Preview Changes & Preview Thread for Gather Round 2025 vs Hawthorn

[raptalia]

We need to get more height into the side and Jeremy Finlayson looks to be the only option. Finlayson could play forward and help Sweet out in the ruck.

Think I heard in the pre season that Ginnivan got a special goal celebration just for gathering round. I’m looking forward to it.

I won't too fazed if I don't see it. Then again I want to see Port win.

 

[RossFC]

IN: Cochrane, Boak, Finlayson, Atkins, Burton
OUT: Byrne-Jones (Suspended), Mead, Richards, Jones, Evans

Berry sub

 

[PowerLil]

Seeing Sinn out bodied by a skinny kid wasn't good. I'd play Williams as aerially he's good and he's a beautiful kick. We need someone with composure and good skills. Play Sinn on the wing.

 

[all seeing eye]

Bergs to the middle, time to see what he can do. Rozee to half back.

 

[PAFC66]

Is this game a sellout? How? Purely coz it's gather round I guess? There should be more hawks fans than Port for this one.

 

[Traveling_Power]

Is this game a sellout? How? Purely coz it's gather round I guess? There should be more hawks fans than Port for this one.

probably because tickets were on sale ages ago

 

[Traveling_Power]

IN: Cochrane, Boak, Finlayson, Atkins, Burton
OUT: Byrne-Jones (Suspended), Mead, Richards, Jones, Evans

Berry sub

I agree with most of the ins and most of the outs

but I would still give Richard's experience in big games (for his development)

 

[RossFC]

I agree with most of the ins and most of the outs

but I would still give Richard's experience in big games (for his development)

Richards turns 26 later this year. He shouldn't need development, he should be ready now.

 

[Blinky Nyland]

Hugh Jackson is overdue for a game at AFL. His numbers in the SANFL are always pretty good. On Saturday he laid nine tackles, had 23 possessions, kicked a goal and judging by the highlights, set up a few more. He's got aggression, creates with his handball and is a better kick than most of our midfield. Now that he's fit he should get a look in.

 

[PortAdelFC1997]

Bergs to the middle, time to see what he can do. Rozee to half back.

Not the worst idea. Bergman has the physique and defensive mindset to play as an on-baller.

Would enable Rozee not to chase hard backwards since he becomes a liability with his poor defensive running. Man only knows how to run one way.

 

[PortAdelFC1997]

Hugh Jackson is overdue for a game at AFL. His numbers in the SANFL are always pretty good. On Saturday he laid nine tackles, had 23 possessions, kicked a goal and judging by the highlights, set up a few more. He's got aggression, creates with his handball and is a better kick than most of our midfield. Now that he's fit he should get a look in.

Based on the match thread, he was too handball happy. We got enough issues with the current players being too handball happy. Don't need another.

 

[Willsy10]

Richard’s hasn’t been that bad, I don’t mind him but sounds like I’m in the minority with that one.

I’d be pointing the finger and giving a rocket to players that are actually performing well below par. Guys like Rioli, Drew and Farrell.

 

[crafty_bernardo]

Richard's has good skills. One thing that has been a glaring issue is how much of the basic skills the players we bring in have are way more developed compared to the ones we draft and develop in our own system.

 

[Ah12]

Remember a few years ago when we were 100 up against hawthorn by half time? No, nor do I .

Amazing what playing your youth and good recruiting/drafting does. Instead we have recruited fringe players and overpaid for them with draft picks. Hawthorn made ruthless calls on O’meara/Mitchell and it has repaid them in the space of a year. On the flip side we played the corpse of Dixon for 2 years too long and Boak is still getting a run around for us.

 

[Traveling_Power]

Richards turns 26 later this year. He shouldn't need development, he should be ready now.

k with his age ... but he has only played 13 games ... I won't judge him until he plays 50 games

and I hope we get him to the 50 games quickly - then judge him

 

[Traveling_Power]

DBJ out for 1 game (it should have been more ) but a good game for Tom Cochrane to get a few games under his belt

 

[Willsy10]

Amazing what playing your youth and good recruiting/drafting does. Instead we have recruited fringe players and overpaid for them with draft picks. Hawthorn made ruthless calls on O’meara/Mitchell and it has repaid them in the space of a year. On the flip side we played the corpse of Dixon for 2 years too long and Boak is still getting a run around for us.

I don’t think our problems stem from not playing youth. We’ve played plenty of young players early and uncovered some good ones.

There are a variety reasons why we are off the boil this year but not playing youth is definitely not one of them.

Hawks also have Gunston and Breust playing in their team and played Burgoyne until he was nearly 40 so it’s not like they’ve gone all out youth. There age profile is actually pretty similar to ours it is just that they are playing much better than us right now.

But they also haven’t won anything yet.

 

[Willsy10]

DBJ out for 1 game (it should have been more ) but a good game for Tom Cochrane to get a few games under his belt

Interested to know why it should’ve been more? Was bugger all in it and he didn’t concuss the opponent. If Houston only got two not sure how on earth DBJ’s should’ve been more.

 

[Ah12]

I don’t think our problems stem from not playing youth. We’ve played plenty of young players early and uncovered some good ones.

There are a variety reasons why we are off the boil this year but not playing youth is definitely not one of them.

Hawks also have Gunston and Breust playing in their team and played Burgoyne until he was nearly 40 so it’s not like they’ve gone all out youth. There age profile is actually pretty similar to ours it is just that they are playing much better than us right now.

But they also haven’t won anything yet.

That is fair, the recruiting side of it seems to be where we have had a short fall. Not being able to attract top liners like Hawthorn have done hurts.

 

[240volt]

That is fair, the recruiting side of it seems to be where we have had a short fall. Not being able to attract top liners like Hawthorn have done hurts.

The lack of solid KP players has killed us.

 

[Willsy10]

That is fair, the recruiting side of it seems to be where we have had a short fall. Not being able to attract top liners like Hawthorn have done hurts.

Maybe I’m delusional but I still think we’ve got enough good cattle to work with.

We’ve been good enough to win 33 home and away games across 23-24, this doesn’t happen by fluke.

We are a mess right now and I think the Hinkley farewell tour stench is the main culprit. But it is salvageable, obviously not this year but 2026 and beyond.

 

[Willsy10]

The lack of solid KP players has killed us.

Wasn’t the issue yesterday. Got 6 goals from georgiades and lord. Allir and Esava were fine.

Two things for me:
1) midfield: JHF outstanding, butters decent for a first game back, sweet battled hard but we got nothing out of Drew, wines and rozee.
2) small forwards all decided to have a day off at the same time. Didn’t hit the scoreboard but I thought Richards was the only one that wasn’t shit. SPP could’ve had a great game but his errors were costly. Not sure if Rioli or dbj would’ve even needed a shower after the game.

 

[PJ Power]

Based on the match thread, he was too handball happy. We got enough issues with the current players being too handball happy. Don't need another.

That was my opinion of his game but many others have since disagreed which is fine. I don’t mind if he gets a chance now. No different to a number of other young players or out of form senior players that are getting selected and underperforming.

 

[Powerade 08]

Hugh Jackson has always been the 3rd or 4th banana in the SANFL midfield. Lorenz and Moraes very quickly overtook him. some of the SANFL listed mids were better. Narkle, etc. I don't see why he would work out at AFL level.

 

[PortAdelFC1997]

With DBJ getting suspended, why not play another tall?

IN: Cochrane, Boak, Whitlock

OUT: Evans, Berry, Mead

Burgoyne moves to half-back and Boak/Moraes plays as sub.

I initially thought about playing an 80% fit Burton if it meant not playing Atkins but why not move Burgoyne to half-back? He played well there against the Bombers and especially against the Hawks in the semi-finals.

I would either Boak or Moraes as sub and put Whitlock in and have Lord chip out as the second ruck. That would stop Wines from playing as ruck and Port would still have two talls in the forward 50 when Lord is rucking.

Omit Berry and give Cochrane a full game. Deserves it after kicking 4 goals. Give Berry a break.