Wanganeen out with the flu

[blackdiamond]

Wanganeen out with the flu


Port Adelaide has been wounded by the enforced withdrawal of champion Gavin Wanganeen from Saturday's important duel with Geelong at Skilled Stadium.

Wanganeen has the flu. He did not train at Port's main session on Wednesday and did not accompany the team to Geelong on Friday.

Brett Ebert has replaced Wanganeen in the 22 to play the Cats. Port was to have fielded an unchanged team for the first time this season.

Wanganeen, 32, has played all 15 home-and-away season matches this season to lift his tally to 291 - 127 with Essendon from 1991-96 and 164 with Port since the club entered the AFL in 1997.


If the 1993 Brownlow Medallist and five-time All-Australian is to reach the 300-game milestone this season he will have to play in the Power's last six home-and-away games and hope the club plays in three finals.

Port coach Mark Williams has described the Geelong match as 'a mini-final'.

"We've won four of our last five games," he said at AdelaideAirport on Friday. "If we can win this one it will be important for a whole lot of things.

"The No.1 thing is to just stay in the race to give us a chance of making the finals. If we lose this one, it's going to be very difficult. We want to approach this like it's all or nothing.

"This club has been up to challenges the last few years. It's always been in front of us and no-one has really thought we could achieve what we have, so right now the players are back trying to prove themselves again, and that's good for the club.

"Geelong has won only two of the last six, but it is hurting and it's proud of its record at Skilled Stadium. It's going to be a difficult game for us to win."

 

[Minotaur]

Without meaning to be disrespectful to the great man, but is this really a massive out at this point in time?

 

[blackdiamond]

Gav is always a massive out, he always gets the respect of the opposition and that means a lot.

 

[Paralowiepower]

After seeing Surjan last week, I would of picked him.
But good luck Ebo we know what you can do.

 

[portentous]

Wish they'd taken Damon White instead though!

 

[jonny f muleus]

not a big fan of ebert at this stage, but this provides an excellent opportunity for him to show some fight, desperation and kick some goals... hope he goes well

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Play him in the midfield Choco!!!

 

[Forzaport]

Hopefully brett will make the most of this oppurtunity, even though he'll most likely be dropped when wangas comes back.

 

[portentous]

Play him in the midfield Choco!!!

You didn't say "please".

 

[Ford Fairlane]

For ***** sake, Choco, play Ebert in the ******* middle, you ******. Please.

Reckon that'll do it?

 

[portentous]

You found the angry pills too hey?

Here's hoping......

 

[Sheeds]

Given the weather is also likely to be garbage would we spring another late change?

Ottens is not playing for the cats and we have Wakelin, Cornes and Bishop in the defensive half, maybe drop Bish for another runner.

 

[jasnik]

Given that Ebert's career under Choco is to be a small forward, I reckon Choco is sending Ebert so he can watch Mahoney from up close, and learn how a small forward should play their position. Mahoney seems to have the intensity and attack at the footy that Ebert seems to lack on occasion.

 

[PortProudWA]

After seeing Surjan last week, I would of picked him.
But good luck Ebo we know what you can do.

Great minds think alike Shane!! When I just read that, I thought the exact same think!! Surj must be thinking WTF do I have to do to get a game ahead of Ebo!!

It just dont seem right, Ebo best show something this week, and hang on to the bloody marks, dont try leapin over the top of Tredders and just stay on the dam ground and crumb and RUN!!!

 

[PJ Power]

Given the weather is also likely to be garbage would we spring another late change?

Ottens is not playing for the cats and we have Wakelin, Cornes and Bishop in the defensive half, maybe drop Bish for another runner.

I'm with you Sheeds, but this is really unlikely as Gold Passes don't expire even in wet weather. Choco would argue that Bish could play on a small type, but that is rubbish.

What Choco is most likely to do tomorrow, is to start all three tall defenders on the ground, and when it is obvious that Geelong are playing four quick small forwards, Choco will bench Wakes for the rest of the game and use Bishop on Kingsley. Kingsley will kick 3-4 which might be the difference in the result if we are not careful.

 

[portentous]

Choco thinks that Bishop IS a "runner".

 

[PJ Power]

Choco thinks that Bishop IS a "runner".

I must say, has anyone else noticed Bish's "What's up doc?" bunny teeth face when he is trying to run clear of an opponent? It's a beautiful display of desperation. A little like McLeod puffing out his cheeks whenever he takes a run.

 

[portentous]

I must say, has anyone else noticed Bish's "What's up doc?" bunny teeth face when he is trying to run clear of an opponent? It's a beautiful display of desperation. A little like McLeod puffing out his cheeks whenever he takes a run.

Er no but I HAVE noticed Choppy's face when he's about to tackle/bump someone-his eyes go red and nearly pop out of his face!

 

[spookism]

Er no but I HAVE noticed Choppy's face when he's about to tackle/bump someone-his eyes go red and nearly pop out of his face!

As have I... what must the oppostion players be thinking when they see that?

 

[portentous]

As have I... what must the oppostion players be thinking when they see that?

"OH SHYT!" I reckon

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Pettigrew went over as the travelling emergency (as opposed to Travelling Wilbury ).

 

[Powerstufff]

.....If the 1993 Brownlow Medallist and five-time All-Australian is to reach the 300-game milestone this season he will have to play in the Power's last six home-and-away games and hope the club plays in three finals......

I don't mind resting him, just in case we do make the finals. Plus if the 300 game record means anything to him there is a chance he'll sign on for one more year. Won't seem quite the same when he goes.

 

[Sheeds]

I don't mind resting him, just in case we do make the finals. Plus if the 300 game record means anything to him there is a chance he'll sign on for one more year. Won't seem quite the same when he goes.

Hopefully Gav can go for one more year.

Obviously the talk is he will retire but he is definately capable of another year.

 

[Portia]

Dunno about that. I think he's capable of playing a few games next year, but do we want him to go out as a Magpie? Or do we want another guy filling a Primus/Francou spot on the bench?

 

[Powerstufff]

... do we want him to go out as a Magpie?.....

A good question. One he and Chocco would have to work out together. Could they agree on him being selected on an 'as needs' basis while the Thomsons, Eckermanns etc began to get serious game time? Would Wangas see it as a slight playing with the Magpies or see it as a logical way to phase out? Probably the former.