I wonder if all of you doom and gloomers felt the same this time last year? We drew with Hawthorn and most of our wins to that point were “uninspiring” 80-odd to 60-odd. 

21 minutes ago, layzie said:

When's the loading end party?

This week - Round 19 is where we go ballistic!

9 minutes ago, Wells 11 said:

Gawn not himself at all and is clearly is being hampered. Anyone know anything about the injury he has and if he’s going to just labour thru the rest of the year now or get better? 

It’s probably some match fitness as he wouldn’t have done any aerobic work for 2-3 weeks. It should improve over the next month. 
 

You can lose it in a heart beat but takes ages to build up.

12 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

And speaking of being petty... 😄

Tommo in Tomald's spot and Petty down back is what I meant.

I’ve been thinking this also - similarly aerobic - might be worth a punt?

I thought it was a decent win.  5 goals up with 5 minutes to play in pretty warm conditions.  No Petty, no Oliver, Lever injured early and rendered pretty much useless (was a good effort to stay out there).  Mids smashed at clearance, Gawn second up after an injury that most players take 6 weeks plus to recover from and he played an impactful second half.  Tomlinson proved that his still capable of playing well at this level. Pickett played a game for the ages.  Port are a very good AFL side and were in very good form coming into this game.

We'll get better from here

Just looked flat for most of today. While 22c isn’t hot, the change from Melbourne weather may have contributed?  Massive contrast to Geelong’s pressure and tackling last week and again last night to our lack of energy around the ball.  

That said, Port were playing for their season, and their effort was pretty ordinary  With no Ollie, Wines should have dined out, but hardly noticed him.

Salem getting a game on reputation at the moment, his kicking is totally unreliable. Either misses the target or chips it too high.

Need to desperately find a better option from kick ins. The kick to Max is just too predictable. Percentage of possession wins  after a kick in would be an interesting stat.  

I just wanted the win. Don't care how ugly it was.

We needed it to stay within the top 2 area.

There was patches throughout the game where we were very ordinary. 

Disappointing last 5 minutes, but um still taking the win.

Kozzie Pickett is now one of the genuine elite small forwards in the game. [censored] freak..

43 minutes ago, ding said:

Melk.... your chase/rundown was something i didnt think you had in you.

Nor did BT, clearly. “… being chased by a TIRED Melksham.” 🙄

14 minutes ago, layzie said:

I'll bring the vino, cheese and Jatz Crackers!

Everything looked so hard, skills were way off. This performance from Kozzie is what it's all about though!

Whoah whoah whoah

 

Jatz? Come on man . Savoys !

Just now, Superunknown said:

Whoah whoah whoah

 

Jatz? Come on man . Savoys !

I'm sorry I do apologise, Savoys.

3 minutes ago, homsar said:

I wonder if all of you doom and gloomers felt the same this time last year? We drew with Hawthorn and most of our wins to that point were “uninspiring” 80-odd to 60-odd. 

History doesn't always repeat. The fact is we are playing at 70% of our best, with a tough run leading into the finals. Our injury record is far worse than last year, and Gawn and Jackson have been bog ordinary since returning.

People are just calling it as they see it, and their assessment is basically correct. Will you come out of the woodwork and admit you were wrong, should we not make top 4, or crumble in the finals?

With our 13th win we are now assured of playing finals.  This is the first time since 2005/06 that we will be playing consecutive finals series.  And is only our third finals series since that time.  Enjoy it.

Kossie for 82 DT points? With 6 snags & 85% disposal efficiency. 
 

again, you are drunk DT and it is time to go home. 
 

his hoghlights reel was worth 300 DT points alone.

58 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Fair dinkum, it’s hard to please some people. Those who want to keep digging for negatives good luck to you, Mondays are always better with a win.

No one said doing a repeat is easy, most should be happy we are at least giving ourselves a chance. 
 

Thanks for typing this to save me the trouble.

1 minute ago, mo64 said:

History doesn't always repeat. The fact is we are playing at 70% of our best, with a tough run leading into the finals. Our injury record is far worse than last year, and Gawn and Jackson have been bog ordinary since returning.

People are just calling it as they see it,

You rarely make sense but I agree with this.

50 minutes ago, SPC said:

Gawn and Jackson were poor, Bedford out next week. I’d drop Melksham and Sparrow.

You're joking aren't you? Sparrow was good today.

10 minutes ago, CYB said:

It’s probably some match fitness as he wouldn’t have done any aerobic work for 2-3 weeks. It should improve over the next month. 
 

You can lose it in a heart beat but takes ages to build up.

Hope yr right but  honestly it looks more like a sudden loss of mobility. like he can’t grab the ball and spin to kick it from the ruck anymore and he’s falling over so much more in there too now . No questions re his courage or his intent but watching him at the bounces i can see he’s not quite right. I don’t know much about the syndesmosis i’m just hoping it can actually really  heal b4 finals. 

Wins all round for the club, gained a lot of friends up in Alice, a nice looking cheque from the beautiful people of NT and 4 valuable points to add to our tally.

Nothing but positives 6 weeks out from Finals.

7 minutes ago, mo64 said:

History doesn't always repeat. The fact is we are playing at 70% of our best, with a tough run leading into the finals. Our injury record is far worse than last year, and Gawn and Jackson have been bog ordinary since returning.

People are just calling it as they see it, and their assessment is basically correct. Will you come out of the woodwork and admit you were wrong, should we not make top 4, or crumble in the finals?

I won’t be in the woodwork. I wish we were playing better too, I just wish the supporter base would enjoy things a bit more. We are reigning premiers, just won a game, are equal second on the ladder. We have been [censored] my whole life until now. I say enjoy the wins whilst they last. 

4 minutes ago, The Jackson 6 said:

Kossie for 82 DT points? With 6 snags & 85% disposal efficiency. 
 

again, you are drunk DT and it is time to go home. 
 

his hoghlights reel was worth 300 DT points alone.

It's not hard. 

13 kicks     - 39 pts

1 handball - 2 pts

6 goals       - 36 pts

1 point         - 1 pt

2 marks      - 6 pts

1 free for    - 1 pt

1 free again - -3 pts

                          82 pts

                     

Do you know what I took out of the game from what I've just caught up on. 

Neale daniher going. My god for him to make that effort & trip just shows us more of the remarkable man he is.

I doubt he'd be complaining about our performance

59 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

I thought May's game was rather pedestrian - thank heavens for other backmen.

Indeed. We’d be really stuffffed with only 13 players on the ground. 

Aside from winning us the match, great to see Kozzy lighting up in front of a large crowd of Aboriginal admirers.

What a day to turn it on! 

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

Some stats

 

Hitouts to advantage Us 7 PA 9

Scores fm stoppage Us 25 PA 45

Game Pressure 175 to 145 PA (prob to be expected in the heat but geez that was low for us)

 

Where do you source the pressure rating numbers from? Ans is there a site with past games that you know of?

57 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

May went leftie, again. Time and again. Two teams with two-thirds of the onfield roster lined up waiting for May to deliver the ball - and how few marks, clearances and/or forward progressions were made.

Imagine if we had Salem doing the kick ins at least half the time.  He can go short to a free.  Possibly May!!

May can then roost it all the way to the wing.  At least we've managed to get into a neutral spot on the field and from there we have a chance.

Alternatively he is also good on the switch from a flank.