AFL Game Day Round 13, 2018 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval

[Eastdog]

Predictions:
- Margin
- Our first goal kicker
- Our best on ground

Margin: Bulldogs by 1 point

Our first goal kicker: Billy Gowers

Our best on ground: Lachie Hunter

Go Bulldogs!!

[Rocket Science]

Result - Port by 47
First major - Wallis
BOG - Macrae

Dixon's looking for form, he's going to find it.

I'm going to add another prediction category : how many goals will we kick?

Five.

[bulldogtragic]

Port by 70
Bog Macrae
FG Macrae

How many we kick, 6.11

[AndrewP6]

Port by 33. No reason, just praying we don't get thumped too much!
First goal - Schache
BOG for us Bont
how many goals will we kick? 8.12

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Port by 62
First goal McLean
BOG McLean.

We’ll struggle to kick 5 goals.

[Eastdog]

Ok I'll predict us to win by a point and kick 10.13

[Twodogs]

Us by 13 points.
First goal-Josh Schache
BOG-Jack Macrae

[Greystache]

Port by 30
BOG- Macrae
First goal- Gowers

How many goals- 4.16

[SlimPickens]

How many goals- 4.16

From 32 shots :)

[westdog54]

Result - Port by 47
First major - Wallis
BOG - Macrae

Dixon's looking for form, he's going to find it.

I'm going to add another prediction category : how many goals will we kick?

Five.

There's a certain level of masochism required to follow this club, isn't there.

Result - Port by 12. We'll be competitive but it wont be enough
First goal - Bont
BOG - Trengove to blanket Dickson.

And I'll join in the game, we'll kick 9.12

[Greystache]

From 32 shots :)

Indeed. In fairness not all of the 12 misses will be out on the full, a number won't make the distance from 30m. :D

[Mantis]

Indeed. In fairness not all of the 12 misses will be out on the full, a number won't make the distance from 30m. :D

How many of those will be kicked by the trio of Wallis, Dahlhaus & Hunter?

[Ozza]

How many of those will be kicked by the trio of Wallis, Dahlhaus & Hunter?

Your disdain for Wallis knows no bounds Mantis!! Can’t put Wally in their category for goal kicking! Very solid from 0-40.

Port by 27 points
Dogs to kick 7 goals 11.
First Goal - Hunter getting out the back.
BOG- Tobias McLean.

[bornadog]

Your disdain for Wallis knows no bounds Mantis!! Can’t put Wally in their category for goal kicking! Very solid from 0-40.

Agree, Wallis maynot be a long kick, but he is pretty accurate.

[Mantis]

Your disdain for Wallis knows no bounds Mantis!! Can’t put Wally in their category for goal kicking! Very solid from 0-40.



Calm your farm!

Wallis is a very solid kick for goal from close range, one of our better ones in fact, but I'm not placing money on him from 30m with a wet ball.

[Bulldog4life]

Dogs by 17 points
First Goal - McLean.
BOG- Bont.

[Greystache]

How many of those will be kicked by the trio of Wallis, Dahlhaus & Hunter?

Hunter would make the distance but miss. Wallis is one of our better kicks for goal, anything up to 40m I'm pretty happy for him to have ball in hand. Dahlhaus certainly, Honeychurch and Gowers also. Daniel is one I'd expect to fall short these days despite showing previously he can comfortably kick 50m.

Fortunately all of these players will play forward tonight for significant minutes. We really miss Smith, Dickson, and probably Picken's ability to convert simple shots.

[bornadog]

Dogs by 4 points

BOG: Macrae

First goal: Honeychurch

[The Pie Man]

SA Woofers - how’s it looking in Radelaide? Radar suggests some heavy showers on the way, but not much behind that initial front.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Dogs by 1point

BOG: Macrae

1st Goal: Schache

[HOSE B ROMERO]

Ever the optimist, i'm predicting port by 47. points

Dal to kick our first to which a swarm of team mates run up, pat him on the bum and ruffle his hair. Unfortunately it's at the 4 minute mark of the third quarter and we're 57 points down.

Dal will be bog.

[Remi Moses]

Port by 36
BOG Macrae
1st goal Dahlhaus 21 min into the second
We’ll kick 3 12

[Twodogs]

Ever the optimist, i'm predicting port by 47. points

Dal to kick our first to which a swarm of team mates run up, pat him on the bum and ruffle his hair. Unfortunately it's at the 4 minute mark of the third quarter and we're 57 points down.

Dal will be bog.

So you are saying there will be a fightback? We should bring Paul Hudson on to kick a couple of meaningless cheapies in the last quarter.

[ratsmac]

Dogs by 42. The bye has magically fixed us. We were broken.
First goal - Schache to get the ball rolling
BOG - The Bont, back to his best.

[LostDoggy]

Dogs by 1
BOG: Wallis
1st Goal: Schache
Our Score: 8.11

[whythelongface]

How was that a free against McLean? Joke

[Eastdog]

Good endeavour early.

[bulldogtragic]

Skills putrid.

[AndrewP6]

I see now why Biggs has been missing from the side.

[whythelongface]

Biggs what has happened to him?

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

If we are going to execute skills so poorly, forget it, we're stuffed.

[Eastdog]

Biggs what has happened to him?

Awful turnover.

[GVGjr]

Need to lift, we can't let them get off to a flyer.

[ledge]

We have no run at all. Biggs has hurt as bigtime early.
I feel sorry for our forwards.
If we had any run Gowers would be extremely dangerous.

[EasternWest]

We are going to get trounced here.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

We are just a nothing team right now. Bereft of purpose and any semblance of skill and commitment to a common cause.

[ledge]

This could be a massive hiding we don't look like scoring at all !

[Mantis]

If Webb was any softer he'd be a pillow.

[ledge]

I'm embarrassed and it's only 10 minutes in.

[Doc26]

We’re playing with no recognisable game plan. We’re all over the place.

[Eastdog]

Do something Dogs!

[Mantis]

Used our 2 weeks off well it seems & have rectified the issues we had pre-bye.. so nice the players *!*!*!*!ed off to Byron Bay, Qld and Fiji to get some much needed rest.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Biggs is just phoning it in.

[Grantysghost]

Need to get some overlap off half back....and put some pressure on. Can't believe how flat they look.

[chef]

Game over already.

[bulldogtragic]

Are we trying?

[Eastdog]

We are disgraceful right now!

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Biggs BOG for Port

[EasternWest]

When does the blowtorch get applied to Johannisen?

[bulldogtragic]

When does the blowtorch get applied to Johannisen?

By blowtorch, you mean traded? Then about 4 months.

[DOG GOD]

First week back from Europe....I think I’ll get back on the plane.

[jeemak]

We have no leaders, our players seem ignorant to how 2018 needs to be played, we cannot set up a ground for shit, and our coaching team has gone up its own arsehole.

We are soft, and disinterested. There cannot be a bigger insult to a team of professional sportsmen who play a contact sport to be called soft and disinterested.

[Grantysghost]

You know it's bad when the commentators are doing the post mortem at the 20 minute mark of the first. Space around stoppages is insane.

[Bullies]

We might not score a goal

[DOG GOD]

Can we pull out the white flag and get an early flight home ?

[ledge]

Somethings not right and I mean off field , you can't have no fight like this if your all in.

[Rocket Science]

I'm done with Dahlhaus. He's Eagleton without the kicking.

Thanks for your service. Time to go.

[AndrewP6]

You know it's bad when the commentators are doing the post mortem at the 20 minute mark of the first. Space around stoppages is insane.

I thought it was game over ten minutes in.

[Mantis]

Our structure is non-existent... it's a diabolical mess!

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

This is terminal. We are as inept as we ever were under McCartney or Rohde.
Full Review front and back of house.

[Grantysghost]

I can't recall this many goalless quarters in a season.

[DOG GOD]

We should be 10 goals down at qtr time lol

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Disgraceful.

I won’t be going to any more games this year.

[Eastdog]

We might not score a goal

You just might be right Bullies. I hope we can but at the moment we do not look like doing anything.

Where has the Bulldog spirit gone. We are not living up to our motto at 'Cede Nullis'.

[Remi Moses]

The going gets tough hey
Putrid putrid putrid

[Mantis]

By blowtorch, you mean traded? Then about 4 months.

He's 1/2 through year 1 of a massive 5 year contract.. he ain't going anywhere.. plus he's a leader! :eek:

[bulldogtragic]

It's now a crisis. Plain and simple.

I think it was Nicky in Donnie Brasco who said 'if we don't start earning, someone's gunna get whacked'. - That's where we are at.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I'm flying down to Melbourne with my 5 yr old son to take him to his first Doggies game against North next weekend... already regretting it.

Although some synergy...my first Doggies game was at Waverley against demons in 1984 seeing us get monstered by 78 points.

[comrade]

Biggs finally gets another crack at it and he serves that up?

JJ is just taking the piss

Boyd obviously knows he can’t mark with two hands so has given up on it all together and now just sticks one hand up for a token effort.

I could go in.

[bulldogtragic]

He's 1/2 through year 1 of a massive 5 year contract.. he ain't going anywhere.. plus he's a leader! :eek:

I'm hoping we are using Jedi Mind control that another club will think he's worth the trade if they just put him back off a half back flank. Don't GCS need a bigger name player to be relevant to the local media...

[Doc26]

Add poor positioning to our bad disposal. Caleb Daniel looks completely lost along with most. No use bringing any intent when there is simply no structure in place. Our showing is akin to watching a group of Auskickers going at it for the first time.

[ledge]

Is Wallis playing ? What's happened to Bont and Macrae ?
Gowers and Richards are the only ones I see trying something.

[chef]

Tom Campbell must sit at home and shake his head seeing Boyd as our number 1 ruck.

[ledge]

I'm hoping Port had the wind that quarter.

[Eastdog]

Good play Richards

[EasternWest]

Ed Richards has been a beacon this season.

[bulldogtragic]

Ed Richards has been a beacon this season.

And the youngest most weeks #leader

[EasternWest]

And the youngest most weeks #leader

He looks so assured and he's so good in the contest. Great pick up.

And on cue.

[Eastdog]

Bont!

[AndrewP6]

What an indictment on the club that an 18 year old is one of the few shining lights.

[bulldogtragic]

He looks so assured and he's so good in the contest. Great pick up.

And on cue.

I wish we had 12 of him right now. Stringer going helped deliver him, that's a double win!

[bulldogtragic]

Happy to delist Biggs now. A great month in 2016. *!*!*!*! all since.

[Eastdog]

Bont and Richards really good.

[bulldogtragic]

Honeychurch can get delisted too. For *!*!*!*! sake.

[EasternWest]

Is... Is... One of our leaders actually leading?

[lemmon]

Can't be missing those...

[Eastdog]

How have woofers rated Crozier's game?

[jeemak]

Honeychurch FFS. How can you miss that.

[Eastdog]

Wood I think is trying.

[lemmon]

A little red headed jet

[EasternWest]

How have woofers rated Crozier's game?

I think he's going ok. Certainly hasn't been our worst.

[Eastdog]

Richards 4 votes so far.

[jeemak]

Richards is a gun.

Fancy saying that wasn't a free kick, defender didn't have any intention of going for the footy, got a hand at shoulder height and held both sides.

[comrade]

Richards is so obviously a future leader.

[bulldogtragic]

Our best running defender tonight, and our best forward. And 18yo. Stand up the rest of you.

[Eastdog]

Williams getting into it. We are putting pressure on them now which is what we need to do.

[jeemak]

Can't wait for our players to grow out of this terrible goal kicking.

[Eastdog]

Terrible kick Webb. Another chance gone like Honeychurch. Goalkicking NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY AT TRAINING!

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I don't get Webb. His first year he looked a prospect. He is just a shadow of a player now.

[GVGjr]

How have woofers rated Crozier's game?

Think it's been good. I don't mind him


Honeychurch FFS. How can you miss that.

He's not good enough to miss goals like that.

[Eastdog]

We are cracking in! That's what we want to see.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Wood's ripped his hammy badly.

[Eastdog]

Wood Hammy? I hope not.

[Sedat]

Best (worst) stat ever - Boyd 6 contested marks in the 2016 GF and only 11 in the 18 months since then

[lemmon]

That's a bad hammy

[SlimPickens]

Wood's ripped his hammy badly.

That’s a nasty one

[whythelongface]

Footy gods are shining upon us once again.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

What is going on with JJ.. has Richards open. .kicks to a 3 on 1 instead. .port downfield and goal.. .

[whythelongface]

What is going on with JJ.. has Richards open. .kicks to a 3 on 1 instead. .port downfield and goal.. .

Just such a poor option. Decision making is just terrible.

Richards what a gem.

[EasternWest]

Holy shit little Red. What a beauty.

[jeemak]

Richards is a gun! What a bloody relief we have him.

[bulldogtragic]

Richards Vs Port Adelaide

[Eastdog]

What a goal Ed! Showing the most up forward right now.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Ed.... well done.. hold your head up.

[comrade]

Damn, kid deserves another nomination.

[Mantis]

For shits and giggles.. The boy can play!

[bulldogtragic]

Richards signed that 2 year extension about a month too early!

[Sedat]

Our trade week last year was George Costanza unemployed having dinner with his parents, and Richards was Costanza accidentally bumping into the hand model agency rep.

[ledge]

Well we just let that go with a shit goal on the siren .

[Doc26]

Caleb has fallen off the face of the earth. He must find something in second half.

[jeemak]

Who is on Robbie Gray? How can the plan be to give him that much space? I mean who is in charge of not letting him have all of the space in the world?

It's not hard, it's not hard at all. It's a sign of a dysfunctional leadership structure and players thinking about themselves.

It really pisses me off.

[Grantysghost]

How did Ed not go top ten? Much better quarter.

[bulldogtragic]

Trivia: When did a Western Bulldog (& which) player last kick 3 goals in a quarter? (I don't know)

[G-Mo77]

Is there much point in watching. I switched it off 10 minutes in and flicked it back on at the end of the half. Call it a night?

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

This will be another pumping. We are getting nothing from so many of our senior players. Hunter, Walis, Dahlhaus, JJ.
Boyd is a liability as a ruck. Trengove and Crozier as list additions are just flat out a regressive move. And Biggs. I just don't understand what has happened. He is lost.

[Bullies]

Roarke Smith - seriously the experiment is over.

Robbie Gray thinks all his Xmas' have come at once

[Doc26]

Is there much point in watching. I switched it off 10 minutes in and flicked it back on at the end of the half. Call it a night?

Press red for Ed. Stick with it.

[G-Mo77]

Press red for Ed. Stick with it.

5 am start mate so I'm done. I'll watch Ed highlights when I knock off work tomorrow. Night all.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Would we look atvtrading Daniel?

[Rocket Science]

Sterling quarter from Richards, youngest bloke on the park.

We've fired our shot, watch us get buried now.

[bulldogtragic]

2nd Quarter:

Port: 3.1
Richards: 3.0
Dogs: 1.4

[kruder]

After a solid quarter how predictable that they would snag a late one! Can anyone remember a game where we finished with 4 fit players on the bench?

[Eastdog]

Start of the 3rd critical if we are any chance.

[kruder]

Would we look atvtrading Daniel?

Half the list is up for grabs make no mistake.

[Bullies]

Would we look atvtrading Daniel? Would anyone want him?

[Eastdog]

This will be another pumping. We are getting nothing from so many of our senior players. Hunter, Walis, Dahlhaus, JJ.
Boyd is a liability as a ruck. Trengove and Crozier as list additions are just flat out a regressive move. And Biggs. I just don't understand what has happened. He is lost.

Crozier been ok tonight.

[Eastdog]

Would anyone want him?

But he is a good user of the footy. Something we need.

[jeemak]

They just showed Gray's heat map, and basically every touch he's had is forward of centre and in the corridor. He's had 20 touches and six clearances.

I'm still infuriated.

[bulldogtragic]

They just showed Gray's heat map, and basically every touch he's had is forward of centre and in the corridor. He's had 20 touches and six clearances.

I'm still infuriated.

Pace yourself, there's another half of it coming.

[Mantis]

They just showed Gray's heat map, and basically every touch he's had is forward of centre and in the corridor. He's had 20 touches and six clearances.

I'm still infuriated.

No respect given to him it all.. like why would we?

[Eastdog]

Wallis! Goal! Do you really want to give him away? Great start to the 3rd.

[jeemak]

Good mark from Wallis. Surprised to say that by far the worst example of defending of the night has been from Howard of Port Adelaide. That was weaker than piss weak.

[Remi Moses]

Twice Johanissen has just bombed forward with hit up options
Totally unacceptable from a senior player and dumb .
Bevo’s love for Roarke Smith must end . Richards is outstanding
Better effort that quarter , but I still fear a hammering .

[jeemak]

How the *!*!*!*! can that be holding the ball against Dahlhaus then. Jesus.

P.S. I can become plenty more furiated BT!

[Eastdog]

Need the next few to really start to rattle them.

[jeemak]

That was really dumb play from Williams coming off the half backline then, shouldn't have given the ball off with an extremely risky and blind handball and it's cost us.

He's sometimes much too clever for himself. His goal.

[kruder]

Caleb Daniel wow what a momentum changer. Josh is by himself 45m out and refused to kick it to him then didn't get any body on Polack.

[Eastdog]

JJ seriously out of form.

[jeemak]

Great, now Jacko's out for the remainder of the game! Yay!

[SlimPickens]

Another soft tissue injury.

[jeemak]

Caleb Daniel wow what a momentum changer. Josh is by himself 45m out and refused to kick it to him then didn't get any body on Polack.

He had two chances to kick to the same spot as players moved through there.

[Mantis]

Great, now Jacko's out for the remainder of the game! Yay!

The mini-holiday has worked well.

[lemmon]

Half the list is up for grabs make no mistake.

I'd look at the coaching staff first.

[Mantis]

Another soft tissue injury.

Surprised?

[bulldogtragic]

The trashing is back on.

[jeemak]

Another soft tissue injury.

I think the players just probably need to get some more games under their belts and it will sort itself out just like the goal kicking. I mean it will get much much worse in the interim, but eventually it will get better.

[Eastdog]

We can't play 4 quarters. Bring 2bd quarter for the full game and we could win.

[lemmon]

Nice hands Shack

[bulldogtragic]

A contested Mark I50!

Like seeing a dodo.

[jeemak]

Good connection between Webb and Schache then, the latter with a really strong mark and nice finish.

[Eastdog]

Nice mark Schache and goal. Need to do that more often.

[Eastdog]

Wally looking good up forward.

[bulldogtragic]

Wallis couldn't get a game... I guess he's pushing his value up as a free agent.

[kruder]

Nice réponse boys we need to dig in. Can anyone work out how Honey made it to AFL footy?

[bulldogtragic]

Nice réponse boys we need to dig in. Can anyone work out how Honey made it to AFL footy?

I can't work out why we forced Cloke into ripping up his contract, paying him out for nothing, to retain him even though we were happy to let him go at the end of the trade period...

[Eastdog]

Nice réponse boys we need to dig in. Can anyone work out how Honey made it to AFL footy?

Tries hard Honey but yeah not so good at the top level. VFL he would be fine like Webb.

[Eastdog]

How would we rate Zaine's game. I think he has been ok. Some good moments.

We look awful once again.

[lemmon]

Dixon's given Trengrove an absolute bath tonight.

[Mantis]

Their goals just come so easily whereas we need to work our butts off!

[jeemak]

It seems that just about every time the ball has gone forward to the goal square area Port have players running harder towards their goal than we have running back in defence. That troubles me.

[Eastdog]

It seems that just about every time the ball has gone forward to the goal square area Port have players running harder towards their goal than we have running back in defence. That troubles me.

Just happened :( as you say jeemak

[bulldogtragic]

Gowers just can't get close to a set shot. Surely there's another role for him afl or VFL, since kicking set shots is kind of a big deal for a forward.

[kruder]

I can't work out why we forced Cloke into ripping up his contract, paying him out for nothing, to retain him even though we were happy to let him go at the end of the trade period...

Yep Amazing. The next amazing thing is how the hell did we offer Trengove a 3 year deal? He was cooked at Port playing seconds and we go and give him 1.2-1.4M over 3? Disgraceful.

[SlimPickens]

Plenty of positives tonight from a young group. This isn’t a sarcastic post

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Schache in the ruck now.... FFS

[Topdog]

Too many goals from the goal square for my liking

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Crozier been ok tonight.

He has. And yet still has looked flaky.

[jeemak]

Plenty of positives tonight from a young group. This isn’t a sarcastic post

Yep, all of the positives have come from the younger players on the team.

We desperately need to get one or two mature hard running burst players with big bodies into the side. We just plod along, and seem too easily stopped.

[jeemak]

He has. And yet still has looked flaky.

Hard for a defender not to look flaky with the way they've been able to carry the ball forward.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Yep, all of the positives have come from the younger players on the team.

We desperately need to get one or two mature hard running burst players with big bodies into the side. We just plod along, and seem too easily stopped.

Why would anyone want to come to us? We couldn't attract players off the back of a flag??

[lemmon]

We have 10 players with less than 10 disposals including Hunter, Biggs, Daniel and Honeychurch.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Has Bont just done a knee??

[Eastdog]

Bont going off. Just great :mad:

[jeemak]

Why would anyone want to come to us? We couldn't attract players off the back of a flag??

Given what we know about our list management and mindset at the time, I'm not confident we did a lot of hunting outside of Hurley and Cloke.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Please don't send Bont back on..

[jeemak]

Has Bont just done a knee??

Think a simple hyper extension..........that we'll find out is an ACL strain after putting him back on the ground.

[Mantis]

We have 10 players with less than 10 disposals including Hunter, Biggs, Daniel and Honeychurch.

Webb too. He just can't find the ball at this level.

[Eastdog]

Please don't send Bont back on..

And his back on

[jeemak]

That's a fabulous finish from Gowers. See the difference in intent between how he's kicked that and the three step build up he has on his set shots.

Might be something in that for him.

How the bloody hell wasn't that a chopping the arms free or interference to Trengove then? If he was a forward other than Tom Boyd it would be a free any day of the week.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Given what we know about our list management and mindset at the time, I'm not confident we did a lot of hunting outside of Hurley and Cloke.

Further evidence we are lacking back house leadership to see the need for a full and honest review of our club

[lemmon]

No idea how we're this close. This should be 15 goals on the stats

[Eastdog]

We are scoring that's something but the damage has been done (ie: the 1st quarter).

[lemmon]

We'd be on world-record pace for missed tackles I'd have thought.

[comrade]

Bont missed a wide open Boyd in the corridor and kicked it to an outnumber down the line.

Expect way better.

[jeemak]

No idea how we're this close. This should be 15 goals on the stats

With two key players out for a half as well, you'd think Port would feel they've been a bit wasteful tonight.

Having said that, considering the team has been completely bereft of leadership aside from Bontempelli, I've been satisfied with how the team has fought it out.

Our first quarter was embarrassing and inexcusable, and we need to ask questions about how we could get our set up and attitude so disgracefully wrong.

Ten minutes on the countdown clock, hopefully we don't buckle completely.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

The missed tackles are i think the main thing that just cuts deep. Just akmost says 'I just dont care'.

[AndrewP6]

Gray outmarks us 1 on 4 in the goalsquare. Pitiful.

[Eastdog]

Richards to Lipinski. Great stuff!

[Sedat]

I love seeing Caleb Daniel trying to spoil a marking contest in the defensive goal square #versatility

[Eastdog]

Lippy gets it!

[lemmon]

I hope Richards starts getting midfield minutes. The more we get the footy in his hands, the better we're going to be.

[Grantysghost]

Dixon's given Trengrove an absolute bath tonight.

Been tough with the entries i think but yep been a tough return for Jackson .

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Webb is a lost cause.
I can't think of another player who had shown so much early promise, who has ended up going so far backward as he has done.
His tackling is worse than insipid.

[Eastdog]

Tackles 68-48 in their favour

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Tackles 68-48 in their favour

I'd love to see mistackle stats. . We'd own that stat. Like butter right now.

[Sedat]

Webb is a lost cause.
I can't think of another player who had shown so much early promise, who has ended up going so far backward as he has done.
His tackling is worse than insipid.
Why do we keep bringing him in for 1 week and drop him instantaneously? Either we should have backed him in for a 4 week block or we shouldn't play him at all.

[jeemak]

I'm surprised the commentators are getting so excited about Port Adelaide here.

We've been smashed by injuries coming into the game and have played two key players down for half of it. They're carrying on as if they're showing up a quality team.

[ledge]

We have no hunger and no hardness we just try and get sides on the rebound , won't happen if you aren't tackling and just waiting for a rebound.

[Cyberdoggie]

Why do we keep bringing him in for 1 week and drop him instantaneously? Either we should have backed him in for a 4 week block or we shouldn't play him at all.

He has played 24 games. How many more does he need?

Too many guys that aren't built for AFL footy and don't have the hunger in that side, it's just too unbalanced.

[Sedat]

He has played 24 games. How many more does he need?

Too many guys that aren't built for AFL footy and don't have the hunger in that side, it's just too unbalanced.
Don't disagree. So why bring him this week or any of the other few times this year for one-off games? Would rarher pump midfield minites into Richards and Williams- at least there will be a future return on that investment

[kruder]

Can you remember a player that has his kicks smothered more than Honey? Unbelievable

[jeemak]

Can you remember a player that has his kicks smothered more than Honey? Unbelievable

I almost smothered it from Fairfield.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Honeychurch, Webb, Smith... no more. Just not even close to required standard.
JJ, Boyd, Hunter.. not anywhere near it.
We should've drawn the line on JJ mid year last season and let him walk.
He held us to ransom and we blinked. We should've said nope see you later if you are going to put yourself before the team then goodbye, instead we made him a part of our leadership.

[lemmon]

He has played 24 games. How many more does he need?

Too many guys that aren't built for AFL footy and don't have the hunger in that side, it's just too unbalanced.

It's a good point, not sure how many of the 22 you'd call absolutely obsessed competitors in the Matt Boyd mould.

It's a team full of the pretty easy-going, larrikin sort.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

How the hell does Honeychurch get games? Is he the best bloke anyone has ever known? Does he have something on Beveridge? He’s honestly one of the worst players at AFL level I have ever seen and I just can’t understand how we justify playing him.

[Dry Rot]

What is Macrae's injury?

[kruder]

What is Macrae's injury?

Id suggest hammy

[Dry Rot]

Id suggest hammy

Ok thanks.

Bugger.

[jeemak]

Here's the list of outs through injury:

Morris, Smith, Dickson, Liberatore, Picken, Adams, Suckling, Redpath and Naughton. Only two of those nine players look assured of a positive AFL future, in Suckling and Naughton with the former potentially only having one more year in him.

Essentially what I'm getting at, is what we've seen tonight is largely what we'll have for a couple of years. Sure, some players out of the team who are out of form can come back in to replace the poor performers from tonight, but it won't make any difference.

Hitting the draft is one thing. Getting some mature hard bodied pace from somewhere and into the midfield is important. We, apart from Gowers, don't have anyone who can provide burst, and he's still only finding his feet at the level and plays forward.

[Sedat]

Here's the list of outs through injury:

Morris, Smith, Dickson, Liberatore, Picken, Adams, Suckling, Redpath and Naughton. Only two of those nine players look assured of a positive AFL future, in Suckling and Naughton with the former potentially only having one more year in him..
Libba has been a critial loss and is a non-negotiable to be retained next year.

[bornadog]

Some real shocking games tonight from players you would expect could do better. Besides Smith, Honeychurch, Webb who are barely VFL level, guys like Wallis, Daniel, Mclean, JJ, Hunter, Biggs, were useless.

I thought Boyd did pretty well in the ruck with 31 hitouts, but needs to do more around the ground. Despite what some think of Crozier on this forum, he played very well, Schache is starting to hit his straps and Bonti is a class above everyone.

Injuries really cruelled us and would have made a big difference in the 3rd quarter when we got to within 3 goals, and the Bont snapped to miss. After that, with lack of rotations and a midfield killed again it was all over.

The first quarter didn't help at all and we were playing catchup throughout the match. Biggs alone contributed 3 goals to Port with his turnovers.

[jeemak]

Libba has been a critial loss and is a non-negotiable to be retained next year.

Retain him? Absolutely. Assured of a positive AFL future? Not so sure, I fear for his ability to not do innocuous ACL’s.

[Sedat]

Injuries really cruelled us and would have made a big difference in the 3rd quarter when we got to within 3 goals, and the Bont snapped to miss. After that, with lack of rotations and a midfield killed again it was all over.
As an old boss once said to me "excuses are boring". Injuries are not bad luck when they occur year after year. Whatever the metrics that our fitness & conditiining staff are measured against, they are failing miserably and need to be reviewed to within an inch of their lives and replaced if necessary.

Tired of the crippling injury list. That dept is not performing, plain and simple.

[macca]

Webb is a lost cause.
I can't think of another player who had shown so much early promise, who has ended up going so far backward as he has done.
His tackling is worse than insipid.

How in the world did he manage to kick the ball from the centre square and turn over to port players at centre half forward? Should we had traded or delisted him last year?

[bornadog]

As an old boss once said to me "excuses are boring". Injuries are not bad luck when they occur year after year. Whatever the metrics that our fitness & conditiining staff are measured against, they are failing miserably and need to be reviewed to within an inch of their lives and replaced if necessary.

Tired of the crippling injury list. That dept is not performing, plain and simple.

I was talking about the injuries during the game which left us with less rotations which kills you in the last quarter.

As far as fitness staff are concerned, not sure what they can do. Most of our injuries have been ACLs, knee, ankle. Wood has been prone to get Hammies all his career, and Macrae copped one in 2016, and Dicksons are new.

[SonofScray]

That was a mixed bag. 80% of the bag is awful, 20% was anywhere from average to very good.

Ed was clearly the highlight with his 3 goals. The only player for us who looked capable at every contest, except for the Bont. I was very negative on Twitter, but one thing I won't question is the effort across the board. I do not believe that is the problem. Just about everything else is. But not effort.

Biggs was atrocious. Webb very poor. Honeychurch terrible.
Injuries to Macrae, McLean and Wood and for a despairing moment, Bont, were deflating, stressful.
1st qtr was unpleasant, looked ok defensively for 5 minutes. The game was over in the next 10. Disgusting.

Goals cure all ailments. My fury was doused by the goals kicked by Wallis, Shache & Richards. I feel like there might actually be more than 1 goal a quarter in the squad now. Get the all in the hands of these guys more often, deeper inside 50 please.

Mostly though, I can't help but feel someone needs to be sacked.

[Sedat]

As far as fitness staff are concerned, not sure what they can do. Most of our injuries have been ACLs, knee, ankle. Wood has been prone to get Hammies all his career, and Macrae copped one in 2016, and Dicksons are new.
Sorry BAD but that doesn't fly with me. We have recurring injuries and multiple players spending almost their entire time in rehab. We are either not preparing the players adequately for the rigours of our game plan or the players are taking short cuts (highly unlikely). It needs to be independently reviewed without fear or favour - I don't want to hear BS like "we are just having bad luck with injuries" when teams like Richmond, Brisbane and Norf have almost injury-free squads.

We haven't had a clear run at it with injuries for years, certainly the entire time Chris Bell has been in charge. We can either cross our fingers and hope to not die next year, or we can get proactive and have a deep and in-depth look at the dept.

[Eastdog]

Disappointing night watching from home.

The game summed up:

1st quarter - awful and where it was lost
2nd quarter - very good
3rd quarter - competed well but they were equal to it and maintained control
4th quarter - much the same as the 3rd.

Ed Richards was was great as have all our kids this Naughton, English, Lipinski. Bont had an impact in a tough year for him and I thought Crozier was good. How did woofers rate Cordy's game tonight? Cordy certainly not the worst tonight like Crozier. Our midfield certainly has been cut thin now. Jack Macrae going out who has been solid in there really hurts also Wood, Boyd as well with injuries. Absolutely no luck here.

Honeychurch, Webb cannot kick and I think at seasons end we need to make some big decisions on them and a few others. JJ very down on form. Wallis at least took some marks up forward and kicked 2 goals. Do we retain Wally? Gowers 1.2 wasn't accurate tonight but been a shining light this year up forward.

Been a very tough year and it doesn't get any easier the next few weeks back at home but I will still be going to the games supporting the Dogs but more relaxed in that our season is done. One good thing is that the draft is strong this year.

[MrMahatma]

Sorry BAD but that doesn't fly with me. We have recurring injuries and multiple players spending almost their entire time in rehab. We are either not preparing the players adequately for the rigours of our game plan or the players are taking short cuts (highly unlikely). It needs to be independently reviewed without fear or favour - I don't want to hear BS like "we are just having bad luck with injuries" when teams like Richmond, Brisbane and Norf have almost injury-free squads.

We haven't had a clear run at it with injuries for years, certainly the entire time Chris Bell has been in charge. We can either cross our fingers and hope to not die next year, or we can get proactive and have a deep and in-depth look at the dept.

How many matches have we lost this year to soft tissue injuries?

I reckon our team isn't fit enough or strong enough. But I don't think we're injured to preventable injuries more than anyone. Sounds far fetched scape goat stuff.

The reality is:

- our list lacks class and is bogged down by poor users. List management and recruitment are to blame here.
- we play guys out of position for no apparent reason. Coaches are to blame here.
- we fade in games. Age of best 22 is to blame here.

Injurys are far from our problem when our list has Honeychurch, Webb, and Smith on it.

[Sedat]

How many matches have we lost this year to soft tissue injuries?

I reckon our team isn't fit enough or strong enough. But I don't think we're injured to preventable injuries more than anyone. Sounds far fetched scape goat stuff.

The reality is:

- our list lacks class and is bogged down by poor users. List management and recruitment are to blame here.
- we play guys out of position for no apparent reason. Coaches are to blame here.
- we fade in games. Age of best 22 is to blame here.

Injurys are far from our problem when our list has Honeychurch, Webb, and Smith on it.
Your 3 points are valid and the coaching dept end of season review is essential - presumably we've already reviewed recruiting and list management with Dal and JMac gone.

My take on injuries is not limited to 2018 - we've had a very poor run for a number of years. Some are unavoidable, many others not so. We can either not review it and give Chris Bell and his team end of year bonuses for a job well done, or we can review it. I would expect for a professional organisation striving to get better in all areas of operation that we would do the latter without any hesitation whatsoever.

[G-Mo77]

Ended up sitting through the 2nd half. Meh, it's what I expected. Bunnkef down ladies and gents, we're in hell right now and will be he for years and years.

[Bullies]

Yep Amazing. The next amazing thing is how the hell did we offer Trengove a 3 year deal? He was cooked at Port playing seconds and we go and give him 1.2-1.4M over 3? Disgraceful. How are Trengov's skills? they are deplorable. How could the club sit there and say we need him and to get him on a 3 year deal. Seriously. I said in a previous post at the beginning of the year that this guy can't play and Port said supporters said enjoy the ride.

[Grantysghost]

How are Trengov's skills? they are deplorable. How could the club sit there and say we need him and to get him on a 3 year deal. Seriously. I said in a previous post at the beginning of the year that this guy can't play and Port said supporters said enjoy the ride.

He's a best and fairest winner at Port which suggests he can play.

[craigsahibee]

Would we look atvtrading Daniel?

I would.

He is too easily coached against. Can find the footy ok but is limited with his output purely because of his size. I said early last year that he may be only a 70 - 80 game player for us. I was hoping I would be wrong, but sadly, I can see it happening.

Due to his deficiencies, I think we get a late 2nd rounder at the very best.

[jeemak]

I would.

He is too easily coached against. Can find the footy ok but is limited with his output purely because of his size. I said early last year that he may be only a 70 - 80 game player for us. I was hoping I would be wrong, but sadly, I can see it happening.

Due to his deficiencies, I think we get a late 2nd rounder at the very best.

I think he's a cream player, who in a weaker side can't get on the end of it in the open and use his skills. He's still only young, though needs to get much stronger than what he currently is.

[Bulldog4life]

I think he's a cream player, who in a weaker side can't get on the end of it in the open and use his skills. He's still only young, though needs to get much stronger than what he currently is.

Agree. When we are playing well you want Caleb in your team. Finding it difficult now like a lot of players.

[bornadog]

Agree. When we are playing well you want Caleb in your team. Finding it difficult now like a lot of players.

Not only Daniel as you say. The issue is too few are doing all the work.

[Ozza]

Some real shocking games tonight from players you would expect could do better. Besides Smith, Honeychurch, Webb who are barely VFL level, guys like Wallis, Daniel, Mclean, JJ, Hunter, Biggs, were useless.

.

Agree that Smith and Honey are not AFL level.
I also agree on Webb generally - but probably deserves some flack last night given he played much of the night with a broken thumb.
On the others, harsh on McLean who was on an off with his shoulder after he apparently dived at Robbie Gray's legs with it in the opening play. Bevo mentioned that they took some time to assess whether or not he should be out there at all after that.

I know I stick up for Wally a bit - but pretty tough to be playing as a deep forward most of the night when the side gets 40 inside 50's. The couple of times we kicked to him isolated, he did his bit and won the contest and converted.

[bornadog]

Agree that Smith and Honey are not AFL level.
I also agree on Webb generally - but probably deserves some flack last night given he played much of the night with a broken thumb.
On the others, harsh on McLean who was on an off with his shoulder after he apparently dived at Robbie Gray's legs with it in the opening play. Bevo mentioned that they took some time to assess whether or not he should be out there at all after that.

I know I stick up for Wally a bit - but pretty tough to be playing as a deep forward most of the night when the side gets 40 inside 50's. The couple of times we kicked to him isolated, he did his bit and won the contest and converted.

At the time I wrote that didn't know Mclean was on and off - so fair enough.

[Sedat]

I would.

He is too easily coached against. Can find the footy ok but is limited with his output purely because of his size. I said early last year that he may be only a 70 - 80 game player for us. I was hoping I would be wrong, but sadly, I can see it happening.

Due to his deficiencies, I think we get a late 2nd rounder at the very best.
Can we honestly afford to offload another mid and one of our best ball users and decision makers, when we are already threadbare in terms of midfield depth? He's not playing anywhere near like it but he's not the Lone Ranger.

[Mantis]

I know I stick up for Wally a bit - but pretty tough to be playing as a deep forward most of the night when the side gets 40 inside 50's. The couple of times we kicked to him isolated, he did his bit and won the contest and converted.

Only a bit. ;)

I genuinely want Wallis to succeed, as he has good traits, but to be pigeon-holed as a FP isn't ideal. When he was in the midfield he just couldn't spread from the contest and is a bit of a one trick pony up forward.. I think he's up against it to continue with us beyond this year.

[bornadog]

Only a bit. ;)

I genuinely want Wallis to succeed, as he has good traits, but to be pigeon-holed as a FP isn't ideal. When he was in the midfield he just couldn't spread from the contest and is a bit of a one trick pony up forward.. I think he's up against it to continue with us beyond this year.

I tend to agree and it is a worry. If his name wasn't Wallis, would we be as sympathetic towards him.

[bornadog]

Can we honestly afford to offload another mid and one of our best ball users and decision makers, when we are already threadbare in terms of midfield depth? He's not playing anywhere near like it but he's not the Lone Ranger.

Having said that, 5 disposals for the game doesn't cut it at AFL level.

[Mantis]

I tend to agree and it is a worry. If his name wasn't Wallis, would we be as sympathetic towards him.

I think we are sympathetic to all our players as we want them to succeed as we know that if they play well it will make us a better team, but no doubt the F/S players are held in higher regard due to the conenction they have to the club.

[Jam Donuts]

Two years ago when we achieved the dream, I made the comment that with a couple of more pre-seasons in these youngsters they would bulk up get a lot fitter and be nearly unstoppable. They appear to have gone backwards in fitness and still look like schoolboys playing grown men, what the hell is the fitness staff doing? Questions need to be asked of this department and also the soft tissue problem, this may be attributed to lack of fitness as well, we can forget the talk of attracting big names to the club for a few years now, we will be lucky to attract an "A" grader through the door, and it will also be harder to hold onto to our talented young guys.

There appears to be issues concerning some players and the performances they are turning in, they simply cannot regress that much without off field issues. It all looks like it did in the past dismal decades, how can this be turned around?

[kruder]

On the Fox coverage Brown was asking Johnson after the game why so many senior players had fallen off a cliff. He replied and said recently the senior and mid tier players had been seriously challenged by Bevo. He pointed out that Roughead may not have been happy with his FA comments in one of his pressers and said that after his recent performances he deserves to be playing VFL football.

Its going to be a very interesting off season at the Kennel. We need more points to get in West and kahamis in the draft while hanging on to our early first round selection which means a few premiership heroes will have to go. I'd expect a change in captaincy also.

[bornadog]

I'd expect a change in captaincy also.

Your hatred of Wood has no bounds.

[G-Mo77]

On the Fox coverage Brown was asking Johnson after the game why so many senior players had fallen off a cliff. He replied and said recently the senior and mid tier players had been seriously challenged by Bevo. He pointed out that Roughead may not have been happy with his FA comments in one of his pressers and said that after his recent performances he deserves to be playing VFL football.

Its going to be a very interesting off season at the Kennel. We need more points to get in West and kahamis in the draft while hanging on to our early first round selection which means a few premiership heroes will have to go. I'd expect a change in captaincy also.

I'm fine with Wood as Captain, I'm fine with Bont as VC and even Roughy does have some leadership traits and was comfortable to hear he's selected in the leadership group. The other members of the leadership group though? Surely the club could have stepped in and said something rather than let the tail wag the Dog. Redpath? JJ? Hunter? Give me a break!

[LostDoggy]

Yep Amazing. The next amazing thing is how the hell did we offer Trengove a 3 year deal? He was cooked at Port playing seconds and we go and give him 1.2-1.4M over 3? Disgraceful.

I don't think the Trengove signing was a bad one. He cost us no picks, a $400-$450k annual salary is only average and 3 years is fair enough for a 27 year old (26 when signed). It's hard to offer an interstate player with a family much less.

Given where our list is at, a versatile big man with leadership skills and 150 games experiece makes a lot of sense.

He was a b&f and leadership credentialled player at Port and played 21 games there in 2016 and then 19 of 20 (missed 1 injured) in 2017 before being dropped for the last couple when it was clear he was out the door.

I reckon he's been good for us overall and will play quite a few games for us. The way this season is playing out, we'd probably like 2 of him, 1 would be kpd and the other rucking.

A few were highly critical of his game last night. Dixon was good, but given Port pumped the ball in so regularly, kicked 132 points and had Dixon as the prime spearhead, his output of 11 possessions, 2 marks (1 contested) and 3 goals was hardly the thrashing of Trengove (14 possessions, 7 marks) some are making out.

[Mofra]

I don't think the Trengove signing was a bad one. He cost us no picks, a $400-$450k annual salary is only average and 3 years is fair enough for a 27 year old (26 when signed). It's hard to offer an interstate player with a family much less.

Given where our list is at, a versatile big man with leadership skills and 150 games experiece makes a lot of sense.

He was a b&f and leadership credentialled player at Port and played 21 games there in 2016 and then 19 of 20 (missed 1 injured) in 2017 before being dropped for the last couple when it was clear he was out the door.

I reckon he's been good for us overall and will play quite a few games for us. The way this season is playing out, we'd probably like 2 of him, 1 would be kpd and the other rucking.

A few were highly critical of his game last night. Dixon was good, but given Port pumped the ball in so regularly, kicked 132 points and had Dixon as the prime spearhead, his output of 11 possessions, 2 marks (1 contested) and 3 goals was hardly the thrashing of Trengove (14 possessions, 7 marks) some are making out.
I thought I was the only one who didn't think Trengove was too bad.

He's a guy who will do anything for his teammates and there is nobody else we could have played that would have done the same job.

I assume Naughton will be back in next week to provide some chop-out and JJ gets sent back to provide some rebound that we desperately need.