Preview Round 2, 2022: Port v Hawthorn, AO 7.40pm, Saturday 26th March

[Pessimistic]

I reckon we are a sneaky chance, but the least favoured team to win generally this weekend too

 

[DannyJ]

Surely Hartigan comes in next week against Carlton?

I was shot done a few months ago for suggesting we play Frost at FB and leave Hartigan out of the side.

Now I'm not suggesting Hartigan won't come back in at all, but if he does, it says more about the glaring hole in our list more than anything else.

The facts are Hartigan isn't very good, and Sam is trying an alternative to be better. I'm just praying it works out for Mitch and all of us, as Frost is clearly a better footballer to have playing than Harto.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[cryptor]

I reckon we are a sneaky chance, but the least favoured team to win generally this weekend too

First month of the season usually throws up a heap of upsets. Sometimes because people haven't realised certain teams are now much better/worse than they were last season, but also some teams are just slow/fast out of the gates before they hit their true form.

 

[fairdinks]

I think Sam is sending the clear message that wins and losses this year is not that important. Getting game time into the younger players is the aim. Regardless if Shiels is out due to the birth of his child or not, he will not be getting any better than he is right now, but the younger players are likely to improve significantly by year end with game time.

Shiels is still a best 22 if we were contending IMO, he did have a reasonable game last week, is experienced, tough, quite consistent and important against a side like Port (if we were contending), but he is not the future.

Sam must see players like Macdonald, Finn, Morrison, Nash and even Long are likely to go past him in 20 or so games time. I didn't add Ward as I think he plays every game unless rested from now on. Even Howe could improve and still has 4 to 6 years. Downie, Morris, Seamus, Saunders, Brockman etc still need opportunities if Sam thinks they are up to it. Great to have potential depth and competitions for spots.

 

[Coathanger]

Depends how we go this week, if we lose and one of Frost/DGB shits the bed maybe. If they don't think he's good enough to be in the best 22 now I doubt he'll suddenly become good enough to play against an in form forward line like Carlton's.

Considering DGB was ragdolled by Goldy several times, Hartigan still has a role to play.

 

[Pessimistic]

I think Sam is sending the clear message that wins and losses this year is not that important. Getting game time into the younger players is the aim. Regardless if Shiels is out due to the birth of his child or not, he will not be getting any better than he is right now, but the younger players are likely to improve significantly by year end with game time.

Shiels is still a best 22 if we were contending IMO, he did have a reasonable game last week, is experienced, tough, quite consistent and important against a side like Port (if we were contending), but he is not the future.

Sam must see players like Macdonald, Finn, Morrison, Nash and even Long are likely to go past him in 20 or so games time. I didn't add Ward as I think he plays every game unless rested from now on. Even Howe could improve and still has 4 to 6 years. Downie, Morris, Seamus, Saunders, Brockman etc still need opportunities if Sam thinks they are up to it. Great to have potential depth and competitions for spots.

He brought back the oldest player who’s also captain. Also if everyone thought if two players are up for a spot, but the younger player gets selected on that proviso, competition for spots is lessened

 

[HawthornHawk]

Considering DGB was ragdolled by Goldy several times, Hartigan still has a role to play.

Not sure how often we'll come up against sides playing 3 rucks to be fair

 

[Ned Ryerson]

He brought back the oldest player who’s also captain. Also if everyone thought if two players are up for a spot, but the younger player gets selected on that proviso, competition for spots is lessened

McEvoy was re-signed in February last year, so Mitchell didn't exactly get a say in the matter. Plus you can't just cull every player over 30 - we now have one of the youngest lists in the league. McEvoy being our captain doesn't exactly negate the youth policy across multiple lines.

 

[fairdinks]

He brought back the oldest player who’s also captain. Also if everyone thought if two players are up for a spot, but the younger player gets selected on that proviso, competition for spots is lessened

Yes, you are correct, however, McEvoy is captain and is a clear replacement for Lynch out with concussion. I also feel McEvoy gives us the luxury of not playing Hartigan or Kossie for now as he can go forward or back if needed and be serviceable. Its only one game, but I thought our forward structure looked the most flexible for quite a while last week.

Also its not aimed at all older players. Just those that have real competition from the younger brigade.

My view is when you have a 50/50 decision about a spot (when in the Hawks window), you go for the player with more upside for the future.

 

[KermitJagger]

Considering DGB was ragdolled by Goldy several times, Hartigan still has a role to play.

I hope by several times you mean once?

Also, North had 4 players between 198cm and 201cm rotating through their forward line. That won't come up often, if at all, in the future.

If Hartigan isn't seen as good enough to play against North with their glut of average talls, he's not going to magically become good enough to play against teams with better tall forwards.

 

[Pessimistic]

Yes, you are correct, however, McEvoy is captain and is a clear replacement for Lynch out with concussion. I also feel McEvoy gives us the luxury of not playing Hartigan or Kossie for now as he can go forward or back if needed and be serviceable. Its only one game, but I thought our forward structure looked the most flexible for quite a while last week.

Also its not aimed at all older players. Just those that have real competition from the younger brigade.

My view is when you have a 50/50 decision about a spot (when in the Hawks window), you go for the player with more upside for the future.

Yep. I loved seeing the midfield develop before our eyes. I think Shiels is one of our best leaders, it’s a long season and there’s injuries, covid etc

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I hope by several times you mean once?

Also, North had 4 players between 198cm and 201cm rotating through their forward line. That won't come up often, if at all, in the future.

If Hartigan isn't seen as good enough to play against North with their glut of average talls, he's not going to magically become good enough to play against teams with better tall forwards.

Particularly when, as either you or Brishawk pointed out, it was a tandem effort by Sicily and Frost to curtail the taller forwards to great effect - so it is hardly going to be DGB's main function.

 

[Pessimistic]

Does anyone else see DGB as a dustin fletcher

Dustin Fletcher

Age

49

Ht

198cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.0

4star

K

12.3

5star

HB

3.7

3star

M

4.7

4star

T

1.2

3star

MG

301.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

14.2

4star

K

11.4

4star

HB

2.8

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

4star

type player?

 

[KermitJagger]

Particularly when, as either you or Brishawk pointed out, it was a tandem effort by Sicily and Frost to curtail the taller forwards to great effect - so it is hardly going to be DGB's main function.

Indeed, it's rotation based. Sicily and Frost play on the key talls but it's still zone based so they will rotate on to different forwards depending on who is in their area, DGB generally took the resting ruck. Though DGB got caught out once or twice on much bigger players, Frost and Sicily took the majority of the key 1:1s and CJ put a lot of effort into ensuring that those 1:1s were as few as possible.

 

[Timo pez]

Unpopular opinion but would have even dropped Chad.

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Chad so flaky these days. I wish we could get the hey day Port Adelaide version

 

[Timo pez]

I think Sam is sending the clear message that wins and losses this year is not that important. Getting game time into the younger players is the aim. Regardless if Shiels is out due to the birth of his child or not, he will not be getting any better than he is right now, but the younger players are likely to improve significantly by year end with game time.

Shiels is still a best 22 if we were contending IMO, he did have a reasonable game last week, is experienced, tough, quite consistent and important against a side like Port (if we were contending), but he is not the future.

Sam must see players like Macdonald, Finn, Morrison, Nash and even Long are likely to go past him in 20 or so games time. I didn't add Ward as I think he plays every game unless rested from now on. Even Howe could improve and still has 4 to 6 years. Downie, Morris, Seamus, Saunders, Brockman etc still need opportunities if Sam thinks they are up to it. Great to have potential depth and competitions for spots.

I don't think Shiels playing actually means we are more likely to win. He's been a feature of the line-up the last few years when we've lost the majority of our games. He no longer moves the dial. I think the side has been picked to give us the best shot of winning.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

I don't disagree with Worpel being part of the future - I don't think he should be banished from the side. I am just wondering out loud if a spell at Box Hill could do him some good to fight his way back into the side on form as opposed to name.

After one game? You are seriously hard task master. I just think we need to give him another 1-2 games.

Started to find his feet in the second half. An set up a nice goal in the last qtr. James is building for a steady 2022.

Score involments 4 at an efficiency of 92%.

 

[Pessimistic]

May not happen but Will Day

12

Will Day

Age

23

Ht

191cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.5

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

7.5

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.5

2star

D

17.5

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

7.5

4star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.0

2star

CL

0.5

3star

D

17.5

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

7.5

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.5

3star

named onball for box hill sunday

 

[On Topic]

I find the commentary interesting around our defence being undersized. The biggest mismatch last week was not Goldy vs DGB. It was Lewis and Ziebell.

Who takes Lewis, McEvoy and Gunston from ports side this weekend? There’s a bigger match up problem there IMO. We will also have Breust, Wingard and Moore to cause problems as well.

Ports midfield is where things will get hairy for us though, especially after our performance last week in the engine room.

 

[BIGHAWK23]

I find the commentary interesting around our defence being undersized. The biggest mismatch last week was not Goldy vs DGB. It was Lewis and Ziebell.

Who takes Lewis, McEvoy and Gunston from ports side this weekend? There’s a bigger match up problem there IMO. We will also have Breust, Wingard and Moore to cause problems as well.

Ports midfield is where things will get hairy for us though, especially after our performance last week in the engine room.

At least there is minimal gorilla height in ports fwd line

Georgiades and Finlayson dont scare me

 

[Mojo]

Chad so flaky these days. I wish we could get the hey day Port Adelaide version

He plays for himself a bit, doesn't he?

Quite opportunistic the way he moves; waiting for the ball to pop out back rather than putting himself in front of an opposition player and be proactive.

 

[TylerDurden]

At least there is minimal gorilla height in ports fwd line

Georgiades and Finlayson dont scare me

Correct. Dixon destroyed us last time. As did Allir. And Gray normally dines out on us.

For some reason I'm confident.

 

[WWSD]

Brockman not named in the VFL. Is he injured?

 

[Spanish Sahara]

I find the commentary interesting around our defence being undersized. The biggest mismatch last week was not Goldy vs DGB. It was Lewis and Ziebell.

Who takes Lewis, McEvoy and Gunston from ports side this weekend? There’s a bigger match up problem there IMO. We will also have Breust, Wingard and Moore to cause problems as well.

Ports midfield is where things will get hairy for us though, especially after our performance last week in the engine room.

Jonas on Lewis
Skinner on Mcevoy
Mckenzie (pending fitness) on Gunston

Is how I assume they will line up

 

[Bugs1977]

Correct. Dixon destroyed us last time. As did Allir. And Gray normally dines out on us.

For some reason I'm confident.

I'm confident because we're playing with house money. Port / Hinkley will have all the pressure on them coming off a round 1 loss along with some major outs combined with the fact they'll likely be playing a few that are sore. Sounds like a recipe for an upset to me.