What do we really need from this season?

[StonesThrow]

I wanna preface this by saying that I love winning and hate losing no matter how it happens.

In saying that, since the end of last year I've been pretty staunch in my opinion that we require 1 more high draft haul in 2021 from a rebuild/list management point of view, considering the high end mids that appear available. We need to round out our midfield with 1 or 2 elite talents. Even with a positive start, you can't convince me that a blue collar midfield can win a premiership. I like Schoenberg, Pedlar and Berry, but I would fall off my chair if any of them turned into a blue chip mid.

I feel like the list is at a really important stage. We've got a profile that is much different from anything in the last 20 years. We've drafted lots of young players since 2017 and cleared out many old ones. It's looking a bit hairy with our 1st round selections from 2016-19, but we've picked up what look to be some pretty good players past that 1st round (e.g. Sholl, Hamill, Schoenberg, Butts, McPherson, Worrell). There's not much you can say yet on 2020's draft, but I rate TT highly and Berry, Pedlar and Rowe all look AFL capable even at this early stage.

Add captain in waiting and one of my favourite players, Doedee, and we have a nucleus with some positive signs. However, even if nicks and co. manage to get our game plan together, I'm still highly dubious whether we have the right players going forward. Will we once again be competitive without having the list to go all the way?

After all this rambling, my point is that I think we're missing 1 or 2 elite mids going forward and that imo this is the year to get them. Finishing 10th isn't going to make this happen. But, looking at how we've started, finishing lower than 10th would probably result in us going backwards from what we've shown so far.

Is it possible to still be happy with our progression in 2021 and still have access to a top 3 pick? I don't think so. What a conundrum.

 

[StonesThrow]

I also note that I would love two top 10 picks, but I can't see any currency to get us there unless we traded laird. He's literally the only player I think we could and should trade (just signed long term as well) that would get us a good return. Doedee is off limits and still in the right age bracket.

I'm also note that I don't believe in long rebuilds with many years of high draft picks. This year should be our final year and then we develop and back in the current crop (including seniors). Don't keep going back to the draft a la Carlton.

 

[jackster83]

Good thread.

What we need are some of our younger guys to show signs of being a future legimate stars of the comp, but for this to happen, we need to identify these types and give them opportunities.

We're doing a lot right at the moment - our attitude, desire, willingness to work for one another, etc are all much improved, which Nicks deserves a lot of credit for. It's chalk and cheese from 2019 and the early part of last year.

Need to add some genuine talent to the list now. For varying reasons, most of our early picks from recent years have bombed, plus the Gibbs trade that was a disaster. In particular Milera's body completely falling to bits is hurting us. As a result we look rather workmanlike.

In the SANFL side we're pretty bereft of talented mids and smaller, running types, but we're well stocked for developing talls. How we integrate Thilthorpe into the main side and manage him over the next 18 months will be critical. Worrell needs a decent go as well.

 

[MRB37]

I was actually thinking last night that the play of Sloane and Tex while awesome, may be a huge problem for us going forward, especially if it leaves us in the middle part of the first round. We can't expect them to carry such a huge load in a few years time and the problem could be huge if they aren't in the team and we don't have anyone else ready to step up.

So i'd like to see a guy like Schoenberg have a game or two where he really shows he can dominate over 4 quarters, not just have cameo's and end up with 12-15 touches. I think we're seeing that down back a bit out of pure necessity with Talia out and it's giving Butts a chance to shine with other younger players like McPherson and Hamill, but I want to see that up forward and in the midfield too.

 

[Glenno23]

I love the way we're playing, but you're 100% right. We do need another 2 gun mids

I still think we'll up with pick 5 or 6, so we can still get an excellent player around that mark. Can't see us finishing higher than 12th at absolute best case

I guess it depends on who we trade at the end of the year? M.Crouch could turn into a handy pick? McAsey? Fogarty (The new structure we have doesn't look good for more than 2 talls with the other one besides Walker needing to be back up ruck and with Walker's form.... Fogarty won't get a look in unless we move him into a part time mid role as per SANFL)

So are we every chance to trade up a pick to get another gun mid on top of our first rounder? Do we have any other club's first rounders?

 

[StonesThrow]

Replying to both above (not glenno), I think the guys mentioned are going to be fine and could be very worthy premiership players, but my point was rather that I don't think anyone on the list is going to be that elite dominant player that we need to get there.

 

[Geoffa32]

Schoenberg
McHenry
Scholl
Hamill
Rowe
Butts
MacPherson

To play every game available

Berry
Pedlar
Tilthorpe
McAsey
Worrell
Murray
Fog- in the middle/Forward
Jones

To play at least 10 games

Sort out second forward/Ruck role. Frampton v Hberg v Tilthorpe.

No more Mackay


Most importantly implement a system that works and filter out the guys who can't operate within it.


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[Geoffa32]

I would actively trade Crouch out.

Can not see how he fits the game we want to play.

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[MRB37]

I would actively trade Crouch out.

Can not see how he fits the game we want to play.

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I'm not sure how he fits in at all if this style of game holds up across the AFL long-term. He will be good at being at the contest and feeding it out, but general play is not his strong suit and I don't think he can cover the ground even close to the way guys like Sloane and Laird can.

He looks in much better condition than he did last year, looks much leaner from what I saw of him, which hopefully helps, but i'd be weary of giving him a long deal at the moment.

 

[Interloperer]

A full year of competitive football. Good early form is pointless if theres a 10 game losing streak in the middle.

 

[Coopers]

I want, a football story.

I don't really care about the scoreboard. I want something to GODDAM CROW ABOUT.
I want a year that isnt a nothing year.

I want to talk to my Powa supporting work "colleagues" (I mean can you actually have colleagues that support Port? Are they even real people? Centerlink says no).

1. A bunch of kids to break out. Let's say 5 with a rising star nom.
2. Tex or Sloane get the AA guernsey.
3. We were last and we finished first (lolwut).
4. We won the rising star (Berry, mate, looking at you).
5. I've seen you Berry, I'm looking at Pedlar for the last 10 games.
6. Nicks to take a razor at the end of the year and decide who actually is going to contribute.
7. Trade sensibly. Enjoy the wins.
8. Bit of Club pride. Build the brand a bit into something we care about a bit more. Try and have a weekend off the Chardonnay folks. Get that fingernail infection looked at. Call your mum. Look after yourselves. Give some platonic hugs when we win. Community feels.

 

[pjcrows]

Keep playing the rookies as we have been.
Get Thilthorpe in as the second tall for minimum 6-8 games.
Offload Crouch for 1st Round compo.
Work out a way to land Horne.
Actively pursue Lukosius.

 

[Golumless]

I wanna preface this by saying that I love winning and hate losing no matter how it happens.

In saying that, since the end of last year I've been pretty staunch in my opinion that we require 1 more high draft haul in 2021 from a rebuild/list management point of view, considering the high end mids that appear available. We need to round out our midfield with 1 or 2 elite talents. Even with a positive start, you can't convince me that a blue collar midfield can win a premiership. I like Schoenberg, Pedlar and Berry, but I would fall off my chair if any of them turned into a blue chip mid.

I feel like the list is at a really important stage. We've got a profile that is much different from anything in the last 20 years. We've drafted lots of young players since 2017 and cleared out many old ones. It's looking a bit hairy with our 1st round selections from 2016-19, but we've picked up what look to be some pretty good players past that 1st round (e.g. Sholl, Hamill, Schoenberg, Butts, McPherson, Worrell). There's not much you can say yet on 2020's draft, but I rate TT highly and Berry, Pedlar and Rowe all look AFL capable even at this early stage.

Add captain in waiting and one of my favourite players, Doedee, and we have a nucleus with some positive signs. However, even if nicks and co. manage to get our game plan together, I'm still highly dubious whether we have the right players going forward. Will we once again be competitive without having the list to go all the way?

After all this rambling, my point is that I think we're missing 1 or 2 elite mids going forward and that imo this is the year to get them. Finishing 10th isn't going to make this happen. But, looking at how we've started, finishing lower than 10th would probably result in us going backwards from what we've shown so far.

Is it possible to still be happy with our progression in 2021 and still have access to a top 3 pick? I don't think so. What a conundrum.

What amazes me, more than anything, is how quickly people are downplaying Schoenberg and Berry. It's like they've been scorned before and don't want to get hurt again.

At the moment, for what both players have shown, the expectation needs to be they'll develop into that blue chip, competing for AA spots regularly midfielders. Both have enough to their game to get there. Pedlar we'll give a bit of time as he hasn't done anything yet. Berry had already showed an elite part of his game with his defence. Schoenberg has routinely had moments where he's shown he's full of class.

We definitely need one more good draft haul, but every side does to a degree.

 

[Geoffa32]

Keep playing the rookies as we have been.
Get Thilthorpe in as the second tall for minimum 6-8 games.
Offload Crouch for 1st Round compo.
Work out a way to land Horne.
Actively pursue Lukosius.

Like Brad, we won't be getting first round compo for Matt.

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[Geoffa32]

What amazes me, more than anything, is how quickly people are downplaying Schoenberg and Berry. It's like they've been scorned before and don't want to get hurt again.

At the moment, for what both players have shown, the expectation needs to be they'll develop into that blue chip, competing for AA spots regularly midfielders. Both have enough to their game to get there. Pedlar we'll give a bit of time as he hasn't done anything yet. Berry had already showed an elite part of his game. Schoenberg has routinely had moments where he's shown he's full of class.

We definitely need one more good draft haul, but every side does to a degree.

For me the main attribute for a mid is the ability to get into position to make an impact in play. Not just win the ball, but put on a block or good position to be a good option from the stoppage.




These two guys won't spend three years on an AFL list learning this fundamental skill.

They have it.






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[Scorpus]

We need to start figuring out long term best 22 players and delisting or moving on anyone that isn't.

That's the goal.

 

[Sanders]

What we need from the season? Exactly what we’ve gotten so far

exuberance, joy, fun and camaraderie.

we were a broken club and a broken team. A few wins, some competitiveness, but I want to see the team continue to enjoy themselves

That’s what’s been missing, perhaps missing since at least the Craig era.

playing an impossible amount of young guys has created this sense of a feeling. A sense of a beginning

a stronger foundation of that is what we need from this year. Everything can build from that

supporters are enjoying watching, players are enjoying playing.

every coach says they want that but you rarely see it.

rebuild back better

 

[Thetrader15]

We also need to see Port lose another final or two.

 

[The Smith Revolution]

6 wins one pumping and 15 honourable losses


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[John Who]

Competitive in all games, grow in confidence, and end up with a top 5 pick. That’s the dream for mine.

Of course I’d rather more wins than losses, but this is a year we can afford to not make Finals (low expectations) and meanwhile assuring us a strong draft pick with high end potential. Finishing 9-12 isn’t in our best interest this particular year.

If we grow in confidence week by week, we can aspire to be like Sydney this year, with 2 previous years of consecutive bottom four positions. Now they are potential serious contenders.

 

[Cap]

Like Brad, we won't be getting first round compo for Matt.

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Let's hope we don't try playing our poker face again

 

[Danger in Texas]

I would actively trade Crouch out.

Can not see how he fits the game we want to play.

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This is an interesting point. We need to start developing some of our younger guys like Schoenberg/Pedlar/whoever we get in this draft, and moving on Matt would help us do that. It's not like our midfield is incompetent without him, with Laird signed on and turning into a fine midfielder + Sloane finding some form of old

In addition to that - look at who's out of contract at the end of the season, there's not a lot of guys I'd want to move on. McAsey probably will want out, Stengle obviously, maybe Kelly looks to return to Victoria? Crouch moving on might be a way of opening up a list spot for one last push at the draft

 

[spexau]

So long as we show effort every game, week in and week out, while playing a variety of kidsm I'm happy. If Tex and Sloane keep up their form and keep us competitive then all the better. I want them enjoying their footy too.

I also think Schoenberg will be that blue chip midfielder for us.

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[LC40]

We have to enjoy this season first and foremost.

Tex is in a fantastic vein of form and our success this year will hinge on how long that continues.
No other forward in our team dominates their position like he does.
Our whole avenue of attack filters through him and while he plays well the team plays well...long may it last!

Tex however is in the twilight of his career and we need to be mindful of that and remain disciplined with this rebuild.
There are key position players in the squad and we need to get games into these players at a AFL level.
When we do that is up for debate but a glimpse of our post Tex forward line has to emerge.
That's what we need from this season.

 

[StonesThrow]

What amazes me, more than anything, is how quickly people are downplaying Schoenberg and Berry. It's like they've been scorned before and don't want to get hurt again.

At the moment, for what both players have shown, the expectation needs to be they'll develop into that blue chip, competing for AA spots regularly midfielders. Both have enough to their game to get there. Pedlar we'll give a bit of time as he hasn't done anything yet. Berry had already showed an elite part of his game with his defence. Schoenberg has routinely had moments where he's shown he's full of class.

We definitely need one more good draft haul, but every side does to a degree.

I thought this might happen. I'm not downplaying anyone. If you go back to Schoenberg's draft year, I was probably one of his biggest advocates and I still am. Do I think he or Berry will likely reach the same level as Pendlebury or bontempelli? No. It's okay if you do but I just don't think it's realistic.