- Oct 2, 2008
- 8,897
- 18,482
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- Brothers of Destruction
Most Improved
West Coast Eagles;
Initially I was very skeptical of West Coast and also dismissive. My criticism was that they haven't taken big scalps, just bullied little teams. I was spewing s**t around and dismissing their legitimacy. I've made it a habit of watching West Coast the last few weeks, and revisiting their efforts from earlier in the year. What impresses me most about them after educating myself is their consistency. They are fairly consistent onfield and get the job done.
Kennedy is the best key forward in the competition, Priddis has consolidated his brownlow winning year. His ability to win contested possession and his strength at stoppages will make WC very formidable during finals. Darling has only added further strength to their impressive forward line now that he's returned. LeCras, Gaff, McGovern, will be in hot contention for AA with the way they're playing.
Notable mentions,
Western Bulldogs
St. Kilda
GWS
Collingwood
Melbourne
Biggest Disappointment
Essendon, Port Adelaide and North Melbourne have been equally embarrassing.
All expected to make finals, but ultimately Port Adelaide were expected to win the premiership this year while Essendon have been hammered emotionally by the ASADA charges and North Melbourne in my opinion were never any good to begin with, so I'll go with Port Adelaide.
Port Adelaide;
Very good list of players. Gray, Wingard, Wines, Hartlett, Trengove, etc they've got some elite ball users, great key position prospects and the highly fancied premiership recruit Paddy Ryder (FOR PEANUTS TOO MIGHT I ADD!!).
It was all coming together for Port Adelaide, three points away from the grand final last year and even started this season emphatically by kicking 8 goals to 1 in the first during their round 4 match against Hawthorn. Up until that point they were 1-2, their two losses coming against a highly fancied Fremantle and Sydney, their win? Against North Melbourne in one of the best games of the year. Port Adelaide were 2-2 after playing North, Fremantle, Sydney and Hawthorn. They were on their way.
In round 5 they defeated the much improved Adelaide where they were in cruise control after a strong first quarter. Round 6 Port lost at home to West Coast in a slugfest, knowing West Coast's improvement in hindsight, Port wouldn't be too distressed at that point. 3-3 against six fantastic teams.
Then bottom of the barrel Brisbane bashed the s**t out of them in round 7. Brisbane kicked 3 goals in 3 minutes to crush Port Adelaide's confidence. Although it was a convincing 37 point Brisbane victory, Port were equal in inside 50s, 53-53. They won the hitouts 62-51, marks inside 50 went their way 14-9, uncontested possession 194-175, even contested possession 146-142. Disposal efficiency was tight, disposals were close, pressure inside 50 was good, 20-8 tackles in Port's favour inside the forward 50.
Shooting accuracy let Port down, but this was the game where Brisbane blocked off Port's corridor run. Teams all noticed, although every club felt Port's fitness was fantastic (it was) it was in particular their ability to play on at almost every chance in the corridor to create incredible pressure inside 50. If Schulz, Butcher and Ryder couldn't mark it, Matty White, Monfries, Wingard, Gray, Boak were all creating great pressure to score. Brisbane cut that play off for the entire game, Port required to use the wings more, they needed to switch play, their ball movement was slowed down dramatically. They looked slow.
Brisbane figured them out.
The next week, Port scored a measly 43 points against a vengeful Richmond at home and were convincingly defeated again. The next week Port regained their form against Melbourne in a brief 12 minute period, where Melbourne's structures collapsed, Port regained control of the corridor, played on at all times with their infectious style and scored 38 points in 12 minutes. You take away that time and they would have only beaten Melbourne 77-54, a grinding win at best.
Their win against the Dogs proved Port to be a confidence team, cut them at the knees and they'll struggle, give them some room and they'll run rampant. In a tight arm wrestle, Port overcame the Dogs in the final term and won their most impressive game since the Hawthorn clash in round 4. That was it for Port, the next few weeks resulted in losses to Geelong, Carlton and Sydney, in a very disappointing clash, the Swans lost Richards and Rampe during the contest and Franklin/Tippett didn't play to begin with.
Port is easily the most disappointing. They've got a top 4 list in my opinion, their game plan was exposed and ever since, they've had no response. Port will be back in my opinion, but no doubt one day in the years to pass, Port supporters will question, 'what happened to season 2015?'
West Coast Eagles;
Initially I was very skeptical of West Coast and also dismissive. My criticism was that they haven't taken big scalps, just bullied little teams. I was spewing s**t around and dismissing their legitimacy. I've made it a habit of watching West Coast the last few weeks, and revisiting their efforts from earlier in the year. What impresses me most about them after educating myself is their consistency. They are fairly consistent onfield and get the job done.
Kennedy is the best key forward in the competition, Priddis has consolidated his brownlow winning year. His ability to win contested possession and his strength at stoppages will make WC very formidable during finals. Darling has only added further strength to their impressive forward line now that he's returned. LeCras, Gaff, McGovern, will be in hot contention for AA with the way they're playing.
Notable mentions,
Western Bulldogs
St. Kilda
GWS
Collingwood
Melbourne
Biggest Disappointment
Essendon, Port Adelaide and North Melbourne have been equally embarrassing.
All expected to make finals, but ultimately Port Adelaide were expected to win the premiership this year while Essendon have been hammered emotionally by the ASADA charges and North Melbourne in my opinion were never any good to begin with, so I'll go with Port Adelaide.
Port Adelaide;
Very good list of players. Gray, Wingard, Wines, Hartlett, Trengove, etc they've got some elite ball users, great key position prospects and the highly fancied premiership recruit Paddy Ryder (FOR PEANUTS TOO MIGHT I ADD!!).
It was all coming together for Port Adelaide, three points away from the grand final last year and even started this season emphatically by kicking 8 goals to 1 in the first during their round 4 match against Hawthorn. Up until that point they were 1-2, their two losses coming against a highly fancied Fremantle and Sydney, their win? Against North Melbourne in one of the best games of the year. Port Adelaide were 2-2 after playing North, Fremantle, Sydney and Hawthorn. They were on their way.
In round 5 they defeated the much improved Adelaide where they were in cruise control after a strong first quarter. Round 6 Port lost at home to West Coast in a slugfest, knowing West Coast's improvement in hindsight, Port wouldn't be too distressed at that point. 3-3 against six fantastic teams.
Then bottom of the barrel Brisbane bashed the s**t out of them in round 7. Brisbane kicked 3 goals in 3 minutes to crush Port Adelaide's confidence. Although it was a convincing 37 point Brisbane victory, Port were equal in inside 50s, 53-53. They won the hitouts 62-51, marks inside 50 went their way 14-9, uncontested possession 194-175, even contested possession 146-142. Disposal efficiency was tight, disposals were close, pressure inside 50 was good, 20-8 tackles in Port's favour inside the forward 50.
Shooting accuracy let Port down, but this was the game where Brisbane blocked off Port's corridor run. Teams all noticed, although every club felt Port's fitness was fantastic (it was) it was in particular their ability to play on at almost every chance in the corridor to create incredible pressure inside 50. If Schulz, Butcher and Ryder couldn't mark it, Matty White, Monfries, Wingard, Gray, Boak were all creating great pressure to score. Brisbane cut that play off for the entire game, Port required to use the wings more, they needed to switch play, their ball movement was slowed down dramatically. They looked slow.
Brisbane figured them out.
The next week, Port scored a measly 43 points against a vengeful Richmond at home and were convincingly defeated again. The next week Port regained their form against Melbourne in a brief 12 minute period, where Melbourne's structures collapsed, Port regained control of the corridor, played on at all times with their infectious style and scored 38 points in 12 minutes. You take away that time and they would have only beaten Melbourne 77-54, a grinding win at best.
Their win against the Dogs proved Port to be a confidence team, cut them at the knees and they'll struggle, give them some room and they'll run rampant. In a tight arm wrestle, Port overcame the Dogs in the final term and won their most impressive game since the Hawthorn clash in round 4. That was it for Port, the next few weeks resulted in losses to Geelong, Carlton and Sydney, in a very disappointing clash, the Swans lost Richards and Rampe during the contest and Franklin/Tippett didn't play to begin with.
Port is easily the most disappointing. They've got a top 4 list in my opinion, their game plan was exposed and ever since, they've had no response. Port will be back in my opinion, but no doubt one day in the years to pass, Port supporters will question, 'what happened to season 2015?'
