so our round 1 and 2 opponents are both undefeated on 5 wins

so our round 1 and 2 opponents are both undefeated on 5 wins

We must be going awesome then...

I would take 5-0 any day of the week. Hinkley is obviously doing something right. Can only hope we'll be saying the same about Neeld in the very near future! But I think our problems run deeper and full credit to Neeld for trying to address the cultural issues. Go Dees!

We must be going awesome then...

Uhh...I don't think that's what he meant.

Uhh...I don't think that's what he meant.

Think it is.

Pretty sure the implication is Port and Essendon are awesome so we shouldn't feel bad for losing to them by a combined total of about 230 points...

West Coast might ruin the theory though.

Think it is.

Pretty sure the implication is Port and Essendon are awesome so we shouldn't feel bad for losing to them by a combined total of about 230 points...

West Coast might ruin the theory though.

Did you ever think there's a huge gulf between "doing awesome" and losing to the ladder leaders? The performances of Port Adelaide and Essendon over the past five weeks have given our own performances a bit of context.

We all know we're not setting the house on fire, but don't pretend that a big loss to a team that's 5-0 is the same as a big loss to a team that's 0-5.

Interestingly, I'd say that our worst quarter has come against WCE in Q3. I really wish we hadn't been slaughtered over that thirty minute period, because the rest of that game was relatively good.

And in half the time as Neeld, and with a younger more inexperienced list.

They have more experienced players than us (over 100 games), and more experience and class where it counts (mids). Nathan Jones can only do so much.

Did you ever think there's a huge gulf between "doing awesome" and losing to the ladder leaders, which is what the performances of Port Adelaide and Essendon over the past five weeks has done.

We all know we're not setting the house on fire, but don't pretend that a big loss to a team that's 5-0 is the same as a big loss to a team that's 0-5.

Interestingly, I'd say that our worst quarter has come against WCE in Q3. I really wish we hadn't been slaughtered over that thirty minute period, because the rest of that game was relatively good.

Port weren't ladder leaders last year thought were they, neither were Essendon, and West Coast are 1-4 and smashed us by 94 points.

So many excuses around here lately.

Port weren't ladder leaders last year thought were they, neither were Essendon, and West Coast are 1-4 and smashed us by 94 points.

So many excuses around here lately.

Who's making excuses?

They have more experienced players than us (over 100 games), and more experience and class where it counts (mids). Nathan Jones can only do so much.

Right, so all of a sudden a team that has finished 16th and 14th in the last two years is just expected to be as good as they've been this year?

This is just getting silly now.

Who's making excuses?

Anyone who's trying to justify our performances this year by saying our opposition was way too good.

Port finished 14th last year, and Essendon 11th. West Coast's only win so far has come against us, and by nearly 100 points.

Who's making excuses?

What would you call posts talking up Port as if it's totally unsurprising they are miles ahead of us? Worth noting that It's not just the slightly older heads either. Their younger brigade are playing to their potential.

The vehement defence of a guy with basically no runs on the board and who states publicly that we're at the same stage of development as GWS, I find amazing. Let's see how we go against a weakened, underperforming Lions. Hopefully not yet another totally uncompetitive effort resulting in yet another mauling.

Anyone who's trying to justify our performances this year by saying our opposition was way too good.

Port finished 14th last year, and Essendon 11th. West Coast's only win so far has come against us, and by nearly 100 points.

What would you call posts talking up Port as if it's totally unsurprising they are miles ahead of us? Worth noting that It's not just the slightly older heads either. Their younger brigade are playing to their potential.

The vehement defence of a guy with basically no runs on the board and who states publicly that we're at the same stage of development as GWS, I find amazing. Let's see how we go against a weakened, underperforming Lions. Hopefully not yet another totally uncompetitive effort resulting in yet another mauling.

One of the biggest problems with the Internet is that any debate seems to invariably descend into a "this or that" proposition. Life is complicated. Footy is complicated. It's easy to think that we who praise our opponents' performances seek to discount or excuse our own team's efforts, but don't let yourselves fall into such an obvious trap.

Port and Essendon could each go on to lose their next seventeen games - topped off with a nil-all draw to each other - but that still won't change the fact that they both played phenomenally well against us; nor should it distract us from the truth that we were totally unwilling (and in many cases unable) to do what was necessary to match them.

But we must remember that football games are contested by two teams, not one; to ignore the performance of either team is to render yourself completely unable to judge the performance of the other; we were bad and they were good. Deal with it.

One of the biggest problems with the Internet is that any debate seems to invariably descend into a "this or that" proposition. Life is complicated. Footy is complicated. It's easy to think that we who praise our opponents' performances seek to discount or excuse our own team's efforts, but don't let yourselves fall into such an obvious trap.

Port and Essendon could each go on to lose their next seventeen games - topped off with a nil-all draw to each other - but that still won't change the fact that they both played phenomenally well against us; nor should it distract us from the truth that we were totally unwilling (and in many cases unable) to do what was necessary to match them.

But we must remember that football games are contested by two teams, not one; to ignore the performance of either team is to render yourself completely unable to judge the performance of the other; we were bad and they were good. Deal with it.

Haha... What a fluffy post that is!

Will they play finals this year or not quite there yet? would be interested to see them play Geelong or Hawthorn

I'd say they will play finals. Say 14 wins gets you into the finals (as it did last year): Port only need 9 more wins from 17 games (can go 9-8).

You can pencil them in for wins against GC, Brisbane, St Kilda, GWS and WB. They should beat Carlton at home, North Melbourne, and Richmond at home. That would leave them having to win one more match out of Carlton (away), Cats x2, Sydney (home), Collingwood (home), Essendon (away), Hawthorn (home), Adelaide, Fremantle (away).

I hope they make it...it's always nice seeing a team that has struggled do well. It gives me hope for the Dees.

Haha... What a fluffy post that is!

How did that work out for Jack Nicholson?

Ollie Wines is playing lie a 100 game veteran. Great decision maker.

This makes my blood boil, We have a bunch of people on this site who give so much latitude to our seasoned older players. The effort I saw in the first three weeks and three quarters was so embarrassing I can't describe it.

Why can't we get improvement from our list??? The coaching staff are terrible and our so called leaders (excusing grimes and Trengove) and senior players like Sylvia, Davey, Jamar, Garland, Frawley, Dunn just do not play with any effort nor do they inspire their teamates. Our effort and heart are deplorable. I keep seeing how we need to 'make a stand' or 'draw the line in the sand' or other crud. ANd every year we get disappointed and disillusioned - not so much with losses but the total insipid, weak performance type losses.

Every year we see it. This year its Port that was tipped to be a cellar dwellar, in the past few years it has been Brisbane, Essendon, Carlton, West Coast. Yet they all turn it around in one summer. ONE SUMMER!!! None of this "our game plan takes a few years to work out" bulltish. Or worse still "we are rebuilding a rebuild" or "we have less experience than every other team but the expansion clubs" Frigging excuse after excuse. SOMEONE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY and DO SOMETHING!!!!!!

This club needs to lift its game and take their collective digits out from themselves.

Me, I need to go back to bed and get out on the right side.

they must be using peptides. Anyone seen Dank in SA ? lol

They are definitely on something - have you seen their president? Never heard such a crack fiend in my life... lucky he gets paid to smack talk

Who have they beaten?

GC

GWS

Melb

Automatic 3-0.

Got over a Tippett/Van Berlo-less Adelaide by 9 points in a game they're always up for.

Were 41 down against WCE - but deserve credit for coming back (and the Eagles were horribly inaccurate).

They don't play a Top 4 Team until Round 9 (Geelong), which is a fantastic draw for getting W on the board. If they clean up two of Richmond, North and Carlton in the next 3 weeks, THEN Port will be looking like a finals team.

I'd say they will play finals. Say 14 wins gets you into the finals (as it did last year): Port only need 9 more wins from 17 games (can go 9-8).

You can pencil them in for wins against GC, Brisbane, St Kilda, GWS and WB. They should beat Carlton at home, North Melbourne, and Richmond at home. That would leave them having to win one more match out of Carlton (away), Cats x2, Sydney (home), Collingwood (home), Essendon (away), Hawthorn (home), Adelaide, Fremantle (away).

I hope they make it...it's always nice seeing a team that has struggled do well. It gives me hope for the Dees.

I dont think they will beat Carlton or Richmond.

I hope they make it too. If they do it will be the first time they got into the top 8 since their grand final appearance in 2007

I dont think they will beat Carlton or Richmond.

I hope they make it too. If they do it will be the first time they got into the top 8 since their grand final appearance in 2007

You inadvertently brought up a good point. This is a team that made a Grand Final just six years ago. Incidentally, this was the year our descent into hell first began.

You inadvertently brought up a good point. This is a team that made a Grand Final just six years ago. Incidentally, this was the year our descent into hell first began.

I was going to raise that up on a few posts but in all fairness they did descend into hell after that season as well.

1 year later they ended up 13th, WIlliams was gone a year after that during which they set the club record for longest consecutive losses (9), lost alot of players to either retirement (Tredrea [huge loss], Carr and Burgoyne) or players leaving (Krakouer to GCS), and they got rid of Primus who had given them their worst season in AFL history (2011 - 16th), featured back to back thumping of 138 and 165 points and 8 consecutive losses.

The only thing Port did well was use the advantage of not being a Vic team (extra AFL funding), keep a solid membership base (around 38,000), and take advantage of the talent pool over there (something in the water).

They have been rebuilding for a while, and have a bit to go. Will be good to see how they go against North or Carlton.

big loss to a team that's 0-5.

Snigger.

Snigger.

Oops.