Round 14: Sydney v Port Adelaide

[Conor_Dillon]

Nankervis might not be fast in the sense of covering the ground (not many ruckmen are) but he's definitely a fast thinker...that kick to Kennedy to set up the goal was brilliant, just screamed natural footballer. Same with his run into space to set-up his own goal...he saw how the play was unfolding as soon as Reid was launching at the ball and pushed hard forward. His aggression and tackling should also be noted and for what it's worth he took as many marks as Ryder and Lobbe combined.

He definitely gave us something to work with and if Pyke does need the rest leading into a finals campaign then I'd be more than confident in a combination of Nank and Tippett.

[goswannies]

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.

Yeah but imagine if Pyke didn't play? His ability to at least contest might have been a significant difference between a win & a loss under the circumstances. Who else would have? & the consistent Port double teaming at ruck contests against him still irks me!

[707]

That double teaming (as opposed to third man up) in ruck contests is definitely illegal so don't know why the umpires don't ping it ...... or maybe I don't know the rules. Better get On the Couch to investigate!

[O'Reilly Boy]

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.

Do you mean reacting to being called a monkey and proudly representing his people? I think that I see where the problem is.

[dejavoodoo44]

That double teaming (as opposed to third man up) in ruck contests is definitely illegal so don't know why the umpires don't ping it ...... or maybe I don't know the rules. Better get On the Couch to investigate!

Yes, the mystifying non-decision for me was when Pyke was attempting to run to the ball in a ruck contest, with one half of the double team holding one arm and the other half dragging the other arm. Surely that was worth a free, especially when compared to all the soft and technical blocking frees that have been paid recently?

[ScottH]

Old mate Goodesy does his obligatory weekly short dinky kick from outside 50 that doesn't hit the mark. Will one of the coaches tell him to go top the square just for once. We give it over so many times in our forward 50 with crap kicks.

I get ho(a)rse screaming that all the time

[GoSouth33]

As it turns out, had the game not been played last night, it probably wouldn't have been played this weekend given Phil Walsh's connection with both Adelaide teams. Hard to see how the Crows could possibly play the Cats this weekend. Not even sure about the other games either.

[YvonneH]

Seems a little bit of a fluff piece following the post by GoSouth33 regarding Phil Walsh, but I thought Sam Reid looked very gaunt in the face tonight. Has he been on the Paleo diet that some of the players have been on?
Also didn't look as big in the upper half of his body (just my opinion)

[mcs]

Nankervis might not be fast in the sense of covering the ground (not many ruckmen are) but he's definitely a fast thinker...that kick to Kennedy to set up the goal was brilliant, just screamed natural footballer. Same with his run into space to set-up his own goal...he saw how the play was unfolding as soon as Reid was launching at the ball and pushed hard forward. His aggression and tackling should also be noted and for what it's worth he took as many marks as Ryder and Lobbe combined.

He definitely gave us something to work with and if Pyke does need the rest leading into a finals campaign then I'd be more than confident in a combination of Nank and Tippett.

Nankervis really does look like the old fashioned FF/Ruck from yesteryear. As you say, not quick foot wise, but his footy brain is not bad. He faded badly in the second half, but showed that there is something there - just like there is with Naismith. I do think, if Naismith can get his body right, that they could form a pretty good partnership for us going forward together.

Pyke clearly will need to be managed over the rest of the season - it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't play next week, given Stefan Martin is out for the Lions. That would give him a break before the 5 weeks where we will desperately need him playing well (Hawks, West Coast, Adelaide, Geelong and the Pies) as it will define our season. If we do well through that stretch, every chance we can give him a game or 2 off to freshen up before the finals.

[Legs Akimbo]

Nankervis might not be fast in the sense of covering the ground (not many ruckmen are) but he's definitely a fast thinker...that kick to Kennedy to set up the goal was brilliant, just screamed natural footballer. Same with his run into space to set-up his own goal...he saw how the play was unfolding as soon as Reid was launching at the ball and pushed hard forward. His aggression and tackling should also be noted and for what it's worth he took as many marks as Ryder and Lobbe combined.

He definitely gave us something to work with and if Pyke does need the rest leading into a finals campaign then I'd be more than confident in a combination of Nank and Tippett.

Agree completely - he is such an old fashioned footy player. I think he is great.

[stellation]

That double teaming (as opposed to third man up) in ruck contests is definitely illegal so don't know why the umpires don't ping it ...... or maybe I don't know the rules. Better get On the Couch to investigate!

I thought in general it was okay (not okay we let it happen, mind you!), but there were definitely a few instances that I was watching it and thinking along the same lines as you of "do I just not know the rules?". There was one instance in particular where Pyke was having to run in and try to body both of the ruckmen from Port- I thought the third man up had to be excluded from the actual body work of the ruck contest.

- - - Updated - - -

Yes, the mystifying non-decision for me was when Pyke was attempting to run to the ball in a ruck contest, with one half of the double team holding one arm and the other half dragging the other arm. Surely that was worth a free, especially when compared to all the soft and technical blocking frees that have been paid recently?

This was the puzzling instance that really threw me.

[Doctor]

Well I was going to say earlier that Goodes has gone missing a lot this year in 2nd halves! Lucky I didn't pull the trigger...

Had there been a roof on the SCG it would have been lifted off when Goodes took his run, bounced and goaled. Bloody brilliant!

[aardvark]

Liked big Nana. If he ever gets a tank he could be very good. Liked Jones, when he decides to play footy instead of picking fights everywhere he'll be even better. Can't stand Towers, surely we have someone better in the ressies. Still unimpressed with McVeigh. When Teddy got knocked out and the players were all in a huddle waiting for play to resume he was wandering around outside the group by himself, didn't even address them.

[Ampersand]

With his goal assist to JPK and his mark and goal, no Nankervis = No win. When was the last time you said the same thing about Pyke?

[RogueSwan]

With his goal assist to JPK and his mark and goal, no Nankervis = No win. When was the last time you said the same thing about Pyke?

I think you are simplifying the situation greatly. What if Port powered away from more clearances because not enough of a ruck contest was made?
I think Port are a good team but have forgotten how to play. When they moved it quickly and kicked deep they were very good. Lucky for us they didn't seem to realise this and played too cautiously, allowing us to get back defensively and then push forward, hard.

BTW I would like to see Nanka get another run next week