Review Porf vs. Nort

[Incarnate]

Eberts second half woeful. Westhoff better

Did you see the knock he got bloke?

 

[OneGreatClub]

I hope Robbie gets a week or two off to get himself right. Something isn’t working and we have other players pushing for a chance. Maybe Farrell or Amon?

 

[Mikey13G]

Highlight- Xavier Duursma goal celebration

 

[Smithy7]

Port held a 41-point lead 11 minutes into the final term before a belated charge from North, who scored the last five goals of the game.

This has to sorted. Five goals ... geez

 

[Incarnate]

You mean if he played for us.
I mean if he was wearing our uniform....

Are you still lurking, i thought you said you were fed up with this club? Jog on u bottom feeder.

 

[Waspy79]

A trend is forming though. Inaccuracy cost us the Brisbane game and it will continue to cost us if we don’t improve. We can’t play last every week and get away with it.

Inaccuracy is Ken’s trademark.

 

[ctpower]

I lost all nervousness about this in the first 5 minutes, when it became obvious that North's bravado was as fake as the weapons wielded by the ADF reps in the pre-game ceremony. Even conceding the first 2 goals of the second half was of little concern, and we soon re-established our dominance, junk time goals notwithstanding. At times, we just looked like the Harlem Globetrotters, flicking the ball around merrily, knowing that the Roos would play the Generals and minimise our errors. Our one-grab, first-give ball handling was the best it has been for aeons. We really should have dropped the guillotine, and won by more, but it was fun to watch. (Side note: the Roos are full of cheapshot campaigners. Cunnington, Ziebull and Thompson should not leave their rooms alone. Their problem is that the rest of their team is softer than fairy floss.) As disappointing as it was to erode our lead at the end, it was an enjoyable match to watch, with our fast footy on national display.

Our midfield was the starter motor. We look so much more organised in there this season, all players playing clear roles at different times. Wines and Rockliff as the extractors; Boak, Ebert and Rockliff as the distributors and SPP, Boak and the running half backs powering it forward. All are getting plenty of the ball, and all have tidied up their ball use considerably from last season.

Rozee was exciting up forward, and Marshall showed great attack on the ball as a lead-up forward, but we still lack the big beacon forward that was Dixon. Robbie is sadly out of form, and Westhoff cannot be the number one guy, so we're stuck with the resting ruck for now.

Our defence was magnificent. Clurey, Howard and Houston, in particular, not only shut down their opponent but covered for each other, won battles against superior numbers and marked everything in sight. Tom who?

PLAYERS:
Powell-Pepper - Such an irrepressible force. Charges straight at the ball regardless of obstacles, but could be more careful with his use. 5/10

Burton - Great courage backing into packs got him hurt before half time, and it was barely worth risking him after that. 5/10

Ryder - One of the most co-ordinated ruckmen in the league when the ball hits the ground. Needs to compete better in the air, he wants to be the leading forward but should be the bailout option, as he's a great reader of dirty balls. 6/10

Ebert - Played a lot more midfield tonight, but still looks a better full forward than Sammy. At least Ebo has the height and bulk to compete, and has defensive midfielder nous to pre-empt what the defenders want to do to clear it. His forward line tackling is perhaps the best attribute he has introduced. Has always had outstanding courage standing in front of a stampede. 7/10

R Gray - A little bit cleaner tonight, but beaten for the 6th consecutive game. Just his presence is enough to draw defensive groups to him, allowing Sammy and Connor to get free, and someone will pay for this early season slump. Showed some signs of a resurrection as the pressure dropped. 4/10

Boak - Superb, clearly relishing the leading role in the midfield, and is used as both a distributor and deliveryman around stoppages. 38 disposals, and very few wasted. His combination work with Ryder is becoming the new Ryder2Gray. Deserving winner of the Peter Badcoe Medal, and no boos! 9/10

Rockliff - A smart footballer. Gets to the right spots by running hard and reading the play beautifully. His role around the packs of receiving the hard-won ball and distributing it, whilst still guarding the defensive exits, goes a little unnoticed, but is critical. 7/10

Marshall - Contested fantastically in the air, starting to really attack the ball and lead straight at the kicker. Needs that goalkicking breakout game to truly believe in himself, but you can tell that his teammates believe in him. 5/10

Wines - At the bottom of every pack, and is so hard to shift off the pill. His ball-handling is back to his best, and he looks fit and confident in his shoulder. His first win as solo captain. 8/10

Clurey - Destroyed BBB, rendered him impotent in the air and beat him pointless at ground level. Even developed the confidence to run off and join the half back wall. Great job. 8/10

Butters - Plays his role nicely, not consistent throughout a game yet as his draftmates are, but when he gets near it good things happen. 5/10

Rozee - Peak cheeky Rozee drew an early response from Pittdawg, and was clean and classy. His kicks have penetration and imagination, and he is so, so clean. Absolute star. Too bad he didn't get the scoreboard reward with some golden last term opportunities, but he got under the Roos' collective skin and still had 23 classy touches. 7.5/10

Duursma - Nailed his first set shot, showing no residual nerves. Love the bow and arrow celebrations, and he shows spunk and passion for the club. The most intense of our rookies. 23 disposals and 8 marks is a solid game for even a seasoned player, and has been the most consistent of our rookies, both weekly and within games. 7.5/10

Polec - Magic early goal, followed by lots of outside receiving. Has regressed into a pure receiver, and if no-one gives him the ball, can disappear. 3/10

Bonner - Great run off half back, and we clearly look to use him to hit up leading forwards. Put his head over the ball well. Takes his time to make sure that he hits a target and doesn't blindly hack it. 7/10

Drew - Rockliff's apprentice. Playing the distribution role at the moment, which is probably not his A-game, and needs to get a little more of the ball to be effective, or to tidy up his kicking and become a deliveryman, to lock down his spot. 4/10

Lycett - "Ruckmen aren't supposed to do that!" - Bruce, after that checkside goal. Was the instigator of our midfield dominance, constantly tapping the ball into the path of a motoring mid. 8/10

Pittard - Typical couple of horror show errors gifted a fifty, then a goal, and he continued in that vein throughout. Cannot rebound from early errors. A liabilty as a defender. 10/10, a perfect Pittdawg game

Howard - Superb. Impassable across half back. Pain scant regard to his nominal opponent Larkey and essentially stalked the half back line. Great to see him with the confidence to go for his grabs. 9/10

Byrne-Jones - Did little, forgot he was out there at times, as the tall defence was so dominant that it bypassed the running backs and went straight to the mids. 5/10

Lienert - Had Mason Wood, and other than some chaos marks in the third, controlled him nicely. Used the ball well when he got it, and it was a night and opponent where he would always be more effective than TJ. 6.5/10

Westhoff - Sprang to life in the second term when he realised that his opponent couldn't run with him nor jump with him. 7/10

Houston - Beautiful reader of the play, coming off his man to intercept time and again. So reliable, a plank of our defence for years to come. Confident enough to take screamers now! 8.5/10

S Gray - Wishes every week was vs the Roos. Still caught one-out at full-forward too often, but when the ball hit the ground, was deadly. His second great game in a row, 27 and 4 is wonderful in any language. 9/10

Ebert a 7/10?
No way. His finishing is terrible.
Give me score board pressure over tackling pressure or pressure acts any day.

 

[davo999]

Yea always a bit flat when you have a team on toast then they come back and make you sweat .
But happy for the win .
Bank the points and get an early focus for next week . .
Had some great players tonight . Boak was brilliant, Sammy Gray , Rozee, Douglas, Clurey, Duursma, Butters , Rocky, Ebert ,Ollie were all good so that was a good start , Marshall was good early and Paddy , Westhoff and Lycett were ok . Burton was ok and Bonner ,Sammy PP as well , Houston was a little down I thought apart from his great mark he dropped a few . And Darcy or Lienert didn’t really get in their sweet spot , Robbie although he showed a bit of the old self as the game went on.
Thought Pittard was quite good for them , good on him , don’t think he would’ve been getting a game at Port so good luck to him .
Polly was good early but seemed die out .
Overall a pass , my highlight was Rozee with his can do skills , it’s like he’s up to the task when he’s set one , did I notice a little cockiness late though and a little bit of loose play as a result . Harsh but just one area of improvement. Thought Duursma was better in his earlier weak spot , the head over the ball plays , he managed to stay involved against more experienced opponents.
Onwards and Upwards .

 

[Incarnate]

How about Fat boy Ed (for all you Kayo and Foxtel veiwers) nullifying anything about our victory? No?

 

[NEGAN]

The swap of Ebert and Boak has been Ken’s best positional move in his coaching career. Doesn’t say much really but at least the swap was made.

If you make the move in the first place that breaks it and persist with it and then revert back to the way it was before it was broken.....


Is it really the move of a tactical genius?

 

[ozph1870]

ozph1870, it is a practical question. Players may be tired at any point of the season for an infinity variety of reasons. It doesn't matter which round is.

Now, you must know your players. If they aren't looking tired, their history and tests doesn't point to injury due exhaustion, and their replacement aren't reliable at all, it may be better keep them playing. All I am saying is that we should be considering rotating the players; especially after last week effort in Perth. It was mentally and physically taxing.

Our preparation is for the pick to happen in September. It is not everyone that is ready for Finals footy at this point. Those would gain from resting. That's all.

Maybe Jonas would have been ok to play tonight if it was a final...
Id say we have a no risk policy with players these days. The young blokes are showing no signs of showing down yet. Im sure they will be rested later in the year.

 

[Doctor Feel]

Polec is half the player he was at Porf. Has gone completely outside. Was much more balanced at Port. Has always been lazy defensively so that's no surprise.

Thoughts Waspy79?

 

[OneGreatClub]

Ebert a 7/10?
No way. His finishing is terrible.
Give me score board pressure over tackling pressure or pressure acts any day.

Isn’t he our leading goal kicker this year?

 

[Doctor Feel]

AHAHAHAH! We got Norf off of the bottom of the ladder!

Go us!

 

[NEGAN]

That Duursma celebration.needs a gif...highlight of the night for me....well that and BT's reaction over his girlfriend still being in school.

 

[robbo1981]

Walked past jack watts tonight over heard him telling someone next year. Could be wrong but maybe he was saying he will be back next yr if this is what the plan is would we take 2 players in the mid season draft? Hope im wrong but it was a nasty bloody injury.

 

[Smithy7]

Highlight- Xavier Duursma goal celebration

And here it is ... hope he does it every game ...

 

[OneGreatClub]

Polec is half the player he was at Porf. Has gone completely outside. Was much more balanced at Port. Has always been lazy defensively so that's no surprise.

Thoughts Waspy79?

I see the North board are starting to become concerned with his lack of pressure acts for such a highly touted/ paid recruit.

 

[Brian McGee]

******* hell. To top of a shit display we have the ‘I can’t see the forest for the Marshall’ brigade. Battered from pillar to post, but brought it to ground or drew defenders all game. Definitely played his part more then half the side.

As for the game, outside our youngsters and a resurgent Boak our senior players are so weak minded. Wines ‘led the way’ in undoing last weeks good work, with his midfield mates ‘helping out’. We were smashed at clearances, we were lucky North were turning it over so much. They’d have turned it over more if we held more than one in every four or five tackle attempts.

Hinkley should be shown the door on that performance, but anyone listening to his press conference who hadn’t seen any games this year and then asked to guess where North are, would no doubt say in the eight. I want a Pathetic like Pittman angry Ken conference. That was in no way acceptable, stop insulting the fans by trying to spin it that it was. Give fans some ******* hope the problems will actually be looked at, not swept under the rug YET AGAIN.

The positives were Dougal has run himself back into form, but now with added marking. Clurey, Howard, Houston and Burton is a long term defensive core to build around.

Rozee. If the club does not have his mark in NTUA where Wingards was for our next home game they’ve dropped the ball there as well.

Is 41 to 34 our way being smashed in the clearances?

 

[OneGreatClub]

AHAHAHAH! We got Norf off of the bottom of the ladder!

Go us!

Geez, only Ports

 

[JimmyBeerCans]

Those shanks we have inside 50 from numerous players will kibosh our season in the end.

 

[ozph1870]

Stats gazers. Haha shit.

Get your hand off it and watch the reality of the performance not the dream of what it could be. He literally had a Jake Neade game tonight - which would have had this whole board calling for Neades head. Fact is he was pathetic in markings contests tonight and still has no idea how to put on a lead.

I’d love to give him games to develop but he needs to actually compete. Having a couple of little knock ons each match may look cute to the casual observer but he’s not doing near enough.

He definitely needs to build his upper body / core strength.
I believe he is close to a breakout game, and when that happens the belief and confidence will rise. Right now id definitely persist with him.

 

[Lawnchair Larry]

Im sick of ruckmen not tapping to advantage. Im sick of them tapping to opposition advantage.
Why not try to do something different? Try smashing the ball forward...Predictability is ruining it.

Im sick of how we labour to score, then follow through with U14 kicking efficiency.
Justin Westhoff Im looking at you. SPP Im looking at you.

Im sick of how easily the ball squirts out of the forward line with a succession of passes (to unattended players), that finish as an opposition goal. After we have laboured so hard to get it forward.

Robbie Gray, that handball to Boak's feet in the last was a dismal reflection of your current form. Embarrassing.

Sam Gray is finally getting the hang of how to play tall?

 

[Doctor Feel]

Those shanks we have inside 50 from numerous players will kibosh our season in the end.

Crazy Xavier Duursma is going to put the kibosh on Polec

 

[PA88]

Making Houston a defender is the winner.

Houston asked to be given the opportunity to play defence.