Preview R3: Changes vs. North Melbourne

[CharlieCrow]

No point playing him in this week’s dead rubber.

Steady

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Darling is the middling key forward. If you think Larkey is Norths second key forward, I have a bridge to sell to you.

I'm not worried about Darling (who is?) & selecting the bigger Butts for the bigger forward Larkey as I said in several posts.

Butts is much better on the bigger forwards than Murray or Keane.

As I said, horses for courses.

 

[Crow till I die]

27K views · 223 reactions | Crows. | Are the Crows a shock contender for the flag? Their 2-0 start has been electric. | By SEN 1116 | Facebook

Are the Crows a shock contender for the flag? Their 2-0 start has been electric.

www.facebook.com

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Not particularly but it didnt help

Laird last year looked disinterested in doing the teams things. The half efforts - thats what most people hated last year

Yep he deserved to be unpopular last year in same way he deserves to be respected re his 2 games this season

 

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

How the heck have people on this board gone from “Sack Nicks” to “Let’s pick who we’re going to rest this week or sub off early as this game is basically a bye”?

I swear some posters seem to swing their opinion more than a new pink ball in the night session of the Adelaide Oval test match.

We’re 2 games into the season.

 

[FR0GGY]

How the heck have people on this board gone from “Sack Nicks” to “Let’s pick who we’re going to rest this week or sub off early as this game is basically a bye”?

I swear some posters seem to swing their opinion more than a new pink ball in the night session of the Adelaide Oval test match.

We’re 2 games into the season.

Are they the same people?

 

[George CantStandYa]

David King says we're a contender for the flag.

F*ck. No chance now.

Has he had coffee with Nicks again?

 

[1970crow]

In theory Burns like last year, but the key difference is our overall game plan, back to quick movement.

Can't underrate how important Tex's on field leadership is on positioning & now ANB helping too. Love how Tex regularly walks up to the likes of Curtin to offer advice.

This is an interesting view, Tex directing the forward line has been a constant for at least a decade. How is it that he’s only now directing players to better positioning?

 

[1970crow]

Thats not what they said pre season

They also said “quality over quantity” last year and he played clearly hampered by a back for a fair chunk of the year. Saying and doing are totally different things when there’s pressure involved. Last year it started as finals expectations and then was to just notch some wins and get out of the bottom few. This year it’s finals and 300 games.

 

[1970crow]

How the heck have people on this board gone from “Sack Nicks” to “Let’s pick who we’re going to rest this week or sub off early as this game is basically a bye”?

I swear some posters seem to swing their opinion more than a new pink ball in the night session of the Adelaide Oval test match.

We’re 2 games into the season.

If you’re not going to use a game against a bottom 5 side at home to give your best player’s niggling hip a chance to recover, when will you? And that’s the only player being discussed in terms of ‘resting’ this week.

 

[Shifty Crow]

In theory Burns like last year, but the key difference is our overall game plan, back to quick movement.

Can't underrate how important Tex's on field leadership is on positioning & now ANB helping too. Love how Tex regularly walks up to the likes of Curtin to offer advice.

What can’t be underestimated is the growth of Fog as a player and as a leader

This has removed the reliance and pressure on Tex who can now play as a third tall


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[Shifty Crow]

I prefer Murray on Darling & Butts on Larkey.

Larkey too smart for Butts

I would go for a player like Murray who will play brutal footy against Larkey


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[FullyBigKPro]

At least with Norf winning last week, we shouldn't get ambushed this week

No changes - But want Sid to get a full game and either one of Peatling, Cumming or Sholl to be sub.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

This is an interesting view, Tex directing the forward line has been a constant for at least a decade. How is it that he’s only now directing players to better positioning?

As I mentioned in my previous post, there are 2 factors at play imo.

It's much easier to get the separation if there is a quick game plan that honours players on the move. More likely to be one on ones with quicker ball movement, as we also saw on 2023.

Experience is the other factor as the likes of Fog, Thilthorpe, Rachele & Keays have now played a decent number of games together, so they know how each other plays & to get separation. Combine with adding ANB with Tex & there is experienced leadership to let the likes of Curtin know how to play his role.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

If you’re not going to use a game against a bottom 5 side at home to give your best player’s niggling hip a chance to recover, when will you? And that’s the only player being discussed in terms of ‘resting’ this week.

The big difference we have already seen in the use of the sub is player management.

Tex was puffing at stages in round 1, sub.

Rankine has a slight sore hip against the Dons, sub.

May this continue & also not risk players for games where too injured.

We have some depth to enable us to manage players loads & niggles.

 

[craig crowing]

The commentary from interstate has been how impressed with our forward entries they are and how our forwards are almost never getting in the way of each other - that tells me we are structured up very well when we see the ball being won up the ground

No need of guessing why the forward structure and entry has improved dramatically it is our coach chief Davis .
Apart from a fit RT and development of Rash And Soligo etc etc our best import this year is this man.
Just wish one day replace nude nut one day.

 

[FR0GGY]

They won't but I would.

Horses for courses as improves our matchups imo.

Keane back when we don't have the monster tall forward to worry about

I reckon Murray is perfect for Larkey and Keane can go to Darling.

 

[1970crow]

Keays is now where he can do optimum damage, a gut running hard tackling goal kicking flanker / forward pocket. That goal he sharked off the contest and burned off his man running into goal on the weekend should be pinned to his thread title as thats exactly what he can do up forward. A defensive goalkicking forward

"A defensive goalkicking forward". This is an urban myth, Keays kicked 4 on Saad in one game and held Saad to about his second most disposals for the entire season and because Keays had a blinder, posters mistakenly added into it that he controlled Saad as well. He didn't In terms of Keays defence, among 89 general forwards he is;

Equal 55th-65th for tackles - so on average behind 3 tacklers per side (our 3rd behind ANB and Curtin)
Equal last for tackles inside 50 - hasn't clocked one yet (our last behind ANB, Curtin & Rachele)
Equal 37th-40th for pressure acts - so on average behind 2 per side (our 3rd behind ANB & Rachele and 2 in front of Curtin)

He's high on attacking aspects but low on defensive aspects, I'm not sure why there is a need to perpetuate the myth, he's a fine enough performer at what he actually does that we don't need to make up things that he doesn't.

 

[Captain Furious]

Larkey too smart for Butts

I would go for a player like Murray who will play brutal footy against Larkey


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Larkey's biggest haul against Butts is 3. Has twice kept him to 1 goal and once goalless. Whatever you think about Butts as a player, as a defender no one gets away from him.

 

[Greenfinger]

The big difference we have already seen in the use of the sub is player management.

Tex was puffing at stages in round 1, sub.

Rankine has a slight sore hip against the Dons, sub.

May this continue & also not risk players for games where too injured.

We have some depth to enable us to manage players loads & niggles.

100% agree and is very obviously a stark difference to last year .
The premiership coaching experience that we have brought in has led to more thoughtful decision making. Feels less like Nicks pug headed approach in previous seasons

 

[Tapiola]

Another 10 goal win coming up! As long as we don't get too ahead of ourselves.

I'd think we don't change anything... again.

Would be nice to get Nank into the side.

10 goal win? Speaking of getting ahead of ourselves .... North looked impressive against Melbourne. Tough game coming up.

 

[GreyCrow]

How the heck have people on this board gone from “Sack Nicks” to “Let’s pick who we’re going to rest this week or sub off early as this game is basically a bye”?

I swear some posters seem to swing their opinion more than a new pink ball in the night session of the Adelaide Oval test match.

We’re 2 games into the season.

I dont understand this post

1. One doesnt mean the other cant be right
2. Not sure discussing the sub means we all love Nicks

 

[jimvic]

How the heck have people on this board gone from “Sack Nicks” to “Let’s pick who we’re going to rest this week or sub off early as this game is basically a bye”?

I swear some posters seem to swing their opinion more than a new pink ball in the night session of the Adelaide Oval test match.

We’re 2 games into the season.

going into Poort mode

 

[jimvic]

Larkey's biggest haul against Butts is 3. Has twice kept him to 1 goal and once goalless. Whatever you think about Butts as a player, as a defender no one gets away from him.

I reckon Butts in for Keane. Butts to take the least mobile of Larkey or Darling

 

[119others]

"A defensive goalkicking forward". This is an urban myth, Keays kicked 4 on Saad in one game and held Saad to about his second most disposals for the entire season and because Keays had a blinder, posters mistakenly added into it that he controlled Saad as well. He didn't In terms of Keays defence, among 89 general forwards he is;

wondering if you have these stats slightly wrong re Saad as I remember that game clearly and thought Saad was really quiet so just checked.

Assuming you mean the Gather round game vs Blues in 2023 (round 5), Keays kicked 3 and kept Saad to 17 possessions. In the 6 games either side of his Keays game he got 23-29 possessions in each game and was in a rich vein of form. He averaged over 20 for the year.

Not disagreeing with your overall thesis by the way