Port smash Hawks

[Vivien]

Port thumped the Hawks last night and at times showed glimpses of their 2004 form. In the 2nd half, they kicked 16 unanswered goals. Do people think that we can expect a charge from the Power in the 2nd half of the season?

I certainly haven't written off their chances of making the 8. Having said that, they've had a couple of really impressive games this season and then went cold again the week following. They haven't shown anything in the way of consistency to suggest that they'll be a real threat. But if they can string some good games together going into the finals who knows?

One thing i've noticed about Port (and Brisbane Lions') game this year is that they have not shown that same physical aggresion and intensity that characterised their play last year. Particularly the Lions seem to have lost a great deal of the physical element of their game. Having said that, a lot of their bigger-bodied players have been struggling with injury/age this year, and of course they've lost Lynch.

[Mike_B]

One of the things to remember with Port is that they've only just started being able to put their best team on the field. For a variety of reasons, they've been missing the Burgoynes, Roger James, Pickett, Brogan, Wilson etc.

When I saw their line-up on Thursday night, I thought that it looked very similar to the team that ran out on the last Sat in Sept last year with a couple of changes - Walsh, Primus, Francou, Cochare and Ebert in for Hardwick, Carr, Schofield, Thurstans and Wilson.

Of those, Hardwick and Schofield weren't critical to their team, Carr has been a big loss, as has Wilson, Thurstans I'm not too sure about. But those ins do make up for them somewhat.

So, don't discount Port from a genuine tilt at the flag now they're getting their best back.

[ScottH]

Watched the first half with a couple of Brandies and went to bed at ahlf time and missed the execution of the hawks!!! Oh well, the price I pay for early morning starts.

[cruiser]

I've been waiting all season for the dreaded Port revival. The ladder is now starting to look more like last years, as Richmond and the Roos slide downwards (as they did last year) and Port and Brisbane play like the teams we expect them to be. It could be a very exciting second half to the season and finals series. I just hope (and hope and hope) that Sydney also keep improving.