Game Day Pre-Season - West Coast vs Adelaide (Fri)

[earlsta]

Soligo reminds me so much of Ben Cousins, big call but I think he’s going to become our best player in a few years time.

Genuine A grade mid potential, how did he slip through so much? He even played a little for Richmond VFL!

 

[BlackGun1]

Maybe he has but increased fitness would explain his kicking better to me.



I don't buy it Jen, others can play midfield and not kick grubbers into the forward line like Benny did last year and i mean thousands of midfielders I have watched in my time have, they also run the same distance. Increased fitness in a competitive sport is such a huge advantage when it comes to performing skills. I hope this is the case too because it augers bloody well for us if young Benjamin can put balls into the 50, off balanced, under pressure like he did to Tex in the last quarter.

I honestly think we are seeing some dividends from Burgo at present now he has had a second PS with the boys

He was carrying a chronic groin injury for about 50% of the season. Didn’t run for 3 months after the season finished. Wasn’t just the AC joint

 

[jenny61_99]

Soligo reminds me so much of Ben Cousins, big call but I think he’s going to become our best player in a few years time.

Genuine A grade mid potential, how did he slip through so much? He even played a little for Richmond VFL!

Can we keep him here?

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

I got Fog at $81 on Bet 360
View attachment 1620826


Also some money for jam getting on Brisbane to beat Port round 1

Money for jam for me as well

 

[AmericanCrow]

I think AmericanCrow has the toughest gig, isnt the game time, the day before?

Nope still same day—just 1:51 am here in Arizona

And I treat it just like this guy:

 

[cleanhands]

He was carrying a chronic groin injury for about 50% of the season. Didn’t run for 3 months after the season finished. Wasn’t just the AC joint

A bit of insider trading?

 

[AmericanCrow]

I reckon, no idea where in US he is though, too many time zones

Sierra Vista, Arizona

We are in same time zone year round here

 

[BunjiMC]

Money for jam for me as well

View attachment 1620838

May as well have chucked Crows flag into that multi

 

[cleanhands]

Nope still same day—just 1:51 am here in Arizona

And I treat it just like this guy:

What’s he talking bout

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

May as well have chucked Crows flag into that multi

Well now that's unlikely

 

[spenze]

Only more talent than us in their midfield for now but I think Soligo will become equal if not a better player than Butters, Rachele will be equal to Rozee, JHF will be a much better player than Pedlar but who's their Berry/Schoenberg/Rankine?

We have a mire talented forward line, they have a more talented midfield and defence is about even. All in all, the two sides really aren't that far apart.

OK, so i have to explain stirring 101 to you two?

What hurts Port supporters more, thinking they are being beaten by more talent or that the other side plays like more of a team than Port?

"The Port Adelaide way" is about team being more than a group of individuals. I mean it isn't the Port Adelaide way, that is about marrying a close relative and getting benefits but that is what the football team means when they are saying it.

 

[spenze]

He was carrying a chronic groin injury for about 50% of the season. Didn’t run for 3 months after the season finished. Wasn’t just the AC joint

So you think he is more fit than last season?

 

[BlackGun1]

So you think he is more fit than last season?

Compared to the end of last year, 100%

 

[dogs105]

So you think he is more fit than last season?

Not having a groin injury would certainly count as fitter.

 

[crow2crow]

Soligo reminds me so much of Ben Cousins, big call but I think he’s going to become our best player in a few years time.

Genuine A grade mid potential, how did he slip through so much? He even played a little for Richmond VFL!

i agree his improvement rate is looking like he will be the best

i dont see cousins though unfortunately. hes a really strange mix. keeping him will be the challenge

 

[spenze]

Not having a groin injury would certainly count as fitter.

Yes...and my statement has always been tonight that he appears more fit than last years and people have disagreed with me.

It seemed obvious but maybe just to me

 

[Gary123]

Top 2 for mine

What? In WA?

 

[BRL121]

We're up 8:9 to 3:3 at end of second period for seconds.

 

[spenze]

How did Brown go tonight, how is he looking?

 

[earlsta]

i agree his improvement rate is looking like he will be the best

i dont see cousins though unfortunately. hes a really strange mix. keeping him will be the challenge

His inside work is very similar to how Cousins operated, Ben was more dominant on the outside however Soli is still young and is also a running machine, covers a lot of km during a game.

 

[Thylacinus]

We should learn a fair bit tonight. I'm really looking forward to it. West Coast have some players back and plenty of talent. They are being widely tipped to climb the ladder somewhat. I believe we will also be significant improves. We know what our forwards can do. I am looking forward to the midfield battle against some serious opposition. Can we provide our forwards with enough ball. If so they will do their job and finish. I bleieve Laird, Soligo, Berry and Schoenberg have plenty of defensive capability and will show that last weeks first quarter was an anomaly. Put burst players like Rankine through there for short periods and I believe we will at least match the opposition. Can our defense, probably our most questionable area, stop the hemorrhaging? We are wanting to attack more from defense. Looking forward to what Pistol brings. Butts will have to be good. Will be interesting to see if Himmelberg spends time in defense. I think we will walk away from tonight knowing that we are improving. By how much is the question. I say a relatively fair amount. We will know more in a few hours.

I wrote the following (see above) just before the game (see p 12 of this thread). We have found out more and tonight confirmed the improvements that I have observed and suspected. We do now have depth, serious talent and it is good to see some serious skills both by hand, but also our ability to hit up players by foot. It was windy out there but there were still enough skills on display. Rankine is still young and a Rolls Royce type player, but is McAdam atm at least his equal or better? Why the heck did some here want to get rid of him? Rachele showed why he is much more than just a small forward. A potential gun with some Tyson Edwards type sidesteps. The one who caught me by surprise is Mitch Hinge. I always rated him, but if he can back up performances like tonight that will be a huge plus for us. Sloane on the other wing is excellent. We need experience to complement our youth. We need to give the 8 a good crack. If at some stage we realize that this is not going to happen then give the likes of Slaone a rest. But until then play him so that we have a balanced side and some good on field leadership. Overall, as my post above probes, we are getting some encouraging first answers to the questions.

 

[Walker Texas Danger]

Fog 51 bucks for the Coleman is tempting

$81 on bet365

 

[BRL121]

His inside work is very similar to how Cousins operated, Ben was more dominant on the outside however Soli is still young and is also a running machine, covers a lot of km during a game.

Soligo is already a star. I look forward to him getting the ball because I really enjoy watching him dispose of it. This contrasts with many others where I just grit my teeth and shut my eyes. He is good at everything and makes very, very few mistakes. We should extend his contract again right now.

 

[Golumless]

Proper thoughts seeing there is no 2nds game broadcast:

That first quarter was fantastic, the pressure was immense and we piled on goals. Afterwards, we went through the gears a bit, never really losing control of the game, even when challenged and deserved a 50 point win. Considering it's a tricky start, we do at least look up to the challenge coming into it.

Hinge was my player of the game. Played a pivotal role in breaking West Coast in the first quarter, and did a fair bit of good afterwards. Read the play well, was tough and most importantly, did damage with the ball in hand. You'd think he's utterly locked in that wing spot from that game, and 5 tackles/13 PA also gives him another lane to impact, which is very important seeing how hot and cold it can be on a wing.

Fog continued on from the last two weeks. Looks fitter, looks stronger (if that is even possible?) and is just making plays now that scream he's ready to be one of the premier key forwards in the competition. 18 disposals, 4 goals 1, 11 score involvements and was willing to get his hands dirty defensively (which considering that frame is going to have a few defenders nervous). 10/10 performance.

I had a lot of time for Rachele and Soligo performances. Both got involved in the midfield rotations and both had some serious moments where their poise, and agility cleaved through West Coast. Sogs clearance work as well was sublime, and both weren't slouches defensively. Very heartening.

Keays was fantastic as a forward, and offers a good contrast to our other forwards with his strength and gut running. A complete game, and considering how well McHenry played last week, it was needed to snuff out that challenge.

As much as this game proved he was mortal, Rankine deserves a fair bit of credit. Wasn't his day to get a big haul, but 7 score involvements, 6 tackles and 24 pressure acts in a preseason match is a real indicator he is willing to work hard to make the most of his talent, even when the goals dry up. I'm a bit disappointed how little midfield time we gave him, but still, a game I imagine Nicks is stoked about.

Berry looks fantastic, and good to see him get on the scoresheet. If he can add a few more goals to his game, it'll go a long way to help him elevate himself to being an A-grade midfielder.

Pedlar best game for the club, and bodes well for the season proper. Looked powerful, creative and confident. Actually, on that note, it was very promising how powerful most of our kids looked this week. Burgess has earned every cent.

Laird, Dawson, Tex, Smith were all influential and were pivotal in us controlling the game. Good hitout for all of them.

One of ROBs best performances in a long time. Came up against a ruck that isn't ready and just did what he wanted with him.

I really liked Murrays performance in defense. 14 touches (11/14 effective)/8 marks/6 intercepts/6 spoils is a damn promising performance and keep Keane at bay. Butts didn't quite hit those heights with 10 disposals/5 marks/6 intercepts/5 spoils, but still, a solid day at the office all things considered.

Michaelaney faded after an early start, but he was a rock defensively. Doesn't look out of place at all.

Brown accumulated well when he came on in the last, which is very promising seeing it was the one thing holding him back at Collingwood. Bit of a shame we didn't get him in until late January as he probably challenges for a best 22 spot if he had been under Burgess for another couple of months.

McAdam quiet, but had some nice moments.

Himmelberg had the definition of an almost game.

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Other game notes: I reckon that was one of the best officiated games I've seen in a long time. AFL is absolutely on the money to really focus in on holding the ball calls, and even if it does seem a bit over-zealous at times, it's one of the very few things they can do to minimize congestion/open the game up. Plus, we do stand in good steed to be rewarded for it, which is also good.

West Coast are going to be shit this year. That said, their future looks a hell of a lot brighter now they've got Ginbey. Looks a talent to build around once they decide to stop drifting and commit to a proper rebuild.

 

[ABAB]

Soligo is already a star. I look forward to him getting the ball because I really enjoy watching him dispose of it. This contrasts with many others where I just grit my teeth and shut my eyes. He is good at everything and makes very, very few mistakes. We should extend his contract again right now.

We've already extended his and Rachele contract without them playing a game for us.