Well no one else seems to have done one for us, so I'll kick it off.
I'll break it down into stats, best players, how the midfield, backs and forwards have gone, the good points, the bad points and a quick prediction of how I think they'll go in the second half of the season.
Stats
Win-Loss 8 - 3
Ladder position 2nd
Percentage 124.9% (2nd)
Attack 1097 (7th)
Defence 878 (1st)
Best players - I'll limit this to a top 5 so we don't all list half our squad.
1. Gavin Wanganeen In a bit over 3 months time the football world should be calling him the dual Brownlow medallist. The standout player of the competition along with Michael Voss. And with nothing to split them the injury to Voss gives the rubberman the chance to get the jump on the other main challenger for the top individual honour.
2. Nick Stevens When Josh Francou went down things looked dark for Port, but Nick Stevens has stood up. Always a fast player and good disposer of the ball has added toughness and 'hard ball getting' to his game this year to be the complete midfielder package.
3. Dean Brogan No Matty Primus, Port's inspirational captain and all-Australian ruckmen for all, but 2 and a quarter games this year, but the champion former Adelaide 36'er has really come into his own this year and come out at worst even in each match played. Missed the match against West Coast, the Brogan-Gardiner dual is one I'm anticipating highly.
4. Peter Burgoyne Shifted from the forward lines and part time midfielder to almost a full time midfielder this year. Along with much of the side has added toughness to his game. Has laid several good hip and shoulders and no longer looks like waiting to receive the ball - does the hard stuff to go get it.
5. Warren Tredrea Always has had the ability to generate goals by his into 50's and marks and possessions in the forward lines getting it to other players. This year though with a new kicking routine has in the last month shown in addition to all the other things he did so well to be All-Australian CHF the last two years is now also capable of kicking a bag himself.
The Midfield
The injury to Josh Francou in round 2 and the absence of Primus for almost 9 matches in the first 11 left Port missing it's most dangerous Ruckmen - midfielder combination. Heads could have dropped, but Nick Stevens and Peter Burgoyne in particular have both stepped up to fill the breach Josh left. And Dean Brogan has capably filled Primus's shoes. The return to form of Brendan Lade the last month after an indifferent year in 2002 after two years off with Broken legs in 2000 and 2001 has meant two in-form ruckmen covering the loss of our captain. When Matty returns neither will deserve to lose their place on how they've been playing.
The backline
It hasn't had the long term injury concerns the midfield has, but from week to week the backline has been having players in and out with injury. At various times has missed first choice backmen Wilson, Hardwick, Bishop and Montgomery. Despite the unsettled line up they've performed admirably and have given Port the most miserly defence in the league. Old hands Paxman and Wakelin have backed up good games in 2002 to again show experience can more then compensate for slowing pace.
The forward line
With Stuart Dew missing since round 2 with the dreaded OP Port needed a small forward to step up in his absence. Shuan Burgoyne has been that forward. To the halfway mark of the season he's kicked 28 goals, a bit over half of what Dew had in the whole of 2002. Port have played a fairly small forward line much of the year. After an interrupted pre-season Tredrea was injured early in round 2 and has only regained full fitness the last month. He's now back to his best - in fact looking the best he ever has and Chad Cornes is backing up a good 2002 with good form until suspended for two weeks, in 2003. With Tredrea now fully match fit and Dew to return after the break I expect Port to be higher then the 7th best attack by the end of round 22.
The good
Two things stand out to me in how Port of 2002 is different from Port of 2003. The first is our depth. It's been tested every week, we've always had at least 3 first 22 players out every week this year yet are still sitting 8-3 as at the same time last year. Port of 2002 were winning games when we had our best team, but come the finals when Primus, Peter Burgoyne and others were carrying niggling injuries and Wakelin out we didn't have the depth to cover it. This year with players out we are still winning and winning well. The second good thing and difference between this year and last is our toughness. Some questioned Port trading for Byron Pickett, but results show it was a good trade for Port. Not just for his own impact on games the last month after a quiet first few weeks adjusting to the Port game plan, but how his attack on the ball has rubbed off on players like Peter Burgoyne and Nick Stevens - players that weren't exactly renowned for their toughness before this year.
The bad
The injuries. We've covered them well, but I'm still highly anticipating seeing Port with the strength of Primus in ruck, the booming left foot of Dew kicking long goals and a settled and experienced back line with all of Hardwick, Bishop and Wilson playing.
Prediction time
Port have been winning despite injuries and are looking like giving Brisbane a good run for top spot by round 22. If the Power can get it's injury list shortened to just Josh Francou (and maybe one other) of it's first 22 by finals then the added toughness between Port of 2002 and Port of 2003 should see the Power playing the Lions at the MCG on the last Saturday of September.
I'll break it down into stats, best players, how the midfield, backs and forwards have gone, the good points, the bad points and a quick prediction of how I think they'll go in the second half of the season.
Stats
Win-Loss 8 - 3
Ladder position 2nd
Percentage 124.9% (2nd)
Attack 1097 (7th)
Defence 878 (1st)
Best players - I'll limit this to a top 5 so we don't all list half our squad.
1. Gavin Wanganeen In a bit over 3 months time the football world should be calling him the dual Brownlow medallist. The standout player of the competition along with Michael Voss. And with nothing to split them the injury to Voss gives the rubberman the chance to get the jump on the other main challenger for the top individual honour.
2. Nick Stevens When Josh Francou went down things looked dark for Port, but Nick Stevens has stood up. Always a fast player and good disposer of the ball has added toughness and 'hard ball getting' to his game this year to be the complete midfielder package.
3. Dean Brogan No Matty Primus, Port's inspirational captain and all-Australian ruckmen for all, but 2 and a quarter games this year, but the champion former Adelaide 36'er has really come into his own this year and come out at worst even in each match played. Missed the match against West Coast, the Brogan-Gardiner dual is one I'm anticipating highly.
4. Peter Burgoyne Shifted from the forward lines and part time midfielder to almost a full time midfielder this year. Along with much of the side has added toughness to his game. Has laid several good hip and shoulders and no longer looks like waiting to receive the ball - does the hard stuff to go get it.
5. Warren Tredrea Always has had the ability to generate goals by his into 50's and marks and possessions in the forward lines getting it to other players. This year though with a new kicking routine has in the last month shown in addition to all the other things he did so well to be All-Australian CHF the last two years is now also capable of kicking a bag himself.
The Midfield
The injury to Josh Francou in round 2 and the absence of Primus for almost 9 matches in the first 11 left Port missing it's most dangerous Ruckmen - midfielder combination. Heads could have dropped, but Nick Stevens and Peter Burgoyne in particular have both stepped up to fill the breach Josh left. And Dean Brogan has capably filled Primus's shoes. The return to form of Brendan Lade the last month after an indifferent year in 2002 after two years off with Broken legs in 2000 and 2001 has meant two in-form ruckmen covering the loss of our captain. When Matty returns neither will deserve to lose their place on how they've been playing.
The backline
It hasn't had the long term injury concerns the midfield has, but from week to week the backline has been having players in and out with injury. At various times has missed first choice backmen Wilson, Hardwick, Bishop and Montgomery. Despite the unsettled line up they've performed admirably and have given Port the most miserly defence in the league. Old hands Paxman and Wakelin have backed up good games in 2002 to again show experience can more then compensate for slowing pace.
The forward line
With Stuart Dew missing since round 2 with the dreaded OP Port needed a small forward to step up in his absence. Shuan Burgoyne has been that forward. To the halfway mark of the season he's kicked 28 goals, a bit over half of what Dew had in the whole of 2002. Port have played a fairly small forward line much of the year. After an interrupted pre-season Tredrea was injured early in round 2 and has only regained full fitness the last month. He's now back to his best - in fact looking the best he ever has and Chad Cornes is backing up a good 2002 with good form until suspended for two weeks, in 2003. With Tredrea now fully match fit and Dew to return after the break I expect Port to be higher then the 7th best attack by the end of round 22.
The good
Two things stand out to me in how Port of 2002 is different from Port of 2003. The first is our depth. It's been tested every week, we've always had at least 3 first 22 players out every week this year yet are still sitting 8-3 as at the same time last year. Port of 2002 were winning games when we had our best team, but come the finals when Primus, Peter Burgoyne and others were carrying niggling injuries and Wakelin out we didn't have the depth to cover it. This year with players out we are still winning and winning well. The second good thing and difference between this year and last is our toughness. Some questioned Port trading for Byron Pickett, but results show it was a good trade for Port. Not just for his own impact on games the last month after a quiet first few weeks adjusting to the Port game plan, but how his attack on the ball has rubbed off on players like Peter Burgoyne and Nick Stevens - players that weren't exactly renowned for their toughness before this year.
The bad
The injuries. We've covered them well, but I'm still highly anticipating seeing Port with the strength of Primus in ruck, the booming left foot of Dew kicking long goals and a settled and experienced back line with all of Hardwick, Bishop and Wilson playing.
Prediction time
Port have been winning despite injuries and are looking like giving Brisbane a good run for top spot by round 22. If the Power can get it's injury list shortened to just Josh Francou (and maybe one other) of it's first 22 by finals then the added toughness between Port of 2002 and Port of 2003 should see the Power playing the Lions at the MCG on the last Saturday of September.
