RD10 West v North MATCH REVIEW

[drebin]

Ugly win and North nowhere near it's best and West playing with some confidence. However having an interrupted season so far with byes and injuries, we will take some time to gel now we have our best line-up available but at least we got the points.

West have improved but don't have the talls and big bodies to combat a line-up like North presently. North's talls (in defence and attack are going to worry most sides this year). Once we got our zone going (after the first 4 West goals - they struggled after quarter time to get the ball past the centre with any fluency. Losing Willitts for a patch didn't help with their height issue as it only left web up front as the only tall.

North seriously needs some set shot practice - we mish too many easy set shots and we should have been in front a lot earlier if we kicked straight.

I see McIntyre is listed with "concussion" - must have been that elbow to the head he got from Willitts before the ball was bounced for the last quarter. A very cowardly act yet the umpire who saw it choose to ignore it.

[redandblack]

City Mazda Stadium looked in its usual immaculate condition again yesterday, especially considering the recent weather. I kept looking at the clouds, hoping for plenty of rain, as a quick check of the average height of each side revealed that West's was 181cms compared to North's 256cms.

No rain.

In the Ressies, 4th placed West took on bottom placed North, whose talent this week belied its position. North were very good, West were the opposite. For North fans, O'Hara had his second game back, I think, and could add much needed height to the League side soon.

So to the main game. The lack of rain had me worried that North's talls would dominate, but the first quarter was a procession the other way. West produced some great football and the most often heard comment in the grandstand was "Gee, West have certainly improved". And they have. The late loss of Davenport, required by Port to sit in the stand at AAMI, hurt our forward structure, but that meant little as West put on 4 goals to nil for the quarter.

Starngely enough, even though West led for the majority of the next two quarters, it looked fairly obvious early in the second quarter that North would win. Personally, I thought that Allan's hamstring should have been given another week, as he'll now likely miss next week with a sore foot from kicking the footy so much. Wright played a blinder, Ackland dominated the ruck against a very competitive and promising Lobbe and only West's defence kept them in front.

Riverland product Thiele was important for North and the game became defensive. West's run ceased and North looked hesitant, producing a stalemate.

Still no rain and as they say "they don't get any shorter". West couldn't match up on all of Schwarze, White, Stewart and Alleway. West had to work hard for their goals, only for North to get one much more easily. The Bloods hung in, but poor misses denied them any chance of a win in the end.

North were clearly the dominant side after quarter time and deserved their win. Allan was outstanding, Ackland gave their on-ballers first use, Thiele was very good. A the season goes on, North should develop into a top 3 side and challenge for the flag. They're a long way off at the moment, but the chance is there.

For the Bloods, it was further evidence that their rise isn't a fluke. Their system is great while it's working, but it didn't work for long enough yesterday. Ferguson had a great duel with White, with both playing well. Sal Hassan, Bronik Davies and Jimmy Ezard giving plenty, although having to counter a dominant opposition ruckman.

West are a work-in-progress, definitely heading in the right direction. They desperately need a couple of key position players and that will be the receruiting priority for next season. When that happens, watch out.

On the day, though, North were deserved winners and have a lot to look forward to.

[mal]

OK my 18 cents worth
First of all I admire my courage to express my views in a WA/NA forum game ...
First of all without fishering, the duty of caire was upheld and no NA players reported .....

1ST QTR
WA 4-2 NA 0-4
WA too good and deseved the lead and won the packs
WA sMALls Davies, Hassan, Bailey just kept getting the ball

2ND QTR
WA 6-4 NA 3-8
NA got on top the giants in the NA forward line better targets than WA forwards
Noticed something
NA players ran off the ground as a group to the players race for the break
Do NA do this every week ????????????????????????????????????????????????????
It looked a matter of time b4 NA could wear down WA
WILLETTS getting injured was a telling factor

3RD QTR
WA6-5 NA 6-9
NA suffocated WA and zoned extremely well
WA suffered from the redleg disease 'handball happy' as a result
ALLEWAY crashing into DAVIES might have been a turning point, DAVIES was dominating until then
Both sides playing negating defensive, numbers behind the ball footy
Lucky its a close game , might have fallen to zzzzzzzz ....
It appeared at 3/4 time that NA would win this as had dominated the 2nd/3rd qtrs

LAST QTR
score at WA 6-6 NA 6-11
this could have been the turning point at this stage
MORRIS in about 60 seconds did the following
Hip and shoulders Matty WRIGHT, Matty who incidently has done a great since the party hit he took about 2 years ago was smashed [and fairly]
ALLEWAY had a kick smothered by MORRIS
WRIGHT was again stopped by MORRIS in a scrimmage
From the ball up MORRIS took possession and passed the ball to MUNN who took a mark close to the 'grass'
MUNN goals WA 7-6 to 6-11
Inspirational efforts by MORRIS
This might have turned the game
BUT

Then
UMPIRES
Did a good job all day
BUT
Hmnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

ALLEWAY gets what appeared a very verry verrrrry soft free kick in a contest v CUPIDO
Was it there for over the shoulder or whatever ?????????????????????????????????????
Perhaps Wedgiepedia or Red+Black can comment ***************************
GOAL

Soon after BRICKNELL gets smashed in a contest v[ DELVINS ?]
Looked worse than ALLEWAYS freebie, no free
Perhaps Wedgiepedia or RED/BLACK can comment *****************************
GOAL straight after to WHITE

Now its WA 7-6 TO 8-11
Ends
WA 9-8 NA 11-12
becomes 14 in a row NA wins V WA

SUMMARY
NA deserved to win
To be 4 goals down and win in a tight hard fought game was outstanding
NA the first team to get 2 points at Richmond in 2009 or whatever they call the oval these days
If NA barrackers are disappointed with this win or the season to date they might be hard to please ??
_________________________________________________________________________
Comment Dan Healy
""WE THINK THATS THE SORT OF FOOTY THAT WINS FINALS GAMES.""
__________________________________________________________________________

Yep, the hard running brilliant exciting and perhaps underachieving attacking NA teams of this decade have been traded in for the harder at it, accountable more defensive unit.
Unfortuantely its not great to watch [and NA have been a great team to watch this decade]
BUT
Its a game that might end up delighting the rooster faithfuls in an October soon

WA are in the same boat, but have not got the good talls that NA have
COLLINS has WA also playing a similar brand of footy, but has he the cattle to succeed in the long run ???

Almost 700 disposals in this game
It was like watching an AFL game
But both clubs have improved from 2008 and thats all that counts
The trade off is negating at times boorish footy

THIELE
Looks a player, neat, deft left foot disposer, aand a skinny lad
His namesake a WA stalwart barracker is the official food taster at the WA BBQ ...and not soskinny !

DAVIES
A hardworking and brilliant midfielder and will he win the best and fairest in 2009?

CUPIDO
how the Gowans + Cupido didnt make the state team is beyond me
His disposal a treat again[except for the Wright screamer !!!]


WRIGHT
Teenage rampage , sensational in this game come a long way since that party about 2 years ago

ALLAN [spelt correctly ]
B.O.G. a star

WEBB
Time for 1 of my 'dramatic' predictions
19 year old, what I see is an AFL player
IF he improves from what he has showed in his 6 games so far, could be a superdooper star
His lead up marking in the forward line is excellent
expect big things from Daniel

[Brodlach]

Just wondering if anyone was too rough with any of the West Adelaide players today???

Instead of making stupid comments, concentrate on your own team and their pathetic performance.

[wycbloods]

As soon as Willits missed that goal late in the last it was goodnight Westies, i thought if he had kicked that a little momentum swing in favour of West could still see them get over the line.
Sorry to say you Westies supporters i don't rate Willits at all, send him back to the Bay or where ever he came from.

I disagree NM when Willits come off in the third quarter west lost some structure and looked poor going forward. He gives a good contest and does straighten us up. I am very happy to have him in our side.

[Thiele]

As soon as Willits missed that goal late in the last it was goodnight Westies, i thought if he had kicked that a little momentum swing in favour of West could still see them get over the line.
Sorry to say you Westies supporters i don't rate Willits at all, send him back to the Bay or where ever he came from.

I disagree NM when Willits come off in the third quarter west lost some structure and looked poor going forward. He gives a good contest and does straighten us up. I am very happy to have him in our side.

Agree wyc

[Mic]

I didn't think that free that Alleway got within scoring distance was a free, but I also don't think that a couple frees West got within scoring distance earlier were there either.

[wycbloods]

WEBB
Time for 1 of my 'dramatic' predictions
19 year old, what I see is an AFL player
IF he improves from what he has showed in his 6 games so far, could be a superdooper star
His lead up marking in the forward line is excellent
expect big things from Daniel

Agreed Mal he has been a late developer but he looks very good. He is one of the few exciting talls we have.

[FEUNG]

Webb is an exciting player.Hope the Power or Crows draft him.This guy has a footy brain.

[EAGLES]

Full marks to West, they have hugely improved on last year and are the only side in the comp to improve this year IMHO.
Last year North came 7th and are playing worse this year and yet comfortably in the 5 now thanks to the all round standard drop.
Best for North were Davis and Allan.
Highlights of the day were the BBQ as per usual (and other good standards of catering from West) and Oldfella from the Westies forum introducing himself to me. Also good to see a lot of Westies fans at the game who haven't been there for a while.
Lowlights were the shortage of beer, the southern car park and gate being closed and the football.
A lot of fans for both sides were there who don't catch a lot of games due to amateur footy and they were very disappointed, discussed it with a few of them and they agree that the appeal of the SANFL used to be that it wasn't like the AFL in that it was long straight direct reall football.
Now for most the Amateurs or SFL appeals as they play that way and the SANFL is like a poorly skilled AFL.

as a very high profile supporter of the Sanfl Wedgie and the owner of the biggest and most popular sanfl web site do you think that you should be writing this stuff
Dont you have a duty of care to talk up the game we all love

Does it worry you that the management of the sanfl may not approve of what you write

[drebin]

Good write up R&B - very balanced, well done.

[Wedgie]

Full marks to West, they have hugely improved on last year and are the only side in the comp to improve this year IMHO.
Last year North came 7th and are playing worse this year and yet comfortably in the 5 now thanks to the all round standard drop.
Best for North were Davis and Allan.
Highlights of the day were the BBQ as per usual (and other good standards of catering from West) and Oldfella from the Westies forum introducing himself to me. Also good to see a lot of Westies fans at the game who haven't been there for a while.
Lowlights were the shortage of beer, the southern car park and gate being closed and the football.
A lot of fans for both sides were there who don't catch a lot of games due to amateur footy and they were very disappointed, discussed it with a few of them and they agree that the appeal of the SANFL used to be that it wasn't like the AFL in that it was long straight direct reall football.
Now for most the Amateurs or SFL appeals as they play that way and the SANFL is like a poorly skilled AFL.

as a very high profile supporter of the Sanfl Wedgie and the owner of the biggest and most popular sanfl web site do you think that you should be writing this stuff
Dont you have a duty of care to talk up the game we all love

Does it worry you that the management of the sanfl may not approve of what you write

1. I'm not high profile anything, I'm just like you or anyone else, I created this website so people could discuss football, I'm just as in my rights to give my opinion as anyone else. So no I don't have any duty of care to talk up anything, I do have a duty of care to be true to myself and others and say what I think. I also have a duty of care to this site as a part owner and I'd be breaking that duty of care if I wasn't honest in what I post.

2. No it does not worry that the SANFL may not approve of what I write, they wouldn't care what I write. It'd be no different if they didn't approve of what you like. I do in fact have a very good relationship with the SANFL and have only ever found them helpful, they have only ever given me positive feedback about this site. If people couldn't be honest like I am this site wouldn't be as popular as it is pure and simple.

Thanks for your concerns though, if you or any others have comments about the North v West game, post away, otherwise just PM me as I'm only too happy to answer any questions you have.

Cheers.

[silent hour]

As soon as Willits missed that goal late in the last it was goodnight Westies, i thought if he had kicked that a little momentum swing in favour of West could still see them get over the line.
Sorry to say you Westies supporters i don't rate Willits at all, send him back to the Bay or where ever he came from.

I disagree NM when Willits come off in the third quarter west lost some structure and looked poor going forward. He gives a good contest and does straighten us up. I am very happy to have him in our side.

Have to agree with NM that Willits missed goal late in the last quarter was crucial and was IMHO the turning point for North to eventually win the game.

And yes Willits was our focal player in the forwards and when he came off injured during the third quarter it hurt us as we had no talls in our forward area at all then, as Lobbe was on the bench.

Why not put Lobbe back on at full forward or swing Cupido up forward until we could get Willits back on the field.