Round 14: Sydney v Port Adelaide

[Mel_C]

That was a gutsy win. After half time I thought here we go again! The Richard's concussion was a turning point and we fought hard with one less rotation.

Loved Parker and Hanners. Gee they work hard. Whoops forgot Kennedy.

Reid enjoyed being back in the forward line.

Nankers is slow isn't he?? He did a couple of good things.

Shaw, Shaw, Shaw. When he took that kick in I said don't F it up and what did he do?? Have to admit that when he was moved up the ground in the last quarter he wasn't too bad and helped move the ball forward.

We fumbled and stumbled a lot tonight. So frustrating!!

Still don't understand the umpiring ????.

[Conor_Dillon]

Despite what all of the morons on Fox Footy seem to think, that was a genuinely gutsy win.

Port have been ordinary this year but they seemingly came to play tonight.

Thought our younger guys had some big moments tonight, Lloyd played one of his better games, Jones attack on the footy in the last quarter as well as some brilliant kicks coming out of the backline, Cunningham's sealer, Nank was impressive all night, Towers contested mark etc.

McVeigh was unusually quiet but the rest of our leaders really stood up...Jack was huge in the last quarter, Goodeseys 2 goals in the third oozed class, Hannebery and Kennedy were clearly the 2 best players on the ground, Parker fought hard and Nick Smith's 2nd half was arguably his best half of the season.

Might be slightly optimistic but I've got a feeling that this win could really set-up our year. So proud to be a blood tonight.

[0918330512]

It was puzzling to see them come out after half time and play in almost a carbon copy way to the game against Richmond. It was not looking good at all, totally on the back foot. Terrible for Teddy to get knocked out but it seemed to provide the needed spark to for them to take the game on and then play some really gutsy footy.

Which game were you watching? We went in without $1.8M worth of key forwards. We lost Gazza (who was on fire) and then lost Teddy. Lukey was playing with clipped wings. Pikey still not fully fit.

Good win. My favourite play would have to be Goodesy streaming towards goal, head back, the crook knees creaking, and managing enough composure to squeeze it through for a goal!

knees creaking? Pft! Not even Jetta would've kept up with Goodsey on that run.

[Scottee]

I thought that Reg deserves special mention for the way he stood up as the only genuine tall defender. His 1%ers were fantastic and he saved us time and again whilst marshalling the backline.

[crackedactor]

Agree it was a real gutsy win, one of the best of the year. Even though it was Teddys Richards knockout to get them started, they looked really pissed off after that incident.I was really impressed with Jones's game apart from that dropped mark. Even towers was Ok in the second half. Nankervis was not bad, but he looks rather slow, I think even Sandilands could outsprint him. How was that Goodes running away from Ollie wines and kicking that goal. WOW!! at HIS AGE.

[Ludwig]

We lost the hitouts by a large margin but won the clearances. We looked best when we moved the ball quickly, particularly that 4 goal spurt after Ted went down. We must have felt that it was only way we could win, and sure enough it worked. We have to recognise that we are no longer a good stoppage team. The commentators haven't caught on yet and many fans as well (and perhaps the coaches too).

Nankervis looked okay for a first gamer and was certainly better value than Derickx, but he is slow. He could develop a Mummy type game that could see him become a reasonable ruckman. He's helped by the fact that he can take a mark and kick a goal. But neither he nor Pyke did much around the ground. Luckily Rider was useless, except as 3rd man up in the ruck contests, or we could have been hurt.

Jones made a few errors, including one serious one that led to a goal, and he is really high strung, but I think he'll be okay once he gets the balance right. We weren't clean at all with the ball. It was like playing in wet conditions for us sometimes. And it wasn't just one player. It seemed like most of team were dropping marks and fumbling. I would have hoped to get more from Towers given the outs we had, but he was disappointing. There's a big difference between his NEAFL form and his seniors form.

It was a good gutsy win, as many have said, but there is still a lot of work to do to get this side into premiership contention. We are lucky that this year all the top teams are a bit down on form.

[Ampersand]

I predict we'll win by something close to whatever Nankervis kicks. That is, if he doesn't kick any we'll probably lose.

Not a terrible prediction. He kicked 7 points.

[goswannies]

Nankers is slow isn't he?? He did a couple of good things.

Back in the 1970s/80s he would've been a handy stay at home forward, out muscling a couple of defenders, waiting for the ball to be bombed down on his head, not leading too far from the comfort of the goal square. In 2015, he's a bit of a 101kg tortoise. Nice debut though

[Ampersand]

I thought Nank's tap out work was okay. Pyke still looks like his knee cartilage is completely shot. Would like to see Nank and Tippett trialled as a ruck duo next week. What's with the patches of games where we can't buy a freakin' clearance?

[707]

Great and gutsy win. Key mids were fantastic. Reid was good and gave us a target, Jetta is just the best kick and has vision, Goodes turned back the clock and still very much in the best 22, Jones looked ok, Laidler a bit shaky tonight.

BUT Towers has to go, a real passenger, I don't care if he's quick and can jump, he doesn't get it much and looks panicky.

Ten day break so hopefully Ted is ok for Brisbane but if not Buddy and Tippo in, Reid to CHB, George to debut in place of Towers. Please be BOG on Saturday George coz the seniors need you, you ball magnet!

[Untamed Snark]

I thought that Reg deserves special mention for the way he stood up as the only genuine tall defender. His 1%ers were fantastic and he saved us time and again whilst marshalling the backline.

I agree
He seemed to gain composure with the responsibility.
To think when Teddy went down I thought we were well & truly buggered.

[goswannies]

I thought Nank's tap out work was okay. Pyke still looks like his knee cartilage is completely shot. Would like to see Nank and Tippett trialled as a ruck duo next week. What's with the patches of games where we can't buy a freakin' clearance?

For me, as a tap ruckman, Pyke is better value than Nank. Better mark. Set shot kicking style is probably comparable from what I saw tonight (though ressies watchers would know much better ... my n=1 is a pretty small sample size for Nank though)

[Mug Punter]

Was very proud of how the team rallied tonight after Ted's injury, I really though we were gone at that stage but we showed some fight against a team playing for their season. It was a good response after last week's insipid response.

And I must say that I think the Port fans their tonight were amongst the most feral to visit us in recent years, There was a foursome near me in the mid deck of the new stand who were just plain offensive.

Reid started well but I just feel he never gives us four quarters. Thought the mids played well, that Jack and JPK had their best games for a while. Good to see Jones starting to cement his place. Rampe had best game for ages too but Shaw again left me with my heart in my mouth. Nankervis I thought had a decent debut though for all his critics here I think Pyke does a job for the team but we clearly need to manage him. If he needs a cut and suck to get his knee right, usually 3-4 weeks, then I'd give him the spell and let Nankervis have an extended run.

Goodes really stood up and was counted tonight, he really did contribute well and I'd have him deep in the forward line again. Clearly father time is catching up with him but it is just so great to see him wind back the clock every now and then. One of the games all time greats.

I'd give Ted another week if any doubt.

Know this is usually another thread by itself but I'd rest Pyke and have Tippett and Nankervis next week as rucks. Buddy in and Reid at CHB if Ted is out. And Hewett in for Rohan, surely a good chance to blood the youngster. Afraid that I think Towers is just not up to the job and should be dropped and someone given a chance, I really cannot see him having a lot of value as trade bait. Anyone know of McGlynn's return date?

[wolftone57]

Was very proud of how the team rallied tonight after Ted's injury, I really though we were gone at that stage but we showed some fight against a team playing for their season. It was a good response after last week's insipid response.

And I must say that I think the Port fans their tonight were amongst the most feral to visit us in recent years, There was a foursome near me in the mid deck of the new stand who were just plain offensive.

Reid started well but I just feel he never gives us four quarters. Thought the mids played well, that Jack and JPK had their best games for a while. Good to see Jones starting to cement his place. Rampe had best game for ages too but Shaw again left me with my heart in my mouth. Nankervis I thought had a decent debut though for all his critics here I think Pyke does a job for the team but we clearly need to manage him. If he needs a cut and suck to get his knee right, usually 3-4 weeks, then I'd give him the spell and let Nankervis have an extended run.

Goodes really stood up and was counted tonight, he really did contribute well and I'd have him deep in the forward line again. Clearly father time is catching up with him but it is just so great to see him wind back the clock every now and then. One of the games all time greats.

I'd give Ted another week if any doubt.

Know this is usually another thread by itself but I'd rest Pyke and have Tippett and Nankervis next week as rucks. Buddy in and Reid at CHB if Ted is out. And Hewett in for Rohan, surely a good chance to blood the youngster. Afraid that I think Towers is just not up to the job and should be dropped and someone given a chance, I really cannot see him having a lot of value as trade bait. Anyone know of McGlynn's return date?

I think you are a bit hard on Sammy. Teddy went down and Sammy went back while they sorted the backs out, which they did at 3/4 time. Laids went to Schultz and Sammy was able to go back forward but his momentum was gone. He played really well in the first half. Sammy had the same amount of disposals as Goodsie, 11, and kicked the same score, 3.1. So why are you not disappointed with Goodsie? Sammy had a good night and had to play several roles due to Teddy's injury while trying to shift back to the KF role in the last. Very hard to do. I think you are totally out of order and very hard on the young man.

I didn't think Towers was that bad tonight. her did a couple of good things. Had a couple of fumbles which he has to get out of his game but he also delivered a couple of super passes.

Rhyce Shaw is finished. His composure is shot and his disposal is second grade. They even sent him forward to see if he could impact the game but he was too slow and lacked finesse. He has given up too much score lately too.

Nanka had a pretty good debut but he is slow, very slow. That is a problem. Good kick, except for that OOF. Pykie was shot tonight and never looked even half fit.

Lloydy's disposal was sublime tonight, except for one OOF. Some of his short passes in traffic were really sooooo good.

Parks is the spiritual captain of this footy side. What guts. He, Hannas, Joey, Tommy & Kizza were not going down even when KO'd.

Rampe, Smithy, Macca & Reg were very good. Laids tried hard but was finding the going hard against the speedsters. Bloody stupid match up for him anyway. Better in the last when he took Schulz.

Gaz going down was a bad moment as he had huge momentum. His marking was sensational.

Not a bad win considering the base from where we came. Two players missing, two injured early, a ruckman who appeared injured & suspect fitness level.

[Bloodthirsty]

Goodes really stood up and was counted tonight, he really did contribute well and I'd have him deep in the forward line again. Clearly father time is catching up with him but it is just so great to see him wind back the clock every now and then. One of the games all time greats.

I must admit that Goodes was starting to bug me withe the political correctness BS and irrelevant limelight that he has found himself in in recent times but he is reminding everyone that he is a genuine all-time champion by anyone's standards. What a champ. Seems that he is very wary of fading away and is digging deep to silence even the harshest critics with the world's shortest memories.