Bigfooty.

Not a lot to say. 

They seem a bit fixated on ruckmen.

• On one hand, Gawn and Jackson could dominate us without a proper ruckman. On the other hand, Gawn and Jackson dominated us earlier in the year with a proper ruckman. Not sure how I feel on that…
• …...and we didn't kick a goal for almost three quarters. The point about the game earlier this year is Finlayson and Dixon did not play so when Lycett was injured we were forced to use Todd Marshall on Max Gawn for the second half and it was a match up made in hell as far as we were concerned. I think Charlie Dixon might offer more serious opposition. I also think our midfield is a lot sharper these days and our forward structure more productive so go with what we have.
•  
• …We exist to play teams back into form, we've done it for years. On that basis I wouldn't read anything into any of the above.

• if we double team Fritsch do we get a Fritsch sandwich? 🙄

• Oliver had surgery on a fractured thumb, but is still a chance to play.  Same injury would have Fantasia on the sidelines for 12 weeks.

• More than zero goals in the first half, pls.

• This game has typical Ken Hinkley Port Adelaide written all over it. A close loss and a chance squandered against a legitimate contender. The players either man up & win or they do the usual and nothing changes coming into next week.

• Undefeated at Traeger Park. Reckon we make it 4-0.

 

My favourite:

This is a bit cruel but made me laugh:

•  Holy s**t Jarrad redden is still playing SANFL?

  •  Fat ruckmen & forwards do well at SANFL level.

  •  I love seeing the fat blokes out there in the sanfl, it highlights what an elite sporting comp it is

Edited July 13, 20223 yr by Lucifers Hero

I'm at the point where I'm genuinely not sure which Melbourne we'll get this week. So many competing factors and theories.

- loading, of course (are we upping it/scaling back this week?)
- is our forward line (and delivery) going to click into gear like we know it can? (esp. out of centre bounces ala GF), or will it remain impotent...
- will Port bring the heat? Will we? Or have our players lost a bit of hunger?
- will our younger players find their form again? Will BBB? Will Weids step up?

In short, how much is our fluctuating form to do with a combination of these factors vs. the simplicity of hunger and intent?

Our injury list is pretty damn good, so assuming we're now heading out of loading phase, and with a longer break between games, I can't see that we'll have any excuses from a physical perspective (barring hidden flu/covid cases). Time to bring it.

Edited July 13, 20223 yr by Spargonicus

1 hour ago, Spargonicus said:

I'm at the point where I'm genuinely not sure which Melbourne we'll get this week. So many competing factors and theories.

- loading, of course (are we upping it/scaling back this week?)
- is our forward line (and delivery) going to click into gear like we know it can? (esp. out of centre bounces ala GF), or will it remain impotent...
- will Port bring the heat? Will we? Or have our players lost a bit of hunger?
- will our younger players find their form again? Will BBB? Will Weids step up?

In short, how much is our fluctuating form to do with a combination of these factors vs. the simplicity of hunger and intent?

Our injury list is pretty damn good, so assuming we're now heading out of loading phase, and with a longer break between games, I can't see that we'll have any excuses from a physical perspective (barring hidden flu/covid cases). Time to bring it.

either it unravels from here, or we win the flag. there is no in-between

4 minutes ago, cookieboc said:

either it unravels from here, or we win the flag. there is no in-between

I am pretty sure that is true for every team in the 8....

Don't have the answers to your questions @Spargonicus but it will be a very different game to that early this year.

Earlier they had no Dixon.  Wines was subbed out at half time.  Lycett hurt his shoulder but played on.   Somehow they kept Oliver to a low of 19 possessions and he had little impact. 

So it is anyone's guess how this game will play out.

But we have Home ground advantage but not sure we will have Home crowd advantage.  Hopefully, the fans get on board the Dee premiership train and barrack for us.  

I hope the club takes The Cup to Alice and let people there enjoy it, like we did.

Ever the optimist:  Dees by 3-5 goals.  Just enough to keep our % above 130!!

3 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Undefeated at Traeger Park. Reckon we make it 4-0.

Port undefeated at Traegor park! Jeez. I don't like this stat

7 minutes ago, BDA said:

Port undefeated at Traegor park! Jeez. I don't like this stat

Reckon our recent form is better than theirs.

5 minutes ago, BDA said:

Port undefeated at Traegor park! Jeez. I don't like this stat

Not as bad as it looks.  Port's three wins at Traeger Park were in 2014, 2015, 2016.

Wishful thinking by the Port poster.

I’m quite confident going into this week.

Not expecting a smashing, but hoping for a return to a grinding Melbourne win.

 

Oliver had surgery on a fractured thumb, but is still a chance to play.  Same injury would have Fantasia on the sidelines for 12 weeks.

 

28 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Oliver had surgery on a fractured thumb, but is still a chance to play.  Same injury would have Fantasia on the sidelines for 12 weeks.

 

 

That's probably a disservice to Fantasia, 3 weeks off perhaps.

I have no recollection of the game played earlier in the year. When looking it up, I see that Port kicked the last three goals of the game out of their total of four. With a score line like that, I suspect it's a game not worth remembering. 

8 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

 

 

More than zero goals in the first half, pls.

 

Thanks for putting this together, Luci. 
This is my fave coz their bar is set so low they risk tripping over it. 🤣

3 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I have no recollection of the game played earlier in the year. When looking it up, I see that Port kicked the last three goals of the game out of their total of four. With a score line like that, I suspect it's a game not worth remembering. 

They 100% played into our hands and looked completely lost trying to move the ball forward of center.

Will be interesting to see how they adapt this time.

 

8 hours ago, cookieboc said:

either it unravels from here, or we win the flag. there is no in-between

Said every nuffy about every game ever 😂

8 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I have no recollection of the game played earlier in the year. When looking it up, I see that Port kicked the last three goals of the game out of their total of four. With a score line like that, I suspect it's a game not worth remembering. 

i Was at the game, it was horrible.

Our defense was set up to perfection and because they didn't have the dump kick option to Dixon the kept swinging it across their HB line, switch after switch.

The game was so horrible to watch but listening to the crowd turn on their team was good value, and the cheer when they finally kicked a goal.👌

they're playing like a completely different side of late compared to when we defeated them earlier in the year

finlayson and dixon is really working as an undersized ruck combo for them

"We exist to play teams back into form" is surely a play on their famous slogan "We exist to win premierships" Love it. 

On 7/13/2022 at 12:20 PM, BDA said:

Port undefeated at Traegor park! Jeez. I don't like this stat

From 2014, 2015 and 2016.  From the days when Melbourne were pretty crap.

Update:

• Reality is though we've proven time and time again this year we aren't any good.
• Since when do we beat top 4 sides? What are we like 1 win against the top 8 all year? I reckon youse are dreaming. Melbourne by an easy 4 goals
• Anyone think this will be a grind like that St Kilda game earlier in the year? Or are we set for a belting?
• we are (on form) at best a lower top 8 side and melbourne are top 2. can't see us winning.
• Melbourne supporters whingeing about Ben Brown and wanting to cut him.  Watch this space for an Alice Springs performance update.
• You apparently can't tell the difference between optimism and acceptance of mediocrity.
  • Optimism without basis is delusion.
•  It appears apathy has well and truly set in!!  I used to be apathetic but now I just don’t care!!
• If drew isn’t tagging Petracca from the first bounce, Hinkley should be sacked at quarter time
• If port can actually develop and execute a game plan they could win this, but I don't think we have the smarts in the box

The best I wish for Port fans is a Merry Christmas.

That is all.