Bit of a ( Kenny Calendar voice ) lack luster affair at the MCG on Saturday in front of a disappointing crowd of just over 26,000.
The Blues fans are being asked to be patient with their rebuild, they're not. Well, if they are they're being patient somewhere else and for much of the game it looked like the Port Adelaide boys wanted to be somewhere else, too. If that wasn't a side going through the motions for the 4 points I don't know what is and I for one didn't like it. I liked the 4 points, but I wasn't thrilled with the display.
Again the back half held sway by holding our zone high and not allowing the opposition F50 entries. Only allowed 38 for the day despite the Blues having 380 disposals, as much a reflection on their inept forward structure as it was our dour defence.
The Blue were always going to come out fired up for Simpsons 300th, they haven't got much else to play for in reality and they jumped us early with 5 straight to 3.6 and while we were well on top in general play it was Curnow with 3 in the first quarter and Port's inaccuracy in front of goal that had them in front at 1/4 time. More convincing 5 goal to 2 second quarter and the game is in Port's hands and looked like a matter of how far from here. Not so.
That attitude I mentioned above festered at half time and the bottom placed Blues kept us scoreless in the third quarter and breathed a bit of life into the contest, ultimately only some light entertainment for the Blues who went along and more of a blight on Port's attitude than Carlton's abilities. Simply not good enough for 30 minutes after the main break and I hope the review this morning focuses on that period and it's made clear that's not acceptable.
A 5 goal last term with some Wingard magic thrown in for good measure and some scoreboard reward for Dixon who had an "almost day". Dixon could have had 4 or 5, a snap from the boundary touched on the line by Jones (who despite losing the one-on-one with Gray was good for Carlton), a snap from the top of the square bouncing the wrong way, a missed set shot and one going through truly. Kept competing and giving us a target which was required as Marshall looked lost out on the G and with just 5 touches his spot might be under some pressure.
Again the win was on the back of the dominance of our deep midfield led by Wingard, Rockliff, Powell-Pepper and a defence led by Houston ( who has been much better the last two weeks ) and Hombsch while evergreen Westhoff had another quality outing this season and is playing the best footy of his career. Depth the key in the midfield group for Port, Wines, Ebert, Boak and Polec relatively quiet.
Special mention to Jack Trengove, he was solid across half back in his first PAFC AFL match, was pleased to see him get a chance and take it with both hands. He was solid with 21 touches at 81% D/E and looks like he might stay in if the Pittard corky/hamstring keeps him out. Given his recent history, I think it will.
All in all a fairly ordinary affair with the bottom placed side dragging us down a peg or two and our attitude not being ruthless enough on the day meaning all we take out of that contest was a trip to the G and the 4 points.
Boons best - Wingard, Westhoff, Rockliff, Powell-Pepper, Trengove, Hombsch
Back home for the bubbly Saints who won their second on the trot on the weekend. Twilight *hiccup* Saturday.
Having watched most of the Magpies game yesterday I'm not sure DBJ earns an instant recall and I think Watts perhaps has done enough to earn another game at AFL level after 2 pretty solid outings against Sturt and Norwood given Marshall's quiet fortnight.
In - Jonas, Watts ( DBJ maybe )
Out - Pittard, Marshall ( Trengove in a hard call maybe )
Should Dixon's form come into discussion
Dixon 13 goals 18 behinds from 14 matches and 57 marks. Gives away a lot of frees
His ruck work is ordinary.
Jack Watts was dropped and has similar stats. 13 goals from 11 matches and 45 marks.
Just asking.
800k a year to try hard each week. No thanks