We play the teams in 7th and 9thmond over the next couple of weeks.
Our finals destiny is in our own hands if we are good enough.
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How many Blitzers thought they might beat us today based on their showing last week though?
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It’s like Norf(cote) claiming “Welcome to Thornbury”.
Nick off, we don’t want anything to do with you.
No. I just can’t see him coming back.
It has been ages since we have genuinely demolished the $hit sides. I think that is actually more pertinent than who that current battler team is this year.
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…
We got a lesson today’: Frustrated Noble calls out poor effort
Roos coach predicts changes, Ben Rutten excited about development of Dons’ defence
1 hr
Josh Walker shows his frustration in round 10, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos
A FIRED-UP David Noble has declared North Melbourne received a “lesson” in the side’s demoralising 12-goal loss to Essendon.
The Roos went into half-time 50 points adrift but cut the margin to 30 at the last change, before ultimately losing by 72 points.
BOMBERS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats
“It was poor, it was really poor on our side. We let them start well, we couldn’t wrestle anything back and we got a tiny bit of momentum in the third term, and we got a lesson,” Noble said.
“We clearly got a lesson today on quick use of the ball, turnover and punishing the opposition.”
While Noble was happy with his side’s third-term efforts, he wasn’t thrilled with the fact it was only one quarter in length.
“We only rallied for a quarter though, that’s not good enough. We don’t want to be a club that rallies for a bloody quarter, that’s the frustrating and disappointing thing, we’ve got to rally from the start,” Noble said.
"We know they’ve got good speed, so we tried to force more stoppages, it was a little bit more of the plan to try and densify the numbers across the ground.
“Credit to our guys, they rallied no doubt, I think we’ve come to expect that, it’s a good make-up they have, but that’s not sustainable. We don’t want to have quarters where we just bounce and say ‘that’s good enough’, because it’s clearly not good enough.”
Noble said he wasn’t expecting to regain any players from the club’s lengthy injury list till after the bye in round 12, although Robbie Tarrant (kidney) is a chance to play some footy in the VFL next weekend.
After the VFL side had a healthy win over Essendon’s VFL side, Noble said Will Phillips, Tristan Xerri and the unused sub Bailey Scott were next in line for a senior berth.
Essendon coach Ben Rutten was pleased with the Bombers’ final-quarter flurry, especially after losing the third term.
“The third quarter didn’t go the way we would have liked it to, there are some parts to our game we want to keep working on there,” Rutten said.
“But I thought our ability to talk at three-quarter time, adjust our game a bit and for the players to go out and execute it, that’s great signs for our players’ level of maturity. Our guys are beginning to understand more and more what we want to do.”
The Bombers held North Melbourne to 10.9 from 51 inside 50s, and while the Roos’ finishing skills were lacking, Rutten was pleased at the cohesiveness shown by the backline.
"That’s another game that our defenders get to play together. We’re about 10 games into their journey as a backline group.
“We’re really positive about that backline group and what they can do together moving forward. Today’s a little step forward and another experience they get to share.”
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He still has essendon on his Twitter.
For about 80% of that game north were utter garbage
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Why would they do that? Northcote is way cooler than Thornbury.
Which is better than Merrett
Merrett is running harder than I’ve seen him before.
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And his efforts and multiple efforts at each contest are amazing. He never gives up
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Playing for a big payrise
Myers fan?
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Bombers in full flight as Roos return to ground
North Melbourne’s winning form quickly disappears in big loss to Essendon
1 hr
Archie Perkins and Kyle Langford celebrate an Essendon goal in round 10, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos
A FIRST-HALF 11-goal onslaught from Essendon has resulted in a thumping 72-point win over North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
While the Roos briefly rallied after the main break, the Bombers’ 13 individual goalkickers – led by three apiece from Peter Wright, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Harry Jones – proved to be too many in the 22.9 (141) to 10.9 (69) victory.
BOMBERS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats
The Dons’ midfield trio of Darcy Parish (36 disposals, 11 clearances), Zach Merrett and Andy McGrath (31 apiece) set the tone early, with their work-rate, decisions and execution by foot setting them apart.
North Melbourne came into the match on a high, having finally broken through for its first win last week against Hawthorn, but the optimism evaporated by the first break, conceding six goals and sitting 27 points adrift.
Despite Ben Cunnington (34, nine clearances) and Tarryn Thomas’ (21 and five) efforts at centre bounces, the Roos lacked an effective marking target in attack during the first half, with most of their scores coming from scrappy play, rather than marks and set shots.
ROOS ‘GOT A LESSON’ Noble calls out poor effort
Nick Hind and Mason Redman were outstanding on the rebound, catching North’s defenders off guard with quick movement through the middle.
North Melbourne rallied somewhat after going into the main break 50 points behind, holding the Bombers to four goals in the third term while moving the ball with greater speed.
It resulted in five goals for the quarter, along with two stunning contested marks from the nuggetty Cam Zurhaar, reducing the margin to 30 at three-quarter time.
North Melbourne veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein (rolled right ankle) and key forward Nick Larkey (lower left leg) received treatment for minor injuries but played out the game.
Matched up against Goldstein, Andrew Phillips was solid in his 50th game – a milestone which has taken the now-Essendon ruckman nine-and-a-half seasons and three clubs to reach – scoring a goal to kick off the third term and celebrating with style.
Essendon’s high-scoring ways continue
The Bombers haven’t had too many issues hitting the scoreboard this year – their losses have mostly come when their defence has struggled. The win against North Melbourne marked the fifth time in 10 rounds Essendon cracked the ton (along with a score of 91 in round one). They averaged 77 in 2019, and have increased that to 95.4 this season.
Zurhaar’s second-half heroics
The North Melbourne forward was symbolic of his side’s resurgence in the second half. Having recorded five disposals to the main break, he sprang to life when play restarted. Zurhaar took three strong contested marks – including a spectacular effort on the wing – giving the Roos’ fans something to cheer about, finishing with 13 touches and 1.2 for the game.
McKay’s shout
Halfway through the second term, Ben McKay attempted to pull up before the fence after chasing after a loose ball. He half-somersaulted over the fence, catching himself before he tumbled over but not before he knocked over a disgruntled Essendon supporter’s beer. The drink had been sitting on the railing, and the Bomber fan let McKay know about his displeasure.
ESSENDON 6.4 11.5 15.6 22.9 (141)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1 3.3 8.8 10.9 (69)
GOALS
Essendon: Wright 3, Jones 3, McDonald-Tipungwuti 3, Hooker 2, Cox 2, Waterman 2, McGrath, Zaharakis, Snelling, Perkins, Phillips, Langford, Hind
North Melbourne: Garner 3, Campbell 2, Thomas 2, Cunnington, Walker, Zurhaar
BEST
Essendon: Parish, Merrett, McGrath, Redman, Hind, Wright
North Melbourne: Cunnington, Thomas, Ziebell, Atley, Garner
INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Brayden Ham (unused)
North Melbourne: Bailey Scott (unused)
Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium
They said 33k
That’s confusing, because as far as I’ve read, the door is open for him if he ever decides to come back for a crack, … and given he’s stated multiple times he wanted to “Play at the highest level and prove to himself he could play at it” etc, and has also said that coming back was a future chance especially with the MSD himself, … that if we become a genuine finals side, looking like becoming a flag contender, he’d be back like a shot, especially if he achieves some GAA success in the meantime, which he is well situated to do, soooo …
fixed
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New contracts will do that.
See Paddy Ryders’s last season with us.
How much talent does Perkins and Cox have. Insane. Imagine full match fitness and they can giver for a full 4 quarters.
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