gbear
28 Sep 2005, 15:06
2005 Port Adelaide Report Card
11:49:44 AM Wed 28 September, 2005
Scott Spits
Sportal for afl.com.au
2005 record and ladder position: Won 12, Drawn 1, Lost 11. Finished 6th
2004 record and ladder position: Won 20, Lost 5. Finished 1st
What went right: After winning the club's first AFL premiership in 2004 and being near the top of the tree for the previous three years, it was always going to be a tough assignment for the Power to go all the way this year. Therefore, it's much easier to focus on the reasons behind their decline instead of identifying the positives of 2005. But the successful return of classy midfielder Josh Francou after two knee reconstructions was a major bonus for the Alberton club. The 31-year-old played 23 matches for Port this year after being out of the game since round two, 2003, when he first ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. It was a heart-warming story just when it appeared his career was destined to end.
The Power's effort to make the finals after a topsy-turvy season is noteworthy. They were in the top eight on only two occasions - including after round 22 - yet tasted September action for the fifth consecutive year. Only on two occasions did Port win three games in a row, including the last two rounds of the home-and-away season followed by its elimination final thrashing of the Kangaroos. The Power never really got its game going all year yet still sneaked into the top eight. They finished in sixth position after having won the 'minor premiership' at the end of the home and away season for the past three years.
What went wrong: Port's sluggish start to the premiership season - just one win and one draw in the first six rounds - was always going to be costly. Whether this was due to a premiership hangover or other factors is not exactly clear - probably a combination of both. The Power suffered from a loss of 'hardness' in the midfield, with Roger James hampered by a chronic knee problem and restricted to 11 matches, after already losing Damien Hardwick (retired) and Josh Carr to Fremantle.
Injuries and suspensions also hurt Port. Last year's Norm Smith Medallist Byron Pickett missed seven games due to suspension, while Peter Burgoyne (two matches) and Dean Brogan (three matches) were also sidelined for indiscretions. The Power was hard hit in the medical room early in the season when Shaun Burgoyne (knee) missed eight of the first nine rounds, Chad Cornes (knee) was sidelined for four weeks, Aaron Shattock (hip) missed three matches and Matthew Bishop (hamstring) also sat out three games. It was hardly the perfect springboard for their premiership defence
Who stepped up: Hard-running defender Peter Walsh crossed from Melbourne at the end of last season and rejuvenated his career at Alberton, playing 23 out of a possible 24 matches. He had struggled to break into a winning Demon outfit early in 2004 but made his mark with Port, giving them excellent drive from defence and much-needed grunt in the absence of Hardwick and Carr.
Domenic Cassisi continued his good form of 2004 and stepped up another level this season as an important member of Port's on-field brigade. After playing all 25 games for the Power last year, he followed that effort up with another 24 matches. We can't ignore the efforts of Kane Cornes, who picked up All-Australian selection as the nimble ball-getter further established himself as an elite AFL midfielder. Furthermore, the club's older players lifted a gear over the last eight weeks of the season to unexpectedly deliver the club another finals berth when all appeared lost.
Missing in action: Port decided to release Roger James, an integral member of its premiership team in 2004 after playing every game last year. The talented midfielder was restricted to 11 matches this year due to a knee injury and the club deemed that he wouldn't be able to withstand another pre-season. James has decided to retire from competitive football after accepting medical advice that it's not in his best interests to play. It's a sad scenario for the soon-to-be 30-year-old who, at his best, has won plenty of matches for the Power. His absence hurt the club in 2005, particularly around the packs where his ball-gathering skills were much-needed.
Toby Thurstans played all 25 matches for the Power in 2004 and, with three goals, was a big wildcard in the Grand Final victory over the Brisbane Lions. Last year's breakthrough followed on from winning the best first-year player award in 2003 despite a bout of osteitis pubis. However, Thurstans failed to consolidate in 2005 playing just 10 games after spending the bulk of the second half of the season in the SANFL. The lean key position prospect was the sort of player Port needed to take another step this season.
Rising Star: Danyle Pearce, the shortest and lightest player at Alberton, was promoted from the rookie list late in the season and played in the club's final seven matches. The super-swift 19-year-old made an immediate impact and the Power will be hoping he takes even greater steps in 2006. Fellow youngsters Michael Pettigrew and Troy Chaplin were others to make inroads, particularly Pettigrew who played in Port's opening two games in 2004 before being sidelined by a back injury last year. Like Pearce, Pettigrew gives the Power much-needed pace for the future. 19-year-old Chaplin is a key position player who enjoyed a career-high 26 possessions in the narrow round 20 loss to Adelaide.
Best win: While Port mauled Hawthorn by 117 points at AAMI Stadium in round 13, arguably its best victories were achieved late in the season when its immediate future was on the line. The Power hosted Fremantle in the final home-and-away round with the winner to be rewarded with a finals berth. Port showed glimpses of its best form, thrashing the Dockers by 45 points with Kane Cornes in hot form. It was an ominous performance by the Power, raising fears for other teams in the top eight. Such fears were realised one week later when the eighth-placed Port destroyed the fifth-placed Kangaroos by 87 points in an elimination final. With so much at stake, this was undoubtedly the Power's best win of an up-and-down season. Key components of their premiership team such as Chad Cornes and Shaun Burgoyne stood tall.
Worst defeat: The 79-point thumping at the hands of Geelong at Skilled Stadium in round 16 was humbling for the Power but their last match of the season was probably also their worst defeat. With many pundits giving Port a realistic chance of defeating fierce cross-town rival Adelaide in the semi-finals, the Crows gave the Power a massive hiding in the first-ever finals match between the clubs. The expectation in the city of churches before this clash was unprecedented. Port didn't live up to the hype, however, losing by 83 points after kicking just five goals for the match. It was a massive disappointment for Port and its supporters following the huge victory over the Kangaroos in an elimination final just one week earlier.
Shopping list: Skipper Matthew Primus re-injured his knee in round 22 - requiring a third knee reconstruction - and his future is in serious doubt. Port may be forced to seek another ruckman to support Dean Brogan and Brendon Lade, allowing a player like young big man Fabian Deluca more time to develop. However, the Power's main requirement is for more sustained hardness in the middle, with James to join Hardwick and Carr as players to leave Alberton in the past 12 months. They should chase another key defender as 30-year-old Matthew Bishop - who played 20 matches in 2005 - won't play forever.
What the coach says: "No-one who's associated with Port Adelaide, from a coach to an administrator to a supporter, would step away from the fact that we had a pretty average year - better than most but not as good as some, and that's where it is … Our supporters would be acutely aware of the fact it's been a tough year for us. Things have been a battle." - Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams after the 83-point loss to Adelaide in the first semi-final
What we say: There are two schools of thought about what Port will do in 2006. One says the Power is on the slide after so many years in the upper echelons of the ladder. The other theory maintains that Port is still a top side and its results in 2005 were merely an aberration. Realistically, both paths are possible but it's best to analyse Port's list in a couple of weeks before coming to any rash conclusions. A top eight finish is certainly still on the cards. A list which features names such as Chad and Kane Cornes, Peter and Shaun Burgoyne, Warren Tredrea and Josh Francou will certainly still be capable of high performances. But only time will tell whether the Power can go against the trend and avoid a further slide down the table.
11:49:44 AM Wed 28 September, 2005
Scott Spits
Sportal for afl.com.au
2005 record and ladder position: Won 12, Drawn 1, Lost 11. Finished 6th
2004 record and ladder position: Won 20, Lost 5. Finished 1st
What went right: After winning the club's first AFL premiership in 2004 and being near the top of the tree for the previous three years, it was always going to be a tough assignment for the Power to go all the way this year. Therefore, it's much easier to focus on the reasons behind their decline instead of identifying the positives of 2005. But the successful return of classy midfielder Josh Francou after two knee reconstructions was a major bonus for the Alberton club. The 31-year-old played 23 matches for Port this year after being out of the game since round two, 2003, when he first ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. It was a heart-warming story just when it appeared his career was destined to end.
The Power's effort to make the finals after a topsy-turvy season is noteworthy. They were in the top eight on only two occasions - including after round 22 - yet tasted September action for the fifth consecutive year. Only on two occasions did Port win three games in a row, including the last two rounds of the home-and-away season followed by its elimination final thrashing of the Kangaroos. The Power never really got its game going all year yet still sneaked into the top eight. They finished in sixth position after having won the 'minor premiership' at the end of the home and away season for the past three years.
What went wrong: Port's sluggish start to the premiership season - just one win and one draw in the first six rounds - was always going to be costly. Whether this was due to a premiership hangover or other factors is not exactly clear - probably a combination of both. The Power suffered from a loss of 'hardness' in the midfield, with Roger James hampered by a chronic knee problem and restricted to 11 matches, after already losing Damien Hardwick (retired) and Josh Carr to Fremantle.
Injuries and suspensions also hurt Port. Last year's Norm Smith Medallist Byron Pickett missed seven games due to suspension, while Peter Burgoyne (two matches) and Dean Brogan (three matches) were also sidelined for indiscretions. The Power was hard hit in the medical room early in the season when Shaun Burgoyne (knee) missed eight of the first nine rounds, Chad Cornes (knee) was sidelined for four weeks, Aaron Shattock (hip) missed three matches and Matthew Bishop (hamstring) also sat out three games. It was hardly the perfect springboard for their premiership defence
Who stepped up: Hard-running defender Peter Walsh crossed from Melbourne at the end of last season and rejuvenated his career at Alberton, playing 23 out of a possible 24 matches. He had struggled to break into a winning Demon outfit early in 2004 but made his mark with Port, giving them excellent drive from defence and much-needed grunt in the absence of Hardwick and Carr.
Domenic Cassisi continued his good form of 2004 and stepped up another level this season as an important member of Port's on-field brigade. After playing all 25 games for the Power last year, he followed that effort up with another 24 matches. We can't ignore the efforts of Kane Cornes, who picked up All-Australian selection as the nimble ball-getter further established himself as an elite AFL midfielder. Furthermore, the club's older players lifted a gear over the last eight weeks of the season to unexpectedly deliver the club another finals berth when all appeared lost.
Missing in action: Port decided to release Roger James, an integral member of its premiership team in 2004 after playing every game last year. The talented midfielder was restricted to 11 matches this year due to a knee injury and the club deemed that he wouldn't be able to withstand another pre-season. James has decided to retire from competitive football after accepting medical advice that it's not in his best interests to play. It's a sad scenario for the soon-to-be 30-year-old who, at his best, has won plenty of matches for the Power. His absence hurt the club in 2005, particularly around the packs where his ball-gathering skills were much-needed.
Toby Thurstans played all 25 matches for the Power in 2004 and, with three goals, was a big wildcard in the Grand Final victory over the Brisbane Lions. Last year's breakthrough followed on from winning the best first-year player award in 2003 despite a bout of osteitis pubis. However, Thurstans failed to consolidate in 2005 playing just 10 games after spending the bulk of the second half of the season in the SANFL. The lean key position prospect was the sort of player Port needed to take another step this season.
Rising Star: Danyle Pearce, the shortest and lightest player at Alberton, was promoted from the rookie list late in the season and played in the club's final seven matches. The super-swift 19-year-old made an immediate impact and the Power will be hoping he takes even greater steps in 2006. Fellow youngsters Michael Pettigrew and Troy Chaplin were others to make inroads, particularly Pettigrew who played in Port's opening two games in 2004 before being sidelined by a back injury last year. Like Pearce, Pettigrew gives the Power much-needed pace for the future. 19-year-old Chaplin is a key position player who enjoyed a career-high 26 possessions in the narrow round 20 loss to Adelaide.
Best win: While Port mauled Hawthorn by 117 points at AAMI Stadium in round 13, arguably its best victories were achieved late in the season when its immediate future was on the line. The Power hosted Fremantle in the final home-and-away round with the winner to be rewarded with a finals berth. Port showed glimpses of its best form, thrashing the Dockers by 45 points with Kane Cornes in hot form. It was an ominous performance by the Power, raising fears for other teams in the top eight. Such fears were realised one week later when the eighth-placed Port destroyed the fifth-placed Kangaroos by 87 points in an elimination final. With so much at stake, this was undoubtedly the Power's best win of an up-and-down season. Key components of their premiership team such as Chad Cornes and Shaun Burgoyne stood tall.
Worst defeat: The 79-point thumping at the hands of Geelong at Skilled Stadium in round 16 was humbling for the Power but their last match of the season was probably also their worst defeat. With many pundits giving Port a realistic chance of defeating fierce cross-town rival Adelaide in the semi-finals, the Crows gave the Power a massive hiding in the first-ever finals match between the clubs. The expectation in the city of churches before this clash was unprecedented. Port didn't live up to the hype, however, losing by 83 points after kicking just five goals for the match. It was a massive disappointment for Port and its supporters following the huge victory over the Kangaroos in an elimination final just one week earlier.
Shopping list: Skipper Matthew Primus re-injured his knee in round 22 - requiring a third knee reconstruction - and his future is in serious doubt. Port may be forced to seek another ruckman to support Dean Brogan and Brendon Lade, allowing a player like young big man Fabian Deluca more time to develop. However, the Power's main requirement is for more sustained hardness in the middle, with James to join Hardwick and Carr as players to leave Alberton in the past 12 months. They should chase another key defender as 30-year-old Matthew Bishop - who played 20 matches in 2005 - won't play forever.
What the coach says: "No-one who's associated with Port Adelaide, from a coach to an administrator to a supporter, would step away from the fact that we had a pretty average year - better than most but not as good as some, and that's where it is … Our supporters would be acutely aware of the fact it's been a tough year for us. Things have been a battle." - Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams after the 83-point loss to Adelaide in the first semi-final
What we say: There are two schools of thought about what Port will do in 2006. One says the Power is on the slide after so many years in the upper echelons of the ladder. The other theory maintains that Port is still a top side and its results in 2005 were merely an aberration. Realistically, both paths are possible but it's best to analyse Port's list in a couple of weeks before coming to any rash conclusions. A top eight finish is certainly still on the cards. A list which features names such as Chad and Kane Cornes, Peter and Shaun Burgoyne, Warren Tredrea and Josh Francou will certainly still be capable of high performances. But only time will tell whether the Power can go against the trend and avoid a further slide down the table.