Round 14: Sydney v Port Adelaide

[111431]

Not sure if my eyes were deceiving me, but I think that Ted has allowed a bit of playing for free kicks to creep into his game these days. Both times last night he received a bump and went flying forward to allow his opponent to take an uncontested mark. I cant help but think that in his All Aust year he would have tried to out-body the forward and stand his ground. I think I have seen it a few times this year and it is a bit of a concern.

I agree - looked straight at the umpire for the free

[Ampersand]

I thought Rampe was very good against Schulz but this morning I began thinking whether the likely suspension was hanging over Schulz just like the commentators were saying about Buddy last week.

Didn't Schultz kick his only goal after the tackle occurred in Q4? It looks to me like he has had the yips all year.

[Nico]

I said to Dr J last night in the last quarter that the Shaw move forward may be the signal he is gone. With us undermanned and a lead that needed to be protected, I thought it telling that Longmire went with Jones back and keep Shaw as far from goal as possible.

I thought Rampe and Grundy were sensational down back with Hanners and Joey at the top of their game also.

I thought Jets stunk it up bigtime, fumbly and just terribly out of sorts but it was telling that his effort and endeavour to get involved didn't waiver. In years gone by he would have faded right out of the game when he was having 'one of those nights'.

I have mellowed substantially over the past 20-25 years watching the games, but I was at my outraged best when Broadbent went the dog act on Parks. I am still almost hoarse from my outrage. Geez that pissed me off.

I couldn't help but think that 'Nico' would have been going spare in front of the TV at home at some of Harry's non efforts. I've always been of the opinion that Harry offers us something doing what he does and his lack of an in and under game can be carried, but last nights game was just one of those games you had to take one for the team and on too many occasions he failed to get in the line of fire, imo.

And finally, it was bloody cold.....

Yes I did notice Harry's inability to get into the action. In one play he even backed off a contest with his "gimme" hands palm up hoping for a spill to come his way. He did though find himself fortuitously in the right spot for a game saving goal at the end. He was on for 2.5 quarters as sub and generally failed in the role. Surely Hewett gets a game now before him.

Towers again failed to flatter at the top level. If only he took the footy on about 4 occasions when presented by his team mates, instead of looking for where his opponent was. Fractionally took his eyes of the footy causing a fumble.

[YvonneH]

Anyone else notice how Gaunt Sam Reid looked? More so than his usual slender look.

Hi magic.merkin. I posted the same thing on post #173, but didn't think anybody else noticed as there were no further comments about it until you.

[stevoswan]

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.

I don't want to open up a 'can of worms', but I can't let this one pass, Bloodthirsty. Tell me, how is shining a light on Australia's dark past, and it is a dark past, if you're an indigenous person, politically correct BS? How is highlighting past facts, BS? Enlighten me.......

[stevoswan]

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.

Well, whatever he didn't say sure worked!!

[Doctor]

Well, whatever he didn't say sure worked!!

What REALLY fired them up was that dog act of Broadbent on Parker. They were right into it after that.

[jono2707]

Geez I feel sorry for Gazza and I hope he's not out for too long with the hammy. He's been superb in patches the last few weeks and looked on the verge of absolutely tearing a game apart. I really hope he's back soon.

[giant]

That's the most tackles Adam's had since the 2012 GF.

And for all that's been said about how he couldn't kick any more, his goal kicking accuracy and distance seems as good as ever. He's 14-4 this year, which is career best for accuracy. But he doesn't look like missing these days and is kicking them right through the middle.

Maybe we should send Shaw back to reserves for a few weeks and see if that can revive his career as well.

Didn't stop Dunstall bagging him for his poor defensive efforts.

I mean seriously, when the game was on the line, he kicks two ripper goals, but they still have to bag the bloke. That said, it was truly refreshing watching him go back and bang that goal through post-high from 45m after weeks of watching him chip the ball from anything more than 35m!

[stevoswan]

To be fair Jay has been ordinary all season...I think last night's game was just a fair reflection of his year to date.

I'm not sure it's been mentioned yet but I was really impressed with Goodes' forward pressure last night, he chased and harassed as much as he has in years and laid some really important tackles, finished with 6 for the game which would have to be close to, if not a season high.

The really pleasing thing was that they were strong tackles that stuck........very impressive, and that run down the wing and resulting goal was vintage Goodes! Great to see. Also, for once, I liked BT's commentary; "Adam Goodes, you star, sensational stuff from Adam Goodes!!" OK, there was a bit of Steve Quartermain, circa 2005 in there, but it was refreshing.....

[Melbourne_Blood]

Not sure if my eyes were deceiving me, but I think that Ted has allowed a bit of playing for free kicks to creep into his game these days. Both times last night he received a bump and went flying forward to allow his opponent to take an uncontested mark. I cant help but think that in his All Aust year he would have tried to out-body the forward and stand his ground. I think I have seen it a few times this year and it is a bit of a concern.

Thats what I thought to, felt the contact and launched himself forward to accentuate it. Looked pretty silly once, was filthy on him the second time.

[Untamed Snark]

What REALLY fired them up was that dog act of Broadbent on Parker. They were right into it after that.

It was good to see Jetta fire up though.
He was seriously pissed off.

[Gary]

Ted is struggling ... he is making Grundy look good ... good to see Kennedy do better ... he hasn't broken like that & kicked like that from mid field for a while ... perhaps that says something about Port ... but nice to see ... overall a fair effort with stars out ... but far from convincing.

[Mug Punter]

Ted is struggling ... he is making Grundy look good ... good to see Kennedy do better ... he hasn't broken like that & kicked like that from mid field for a while ... perhaps that says something about Port ... but nice to see ... overall a fair effort with stars out ... but far from convincing.

You ever happy Gary?

And I thought I was a half empty kind of guy, you make me feel I'm exploding with positivity

[Industrial Fan]

I said to Dr J last night in the last quarter that the Shaw move forward may be the signal he is gone. With us undermanned and a lead that needed to be protected, I thought it telling that Longmire went with Jones back and keep Shaw as far from goal as possible.

actually thought they were trying to keep his pace as the closest swan to our goal to open up the slingshot