VFL Rd 13: Northern Blues vs Essendon at Windy Hill

[crashlander]

Northern Blues

B: 13. C. O’Shea, 26. A. Silvagni, 40. M. Stavrou
HB: 47. C. Sheehan, 70. H. Macreadie, 49. D. Armfield
C: 8. L.  Russell, 60. D.  Cuningham, 7. D.  Buckley
HF: 24. R. Palmer, 48. K. Jaksch, 62. B. Boekhorst
F: 55. L. Sumner, 19. H. McKay, 1. T. Wilson
R: 80. M. Korcheck, 32. N. Graham, 5. B. Smedts
Int: 76. K. LeBois, 4. S. Russell, 11. T. Jones, 34. J. Glass-McCasker, 6. G. Strachan, 50. D. Gorringe, 3. K. Declase, 56. A. Gallucci, 25. K. Keppel, 57.F. Pearce, 20. D. Stevens, 38. J. Pickett

23P: 45. M. Blakey

In: K. Declase, F. Pearce, D. Cuningham, S. Russell, C. Sheehan, M. Blakey, T. Jones, K. Keppel, N. Graham, H. Macreadie, D. Stevens, A. Silvagni

Out: C. Polson, P. Kerr, A. Federico, C. Byrne

From this line-up, we lost not just 4 players, but all of these:
(1) A Silvagni
(2) D Cuningham
(3) D Buckley
(4) B Boekhorst
(5) L Sumner
(6) N Graham
(7) B Smedts

That is a fair group of players, other than the injuries mentioned earlier. That made it harder for starters. However, the pathetic effort from so many of the guys who played today just didn't do us justice, especially in the last quarter.

GOALS: Gorringe, O'Shea, Pickett, Wilson
DISPOSALS: O'Shea 29, Russell 27, Strachan 26, Macreadie 25, Armfield 20, Sheehan 20

Of those, O'Shea and Russell were GOOD. Strachan was solid. Macreadie tried hard, but is a little light and make a few too many errors at the moment. His time is coming, but he is still a kid. Armfield was good, one of his best games this year and Sheahan tried hard, but is still some way off his best.
Harry McKay was adequate when NOT at FF, as we couldn't get the ball near him. His ruck work is ordinary, but on the ground he was a contributor.
Pickett had a couple of real highlights, but didn't do enough.
LeBois really needs to be in the Development team until he gets 20 or more possessions, because he cannot make a real difference to a team that needs him with 5 possessions for a game.
Gorringe continues to disappoint.
Korchek tries, but he is not a viable ruck option at this time.
Glass-McCasker had a reasonable game in defence, especially with the ball coming down so often and so easily. I'd still like to see him up forward, but we cannot afford that at the moment.
Palmer appeared to try, but he had a hard tag and couldn't throw it off. Especially as Leuenberger had such an influence in the middle of the ground. Palmer couldn't get near it.
Jaksch just doesn't appear to want it enough.
Gallucci is just making up the numbers as well.