Preview Changes & Preview Thread for Round 2, 2026 vs Essendon @ Adelaide Oval

[Scodges]

The soft tissue injury history is likely a big factor here. Can his body hold up to playing midfield?

Don’t know, if he’s stuck together with blu tac , maybe not.Too late for that now, should have been tried preseason, maybe next year.

 

[Powerade 08]

Its hard to get your head around isn't it, the Lachie Jones stuff.

Combine it with the Drew stuff. some posters basically don't want -any- defensive minded players in the team.

Almost like, if you aren't in the clubs latest tiktok goal compilation, your days are numbered.

 

[MALTSY]

OUT: Marshall, Watkins, Lord
IN: Ramm, Brodie, Lukosius

Others to consider - Zadow

I'm sure there is more that could come in.

I like this and would bring in Zadow for sure. Wehr or Berry could make way.

 

[raptalia]

I like this and would bring in Zadow for sure. Wehr or Berry could make way.

Yes, I was impressed with Zadow on Saturday. Mitch hasn't played any AFL footy so he may be a bit of an unknown to many Port supporters and only those of us who saw last week's SANFL trial would consider him. I like his attack on the ball and he can kick goals.

Definitely worth a look imo.

 

[PowerBaz]

I like this and would bring in Zadow for sure. Wehr or Berry could make way.

Ramm out for a while I think.

 

[sniff_A_chicken]

Am I crazy to say I just don’t see it with Dante? Was at the game on Sunday and I do genuinely think he was part of the reason we got smacked in clearances. A lot of his taps went straight to the feet of the mids which doesn’t help when all of our CBA players are outside operators. He’s never shown much around the ground that makes me think he’s better than Sweet.

 

[PatientMental]

Am I crazy to say I just don’t see it with Dante? Was at the game on Sunday and I do genuinely think he was part of the reason we got smacked in clearances. A lot of his taps went straight to the feet of the mids which doesn’t help when all of our CBA players are outside operators. He’s never shown much around the ground that makes me think he’s better than Sweet.

Both are currently very limited ruckmen

Dante can win a clean hitout and has a good jump but appears to lack any cohesion with the midfielders so the hitout goes nowhere. He also doesn't do enough buttering up once the ball hits the deck so he essentially gets a hit out and becomes invisible until the next ruck contest

Sweet is a non-jumper and chronic hitouts to their own feet which is almost a death sentence with the new ruck rule. He's much better around the ground and does a better job at following up

Soldo was probably a better balance of both - but hes a campaigner and has no knees this year so he's more of a footnote anyway

 

[240volt]

I like this and would bring in Zadow for sure. Wehr or Berry could make way.

Can’t drop Berry he’s good this year according to this forum.

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

Am I crazy to say I just don’t see it with Dante? Was at the game on Sunday and I do genuinely think he was part of the reason we got smacked in clearances. A lot of his taps went straight to the feet of the mids which doesn’t help when all of our CBA players are outside operators. He’s never shown much around the ground that makes me think he’s better than Sweet.

Dante is extremely young and raw as a ruckman. Of course he’s no max gawn yet.

Players like this need to be backed in to improve, especially when you’re not close to winning a flag

Same with Whitlock

 

[raptalia]

Both are currently very limited ruckmen

Dante can win a clean hitout and has a good jump but appears to lack any cohesion with the midfielders so the hitout goes nowhere. He also doesn't do enough buttering up once the ball hits the deck so he essentially gets a hit out and becomes invisible until the next ruck contest

Sweet is a non-jumper and chronic hitouts to their own feet which is almost a death sentence with the new ruck rule. He's much better around the ground and does a better job at following up

Soldo was probably a better balance of both - but hes a campaigner and has no knees this year so he's more of a footnote anyway

As posted earlier the ruck and midfield Coaches have some work to do with Dante. You are right, he gets first hand to it but the opposition come away with it. There is a challenge there for our ruck Coach. An experienced Coach in Alistair Clarkson probably worked out how to take advantage of the opposition hit outs.

 

[PatientMental]

As posted earlier the ruck and midfield Coaches have some work to do with Dante. You are right, he gets first hand to it but the opposition come away with it. There is a challenge there for our ruck Coach. An experienced Coach in Alistair Clarkson probably worked out how to take advantage of the opposition hit outs.

I dont trust our ruck coach and would prefer hiring one that can impart knowledge to the ruckmen we have

 

[PowerLil]

I dont trust our ruck coach and would prefer hiring one that can impart knowledge to the ruckmen we have

If our ruck coach is Lobbe, there would be no knowledge to impart.

 

[240volt]

If our ruck coach is Lobbe, there would be no knowledge to impart.

He joined the club over 15 years ago.
Unbelievable when you think about it, he’s been around longer than Hinkley !

 

[PowerLil]

He joined the club over 15 years ago.
Unbelievable when you think about it, he’s been around longer than Hinkley !

Don't remind me.

 

[raptalia]

If our ruck coach is Lobbe, there would be no knowledge to impart.

Hamish Hartlett is our Stoppages Coach but Lobbe is the only ex ruckman that I can see on our Coaching staff.

 

[240volt]

Hamish Hartlett is our Stoppages Coach but Lobbe is the only ex ruckman that I can see on our Coaching staff.

Hartlett another one of the losers club

 

[Us against the rest]

He joined the club over 15 years ago.
Unbelievable when you think about it, he’s been around longer than Hinkley !

Sack the lobster.

 

[240volt]

Sack the lobster.

I’d even boil the water.

 

[RossFC]

Happy extended bench melt day.

 

[PatientMental]

I'd love to see some calls made of players that get regular games who just didn't put in

Burgoyne, Lord, Visentini and Esava absolutely should be dropped after their performances.

But I can see it being more of the players around the edges who get punished first

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

I'd love to see some calls made of players that get regular games who just didn't put in

Burgoyne, Lord, Visentini and Esava absolutely should be dropped after their performances.

But I can see it being more of the players around the edges who get punished first

I’m a fan of Burgoyne, but it’s getting hard to recall when he last had a really good game.

Maybe they’re the outlier

 

[Addy23]

I'd love to see some calls made of players that get regular games who just didn't put in

Burgoyne, Lord, Visentini and Esava absolutely should be dropped after their performances.

But I can see it being more of the players around the edges who get punished first

Visentini didn't let Xerri have a centre bounce hit out, think he gets one more game to see how this goes at least

 

[Gryllis]

I’m a fan of Burgoyne, but it’s getting hard to recall when he last had a really good game.

Maybe they’re the outlier

They should try settling him into a position.

He got shuffled to half-back and was BOG in a final. Then ever since, he seems to be moved between there and the wing throughout a game to cover rotations and/or injuries, without being first choice for either.

 

[Rash]

Visentini didn't let Xerri have a centre bounce hit out, think he gets one more game to see how this goes at least

and yet we still couldnt win it out the centre to save our life, dante hit it to the north players every single time whilst providing nothing around the ground.

 

[malcheski]

and yet we still couldnt win it out the centre to save our life, dante hit it to the north players every single time whilst providing nothing around the ground.

Centre clearances were even at 12 each. So Vis was actually somewhat effective out the centre considering our mids were pants all day.

Where we got smashed was around the grounds where Xerri could out-muscle Vis in the ruck and act as a follower after. This is the area of his game he needs to improve.