Round 14 - Port v Collingwood

[Booney]

Not only is this the opportunity for a member to win a new Renault Megane, it is also the opportunity to make a genuine case for playing finals this year.

Backing up a win over Sydney with a win over Collingwood will be a massive confidence booster for our young side and give them the impetus to take it right up to the likes of Brisbane, St.Kilda, Adelaide,Gold Coast and Carlton in the home stretch and add to our current tally of 7 wins. With a win tomorrow (8) we could expect to win 4 of those 5, if not all and make the 8. I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but why not, this is fun again!

I was worried with Pittard and Cassisi coming back from long lay offs last week,but they showed the fitness staff know what they are doing and both played significant roles in the win over Sydney.

Boak has only missed the one week with his finger, so he should be fine to go. Trengove on the other hand has missed 7 (?) with his fractured foot which might leave him a bit short of run. That doesn't bother me too much as Hombsch and Jonas offer excellent support to our talls and if Trengove gets through over half a game thats fine by me....as he will, IMO, have first crack at the mobile Cloke. Collingwoods biggest threat up forward. Carlile can handle Cloke inside the defensive 50 while Trengove chases him when he is up on the wings.

Lobbe should be looking forward to this week with no Jolly and an old bloke who used to be Ben Hudson to ruck against and from that the mids should get the first look at the ball.

We now have set a standard for our forward press (I think earlier in the year it was run out of defence, the last two weeks have been about pressing up on the opposition ) and we need to maintain that over the next three weeks. Thats the biggest month of footy we will face this year and it will, if we attack as we did Sydney, set us up well.

I think we'll win this one.

Port by 12 points.

[valleys07]

I love your optimism Boon- You're right though, this is very much fun. Watching our young side be competitive again is a refreshing change of pace, from 5 years of mediocrity and uncertainty.

I cant put to words the importance of trengove in our line up tomorrow. I said on the sydney thread that with him and bobby as the pillars, hombschy and jonas capable of playing tall and small and a host of players such as hartlett, pittard and co. as our users out of the back half, our defence is really starting to take shape. Most importantly they are all pre-25 (bobby the exception) and have the chance to gel as a back 6. Critical as we have seen with the cats of recent times and Kenny will have identified that.

Our forward press was exceptional last week. My only concern is consistency. Can this young group back up such a high quality performance??

The pessimist speaks in me. Not quite yet.

I would be more than happy to be wrong, and cant wait to watch tomorrow to see how we go. Win this and i think we are a big chance to snare 8th, considering our run home after the hawks.

Collingwood 10-19

[wristwatcher]

Collingwood just unfortunately. With West coast dropping their home game though a win here would be huge and mean we are a genuine chance of playing finals. Please prove me wrong Power. Wish i could be there, i will be rushing home from footy and tuning in for sure.

[GWW]

Yeah, I think Collingwood too.

They play well at Footy Park, I reckon around 4 or 5 goals.

[Booney]

You ******* ripper!

[Booney]

Only down side from the weekend is the Cassisi hamstring going again. I voiced my concerns in the post above and unfortunately it came true. Ageing bodies and hamstrings dont repair too easily and Dom might miss 4-6 weeks this time around. Pity, he still has alot to offer and by then there might not be a spot in the side for him.

Ollie Wines, Ollie, Ollie Wines. How good is this kid? 16 last quarter possesions, 8 contested, 5 tackles and a goal. I know that Jaeger O'Meara for the GC Suns is a gun, but Wines plays like a bloke with a 100 games under his belt.

Wingard again excellent despite a heavy tag. 22 touches and 2 goals in the third quarter to put a gap between us and the 'Pies.

Neade. This kid fights out of his weight division every week and doesn't get knocked out at all. His pressure around the forward half is superb. As he gets more games smarts and starts to collect 20 or so touches he will be so, so valuable.

Lobbe. Has taken the Number 1 ruck role and run with it. I felt he was our best option at the start of the year and he nows seems to be up to pace after hip sugery off season. Offers plenty at ground level ( 18 tackles in the last two games ).

Hombsch. What were GWS thinking? He might not be built like a genuine key defender but he sure puts his body on the line, has great "reach" to get his hands in and spoil. Reminds me a bit (I'm not rating him this highly yet) of Silvagni. SOS had that knack of getting a hand on the ball when he looked out of position in a contest. Mind you, SOS got away with riding full forwards for 15 years when the game was played (and umpired) in a completely different manner. Really like the look of this kid.

GWS gave us Hombsch and Neade for pick 28. Thanks fellas!!! :cheers:

[GWW]

GWS also overlooked Wingard in the draft, Sheeds is a big Port supporter I think

[Trader]

GWS also overlooked Wingard in the draft, Sheeds is a big Port supporter I think

Mark Williams influence?