Ant Bear
Swamprat
- Dec 7, 2012
- 37,272
- 86,477
- AFL Club
- Port Adelaide
- Other Teams
- Port Magpies, Swamprats forever,
Banners by hazard and Garibaldi Red
Better late than never, Stephen cRowe
Who: Port Adelaide Power vs Hawthorn Hawks
When: Saturday September 20th 4.45pm EST/4.15pm CST
Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground
Weather: Mostly sunny. Max 17, 20% chance of precipitation <1mm
Teams: Port are very likely to be unchanged, echoing the successful finals campaign of 2004 when the same 22 played in all 3 finals. Jonas was subbed off early against Fremantle with a corked hip, but is said to be in no doubt. If his hip doesn't settle down, Impey or Young are possible replacements.
Hawthorn may regain Suckling and are poised to gamble on Rioli's dodgy hamstring again. Whoever gets squeezed out will be unlucky, as all players have earnt their position. Duryea and Simpkin appear to be the candidates, or possibly Spangher due to them being a little top-heavy down back. McEvoy may come in for Ceglar, but they would be loathe to make too many changes to a settled lineup.
Form: Port clicked into gear after half time against the Dockers and replicated the fast-flowing style that decimated Richmond the previous week. Our small forwards are in particularly devastating form, and this is an area where we will worry the Hawks.
Hawthorn are refreshed by the week off following their comfortable win against Geelong, and have been consistent throughout the season despite a series of potentially disruptive incidents of injury, suspension and illness to players and coach.
Hawthorn are the one team that I would not back Port to beat in a shootout. Their ball-movement is elite, and although not as frantic as ours, is more precise and structured. They have an accurate and diverse forward line, and have been solid down back. To win this game and progress to the last Saturday in September, Port must ensure that we apply manic and sustained frontal pressure; get in the ball-carrier's face and force them to make hurried decisions. We have to win the contested ball, the tackles and the clearances, and convert our chances. When we have possession, we must learn from the errors of the first half against the Dockers and move the ball quickly, with overlap run and daring,to the forwards.
Our defence stood tall last week, as it has most of the year. It has a major challenge on Saturday against Roughead, Gunston, Breust, Rioli, Hale and Puopolo, any of whom can kick a bag and run amok. Carlile will play on Roughhead, and gives away height and agility. He needs to be aware that Rough kicks a good percentage of his goals from general play, and is a good converter from any mark inside 50. Trengove will mark Hale/ Ceglar,O'Shea to Breust and Hombsch will take Gunston. Puopolo is their defensive forward who will probably be assigned to Pittard, leaving Broadbent or Jonas on Rioli, which makes me nervous. Team defence is the key here, as all of their forwards switch up the ground at times and can get lost in the changeovers. We need to keep pressure on the delivery and be brave enough to help out our fellow defenders. Maintain a good zone and tight discipline and we can keep their score manageable.
I can see our midfield being a winning advantage on Saturday. Hawthorns has quality in Mitchell, Lewis, Burgoyne, Hodge and Sewell, along with the outside run of Hill and Smith, but generally they are slower than our mids, who can match them inside and get them on the outside. Boak rarely puts two bad games together: Langford has adapted to their main tagging role so he would go to our captain. Gray, Hartlett, Wines and Ebert have all raised the bar in the finals so far, and our depth seems better to the biased eye. Cornes may take Smith, as he can be so damaging, and White may also be given a defensive task. Polec is the one who may get off the leash here, and he can be devastating when given free rein. Lobbe will again have the challenge of going against a duo, but has handled the job magnificently since the early rounds and is a better ruck than Ceglar and better at ground level than either opponent.
Our small forwards will be Hawthorn's coaching staffs biggest headache. They have been playing an uber-tall defence, with Gibson, Spangher, Stratton and Lake, with Birchall and Duryea providing rebound. Burgoyne has been seconded to the midfield, so our forward line may have too much agility and pace for the bigger guys. Neade has proven elusive and creative, Wingard is back and providing several moments of magic each week, and Monfries is improving by the week. Schulz will probably find it difficult with Lake hanging off him and Gibson jumping over the top, so our crumbers need to swoop on any loose balls and make them count. Stratton has the agility and height to go with Westhoff but may not have the tank, so Westy may come into the game later.
We can win this. If everything goes right, if our midfield can apply above average pressure, if our forwards can be accurate and efficient, if our backs work together and maintain concentration, if we have luck with injuries and umpires, then we can dance on the big stage on the 27th. But that is a lot of ifs, and Hawthorn are an experienced finals team with seasoned players who are nearing the end of their dominant era. Our running game can be devastating, but we must play the game of our collective careers to triumph.
I'd love to pick us, but the rested Hawks scare me, and we will do well to be still in the game in the last half of the last quarter. Hawthorn by 18
#graypride
#whitepower
#finewines
#yesweken
#pfportvhawks
Better late than never, Stephen cRowe
Who: Port Adelaide Power vs Hawthorn Hawks
When: Saturday September 20th 4.45pm EST/4.15pm CST
Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground
Weather: Mostly sunny. Max 17, 20% chance of precipitation <1mm
Teams: Port are very likely to be unchanged, echoing the successful finals campaign of 2004 when the same 22 played in all 3 finals. Jonas was subbed off early against Fremantle with a corked hip, but is said to be in no doubt. If his hip doesn't settle down, Impey or Young are possible replacements.
Hawthorn may regain Suckling and are poised to gamble on Rioli's dodgy hamstring again. Whoever gets squeezed out will be unlucky, as all players have earnt their position. Duryea and Simpkin appear to be the candidates, or possibly Spangher due to them being a little top-heavy down back. McEvoy may come in for Ceglar, but they would be loathe to make too many changes to a settled lineup.
Form: Port clicked into gear after half time against the Dockers and replicated the fast-flowing style that decimated Richmond the previous week. Our small forwards are in particularly devastating form, and this is an area where we will worry the Hawks.
Hawthorn are refreshed by the week off following their comfortable win against Geelong, and have been consistent throughout the season despite a series of potentially disruptive incidents of injury, suspension and illness to players and coach.
Hawthorn are the one team that I would not back Port to beat in a shootout. Their ball-movement is elite, and although not as frantic as ours, is more precise and structured. They have an accurate and diverse forward line, and have been solid down back. To win this game and progress to the last Saturday in September, Port must ensure that we apply manic and sustained frontal pressure; get in the ball-carrier's face and force them to make hurried decisions. We have to win the contested ball, the tackles and the clearances, and convert our chances. When we have possession, we must learn from the errors of the first half against the Dockers and move the ball quickly, with overlap run and daring,to the forwards.
Our defence stood tall last week, as it has most of the year. It has a major challenge on Saturday against Roughead, Gunston, Breust, Rioli, Hale and Puopolo, any of whom can kick a bag and run amok. Carlile will play on Roughhead, and gives away height and agility. He needs to be aware that Rough kicks a good percentage of his goals from general play, and is a good converter from any mark inside 50. Trengove will mark Hale/ Ceglar,O'Shea to Breust and Hombsch will take Gunston. Puopolo is their defensive forward who will probably be assigned to Pittard, leaving Broadbent or Jonas on Rioli, which makes me nervous. Team defence is the key here, as all of their forwards switch up the ground at times and can get lost in the changeovers. We need to keep pressure on the delivery and be brave enough to help out our fellow defenders. Maintain a good zone and tight discipline and we can keep their score manageable.
I can see our midfield being a winning advantage on Saturday. Hawthorns has quality in Mitchell, Lewis, Burgoyne, Hodge and Sewell, along with the outside run of Hill and Smith, but generally they are slower than our mids, who can match them inside and get them on the outside. Boak rarely puts two bad games together: Langford has adapted to their main tagging role so he would go to our captain. Gray, Hartlett, Wines and Ebert have all raised the bar in the finals so far, and our depth seems better to the biased eye. Cornes may take Smith, as he can be so damaging, and White may also be given a defensive task. Polec is the one who may get off the leash here, and he can be devastating when given free rein. Lobbe will again have the challenge of going against a duo, but has handled the job magnificently since the early rounds and is a better ruck than Ceglar and better at ground level than either opponent.
Our small forwards will be Hawthorn's coaching staffs biggest headache. They have been playing an uber-tall defence, with Gibson, Spangher, Stratton and Lake, with Birchall and Duryea providing rebound. Burgoyne has been seconded to the midfield, so our forward line may have too much agility and pace for the bigger guys. Neade has proven elusive and creative, Wingard is back and providing several moments of magic each week, and Monfries is improving by the week. Schulz will probably find it difficult with Lake hanging off him and Gibson jumping over the top, so our crumbers need to swoop on any loose balls and make them count. Stratton has the agility and height to go with Westhoff but may not have the tank, so Westy may come into the game later.
We can win this. If everything goes right, if our midfield can apply above average pressure, if our forwards can be accurate and efficient, if our backs work together and maintain concentration, if we have luck with injuries and umpires, then we can dance on the big stage on the 27th. But that is a lot of ifs, and Hawthorn are an experienced finals team with seasoned players who are nearing the end of their dominant era. Our running game can be devastating, but we must play the game of our collective careers to triumph.
I'd love to pick us, but the rested Hawks scare me, and we will do well to be still in the game in the last half of the last quarter. Hawthorn by 18
#graypride
#whitepower
#finewines
#yesweken
#pfportvhawks
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