Move Over Sando

[tbagrocks]

A new hero emerges, well several actually!

Ken Hinkley upstages the more known Brenton Sanderson and Port played direct and the pressure was great! Hammer Hartlett is a superstar as will be Wingard and How good was Wines! Monfries fantastic and Schultz when fit is a gun! Pittard mopped up well and Heath with Stevenson had good debues

Nothing bad at all from the team that belted Melbourne everywhere!

Port Adelaide favourite for the SHOWDOWN  :o

[KoopKicka]

Stoked with my Hartlety selection. ;D

Still peaking I took Karjesus over Monfries, will give Kar one more week as Brisbane were shocking.


Welll dome from Port, they looked as good as  they did in the highs of their 2007 campaign, amazing spread, great run and carry, Darren Burgesses impact has worked, saw massive improvements in t he fitness of Trengove and Wingard especially. Hartlett, Boak, Ebert and Broadbent will be the Swan, Pendles, Beams, Sidebottom of tomorrow. ;D Hinkley finally woke up and put Stewart in the forwards and was rewarded in dividends. Pittard was amazing as the intercept man. Their skills just look more polished all round. Exciting times ahead, Ill admit, Melbournes defenders were hapless and we wont see our forwards dominate that much. But 3/4 of Melbournes midfield were trying. Stevenson and Heath are very good pickups and the speed at which they moved the ball was great.

Promising times ahead.

[Noz]

Stewart spent more time down back then forward because we lacked defensive run with the additions of Stevenson and Pittard there is basically no need for Stewart to be back their.

Would be interesting what would be done with Stewart when Gray returns having them 2 along with Monfires and Butcher if he is fit makes it quite interesting at the selection table.

With a massive win taking a punt on Gray would be silly in my opinion so the only one that may come in for next week would be Carlile.

When you think about it we had:

6 players that played for Port for the first time
3 of those players played their first AFL game
20 players that played less than 100 games
16 of them play have played less than 50 games

[Leventi]

Port's defence was the highlight for me -- whole team zoned well and maintained a proper structure the whole game. All the more pleasing when you looked at the back 6. 130 odd games experience and half of those were Trengove. Fair effort, and a huge tick for Hinkley who deserves a lot of credit for this. Will trouble a lot of sides this year if we are disciplined for 4 quarters week in week out.

[Dudge]

At the moment it's hard to fault anything from yesterdays game (but it was Melboune i suppose). Really liked Stevenson and Heaths games. If the Hammer can stay on the feild all year, he'd be a smokey for the charlie. Ollie is a gem, loved when Rodan tried to baulk him haha. Just his contested possies game is amazing, tough as nails. Shultz showed great leadership along with Trengove, Ebo and Boaky. I think alot of clubs are gonna under-estimate Stewart and Broadbent. Wingards seem a lot more confident/poised. Kane looked super fit, and didn't burn the ball as much :D. Monfries looks dangerouse up forward (+ throw Gray in when fully fit). All the rest Pitto, Westy, Cam O etc, done their jobs. Who goes out for Bobby when he returns, or should anyone at the moment? Now in saying all that, it's rd1, and i just pray we keep playing attractive attacking footy against all teams, (even when we're behind on the score board), and don't go back to last years crap. Apart from my D/T scores it's been a great Easter haha

[Sapientia]

I just thought I'd pop in as a Crows fan to congratulate you guys.

You can normally expect trolling and animosity from Crows' fans as we're a bunch of spuds but I'm going to give you the opposite; kudos.

You've appointed a coach straight out of assistantship instead of picking up a sacked former coach as most teams do. You've secured the future of the game and the next batch of elite coaches. Hinkley looks a stunner. I'd want to play for him - and I can imagine the Power players will too. Morale and culture will only rise.

I said last year I loved the batch of players you had coming through, and I love them even more now. You've played moneyball excellently over the last few years; Melbourne could learn a lot. Here's what I like.

- Hamish Hartlett: Boy this kid's a jet. His footskills are incredible, he reads the game like a seasoned professional and adds everything Port have lacked. If he keeps his body fit you're crusing

- Moneyball recruitment: Picking up Schulz for nothing - a guy who if he'd stayed on the park all season would have been top 5-10 in the Coleman. If he doesn't mark it, he brings it to ground for the crumbers. He doesn't waste shots. Ebert: people, myself included, thought he was an inefficient failure. How wrong I was. He's tough, he adds grunt and a hard body and his disposal isn't near as bad as one used to think. He'll never be elite but he will be great. Hombsch: He's going to be an excellent player and you got him cheap. He'll do Jackson Trengove the world of good too. Stevenson: Keeps an opponent quiet and has great skills by foot. His effect on defensive cohesion will be profound. Heath: Keeps a forward out of the game and plays his role. A better version of Surjan, it seems. I'm not sold on Monfries yet though.

- Drafting. Wines is a stunner. Between him and Ebert you'll have an imposing midfield and guys like Boak and Hartlett will be loving the supply. Wingard hasn't hit his straps yet but he was a steal. When these guys develop you'll have the best midfield in the league. Pittard looks like he'll be an All Australian half back one day and Colqhoun was a good pickup. Kane Mitchell adds the gut running and readymade grunt to make you a force this year and he'll be excellent beyond. The excellent picks make up for the odd failure (Blee, etc.) but wow - I'm excited. Butcher too actually. He was a steal and when he gets an injury free run, he'll show you why.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think you'll be a contender this year. I do think you'll comfortably have us (the Crows) covered though. And I do think in a year or two you'll be top 4 material, and probably win a flag.

I'm excited. I've never liked Port but the bunch of players you've got now are making me reconsider. I like all the players as individuals it's hard not to like the team. Well done lads, and congratulations on pulling out of such a rough spot.

[Dudge]

I just thought I'd pop in as a Crows fan to congratulate you guys.

You can normally expect trolling and animosity from Crows' fans as we're a bunch of spuds but I'm going to give you the opposite; kudos.

You've appointed a coach straight out of assistantship instead of picking up a sacked former coach as most teams do. You've secured the future of the game and the next batch of elite coaches. Hinkley looks a stunner. I'd want to play for him - and I can imagine the Power players will too. Morale and culture will only rise.

I said last year I loved the batch of players you had coming through, and I love them even more now. You've played moneyball excellently over the last few years; Melbourne could learn a lot. Here's what I like.

- Hamish Hartlett: Boy this kid's a jet. His footskills are incredible, he reads the game like a seasoned professional and adds everything Port have lacked. If he keeps his body fit you're crusing

- Moneyball recruitment: Picking up Schulz for nothing - a guy who if he'd stayed on the park all season would have been top 5-10 in the Coleman. If he doesn't mark it, he brings it to ground for the crumbers. He doesn't waste shots. Ebert: people, myself included, thought he was an inefficient failure. How wrong I was. He's tough, he adds grunt and a hard body and his disposal isn't near as bad as one used to think. He'll never be elite but he will be great. Hombsch: He's going to be an excellent player and you got him cheap. He'll do Jackson Trengove the world of good too. Stevenson: Keeps an opponent quiet and has great skills by foot. His effect on defensive cohesion will be profound. Heath: Keeps a forward out of the game and plays his role. A better version of Surjan, it seems. I'm not sold on Monfries yet though.

- Drafting. Wines is a stunner. Between him and Ebert you'll have an imposing midfield and guys like Boak and Hartlett will be loving the supply. Wingard hasn't hit his straps yet but he was a steal. When these guys develop you'll have the best midfield in the league. Pittard looks like he'll be an All Australian half back one day and Colqhoun was a good pickup. Kane Mitchell adds the gut running and readymade grunt to make you a force this year and he'll be excellent beyond. The excellent picks make up for the odd failure (Blee, etc.) but wow - I'm excited. Butcher too actually. He was a steal and when he gets an injury free run, he'll show you why.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think you'll be a contender this year. I do think you'll comfortably have us (the Crows) covered though. And I do think in a year or two you'll be top 4 material, and probably win a flag.

I'm excited. I've never liked Port but the bunch of players you've got now are making me reconsider. I like all the players as individuals it's hard not to like the team. Well done lads, and congratulations on pulling out of such a rough spot.

Cheers mate, u sure you're not one of us lol

[Tominator]

gotta hand it to you boys, even though I'm a Crows man I am seriously worried for the Showdown, Port looked that good on Sunday and even though it was Melbourne, if they play like that they will do very well this year

Your back six - minus Carlile - is extremely solid, and that could very well be the springboard for your rise up the ladder this year

Hinkley looks like Sando all over again, rejuvenating the squad, and him and Sando are good mates too so that could add something to the Showdowns

And Ollie Wines... what more can you say?


One thing is for sure, exciting times are ahead for the Power! Two strong teams in SA is exactly what this state needs, and if we have two strong sides when AFL goes to Adelaide Oval, interest in the AFL in this state will reach unprecedented levels


Fingers crossed the Crows get up in the Showdown, but I'm happy that Port are starting to get back on their feet, about bloody time! Congrats so far and good luck in the future     8)

[tbagrocks]

Except Schultz does not = Walker, plus 1 to Adelaide, as good a Jay is, Couch = Wines ;)

Come Round one ...

2014

...

Port v Crows Adelaide oval = match of the century, how good Boak, Hartlett, Wingard, Butcher, Trengove, Pittard in 2014?

But we'll be ok too ;)  Bring it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Biggest crowd to an AFL game in Adelaide, Round one 2014?

[Sapientia]

I'd have thought supporter boards were a safehaven.

Of course. Every team is going to have strengths and weaknesses, and relative strengths & weaknesses compared to others.

If people prefer Schulz to Walker, that's their right. It's also our right to call them deluded for it.

And regarding our midfield; we're yet to see Crouch play. We don't know that. I've seen him a lot at colts/sanfl level and I'm not a fan. I was horrified with what we paid for him. I think Wines is better, will be better, but is also a completely different player. It'd be like comparing Dangerfield to Kade Simpson.

I'd still prefer Wingard, Hartlett, Wines, Ebert, Boak, Kornes to Dangerfield, Sloane, Thompson, Crouch, Wright, Douglas, Vince as a *LONG TERMIST* midfield.

[Noz]

Some interesting points Sap

I wouldnt exactly call Blee a failure just yet he still could become a good back up key defender but with the addition of Hombsch and O'Shea improving he may became trade bait to a club needing a key defender that can play on small and talls.

It's amazing how much Broadbent slips under the radar one of our better mids last year and will relish in a developing midfield with the likes of Boak, Hammer, Ebert add the experience in Cornes and Cassisi and add the young tough nuts in Wingard and Wines.

Surjan suffered another blow in the SANFL and looks to retire one of our better players whilst in the premiership hunt all those years ago.

Having 3 ruckman that any one of them could become our first choice ruck is great for the selection table.

Great Backline and midfield depths and with the signing of Carlile for another 4 years to go with Trengove signing last year is huge.

Our forward line is still lacking a bit high hopes for Newton this year and hopefully Hitchcock can get his body right.

[tbagrocks]

Ok what? Seriously? You sure you were at the West Adelaide games? GTFOOT, Seriously really?

Cut the crap man! Getting boring already, Crouch overrated? What the frog is that about? Are you the worst judge in history, stupid or trolling?

So which is it?

If you say Crouch is overrated again, we all know you're trolling, so which option will you chose?

[Sapientia]

Ok what? Seriously? You sure you were at the West Adelaide games? GTFOOT, Seriously really?

Cut the crap man! Getting boring already, Crouch overrated? What the frog is that about? Are you the worst judge in history, stupid or trolling?

So which is it?

If you say Crouch is overrated again, we all know you're trolling, so which option will you chose?

I'm just going to make an unsubstantiatable claim that my record at identifying elite juniors is far better than yours. I identified Crouch as a player who was rated well above where he should be before the Crows signed him - an opinion I won't change based on personal or club bias.

If Crouch played for Port - I'm sure your opinion would be different. You virtually bathe in the glory of any Crow it seems. I'm a realist; I rate our list, I think we'll be good in the long run but of course - there are players I think are overrated on our list. I think Crouch will be a very serviceable midfielder, just not elite as touted. Think: Carrazzo, McVeigh, Vince (not in terms of style but future reputation). I've watched his West Adelaide games (mainly to scout out Laird who I *do* rate) and I'm not convinced. Unlike you, a players draft pick or what we traded for him do not factor into my perception of his talent. I do wonder if we nabbed the same player as Crouch with a rookie pick, would you rate him?

And please don't be so offensive to insinuate that if I don't conform to your opinion I'm trolling.

It's supporters like you that make rival fans not want to travel to AAMI to watch their team. Vile.

[tbagrocks]

That's stupid, didn't even bother to read all that crap, doubt you even seen Crouch last year or for West round one, just here to blast crap

Your calling of my ability to judge players is invalid, based on nothing, stop trying to sound like a smart ass, you know nothing more than I do and you know it!

Have you even seen how I rate Hartlett or Wines on this site? Right then, so sit down and be quiet

[Tominator]

lads settle down we're all friends here  ::)