Review R21: Port v Hawthorn Review

[Doctor Feel]

My stomach churned every time butch shanked a kick, I don't think we've ever wanted someone to succeed more than him. His only deficiencies are learning to lead properly (comes with games played) and his kicking for goal (should be fixable, but why hasn't it yet? ffs.)

 

[crazee_peet]

This will be my first ever game away from Adelaide. We're down and missing multiple key players and Hawthorn are flying with a much stronger looking team. We're playing at Etihad where we struggle to hold teams scoring against us and our defence is decimated. Apparently Etihad is one of the worst venues in the league. Sounds like a recipe for a miserab... Stop! Hold it right there! This is a recipe for a remarkable win and an awesome experience. I'm going to be cheering loudly and looking out for our younger players to continue on from last week and make their marks on the competition. I'm going to watch our boys play with pride in the jumper. I'm going to watch our boys take it up to those "unsociable" Hawks. What a joke of a concept that is, that people have latched onto. What do professional athletes expect playing them in this day and age? That they're going to be sent home on stretchers or in body bags? I mean really, what are they actually going to do to us that w can't do to them? I'm going to watch our boys face up, shape up, hit hard and smash hard when winning the ball. I am going to watch us hit on as hard as they hit us. When I see this, the rest is just a spectacle.

I posted this before the game in the match day thread. One of the things that I enjoyed the most was watching our boys take it up to the hawks. That's One of Monfries best attributes. Even Wingard after Hodge tried to wing him, hit back and got right in Hodge's face. Items awesome watching our guys store that toughness. I actually thought we'd be lacking a bit in that area without Lobbes or Trengove buttons like the rest of our boys are maturing there. Thank you Vossy.

 

[mic59]

I liked your post but he is still a campaigner

He's a bit like Nostradamus, if you make enough predictions at least a few will end up being correct and people will think you're some kind of wise sage.

 

[carnthemaggies]

Terrific win. Fantastic to see our depth coming on so well. Thought we were going to stuff it up mid third quarter with mistakes creeping in. The psychology of the team has improved a lot as ken alluded to on afl 360. Just so much more composed team play!

 

[FishingRick04]

Well what a game. It reminded me of Freeo round 1 we tried a similar plan but it just didn't come off that night. However last night we had more composure.

The challenge for us moving forward is to find the balance between the two. We go into full possession mode and seem to overcorrect the game plan and therefore lose any attacking flair. In the second quarter we had opportunities from the half back line to still take the space presented in an offensive manner but didn't take it. This conservatism allowed Hawthorn back into the contest, in addition our inability to take easy shots under pressure.

The third and fourth quarter I felt we were able to get the balance between the game plans, so going forward there is hope. Our injury list is now mounting, so that is a fantastic win away from home. Hawthorn did appear to be going through the motions and didn't want to rise to the challenge of playing a non finalists, but who gives a crap, we also denied them their game plan of rising to the challenge as much as anything

The game plan from the Hawks really suits us, as they really just try to sag off and rely on turnovers, which is what we didn't do last night (too excess anyway), hence the reason we match up well, they are prepared to give us time and space that others are not willing to do.

Ken stated on AFL 360 that our mid tier players haven't handled the heat, well last night they did. Our bottom 6 were fantastic. If we place Pittard, Jonas, Ryder, Hartlett, Broadbent and Co in our mid tier range, they had A grade games. Pittard in particular was courageous and played onto his correct side of his body, this makes all the difference, running onto his left meant he could deliver the ball efficiently. He also dished off with the handball more often when on his right side. Our bottom 6 however are then shining light. Sam Gray and Brendon Ah Chee, take a bow, influential, following team plans and effective skills, they will be very hard to push from first 22 and they shouldn't.

Over the 4 quarters I had Sam Gray BOG, followed by Robbie Gray, the Chad, Patty Ryder with sublime tap work, which makes all the difference, Travis Boak and Jasper Pittard, however you could rotate the last 2 players with another 6 quite easily.

The one major discussion point is our teams inability to handle the pressure and expectation. This has to be the biggest correction over the 2016 pre season, it is clear once the pressure of expectation has been removed that our team has played free team football, inhibited with dare and confidence, how is this address I don't know but it needs to be resolved ASAP.

 

[FishingRick04]

Oh Hodge is a dirty dog sniper and should hang his head in shame at what he did.

 

[Adam_23]

Remember last year after we beat Hawthorn here by 14 pts their fans were claiming a moral victory because they were so competitive despite missing a few key players? Well we were in the same situation last night and had no problems. Hawthorn just need to get better depth like we have

Also, from the showdown onwards, we've strung together some damn strong 4th qtr performances, good to see

 

[Doctor Feel]

 

[JAlexG]

Soooo give big Ollie the week off every time we play the horks?

 

[Portia]

i kept thinking how much we missed polec last night

 

[JAlexG]

Also watching the game if Ah Chee continues this form, he's a really hard matchup for the other team size wise. Could genuinely be a gun.

 

[FishingRick04]

i kept thinking how much we missed polec last night

We miss Polec alright, at season start he was our biggest line breaker when our ball movement was average, if he played the margin would have been 7 goals.

 

[Portia]

Also watching the game if Ah Chee continues this form, he's a really hard matchup for the other team size wise. Could genuinely be a gun.

Like a Michael Firrito who has football skills

 

[FishingRick04]

Like a Michael Firrito who has football skills

Please don't even go there. That's like comparing me to Elvis

 

[Portia]

Please don't even go there. That's like comparing me to Elvis

Elvis is a Rick with charisma and musical talent but no tax tips

 

[FishingRick04]

Elvis is a Rick with charisma and musical talent but no tax tips

Hey hey hey, I can take the hit with talent, but Charisma come on.....

 

[Portia]

Hey hey hey, I can take the hit with talent, but Charisma come on.....

Yeah but I'm comparing your charisma to Elvis here, take the hit gracefully

 

[FishingRick04]

Yeah but I'm comparing your charisma to Elvis here, take the hit gracefully

I have an ego bigger than Luke Hodge, not sure I can...

 

[scotty13]

What a bloody great game, and an fantastic win.
Had lunch with Dermie yesterday, and he was confident that the Hawks would kill us, physically, with run and on the scoreboard. He couldn't have been more wrong and Im glad

I hope people are starting to understand what a gem of a player Sammy Gray is too! Killed it last night, has really stepped up the last few weeks when given the chance!

 

[Portia]

I have an ego bigger than Luke Hodge

Not possible in this reality

 

[Duck Farmer]

The best part of this last couple of weeks - other than getting back to playing tough, aggressive, fast paced, team footy - is that our midfield depth looks much improved with AhChee and Sam Gray achieving what Moore and Young have failed to.

I wonder whether we might have achieved this turn around six weeks earlier if Lobbe, Jonas and Monfries had been dropped earlier in their form rut.

So much this.

 

[PAFC66]

My stomach churned every time butch shanked a kick, I don't think we've ever wanted someone to succeed more than him. His only deficiencies are learning to lead properly (comes with games played) and his kicking for goal (should be fixable, but why hasn't it yet? ffs.)

Used to watch him at Gippsland and kicking was barely an issue. Mental.

 

[Duck Farmer]

Happy with the win........ but only makes me soooo pissed off.
How can you play like that one week and drop games to carlton, brissy etc etc.
Pressure of the season was off and we perform? Is it between the ears? Or arrogance. Argh!

The loss to Adelaide was the killer - 8 point game and all. That game goes an extra 5 mins and we're probably playing finals.

 

[FishingRick04]

The loss to Adelaide was the killer - 8 point game and all. That game goes an extra 5 mins and we're probably playing finals.

That game officiated correctly and we win

 

[PAFC66]

We dont deserve to make finals .. To many ifs and could ofs.. We also won a few close games last year and could of finished lower ..

Its a shame that the shackles have been released we are finally playing brave footy. Ontop of this “new” tougher approach when the seasons gone should of been the attitude from round 1. Its all mental this year ontop of playing underdone players all year. Last night was the first time it looked like we had 22 FIT players. Love to finish the season strongly and smash GWS and probably another bitch of ours Freo