Mega Thread Port Forum 'General AFL Talk' Thread

[Ford Fairlane]

The crows came out during the week and yet again copying Port talked up Talia as an AA full back contender. He was destroyed by Matthew Pavlich, he was schooled and caned. Talia's a good footballer but they just overrate where he is right now. They talk about him as the defensive general now and that's just bollocks. Rutten is still the general back there but he's slower than a sloth running through treacle. Don't get me wrong, Talia is a very good tall defender but he's not an all-round defensive general. He might be one day but isn't now.

Their supporters still peddle the myth that their top 8 is as good as any in the league and their problem is their bottom half dozen in the team. As long as they continue to believe that they will tread water.

If they traded Dangerfield they would get two early first round picks and they would at least be on their way to a genuine rebuild. But they are so afraid of their supporters they will never do that. Instead they will pay him $1.2m/year, which will chase off some of their better upper level/second string players looking for a better deal (and environment) and wonder why they suddenly look so good at a new club.

 

[Janus]

You got it in one Ford. The Crows are beholden to one thing - marketing and ticket sales.

 

[raman]

Great post Ford, except for the bit about them being afraid of their supporters. They'd have to be aware of their supporters' opinions in order to be afraid of them.

 

[Schulzenfest]

Great post Ford, except for the bit about them being afraid of their customers. They'd have to be aware of their customers' opinions in order to be afraid of them.

EFA

 

[Forzaport]

Really? I was thinking the opposite. Adelaide playing at home would surely start favourites. Losing to Freo will be dismissed as one of those games. By Wednesday it will be like it never happened.

True, I'll be tipping which team has the longest odds.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Great post Ford, except for the bit about them being afraid of their supporters. They'd have to be aware of their supporters' opinions in order to be afraid of them.

They think they are aware, just another symptom of the Adelaide Bubble.

I was talking to pastmyprimus the other day and he made the observation that their 2012 was good because Sanderson was taking over a side with the discipline that Neil Craig had built. Sanderson has slowly eroded that away.

Along with the loss of Schwerdt as fitness coach they have been sliding backwards. Walker's injury has hurt them but Hawthorn - who they nearly toppled in a prelim final 2 years ago - has lost Lance Franklin and they are still very good. I guess Josh Jenkins is no Jarryd Roughead.

 

[BornPort]

Why are the Crows supporters in meltdown mode on 5AA? Were they really expecting a win against Freo in Perth?

 

[pastmyprimus]

According to Tom Rehn the absence of Van Berlo was a big factor in the Crows' loss.

Oh dear.

 

[proman_x]

According to Tom Rehn the absence of Van Berlo was a big factor in the Crows' loss.

Oh dear.

You sure he wasn't reverting back to the fetal position and talking about the Melbourne Loss ?

 

[edgie]

So much of that teams future and culture is going to fall to Sloane. Unfortunately he seems like such a good guy, I can imagine him being ok with taking a pay cut for the Dangerfield slush fund. If he leaves before his next contract, camrys will be in a very big hole. The only shining light will become Tex, who is probably more on the dull side of things. The grannies seem to love his wild west country boy appeal though, so whatevs. Throw the house at him.

 

[BornPort]

God I hope they hang on to Triggy. This guy is just clueless.

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

I actually think they are missing Van Berlo.

There is no leadership in that side. Its not Danger, I used to think it was Sloane but even he disappears when the game is there to be won.

 

[Macca19]

I do think their top 8-10 players on paper are up there with most teams in the league and importantly for them they are young enough to still have development in them. Dangerfield, Sloane, B Crouch, Talia, Walker, Jacobs, Kerridge, Lynch, Douglas, Laird is a good core group for them going forward in the next 3-4 years. They've done a great job in making sure that almost every key sports commentator in this state is a Crows ambassador which means they get pretty well nothing but positive press to keep the morons happy, but as we know it has a double edged sword effect. They get talked up that much by all and sundry in the media that completely average or shithouse players get no objective criticism of their game. "Our Sando" will continue to be talked up as a top 4 coach in the league despite not having a clue in the coaches box. How guys like Brodie Martin still get a game, or is even on their list is ludicrous. Was nice to see Eddie the Tampon go back in his box again. We'll see him pull another big game out in 3 weeks time. Josh Jenkins the SuperSpud couldn't get a kick. You'd think given Eddie's price tag there'd be some heavy criticism that he's only managed to kick multiple goals in 5 of 11 games this year - especially given the ridiculous media he got after kicking 5 goals against a bunch of 18 year olds at Richmond Oval. But nope, nothing. Matty White on half the pay has out played him this year. Says it all.

On a different note, North are starting to look alright. They've got a ridiculously easy run home. Only play 2 games against top 9 sides for the rest of the year. Double up games against Melbourne & the Crows. Saints, Dogs, GWS, Brisbane. They'll easy push top 4. Whether its another false dawn and we'll see them get spanked in the finals again we'll have to wait and see but they've taken some good scalps already this year.

As for Richmond. Wow. They couldn't even get a kick in that 3rd quarter. Poor old Chappy. Gifted them 4 consecutive goals with horrid defending.

 

[elsler]

So who will they announce this week as signing a new contract ???

 

[jordz82]

So who will they announce this week as signing a new contract ???

There will be a puff piece on Charlie Cameron and sign him to a 10 year deal

 

[bomberclifford]

So who will they announce this week as signing a new contract ???

They'll announce 60k members tomorrow afternoon.

 

[RossFC]

They'll announce 60k members tomorrow afternoon.

Did they just release 1 quarter memberships? For those who want to take the seats of the people that leave at 3/4 time?

 

[Seanybruz]

They'll announce 60k members tomorrow afternoon.

Botched figures with the difference between our current figure & theirs being 1 game members, would laugh if after the AFL audit we end up close to or just ahead of their final figure.

 

[PJ Power]

Did they just release 1 quarter memberships? For those who want to take the seats of the people that leave at 3/4 time?

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

 

[Tas]

I figure if you can win twice in Perth you can win in Adelaide.

I think playing on the road is mostly between the ears, you have grass and posts like anywhere else. I think the visiting teams has to come to terms that they are more likely to get screwed by the umpires and they will miss a lot of 50/50s their way, but other than that it should make no difference.

I think beating Swans in Sydney and Freo in Perth gives us enough confidence that we can do it if we come out switched on.

 

[Duck Farmer]

I do think their top 8-10 players on paper are up there with most teams in the league and importantly for them they are young enough to still have development in them. Dangerfield, Sloane, B Crouch, Talia, Walker, Jacobs, Kerridge, Lynch, Douglas, Laird is a good core group for them going forward in the next 3-4 years.

Brodie Smith is a gun. I'd have him just behind Dangerfield, Walker, and Talia.

 

[Macca19]

Knew I forgot a name

 

[Sheeds]

I will be interested to see if Sando will drop Pods at any stage. Going through the stats it appears he has been given the most game time of any of their key forwards all season. Despite this his maximum output is 3 goals in a game, and has kicked 2 goals in the last 4 matches. I guess he got a bit of the ball against Gold Coast last week but I still don't know why they thought he was worth a 2 year deal.

 

[wharfietilidie]

http://www.theguardian.com/news/dat...ball-interactive-statistics?INTCMP=mic_233050

Don't know where to post this but found it quite interesting. It's a comparison of AFL, NRL, A-League and Rugby Union in regards to participation, viewership and attendance.

 

[1954]

Looks as if the tigger supporters have finally worked out why Port didn't show much interest in keeping Charlie Chokelin, he is copping it big time on their board.

Who would have thought? lol