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I just wanted to make special note of five particular efforts in the last 2.30 min of the game yesterday that could have been absolutely critical. In those last few minutes everyone threw themselves in and played desperately, but there was some special efforts.
At 26min Dew gathered the ball at 50 and the game was about to break open as he ran onto his left foot. Mathews grabbed him, wrapped him up tight and slammed him to the ground to force a ball up.
Slightly after this (about 30 sec) the ball was kicked forward to a one-on-one between Schauble and Tredrea, but Schaubs was able to prevent Tredrea marking (his great strength) and force the ball to the ground.
From this contest the ball bounced forward and P Burgoyne ran onto it. He was about to handball to a Port player running past who would have had an open goal. However, Crouch put out his hand, smothered the handball and forced both Burgoyne and the ball to the ground.
About a minute later the ball was again kicked to Schauble and Tredrea, no more than 35m out, and again Schaubs prevented Tredrea marking.
Finally, Brogan grabbed the ball from the ruck, took a few steps and was about to kick it (where it would have at least landed in the square and perhaps even scored) and Goodes was able to get across and effect a smother.
During all of these times we were only 2 goals in front. If Port had managed a goal then there would have been time for them to get it out of the centre and force another goal in the seconds remaining (we've seen them do that a couple of times) to grab a draw. I doubt whether our guys would have had the energy to stand up for a 5 min overtime.
As I say, every effort was fantastic, but I particularly wanted to draw attention to these.
At 26min Dew gathered the ball at 50 and the game was about to break open as he ran onto his left foot. Mathews grabbed him, wrapped him up tight and slammed him to the ground to force a ball up.
Slightly after this (about 30 sec) the ball was kicked forward to a one-on-one between Schauble and Tredrea, but Schaubs was able to prevent Tredrea marking (his great strength) and force the ball to the ground.
From this contest the ball bounced forward and P Burgoyne ran onto it. He was about to handball to a Port player running past who would have had an open goal. However, Crouch put out his hand, smothered the handball and forced both Burgoyne and the ball to the ground.
About a minute later the ball was again kicked to Schauble and Tredrea, no more than 35m out, and again Schaubs prevented Tredrea marking.
Finally, Brogan grabbed the ball from the ruck, took a few steps and was about to kick it (where it would have at least landed in the square and perhaps even scored) and Goodes was able to get across and effect a smother.
During all of these times we were only 2 goals in front. If Port had managed a goal then there would have been time for them to get it out of the centre and force another goal in the seconds remaining (we've seen them do that a couple of times) to grab a draw. I doubt whether our guys would have had the energy to stand up for a 5 min overtime.
As I say, every effort was fantastic, but I particularly wanted to draw attention to these.
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