joeboy

List of those who gave us little , or nothing , today : Hogan,Watts,,Toumpas, Garland,Pederson, Nicholson, Macdonald,Evans,Tapscott,Davey,Howe,

Just got home from the game . Not disastrous . Positives: Rodan - lots of class , speed , creativity and strength Byrnes - knows where to go; understands the fall of the ball Nicholson - showed nothing to suggest he deserves a game ( this IS a positive ) Dunn - continued his resurgence ; easily our best player and kick Sylvia - started to get some touches Best : Dunn, Jones , Rodan, Sylvia , Jamar ( dominated the hit outs against no opposition )

My first comments for quite a while, and my first attendance at training this pre-season. Undoubtedly, the most outstanding aspect of this morning's training for me was to see an energetic, involved, and enthusiastic Aaron Davey. He was running, chasing, and tackling as we remember him from 3-4 seasons ago, and he was far and away the most effective ball user on the field, even kicking a wonderful 50m goal on the run from the boundary. Another highlight was Fitzpatrick turning Junior McDonald inside out as he grabbed the ball at centre half forward , then backed his confidence to outsprint his more highly regarded opponent over 30 meters before kicking the goal. I like how Watts has finally broadened his frame to man- size proportions , and thoroughly enjoyed seeing Viney assert himself at every contest. Like others here, I was very disappointed with the kicking skills, though Casey Fields tends to bring the worst out of most players' disposal levels. No complaints about the endeavor of all, though this should go without saying at this time of the year. I'm looking forward to returning with my 3 word player analyses soon.

6 - Macdonald - made few errors and gave a damn 5 - Sellar - see Macdonald 4 - Sylvia - stringing games together helps 3 - Howe - wasn't great , but at least showed some class 2 - Nicholson - disposal was poor , but never stopped trying 1 - Grimes - gave a damn , but was still beaten

Trengove - playing on empty Grimes - gave a damn Watts - couldn't find rhythm Bate - second half effort Frawley - seemingly without passion Sylvia - started to perform McKenzie - disposal was amateurish Dunn - not the worst Blease - some isolated cameos Garland - no heroics today Moloney - no involvement again McDonald - absence was felt Rivers - not the answer Macdonald - our best defender Sellar - was always solid Martin - looked totally lost Tapscott - angry but useless Howe - classy but absent Spencer - waste of space Bail - had little involvement Nicholson - brave but careless Magner - is obviously tiring

Trengove - finally got possessions Grimes - continued his assession Jones - accomplished and effective Watts - used possessions impressively Bate - enjoyed his freedom Frawley - did little , well Clark - breathtaking first quarter Sylvia - some dynamic involvement McKenzie - harassed all day Dunn - effective in defense Blease - backed his speed Garland - an effective target Moloney - very quiet game T. McDonald - steadily building confidence Rivers - enjoyed new role J. MacDonald - tough and effective Sellar - played intelligent game Davey - goals but lacking Howe - great second half Jamar - dominated as expected Nicholson - successfully broke lines Magner - was rarely noticed

Trengove - continued to underperform Grimes - stand alone captain Jones - inspiring and courageous Watts - good but embarrassed Frawley - just a shadow Morton - officially an irrelevance Clark - great all day Sylvia - continued wretched season Mckenzie - gotta love him Dunn - found his niche Blease - was invariably unbalanced Green - sadly an embarrassment Garland - not the answer Moloney - not a tagger McDonald - a solid game Rivers - not a forward Seller - can't fault endeavour Tapscott - brave and aggressive Howe - needed greater involvement Jamar - had little influence Nicholson - courageous and improving Magner - just a game

Trengove - some vital touches Grimes - excellent sweeper's role Jones - a vital cog Watts - an intelligent game Morton - mistakes , but useful Clark - a minor player Sylvia - started to impose McKenzie - excellent tagging performance Dunn - effective , but limited Blease - excellent until injured Green - experience was important Garland - the x factor Moloney - enjoyed not tagging McDonald - mistakes , but important Rivers - a classy game Macdonald - tough and clever Seller - an impressive game Tapscott - application and toughness Howe - some cameo involvement Jamar - more rounded game Nicholson - confident and exciting Magner - never shirked issue

Trengove - inability to inspire Grimes - succumbed to pressure Jones - can stand tall Bartram - loose and careless Watts - just a game Bate - had little effect Frawley - had Riewoldt's measure Morton - surprisingly poor attitude Clark - only mediocre performance McKenzie - probably on field Dunn - made an impact Garland - continued disappointing season McDonald - still learning game Rivers - no key defender Seller - had some moments Martin - a headless chook Tapscott - was rarely sighted Davey - tried but failed Howe - a continued success James - tried but lacking Bail - had no impact Magner - was well controlled

6- Jones 5- Magner 4- Clark 3- Rivers 2- T.McDonald 1- Trengove

Tynan - just a game

6- Magner 5- Trengove 4 - Martin 3 - Rivers 2 - Howe 1 - Grimes

Trengove - never stopped trying Grimes - was terrific early Jones - always under pressure Bartram - skill - less as ever Watts - failed to impress Bate - limited game time Frawley - far from reliable Clark - overpaid and underperformed Mckenzie - selected too soon Blease - was rarely sighted Green - was never sighted Garland - was he playing? Moloney - not on field Rivers - not the worst Macdonald - possibly the worst Martin - gave a little Davey - career possibly over Howe - spectacular , not effective Jamar - was comprehensively destroyed Bail - was rarely sighted Magner- the only highlight

I was at training this morning for about an hour , until it got too hot . My observations , in no particular astounding order : Bate looks like a completely different player - his tank-like thighs have disappeared, along with his barrel chest . Jones was the pick of the trainers. Morton has lost weight. Gysberts still appears malnourished. Watts was enthusiastic and involved , contrary to what I'd read here previously. Martin had a body to die for ( purely from an aesthetic perspective). Trengove and Moloney want the captaincy and both stood out as leaders. No Davey, Jetta, Jurrah, Sylvia, Grimes, Strauss, Jamar, Cook.

Green - had minimal involvement Jones - good and ugly Bartram - great tagging performance Watts - slid into mediocrity Bate - increased trading value Bennell - disappeared when pressured Frawley - owned his opponents Trengove - was great early Morton - see Bate's analysis Mckenzie - terrific all game Garland - occasional brain fades Moloney - heart and soul Rivers - dynamic and confident Martin - continued game improvement Tapscott - one dimensional game Howe - exciting and talented Jetta - little to enthuse Jamar - never stopped trying McDonald - had little involvement Bail - enjoyed his dash Blease - polar opposite weekends Fitzpatrick - debut to forget

I agree. I was at the game and it was obvious that Casey was short of class whilst Port was probably playing close to its best list. Add Maric, Nicholson, Bate, Fitzpatrick, McDonald and others who I may have forgotten and you'll have a fairer contest. BTW Gawn was outstanding and totally dominated the centre contests, but was alone in there. His work around the ground, and even on the ground in totally inappropriate conditions for someone of his height was so impressive. He's come a long way and will be going further!

6 - Garland 5 - Blease 4 - Moloney 3 - Jamar 2 - Jones 1 - Bennell

Green - game's best forward Jones - consistent all day Bartram - tight and effective Watts - hardly got going Bennell - exciting in bursts Frawley - owned the backline Trengove - not as prolific Morton - had little impact McKenzie - was rarely noticed Garland - outstanding all day Moloney - better second half Jurrah - dangerous before injury Rivers - was always safe Scully - rarely found targets Martin - some important involvements Tapscott - rarely found ball Howe - excellent when subbed Jetta - five thrilling minutes Jamar - owned the circle McDonald - safe and impressive Blease - thrilling and confident McNamara - just a game

6 - Sylvia 5 - Garland 4 - Jones 3 - Trengove 2 - Frawley 1 - Jamar

Green - not the answer Jones - dynamic and impressive Bartram - understood his role Watts - needed more involvement Bennell - pleasingly backed himself Frawley - owned his opponent Trengove - just kept performing Morton - surprisingly effective game Sylvia - the complete game McKenzie - determined but limited Petterd - had little involvement Garland - brave and inspiring Moloney - great at clearances Jurrah - only 1 quarter Rivers - quiet but safe Macdonald - hard but careless Scully - why the hype ? Martin - a tiring year Davey - milestone to forget Howe - probably wasn't playing Jamar - owned the centre Blease - great early on

6 - Howe 5 - Petterd 4 - Frawley 3 - Garland 2 - Rivers 1 - Blease

Jones - same old same Bartram - abysmal skill execution Watts - not enough involvement Frawley - arrogant and prolific Trengove - couldn't shake tag Morton - junk time stats Sylvia - rarely looked interested Mckenzie - what we expected Dunn - five minute game Petterd - impressive 4 quarters Garland - sharp and impressive Moloney - great third quarter Rivers - was rarely outpointed Macdonald - gave excellent drive Scully - little to enthuse Martin - outpointed resting ruckman Tapscott - was frustratingly loose Davey - lost the magic Howe - continues to impress Jamar - regularly outpalmed Cox Blease - played with confidence Nicholson - impressed when subbed

I said that

After being censored and censured by Rhino Richards for the reprehensible act of referring to The Cats as inbreds after last week's game , I've spat the dummy and taken an extended break

Green - seemingly without passion Jones - has gone quiet Watts - certainly showed endeavour Gysberts - playing junior football Bate - had little impact Frawley - was totally overwhelmed Trengove - is looking lost Sylvia - made no impression McKenzie - most consistent contributer Dunn - a headless chook Petterd -a front runner Maric - played without conviction Garland - should be dropped Moloney - didn't bother scorers Jurrah - heart's not here Rivers - our only winner Martin - went missing today Tapscott - many costly turnovers Howe - some nice passages Jamar - was badly outplayed Strauss - continues to disappoint Nicholson - many glaring errors