Port Adelaide 2022

[cracka]

Going with the early call. Hope that doesn't backfire on you

[Brodlach]

Going with the early call. Hope that doesn't backfire on you

Just saw it on Facebook, it amused me.


FWIW I think they still play finals as I’ve mentioned previously

[stan]

Going with the early call. Hope that doesn't backfire on you

Just saw it on Facebook, it amused me.


FWIW I think they still play finals as I’ve mentioned previously

Mate have you been drinking. They won't play finals.

To be honest neither will you or me. We should organise something for September as we'll all be free haha

[Brodlach]

They’ll win next week and that will get them rolling

[Brodlach]

Wines substituted out with heart palpitations, hope he is doing better

[stan]

Wines substituted out with heart palpitations, hope he is doing better

Bloody hell, seen a bit of that lately haven't we.

[Armchair expert]

Wines substituted out with heart palpitations, hope he is doing better

Bloody hell, seen a bit of that lately haven't we.

Well yeah heart disease is the leading cause of death in this country

[stan]

Wines substituted out with heart palpitations, hope he is doing better

Bloody hell, seen a bit of that lately haven't we.

Well yeah heart disease is the leading cause of death in this country

Just talking about the you dogs player as well. But yes it is an issue in general.

I better get off my ass and stop getting fat as heart disease does run in my family.

[gadj1976]

Wines substituted out with heart palpitations, hope he is doing better

Bloody hell, seen a bit of that lately haven't we.

Well yeah heart disease is the leading cause of death in this country

You do wonder if we're pushing these athletes too hard.

[mots02]

It's done. Might post it, might not.

Obviously not.

[whufc]

It's done. Might post it, might not.

Post it!!!!!

Give the fans what they want.

[Booney]

Across various social media platforms yesterday I saw comments along the lines of “Upset brewing”, “I can smell an upset in the air” and “Port will go close”. I am astonished anyone felt we had a chance last night against one of the best drilled defensive units in the game given our lack of ability to hit the scoreboard with any consistency. As it turned out we took nearly 3 quarters to kick our first goal and that from near 50m on a tight angle, Houston’s skills the only thing keeping us from being goalless at three quarter time.

In the first quarter I felt our endeavor reflected the position the club is in, we simply had to see our players respond to the pressure the club is under and for 30 minutes I felt we did just that, albeit without a major we had kept Melbourne to just 1 goal, our defence led admirably by skipper Tom Jonas, the returning Tom Clurey and Ryan Burton were holding their own, but, it was clear we’d changed our plan of attack to being a plan of defence. I couldn’t say the group wasn’t trying. They were, they had a go, but they had nowhere to go.

The initial move when obtaining possession in the back half was lateral, we had no intent to move the ball either through the corridor or to kick down the line to the bail out target. With very good reason. Melbourne’s full ground defence owns the corridor, if we had taken any risks to move through the middle we’d have been opened up like a slippery finger on a rusty can lid. We limited the damage by not going there. If we had gone the long kick down the line we would have given Gawn ( who kills us every time ), May and Jackson more catching practice than an under 13 cricket team. They took 26 marks between them as it was. We limited the damage by not going there. So our first move was sideways and it’s here I first felt ill.

Way back in 1997 under Neil Balme Melbourne came to Football Park in all sorts of strife, they were 1 win, 7 losses, and Balme was on the chopping block. I can hear my own voice calling out to Melbourne players that the goal posts are at the pointy ends and nobody is winning games going from one flat side to the other. Last night I saw us do this very thing. The plan we took into last night wasn’t to win, it was not deigned to give us a chance to win, it was to lose by as little as possible. It was a defeatist attitude. That is not what our club is about. I’d rather lose by 20 goals having a go than by 5 goals playing negative, defensive, boring, unattractive football. I’ll give our players some credit, under trying conditions (the game plan) they at least had a go without any return for the first half. Mead, McEntee and in particular Drew (10 tackles, 6 clearances) showed the endeavor of men wanting to play at AFL level.

Statistics last night are irrelevant as the possession “keepies off” game blew out numbers so I’m not even going to reference them.

Tom Jonas, only last week I questioned if TJ was in our best side with all available and last night he stood up as a leader, credit to him he lead and he lead well. Putting his body on the line repeatedly.

Tom Clurey, he was aided by the sideways movement at times but he, along with Jonas and Bergman (more on him) were the only ones willing to get off their man and take intercept marks.

Miles Bergman, I said last week how much I like this kid and last night he gave me no reason to like him less, he has a go and I think he’s a future leader of our club.

Willem Drew, repeated efforts in the first half tackling, smothering, blocking, doing the things that bring teammates into the game showed his willingness to work never stops.

Beyond this I’m struggling to find anyone who truly showed any intent and I don’t think it’s their fault. The 4 mentioned above are three defenders and a defensive midfielder, little surprise it’s defence that led the way last night when we simply had no intent to attack. The flair of Amon, Bonner, Butters and co was stifled by the ball movement as any midfield possession was in the midst of immense Melbourne pressure and forward of the ball the likes of May, Lever, Gawn, Jackson and Tomlinson were ready to intercept. We had no answers for their set up, no answers for their big men and no answers for how we’d go about scoring.

Boon’s best – Jonas, Clurey, Drew, Bergman, Boak

[whufc]

Great review.

I loved the way my mate described it on the night......like you said Port were scared to go down the middle as Melbourne 'own the corridor'. Instead Port tried to go lateral which in turn slowed the ball movement incredibly. End result Melbourne didn't own the corridor they owned the entire park.

Lateral movement can be aggressive if its done in the form of a sling shot but that wasn't the case for Port, it was possessional sidewards movement.

[Dutchy]

Great review.

I loved the way my mate described it on the night......like you said Port were scared to go down the middle as Melbourne 'own the corridor'. Instead Port tried to go lateral which in turn slowed the ball movement incredibly. End result Melbourne didn't own the corridor they owned the entire park.

Lateral movement can be aggressive if its done in the form of a sling shot but that wasn't the case for Port, it was possessional sidewards movement.

They are playing a game style from 2019/20, others have passed them by it seems

[JK]

Good review mate. At the ground I thought you couldn't fault their committment, but the lack of confidence with ball in hand was noticeable. Despite being goalless, 15 minutes into the 2nd quarter being just a goal behind the best team in the land was a pretty bloody good effort if supporters could look past the goalless aspect.

Melbourne are so well drilled, their tackling, speed, intensity and trust in their system is just simply outstanding.

I know this is a dinosaur ploy by modern footy standards, but would they give any thought to playing Hayes with Lycett and alternate them between the middle and goal square? Watching the other night there were times I thought the smaller players are starving without an Aerial threat (although that is tempered a bit by the specialist smalls in Gray and Fantasia not being out there) and there was a few times you wouldn't have minded seeing a big bloke steam out and clatter a few opponents in the hole in front of them.

Looking past just his own individual stats on a weekly basis, I knew the reliance on Dixon was big but probably still underestimated a bit just how big it is.

[amber_fluid]

Melbourne flew in and did what they had to and flew out.
They never got out of 2nd gear.
They could have belted Port if they wanted to.

Ports confidence is shot and getting that back will be Kens greatest challenge now.

[Lightning McQueen]

Great review.

I loved the way my mate described it on the night......like you said Port were scared to go down the middle as Melbourne 'own the corridor'. Instead Port tried to go lateral which in turn slowed the ball movement incredibly. End result Melbourne didn't own the corridor they owned the entire park.

Lateral movement can be aggressive if its done in the form of a sling shot but that wasn't the case for Port, it was possessional sidewards movement.

They are playing a game style from 2019/20, others have passed them by it seems

To me they are playing a style that requires Aliir x2 in defence and Big Chuck up front, we have neither and nothing close in comparison.

Playing one tiring ruckman on a perfect weathered night doesn't help either.

[valleys07]

Good review mate. At the ground I thought you couldn't fault their committment, but the lack of confidence with ball in hand was noticeable. Despite being goalless, 15 minutes into the 2nd quarter being just a goal behind the best team in the land was a pretty bloody good effort if supporters could look past the goalless aspect.

Melbourne are so well drilled, their tackling, speed, intensity and trust in their system is just simply outstanding.

I know this is a dinosaur ploy by modern footy standards, but would they give any thought to playing Hayes with Lycett and alternate them between the middle and goal square? Watching the other night there were times I thought the smaller players are starving without an Aerial threat (although that is tempered a bit by the specialist smalls in Gray and Fantasia not being out there) and there was a few times you wouldn't have minded seeing a big bloke steam out and clatter a few opponents in the hole in front of them.

Looking past just his own individual stats on a weekly basis, I knew the reliance on Dixon was big but probably still underestimated a bit just how big it is.

I've been saying this since Dixon's injury. Hayes must debut.

If our ball movement and forward structure is to bomb it long to Dixon and create a spillage for our smalls to compete (which I think is complete and utter garbage but that is a debate for another day), then to replace the queen chess piece of that strategy in Dixon with a Sam Mayes player type, is outright ridiculous.

If that is AFL standard coaching, then Ken needs to go and he can take Bassett with him.

[whufc]

Whilst bombing it long to Dixon probably isn't the ultimate plan we have seen this year in particular teams embracing imperfection and being willing to go longer quicker than in previous seasons.

His also not a bad plan B when a player is under pressure and doesn't have the time to pin point a target knowing you have an area you can hit and there will be a solid contest just has to help.

Throw in the small forwards who know if the balls isn't kicked in their direction there is a fairly high chance they know the area to hit also has to help.

[JK]

Not just the smalls likely to benefit from it either, bit less attention for George/Marshall/Findlayson also.

Anyone know long until they're likely to see Dixon, Gray, Fantasia and Aliir back? I know all clubs need to cope with injuries, but not many can when it comes to losing the real pivotal key personnel.