Prediction Changes for R21 v Adelaide

[Us against the rest]

Out: Alir
In: Clurey

I want Clurey in but not at the expense of one of our best players in Aliir.

 

[Us against the rest]

Every one in, we must destroy these flogs.

We need percentage over Sydney.

 

[Ports1870]

Every one in, we must destroy these flogs.

We need percentage over Sydney.

So vital to beat the crows and Carlton by as much as possible, we don’t need any more unnecessary pressure going into the bulldogs game.

 

[Granny Duurs is Lovely]

Unchanged.

Build form through consistency.

 

[tribey]

Pep looks heavy and slow, but I’d be giving him one last chance, especially given the opposition — throw him in the guts against their array of limited triers. Sink or swim.

 

[Interstater]

In: Garner, Clurey
Out: DBJ
Medsub: Houston

 

[RossFC]

I noticed Wines and Boak were shifted forward a bit more and Rozee played a fair bit in the midfield, yet SPP is still in that flanker role.

 

[backtozero]

Pep looks heavy and slow, but I’d be giving him one last chance, especially given the opposition — throw him in the guts against their array of limited triers. Sink or swim.

He's not been playing in the guts, that's the problem. He's playing the same defensive half forward role that made Boak and Monfries look like complete scrubbers.

 

[Coobk001]

So our last 4 games V Adelaide have been pretty one-sided.

2020 Rnd 2 - Port by 75
2021 Trial Game - Port by 52
2021 Pre-Season - Port by 71
2021 Rnd 8 - Port by 49

With our fate in the top 4 now possibly to be defined by percentage surely this is finally the week we take the foot off the brake and just let loose? Forget the fact it is a Showdown, we need a big one and the side we're coming up against is perfect for a downhill skiing bonanza! Anything less than a comfortable victory would be disappointing.



If the weather is rough I'd be tempted to bring in another small, otherwise I'd be happy to keep rolling with the same 22 hoping our guys can start getting into some real form.

 

[Chewy316]

Himmelberg, Walker, Lynch and Fogarty. Maybe they bring Thilthorpe back in for Berg but its likely they'll go 4 tall. We'll need Clurey this week.

The Crows played Walker, Fogarty, Thilthorpe and Himmelberg in the showdown earlier in the year and we played just the three talls defenders in Clurey, AA and Jonas, and we held up fine.

I'm far from convinced that changing our defensive structure is the best move here given the odds of us going with 4 talls in defence in the finals is next to remote. We saw that playing 4 talls in defence against Melbourne resulted in Aliir pinch hitting in the ruck. It was a disaster in terms of the overall setup. Did not click at all and is not something that I think we have the luxury of tinkering with so close to the business end of the season.

Playing all of Jonas, Clurey, McKenzie, Aliir, Lycett, Ladhams, Marshall, Georgiades and Dixon is about as tall as we could possibly go. And the forecast for Saturday isn't exactly conducive to a game perfectly suited to the talls either.

I understand the desire to play Clurey given how well he stopped Tex in the showdown earlier in the year - but assuming we don't completely change our defensive structure, I can't see how he gets a spot in the team. For starters, he won't have played a proper game in a while because there haven't been any SANFL games the last 2 weeks. McKenzie hasn't done anything to suggest he shouldn't be the fullback. They're not going to drop Aliir or Jonas either - even though Jonas would certainly be my pick to be dropped, you just don't do that to your captain off the back of a few bad performances at Marvel. If you fear the 4th tall, you could bring in someone like Lienert for Houston given that adding Lienert wouldn't result in losing line speed or run - but that's certainly not an option I favour.

SPP has been terrible the past few weeks but his game isn't suited to Marvel's bruise-free footy style. Give him a chance to get his form right in open aired stadiums prior to the finals.

At this stage coming off 3 solid wins in a row, I'd be hard pressed to make any changes going into the showdown. It is time for our lineup to settle and to build much needed chemistry amongst our best side heading into September - I'd say it is more needed this year that in past years too given our injury battles to date.

 

[Imhotep]

Saw Houston favouring his shoulder a couple of times yesterday. I'd give him a rest for Clurey. Mead or HH for SPP give one of these guys a chance to show what they have against easy oppo. We can't keep carrying a mid in our forward line who can't get any midfield time. He isn't putting enough pressure on the opposition defence or scoreboard to justify his spot.

 

[VineValerian]

He's not been playing in the guts, that's the problem. He's playing the same defensive half forward role that made Boak and Monfries look like complete scrubbers.

This.
So who's fault is that then..............oh, wait!

 

[PAFC66]

Is Gray training with the group yet?

 

[PAFC66]

Definitely rest dixon

 

[backtozero]

The Crows played Walker, Fogarty, Thilthorpe and Himmelberg in the showdown earlier in the year and we played just the three talls defenders in Clurey, AA and Jonas, and we held up fine.

I'm far from convinced that changing our defensive structure is the best move here given the odds of us going with 4 talls in defence in the finals is next to remote. We saw that playing 4 talls in defence against Melbourne resulted in Aliir pinch hitting in the ruck. It was a disaster in terms of the overall setup. Did not click at all and is not something that I think we have the luxury of tinkering with so close to the business end of the season.

Playing all of Jonas, Clurey, McKenzie, Aliir, Lycett, Ladhams, Marshall, Georgiades and Dixon is about as tall as we could possibly go. And the forecast for Saturday isn't exactly conducive to a game perfectly suited to the talls either.

I understand the desire to play Clurey given how well he stopped Tex in the showdown earlier in the year - but assuming we don't completely change our defensive structure, I can't see how he gets a spot in the team. For starters, he won't have played a proper game in a while because there haven't been any SANFL games the last 2 weeks. McKenzie hasn't done anything to suggest he shouldn't be the fullback. They're not going to drop Aliir or Jonas either - even though Jonas would certainly be my pick to be dropped, you just don't do that to your captain off the back of a few bad performances at Marvel. If you fear the 4th tall, you could bring in someone like Lienert for Houston given that adding Lienert wouldn't result in losing line speed or run - but that's certainly not an option I favour.

SPP has been terrible the past few weeks but his game isn't suited to Marvel's bruise-free footy style. Give him a chance to get his form right in open aired stadiums prior to the finals.

At this stage coming off 3 solid wins in a row, I'd be hard pressed to make any changes going into the showdown. It is time for our lineup to settle and to build much needed chemistry amongst our best side heading into September - I'd say it is more needed this year that in past years too given our injury battles to date.

Don't forget Burton. He's 3 cm taller than Jonas.

 

[Papa G]

Highlights: Port Adelaide vs GWS Giants | PTV

The best bits from the Round 20 win over the Giants.

www.portadelaidefc.com.au

Bonner, early in the second quarter. Around the 50 second mark in the video. He does some nice things with the ball, but it is these completely weak defensive efforts that make me scream. In the heat of finals, I just don't think he's up to it.

 

[manureid]

Highlights: Port Adelaide vs GWS Giants | PTV

The best bits from the Round 20 win over the Giants.

www.portadelaidefc.com.au

Bonner, early in the second quarter. Around the 50 second mark in the video. He does some nice things with the ball, but it is these completely weak defensive efforts that make me scream. In the heat of finals, I just don't think he's up to it.

Newsflash: He isn't.

 

[Jakksynn]

You people talking about us getting a percentage boost have been watching us all year right?

 

[Footy Matt]

^ Hopefully the club realise % is vital to top 4 hopes now though.

Approximately how many points do Sydney need to make up in 3 games to close the 3.8% we have on them at the moment. Who’s good at Maths here?

 

[GoTheMightyCrows]

I'd like to see Hartlett come in for SPP - the problem is that I really don't know what SPP's role actually is!

 

[Chewy316]

You people talking about us getting a percentage boost have been watching us all year right?

6 of our 14 wins have come by 46 points or more. Whilst I am not expecting a 100 point thrashing, a percentage increase of 1.5-2 points isn't out of the question. Remember at this stage of the year a percentage boost is incredibly difficult in one game given that there have already been 19 played.

Currently sitting 3.8% ahead of Sydney. Need to probably be around 5% clear of them to make round 23 redundant in terms of a top 4 spot being on the line.

 

[Mr PA]

Why are people still thinking this game will be a percentage booster? Have you all learnt nothing from watching Hinkley's style of coaching this year? Good chance the Crows will play a defence-oriented game and try to suffocate us. We'll likely still win, but it won't be a 50+ point belting.

 

[malcheski]

^ Hopefully the club realise % is vital to top 4 hopes now though.

Approximately how many points do Sydney need to make up in 3 games to close the 3.8% we have on them at the moment. Who’s good at Maths here?

~5.5 goal difference

 

[JakeNeadeFan]

Is Gray training with the group yet?

He is. Very good chance to play this week.

 

[Footy Matt]

~5.5 goal difference

West Coast being so pathetic against Sydney and losing by 100 points a few weeks ago might be the difference.