Review of McIntosh/Black/2011 and 2012 preview

[North Melbournes Finest]

Mcintosh - 15 touches / 5 Marks / 10 hitouts / 1 goal (Played about 70-75% gametime and mainly up forward)
Black - 9 touches / 3 marks / 1 goal (Played half a game and up forward)

I have to say I was impressed with both, I thought Hamish provided a real target up forward and when we went long and high to him he always brought it to ground. Took a couple of ripper grabs. Black was really lively around the half forward line, did more then I thought he would, an offseason to build some muscle and get better fitness would do wonders for him.

Despite some media labelling the season a fail I thought there were some real positive, most impressed with Kieren Harper who I think will be a superstar someday. He's so clean with the ball and smart, just needs to get more of it. He's only 19 and I see Boomer Harvey in him.

The midfield and the emergence of Wells (To everyone outside NMFC) and Jack Ziebell living up to potential has been great. I believe we were 2nd in the league on average in clearances before tonight (We got smashed tonight so might of gone down),  so I'd be really intrigued to see what another preseason does for Ziebells fitness.

All and all I hope we handball less in the future, the first half in tonights game was an embarrassment and I hope we revert back to the 1/1 kick to handball ratio the better clubs display. I believe that we'll become a much better team once our kicking efficiency raises. We have some really tough decision to make in the trade period.

Hamish / Hansen being the main ones, Hansen has to go if you ask me. He's too slow for footy and seems to be regressing a little. Lindsay Thomas showed tonight why he's been given a tonne of chances by Scott. When he's switched on he's pretty amazing. His kicking around the ground is impeccable, his defensive forward work is clinical. Just when he gets in front of those big sticks he loses all confidence. Let's just hope he can transform that with some time off.

I believe we'll make the 8 next year, but we need two things the most. A half back flanker with pace and elite disposal, and a strong defensive anchor (Frawley, Mcpharlin, Tarrant prototype). If we can get those things through the draft and the trade period, watch out in the next few years.

[roo boys!]

Absolutely couldn't agree more. Everything here I agree with. Can't really comment on much, as I would just be repeating what you said. Good job :)

[MajorLazer]

You guys need someone like Josh Gibson, oh wait. :P

[roo boys!]

Has become a lot better player at Hawthorn then he ever was at the Roos. But haven't once regretted giving up Hale :D

[MajorLazer]

Hale's been ok for us, but only reason he is playing is because Roughy's injured.

[North Melbournes Finest]

Hale trade was a good one for both Kangas and Hawks. Kangas got Harper a huge piece of our future, and Hawks got Hale for the now where they desperately needed him.

[roo boys!]

And Hale would just be dragging us down massively if we still had him.

[North Melbournes Finest]

Trying to think, if we don't trade any players this offseason, what is our best lineup for 2012? Been watching some highlights of Samuel Wright and forgot how good he can be, I hope he gets healthy. Also Ben Speight, he'll come right back in if he can get a full preseason under his belt.

FP - Lindsay Thomas / Drew Petrie / Samuel Wright
HFF - Kieran Harper / Aaron Black / Brent Harvey
C - Levi Greenwood / Andrew Swallow / Ryan Bastinac
HBF - Scott Mcmahon / Cam Pederson / Michael Firrito
BP - Scott Thompson / Robbie Tarrant / Aaron Mullett

Followers - Todd Goldstein / Jack Ziebell / Daniel Wells
Bench - Ben Speight / Ben Cunnington / Hamish Mcintosh / Leigh Adams

On the cusp -
- Shaun Atley (Really would like to squeez him in, I really would, but without an injury and the expected growth in playing capability this offseason I can't squeeze him in :( )
- Jamie Macmillan (Another quality midfielders who's only 20, but due to the depth and talent we have in the midfield and not in the backline I can't fit him in. You could move him off the half back flank instead of Firrito who is starting to age)
- Cruize Garlett (Again same problem, feel bad for him)
- Matt Cambell (I really like Cambell so it pains me not to have him there, maybe try and re-invent him off the half back flank)
- Aaron Edwards (I believe he's better than Black as it stands, but we need to get game time into our young blood, and I don't really think Edwards is in our future plans)
- Lachy Hansen (Hope he gets traded for a backmen, we really don't have a need for him)

That's really it, I look at some of the guy on the cusp and it upsets me, because I believe we've stocked too much on midfielders that there's these quality guys that should be making it not. Atley especially, great talent but we've drafted so many mids that he can't even make it in. Maybe have to swap him for Speight.

[roo boys!]

Yep it's a certainly obvious that we have drafted too many mids over the last few years, and it's going to be tough to squeeze them all in somehow. I suppose the recruiters went in with the idea that you can really build a team around a strong midfield. I'd swap Wright and Harvey, put Wright on the HFF but that just a minor detail ;)

We do need key backman. Personally, I think Pedersen and Tarrant are good young players, but aren't up to playing on big key forwards such as Cloke/Dawes or Franklin/Roughhead or Kennedy/Darling/Naitanui, which will hurt us if we leak goals against them. These are the teams we really have to challenge. So trading Hansen for a key backman would be very ideal IMO. 

[j959]

Yep it's a certainly obvious that we have drafted too many mids over the last few years, and it's going to be tough to squeeze them all in somehow. I suppose the recruiters went in with the idea that you can really build a team around a strong midfield. I'd swap Wright and Harvey, put Wright on the HFF but that just a minor detail ;)

We do need key backman. Personally, I think Pedersen and Tarrant are good young players, but aren't up to playing on big key forwards such as Cloke/Dawes or Franklin/Roughhead or Kennedy/Darling/Naitanui, which will hurt us if we leak goals against them. These are the teams we really have to challenge. So trading Hansen for a key backman would be very ideal IMO.

you have to get the best player at the time of the pick no matter what type of player they are ...
your team has just done the best it can with the resources and what's available at the time.
GWS way overpaying their current playing recruits but that's all they were able to get - Pendles, Swan, Thomas all said no thanks ...

[North Melbournes Finest]

Am I the only one who wouldn't be opposed to gaining Brian Lake? He's not on the inner of the Bulldogs anymore and is a very good defensive big backmen. I believe we could entice them with Mcintosh (I'd want something along with Lake just due to the age of both players) or maybe Lachy Hansen.

Even if Lake isn't around for our glory days, he'd be able to teach our young backmen all he has to know, and until they're ready to take over he can be a key part of us making the 8. Maybe Lindsay Gilbee wants a change and he'd fit right in at the Roos.

[roo boys!]

This is amazing. I was about to post the EXACT same thing before I read your post...great minds think alike, 'eh? ;)

I think he would be great. Has already said he doesn't know where his future is at, and as long as he stays injury free then he could be a great backman for us. When he gets going he is an amazing full back. Worth the risk with his injuries, I think so. Could be part of Brad's "agressive" trade week tactics.

[Maca24]

Think you would have2 give a bit for Lake.
McIntosh and a 3rd round pick.

[roo boys!]

Depends how highly the new coach values him, whether they think he can overcome the injuries etc.

[Holz]

with maric and renouf both moving i think that pretty much means Hmac will be around next year. Hopefully combining with petrie to kick 100 between them.