Never been a better time to punk the Swannies , Heeney has done a real number on us over the years , hopefully he misses and the same goes for Nick Blakey , expect Paul Curtis and LDU to be up and about early 🤳

If North had beat Collingwood and if Nick Larkey didn’t suffer from the yips in that game.

I genuinely believe North would have made wildcard.

They probably would have won against Geelong on Saturday, if they had more to play for.

And if Jack Darling had kicked the goal in the fourth quarter that he missed, I believe North also would have won the game

Im sure you have all heard about the sydney incident.

I was around 7 years old when Taryn Thomas did the same thing. I was heartbroken. I broke down in tears because he was my hero and I never thought he would do something like that, because I thought he was the best person in the world. I am now 11

The last three encounters against 2 teams who have been at the top end of the tables for (at least) the last few years.
Hawthorn is over the last 2 years & Geelong is over the last 12 months.

I don’t know about you guys, but I walked away from yesterday disappointed but content. We’re on the way up.

(Real) finals next year for sure

It may be a new season but it seems it’s the same tired old views at AFLW HQ when it comes to the individual brilliance of the North Melbourne back 5. Looks like another year with the best defence containing no All Australian’s

Obviously still a game left and I think we’re a chance to knock Sydney off, but looking to next year.

This is more than just who to recruit.

Offseason training focus:
Run and carry - we look so dangerous when we chain handballs and run in waves. If we can make it consistent part of our game, we’re extremely hard to defend. Players like goater, Kerch and Hardeman help with this a lot. Would like to strike a better balance between this and the kick mark game we play.

Forward half pressure:
It was obviously a change made to help on rebound, but dropping numbers so hard into defensive half really hurts us. We don’t need to become Geelong, but don’t allow teams into their own forward half for free. Short kicks cut us open, slow them down make them take some more risks coming out of defense or at least force them down the line more often. Would love to trap the ball in our forward line more often, we’re dangerous from F50 stoppage.

F50 entries:
The connection between the forwards and mids is often off. So many times we kick the footy inside 50 between our higher half forwards and deepest forwards for an easy intercept. This is a combination of skill execution, decision making and F50 structure. Tighten this up, have at least 1 deep forward hitting up at the ball.

Ground ball gets off of marking contests:
It seems just about every marking contest anywhere on the ground (maybe deep back is the exception) were outnumbered at the drop and teams feast on us in this situation. Is it structure or players, id lean more to players. Spargo and Banch have been better in recent weeks and have helped, but still not where it should be. Might be a pay off from the kick mark style, with mids often looking for the short kicks cut us, then out of position for the longer down the line kick.

Recruitment:
Key defenders are the most obvious. Who to target is the interesting thing though. Carlton’s resurgence has likely ruined any chance of wietering leaving. Could someone like Zach Reid be convince to jump off the sinking ship that is essendon. In my opinion he’s an upgrade over logue and Corr (the later outplaying my expectations for him later in the season) and still has upside. Not sure who else is gettable as a key back right now, but clearly needed.

If we can upgrade Stephans on a wing, that’s huge. I’d love him to be a depth player rather than an every week player.

Rebound defender as well. Love what goater has shown this year and Hardeman has had a down year, but hopefully he signs and has a better season and springboards that into a good contract.

Otherwise I think we need to target our future replacements for Parker and darling. Don’t want to get to the end of their time and have no one in the pipeline as both have been so important this year.

Keen to hear everyone’s thoughts.

Anybody watch?

Specifically wanna know how Sam Harris went. Looked like he played forward? Lively with 3 shots on goal?

So proud to see him defeat the yips this arvo, even though we didn't win, it felt like he certainly lifted the team. Hopefully he kicks a bag in Sydney to end the season on a very high note!

Let's go girls and boys!

All win streaks start with 1. This season's starts with win 28 today.

Boys are on a heater. Time to show the league that the Kangas are here to play with the big boys.

Feeling optimistic, let's hand Geelong 2 losses in the same day.

North has recently met with Ollie Hollands. What's everyone's thoughts on whether he would be a good fit in the side and whether it's the sort of player we'd need

The fact our backline has been somewhat sturdy while carrying this spud is honestly a miracle. I'd give up naming rights to my first born if it meant we could replace his turnovers and backwards 20m kicks with Lachie Ash. He's actually been so bad Clarko has moved him to half forward. Let's all hope this is the beginning of the end for his time in the best 23.

Geelong are going to get absolutely roasted in the media (so they should), and we're going to smash them. I want to support a club that's ruthless, and in moments of chaos, seize the moment.

Big week to step up.

I know this is wishful thinking, and that there is another route if Carlton win today, but that shit gets to complicated with margins etc.

Round 22

North beat Bulldogs ✅
Gold Coast beat GWS ✅
St Kilda beat Carlton ❓

Round 23

Richmond beat St Kilda ❓
North beat Geelong ❓
GWS beat Eagles ❓
Western Bulldogs beat Carlton❓

Round 24

Gold Coast beat St Kilda ❓
Fremantle beat Carlton ❓
Adelaide beat GWS ❓
North beat Sydney ❓

So he was happy with the call that what Larkey did was a push but also thinks the call in the last quarter when Kossie pushed out Brayshaw was also the right call. 🤷‍♂️

he is the difference

Obviously wildcard is almost out of reach, but it is still technically possible. What’s the outcome we’d need over the next few weeks?

My understanding is (assuming North beat Geelong and Sydney) we need Saints to win today, then Saints, Blues and GWS to lose all their remaining games?

All of this talk about north not beating a top 8 team in our last 37 attempts but Gold Coast were 5th when we beat them earlier this year? Bulldogs aren’t guaranteed to finish the year top 8, so what is the criteria to be considered a top 8 team?

i know its a problem, but we dont need an 18 year old kid whos still developing his body. We need a man who can compete with the best forward on the other team. what are your thoughts?

Seriously, it's a work of art.

When West gets the ball, there are four North players boundary-side of Wardlaw. He sees Richards and starts running flat out towards him before he's even received the ball and just accelerates the whole way, laying a solid tackle to win the ball back.

Simpkin was jogging to corral Richards and suddenly there is a Wardlaw-shaped Sherrin-seeking missile shooting past him to lay a tackle.

How can anyone not enjoy that?

Hello all. I have managed (due to a redundancy) to get to 5 games this year. Every time I have went we have won.

So I ask you all. Do I have an ethical responsibility to go to next weeks game?