Changes v St. Kilda Saturday 7:10pm @ AO

[Waspy79]

Rockliff is not best 22. Depth only.

Manaconda Change your avatar, it is already taken.

Rockliff’s form without Wines was/is superior to Wines form without Rockliff. Small sample size but that’s pretty conclusive based on statistical output.

 

[gbear]

I wouldn’t mind giving a Bergman or Williams a run this week. List management will be important over the coming weeks. Hopefully Lycett will be fit to play against Gawn when we play Melbourne Thursday week.

 

[gbear]

Rockliff’s form without Wines was/is superior to Wines form without Rockliff. Small sample size but that’s pretty conclusive based on statistical output.

I am sure Rocky will get another go during the compressed rounds.

 

[Waspy79]

At what point do we become rightly spoken about as a top 4 team then, genuine question.

When we are 11-4

 

[RangaInTeal]

Out: Rozee (inj)
Burton (inj)
Motlop (inj)

In: Watts
Bonner
Lienert

3 defenders for 2 forwards and a defender throws our balance out, however MG for Bonner is 2 for 1 but allows Houston to be a permanent mid.

 

[RossFC]

Rockliff’s form without Wines was/is superior to Wines form without Rockliff. Small sample size but that’s pretty conclusive based on statistical output.

Updated figures after GWS and Carlton games:

With only Rockliff: Played 10, Won 6, Lost 4. 60% win rate
With both: Played 31, Won 18, Lost 13. 58% win rate.
With only Wines: Played 8, Won 4, Lost 4. 50% win rate.
With neither: Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1. 50% win rate.

 

[EskimoPAFC]

So many players going out and I reckon I'll feel good almost no matter what choice is made this Thursday. Bring on at least one debutant (or at least Georgi) please

 

[EskimoPAFC]

Another week, another minnow supporter base underrating our team. View attachment 916491

We haven't beat a top 6 side yet, those sides have had full seasons of success in recent times and are more trustworthy.

Can only beat who you have in front of me and I'd say that Carlton would have taken down most teams with how they played on the weekend, but I don't fault anybody for not having us as flag favourites yet. Smash the tigs at AO on August 8 to change that.

 

[Pickett4GOAT]

The conversation has absolutely opened up. We may well be starting to click. However we've seen this all before. And I'd ask the question the other way, how many years does this forum need to get carried away EARLY with a 'turn around' before seemingly inevitable failure, before they just take a breather? Every year people get carried away early or in pre-season, and it comes crashing down. We're not even half way yet, the best teams are still only in 2nd gear and barely warming up.

In 2018 at 11-4 it appeared it had all clicked. We were finding ways to win and win ugly, our win against Melbourne was seen as a huge turning point. We then proceeded to win 1 of the next 8.

In 2017 we were spanking lower sides and getting beaten by the top sides, yet everything pointed to us being a contender.

In 2014 we were top and 2 games clear after round 12, before we were found out.

And realistically this year, come the end of it, we likely will only have played 1 top 8 side so far.

We're doing some good stuff no doubt, and maybe, just maybe things are changing, however not only have we got to actually beat some contenders that are fit and firing before full belief comes back, but most importantly we need to stop doing the same Hinkley era sh*t and these last 3 games have been full of that stuff, which can't seriously give anyone confidence given our recent history.

Bombing into a structureless forward line for little result, giving up center clearance goals or other rebound goals with incredible ease, horrible panicky skills when under any element of pressure, choking in the key moments, etc. The worst game was the GWS schmozzle, that was terrible Hinkley ball at it's worst, we were just lucky we were on the right side of the scoreboard pressure for once. The Brisbane game was a massively flattering score as we were torn apart with ease. Then the Carlton game reeked of all our recent close scrappy wins that didn't mean anything. So even whilst we haven't beaten anyone, its our last 3 weeks that have been pretty concerning and it'd be ignorant to not notice the way our footy is trending, given we've seen it before, before getting carried away.

All we can do is continue to put ourselves in these positions and see if we can become a genuine premiership contender by finals time. Although the issues you have mentioned are problematic, at least we are playing as a strong, focused unit. That may sound cliche, but a strong unity and collective trust is important in building a successful team. Against GWS and Carlton we didn't play at our best, but our will to win and strength of character got us over the line. Richmond have shown that with a consistent playing philosophy and high team morale you can go from being an ordinary team to a very good one in the space of a year. We have a brand now- high pressure, high pressing footy with quick ball movement. We seem to have a strong team chemistry- the test now, like you said, is whether we can keep these positive attributes for the entirety of the season.

 

[GoTheMightyCrows]

VERY left field here but is there any chance that Buzza might come in for the Hoff? Buzza is 199cm and did ruck in the VFL last year and probably could play either end of the ground as well as he's pretty athletic. Little chance but it's another option we could put into play.

 

[PowerBaz]

When we are 11-4

When we follow through with something..

 

[OneGreatClub]

We haven't beat a top 6 side yet, those sides have had full seasons of success in recent times and are more trustworthy.

Can only beat who you have in front of me and I'd say that Carlton would have taken down most teams with how they played on the weekend, but I don't fault anybody for not having us as flag favourites yet. Smash the tigs at AO on August 8 to change that.

 

[EskimoPAFC]

VERY left field here but is there any chance that Buzza might come in for the Hoff? Buzza is 199cm and did ruck in the VFL last year and probably could play either end of the ground as well as he's pretty athletic. Little chance but it's another option we could put into play.

The question I'd have is if we want to go a longshot outsider to debut for Port and play ruck and forward then why not go Hayes?

 

[GoTheMightyCrows]

The question I'd have is if we want to go a longshot outsider to debut for Port and play ruck and forward then why not go Hayes?

Yeah, it's pretty hard to get any kind of handle on team selections without the luxury of seeing the guys playing in the two's, I really don't know which would be better suited to drop back into the backlines if required.

 

[EskimoPAFC]

Yep we've been more impressive than any team (possibly other than Brisbane which is debatable) so far this year...

But what I'm saying is Brisbane was a top 4 side last year, Collingwood has played two straight finals series and was one bullshit free kick off a premiership. Richmond's won two flags in the last three years and the other year they were top 4. Meanwhile we haven't made the 8 for the last two years and made one elimination final in 2017 for an embarrassing result.

We've done well with the teams we've faced, all I'm saying is we shouldn't be getting ahead of ourselves, there is still a lot more to prove. If you disagree, imagine for a second that it was Essendon sitting with our win/loss record and home/away record... would you seriously be thinking they were strong favourites over the other three sides mentioned?

 

[TeeKray]

Why do people want us to be talked up as a premiership contender? We've got about 20 years of evidence that suggests this club performs best when expectations are low and crumbles once people start expecting things from us. Let the media talk up other teams, it suits us just fine.

 

[Mutha F]

VERY left field here but is there any chance that Buzza might come in for the Hoff? Buzza is 199cm and did ruck in the VFL last year and probably could play either end of the ground as well as he's pretty athletic. Little chance but it's another option we could put into play.

Forgot about him. Sure couldn't do any worse.

 

[Mutha F]

Why do people want us to be talked up as a premiership contender? We've got about 20 years of evidence that suggests this club performs best when expectations are low and crumbles once people start expecting things from us. Let the media talk up other teams, it suits us just fine.

And 130 years of evidence before that to the contrary. Own it

 

[Lightning_Rod]

Why do people want us to be talked up as a premiership contender? We've got about 20 years of evidence that suggests this club performs best when expectations are low and crumbles once people start expecting things from us. Let the media talk up other teams, it suits us just fine.

Maybe that's a culture and mindset we should be changing back to the way it used to be. Just a thought.

 

[Jonts]

Looking forward to Marshall v Howard

 

[PowerLil]

Looking forward to Marshall v Howard

Toddy will do.well. I think Doogs gsme was overrated the other night. Ted had 7 shots at goal.

 

[Kingfish73]

At what point do we become rightly spoken about as a top 4 team then, genuine question.

1st week of finals

 

[PowerBaz]

Toddy will do.well. I think Doogs gsme was overrated the other night. Ted had 7 shots at goal.

He gets angry quick too, Butters needs to irritate him.

 

[OneGreatClub]

Yep we've been more impressive than any team (possibly other than Brisbane which is debatable) so far this year...

But what I'm saying is Brisbane was a top 4 side last year, Collingwood has played two straight finals series and was one bullshit free kick off a premiership. Richmond's won two flags in the last three years and the other year they were top 4. Meanwhile we haven't made the 8 for the last two years and made one elimination final in 2017 for an embarrassing result.

We've done well with the teams we've faced, all I'm saying is we shouldn't be getting ahead of ourselves, there is still a lot more to prove. If you disagree, imagine for a second that it was Essendon sitting with our win/loss record and home/away record... would you seriously be thinking they were strong favourites over the other three sides mentioned?

I think Brisbane are the definite front-runners.
They have been gifted a brilliant season so far.
Two years with almost no injuries and all those games in Queensland plus their results from last year of course to their benefit.
I still beleive that THIS Port team can beat anyone. Injuries and unfair fixture could be our undoing in the end though.

 

[gbear]

Why do people want us to be talked up as a premiership contender? We've got about 20 years of evidence that suggests this club performs best when expectations are low and crumbles once people start expecting things from us. Let the media talk up other teams, it suits us just fine.

I agree. I would prefer Port to fly under the radar and be questioned week in week out.