NAB Challenge Game 1: Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide Power @ BISP

[dejavoodoo44]

I had the impression watching on TV that Towers jumped out of the stalls and had an excellent first half. TV can be deceptive, but he didn't seem to be so visible after half time. One of the things that has held him back was his knack of coming in and out of games.
Any thought? was my perception at the weekend wrong? Hope so.
Mills gonna be well worth all the Eddie hate etc of the last couple of years. Mitchell never to play seconds again, barring any rehab requirements.
If Dunstall and his mates had stopped talking about how the coming storm and associated lightning (which never eventuated) was going to have them leave the field, we may have heard some genuine commentary. Sad to see a great game getting better every year, and the descriptions getting even more abysmal.

Well, the alleged commentary team did have time to gibber about how Port were being crucified by the umpiring. Which was doing my head in a bit, since it would have been handy, if they had actually described which unfamiliar player was doing what.

[CureTheSane]

I try to look at the umpiring without Swans goggles on.
But for example, when Port kicked the supergoal and the foot was on the line, they kind of joked about it, yet when the Swans were given something they shouldn't have been, Port were being robbed.
This theme seems to follow through the majority of our games.
Maybe it really is just me?

[ugg]

If Dunstall and his mates had stopped talking about how the coming storm and associated lightning (which never eventuated) was going to have them leave the field, we may have heard some genuine commentary. Sad to see a great game getting better every year, and the descriptions getting even more abysmal.

The TV commentators (except for Lynch) weren't actually at the game, they were calling it from Melbourne. So maybe it was a case of trying to overcompensate for the fact they weren't at the ground.

[Reggi]

Home sick so have watched twice. The difficulty with these games is 26 players, and a trial so players aren't necessarily drifting out, simply not out there

Port played with a lot of intensity, and they are harder to play against when Jasper Pittard isn't playing

Mills and Parker are freaks, playing off half back Mills was reminiscent of Dennis Carrol. Decision making and foots skills good

Our ruck division looked good, Sinclair looked really solid, definite forward option. nankervis played 2nd half also played some smart footy. So we look better this year than last. Later in the year Nankervis's aggression could be telling

At times our backline looked terrible, just awful. Our lack of run from there is a massive worry. We looked better when Cunningham was there. There is a sameness to Laidler Grundy Talia.

Talia was solid

I though both B Jack and towers looked good. B Jack brings far more intensity and tackling off the footy than Jetta. Towers looks fitter and stronger, damaging

Lloyd and Mitchell were very disappointing with ball use

Not sold on Hewett, he is just ok at everything. Dan Robininson also a little disappointing

Dawson was overhyped he is a booming kick. Leonardis could be a genuine line breaker, had reasonable intensity which Dawson lacked

[0918330512]

Home sick so have watched twice. The difficulty with these games is 26 players, and a trial so players aren't necessarily drifting out, simply not out there

You sound like a Brisbane, GW$ or Adelaide player! Hope you feel better soon

[goswannies]

Sinclair vs pretty much Port's Reserves
5K 4H 4M 16HO 2T 1.3G/B

Jetta in essentially West Coast's Reserves v Adelaide
2K 1H 1M 0HO 4T 0.1G/B

Solid start Callum, with pretty much 3 times the output of Jetts. Early days, but well done & welcome!

[Reggi]

You sound like a Brisbane, GW$ or Adelaide player! Hope you feel better soon

Thanks ????

[Scottee]

If you are looking for a succinct example of the potential of our young recruits other than Mills , the quick gather dodge and slick handball from Leonardis to Dawson in the final quarter for a goal in the deluge will warm the heart.

[Primmy]

We had the full company of pine players and Port had the usual limited number. That has to make a difference.

Interchange had a bit of a task keeping the younger blokes on the right side of the line to start with.

Towers was just fine. Very impressive. But he probably had less time on the ground than would have been the case in a normal game. The kids started filling in the blanks especially in the third and I surmise fourth quarter (didn't make it for the whole game).
I didn't mind X either. He is not flashy but I think he just may be very reliable.
BJ needs to calm down a bit, not a great kick, but he can tackle like a limpet. Both these kids have put on kilos of muscle in the off season.

I really liked Mills as I said before. But what intrigued and pleased me was that he and Laids took their time getting off the ground at half time. They had their heads together and were nattering like a couple of old ladies discussing knitting patterns. They were definitely discussing what went right and what went wrong and it was a full tutoring session. Not much of him, I mean do these guys actually eat??? But is full A frame in shape.

Laids is going to be a Ted in his resurgence with this club. This year's prediction.

Coming from a different era such as I do, its fascinating to watch all the older blokes with long hair and all the younger ones with seriously short do's.

[Mug Punter]

Laids is going to be a Ted in his resurgence with this club. This year's prediction.

He is massively under-rated and rarely plays a bad game, a critical part of our backline structure

[magic.merkin]

If you are looking for a succinct example of the potential of our young recruits other than Mills , the quick gather dodge and slick handball from Leonardis to Dawson in the final quarter for a goal in the deluge will warm the heart.

4.56mins

https://youtu.be/me7CtRzvGQ8?t=4m56s

[wolftone57]

Reflections after the game:

We have recruited well. Loenardis and Dawson both look a a chance to debut and Mills is a standout. Talia looks serviceable as does Sinclair.

Towers and Lloyd look to have cemented places in the 22. Very happy to see Towers confidently plying his talent.

Hewett will debut this year.

Nankervis may be slow but he makes a contribution through his football skills.

The form of Tippett, Grundy, Parker, Rampe and Smith gives no cause for concern apart from their disposal which should improve in games that matter.

Buddy is back!

Hiscox, and Robbo look to be struggling to have an impact.

Marsh and Xav (who seems to have bulked up a bit) seemed capable of performing a role.

Our big issue is the loss of the running link ups betweeen the backline and the forward line with the loss of Shaw from the backline, Jetta from the midfield and Goodes, the fastest lead at the club, missing from the forward line. Hopefully Towers can take on Goodsey's role but there are no obvious heir apparents for the backline role (but with hopes for Mills, Jones and maybe Leonardis) and none for the midfield (Cunningham becomes super important here as one of the few with serous leg speed but we are going to have to hope that O'Riordon can be fast tracked).

I think it is going to take a while to find the new team structure and until we do we might struggle. I'm hoping Jones can make a good comeback from injury because he has the sort of attacking mindset that we need up back.

I don't agree re Marsh. He had no disposals to half time and only 4 for the match. His contribution even as a defender was negligible. He did win some contests against the dangerous Nead but too often lost body on him. i was a big wrap for him when he first came over. He played really well in the reserves and then got injured. Hasn't been the same since. I don't think he is AFL standard.

Hiscox will struggle if he can't learn how to kick. It is no use having great pace if you waste the footy

Robbo wasn't that bad. I agree he has to get the going to ground out of his game but at least he used it better than Hannas. Robbo had 13, not enough, Hannas 15, not enough (worst game I have seen him play).

Agree re Leonardis, Dawson and Mills. We didn't see much of Dawson but what we did see was very exciting. He has the advantage of having played seniors for Sturt last year and kicked a few goals as the third tall (Gunston style). I think we have found ourselves a really good player and if we give him some game time he is only going to get better. Leonardis is very hard to tackle, his evasion skills are very good. Want to see much more.

Hewett shows so much poise for a young guy. Seemed quite comfortable at this level. He uses the ball pretty well. I have always liked him. he has beautiful balance


Xav did ok for the time he was on. Won some crucial contests and realised when he stuffed up. That is half the battle


I thought Parks' disposal quite good. Hannas, Hiscox, BJ etc are the ones to worry about re disposal. Bloody poor all of them. Hannas got 15 and wasted 13. Joey also is wasteful. some of his kicking was appalling.

I just worry about this bomb it in at all costs game plan. deano had the ball in the third on the GS flank and instead of honouring a lead (a good one) he simply ignored it an bombed in. I knew then it was game plan. They all did it. If we continue with this stupid plan we will be in the bottom half.

[wolftone57]

Jack, Hiscox and Robinson, to me, don't appear to have what it takes. They all kick poorly and Robinson goes to ground a lot and just seems to be missing something when he attacks the ball. Leonardis looked promising - he gets where the ball's at and Dawson has very clean skills, looks like the ideal footballer and looks like he plays like one.
Lloyd is a concern. He gets plenty of it and gets into space, but is slow to dispose of the footy, and when he is clear doesn't sprint to give himself that extra yard to steady and dispose. The opposition close on him quickly. If he plays like this his disposal must be a hell of a lot better. Doesn't create much.

You forgot to mention Marsh. He was dreadful. Zero disposal to half time. Four for the match. not good. did some ok things but not good enough at this level. time to bite the bullet and delist him and Hiscox. Jack Hiscox can't kick. Simple. He didn't even get the ball either, out of his depth. It's great to have pace around the club but they have to be able to play footy. I still think Robbo has some up side and so does BJ but those two don't. Impressed with Toby, really took the game on.

[wolftone57]

Apples and pears. A small mid v a mid sized forward.

Yes agree. Dawson played third tall for Sturt seniors. Has had experience against men and kicked 5 I think for Sturt. He has a man's body too. They called him a six footer on the telly he's actually 192cm not 183cm. He is 6'3". Takes an exceptional mark apparently. I can't understand why he isn't playing half forward or forward pocket in the NAB.

Dawson, Leonardis and Hewett can come back anytime. Marsh & Hiscox can go back to the reserves.

[wolftone57]

I agree MP that Mills looked good off halfback, but now it's a matter of how to fit everyone in. The consensus seems to be that both Talia and Laidler had good games. So we still have Ted, Rohan, Zak Jones and Macca to fit in the side, all of whom have been slated to go into the back six at times. There is also a bit of love for Nic Newman, who is yet to play and would need to be elevated.

I wouldn't get down on Nankervis just yet. Ruckmen take time to develop, especially Mummyesque types. I'm not expecting him to get up to AFL standard for another 3 or 4 years. The career of a number 1 ruckman doesn't seem to get going until age 24 or so. For example, Matt Lobbe was 24 before getting a full time gig and he was a highly touted 1st round pick who has lived up to his billing.

I've been a fan of Hewett from the start, but still have trouble fitting him into the best 22. We also don't know what the story will be with McGlynn and whether he slots into the senior side if he's fully fit. I'd like to see Hewett get at least 7 or 8 games this year.

Jones, Macca and Benny will not start the season so have to replace them anyway until they are ready.