Willmoy1947

4 minutes ago, Chook said:

If Dixon couldn't get it done against McDonald and Lever (and Hore) I don't think Tex can given his performance this year.

Adelaide"s forward line looked pretty crowded to me, in their game against Freo and Pierce diid the job, but we aint got a Pierce. Just saying. 

8 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Fullarton hasn't done much at Casey but I understand your point on BBB.

If May returns then Petty plays forward which allows bbb to be rested possibly

Petty returns down back because they will be going through Tex because May probably will not play.

On 19/03/2024 at 12:48, Jaded No More said:

Kosi is definitely leaving Melbourne to go somewhere colder and further away from his family. I hear Trent is already packing his bags too 🙄

Why is Trent packing Kossie's bags in the first place?

1 hour ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Yes! The knock ons are back! Creates momentum and keeping the ball in motion, going your way, creates opportunities for crafty players to work in space.

Yes and the two biggest exponent teams are Twsnbn and Cats. The Brothers with the inside connections..

What is it about advantage and play on that umpires cannot get  consistency on??

8 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

5points the diff at qtr time.
Scores level at half time.
4pts the diff at 3qtr time.
Any talk or reports of us stealing that game is ....

Insanity insanity insanity insanity..... 

15 hours ago, Brownie said:

Is that their mum in front with her three brothers?

Melbourne had something like Eight or nine players from Adelaide/ Sth Australia

15 hours ago, layzie said:

ANB is the 6 million dollar man 

And he never hesitated to sign up again.

15 hours ago, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

Wow, I thought the umpires were more than generous to us…

You're just not used to the way it should be when they are fair.....or close to it

Two Grand Finals this year and this aint one of them.

On 24/03/2024 at 09:48, Pates said:

Yep that pretty much sums the media up, they have to have a target in the off-season to sell papers and get clicks. People like Corns have to make bold, stupid, and totally unhelpful comments like Oliver might never play again (seriously he should put his hand up and apologise for that). They circled and hoped for us to have a slow start, we lost to the swans and their mouths were frothing. But now two good wins have them off our back and they've gotta acquire a new target. 

And they have...

6 hours ago, Jontee said:

Totally agree.  Hipwood was terrible again and Joey couldnt mark a blackboard.

What is it with those two. Is it because they don't have to beat anyone else to get into the team. Where is their pride.

And number four maggot from pies running around trying to kick and maim wherever he can.

Rule of the week this week is pushing in the back, but only if you are a Pie.

They got a fair shake of the stick in tonight's game by jingo's.

12 minutes ago, Lou C. Fur said:

Intentional. More than 5 metres of the ball. Medium impact. Likely to cause injury. DOG ACT PENDLEBURY.

Your Mum told you that the retaliator always gets caught.

2 weeks suspension I would think:

 

 

Err no.

Does anyone know what level Jack is at. I know he doesn't say anything about it. But i would expect he would be close to a Black Belt, but it could be more including being more than a Dan.

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.

On 26/03/2024 at 14:43, whatwhat say what said:

• bears?
• baggers
• flagmantle
• aints
• us?
• footscray
• bloods
• puddy tatts 

One mistake, there is an i between t and s.

By one maggot in particular. God i hope we don't get him again..

Cannot say anymore to what has been said already. The ultimate player's player.

Yep, i was gonna put that up, but a knew someone else would.

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.

Well he would have to get ONE free kick in the next two weeks now.

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

 

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.

How can we stay calm, when Oliver's finger is at stake

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.

I have a sneaky plan to have Kozzie in a buttered run with role.