Why did we run out of puff?

[Guest DeesPower]

Whilst we are all rightly proud of our win at the weekend, and at the courage and skill of the team fighting back in the last quarter, I think it needs to be asked why did we get ourselves in that position in the first place. Sure they were very tough condition, but it was the same for both sides, and there is no reason why Port should be any better than us in those conditions. If it was overall fitness thenthat is a concern, but given our generally good performances in the last quarters this year this is doubtful. That leaves Mark Jamar's exhaustion, being our lone ruckman. This is possibly the best explanation, in which case we very nearly lost it at the selection table. Or is it that the selectors planned to put miller as the back up ruckman, and found that he was so pivotal to our forward set up they were forced to turn to Sylvia of all people. Why not Morton? Why not Watts? Why not Rivers?

Ithink it is time to give MJ a bit more back up. We will exhaust him if we don't and his effectiveness for the rest of the season will be put in jeopardyas a result.

Anyone agree?

[H_T 3,049]

Jamar is a big boy. He will be fine. May need a little rest now and again (ie. couple of minutes). Miller or Dunn or even Sylvia can help out occassionally. Hell, even JT.

[jayceebee31 768]

I agree- starting this week- we need to give the Russian more breaks- get Frawley to ruck when in the backline and another tall,say Miller when deep in the forward line-or play another ruckman, or bring Dunn back in.

[Dreamin' Demon 10]

- get Frawley to ruck when in the backline and another tall,say Miller when deep in the forward line-or play another ruckman, or bring Dunn back in.

The back up ruckman will need to come from the forward line, this way they can swap when a rest is required.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Whilst we are all rightly proud of our win at the weekend, and at the courage and skill of the team fighting back in the last quarter, I think it needs to be asked why did we get ourselves in that position in the first place. Sure they were very tough condition, but it was the same for both sides, and there is no reason why Port should be any better than us in those conditions. If it was overall fitness thenthat is a concern, but given our generally good performances in the last quarters this year this is doubtful. That leaves Mark Jamar's exhaustion, being our lone ruckman. This is possibly the best explanation, in which case we very nearly lost it at the selection table. Or is it that the selectors planned to put miller as the back up ruckman, and found that he was so pivotal to our forward set up they were forced to turn to Sylvia of all people. Why not Morton? Why not Watts? Why not Rivers?

Ithink it is time to give MJ a bit more back up. We will exhaust him if we don't and his effectiveness for the rest of the season will be put in jeopardyas a result.

Anyone agree?

It wasn,t the same for both sides at all. The climate was, thats all. Did you notice that we were the harder running team all game?

When we ran out of petrol tickets in the legs, they still had some left.

[hardtack 10,849]

It wasn,t the same for both sides at all. The climate was, thats all. Did you notice that we were the harder running team all game?

When we ran out of petrol tickets in the legs, they still had some left.

Exactly... not to mention the fact that we had three players coming back in (Morton, Wonna and Jetta) who were yet to get up to AFL speed... and that was a game played at an exceptionally fast pace considering the conditions.

[pitchfork 181]

Unless there is zero confidence in spencer, we need a genuine second ruckman in the team. Jamar is a beast, but I think the Q4 comeback was a product of exhaustion (case in point, interview on the floor). It's true that having one ruckman may have won us the game, but particularly in Melbourne, Jamar needs more than 3-5 minutes of rest a quarter. We'll be able to withstand leads and comeback from deficits with a "fresh" ruck division.

Also, Morton, Aussie, Watts are extremely underdone. Really good win under the circumstances

[mauriesy 7,410]

Get Frawley to ruck when in the backline.

Rucking in the backline means leaving your man for a moment. If Frawley is covering a big player like Mooney, Podsiadly or Hawkins, that is "Frawtley" with danger.

[hardtack 10,849]

Rucking in the backline means leaving your man for a moment. If Frawley is covering a big player like Mooney, Podsiadly or Hawkins, that is "Frawtley" with danger.

I think of those three Cats, Podsiadly is going to be the hardest to contain because of his ability to break packs. This will probably get me laughed out of town, but I wonder how someone like Dunn might go on that kind of opponent? I know he has done a lot of tagging, but has he ever been played in the backline (I can't recall)? Is it worth a try?

[sylvinator 96]

I think of those three Cats, Podsiadly is going to be the hardest to contain because of his ability to break packs. This will probably get me laughed out of town, but I wonder how someone like Dunn might go on that kind of opponent? I know he has done a lot of tagging, but has he ever been played in the backline (I can't recall)? Is it worth a try?

I think people should remember that is 4 out of 5 of Ports wins this year, they have been trailing at 3/4 time.

They have steamrolled far better and more developed teams than ourselves.

Yet we were able to hang on and win despite trailing mid way through the last with all the momentum with Port.

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

Whilst we are all rightly proud of our win at the weekend, and at the courage and skill of the team fighting back in the last quarter, I think it needs to be asked why did we get ourselves in that position in the first place. Sure they were very tough condition, but it was the same for both sides, and there is no reason why Port should be any better than us in those conditions. If it was overall fitness thenthat is a concern, but given our generally good performances in the last quarters this year this is doubtful. That leaves Mark Jamar's exhaustion, being our lone ruckman. This is possibly the best explanation, in which case we very nearly lost it at the selection table. Or is it that the selectors planned to put miller as the back up ruckman, and found that he was so pivotal to our forward set up they were forced to turn to Sylvia of all people. Why not Morton? Why not Watts? Why not Rivers?

Ithink it is time to give MJ a bit more back up. We will exhaust him if we don't and his effectiveness for the rest of the season will be put in jeopardyas a result.

Anyone agree?

Morton and watts would never be tried in the ruck due to their body size and risk of injuries. especially since morton has just recovered from the "ruckmans knee" injury.

rivers could have been a viable option agreed, but sylvia contested well, had a big enough leap to compete.

[stranga 328]

Exactly... not to mention the fact that we had three players coming back in (Morton, Wonna and Jetta) who were yet to get up to AFL speed... and that was a game played at an exceptionally fast pace considering the conditions.

I agree with this, it was the underdone blokes running out of legs that probaly hurt us most (throw Watts into that list). However i reckon there was some mental issues involved in that comeback, the fear of failure in a close game again. I think actually holding on for the win will be invaluable in similar situations in the future (at least i hope so).

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I think of those three Cats, Podsiadly is going to be the hardest to contain because of his ability to break packs. This will probably get me laughed out of town, but I wonder how someone like Dunn might go on that kind of opponent? I know he has done a lot of tagging, but has he ever been played in the backline (I can't recall)? Is it worth a try?

Definite No. Warnock or Frawley to Pods.

I think people should remember that is 4 out of 5 of Ports wins this year, they have been trailing at 3/4 time.

They have steamrolled far better and more developed teams than ourselves.

They were steamrolled in the last the previous week by Carlton though. The sting should have been in their tail.

FWIW, I dont think either Jetta or Watts looked underdone in Darwin.

[praha 11,253]

Joke of a thread.

Teams always run out of puff. The fact that it was 30+ degree heat, and 70% humidity, I kind of expected at least a little bit of a fight back from the Power. Considering we're an inexperienced, young team, it was a formality, really.

The fact that we weathered the storm and still won, despite having NO momentum and EVERYTHING Power touched turning to gold, is VERY encouraging. I couldn't care less that they came back. We won. A sign of a good side is when they hold off a challenge and still win, despite losing momentum and a big lead. A year ago, Power would have come back and won that game.

That win probably defined our future more than any other win this season.

[Jarka 767]

I'd argue that it was Port who ran out of puff, we had just enough left in the tank to take back the lead and hold it.

Great effort by a young team in difficult conditions with three players on the park who are short on match fitness: Wona, Morton & Watts.

[Vagg 2,449]

Agree with much of what's been said here already. Game was played in rather oppressive, sapping conditions. We had several guys back for their 1st or second games of the year, and we had an exhausted, lone ruckman.

Also add to that little equation the fact that Choco kept his team out on the ground at 3/4 time (rather than taking them into the cool room), and served them up a right old spray.

Given all of the above, I'm not a bit surprised the Power came back in the final quarter with a real bang.

The fact our guys were able to pick themselves up off the mat, and fall over the line with a win was a fabulous outcome. Given we were looking at a re-run of the Collingwood & Doggies matches, it was heartening to see the boys able to muster enough to withstand the onslaught. Will hold the team in good stead for the future.

Go Dees!

[Nasher 33,617]

If you want to know why we ran out of puff, read the reports on the conditions from people who went (there's a few on Demonology -- see this thread: http://demonology.midnight.net.au/Index.PHP?Mode=Forum&SubMode=DisplayPosts&MessageThreadID=32398&BoardType=0)

If you're still in doubt as to why we ran out of puff after reading that, then read it again.

[Guest DeesPower]

If you want to know why we ran out of puff, read the reports on the conditions from people who went (there's a few on Demonology -- see this thread: http://demonology.midnight.net.au/Index.PHP?Mode=Forum&SubMode=DisplayPosts&MessageThreadID=32398&BoardType=0)

If you're still in doubt as to why we ran out of puff after reading that, then read it again.

the conditions were the same for both sides.

[monoccular 17,642]

I guess the reason we were so far ahead was that we had worked our butts off in ridiculously trying conditions while Port didn't - therefore they had more in their tank (to use a word that used to have a different context at MFC!) than we did.

Absolutely fantastic effort from the guys, the young ones in particular, to fight back after being headed - there is no way MFC teams of the last few years would not have dropped their heads and capitulated meekly.

Great credit to ALL players, both the leaders and the youngsters, and to the coaching and conditioning staff. Bloody proud effort.

[Radar Detector 1,347]

May be something to do with the fact that we also played a couple (Wonna, Cale and even Garland) who are still underdone?

[Great_little_footy_team 8]

Agree we need a 2nd ruckman. We don’t need a gun, just someone who can compete. We didn’t have that on the weekend. I believe we need Stef Martin. He has proven that he can compete well in the ruck and is a solid defender. He can play forward if needed as well. We just need to play him not expecting a great performance. He will always do okay but will never star. At the moment with how desperately Jamar needs an occasional rest, having Stef will be vital to our success. Not every player has to be a star, sometimes solid players are very handy.

[Dee*ceiving 1,724]

Port were always going to have one last dip in the final quarter. Everything they touched turned to gold in the first 10 minutes and when the deficit was cut from 33 to 15 they had a real sniff and found an extra gear.

The fact that we didn't just hold on but in fact trailed and regained the lead twice is an amazing effort.

The Jamar factor definitely contributed, he was stuffed towards the end of the game and putting Sylvia in at the centre bounces was ludicrous. It should have been Miller with the strict instruction to jump at the man, HARD. Giving a free kick away in the centre of the ground would have been a better result for Melbourne than 3 or 4 decisive centre breaks.

Once Jamar returned to the ground, albeit completely spent, he still managed a couple of clever hit outs and took a one hander in the goal square with half the population of Alberton hanging off him. He is a mountain of a man!

[Demon trucker 1,800]

the conditions were the same for both sides.

the reason we won the game is because of experience the ball went to the right player in green did he kick two of the last three goal for as, in the collingwood game inexperience lost as the game the ball fell to the wrong man in pettard, this is in no way rubbishing pettard, but experience counts for a lot in tight games. and also port has player there a lot in the last few years that must count for something, I would think, it is what i having been saying experience counts for a lot in football

[rpfc 28,894]

PA average age was 25 on the weekend.

They went in unchanged.

Jetta, Miller, Wonna, and Morton, were brought in from the VFL. Watts and Garland are noticably suffering from a lack of a fitness base. Our midfield has an 18 year old, two 19 year olds, and a 21 year old in there and that isn't including any of the previous 6 I have mentioned.

All this has an affect.

And kids are going to do this.

Deal with where we are at as a club before you all get ulcers.

[Sir Why You Little 37,296]

I guess the reason we were so far ahead was that we had worked our butts off in ridiculously trying conditions while Port didn't - therefore they had more in their tank (to use a word that used to have a different context at MFC!) than we did.

Absolutely fantastic effort from the guys, the young ones in particular, to fight back after being headed - there is no way MFC teams of the last few years would not have dropped their heads and capitulated meekly.

Great credit to ALL players, both the leaders and the youngsters, and to the coaching and conditioning staff. Bloody proud effort.

Spot on. Next year we will do those Pretenders by 10 goals.

Port Adelaide should not even be in the leauge...(Don't get me started!!!!)