Port Adelaide 2015 / 2016 Discussion

[powersuperkents]

So what's you take on the 'Ryder OUT' scenario? Has he disrupted our balance?

Definitely, the small forwards & mids scored the goals this game and even Schulz could kick a bag. I think the problem with Ryder is he provide a desired target for the supply line. Now this wouldn't be a problem if he marked the ball, however that was not the case over the last month  :-\

Also, I can't stand when he gets the ball in play and looks for these useless handballs rather than backing himself in for a shot - today I was proud to see a lot of our mids & small forwards just going for it which was something I hadn't seen since the Hawthorn game. Ryder is too slow to contribute when the ball is in play, and he is diverting the supply from Wingard, Westhoff, & Schulz, who are all better markers. They really need to find someway he can fit into the line-up without being damaging to the team (I feel the Hawks & Crows games weren't a big deal because Lobbe was still recovering at the time and Ryder shouldered most of the load - now to play one of these two rucks as a forward is a waste of talent, however I don't like Ryder resting forward unless he does what he was recruited to do - i.e. kicking goals). I am strongly of the opinion that he was the reason our team struggled to score of the last 3 weeks

Play Westhoff as a permanent defender (Goddard style / rebounder) and have Ryder take his forward role? Lobbe sole ruck except for the odd rest??

That would be ideal... as long as Ryder marks the ball  :P

[powersuperkents]

hahaha Thank god Ryder has been ruled out again. I really want us to win this Friday  :P

[powersuperkents]

I'm going to be honest, we played like shower that game

However, flower that ref, flower off it was touched, Colquhoun had the set shot and this ref had been making questionable calls against Port all game. The guy was an incompetent flowering d**khead. Next time Port play and that ref is calling the game I want Wines to bump him, in play, and I'll pray for broken bones.  >:(

Again, we played like shower, nevertheless we were robbed of the chance to win by a bullshower call - which no other individual would have made. Flowering showerhead should look up the word 'impartial' in the dictionary.

Flowering hack!!

[Grazz]

Umps had money on the Blues, was pathetic all day.

[Ringo]

Umpires, Schulz and Mitchell cost you the game in the end despite playing poorly.

[powersuperkents]

Umpires, Schulz and Mitchell cost you the game in the end despite playing poorly.

+1

Agree with all of the above

Plus four simple mistakes in the 1st quarter that all resulting in goals for the Blues (Jonas 2x, Ebert's dropped mark, & Broadbent's goal assist - for the wrong team). Port were horrible but at the end of the day the 4 pts would have been highly valued if Colquhoun had the opportunity to shoot (they didn't necessarily deserve the win though - the errors the players made indicated that they are not playing at AFL standard (no player in any team would be making comparable mistakes that frequently, if at all)

Just want to state that (excluding Gibbs) I have nothing against the Blues

[Slashers]

If I ever have to listen to Eddie McGuire call another Power game I'm switching off immediately. That guy is a absolute knob!!

Occasionally there IS a game that feels like its Team 1 VS Team 2 + the Umps + the commentary team... and this was one of them.

Even though Port weren't up to a 100+ win standard, they still deserved a chance to win, playing poorly or not. I would have taken it.

[PowerBug]

So meeting a fuming Sydney and John Longmire in Sydney would normally be a bad thing, but this might just be the lucky break we need.

If Franklin and Tippett both get a week (which I think is inevitable), then they face us and they will be $2,000,000 cheaper than other weeks. This makes Reid and Goodes the main lead up forwards and we can take them.

I'm not sure whether I want Ryder playing or not. I think him being in the team is better than him not being in the team, but I can see Port playing too many talls and Sydney being considerably smaller we won't need Carlile, Trengove, Jonas, Hombsch, Lobbe, Ryder, Schulz, Westhoff all playing. Then chuck in Krakouer and Broadbent down back it just feels really really tall. As much as it isn't entirely his fault, I think Tom Jonas should be dropped for another small (Not O'Shea, that doesn't fix the problem).



We gotta win 8 of our least 10 if we want to sneak into finals, and we have to play Sydney (A), Collingwood (H), Adelaide (H), Hawthorn (A), Fremantle (H).

This might be the luck we need, Port must capitalize on Thursday. Oh, and Thursday's my birthday, so they better not stuff it up for me :P

[powersuperkents]

So meeting a fuming Sydney and John Longmire in Sydney would normally be a bad thing, but this might just be the lucky break we need.

If Franklin and Tippett both get a week (which I think is inevitable), then they face us and they will be $2,000,000 cheaper than other weeks. This makes Reid and Goodes the main lead up forwards and we can take them.

I'm not sure whether I want Ryder playing or not. I think him being in the team is better than him not being in the team, but I can see Port playing too many talls and Sydney being considerably smaller we won't need Carlile, Trengove, Jonas, Hombsch, Lobbe, Ryder, Schulz, Westhoff all playing. Then chuck in Krakouer and Broadbent down back it just feels really really tall. As much as it isn't entirely his fault, I think Tom Jonas should be dropped for another small (Not O'Shea, that doesn't fix the problem).



We gotta win 8 of our least 10 if we want to sneak into finals, and we have to play Sydney (A), Collingwood (H), Adelaide (H), Hawthorn (A), Fremantle (H).

This might be the luck we need, Port must capitalize on Thursday. Oh, and Thursday's my birthday, so they better not stuff it up for me :P

+1

Have to agree, surely Ryder should be able to step up now that Westhoff & Schulz have opened a door for him. They have both been shower, now it's his chance to prove himself. If he can't do it now I have little faith that he ever can.

I think one of our recent problems has been a lack of competent talls. Trengove has been shower most of the season, Westhoff has declined horrendously, & Schulz has been showerhouse - more of an opportunist than anything this season. Pittard really needs to stop flowering around. Ebert needs to regain form. Broadbent needs to stop giving the opposition goals. Wingard needs support carrying the forward line (and not solely support from Gray). Boak, Wines, & Gray need support carrying the midfield. Hombsch needs support carrying the defence.

I really want Port to win...

But, sadly,  I don't see us even coming close - with or without the Bondi billionaires. Considering all the problems in our team this season and the fact we are playing a team that thrives because they don't make mistakes and capitalise on the opposition's errors, I think the best case scenario is that we actually compete with them. Hinkley & Kochies' blind faith approach was good publicity when we were on top, however it is substandard management and coaching when the only viable game plan we have is one the opposition knows. The fact they are saying we are losing because we are "spooked" is a ridiculous excuse.

It's this easy, the players will only stop making errors once they regain confidence. They will only regain confidence by winning. They will only win if they conceive a game plan which isn't blatantly obvious to the opposition (it's almost insulting to the other 17 clubs that Port don't make the effort to change - but why would they complain when it's a free win). Therefore, until they change their whole strategic approach they won't win a game, the players will lose moral, and the season will slump to a losing streak which is dismissed by 1 or 2 convincing wins at the end of the season against either apathetic teams comfortably locked into the finals or teams in the same position as us (maybe a close clash match with a desperate GCS) which management will state are a "sign of things to come" while the rest of the AFL laughs at us.


HINKLEY CHANGE THE FLOWERING GAME PLAN!!!!!

It's that simple (we could possibly finish 6th-8th but I would say 6th would be a huge achievement at this point if they turned their season around - a new strategy may take a while for these players to become acclimated to).

I really want them to beat Sydney, however I just think it's unrealistic at this point, and from what I've seen this season, unless the win comes from a new game plan, it will not turn our season around.   

[powersuperkents]

Finally played that fast paced brand of football for the first quarter to smash a complacent Collingwood (w/o White & Polec). However, the problem was the boys failed to maintain the form for the next three quarters (in contrast to the Hawthorn game where they only failed to maintain the form for the second half). They played well and will need to continue winning before there is anything to celebrate. I was proud of them again yesterday and they finally played a game like favourites (it felt like Collingwood was trying to challenge Port, as opposed to my dreaded feeling that the game would feel as if Port were trying to challenge the Pies).

The draw is quite easy for the Power from here but we need consecutive wins all the way through the guarantee a finals spot (something we haven't been able to do this season). We did it in 2013 however teams didn't perceive us as a threat then. Now comes the big challenge. I think if we can knock out consecutive wins and find form by the final two games against Hawthorn & Fremantle I have no doubts that we will be eliminated in an elimination final. If we make finals, I think the boys won't have any problems making it to the semis or even the prelims (however, again, the problem is getting there first). This was the first positive step for the club in a long time and could be the turning point, however we must win these games to remain a finals chance.

Crows, Essendon (problems with both sides in the past), St Kilda (dangerous side - don't underestimate them, they will take the win this year if you give it to them), WB (another tough one), GWS (actually becoming less afraid of this team since Mumford went - still dangerous), Hawthorn, GCFC (I think the AFL screwed us by giving us GCFC when their best players would all return - the draw has been heavily favouring teams like Collingwood and making the season tough for teams like us & Geelong), Freo (at Adelaide Oval, but Freo...)

The run may seem comparatively easy due to the match-ups in the first half of the season. However, none of the aforementioned games will be easy in any sense. It is a tough run home and I'm resorting the faith at this point rather than logic. If I had to bet, I'd say the boys could do it. If I had to give a frank opinion, it would be best not to hear it. I still back our talent, but there are a lot of spud players holding us back. The former are really going to have to stand up to keep this season alive.

Also, if I had to name my 3 B&F players at this point; Wingard (has carried the forward line), Hombsch (has carried our defence), & Gray (along with Wines & Boak has carried out midfield)(Wines just misses out)

[Tominator]

Crows fan here... Just wanted to say how much class your club showed last night with that tribute to Walsh. I've held it together all week but last night, that video, combined with the lights being switched off at the Oval, really moved me. It was like a beautiful sadness.

And Kenny's comments in the presser wishing us the best was really good to see.

Going to be a weird build-up to the Showdown this week... that 'hatred' will go out the window. I've often liked to bag Port but you guys were brilliant last night, during and after the game. You deserve a lot of respect for that tribute, well done

[Jay]

Crows fan here... Just wanted to say how much class your club showed last night with that tribute to Walsh. I've held it together all week but last night, that video, combined with the lights being switched off at the Oval, really moved me. It was like a beautiful sadness.

And Kenny's comments in the presser wishing us the best was really good to see.

Going to be a weird build-up to the Showdown this week... that 'hatred' will go out the window. I've often liked to bag Port but you guys were brilliant last night, during and after the game. You deserve a lot of respect for that tribute, well done

Well said mate.

[powersuperkents]

Crows fan here... Just wanted to say how much class your club showed last night with that tribute to Walsh. I've held it together all week but last night, that video, combined with the lights being switched off at the Oval, really moved me. It was like a beautiful sadness.

And Kenny's comments in the presser wishing us the best was really good to see.

Going to be a weird build-up to the Showdown this week... that 'hatred' will go out the window. I've often liked to bag Port but you guys were brilliant last night, during and after the game. You deserve a lot of respect for that tribute, well done

+1

I don't think either clubs will be competing against each other next week. They will be playing in Walsh's memory as he has shaped the way in which both teams play their attacking brand of football. Yeah I think the club had to do something big as they didn't have the opportunity to against the Swans. Really admired how the AFL came together last week and I would expect every club he was involved with to continue with personal tributes for the next few weeks (definitely Port & Crows next week - longest tenure at the former and first head coaching role in the latter).

The Power claimed that the best thing they could do in Walsh's memory was win against Collingwood, and you could see how much that meant to a lot of the players - esp. Wines (who outplayed Pendlebury...), Broadbent (who had been shocking all season), Pittard, Westhoff, & Wingard (all players he would have directly dealt with - whether during the early stages (e.g. Wingard as a mid) or in reinvigorating their careers (e.g. Justin Westhoff in '13 & Robbie Gray in '14). He really was one of the best midfield coaches and would have done incredible things for the Crows.

[Dudge]

Crows fan here... Just wanted to say how much class your club showed last night with that tribute to Walsh. I've held it together all week but last night, that video, combined with the lights being switched off at the Oval, really moved me. It was like a beautiful sadness.

And Kenny's comments in the presser wishing us the best was really good to see.

Going to be a weird build-up to the Showdown this week... that 'hatred' will go out the window. I've often liked to bag Port but you guys were brilliant last night, during and after the game. You deserve a lot of respect for that tribute, well done

Must agree with you Tom, I was also very moved after the game. Really tugged the heartstrings

Also agree on the Showdown. It's going to be one that both supporters are going to feel mixed emotions I think. Normally I'd be feeling so pumped playing you boys, but really don't feel that at the moment

With Phil being involved at both clubs in the last couple of years, it sort of feels we've got common ground at the moment, sort of like family

I feel strange saying this, but i'll be supporting you guys big time tonight, and hope you get up (even though I like the Eagles ) so Phil looks down with a big smile on his face

Best of luck guys

[Grazz]

Crows fan here... Just wanted to say how much class your club showed last night with that tribute to Walsh. I've held it together all week but last night, that video, combined with the lights being switched off at the Oval, really moved me. It was like a beautiful sadness.

And Kenny's comments in the presser wishing us the best was really good to see.

Going to be a weird build-up to the Showdown this week... that 'hatred' will go out the window. I've often liked to bag Port but you guys were brilliant last night, during and after the game. You deserve a lot of respect for that tribute, well done

Well said mate, it was something very special, Kaz and i couldn't stop pressing play watching it again and again.

To all the Port supporters, coaching staff and players i sincerely wish you all the very best for the Showdown today. May we both put on a show that is a fitting tribute to a good man that has touched both our clubs deeply and his passing hurt all of us in ways we are only just beginning to understand. We only had Phil for a short time but true to the nature of the man he wove his way into our hearts as he did your's. The journey for us had only just begun, i'll forever feel like what if, what could of been had Phil been able to continue that journey and maybe paint that masterpiece he spoke of. This will stay with me for a long time.
We'll never really know but what I do know is we both share a common affection for a man whose passing has brought us all together as one like no other probably could. We feel your pain as much as our own and i pray nothing like this ever afflicts either of us again. Today we put all differences aside today We Fly As One today we comfort and embrace each other when it all get's to hard and the emotions surface. God bless Phil's family God bless us all. Goodluck to you I wish you all the best for a very difficult and emotional day ahead.


                                                                    

                               

                               


                                                                Phil Walsh  1960-2015 RIP