1 hour ago, The Backyard Charizard said:

Never before has the truth been so clear!

The worst supporters by a fair margin! 

I dont know.  Whenever I think about this subject I remember the Freo fan bashing that woman in the crowd and everyone standing around nodding with approval.

17th biggest game of the year in a row for us... who would have thought it?

45 minutes ago, picket fence said:

And he would want to play well if he wants a 51st Next week! IMV

come on picky give him the credit he is due,50 games is a great effort ,a lot players never get there

Need to start with early goals, can't be inaccurate and must convert from our chances.

Oh, the forward line. If it isn't working then the mids have to do the damage on the scoreboard. 

Get and maintain efficiency for the 4 quarters. 

Hunt that ball down.

Fire em up coaches and give Port a unique look at some of our various game plans. Hoping we do that fast ball movement, run in swarms (pressure, support, get ball) and play mainly that maniac game. Intersperse it with some controlled tempo when we need to.

Got a big wake up call last week. Now for a response.

Tackling, kicking passes and goals, must have been emphasised at training. Though a five day turn around and they haven't had alot of time to dwell.

Bring some selfless acts, protect each other and play smart.

Usually easier for us when we are not outright favourites. Something happens when we have to fight for it.

Show the league our credentials, hammer them Dees.

Edited July 8, 20213 yr by kev martin

1 hour ago, Demon17 said:

Fully agree with all your comments about the Dees.

IF we lose by a small margin it will say something about some improvement that we can recover from.  Esp if BBB kicks a few and it looks like we have a forward solution. and the record against top 8 side (tiges, cats, esp Lions and Dogs) retains some credibility.

If we cop a thumping its a huge deal.

But Power can't win here. They should win, and if they lose they are officially making up the numbers big time and Kochie won't be happy. 

Koochie used to be a fun on tv,then the big money took over now he is a self opinionated bore,love to beat em by 10 goals and watch him bleed through the eyes

8 minutes ago, kev martin said:

Usually easier for us when we are not outright favourites. Something happens when we have to fight for it.

 

Agreed.

We're 7-3 when favorites

We're 5-0 when outsiders (St Kilda, GWS, Richmond, Dogs and Brisbane)

 

Edited July 8, 20213 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

5 hours ago, binman said:

I need to ruminate some more.....

From your ruminations to their psyches, binman. Agree we’re the better team when in top form, am just worried that our best is currently hiding. If it comes out tonight, should be fun. 

I hope Luke Darcy isn’t commentating tonight. He’s bad enough as it is, but he’s even more annoying when it’s a game involving “Pohr Lay” because…“Pohr Lay.” 
The imbecile is stingy with syllables. 

Been nervous all week. Just a little bit excited now. This could be great.

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

Usually Pickett is in the first bounce.

 

He hasn't been in the last 3-4 games

9 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

I hope Luke Darcy isn’t commentating tonight. He’s bad enough as it is, but he’s even more annoying when it’s a game involving “Pohr Lay” because…“Pohr Lay.” 
The imbecile is stingy with syllables. 

Strong possibility it will be Darcy or JB. Probably Hamish as the other.

We'll also be blessed with Timmy Watson's young son in the special comments booth. 

7 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

The way we have bombed into our fwd line  Id give bbb instructions and a small not to step outside of our fwd fifty arc. In fact, stay as close to the goal square as possible.

That's not his go, though. He's a lead up forward. I think it's part of the reason he's struggling to get a game.

If the opposition don't provide space in our forward half, he's not as effective as you'd imagine a 200cm forward to be and for the most part, is a liability when it hits the ground.

Hopefully, Port leave a bit of room for him to lead into and he can get hold of the ball.

I was so excited to see Ben Brown when it looked like the game was opening up but coaches have found a way to continue to get numbers behind the ball which makes it difficult.

I think one of the reasons we've been successful against the good sides is that they back themselves and don't bother overdoing numbers in the back half.

Hopefully, Port do the same, however, I think the strategies that the lesser sides have employed against us might become the blueprint for better sides. 

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

Usually Pickett is in the first bounce.

Last week he wasn't. 

Perhaps he needs to get some early involvement, so he plays better.

Be interesting to see if he is in the middle for the first bounce.

 

1 hour ago, Dr.D said:

i tend to agree. That was me last week. i'd love nothing more than dees to prove me wrong. Goodwin to prove that he can coach and motivate his players to start the game well and not get flogged out of the middle. And the forwards to have some pride in their profession to kick straight. 

I still don't get this, "Goodwin to Motivate players" line, they are professional athletes you should be self motivated to do what you have trained to do.  The day of the coach big inspiring pre-match speech is gone, every player will have their own routine, some it is Music others is getting the ball in your hand, a coach speech before a game doesn't set the tone for the game, it is up to the players.

The first 5 minutes our leaders, Gawn/Viney with Oliver and Petracca need to set the tone for the game, get that ball deep inside our 50m arc and score early, we want to dominate the game from the first bounce like we did against the Bulldogs, then struggle the life out of Port. 

Tonight is the night that many of the youngsters on here get an insight to what we older folk have been watching for 50 years or so. The end of yet another false dawn.

 

Port by 30.

15 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Strong possibility it will be Darcy or JB. Probably Hamish as the other.

We'll also be blessed with Timmy Watson's young son in the special comments booth. 

Awesome!!! Jobe Watson is just as grating to listen to. ? 

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

Our poor starts are very strange and add undue pressure.

I think they have been coming out with too much endeavour.

That desperation causes fumbles, errors and taking their eyes of the ball, and they lose where they and others are, as they get ahead of themselves. 

The problems snowball and missing a few early, easy shoots leaves us deflated. Which we don't get over until the second half.

Would prefer steely, cool head, in the moment, actions.

Edited July 8, 20213 yr by kev martin

7 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Tonight is the night that many of the youngsters on here get an insight to what we older folk have been watching for 50 years or so. The end of yet another false dawn.

 

Port by 30.

Time to break the cycle faulty.

26 minutes ago, binman said:

He hasn't been in the last 3-4 games

He was against GWS. Not the Bombers or Pies games though.

 

I'd send Harmes straight to Butters.  He is their most damaging player in my eyes and a real catalyst for his team with his cockiness 

10 minutes ago, loges said:

Time to break the cycle faulty.

All the signs are there that the Melbourne of old are back. 

14 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Tonight is the night that many of the youngsters on here get an insight to what we older folk have been watching for 50 years or so. The end of yet another false dawn.

 

Port by 30.

How many times have we have a team good enough to win the first 9 games and be 12-3 in the last 50 years?

answer = zero

dare to dream my friend 

I can handle getting done if tonight if we lose fair and square and Port outscore us by 8-10 scoring shots, as disappointing as that would be.

What I can't handle is if they win say 12.6 to 8.15 and we've literally kicked ourselves out of another game. We need to respect our set shots way more than we have of late, eg - Fritsch missing a set shot around the body from 15-20 out last week as well as Pertacca  missing a 40 mtr shot directly in front.

I think the winner scores no more than 12 goals tonight.

If we can regain some functionality and increase pressured between the 50 m arcs we will win, simple as that. 

8 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

The way we have bombed into our fwd line  Id give bbb instructions and a small not to step outside of our fwd fifty arc. In fact, stay as close to the goal square as possible.

Fritta can cover the pockets and Dogga and tmac can do what they please.

Bbb is a champion of the game. Despite last year, no defender relishes the prospect of playing on him as he has towelled most of the best.

Congrats to Goody for making the change.

 

I'm not too concerned how many BB kicks. I think he'll be a bit rusty. What it should do is let Fritsch off the leash now.

He was slumping but really got his touch back last week, if he can continue without having three blokes swarming him like last week due to the fact they're going to have to man up on Benny, we should hopefully get some more "connection".

God I hate that term. Go Dees.

Underdogs again.