The truth about the Power

[FD88]

Rowey hit the nail on the head, many of us have been saying it for ages but for some reason the media and wider public refuses to admit it: this team cannot handle tough, contested footy! For all the praise they have received for their recruiting, their kids are just about all outside receivers who get monstered by the physical sides. And what of their quietly developing players? Marlon Motlop, Krakouer and so on...they are the same fleet-footed hands-off types that they already have. It is no coincidence that the likes of Sydney, Geelong and Adelaide are the teams that have consistently troubled Port; these are clubs that pride themselves on playing hard, tough footy and they are all big-bodied. You only have to compare Westhoff to Tippett to notice the discrepancy in player builds. Tippett is younger than Westhoff, has played a lot less footy yet is streets ahead physically.

I will tell you right now Rucci, if you are going to criticise any side for their recruiting you should be tearing strips off the Power for loading up on the same types of players. And I'll tell you something else - so long as they keep going this way they will keep getting monstered and keep falling short of the ultimate prize.

As for the Showdown next week, I am expected Port to beat the Crows. If they are as good as we're told, if they are fair dinkum about being a premiership threat, they should have no trouble disposing of an inexperienced Crows side. The pressure is right on them without question, and I wish their kids luck trying to outmuscle the mature-bodied likes of Porplyzia, Vince, Tippett and others.

[redden whites]

Rowey hit the nail on the head, many of us have been saying it for ages but for some reason the media and wider public refuses to admit it: this team cannot handle tough, contested footy! For all the praise they have received for their recruiting, their kids are just about all outside receivers who get monstered by the physical sides. And what of their quietly developing players? Marlon Motlop, Krakouer and so on...they are the same fleet-footed hands-off types that they already have. It is no coincidence that the likes of Sydney, Geelong and Adelaide are the teams that have consistently troubled Port; these are clubs that pride themselves on playing hard, tough footy and they are all big-bodied. You only have to compare Westhoff to Tippett to notice the discrepancy in player builds. Tippett is younger than Westhoff, has played a lot less footy yet is streets ahead physically.

I will tell you right now Rucci, if you are going to criticise any side for their recruiting you should be tearing strips off the Power for loading up on the same types of players. And I'll tell you something else - so long as they keep going this way they will keep getting monstered and keep falling short of the ultimate prize.

As for the Showdown next week, I am expected Port to beat the Crows. If they are as good as we're told, if they are fair dinkum about being a premiership threat, they should have no trouble disposing of an inexperienced Crows side. The pressure is right on them without question, and I wish their kids luck trying to outmuscle the mature-bodied likes of Porplyzia, Vince, Tippett and others.

Didn't they win a flag a few years ago and get to a grand final hiding last year.How about winning something or winning a few finals when the heat is on before preaching the stuff?

[FD88]

Didn't they win a flag a few years ago and get to a grand final hiding last year.How about winning something or winning a few finals when the heat is on before preaching the stuff?

They won that flag before they began their absurdly unbalanced recruiting. James, Hardwick, Carr were all part of that side were they not? Since then they have taken on a pace obsession and have recruited with this obsession. If you don't agree that they have loaded up on too many of the same types of players you are outright kidding yourself. It is a clear issue.

[Thiele]

Even there Champion in Francou said they were soft

[redden whites]

Didn't they win a flag a few years ago and get to a grand final hiding last year.How about winning something or winning a few finals when the heat is on before preaching the stuff?

They won that flag before they began their absurdly unbalanced recruiting. James, Hardwick, Carr were all part of that side were they not? Since then they have taken on a pace obsession and have recruited with this obsession. If you don't agree that they have loaded up on too many of the same types of players you are outright kidding yourself. It is a clear issue.

and the grand final appearance last year????????

[redden whites]

trying to outmuscle the mature-bodied likes of Porplyzia, Vince, Tippett

My god the league trembles with the thought of standing those 3

[Booney]

I dont have a problem with what you are saying FD,however,your view is failing to recognise a couple of facts.

Three players who will in the next few years fill this role of harder type ball winners,I feel,are at this point in time a little small for that role.

Surjan,Salopek,Thompson and even Bentley to a degree will play this role when the bodies are strong enough to do so.I am dissapointed that Peter Burgoyne is continually being wasted across half back.Sure,Adelaide do it with McLeod,but the Crows back 6 has Bassett and Johncock to drop of their opponent and cover for McLeod,at this stage Port does not have this luxury and P.Burgoyne is being wasted in my view.

I agree with your call on Krakouer and Motlop,but,if the likes of Rodan,Cassisi ( I feel Dom is reasonably consistent)and Pearce play somewhere near the potential they have we will prosper from it.

For mine.Westhoff can go back to the Dogs and earn his stripes once more,as too can Pearce.He was outstanding in 06,average in 07 and has been less than that to begin 08,some time in the SANFL might just help him.

Chad to CHB for the rest of the year,Lade to FF for a vast part of the game and Deluca in to help Brogan and Lade at times.

[FD88]

and the grand final appearance last year????????

You know full well what happened running into the GF. An Eagles outfit running on one leg, a talentless Kangaroos outfit. Port supporters, and indeed the rest of the competition deep down inside, know that Port wasn't the most worthy opponent for the Cats. But credit to them, they made it to that final match with a side that had no right to get there. Of course, we all know what happened when they came up against a genuinely physical side; there was nowhere to hide, nowhere to run, they couldn't handle contested footy when it came right down to it, and they will continue to struggle with this (the whole foundation of footy) until they start blooding some hunters of the ball.

[hearts on fire]

trying to outmuscle the mature-bodied likes of Porplyzia, Vince, Tippett

geeze have i missed something, i didn't realize those guys were so big bodied.....
surely Porplyzia would have the biggest body in the country IMO

[Booney]

You know full well what happened running into the GF. An Eagles outfit running on one leg, a talentless Kangaroos outfit. Port supporters, and indeed the rest of the competition deep down inside, know that Port wasn't the most worthy opponent for the Cats.

Hang on,hang on.Port finished second,were the only team to beat Geelong in the last half of the year and 'powered' through the two finals en-route to the GF.Who wasmore worthy of playing Geelong?

[hearts on fire]

and the grand final appearance last year????????

You know full well what happened running into the GF. An Eagles outfit running on one leg, a talentless Kangaroos outfit. Port supporters, and indeed the rest of the competition deep down inside, know that Port wasn't the most worthy opponent for the Cats. But credit to them, they made it to that final match with a side that had no right to get there. Of course, we all know what happened when they came up against a genuinely physical side; there was nowhere to hide, nowhere to run, they couldn't handle contested footy when it came right down to it, and they will continue to struggle with this (the whole foundation of footy) until they start blooding some hunters of the ball.

thats a bit harsh.
who else would have taken Ports spot? the only team that comes to mind is Collingwood.
Port OBVIOUSLY were the 2nd best team to make the GF and beat every team atleast once for the year.

[Punk Rooster]

You know full well what happened running into the GF. An Eagles outfit running on one leg, a talentless Kangaroos outfit. Port supporters, and indeed the rest of the competition deep down inside, know that Port wasn't the most worthy opponent for the Cats.

Hang on,hang on.Port finished second,were the only team to beat Geelong in the last half of the year and 'powered' through the two finals en-route to the GF.Who wasmore worthy of playing Geelong?

Collingwood.

[Dogwatcher]

I'm not sure I agree with all he's written, but you can't knock FD's conviction.

[Booney]

Other than blind faith,anything to support this comment Punky?

[Punk Rooster]

Other than blind faith,anything to support this comment Punky?

Collingwood got within a goal of beating Geelong in the Prelim- Port only just got within 20 goals of them.

[FD88]

I dont have a problem with what you are saying FD,however,your view is failing to recognise a couple of facts.

Three players who will in the next few years fill this role of harder type ball winners,I feel,are at this point in time a little small for that role.

Surjan,Salopek,Thompson and even Bentley to a degree will play this role when the bodies are strong enough to do so.I am dissapointed that Peter Burgoyne is continually being wasted across half back.Sure,Adelaide do it with McLeod,but the Crows back 6 has Bassett and Johncock to drop of their opponent and cover for McLeod,at this stage Port does not have this luxury and P.Burgoyne is being wasted in my view.

I agree with your call on Krakouer and Motlop,but,if the likes of Rodan,Cassisi ( I feel Dom is reasonably consistent)and Pearce play somewhere near the potential they have we will prosper from it.

For mine.Westhoff can go back to the Dogs and earn his stripes once more,as too can Pearce.He was outstanding in 06,average in 07 and has been less than that to begin 08,some time in the SANFL might just help him.

Chad to CHB for the rest of the year,Lade to FF for a vast part of the game and Deluca in to help Brogan and Lade at times.

Problems with this imo:

Surjan - a running defender, he is just about the only hard nut down back as it is, robbing Peter to pay Paul by putting him in the scrimmages?

Thomson - Poor disposal by foot lets him down badly. Might extract but will he punish?

Bentley - Don't rate him. Don't think he will ever become a good AFL player.

Pearce - Wtf, he is the biggets culprit at that club! Pathetic receiver in that he can't even kick the damn thing properly. Was he a flash in the pan?

Just not enough there imo, recruiting needs to seriously pick up in this area.

[Dogwatcher]

Other than blind faith,anything to support this comment Punky?

Collingwood got within a goal of beating Geelong in the Prelim- Port only just got within 20 goals of them.

Booney, another goal to the Pies in the prelim final, and the Power would've only lost by half the margin!

[Hondo]

Losing Josh Carr was a blow for both Port and for him I think its been a backwards step for both

But FD88 I think you might be jumping a bit quick I think we should wait until after next week before working out Port's problems As much as I'd like to agree with you

The Cornes bros and Cassisi are tough nuts who spend time through the midfield - yes Chocco likes to have speed in his side but lets be honest we drafted with the same philosophy, no point being tough if your opponent is 10m downfield already

[hearts on fire]

Other than blind faith,anything to support this comment Punky?

Collingwood got within a goal of beating Geelong in the Prelim- Port only just got within 20 goals of them.

Booney, another goal to the Pies in the prelim final, and the Power would've only lost by half the margin!

So we would have lost by 60 points in the GF?
thats pretty good!

[Booney]

Other than blind faith,anything to support this comment Punky?

Collingwood got within a goal of beating Geelong in the Prelim- Port only just got within 20 goals of them.

Ahh,by virtue of playing them in the Prelim you did not do enough in the minor round to ensure avoiding them until GF day. Dont finish second and win both finals and you run the risk of playing the top ranked team before the GF.