Game Day Round 16 vs Essendon at MCG

[Marmozet]

Then again, Brisbane were 3-6 (I think) after 9 games in 2001, but then won 16 in a row to pinch the premiership from the seemingly invincible Bombers. Let's be Brisbane.

Geelong were 5-4 last year then won 16 in a row.

 

[Andre]

The MCG thing is overrated. Winning a home and away game at the MCG is nothing like walking onto the MCG on grand final day as the villain with 90k against you. That takes a special level of talent and resilience that isn't displayed in victory or defeat tonight.

Yes and no. Part of why we lost the 2014 PF was unfamiliarity with the conditions (wind etc.) at the MCG, compared to the Hawks who play there regularly. Playing more at the MCG also helps reinforce not to get sucked into the trap, that Port has too often since joining the AFL, of playing way too wide through the centre. I've too many memories from the last, 25 odd years of watching us kick it 10 times through the middle area, going 500 metres in circles, to be back where we started.

Grand final day atmosphere is definitely a thing, but if we make it, I'd rather the atmosphere is all the players are worrying about and not a complete unfamiliarity with the ground. So it's not so much we need to win at the MCG today, it's more just playing on it helps.

Diverging old man yells at clouds time - this is why every side should be playing there at least twice every year, including once in the last 6 rounds. Also every side should be able to train on it 3 or 4 times over the pre-season and another 3 or 4 times, even when not playing there, during the season. If we're stuck with the VFL selling us being stuck there until the year we get an honest politician, at least let all sides play on the so called hallowed ground.

 

[Chewy316]

Theoretically speaking, the G should be a good ground for Port because of the way they consistently move the ball through the corridor. The wide ground of the G should open that space up nicely for the back flankers of Houston, Farrell and Williams to execute pin point passes to break through Essendon's forward press.

Essendon are a weird team to judge. Their best is good enough to match it with anyone. Their worst is pretty bloody awful.

An away game against a top 8 side is always difficult on paper. But I'm confident that Port have the pieces today to win. I don't think the bye will be an issue for this team either - there are too many young and hungry players in today's team who are uncompromising in their pursuit of success, and they've well and truly grabbed the baton from the no hopers like Jonas who are just happy to be there.

 

[Del165198]

Yes and no. Part of why we lost the 2014 PF was unfamiliarity with the conditions (wind etc.) at the MCG, compared to the Hawks who play there regularly. Playing more at the MCG also helps reinforce not to get sucked into the trap, that Port has too often since joining the AFL, of playing way too wide through the centre. I've too many memories from the last, 25 odd years of watching us kick it 10 times through the middle area, going 500 metres in circles, to be back where we started.

Grand final day atmosphere is definitely a thing, but if we make it, I'd rather the atmosphere is all the players are worrying about and not a complete unfamiliarity with the ground. So it's not so much we need to win at the MCG today, it's more just playing on it helps.

Diverging old man yells at clouds time - this is why every side should be playing there at least twice every year, including once in the last 6 rounds. Also every side should be able to train on it 3 or 4 times over the pre-season and another 3 or 4 times, even when not playing there, during the season. If we're stuck with the VFL selling us being stuck there until the year we get an honest politician, at least let all sides play on the so called hallowed ground.

but it's da home of footie and makes no difference! a team that plays there 10 times a year definitely doesn't get more familiar with it than a team like gold coast who plays there once every 5 years.

the competition is fair and definitely not biased towards victoria!

 

[Enviable Tradition]

I feel like having players like Narkle come in desperate to earn a spot and players like Jonas in the 2s helps hedge against post bye complacency.

In previous years I would be very nervous about this one. Well win comfortably.

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Jojay]

If we jag a win tonight (and buck the 'bye' trend), we are legit this year.

 

[Coobk001]

The MCG thing is overrated. Winning a home and away game at the MCG is nothing like walking onto the MCG on grand final day as the villain with 90k against you. That takes a special level of talent and resilience that isn't displayed in victory or defeat tonight.

I disagree.

All my footy playing days as a junior and senior, the familiarity and comfort of how you play the ground, and the success you've felt somewhere has a huge part to play in future fortunes at the ground.

Playing at a ground you rarely play at and having only bad feelings has a huge impact on future performance there. Playing away you just never feel as comfortable and never play at your pure best like you do at home where you train and feel most comfortable.

Of course there is no direct impact from winning/losing today, and you can always turn it around, but there's a reason why results trend certain directions at certain grounds and/or against certain opposition. For our sake in the premiership chase, if we're to have any chance the 1% bonus we might get from having had a few wins there this year could be just enough to help us play that little better and maybe pull off the impossible.

IMO we have a lot to gain from a win there today.

 

[Poo Eckert]

We are going to drop another game. I'd prefer that not be the Showdown.

1997 the Crows lost round 4 to Port and copped massive heat. They won the second showdown and went on to win it all. we want to win it

 

[Coobk001]

Keen for tonight, still feel like the PTSD dog watching our games. Still expect to feel like we'll lose at some stage, still expect to see trends we've seen for years, the difference has been we've been able to turn those around in game on the regular. That doesn't stop the feelings from 10 prior years of failure in the exact same ways sparking that lack of belief.

Hopefully we win, we should expect we will, but off the bye, due to drop one, this just has the feels of a loss on it. Hopefully as we have been all year, that feeling in wrong.

The race for top 2 is on and this is one we need to bank.

 

[Young Gun #6]

Would be good to have a win at the G. Not a massive factor as people have said about GF day being much different. Just nice to know we can win some regular season games on the G this season anyway.

 

[theouthouse]

Not too sure on this nonsense about intimidation at grounds etc. The unfimiliarity in finals is what makes it an on edge experience for the players, natural flair and instincts kick in. Throughout the year teams train structures etc, many clubs I'm sure, Port specifically in Hinkleys reign, fall into the trap of structure, organisation and overcoaching the players above playing players in positions where their natural talent and instincts shine through in that structure.

This year Port are playing like that, with more freedom and a solid system in place. Inner belief is strong. In a way Port are very similar to Collingwood, just playing to their strengths with a solid structure and self belief behind them.

Brisbane, Bulldogs, and even Adelaide are the only other 3 teams I feel can win it this year based on the above.

 

[StuMan]

Yeah, not feeling it today.

 

[philreich]

Can we please reverse what we did against this mob last time? 20:12 looks much better on the scoreboard than 12:20!

 

[Manhattan Bronx]

We'll win. I can feel it in me waters.

 

[klem22]

I'm relatively confident that we will win today.

 

[dirty2]

I'm confident.... I don't like that I'm confident.

 

[TazD]

Yeah, not feeling it today.

Shame on you, everyone knows our feelings have material impact on our performance. GET WITH IT.

 

[Shane_Mag]

Playing the Bombers at the MCG is strange as hasn't happened in a very very very long time. Hope we get the win even though teams off the bye have come back and lost. Brisbane are right on our necks for that top 2 spot so a win is so important.

 

[Capital Power]

Self-belief in the squad at the moment must be at an all-time high. I think we'll get the job done, but we'll do it tough. Am mildy concerned about how we'll isolate Peter Wright.

Port by 25.

 

[Steve Dore]

Carn Ports, just win for Daddy.

I don't understand this "due for a loss" loser talk. Just giving the players an excuse to lose and make losing seem acceptable. It's a tough competition and someone has to lose, yada yada.

Ports by 17.

 

[ExpectToWin]

How can Sinn be named on interchange for Essendon game but play SANFL today

 

[TheTruthBeTold]

I think there's something wrong if 90k of the crowd are going for one team.

It happened in 2007

 

[El_Scorcho]

I think we'll win comfortably. Better on every line. Draper out.

 

[TheTruthBeTold]

Essendon should start favourites. The thing that gives me hope is our bottom six players compared to their bottom six. A whole team effort will win this game.

 

[Fizzler]

Will be in attendance tonight, hoping especially for a win, we’re 2-1 in matches I’ve been to this season, would be nice to make that 3-1 and see the team move to 13-2, a spot that would’ve been unfathomable in the preseason.