Preview Official Preview - Port Adelaide vs. Melbourne, Round 24

[Captain Jack]

At last the 'season we had to have' comes to an overdue and anticlimactic end, paradoxically in an historic first game at the Adelaide Oval. Let's take a look.

Port Adelaide vs. Melbourne, Round 24 - 3:10pm, Adelaide Oval, Sunday September 4th.

vs.

Last time they met: until last week, Port was the last team we had beaten -back in Round 17. We beat them17.11 (113) to 14.8 (92) by 21 points up in Darwin with Jurrah, Petterd and Maric kicking 3 each in a mostly unconvincing win.

Recent form: terrible all round. Both teams had been absolute rubbish up until last week, when the Dees had a win against the Gold Coast and Port almost beat Essendon, only to fall apart halfway through the last.

Implications: not many. A Port win could see them avoid the spoon, which I have to say would be unfair on the Suns, who have been much more competitive all year. A Demons win would serve only to provide some respite from what has been a horror 2-month period, and would mean we went into 2012 with at least a shred of confidence. What do you think the game means, if anything?

Selection: Jurrah will miss with a shoulder/wrist injury, and Jack Fitzpatrick would have to be in the box seat to debut as his replacement. Bate and Bail were both excellent for Casey, and Davey could return from suspension.
For Port, O'Shea will be a casualty from last round with an ankle injury, but past that I can't find any changes info on their board. The AFL site suggests either Jacobs or K Cornes as a replacement, and also the retiring Brogan to come in for a farewell game.

Teams:
Melbourne
B: Sam Blease, James Frawley, Tom McDonald
HB: Colin Garland, Jared Rivers, Clint Bartram
C: Nathan Jones, Jordie McKenzie, Jamie Bennell
HF: Brad Green, Jack Watts, Jack Trengove
F: Rohan Bail, Stef Martin, Neville Jetta
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Cale Morton, Brent Moloney
I/C: Matthew Bate, Luke Tapscott, Jeremy Howe, Jack Fitzpatrick
EMG: Daniel Nicholson,Tom McNamara, Joel Macdonald

IN: Rohan Bail, Matthew Bate, Jack Fitzpatrick
OUT: Liam Jurrah (wrist), Tom Scully, Tom McNamara
NEW: Jack Fitzpatrick

Port Adelaide
B: Troy Chaplin, Alipate Carlile, Tom Logan
HB: Jacob Surjan, Jackson Trengove, Cameron O’Shea
C: Steven Salopek, Travis Boak, Danyle Pearce
HF: Brett Ebert, John Butcher, Robbie Gray
F: Daniel Motlop, Jay Schulz, Justin Westhoff
FOLL: Matthew Lobbe, Dom Cassisi, David Rodan
I/C (from): Dean Brogan, Jason Davenport, Tom Jonas, Aaron Young, Mitchell Banner, Matthew Broadbent, Kane Cornes
EMG:
IN: Dean Brogan, Kane Cornes, Jason Davenport, Aaron Young
OUT: Matt Thomas (knee)
NEW: Aaron Young

Match-ups and key players: last time around, Frawley destroyed Schulz in one of his best games for the year, and McKenzie did a great job on the prolific Boak. These are the two to watch IMO, along with Butcher who has the potential to make Schulz more effective and kick multiple goals himself. The kid can play!

Tactics: does anyone know the dimensions of the Adelaide Oval in relation to other grounds? Given its straight boundaries on the wings, I'd say it's quite narrow. In terms of how we win the game, I say we need clearances and forward pressure. Apply both of them well, we should go alright. Your thoughts?

VFL: Casey, having secured the double chance in emphatic fashion last week, will face the undefeated VFL powerhouse Port Melbourne at 2pm on Saturday. Here is the list of Melbourne players who are eligible for VFL finals (those injured in red):
Neville Jetta, Daniel Nicholson, Jake Spencer, Austin Wonaeamirri, Rohan Bail, Tom McDonald, Lucas Cook, Matthew Bate, Matthew Warnock, Troy Davis, Kelvin Lawrence, Max Gawn, Michael Evans, Robert Campbell, Addam Maric, Tom McNamara, Cameron Johnston, Jack Fitzpatrick, Lynden Dunn, Michael Newton
Note: anyone can play this week as Melbourne is still playing. Next week it reverts to just this list.

Teams:
Seniors - first qualifying final (ABC TV)Port Melbourne v Casey Scorpions
Saturday, September 3, 2.10pm, TEAC Oval
B: [strike]Rohan Bail[/strike], Matthew Warnock, Troy Davis
HB: Tom McNamara, Tim Mohr, [strike]Luke Tapscott[/strike]
C: [strike]Matthew Bate[/strike], Joel Macdonald, James Wall
HF: Kyle Matthews, [strike]Jack Fitzpatrick[/strike], Wade Lees
F: Lynden Dunn, Brendan Fevola, Daniel Nicholls
FOLL: Max Gawn, Daniel Nicholson, Jeremy Howe
I/C (from): Michael Stockdale, David Bell, Jess Bolton, Dave Collins, Michael Newton, Kieran McShane, Kelvin Lawrence, Ben Waite, Rian McGough, Robert Campbell, Will Petropoulos, Evan Panozza, Aiden Lindsay

Reserves - second elimination final
Casey Scorpions v Coburg Tigers
Saturday, September 3, 11pm, TEAC Oval

B: Jordan Pollard, Brayden Salton, Luke Tynan
HB: Nathan Allen, Gus Patti, Tom Corry
C: Mitch Gent, David Bell, Jess Bolton
HF: Aaron Purves, Ben Waite, Mitch Dowse
F: Matthew Fieldsend, Michael Newton, Kieran McShane
FOLL: Dean Cleven, Cameron Johnston, Will Petropoulos
I/C (from): Jordan Roberts, Liam Burke, Michael Riseley, Luke McKenna, Jed Costigan, Cam Purdy, Chris Clay, Blake Carew, Mark Weekes, David DeAraugo, David Wall, Luke Hill


Verdict: IMO it depends on which Port turns up. They'll roll us comfortably if they come to play like they did last week, but if they play like they had been for the 6 weeks previously, it should be comfortable for us.
Dees by 27... not with any confidence.

Discuss.

Thanks for reading and posting on my little series of previews... it's been a pleasure.

 

[Crimson Azure]

Thanks for reading and posting on my little series of previews... it's been a pleasure.

Thanks for your work mate & I think you might get the job next year. I'll tweet it now.

Or to avoid putting pressure on one poster we might get a couple to rotate the job.

Pity there is no game next week.

 

[Captain Jack]

Thanks for your work mate & I think you might get the job next year. I'll tweet it now.

Or to avoid putting pressure on one poster we might get a couple to rotate the job.

Pity there is no game next week.

Would love to, except that I may be OS for the first half of the year which may preclude me from writing the previews. I'm all for others being given a crack at it either way.

 

[Demon JP]

The tables have turned, and it is now our opportunity to deliver the wooden spoon

 

[Iturnupeveryweek]

Despite it being harder to get to than the dome I'm going over this weekend

The seating for this match is all screwed up. Only limited general admission areas and port members get in over an hour earlier to pick seats but they also have the option of sitting in general admision. Meaning the sections put away for demons supporters and the like might be taken already when the gates open for us. Strange deal and don't really want to sit on the hill.

At least ill be there for scully 's last game and will be interesting to watch his attitude at the games end.

Would live Fitz to debut and watch the Garland /chipper -butcher match up. I raced off to the port game last week and this kids hands are so strong. Grey will cause trouble too being in form.

 

[Captain Jack]

Do people think Tom McDonald could go with Butcher, or would that be a bad idea? Ideally Chip would take Schulz again, with Rivers on Westhoff and Garland on the dangerous Gray. Even though Butcher has only played 4 games I don't think I would be confident with McDonald standing him.

 

[Crimson Azure]

dcrock has added the teams for our consideration.

 

[Logger]

Final Teams:

Melbourne
B: Sam Blease, James Frawley, Tom McDonald
HB: Colin Garland, Jared Rivers, Clint Bartram
C: Nathan Jones, Jordie McKenzie, Jamie Bennell
HF: Brad Green, Jack Watts, Jack Trengove
F: Rohan Bail, Stef Martin, Neville Jetta
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Cale Morton, Brent Moloney
I/C: Matthew Bate, Luke Tapscott, Jeremy Howe, Jack Fitzpatrick
EMG: Joel Macdonald, Tom McNamara, Daniel Nicholson
IN: Rohan Bail, Matthew Bate, Jack Fitzpatrick
OUT: Liam Jurrah (wrist), Tom Scully (hip), Tom McNamara
NEW: Jack Fitzpatrick

Port Adelaide
B: Troy Chaplin, Alipate Carlile, Tom Logan
HB: Jacob Surjan, Jackson Trengove, Cameron O’Shea
C: Steven Salopek, Travis Boak, Danyle Pearce
HF: Brett Ebert, John Butcher, Robbie Gray
F: Daniel Motlop, Jay Schulz, Justin Westhoff
FOLL: Matthew Lobbe, Dom Cassisi, David Rodan
I/C (from): Dean Brogan, Jason Davenport, Tom Jonas, Aaron Young, Mitchell Banner, Matthew Broadbent, Kane Cornes
EMG:
IN: Dean Brogan, Kane Cornes, Jason Davenport, Aaron Young
OUT: Matt Thomas (knee)
NEW: Aaron Young

 

[Captain Jack]

Teams added to the OP, thanks Logger for putting them there as well.

I call Tapscott as Sub, or possibly Bail.

Casey squads also added.

 

[Topkent]

Do people think Tom McDonald could go with Butcher, or would that be a bad idea? Ideally Chip would take Schulz again, with Rivers on Westhoff and Garland on the dangerous Gray. Even though Butcher has only played 4 games I don't think I would be confident with McDonald standing him.

I think Butcher is physically to big for McDonald for now, so would rather see Garland or maybe even Martin run with him as an experiment

 

[Demon 86]

Yes! Fitzy!

 

[Andy_Mac]

We'll get done by 30-50 points.