I am watching last weeks replay again right now and i must say M Jones and Bail had much better games than i originally gave them credit for. Their forward line pressure was very good and they obviously played the roles they were asked to play by Roos. Not as surprised by the selections upon seeing the game once again on television.

Maybe boak ..out ..

Maybe boak ..out ..

source?

So stoked to have Viney and Jetta back!

Probably the two blokes I respect most behind Nat Jones.

Hopefully they are both match fit.

Really stoked for this game (something I haven't felt in about a month) - sick of going into matches expecting little.

Are Port resting players or something? If Boak is out that's HUGE.

Well at the risk of being lambasted with the "family friend plays for Port line" , however I have come to the conclusion that the players don't know anyway aka hogan pulling out of the melb side.... So really just a rumour

Well at the risk of being lambasted with the "family friend plays for Port line" , however I have come to the conclusion that the players don't know anyway aka hogan pulling out of the melb side.... So really just a rumour

What's the issue with Boak??

Bail and M Jones... how can they keep their places ???????

Bail and Jones are much better runners than Riley and Newton, and in a horses for courses situation, where Port's run off half-back is just as crucial, if not more, to their success as it is for the Dogs, I understand the decision.

Unless they both improve their offensive game this week, there's no guarantee they'll hold their spots (especially with Tyson hopefully ready) against Collingwood the week after, though.

I thought Riley did as well as could be asked of a sub last week and I don't like the fact that he was dropped for his efforts but I understand it. I hope he gets his next chance on QBD.

Spot on. Riley and Viney fill the same role, they've decided Viney is better - I support that.

You can't replace Bail or Jones, both run-with players who were successful in that role last week, with Riley, who doesn't have the tank nor pace to fill that role.

Team balance and - as you've alluded to, the oppostion - are crucial in team selection.

I think they've picked the right side, although with Ryder out we may an adjustment down back.

I am watching last weeks replay again right now and i must say M Jones and Bail had much better games than i originally gave them credit for. Their forward line pressure was very good and they obviously played the roles they were asked to play by Roos. Not as surprised by the selections upon seeing the game once again on television.

I watched the match again on Tuesday night. It reinforced how poor they were. Turnovers and missed tackles and slipovers. They are sub standard. Did you see Bail's miss at 3/4 qtr time. Bail must be sub.

Newton and Riley being omitted means that competition for spots is going to get harder from here on in. Tyson still to come into the side also.

Riley really deserved his spot.

Are we too top heavy for playing up at Alice Springs? Would have thought we would drop a tall and have an extra mid to help with rotations.

Crap post people have been saying we have not taken the game on for 3 weeks we did last week, there is no certainty that we will do it again

I just hope we do Go DEEEEEs

So it's a crap post ...

that you agree with.

Bail and Jones are much better runners than Riley and Newton, and in a horses for courses situation, where Port's run off half-back is just as crucial, if not more, to their success as it is for the Dogs, I understand the decision.

Unless they both improve their offensive game this week, there's no guarantee they'll hold their spots (especially with Tyson hopefully ready) against Collingwood the week after, though.

I thought Riley did as well as could be asked of a sub last week and I don't like the fact that he was dropped for his efforts but I understand it. I hope he gets his next chance on QBD.

Agree totally

Maybe boak ..out ..

Would be fairly handy..

I watched the match again on Tuesday night. It reinforced how poor they were. Turnovers and missed tackles and slipovers. They are sub standard. Did you see Bail's miss at 3/4 qtr time. Bail must be sub.

Makes me wonder about why roos picked both players again. Not.

Betting suspended ....generally an indication a big name maybe missing ....maybe, maybe not....it was just mentioned ....no idea what is wrong with him....he'll probably play ...I mean I watched port last week & Ryder looked fine but now he's out with Achilles soreness...doesn't worry me if he's in or out....I honestly believe we are good enough to win anyway

Is the possible reason for Port's collapse this year that teams have caught on with how to ruin their gameplan, and they didn't actually spend this last pre-season mixing things up or finding contingency plans for when teams flood stoppages and stop their running game?

Roos was clearly the first coach who worked out how to strangle their gameplan, and this year's results would indicate other teams have caught on as well. Have they gotten ahead of themselves?

I think it may have gone over some people's heads.

Or right in their mouths.

Is the possible reason for Port's collapse this year that teams have caught on with how to ruin their gameplan, and they didn't actually spend this last pre-season mixing things up or finding contingency plans for when teams flood stoppages and stop their running game?

Roos was clearly the first coach who worked out how to strangle their gameplan, and this year's results would indicate other teams have caught on as well. Have they gotten ahead of themselves?

Or our game plan just got lucky a couple of times and we played Port with quite a few injuries in both games last year? Because I think that's possible as well. And now they've had a few injuries this year again their midfield depth just isn't what it was and their running game has suffered.

With Wines and Polec fit they beat Hawthorn and took it right up to Freo and Sydney.

Those two go out, Hartlett and Cornes struggle and Ebert goes off the boil a bit and all of a sudden they aren't as good.

Teams have studied up but I don't think it was Roosy alone figuring them out. They lost to quite a few teams in the middle stretch last year before they got healthy again. Then they beat Freo in Freo. Now if Roos worked out a plan to nearly beat them with our side last year then Ross Lyon should've beaten them with a similar plan in a home final.

They remind me of Geelong and StKilda of about 2006 when they had played in those earlier Prelim finals with really good young teams but they just lacked the depth and had some down years before finding their true form.

Betting suspended ....generally an indication a big name maybe missing ....maybe, maybe not....it was just mentioned ....no idea what is wrong with him....he'll probably play ...I mean I watched port last week & Ryder looked fine but now he's out with Achilles soreness...doesn't worry me if he's in or out....I honestly believe we are good enough to win anyway

No player in this game is good enough for betting to be suspended, so it has to be another reason

Its not like a fit Ablett Jnr will be out there for either side

All I can say is.. How good is it going to work on a Friday looking forward to the footy tomorrow and having genuine excitement knowing that if we bring our A game we can win tomorrow and go into the Queens Birthday clash at 4-5 with a chance to be right in the mix at the bye.. Big game tomorrow

Also people calling for M.Jones and Bail to be dropped, I'm not a huge fan of either but Jones shut Bob Murphy out of the game completely last week. As for Bail whilst didn't have a huge game disposal wise, I thought he competed well and busted his gut. These blokes are at the cross road in their career, Roos isn't going to say here's your chance to play for your career then drop them after 2 games, his obviously giving them a chance to prove themselves. Plus not need to change a winning formula, only other inclusion would have been Tyson and he obviously wasn't right to go

interesting that Fitzy has been named in the forward pocket...

He was named in the forward pocket also last week and wasn't sighted near it. I don't think Port will fall for the ruse (spelt Roos)!

I hear that M Jones and Bail are great runners blah blah blah, can't find the bail or hit a target. Might as well get Morton back, he could run too.

I'd rather players who can get and use the ball.

M.Jones and Bail are there to prevent port's run out of the back line, thats where they set up their play, Bail and Jones will sacrifice their own games for the team, like they did against the Dog's, let's back them in again for the same performance and pressure they did last week. Their not world beaters but their best we have at the moment!