Preview Round 4: Essendon vs Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, Friday 5/04/24 @ 8:10 PM

[eth-dog]

Reddog was the first to sign for the kids after training when they come to Shepparton, and he was the last to leave. I saw this at two events when they come to town. A cracking lad

Always one of the last two leave the Sponsors night as well

 

[Shanghaistu]

Hope the Setters inclusion doesn’t somehow become another ‘late withdrawal’ in typical Brad fashion just before kick off

 

[Vindicater]

Gather Round should be in Sydney or Queensland. There'd be no argument against having the showcase on them Saturday night.

Also it's unfair on teams like us and Melbourne to play a non neutral game.

South Australia put the work in to get this up and running. They should benefit with a few years of hosting it, then I agree it should be moved around.

As for Melbourne based teams, cry me a river. They have huge inbuilt advantages that this helps offset, if only alittle.

 

[The Devils Advocate]

Port feel a lot like St. Kilda and Brisbane as a team. They're a confidence team. If you put pressure on them, they wilt like a tulip in the harsh sun. But they also have a stupidly high ceiling for scoring.

Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

vs Charlie Dixon

22

Charlie Dixon

Age

34

Ht

200cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.7

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

4.7

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.6

5star

D

10.5

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.5

2star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.5

2star

G

2.5

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.8

4star

is a huge match up, these type of forwards usually physically dominate us.

If we play 4 quarters of pressure and clearance domination, I see us winning a close one. Unless Dan Houston

5

Dan Houston

Age

27

Ht

186cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

11.8

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

3.0

5star

MG

289.2

4star

D

17.6

4star

K

11.6

4star

HB

6.0

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.4

4star

MG

319.9

5star

D

16.6

4star

K

12.4

5star

HB

4.2

4star

M

7.0

5star

T

2.6

4star

MG

279.8

5star

does his thing again.

 

[JayJ20]

With Port's tall forwardline, Setterfield and McKay are the most important players in the side because the mids need to put a heap of pressure on Port's mids to prevent clean entries deep defensive 50. We're not going to prevent them from taking marks so we need to force their entries wide as Port aren't known for their accuracy in front of goal. Otherwise Port will have a field day.

I'm not worried about our forwardline being able to kick a winning score, but the midfield simply needs to beat Port at their own game.

We're really going to miss Durham and Ridley

 

[eth-dog]

South Australia put the work in to get this up and running. They should benefit with a few years of hosting it, then I agree it should be moved around.

As for Melbourne based teams, cry me a river. They have huge inbuilt advantages that this helps offset, if only alittle.

They originally intended it to grow the game in Sydney and Queensland then the SA government paid the AFL to get it. I'm sorry but that's bullshit. It shouldn't have gone there in the first place, let alone "having it for a few years".

Also it isn't necessarily Melbourne teams that get disadvantaged. It could be any of the interstate teams that have to play Adelaide or Port. This year it happens to be us and Melbourne. Next year it could be Sydney and Brisbane.

 

[andleanback]

Gather Round should be in Sydney or Queensland. There'd be no argument against having the showcase on them Saturday night.

Also it's unfair on teams like us and Melbourne to play a non neutral game.

No chance it should be there. Adelaide is perfect for it. Sydney way too big and nsw would just butcher it. Brisbane and Gold Coast too far apart not really gathering in the 1 location

 

[Gabe251]

Port by 43. I can see the future.

 

[Vindicater]

They originally intended it to grow the game in Sydney and Queensland then the SA government paid the AFL to get it. I'm sorry but that's bullshit. It shouldn't have gone there in the first place, let alone "having it for a few years".

Also it isn't necessarily Melbourne teams that get disadvantaged. It could be any of the interstate teams that have to play Adelaide or Port. This year it happens to be us and Melbourne. Next year it could be Sydney and Brisbane.

Nah. This is one I have knowledge about as I know somebody who was apart of the bidding process. SA had a clear plan with a detailed Bid for the event whereas the QLD and NSW governments were half assed in their planning. Yes money was involved and that was apart of a good bid, but the logistics and planning were on entirely different levels.

 

[BomberManU]

Port fans VERY confident...but also concerned. Could/should have beaten them twice last year - we've improved, have they? Let's hope not, Dons by 13.

 

[Pweter]

They originally intended it to grow the game in Sydney and Queensland then the SA government paid the AFL to get it. I'm sorry but that's bullshit. It shouldn't have gone there in the first place, let alone "having it for a few years".

Also it isn't necessarily Melbourne teams that get disadvantaged. It could be any of the interstate teams that have to play Adelaide or Port. This year it happens to be us and Melbourne. Next year it could be Sydney and Brisbane.

So far that disadvantage has seen the visitors win twice to the home town team once. Would be nice to make it 3-1 tonight.

 

[eth-dog]

No chance it should be there. Adelaide is perfect for it. Sydney way too big and nsw would just butcher it. Brisbane and Gold Coast too far apart not really gathering in the 1 location

The entire concept was designed to grow the game there.

Nah. This is one I have knowledge about as I know somebody who was apart of the bidding process. SA had a clear plan with a detailed Bid for the event whereas the QLD and NSW governments were half assed in their planning. Yes money was involved and that was apart of a good bid, but the logistics and planning were on entirely different levels.

Irrelevant, they shouldn't have been part of the bidding process in the first place.

 

[Ambrosia]

The entire concept was designed to grow the game there.

Irrelevant, they shouldn't have been part of the bidding process in the first place.

It would never happen but would prefer if gather round was a regional round instead. Schedule 9 games in regional areas.

Obviously a completely different concept but I think it would be similarly embraced

 

[jdstorm]

Gather Round should be in Sydney or Queensland. There'd be no argument against having the showcase on them Saturday night.

Also it's unfair on teams like us and Melbourne to play a non neutral game.

As someone who was from Sydney and is now in Melbourne.

Nah. QLD and Sydney don’t care and Vic people in my experience don’t really want to drive there. Adelaide is AFL mad and it’s easy for people from WA and the Territory to get there. It’s inclusive and National in a way being in Syd wouldn’t be

 

[Mr Bultitude]

The entire concept was designed to grow the game there.

Forgive me my ignorance but where has that been stated? I was of The impression it was to tap into "sports-lifestyle" crossovers/tourism, much like a an event like F1 or Aus Open.

 

[justlookingaround]

Port fans VERY confident...but also concerned.

Man, if that isn't Port fans to a tee

 

[Darealrath]

Already pissed off at the inevitable Butters and Rozee love in from the commentators.

 

[Rash]

Dons supporters, do u think setterfield plays a role on butters/Rozee this week?

 

[Vindicater]

The entire concept was designed to grow the game there.

Irrelevant, they shouldn't have been part of the bidding process in the first place.

Wrong again.

 

[eth-dog]

Wrong again.

Not really. Andrew Dillon was a guest speaker at a cricket club lunch not long after it was announced and said so himself

 

[Petrify]

Dons supporters, do u think setterfield plays a role on butters/Rozee this week?

He'll probably go to Butters at stoppages. Tends to play a defensive role on the most contested player but not a strict lockdown role

 

[Call Me Cake]

How come every other board has their game day thread up but we don't until 5 minutes before the game

 

[citizen-erased]

South Australia put the work in to get this up and running. They should benefit with a few years of hosting it, then I agree it should be moved around.

As for Melbourne based teams, cry me a river. They have huge inbuilt advantages that this helps offset, if only alittle.

yep. agree with all that.

I also think it saved the AFL from a bit of egg on its face doing it a) a footy state and b) a sports made city.
Also, AO is a great venue and SA has better wine, beer and food so.........

 

[84859300]

How come every other board has their game day thread up but we don't until 5 minutes before the game

So no one makes their silly comments too early.

Time to build them up right to bounce time.

 

[wichidi]

yep. agree with all that.

I also think it saved the AFL from a bit of egg on its face doing it a) a footy state and b) a sports made city.
Also, AO is a great venue and SA has better wine, beer and food so.........

In addition to the above, Adealide is a bit more central to everyone than Syndey or BNE - easier to access. Also, most ppl in Sydney and BNE couldn't care about AFL. Swans and Lions even when doing well struggle to sell out games, unless it's a big club visiting.
Adelaide will always get really good attendance at grounds because people in the city just love footy. AFL likes TV ratings, but they also like good crowd numbers. For these reasons, I reckon it's likely to stay in Adelaide and not move to Brisbane or Sydney. But I could be wrong, time will tell.