by devilsadvocate » Mon Mar 29, 2010 12:02 pm
Spot on there SIT. Per my post at half time McKenzie was tearing us apart in the first half, but our ruckmen responded well in the 2nd half and got on top.
That was my first live game of SANFL footy for a few years, due to a stint OS and I have to say, what a brilliant spectacle the game has become. The AFL has nothing on SANFL footy. Both sides were great to watch. Good skills, good hard contests, fast flowing footy and most of all, it was footy the way footy should be played.
After a frenetic 1st quarter in which I felt honours were relatively even, Port had their chances at the begining of the 2nd quarter. We moved the ball forward really well and Mercer provided a target up forward. Port had probably 5 gettable shots at goal, which from memory resulted in 4 behinds and 1 OOF. Not good enough at this level and you just knew we were going to pay for it. Sure enough, Centrals made the most of their opportunities going forward and held a good lead going into the main break. I thought Port's main wekness in the first half was transferring the ball from the half back line into the forward line. We seemed to break down accross the middle of the park, largely due to the pressure put on us by Centrals.
I don't know what Bamford said to the players at half time, but it worked! Port's 3rd quarter was like the Port Adelaide of old. Good, quick movement into the forward line. Stacks of forward pressure and some good finishing to get us right back in the game. In particular, Mercer, Summerton, Cloke and Harder stepped up in the 3rd quarter and helped us fight our way back into the contest.
The feeling was good at 3q time, with lots of positive body language at the Port huddle and at the beginning of the 4th quarter, it just seemed like Port could come back and nick it. Once again, some costly skill errors crept in and Centrals made us pay each time by mopping up, transferring quickly through the midfield and hitting a target up forward, where Ian Callinan was invariably there to mark and convert.
The umpires lost the plot for a few minutes there in the 4th quarter. The 2 x 25m penalties given to Port must have been for Central players mouthing off, because there didn't seem to be any other indescretion. But the Centrals 25m penalty shortly after up forward was ridiculous umpiring. But those effectively evened each other out and the better side won on the night.
I can't help think what might have been, had Port kicked straight. But I was proud as punch at the way Port went about it. We had a lot of first gamers and a lot of young blokes in the side. But our agression at the ball and tackling, our follow up efforts and defensive pressure in our forward line was absolutely brilliant. If we can maintain that sort of effort for the entire season, we'll give most sides a run for their money. And most of all, us supporters will leave happy and proud every week.
I thought Port's better players were Mercer, Lindsay (agree with the above comments that if he continues to play like he did on Sat night, he'll be playing AFL next year - what a star!!!), Harder (my new favourite player - no way he's only 76kg as the budget says. He's hard as nails!!!), Summerton and Kirkwood.
Well played by the Dogs though. It's hard to see them not making the GF again.
with nothing good to say about anything, or anyone! 
Enjoy the next 19 weeks 
