Preview 2nd Qual Final - Port Adelaide vs Geelong - Friday 7:50

[GeelongFTW]

Who are you dropping for higgins out of interest?

holmes

 

[Tackle_happy]

I was actually thinking GWS was last week where I remember being livid twice at his inability to make contests either letting his own man impact it or not making contests when he was the spare man but actually there were 3 really poor efforts against Melbourne that cost goals. So here you go:

Gawn winner. The obvious one.

Ben Brown in the 1st quarter when he marked in the pack in a 3 on 2 off a really slow play. Not sure who was on who initially but Blicavs and Henry were bodied out of it by Jackson and MacDonald letting Brown mark unopposed while Stanley was a couple of metres behind. So whoever his man was made the contest and he didn't. In the image below MacDonald (at the back) has pushed out Blicavs so he can't get there while Stanley is standing there watching.

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Oliver's goal in the last off a slow play when Stanley was the extra. See here:

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Stanley has to kill that. Instead he meekly half contests, the ball gets over the back and Oliver goals.

A stkilda goal late in the 1st quarter off a slow play. Stanley was the spare man back and didn't turn to look where King was giving King a free run and jump to mark and fish. Gary Lyon rightly gave Stanley a bake.

For a guy who has strengths it's sort of comical how bad his defensive positioning is either against an opponent or as the spare in defence.

Re - Gawn Winner. It's already been discussed elsewhere. He went to Gawn, our backs on the goal line called him back - so he went back - ball then into Gawn - where a frustrated Stanley remonstrated with them for him being loose. He was being directed and did as per what the backs wanted him to do - so playing the team game. That's on them.

As for the rest - Stanley has shown countless times this year his ability to go back and take a mark/affect a contest - he is not going to always get there - but he has done it over and over again.

That is not what Sav has done ... even once ...

Sav will in time, but that time is not now and to replace Stanley who is playing far far better than Sav would be utterly stupid.

 

[Seeds]

Friday nights game is now 'sold out' - that's the 15,000 available seats are sold out. If both competing clubs had access to tickets do we know what the split was between Port and Geelong supporters who took up their respective allocations yesterday?

Everyone rightly saying that playing against a crowd of 15,000 is not a bad outcome (certainly better than 50,000 of the mental giants), but it would be interesting what the actual split is. Might only be 10,000 - 12,000 which is a pretty good outcome when you consider what we were up against this time last year.

My guess is less then 300 Geelong fans.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Dahl wont get dropped his defensive pressure is very important to our structure. As is miers two way running. Hence i think simpson or close will miss out.

His defensive pressure is overrated and you need more than that to be an effective small forward.

 

[Sttew]

I think he should get the rest he was scheduled to have five to six weeks’ ago.

Give Close a rest the week after the QF.... along with the rest of the team as we prepare for a PF

 

[Pure_Ownage]

His defensive pressure is overrated and you need more than that to be an effective small forward.

The coaches dont think that its overrated.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Re - Gawn Winner. It's already been discussed elsewhere. He went to Gawn, our backs on the goal line called him back - so he went back - ball then into Gawn - where a frustrated Stanley remonstrated with them for him being loose. He was being directed and did as per what the backs wanted him to do - so playing the team game. That's on them.

As for the rest - Stanley has shown countless times this year his ability to go back and take a mark/affect a contest - he is not going to always get there - but he has done it over and over again.

That is not what Sav has done ... even once ...

Sav will in time, but that time is not now and to replace Stanley who is playing far far better than Sav would be utterly stupid.

Stanley has often been accused of being too casual , lacking intensity - he was clearly pissed off with the Gawn mark and got verbal , he also looked pretty angry walking off the ground. These are good signs , clearly the care factor is there

 

[cats_09]

The coaches dont think that its overrated.

and neither do his teammates

 

[JohnZ]

Give Close a rest the week after the QF

oh?

along with the rest of the team as we prepare for a PF

nice.

 

[gaz love x]

The Dahlhaus discussion is moot because regardless of anyone's opinions he will not be dropped, full stop. Assuming it's only Higgins coming in it's an interesting decision between Simpson, Close, and Holmes to come out. Simpson's class under pressure I think puts him ahead. Holmes has been catching the eye more than Close but I think he's the one to go just because he looks a bit rushed when the heat's on. Other than Kolo I'd maybe back everyone else in the team to kick one from 20 out on the run at the moment. He sorts that out and he's already easily AFL quality at 18 or 19 or whatever he is but he might not be there just yet.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

The coaches dont think that its overrated.

They're not perfect.

 

[Jumping Jack]

Stanley has often been accused of being too casual , lacking intensity - he was clearly pissed off with the Gawn mark and got verbal , he also looked pretty angry walking off the ground. These are good signs , clearly the care factor is there

Agree. I actually liked that vision of Stanley walking off the ground. Head was down admittedly, but you'd back blokes like Selwood and Scott to get him up for Friday and let him know the critical role he has over the next few weeks. As I've posted elsewhere, he's arguably our most important player if we hope to win it this year. Not our best - but our most important.

The vision of him walking off showed a bloke that is clearly invested and who was as angry as anyone else in that side. And I hope there's been some strong discussions with whoever called him back onto the line ...... poor communication and a major misread of the situation in those last 30 seconds.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

They're not perfect.

I get that but i was talking about what is realistically likely this week not what i want to happen.

 

[51niwstac]

I get that but i was talking about what is realistically likely this week not what i want to happen.

4-5 goals behind at qtr time, 1-2 goals behind at half time, blown away in the 3rd, because scott sends dangerfield into the forward line, no significant changes in the 4th, until dangerfield is sent back to the midfield, a couple of quick goals, then Port finish it off with a couple of late ones.

 

[JohnZ]

Simpson, Close, and Holmes to come out

You would think all 3 would come out for Higgins, Tuohy and Duncan when all 3 return. All incredibly stiff to miss out.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

His defensive pressure is overrated and you need more than that to be an effective small forward.

In an ideal world - re Geel small ( or not key forwards ) youd love to have blokes like Pickett ( Melb ) and Henry ( Frem - who i think is going to be a very good player ) they are about 6ft 2inc - slippery quick - and strong - and dangerous around the goals

You contrast that to Geel - weve got Dahlhaus Close Simpson Miers and Higgins - 5 of them - miles too many at this point in the one side - they are average players at best at stage - that doesnt inspire me with much confidence for Frid night or the finals

The 3 injuries to the class players ( Duncan /Stewart/Toohey ) is the main reason why those average 5 players are in the side - which leaves Geel very vulnerable

In preference for Frid - i would go Higgins - he was playing good football - prior to being sub last week - so he is a certainty . Miers was very ordinary 1st game back - but he has got the vital 2 way running which the other 3 havent got - and you would expect Miers to be better 2nd game back

Simpson or Close - i think Simpson is a better footballer than Close so i would go with Seans son

And then you come to Dahlaus - and this is the real annoying one - Scott ( great win/loss record ) but he is stubborn - alot of Senior coaches would have axed Dahlhaus 10 weeks ago - and said he not up to it for Geel to win a flag - im not picking anymore - eg Bilght scrubbed Modra from a final seies -

But Scott has just kept picking Dahlhaus regardless every week - and i will guarntee it - just say Geel for the sake of the argument advance to PF and win it - and in that PF - Dahlhaus has zero kicks , zero handpasses , zero marks - zero everything - Scott will still pick Dahlhaus for the GF - it is an absolute given

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

You would think all 3 would come out for Higgins, Tuohy and Duncan when all 3 return. All incredibly stiff to miss out.

Close won't get dropped and nor should he.

 

[JohnZ]

Close won't get dropped and nor should he.

I don't think he should either, but who comes out? I'd keep Higgins out if it meant Close didn't get dropped.

 

[catters_28]

I really hope Simpson plays. Inexperienced but just seems like a natural footballer. I think Holmes needs to be dropped. Will be a handy player for us but lacks composure in front of goal and that's not what we want in finals.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

The ruck is a conundrum. As good as I think Stanley was on Gawn he looked a little Spent without Blicavs and Ratugolea offering him a breather in the middle, and given Blicavs is required to go back after Stewart's injury I think we need a second ruckman.

It's probably too late to bring Fort in so I'd be tempted to play Ratugolea as well, and taking into account Port have Lycett and Ladhams in the side.

 

[foodles05]

Friday nights game is now 'sold out' - that's the 15,000 available seats are sold out. If both competing clubs had access to tickets do we know what the split was between Port and Geelong supporters who took up their respective allocations yesterday?

Everyone rightly saying that playing against a crowd of 15,000 is not a bad outcome (certainly better than 50,000 of the mental giants), but it would be interesting what the actual split is. Might only be 10,000 - 12,000 which is a pretty good outcome when you consider what we were up against this time last year.

My brother, myself and a mate are going so at the ver least it will be 14,997 to 3

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

I don't think he should either, but who comes out? I'd keep Higgins out if it meant Close didn't get dropped.

O'Connor or Simpson for me because Dahlhaus is untouchable.

I rate Simpson but he just doesn't do enough and that's the same with O'Connor.

 

[witsend]

I really hope Simpson plays. Inexperienced but just seems like a natural footballer. I think Holmes needs to be dropped. Will be a handy player for us but lacks composure in front of goal and that's not what we want in finals.

Simpson is potentially a 200 game player IMO. Has the look of James Kelly about him. Composed, good decision maker, strong-bodied, no fuss.

 

[Finknottle]

O'Connor or Simpson for me because Dahlhaus is untouchable.

I rate Simpson but he just doesn't do enough and that's the same with O'Connor.

O'Connor is our only shut down player plus he is pretty good at avoiding tackles. I'd drop Kolo before him.

 

[Pollywaffle]

I think he should get the rest he was scheduled to have five to six weeks’ ago.

Gets to play on a ground he may have some familiarity with. still covering ground and involved. Crazy to rest him now