- Dec 7, 2000
- 8,445
- 836
- AFL Club
- Port Adelaide
- Other Teams
- New Orleans Saints, Detroit Tigers
courtesy of www.portadelaidefc.com.au
Port ready to respond: Williams
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams believes his players will react to the 'disappointment and embarrassment' of last week's heavy loss to Adelaide by producing a much stronger performance against Carlton at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.
"The last few years we've had a couple of those bad losses and we've gone off the rails and people have talked us down a bit, but we've got such a great response from the players, so we're looking forward to that again," Williams said after the Power had trained on Friday.
"We just have a real belief in the group. We haven't discussed it too much. We just know the performance was sub-standard for us, one we just don't put up with.
"There is no player here who does not understand the disappointment and embarrassment they caused our club, ourselves and all that."
Williams remained positive about Port's long injury list, saying: "Every year you have a lot of people out. It depends on who they are and what the combinations are to replace them.
"This time last year the cupboard was bare, as well, but we got through that and strung a lot of games together and we stayed positive, and that's what we're looking for now."
On Peter Burgoyne's return from a two-match suspension, Williams said: "Peter has stacks of ability - speed, tackling skills and a lot of great things, but Peter won't be the complete solution for us.
"The ones who played, well, they just did not do enough (against the Crows) and they will have to do a lot better. They get another chance this week, but there are not too many chances. If you are not playing well, you get out of the side.
"Anyone who does not get a kick is likely to be out of the side, and they know we have a responsibility to put the best team out there and have a crack at it. If it doesn't work, other people will come in."
With Port centre half-back Chad Cornes unavailable for at least four weeks with a cracked tibia just below the left knee, Williams said tall, speedy defender Matthew Bishop (hamstring) would resume playing against Geelong at AAMI Stadium next Friday night.
And he indicated his satisfaction with young defenders Michael Pettigrew and Troy Chaplin by saying they had played well recently and the club looked forward to them 'continuing their advancement'.
"In five years' time, we will have those two dominating our backline," he said.
Williams described rugged midfielder Roger James, who has lingering bone-on-bone soreness in his right knee, as 'a bit of a miracle man'.
"This time last year, I didn't think he would be playing too much at all, but he had a huge influence on us winning the premiership, so he's certainly no worse off than this time last year," he said. "He's building bit by bit to produce what we expect from him."
And on centre half-forward Warren Tredrea, who suffered two heavy knocks early against the Crows, Williams said: "He has played exceptionally well against Carlton and I know they will be going out of their way to hold Warren. It sets up a few challenges for him and we will give him as much support as possible.
"Getting the ball inside 50 would help. Last week we went inside 50 only 21 times, which is dismal, and you can't dominate up forward if that's happening."
Asked about trying to contain Carlton's forwards, particularly Lance Whitnall and Brendan Fevola, Williams said: "They are very good players. At the other end, we've got Tredrea, (Toby) Thurstans is back and we've got (Brendon) Lade, (Dean) Brogan and (Matthew) Primus, who are all capable of kicking five goals.
"As much as they will be sending over a couple of tall players, (Adrian) Deluca included, we feel we've really got some in our forward lines, so, again, we need to get the ball into the forward lines to take advantage of that."
So it looks like Wakes will be around for a little longer yet.
Port ready to respond: Williams
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams believes his players will react to the 'disappointment and embarrassment' of last week's heavy loss to Adelaide by producing a much stronger performance against Carlton at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.
"The last few years we've had a couple of those bad losses and we've gone off the rails and people have talked us down a bit, but we've got such a great response from the players, so we're looking forward to that again," Williams said after the Power had trained on Friday.
"We just have a real belief in the group. We haven't discussed it too much. We just know the performance was sub-standard for us, one we just don't put up with.
"There is no player here who does not understand the disappointment and embarrassment they caused our club, ourselves and all that."
Williams remained positive about Port's long injury list, saying: "Every year you have a lot of people out. It depends on who they are and what the combinations are to replace them.
"This time last year the cupboard was bare, as well, but we got through that and strung a lot of games together and we stayed positive, and that's what we're looking for now."
On Peter Burgoyne's return from a two-match suspension, Williams said: "Peter has stacks of ability - speed, tackling skills and a lot of great things, but Peter won't be the complete solution for us.
"The ones who played, well, they just did not do enough (against the Crows) and they will have to do a lot better. They get another chance this week, but there are not too many chances. If you are not playing well, you get out of the side.
"Anyone who does not get a kick is likely to be out of the side, and they know we have a responsibility to put the best team out there and have a crack at it. If it doesn't work, other people will come in."
With Port centre half-back Chad Cornes unavailable for at least four weeks with a cracked tibia just below the left knee, Williams said tall, speedy defender Matthew Bishop (hamstring) would resume playing against Geelong at AAMI Stadium next Friday night.
And he indicated his satisfaction with young defenders Michael Pettigrew and Troy Chaplin by saying they had played well recently and the club looked forward to them 'continuing their advancement'.
"In five years' time, we will have those two dominating our backline," he said.
Williams described rugged midfielder Roger James, who has lingering bone-on-bone soreness in his right knee, as 'a bit of a miracle man'.
"This time last year, I didn't think he would be playing too much at all, but he had a huge influence on us winning the premiership, so he's certainly no worse off than this time last year," he said. "He's building bit by bit to produce what we expect from him."
And on centre half-forward Warren Tredrea, who suffered two heavy knocks early against the Crows, Williams said: "He has played exceptionally well against Carlton and I know they will be going out of their way to hold Warren. It sets up a few challenges for him and we will give him as much support as possible.
"Getting the ball inside 50 would help. Last week we went inside 50 only 21 times, which is dismal, and you can't dominate up forward if that's happening."
Asked about trying to contain Carlton's forwards, particularly Lance Whitnall and Brendan Fevola, Williams said: "They are very good players. At the other end, we've got Tredrea, (Toby) Thurstans is back and we've got (Brendon) Lade, (Dean) Brogan and (Matthew) Primus, who are all capable of kicking five goals.
"As much as they will be sending over a couple of tall players, (Adrian) Deluca included, we feel we've really got some in our forward lines, so, again, we need to get the ball into the forward lines to take advantage of that."
So it looks like Wakes will be around for a little longer yet.
