The Port Recipe.

[mjp]

I'm pretty concerned about the back 7 - not gonna sugar coat it. I don't see how adding Khamis and Coffield to a back 6 already featuring Lobb in just his second game down there is a great plan, but it is what it is. But I do think we can still be successful.

#1 - State the obvious.
Our mids need to win stop. Not by a massive amount and even breaking even in the metrics could be enough. But we can't let those three guys (JHF, Butters, Rozee) have those 'running out the front + bouncing the footy' moments they seem to have each and every week.

#2 - Tim
He has an advantage in terms of running power. He needs to really put it to the PA guys - and we need to link through him. To quote Jamie Tartt: "Don't play it too meh, play through meh". Tim to take 10x uncontested marks.

#3 - Rhylee
We need a Rhylee game. Up and about, laying tackles and creating havoc from the first bounce. If ever there was a week for him to get suspended for being 'over-zealous' defensively, this is it. Get out there and take some names - the PA small backs are vulnerable by foot and we need them thinking about pressure and turning it over.

#4 - Take chances.
Jamarra simply cannot have one of those 1.3 type games. Neither Aaron. To be fair, Darcy is pretty reliable (and so has Naughton been this year but he has history!!). We need to kick the ball through the goals. The PA supporters are NOT in a good place right now and they will turn on their team (and turn hard and early) if we get goals on the ball.

#5 - Bailey Dale, BOG
We need our best kick of the footy kicking it 20+ times. All those marks I said Tim needs to take - he had better be bloody well handballing it to a running Bailey on at least 5 of those occasions. We need a "You dropped me did you - well, I'm gonna bloody well show you that I'm not a reserves player" type performance from him this week...I think if we sit back and rely on Bont to carry us, rely on Treloar to carry us, well...we're going down. We need our inspiration from elsewhere this week and whilst Dale has been good his first 3-weeks post demotion were INCREDIBLE. We need INCREDIBLE this week.

[hujsh]

#2 - Tim
He has an advantage in terms of running power. He needs to really put it to the PA guys - and we need to link through him. To quote Jamie Tartt: "Don't play it too meh, play through meh". Tim to take 10x uncontested marks.

#5 - Bailey Dale, BOG
We need our best kick of the footy kicking it 20+ times. All those marks I said Tim needs to take - he had better be bloody well handballing it to a running Bailey on at least 5 of those occasions. We need a "You dropped me did you - well, I'm gonna bloody well show you that I'm not a reserves player" type performance from him this week...I think if we sit back and rely on Bont to carry us, rely on Treloar to carry us, well...we're going down. We need our inspiration from elsewhere this week and whilst Dale has been good his first 3-weeks post demotion were INCREDIBLE. We need INCREDIBLE this week.

Yes yes yes... Daddy like.

These two points mesh real well together and it's something that Tim needs to make happen. He can't just match Sweet for hit outs and he can't take marks around the ground only to follow up with waiting 10 seconds and chipping it backwards.

[Happy Days]

Sweet has been wrecked the last two weeks by the opposition ruck burning him off, getting forward and kicking goals. McInerney had 3-4 and was BOG, and Marshall should’ve had 5 to 3QT.

We all know Sweet’s tank and work between stoppages is suspect, and Tim needs to work hard enough to take full advantage.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Sweet has been wrecked the last two weeks by the opposition ruck burning him off, getting forward and kicking goals. McInerney had 3-4 and was BOG, and Marshall should’ve had 5 to 3QT.

We all know Sweet’s tank and work between stoppages is suspect, and Tim needs to work hard enough to take full advantage.

No team better than us would know exactly how to expose Sweet. If Tim doesn't carve him up I'd be disappointed.

[Countrydog5]

Tim will run Sweet off his feet, that's a given. If he can get on the end of 2 or 3 goals that will be a win no matter the hitout stats. Unfortunately this week I think will hinge on our goalkicking accuracy, and I cringe at the thought. If we can put scoreboard pressure on early, we'll go a long way to beating them once the crowd turns.

At this stage I just don't trust us to come out firing and put that pressure on. We'll know in the first 5 minutes if we're on or not, and if we aren't we won't take home the chocolates. I'm not overly confident about this weekend, realistically the team has given me no reason to be confident.

[1eyedog]

I'm more worried about their speed out of the stoppage.

[mighty_west]

Their midfield scares me a bit especially with Sweet knowing how to ruck against big Tim and knowing that he would back himself in the centre square against him, Bont will 1000000% be tagged this week, he just has to be, probably that skinny red haired bloke who is actually decent offensively too, wouldn't hate it if Bont did spend more time up forward with Ed playing more midfield minutes and perhaps Darcy rolling back.

We'll need to pay close attention to JHF, he's the one that can burn us and has done so before, may have done so in our last outing in SA in the second half?

They're missing a few, we are missing a few, but i'll back us in as we should have too much firepower for them.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Tim will run Sweet off his feet, that's a given. If he can get on the end of 2 or 3 goals that will be a win no matter the hitout stats. Unfortunately this week I think will hinge on our goalkicking accuracy, and I cringe at the thought. If we can put scoreboard pressure on early, we'll go a long way to beating them once the crowd turns.

At this stage I just don't trust us to come out firing and put that pressure on. We'll know in the first 5 minutes if we're on or not, and if we aren't we won't take home the chocolates. I'm not overly confident about this weekend, realistically the team has given me no reason to be confident.

Historically our games against Port have been incredibly frustrating. I can remember being on top early but just not putting them away and giving up cheap goals. They then run over us late in the 3rd and 4th.

[jazzadogs]

The Saints are pretty crap at the moment and only lost by 2 points. I think we've got all the tools for a 5-6 goal win.

Port don't really concern me.

[Sedat]

Historically our games against Port have been incredibly frustrating. I can remember being on top early but just not putting them away and giving up cheap goals. They then run over us late in the 3rd and 4th.
I was quite partial to the 2021 PF - that 1st half is as good as our team has ever played in my lifetime.

H&A games, yes they have been frustrating. Special mention to the Ballarat game a few years ago (2018 from memory) with hailstones coming in sideways - that was the coldest I have ever been at the footy.

[mjp]

Sweet has been wrecked the last two weeks by the opposition ruck burning him off, getting forward and kicking goals. McInerney had 3-4 and was BOG, and Marshall should’ve had 5 to 3QT.

We all know Sweet’s tank and work between stoppages is suspect, and Tim needs to work hard enough to take full advantage.

I'm worried about this. Tim sprinting forward thinking GOALS is not what we need...we already have 3x marking threats up there. We need him being a release player, dragging Sweet OUT of our F50 and allowing more space for the forwards we have...

I am concerned that Sweet will be thinking this is his time to shine - it is actually his time to WORK.

[mjp]

I'm more worried about their speed out of the stoppage.

Wasn't that point 1?? "Stating the obvious"???

[Happy Days]

I'm worried about this. Tim sprinting forward thinking GOALS is not what we need...we already have 3x marking threats up there. We need him being a release player, dragging Sweet OUT of our F50 and allowing more space for the forwards we have...

I am concerned that Sweet will be thinking this is his time to shine - it is actually his time to WORK.

I get what you’re saying but it presupposes that Sweet will actually work back into 50 to necessitate being dragged out of it, which he has not been doing. Tim is a really dangerous forward and if we can get a look at him inside 50 essentially unchecked then surely it’s a good thing?

[mjp]

I get what you’re saying but it presupposes that Sweet will actually work back into 50 to necessitate being dragged out of it, which he has not been doing. Tim is a really dangerous forward and if we can get a look at him inside 50 essentially unchecked then surely it’s a good thing?

Hmmm - maybe. To me it's Tim's mindset.

He should be 'hunting' through the corridor between the arcs giving us an advantage where - in theory - the PA mids have an advantage. JHF, Butters and Rozee are better runners than our group of inside mids - Tim dominating Sweet gives us a way to equalise and release...

If Tim thinks his hunting territory is in the same area as Naughton, JUH and Darcy, well...I don't think we will score as much as a team even if Tim kicks 3 himself.

Happy to be proven wrong.

[GVGjr]

I'm more worried about their speed out of the stoppage.

Same here, Butters, Rozee, Wines, Horne-Francis and Drew can get them on a roll.

[DOG GOD]

I’m worried about their mids kicking goals..more so Rozee and JHF..can’t allow that to happen. Also concerned about our backline talls…yes Lobb did ok last week, but we can’t allow Marshall or Lord (god forbid) to kick a bag. One thing is guaranteed though…they will try to get Khamis one on one at every occasion.

[Mofra]

So... who is their relief ruck?

This is one game where we know the opposition plays fast but we have to let them - because our talls are way bigger than their KPDs and their rebounders aren't accurate by foot when the pressure rating goes up. If they play fast, so do we.

[EasternWest]

So... who is their relief ruck?

This is one game where we know the opposition plays fast but we have to let them - because our talls are way bigger than their KPDs and their rebounders aren't accurate by foot when the pressure rating goes up. If they play fast, so do we.

Marshall? Georgiades? They're the first two to spring to my mind.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

I'm worried about this. Tim sprinting forward thinking GOALS is not what we need...we already have 3x marking threats up there. We need him being a release player, dragging Sweet OUT of our F50 and allowing more space for the forwards we have...

I am concerned that Sweet will be thinking this is his time to shine - it is actually his time to WORK. I agree this is the time that Sweet wants to show us all how much he has to offer and regret letting him go. Additionally the midfield group a ring him could actually make him look better than he actually is.

I?m a sweet fan and really nervous about this game. It?s got wrecking ball and loss of confidence all over it.

[jeemak]

Sweet averages 0.7 more hitouts a game than English, not sure that's going to be a difference maker and from memory Tim always had the better of him in hitouts and where he put them when they played in intra-club matches.

Duryea needs to be a real general in defence, and keep heads cool. As the OP calls out, Dale needs to run and use his kicking to give us length out of defence. Everyone else in the back seven just needs to keep their shit together, while the mids need to get back and help them out.

Naughton needs to play really high this week due to the length of the ground, and where I can see English being of value offensively is getting that second or third kick on the wing after running Sweet into the ground.

Our forward just need to take whatever chances come their way.

[EasternWest]

Sweet averages 0.7 more hitouts a game than English, not sure that's going to be a difference maker and from memory Tim always had the better of him in hitouts and where he put them when they played in intra-club matches.

Duryea needs to be a real general in defence, and keep heads cool. As the OP calls out, Dale needs to run and use his kicking to give us length out of defence. Everyone else in the back seven just needs to keep their shit together, while the mids need to get back and help them out.

Naughton needs to play really high this week due to the length of the ground, and where I can see English being of value offensively is getting that second or third kick on the wing after running Sweet into the ground.

Our forward just need to take whatever chances come their way.

How many to advantage, though?

[jeemak]

How many to advantage, though?

I wouldn't know. What I do know is the myth that Sweet is a good ruck in terms of hitouts has been debunked time and again.

[bornadog]

Marshall? Georgiades? They're the first two to spring to my mind.

Georgiades is shorter than Bont, but then again, Bont has rucked before

[EasternWest]

Georgiades is shorter than Bont, but then again, Bont has rucked before

Bont is also 195 which is pretty bloody tall.

Not ruckman tall, but still tall.

[EasternWest]

I wouldn't know. What I do know is the myth that Sweet is a good ruck in terms of hitouts has been debunked time and again.

I can't believe you gave me a serious answer. What happened to you, man?

[bornadog]

Bont is also 195 which is pretty bloody tall.

Not ruckman tall, but still tall.

Georgiades 192cm

[jeemak]

I can't believe you gave me a serious answer. What happened to you, man?

The glorification of Jordon Sweet is a serious issue and I won't have it.

[EasternWest]

Georgiades 192cm

Yes. I understood that he was shorter than Bont.

Also, do you think we should turn up to the footy or should we not accept what's AFL is serving us. Because you've said both things and I've asked you to answer and you keep refusing to.

[bornadog]

Yes. I understood that he was shorter than Bont.

Also, do you think we should turn up to the footy or should we not accept what's AFL is serving us. Because you've said both things and I've asked you to answer and you keep refusing to.

Not refusing, I didn't know you asked me, or missed it.

Of course turn up, nothing like live action. of course we can complain to AFL, because they are trying to kill off the game.

[EasternWest]

Not refusing, I didn't know you asked me, or missed it.

Of course turn up, nothing like live action. of course we can complain to AFL, because they are trying to kill off the game.

I'm disappointed that you also gave me a sensible answer.

[azabob]

So... who is their relief ruck?

This is one game where we know the opposition plays fast but we have to let them - because our talls are way bigger than their KPDs and their rebounders aren't accurate by foot when the pressure rating goes up. If they play fast, so do we.
I thought it was Finlayson.

[EasternWest]

I thought it was Finlayson.

That makes more sense. Let's hear from Happy Days about Finlayson's hair.

[Happy Days]

That makes more sense. Let's hear from Happy Days about Finlayson's hair.

I hear Turkey is lovely this time of year Jeremy.

[azabob]

More fool you mjp, where was your call on Sweet beating English in the first quarter?

[kruder]

Bailey Dale has just gone off the boil again been poor two weeks in a row, It's so noticeable we just cant get anything going off back half without his influence. I still cant believe Bevo played Coff and Buku together.....