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Willmoy1947

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Posts posted by Willmoy1947

  1. On 28/02/2024 at 15:25, Supreme_Demon said:

    I understand the eternal bonds with our heritage at the MCG.

    However, I am now convinced that the Caulfield Racecourse is the most plausible option and we need to forge ahead with that. Regardless, of any news articles to the contrary.

    I would of loved the Jolimont Train Station project to succeed. To me, it was perfect. That would of been ideal. Unfortunately, that was scuttled.

    So unless a generous and eccentric billionaire comes along who wants to build the Melbourne Football Club a home base, we gotta face reality and hope we can make a deal at the Caulfield Racecourse.

    Besides winning more Premierships, a home base for the Melbourne Football Club must be a priority.

    I think there is a correlation between the TWO.

    • Like 1
  2. 5 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

    There are some tough blokes about. I had only bruised ribs once and every time I coughed or laughed I was in agony. Could hardy to put on a shirt. Can't imagine playing a game of AFL footy.

    Well they used to say to you that it will be a little tight but your safe with it being taped up. Out you go.

    • Like 1
  3. 3 hours ago, Demonland said:

    The jubilation on the coach’s face as he danced a celebratory jig by the playing bench after the final siren sounded to record his team’s four-point victory over the Demons when the teams last met, said it all. 

     

    On that rainy Friday night at the Adelaide Oval, Ken Hinkley’s young midfield secured much more than four points on offer. The victory over one of the big dogs of the competition after a succession of wins over some of its lesser lights gave his team respect and validation for their 2023 premiership campaign. 

     

    Saturday’s rematch promises much the same for the winning team — respect and validation for that which lies ahead. We know such things mean very little at this early stage of the year but the confidence and momentum gained can make a difference as a season unfolds. 

     

    Melbourne’s quest to achieve validation after a turbulent summer that left its list short by two primary list players was made even more difficult by the end of Round 2 with two All Australian key position defenders under an injury cloud. Steven May was in hospital with two broken ribs and a small transverse process fracture while Jake Lever was sitting on the bench wearing a tracksuit top on the bench, nursing a sore knee that turned out to be not as bad as first thought. But the injury list is long and a five day break before the Gather Round clash against the Crows will test the club’s depth.

     

    You can take it straight from the coach’s mouth that the possible absence of the two keys on top of the Bowey injury from Round Zero isn’t the end of the world. The coach, Simon Goodwin, spoke immediately after the Hawthorn game and maintained that he has plenty of material necessary to cover the loss of players:

     

    “I thought Harrison Petty, Tom McDonald, and Marty Hore did a great job down back for us.

     

    “We’ve got guys that can play those roles. Clearly Harrison’s done it previously. We’ve got some other guys, Adam Tomlinson will play tomorrow in the VFL.” 

     

    (Tomlinson worked hard under adversity for Casey and did well enough to be considered if required).

     

    “So, we’ve got some options in that space which is pleasing, so we’ll assess that during the week.”

     

    And while the issue of depth (especially in the big man department) will be crucial against Port Adelaide, I think it could be a double-edged sword for the home team on a hot Autumn night. They have key forwards Dixon, Finlayson and Marshall, at one end with tall defenders in Aliir, Ratugolea and Zerk-Thatcher. They have plenty of height, but their issue might be one of having to handle the Demon small brigade, particularly if the Melbourne midfield gains the initiative. 

     

    The engine room will, as usual, be the place where the game will ultimately be won and this is where things get interesting. Melbourne’s ace is Max Gawn who should beat Ivan Soldo even if the Demon skipper is subjected to the usual roughhouse tactics that are emblematic of Port’s routine strategy against him. Problem with that is the umpiring fraternity is onto this and paying greater attention to such an approach these days.

     

    Then there are the midfield pieces on both the inside and outside. Melbourne has the advantage of the bulls in Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca, Tom Sparrow and Jack Viney with occasional appearances from Kozzie Pickett, Christian Salem, Trent Rivers and the peripatetic Alex Neal-Bullen and, on the outside, Ed Langdon, Caleb Windsor and Jack Billings adding class.

     

    Port’s equivalent is led by Butters who took the game by the throat last year to bring home the bacon for a rampant Port Adelaide assisted by Rozee and Horne-Francis (who has a hamstring injury and in doubt to play). They also have Brownlow Medallist Wines, Drew, Farrell, Houston and the evergreen Boak. In the final analysis, I put the Demon engine room ahead by a small margin, perhaps one per cent.

     

    There are a few other one percenters that should work in Melbourne’s favour. Despite last year’s Gather Round fiasco and the loss to Port Adelaide in Round 10, both can be considered as outliers because of the conditions in which they were played. Otherwise, the Demons have a good record at the Adelaide Oval including a strong finals win over the Lions in the club’s premiership year. 

     

    The club is treating the next week or so with far more thought for the playing group than it did last year. Sticking around the City of Churches for an extended period will galvanize the group, and partially offset home ground advantage. And the bottom line is that the Demons not only have the depth, but they have an extra charge in terms of greater all-round flexibility. This will be a major factor in a game where whoever is available, you must play well enough on the day to beat your opponent in your next game.

     

    And beat them is what Melbourne will do. By 27 points. 

     

    THE GAME

     

    Port Adelaide v Melbourne on Saturday 30 March 2024 at 7.30pm at Adelaide Oval.

     

    HEAD TO HEAD

     

    Overall Port Adelaide 22 wins Melbourne 16 wins

    At Adelaide Oval Port Adelaide 4 wins Melbourne 3 wins

    Past five meetings Port Adelaide 2 win, Melbourne 3 wins

    The Coaches Hinkley 4 wins Goodwin 4 wins

     

    THE LAST TIME THEY MET

     

    Port Adelaide 11.14.80 defeated Melbourne 11.10.76 in Round 10, 2023 at Adelaide Oval

     

    The game was a slog in wet conditions. Port dominated early but the Demons came back strongly to lead by 17 points only seconds before the final break. The game that was there to be won was to be prelude to Melbourne’s end of season issues. Clayton Oliver’s hamstring pinged in its frenetic latter stages. Lachie Hunter’s backside collision with Connor Rozee led to his suspension and a Port Adelaide goal. This happened late in the third term just after a controversial umpiring decision against Tom McDonald (his opponent was suspended in the aftermath) - potentially caused a twelve point turnaround. The home side took the initiative and a late goal sealed the deal for them. 

     

    All things considered, the four premiership points would have seen Melbourne finish with a home qualifying final against Brisbane rather than Collingwood, perhaps a better outcome given the way things panned out for them.

     

    THE TEAMS (to be loaded when available)

     

    PORT ADELAIDE 

     

    MELBOURNE

     

    Injury List: Round 3

     

    Ollie Sestan — concussion/ Test

    Jake Lever — knee/ Test

    Lachie Hunter — calf/ 1 week

    Steven May — ribs/ 1 week

    Daniel Turner — hip/ 2 - 3 weeks

    Charlie Spargo — Achilles/ 2 - 4 weeks

    Shane McAdam — hamstring/ 3 - 5 weeks

    Jake Bowey — shoulder/ 7 weeks

    Jake Melksham — knee/ 12 - 14 weeks

     

    PreviewRd032024.png

    I'm over the moon that because Max got two free kicks that the tide has turned for him with the Umpiring fraternity.

    Now all that needs to be gleaned is kicks from the other side of the boundary and free kicks generally in the last minute of play.

  4. On 25/03/2024 at 15:57, daisycutter said:

    also noticed the dorks player cribbed an extra 3 metres from where he marked

    stupid ump let him get away with it, forcing chin to kick from 50. umps really need to pay more attention to setting the mark properly

    The umps do if the player does.

  5. 23 minutes ago, Redleg said:

    With 8.03 left in 2nd Quarter, Chol runs up behind Max and lifts his knee, hitting Max in the back.

    We know he hit May and he also got JVR high with a knee in a ruck contest.

    This knee first type of play is more than coincidence imo.

     

    Has been noticed in previous games because he takes speccies a lot, and has a habit of getting to contests late.

  6. 15 hours ago, DubDee said:

    he left the ground to contest the ball. then i’m the air realised he wouldn’t get it. what can he do in the air?

    Duty of care not adhered to, because he took his eye off the ball at the last two seconds, and went to the player to brace for contact, with shoulder.

    It actually happens quite a lot, but some protagonists  get better treatment than others.

    • Like 3
  7. 15 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

    I didn't get all the pre season talk about Crows being contenders.

    They may get up tonight but they don't look convincing to me.

    I agree. Petty will get pretty buggered running up and down each end

  8. 2 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

    To all the statisticians here, I'm just wondering if a team has comeback from zero and four to win a flag? (Hoping very much for the lions on their home turf next Thursday, to crush the filth).

    Thanks. And if they have, what is the magic number thus far, required for this  exclusion?

    Let's not forget that the Pies were a good side last year but hardly a spectacular one. Good start to the season but tired significantly towards the end and then just scraped through ALL their finals.

     

  9. 15 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

    crom mate reckons they are gonna pay big bucks to make petty their #1 defender in 2025 and beyond

    two first rounders kplsthxbye

    He is going to have to play both ends from what i can see.

    • Like 1
  10. 17 hours ago, Demonstone said:

    I was at that game but a long, long way from the Harmes incident as we were seated in the top deck behind the Punt Road goals at the opposite end of the MCG.

    Let me say without hesitation, without doubt and unequivocally that I can absolutely, cross my heart, 100% guarantee that by that late stage of the game I was so drunk I couldn't even see the other end of the ground but can confirm that indeed it was definitely a legitimate goal.

    You must have been in the same school as me, because i was very close to there.

    • Like 1
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