Round 13 - Port v Swans

[Booney]

Well, this will be an interesting afternoon at Footy Park. ( 1:10pm start )

The Swannies came here two weeks ago and completely demolished the Crows in an amazing display of work at stoppages, running to create space and most importantly (where Adelaide failed the most) in pressuring the opposition.

In recent years, prior to a new wave of enthusiasm at Alberton, we have crumbled under sustained pressure from opponents and Sydney do this better than anyone. With the week off and the inclusion of Tippett Sydney come back to Adelaide for the second time in three weeks to play a team outside the 8.

I'm worried. Losing Boak certainly wont help, not having Trengove back yet still exposes us down back for height (can Bob go with Tippett?) and we dont seem to like playing two ruckmen after winning our first 5 game this year with two ruckmen playing, with various combinations of Lobbe/Redden/Renouf. If Renouf is right to go, he has to come in and help Lobbe this week, we must play 2 ruckman against Sydney.

It will be a great lesson for our young midfielders in Wines, Wingard ( again outstanding last week ), Broadbent and co. to see first hand how a premiership unit works together.

Realisticly, I think Sydney by 40 points.....(or more)

[valleys07]

I missed the Adelaide match- however the result is pretty self explanatory.

Boon has mentioned this multiple times, but Trengove has been a big loss down back for the past 6 weeks. I cant see Bob being successful on Tippett, but will get first crack. Hombsch to White, Bob to Tippett, O'Shea to Goodes and (hopefully we play 2 ruckmen) Lobbe/Redden/Renouf sitting in the hole to block the big mans reach at the footy.

Boaky missing also leaves us a hole in the mids at a time we could least afford it. Ebo, Broady, Kane, Ollie and Wingard have huge jobs now to quell Hannebury, Kennedy, McVeigh, Jetta and Co. I suspect Cornes to Kennedy and Cassisi to Hannebury.

Sydney to win, and win well.

Saturday is about improvement, and as you said Boon- really give the group an idea of where they need to be to reach the top 4 and open the premiership window.

[Booney]

Renouf, from reports, looked to move well for Norwood against the 'Pies last week. Lets hope they pick him this week.

Out - Boak, Hitchcock

In - Cassisi, Renouf

[RustyCage]

Took a huge hanger in the goal square in the second quarter, and followed it up with another in the last!

[RustyCage]

Also wouldn't be too surprised to see Neade dropped, though another injury to Hitchcock could keep him in for another week

[Booney]

Clearly the coaching staff rate him, when we had all 3 fit earlier this year he led the rucks. So if he is fit this week, he simply must be in.

Brett Ebert back for the Magpies this week I believe. Good to see Ebo back out there. If not at AFL level, he'll be very handy for the Magpies in the second half of the year. Johncock and Ebert in the forward 50? Sounds good to me.

Yes, Neade could be needing either rest or run at SANFL level. I'd give him a rest. He looked tired against the Dogs the other week and no better on Sunday.

[valleys07]

Renouf, from reports, looked to move well for Norwood against the 'Pies last week. Lets hope they pick him this week.

Out - Boak, Hitchcock

In - Cassisi, Renouf

No Pittard Boon?

[Booney]

Can he come straight back in after missing 5(?) weeks?

[valleys07]

Can he come straight back in after missing 5(?) weeks?

Dont see any reason why not, given port are likely to inject Cassisi straight in after a 4-5 week layoff..

[Booney]

Fair point.

[RustyCage]

I think with his history of injuries and his age they may be more cautious with Pittard than Dom

[valleys07]

Jarrad Redden to have season ending shoulder and hip surgery.

http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2 ... ip-surgery

[Booney]

No Renouf. So Lobbe goes up against Pyke, White and Tippett... with only Westhoff as back up.

Not sure about the decision making process at selection this week. Pittard and Cassisi back in after 7 and 4 weeks out of the game with soft tissue injuries.

[valleys07]

Agree Boon- Leaving Renouf out is a poor selection choice IMO.

However the sun doesnt look like making an appearance today, and tomorrow is forecast to be wet as well. Here is hoping that the swans go in too tall and we can create a scrap.

[NO-MERCY]

Cassisi straight back in from a hamstring injury.
Very cold & wet day will test his hammy.
Swans by 36pts

[overloaded]

Cassisi straight back in from a hamstring injury.
Very cold & wet day will test his hammy.
Swans by 36pts

The wet will probably help his loss of pace though

[Hazbeen]

Won by 18 Pts

Out-hustled the Swans at their own contested game

[valleys07]

Great news with Trengove perhaps back in time for the bombers:

http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2 ... -to-return

I think now our back 6 is really starting to take shape- Carlisle and Trengove taking the key posts, with Hombsch and Jonas demonstrating ability to play tall and small, and Pittard, Hartlett and O'Shea (have been really impressed with his development over the past 6-8 weeks) good users of the footy out of the back line.

Our push for the finals now depends on Trengove getting back. Hopefully we can jag at least one of Collingwood, Essendon or Hawthorn (the latter unlikely at best) and really need to beat the Saints, Brisbane, Adelaide, Gold Coast and Carlton to be any chance. With the Dockers and Cats awaiting after Hawthorn, 1 (possibly even 2) wins from the next 3 need to happen for us to make the 8, given (in accordance with the AFL websites ranking of tough to easy draws), we have the 3rd hardest draw in the home stretch.

[GWW]

Well done Jake Neade, Rising Star nomination for this round.

The break a few weeks ago has done him a lot of good, as he was struggling a bit a month ago.