Autopsy AFL 2024 Second Semi Final - Port v Hawks Fri Sept 13th 7:40pm EST/7:10pm CST (AO) Teams in OP

[StackedHunch]

I like our travelling better than Brisbanes

This...old mate there seems to be oblivious to his team's inability to win from home. Sadly, we won't be able to take advantage of it if we make the GF, as there's no way in hell they're winning two away from home to get there, much less a prelim at the G.

 

[HairyO]

Don’t we have ready-made replacements with Serong and Phillips?

Serong is not a Full Back. Phillips played a single game months ago.

 

[Hawkk]

Serong is not a Full Back. Phillips played a single game months ago.

Nonetheless it’s a replacement.

The key for Hawthorn is to protect the undersized backline (which has been a problem all year) and limit the Inside 50’s. I would hazard to say that the issue will be less pressing this week than it was last week given the Dogs vastly superior talls and midfield strength.

That said, this is disastrous if we progress and play a Geelong or GWS further in the finals

 

[hawkman]

Nonetheless it’s a replacement.

The key for Hawthorn is to protect the undersized backline (which has been a problem all year) and limit the Inside 50’s. I would hazard to say that the issue will be less pressing this week than it was last week given the Dogs vastly superior talls and midfield strength.

That said, this is disastrous if we progress and play a Geelong or GWS further in the finals

A bit lucky we have Port and then potentially Sydney as the next 2. Georgiades will be a concern but Esava, Dixon and Marshall aren't that dangerous on current form. Then Sydney's key forwards are the weakest part of the team. The most dangerous key forwards are all on the other side of the draw

 

[Hawkk]

A bit lucky we have Port and then potentially Sydney as the next 2. Georgiades will be a concern but Esava, Dixon and Marshall aren't that dangerous on current form. Then Sydney's key forwards are the weakest part of the team. The most dangerous key forwards are all on the other side of the draw

If it was Geelong this week (or the Giants in the PF) we would be in a lot of trouble no doubt

 

[Rod Stroker]

Frost out should just mean they win by a bit less.

Phillips could be a decent replacement. I wanted him at North as he would have helped fill a need. Big ask though, an away cut throat final in his second game.

 

[NetworkNerd]

Is DGB an option?

 

[beez]

Staggered at the odds for this game.

Even considering the relative form of the two sides, Port's recent finals record and how hot the Hawks are, I can not believe how short Hawthorn is.

But good luck to them if they pull it off.

 

[Blackhawk42]

It won’t be. Ports cooked

Can you guys be that cooked after one bad game though?

It was a stirring victory on the road against Freo 2 weeks ago when they had everything to play for.

History is also littered with teams being belted in qualifying finals them coming out in a semi and handing out a flogging themselves.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

What's the feeling on if Butters plays?

 

[My Tilly]

What's the feeling on if Butters plays?

Have Newcombe line up those ribs early stages of the game.
Meek too. Nothing wrong with a clumsy fall from the big boy.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

Why would they want him with his inability to succeed in finals? Recycling ex coaches is borderline disastrous. Hardly ever works.

Often the list development coach doesn't last to the point the team makes it to finals. Len has proven he can help build a list and develop players. He built Port up from the doldrums in a very short period of time and has kept them competitive for basically his entire tenure.

WCE has a lot of young talent to mould and they need to start playing competitive footy. Similar to how Roos was brought in to give Melbourne a leg up for a few years, I wouldn't see it as a bad idea to put Hinkley at the helm of WCE for a few years to help build the side up before a younger coach took over for the push towards finals. It's not exactly a novel idea - increasingly we're seeing clubs struggling down the bottom of the ladder with a lot of young talent opting to pick experienced coaches (Hardwick, Clarkson) because it's proven such an onerous task for an inexperienced senior coach to take on clubs that need so much work done to develop the players, culture and team to a competitive standard throughout the season.

There have been many a young coach thrown to the scrapheap after it nor working out, whereas at least these older coaches have been in the caper for long enough that even if it doesn't work out, it's just a punctuation mark on a long career rather than ending what might have been a good coach's career had they been equipped with a more capable suit of players.

So I think it's definitely one for WCE to look at. Who knows, maybe at another club Hinkley's coaching success in finals changes and he's able to endure in the caper even longer than expected. Look at Malcolm Blight - all Geelong did was get smashed in grand finals under him. He leaves to join the Crows and he wins consecutive flags with them. It may not be true that he couldn't win more finals with a different combination of players, support staff, environment, culture, etc. Simultaneously, Port also may have more success when all of those factors combine with a different head coach. While I think Ken has done a decent job, he's also been the same voice for a long time, and when that person has been around for a long time and success hasn't come, I think it's fair to feel a fresh one is warranted.

 

[Xtreme]

Port Adelaide by 37 points

JHF 3 brownlow votes and maximum Ayres points

 

[hawkman]

Have Newcombe line up those ribs early stages of the game.
Meek too. Nothing wrong with a clumsy fall from the big boy.

Would be a bit funny after how many cheap shots he has given out this year including one to Meek

 

[Delisted]

We still haven't beaten anyone in the top 8. No frosty. Ken needs redemption.

Hawks by 94.

 

[Whiskers]

Port will put up a better effort than last week but the consistent Hawks should win by a few goals.
The confidence is staggering, opposition seem to get startled.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Although the Hawks have had a couple of dominant wins away from home this year (West Coast and Adelaide), that's perhaps the last thing that's missing from their resume this year: to knock off a genuine finals-calibre team in hostile territory.

Indeed the only three losses that they've suffered since the end of April have all been on the road against three of the other five remaining teams. Two of those losses have come from coughing up huge leads, including leading Port by 41 in time on of the third quarter and still leading by 3+ goals entering time on in the fourth. Clearly, Hawthorn has no issues with playing good footy at Adelaide Oval, getting that lead in the first place and dismantling Adelaide later in the season, but I think they've shown some propensity for the wheels to come off if the opposition is making a late charge in an unfriendly territory.

I think a big question is whether Port fans are up for helping create that home ground furnace environment on Friday night after the performance they gave last Thursday, putting aside the much bigger question of which Port side shows up.

 

[peetoo]

Both phillips and Serong played in the earlier port game at Adelaide oval. Sicily and Scrim didn’t.

That’s a bit of ‘luck’ if you can call it that

Port only lost two or more in a row once this season….but they did lose them ‘big’

 

[JPetro83]

I still cant believe Hawthorn are in a semi with that list.. wow
i think port win here though

 

[PerthBoy86]

Genuinely think if somehow Port wins its probably a nothing result for them, and I think some Power fans will agree. If they meet Geelong again at the MCG I can't imagine them turning things around, can you? More plaudits/redemption from the media for Ken, and yet another PF exit probably. Oh wait they would play Sydney so who knows...If Ken can somehow turn it around and take them all the way all the better for him, would be an inspiring story.

Hawks by 37. I'm not sure about Port's path to a win, would need to play the ground and hope the Hawks are off.

 

[bato]

I like our travelling better than Brisbanes

Come up to the Gabba and face us. Been a while

 

[5ammy]

Come up to the Gabba and face us. Been a while

This is a good point, we never play well in QLD for some reason. Strange, I bloody love it there! They must switch into holiday mode

 

[Zevon]

JHF 3 brownlow votes

I will run naked from Sydney to Melbourne and mail you a million bucks in cash if JHF secures 3 Brownlow votes in this one.

 

[Xtreme]

I will run naked from Sydney to Melbourne and mail you a million bucks in cash if JHF secures 3 Brownlow votes in this one.

Maybe not officially
But JHF will win 3 votes in our hearts.

Start running and mail me the money post haste!

 

[BomberManU]

Port will bounce back, but not enough to win. Realistically, is this Ken's last chance, Port fans?