General Bombers Talk Non-Essendon Thread XI

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citizen-erased

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The vultures are starting to circle above Port.
A prelim berth seems to have duped a lot in football that the list is good, Hinkley can coach and the team is a finals threat with Ryder returning.
Not that long ago, they were close to being the next Fitzroy.
They are a real chance for bottom 4, the coach is under pressure and the list is looking pretty bare when their top 3 drop away.
 

Saint

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What colour tarps will they use then?
Hardly a big issue, they can just switch to a jade-ish teal.

It's not like Chinese soccer teams are all fighting over the right to wear red. Teams in blue don't fold after a year.

I think it's a little bit overblown here because there are lots of superstitious Chinese moving to Australia either evangelical Christians or gamblers at Crown.
 

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Pweter

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Is that when he courageously smothered Wingards head into the goal post?
No that was in the H&A season where Wingard might've bumped into the post with a hip and shoulder, possibly weakening it. In gently pushing Wingard's head into the post he saved much undue stress on said post.

This one is where every other player would've stood back and let Ebert dob the goal and win the prelim for Port. Hodgey put his life on the line by choosing to smother it instead. There's a reason some people compare footy to battle, that was courage personified.
 

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BrunoV

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A prelim berth seems to have duped a lot in football that the list is good, Hinkley can coach and the team is a finals threat with Ryder returning.
Not that long ago, they were close to being the next Fitzroy.
They are a real chance for bottom 4, the coach is under pressure and the list is looking pretty bare when their top 3 drop away.

While I would not say that Hinkley can't coach, I am very sceptical of any claim that he has implemented systems that have gotten the most out of the list at his disposal (which I think is the the real measure of quality coaches who do not win grand finals).

Port's list was never that bad which is supported by the reality that there was not wholesale changes between 2011 and 2014.

Those few decent years that Port had were built on maybe the most effective run and gun we have seen. No one thought that Knights could coach and Port was basically Essendon 2008 to 2010 but with a powerful, hard running midfield that could pull it off. Kudos to Hinkley for being astute enough to see what he had at his disposal but it's hardly tactical genius.

As soon as Port was running at anything less than less than full fitness within their best 24-26 they fell apart, and quickly. Contrast this with Hawthorn which has made plenty of average player look really good because all it does is ask these guys to play clearly defined roles in an effective structure.

In on sense Hinkley's reputation could be attributed to a 24 months good run with injuries. Their list is now in a strange position because they have spent up to bring in a lot of players who are in their mid-20s and they seem to be back at the drawing board because the other clubs have caught up with the physical advantages they had in 2013 and 2014.

I am probably still sucked in, I look at Port as being extremely dangerous.
 
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Pweter

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One of Port's biggest issues is their run n' gun style relies on pinpoint disposal out of defence but they don't have enough players with either the required poise or skill level (or both). If they can tidy up their disposal then their style becomes dangerous, however it's a big IF.
 

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Lions are playing really good footy here, dogs are playing a lot of their lesser players but the Lions game style looks much better

They'll look much better this year in terms of playing style (re: Hawthorn gameplan) they just don't have the skills to execute. They'll be a fun side to watch at times though. Eric Hipwood is going to be a star.
 

JayJ20

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Lions are playing really good footy here, dogs are playing a lot of their lesser players but the Lions game style looks much better
I didn't watch Brisbane much last year, but to be honest, I thought they weren't that great today. To me, it seems like they don't know what to do with the ball half the time because they've had so little of it in the last few years.

Any good team would have smashed Bulldogs tonight.

Probably too harsh for a practice match though.

But they're building a nice list
 

eDPS

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I didn't watch Brisbane much last year, but to be honest, I thought they weren't that great today. To me, it seems like they don't know what to do with the ball half the time because they've had so little of it in the last few years.

Any good team would have smashed Bulldogs tonight.

Probably too harsh for a practice match though.

But they're building a nice list
Last year the moved the ball really slow but they moved the ball a lot quicker today and most of the players looked a lot sharper than usual
 

eth-dog

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They'll look much better this year in terms of playing style (re: Hawthorn gameplan) they just don't have the skills to execute. They'll be a fun side to watch at times though. Eric Hipwood is going to be a star.
If Fagan is the right coach, look out. In terms of young talent; their list is one of the best.

Would have zero problem looking at Freeman and Close as options.
 

citizen-erased

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While I would not say that Hinkley can't coach, I am very sceptical of any claim that he has implemented systems that have gotten the most out of the list at his disposal (which I think is the the real measure of quality coaches who do not win grand finals).

Port's list was never that bad which is supported by the reality that there was not wholesale changes between 2011 and 2014.

Those few decent years that Port had were built on maybe the most effective run and gun we have seen. No one thought that Knights could coach and Port was basically Essendon 2008 to 2010 but with a powerful, hard running midfield that could pull it off. Kudos to Hinkley for being astute enough to see what he had at his disposal but it's hardly tactical genius.

As soon as Port was running at anything less than less than full fitness within their best 24-26 they fell apart, and quickly. Contrast this with Hawthorn who has made plenty of average player look really good because all it does is ask these guys to play clearly defined roles in an effective structure.

In on sense Hinkley's reputation could be attributed to a 24 months good run with injuries. Their list is now in a strange position because they have spent up to bring in a lot of players who are in their mid-20s and they seem to be back at the drawing board because the other clubs have caught up with the physical advantages they had in 2013 and 2014.

I am probably still sucked in, I look at Port as being extremely dangerous.
I just dont see it.
It should be working on paper.
Midfield of Wines, Gray, Wingard, Ebert and Hartlett, with some of the fleet footed lesser lights giving them pace (Young, Impey, etc)
Backline isnt loaded with stars, but its solid enough.
Ryder and Lobbe in ruck
Dixon, Westhoff up forward.

But i haven't seen them seriously threaten since that epic prelim.
 

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http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/si...r/news-story/dc1377f66c4e479993c31e762a202225

Two quotes at the very beginning of the article stood out:


'NEW AFL football operations manager Simon Lethlean has indicated he will seldom tinker with the rules, happy with the “fast, skilful and exciting” football on show.'

Nek minnut:

'But Lethlean said he was prepared to do everything he could to lift scoring after two seasons of record low goal tallies.'


It sounds like he isn't going to change the rules, unless he has to change as many rules as possible to get his desired outcome. The more things change, the more they stay the same!
 

Run and carry

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I just dont see it.
It should be working on paper.
Midfield of Wines, Gray, Wingard, Ebert and Hartlett, with some of the fleet footed lesser lights giving them pace (Young, Impey, etc)
Backline isnt loaded with stars, but its solid enough.
Ryder and Lobbe in ruck
Dixon, Westhoff up forward.

But i haven't seen them seriously threaten since that epic prelim.
Problem is that I don't think that on paper that list is impressive enough. Gray's a superstar. Wines is very good. Wingard more of a forward (9 kicks, 4 goals sort of thing; nothing wrong with that))Ebert lacks a bit of football nous.

Hartlett is injured or suspended much of the time and his kicking can be atrocious. Impey not entirely convinced. Lobbe has fallen out of favour. But ... Young is a very good, smart player. Dixon could be anything. Westhoff is real good. I think they fall away a bit though.
 

citizen-erased

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Problem is that I don't think that on paper that list is impressive enough. Gray's a superstar. Wines is very good. Wingard more of a forward (9 kicks, 4 goals sort of thing; nothing wrong with that))Ebert lacks a bit of football nous.

Hartlett is injured or suspended much of the time and his kicking can be atrocious. Impey not entirely convinced. Lobbe has fallen out of favour. But ... Young is a very good, smart player. Dixon could be anything. Westhoff is real good. I think they fall away a bit though.
thats a fair point. and i agree, the depth in the 22 isnt there and the top players they have are questionable in how good they are.
 
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