SA Footy

Most are tipping big improvement from Port this year, have shown some impressive trial game form after recruiting well and have what is regarded by most as the potentially best ruck combination in the comp.
The last couple of years has seen them get continual improvement from their younger players and if they continues they may well be a force.
How much can we take from their impressive undefeated trial game form?
Do people think they'll make the finals and if so how deep can they go?

2012 Squad:
Meiklejohn, Clayton, Wilson, Erskine, Young, Gray, Stanley, Rose, Lees, Slattery, McKenzie, Scanlon, Dolling, Kulikowski, Kirkwood, Beard, Harder, Mercer, Carr, Thurgood, Heffernan, Watt, Carey, Haren, heath, Wilson, Cockshell, Brain, Robson, Grove, Nyskohus, Solly, Summerton, Biacsi, Sharpe, Shannon, Milera, Solly, Broomhead, DePrinse, Madden, Sandercock, Raikiwasa, Hoskin, Burnett, Tonkes, Hyland.

IN: Adam Cockshell )South Adelaide), Callum Wilson (West Coast Eagles), James Brain (Sydney Reserves), Brendan Ah Chee (Mini Draft – Power), Ben Haren (Sydney / Returning), Ryan Mackenzie (North Ballarat), Cade Wellington (Ocen Grove), Bryan Beinke (Norwood Reserves Coach)

OUT: Terry Milera (St. Kilda), Michael Clinch (North Adelaide), Kerran Hall (North Adelaide), Ivan Maric (Richmond), Matthew Lokan (Retired), Kristian DePasquale (Retired), Isaac Weetra (West)

2012 Trial Games Form:
Defeated West 19.7 to 3.3
Defeated Central 15.17 to 5.3
Drew with Glenelg 12.11to 13.5

Sportebet.com.au premiership odds:
$12.00

2012 Draw (Home games in bold):
Eagles, Sturt, Bye, Norwood, Central, South, West, North, Glenelg, Bye, South, Central, Eagles, West, Bye, North, Central, Norwood, Bye, Glenelg, Eagles, North, West, Sturt.

B&F 2011: 1. Mark Dolling, 2. Luke Harder, 3. Steven Summerton
Leading Goalkicker 2011: Brad Mercer 30

Season 2012 offers much hope for the Magpie army. Falling half a game out of the final 5 in 2011 after pushing the eventual premier in the last minor round game left all the players, coaches and supporters hopeful of September action in 2012.

Tony Bamford showed he has the nouse to make it at SANFL level as a coach with many visiting fans noting to me at Alberton last year that the style of play he produces is not only attractive to watch but gives the ‘Pies the ability to score quickly. The down side is it can let our opponent do that same.

The loss of Ivan Maric will be felt, with the big man playing more for the ‘Pies than the Crows and the experience of Matty Lokan and Kristian DePasquale across the back half will also be missed and can’t be underestimated. But throw in Cockshell and Robson to help out and the ruck stocks look really good.

Ports biggest problem in 2011 was kicking goals and moving the ball into the forward half. John Butcher, bound for more AFL action will be a big loss as “Butch” was giving us a target to kick to.

That’s enough of the bad, what about the good.

Callum Wilson will slot into the full forward position, strongly built and coming off 4 years on the WCE list, this 24 year old has loads of *ahem* potential. He can play forward or back, but expect to see him as a focal point in 2012. The big man kicked over 130 goals in the last 3 seasons ( combined ) and looks set to make his mark on the SANFL in 2012. Keep an eye on this bloke, my bet is he might be the story of 2012 in the SANFL.

James Brain is small, quick and skillful suited to a midfield role.He has spent time in the Sydney Swans system and came through an AFL NSW scholarship.

Ryan McKenzie landed at Alberton over the summer. Tough and hard he comes to Adelaide on the back of a 5th in the Liston Trophy and 3rd in North Ballarats B&F.
McKenzie adds some much needed muscle to the midfield and hardness around the ball.

Adam Cockshell coming in from South Adelaide to help Jimmy Meiklejohn in the ruck and play as the third tall, probably spending a fair bit of time in the forward half with Wilson, is a big coup.

With last years B&F winner Mark Dolling, Steve Summerton, the fit and ready to go Jezza Clayton who missed most of 2011 offers some real class, all SANFL fans know how good this bloke is and with McKenzie offers some mid field presence. Kulikowski, Kirkwood and Hoskins add to the depth on ball while Sam Grey and Korey Beard have been stand outs on the pre-season training track.

Brad Mercer up forward looks set to build on his 40 goals from 2011 ( or could end up playing full back! ) and with Callum Wilson recruited to help in the forward 50 could offer a real target.

The back half will be hurt with the loss of the experienced Lokan who marshalled the back half like all good full backs do.

Best case ? The young Magpies and new recruits step up to offer more consistency than in previous years while the steadying influence of the older group helps pull us through the tough times in matches. A top 5 finish will be the goal and is achievable. 4th spot on offer.

Worst case? Our back half leaks like a sieve and allows the opposition too many scoring shots and we once again drop too many games by under 3 goals, as we did in 2010 and 2011 and miss out on finals action.

I think the Magpies should be aiming for a top 3 finish with finals a bare minimum.

Booney wrote:Worst case? Our back half leaks like a sieve and allows the opposition too many scoring shots and we once again drop too many games by under 3 goals, as we did in 2010 and 2011 and miss out on finals action.

I think the Magpies should be aiming for a top 3 finish with finals a bare minimum.

Totally agree on the last point. Anything less than finals is a failure this season.

On the first point, my take from 2011 was that this was more a forwardline pressure / midfield issue where once turned over, we let side rip us to shreds on the rebound. I expect that additional experience added to the squad and another tough preseason under the belt will help eliminate this problem.

Rucks are our key this year. We should be getting 1st use 90% of the time.

devilsadvocate wrote:

Booney wrote:Worst case? Our back half leaks like a sieve and allows the opposition too many scoring shots and we once again drop too many games by under 3 goals, as we did in 2010 and 2011 and miss out on finals action.

I think the Magpies should be aiming for a top 3 finish with finals a bare minimum.

Totally agree on the last point. Anything less than finals is a failure this season.

On the first point, my take from 2011 was that this was more a forwardline pressure / midfield issue where once turned over, we let side rip us to shreds on the rebound. I expect that additional experience added to the squad and another tough preseason under the belt will help eliminate this problem.

Rucks are our key this year. We should be getting 1st use 90% of the time.

True,the backline did have little help from the midfield and perhaps looked less threatening because of the nature of the opposition ball movement into our back half.

Great summation Booney. Cockshell a terrific pick up. A good smattering now of experienced players with some big frame players. Probably expecting top three.

Top 3 finish me thinks.

Finals has to be the goal, anything extra is a bonus, anything less is a massive fail. With sturt and west looking ordinary, glenelg in disarray, i
The maggies will never get a better opportunity to get back to September action. My prediction 4th.

what happened to ben yeomans ? is he still around?

Gervais wrote:what happened to ben yeomans ? is he still around?

He left towards the end of last season, took a job working in mines or something like that.

Need a good year or bangers will be mash

You hardly mention Luke Harder and I reckon he's real quality. This Dogs fan sees you sneaking into the 5 this year.

I think Harder will win our B+F and leading goal kicker this year. Has been quite dominant in the trial games and has been damaging when going up the ground. Great hands and a accurate kick

pafc1870 wrote:I think Harder will win our B+F and leading goal kicker this year. Has been quite dominant in the trial games and has been damaging when going up the ground. Great hands and a accurate kick

Do you think he will kick more goals than Callum Wilson?

Also look forward to seeing what Tim Broomhead and Aseri Raikiwasa do this year, two youngsters I think will be very good for us in the years ahead.

Slots It Through wrote:

pafc1870 wrote:I think Harder will win our B+F and leading goal kicker this year. Has been quite dominant in the trial games and has been damaging when going up the ground. Great hands and a accurate kick

Do you think he will kick more goals than Callum Wilson?

Think they will both be pretty close

No Tim Milera this year?

Was he not expected back?

Hodges 153! wrote:No Tim Milera this year?

Was he not expected back?

Timmy was looking at coming back, but has decided to play at Millicent as far as i know.
Very disappointing to see a player of his talent not playing in the SANFL.

Slots It Through wrote:

Hodges 153! wrote:No Tim Milera this year?

Was he not expected back?

Timmy was looking at coming back, but has decided to play at Millicent as far as i know.
Very disappointing to see a player of his talent not playing in the SANFL.

He's been linked to Kenilworth now aswell, guess we'll wait and see on that one.

I agree Slots very dissapointing, Timmy is easily one of the best footballer I played with and against and it's disappointing he's not up to it, lack of commitment above all else?

pafc1870 wrote:Also look forward to seeing what Tim Broomhead and Aseri Raikiwasa do this year, two youngsters I think will be very good for us in the years ahead.

They'll do well those two especially Broomhead, he's very good around the sticks. Bobbys a very good talent aswell too along with Trent Heffernan, it's very disappointing that he injured his shoulder a couple of weeks back.

The good old days ..... Port will fall to a close one in the GF to the Redlegs.