entire Melbourne team had done with three goals.

The Wash Up: North finally have a win (just like they promised us they would) and go into the game against the Magpies with a glimmer of hope. Melbourne showed the same guts and fight that they have so far this season, and the same inability to go with good teams when they can’t drag them down to their level and beat them with experience. There’s no doubt that they are fighters, but there is real doubt this team can make any real headway in the short term.

The Stats:








The Votes: Please give your 3,2,1's!
 
Wow... and I thought 2013 couldn't get worse until we cough up a 37 point three quarter time lead against Norf where Leigh Harding kicks 5, ha ha! Vintage Melbourne right there.

3 - Bruce
2 - Petterd
1 - Juice!!!
 
CowboyFromHell said:
Wow... and I thought 2013 couldn't get worse until we cough up a 37 point three quarter time lead against Norf where Leigh Harding kicks 5, ha ha! Vintage Melbourne right there.

3 - Bruce
2 - Petterd
1 - Juice!!!
Click to expand...
I *headdesk*d for about 10 minutes after the game finished. NOTHING I did in the last seemed to work.

EDIT: with the fancy schmancy new rating system, I'll count "agrees" for posts with votes in them as if the same votes were posted again... If that makes any sense.
 
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