blackdiamond
22 May 2003, 18:51
courtesy of www.portadelaidefc.com.au
Williams confident of downing Dons again
http://portadelaidefc.com.au/cp2/c2/webi/article/060051ah.jpg
Port Adelaide’s last match at Telstra Dome – in round 11 last season – resulted in a 59-point thumping of Essendon, the Power’s opponent there again on Friday night.
But as Port coach Mark Williams said on Wednesday: “It gives us the confidence to know we can do it but it doesn’t guarantee anything. Once again you just go over there and prepare and have a crack at it.
“Yes, it’s very important to win in Melbourne. We think we can win anywhere, any time, so we don’t really care where we’re playing.”
Port has a 5-5 record against Essendon and has won the past three – by seven points at AAMI Stadium late in 2001, the big win at Telstra Dome midway through last season and by 24 points at AAMI Stadium in the first semi-final last September.
The Power’s other two wins were by 50 points at the MCG late in 1997 – its first AFL season – and by 37 points at AAMI Stadium in round 15 of 1999.
Asked why he thought Port had such a good record against Essendon, Williams said: “It’s hard to come up with any particular reason. At different times, they’ve had different players out. I just know they’re always very competitive games and this one will be exactly the same.”
On the importance of Port’s two successive Friday-night matches – it plays Collingwood at AAMI Stadium on Friday night of next week – Williams said: “They are showcase games. We don’t often get the opportunity to play on Friday night and to play one in Melbourne and one here is terrific. We really appreciate the opportunity and thank the AFL for giving us that.”
Williams, an assistant coach and reserves coach at Essendon in 1995-96, said Kevin Sheedy had had “a huge influence on my career and a lot of my players’ careers”.
“We always look forward to meet and greet and have a chat with him,” he said. “He’s always a terrific personality in football and Essendon are very lucky to have had him for so long.”
Williams said the Bombers had had “an up-and-down season”.
“They’ve had quite a few people out with injury, which is a little bit similar to us, and they’ve had to deal with that,” he said. “The ones who have been playing have been really having a crack and I’m sure Kevin’s fired them up in that regard again.”
Williams said he “anticipated” Brett Montgomery would play on Friday night after missing the past four matches with knee and back problems.
And when questioned about Chad Cornes’ two-match suspension – which Port is appealing – Williams described the ace forward as “a role model”.
“We will miss Cornes,” he said. “He’s a player who not only marks the ball but also keeps it in the forward line. He’s a very competitive player who has been a role model to a lot of young players, and I think he’s an outstanding role model for anyone who watches or plays footy.
“Chad’s been a great player for us and if we were to miss him for two weeks it would be difficult. But we’ll get over it.”
Williams confident of downing Dons again
http://portadelaidefc.com.au/cp2/c2/webi/article/060051ah.jpg
Port Adelaide’s last match at Telstra Dome – in round 11 last season – resulted in a 59-point thumping of Essendon, the Power’s opponent there again on Friday night.
But as Port coach Mark Williams said on Wednesday: “It gives us the confidence to know we can do it but it doesn’t guarantee anything. Once again you just go over there and prepare and have a crack at it.
“Yes, it’s very important to win in Melbourne. We think we can win anywhere, any time, so we don’t really care where we’re playing.”
Port has a 5-5 record against Essendon and has won the past three – by seven points at AAMI Stadium late in 2001, the big win at Telstra Dome midway through last season and by 24 points at AAMI Stadium in the first semi-final last September.
The Power’s other two wins were by 50 points at the MCG late in 1997 – its first AFL season – and by 37 points at AAMI Stadium in round 15 of 1999.
Asked why he thought Port had such a good record against Essendon, Williams said: “It’s hard to come up with any particular reason. At different times, they’ve had different players out. I just know they’re always very competitive games and this one will be exactly the same.”
On the importance of Port’s two successive Friday-night matches – it plays Collingwood at AAMI Stadium on Friday night of next week – Williams said: “They are showcase games. We don’t often get the opportunity to play on Friday night and to play one in Melbourne and one here is terrific. We really appreciate the opportunity and thank the AFL for giving us that.”
Williams, an assistant coach and reserves coach at Essendon in 1995-96, said Kevin Sheedy had had “a huge influence on my career and a lot of my players’ careers”.
“We always look forward to meet and greet and have a chat with him,” he said. “He’s always a terrific personality in football and Essendon are very lucky to have had him for so long.”
Williams said the Bombers had had “an up-and-down season”.
“They’ve had quite a few people out with injury, which is a little bit similar to us, and they’ve had to deal with that,” he said. “The ones who have been playing have been really having a crack and I’m sure Kevin’s fired them up in that regard again.”
Williams said he “anticipated” Brett Montgomery would play on Friday night after missing the past four matches with knee and back problems.
And when questioned about Chad Cornes’ two-match suspension – which Port is appealing – Williams described the ace forward as “a role model”.
“We will miss Cornes,” he said. “He’s a player who not only marks the ball but also keeps it in the forward line. He’s a very competitive player who has been a role model to a lot of young players, and I think he’s an outstanding role model for anyone who watches or plays footy.
“Chad’s been a great player for us and if we were to miss him for two weeks it would be difficult. But we’ll get over it.”