Preview Preview and Changes Vs Adelaide

[bringbackbucky]

The more I think about it the more I don't mind Robbie having to wait another few weeks for his recall.

 

[Chrizzt]

If Mitchell does play a full game it can't be at Neade's expense. The understanding he and Wingard are working up in the forward half of the ground is too good to waste.

The crows defence is pretty vulnerable at the moment. We can expose them for leg speed and endurance with Neade and Mitchell while Hoff and Sarge can cause trouble for their KPDs. Wingard and Monfries lurk as the X-factors though with their ability to take marks while also pushing up the ground and into the mids.

Obviously the engine room will be where we might struggle. I'd be tempted to say shut down Thompson as much as possible and do a group effort on Dangerfield around the stoppages, and see how much work he can do on his own. Kane could easily take Thompson, and Mitchell has the speed and endurance to take Sloane, not sure how good he is defensively, but he can try to outrun and intercept.

Tex will probably kick a few goals, that's basically unavoidable, but we're moving pretty quickly out of defence the last two weeks which might shut their supply from their small forwards.

Dunno, still think we have such a young side and the pressure of this game might cause them to crack, but to their credit they managed to fight back last week, so could be a very good game.

 

[finbarr]

Dunno, still think we have such a young side and the pressure of this game might cause them to crack, but to their credit they managed to fight back last week, so could be a very good game.

If this proves to be the case then so be it. I'd hate to see us go back to being reactive at the selection table. Much rather back these guys in and see what they can do.

And despite being a young side it's not like we lack experience on each line. In defence we have Trengove and Carlile who've played enough of these games. Jonas, Stevenson and Heath look so assured, and at 22 have been in the system long enough. The midfield has guys like Cornes, Boak, Broadbent, Ebert etc who know what's required, and the likes of Schulz and Westhoff don't lack experience up forward. Throw in Monfries who's played in ANZAC Day blockbusters at the MCG and I think we have enough experience all over the ground to keep things settled.

 

[kaysee]

And he will for a few more games, but as he is only young and still undersized body wise there will come a time that if we do not look after him he will get burned out.

Have to say that I can't recall him getting crunched too often in a tackle, he's normally been too quick/evasive or is the one laying the tackle.

 

[kaysee]

As it is, Mitchell has now played 2 games as sub so he'd probably be due for a full game - problem is, I don't want any of the 21 who played last week to be the sub. So we may have to drop Mitchell and play Moore as sub which would be a shame as Mitchell has done everything asked of him and more...

I still don't see why Mitchell can't play as a sub again? I know there is this popular opinion out there that the same player shouldn't play as a sub too often in a row, so they can maintain their fitness/form... but until Mitchell's performance suffers I don't think we should change.

If:
- Mitchell's form as a sub drops then send him back to the SANFL and bring in a new sub (Moore, Young etc).
- Another midfielder's form drops then give Mitchell a full game and bring in a new sub.
- If other mids and Mitchell are going well... why change?

 

[Janey]

Dunno, still think we have such a young side and the pressure of this game might cause them to crack, but to their credit they managed to fight back last week, so could be a very good game.

Wouldn't surprise me if Kenny sees this as an opportunity to test the younger, newer players out in a higher pressure game, especially while they are still pretty fresh and have some confidence.

 

[Chrizzt]

Wouldn't surprise me if Kenny sees this as an opportunity to test the younger, newer players out in a higher pressure game, especially while they are still pretty fresh and have some confidence.

Sure, and that's why I'm going in to this game hoping for a win, but not necessarily expecting it. I will be more than happy if we go down by 3-4 goals, as long as we can see that the development we've shown over the past few weeks is still there and the boys are still giving it a good crack. Obviously we play to win, but if I'm happy I realise where we've come from over the past few years and just want to see no backwards steps this year for a change.

 

[edgie]

Sooner or later Neade and Mitchell are going to need a rest, we've had 2 games, one against witches hats and the other against the competitions youngest list, and to bring in some harder bodies (form warranting) wouldn't be such a bad thing. Don't want it to end up like Hitchcock's 2010

 

[BIG MATTY T]

The more I think about it the more I don't mind Robbie having to wait another few weeks for his recall.

Lol imagine saying that last year...how times have changed

 

[Bob Neil]

I think this match comes at the right time for both clubs. Port clearly travelling very well and ready to tackle stronger opposition. Crows barely going and need a jolt to get their season started.

Should be a cracking match and it's hard to split the sides. Your pace (and our lack of it) worries me whilst the Crows will need our midfield (esp. Jacobs) at their best to try and create a winning advantage.

Right now I think Port are the more predictable of the two - I expect that you'll deliver another strong performance this week. The unknown for me is whether the Crows who have been AWOL so far (esp Vince, Reilly, Callinan, et al) can step up and play to their maximum level which I still feel at this stage is slightly above Port's.

 

[Adz2332]

Great to see Young now at the Maggies!!
Anyone know what that cost us??

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

The only changes I want to see are match up ones by the coaches. I haven't watched the crows since NAB Cup week 1, so I'm not sure whose really in form in their forward line, but we can't let Henderson kick 6 like last year. Gotta get the match up rights. We know who their mid field key players are and they know who ours are so our mid fielders pick themselves. Our forward line doesn't need to change and playing 2 rucks means we actually are playing 3 talls in the forward line.

Mitchell plays sub and told to use his pace and run to shock and awe the opposition and if he does it very well for say a 1/4 and 10 minutes, he gets a full game next week against the GC.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Mitchell plays a full game this week or he doesn't. That's my take. I don't know who you replace him with if it's the latter. Gray obviously if he's fit enough (would then probably play the sub) or Moore back in maybe. I don't think Butcher is quite ready, one more game for him at snaffle. Westhoff is coming off a career game and has a history of giving Adelaide troubles so it's not like Butch is a necessity.

As others have suggested I say Redden makes way for Renouf. We need two ruckmen smashing into Jacobs all day.

 

[bringbackbucky]

Mitchell has been the perfect sub so far. No need to change it up IMO. I don't really subscribe to the whole "he needs a full game soon" theory. The bloke is battle hardened, fit as a fiddle and doing his job perfectly. Right now there isn't a spot in the 21 for him so he stays sub. I'm not sure what a run in the SANFL is going to prove at the moment...

 

[Prince St]

We have every reason to go into Sunday unchanged, mentioned previously we need Lobbe and Redden if we're a chance to beat Jacobs. Save Butch for Gold Coast game, hope he bags a few and gets confident, Gray as sub, comes into the 22 for West Coast. Choosing who gets dropped for those ins ove the next couple weeks will be tough

 

[harropower]

Unchanged

How ****ing awesome is this fighting for spots
I can't wait for Sunday
Bring it on

 

[sliver member]

I want to see us assert our authority as the better team from the start and show port Adelaide what it takes to be a good side.

as the no.1 clearances side from last year i see this as a area where we can expose port adelaide who were beaten badly by GWS in this area last week.

 

[harropower]

I want to see us assert our authority as the better team from the start and show port Adelaide what it takes to be a good side.

as the no.1 clearances side from last year i see this as a area where we can expose port adelaide who were beaten badly by GWS in this area last week.

I think your lost mate

 

[chiwigi]

I don't think Mitchell deserves a starting spot. He hasn't done anything that those already playing haven't done. When he has been on it's been fresh legs in a shellacking. He looks decent but shouln't be in.

 

[bomberclifford]

I want to see us assert our authority as the better team from the start and show port Adelaide what it takes to be a good side.

as the no.1 clearances side from last year i see this as a area where we can expose port adelaide who were beaten badly by GWS in this area last week.

 

[tribey]

I want to see us assert our authority as the better team from the start and show port Adelaide what it takes to be a good side.

I don't think the great Sando knows what it takes after last year's flukewarm fixture gifted you a rude September awakening.

 

[Schulzenfest]

Lol imagine saying that last year...how times have changed

Last year we could've wheeled Robbie onto the ground in a wheelchair and he still probably would've gotten a game.

Sooner or later Neade and Mitchell are going to need a rest

Like I said last week, I don't understand why people are under the impression that Mitchell will need a rest. He's 23 years old, he's an absolute running machine, he has muscles on his muscles, he's been playing senior football for 5 years and he'll most likely be regularly used as the sub throughout the season. Injury, being overtaken by the form of guys like Moore and Young, or Salter getting fit and taking his senior list spot back are the only things that might prevent Mitchell from playing a full season of AFL football this year.

 

[manureid]

I want to see us assert our authority as the better team from the start and show port Adelaide what it takes to be a good side.

as the no.1 clearances side from last year i see this as a area where we can expose port adelaide who were beaten badly by GWS in this area last week.

If you use a bigger font they might be able to see this on the correct board!

 

[Forzaport]

I don't think the great Sando knows what it takes after last year's flukewarm fixture gifted you a rude September awakening.

Come on Tribey, you know as well as I do that it's Port's fault the Crows lost a home qualifying final to Sydney last year as Port lost the same game to Sydney 9 years earlier.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Like I said last week, I don't understand why people are under the impression that Mitchell will need a rest. He's 23 years old, he's an absolute running machine, he has muscles on his muscles, he's been playing senior football for 5 years and he'll most likely be regularly used as the sub throughout the season. Injury, being overtaken by the form of guys like Moore and Young, or Salter getting fit and taking his senior list spot back are the only things that might prevent Mitchell from playing a full season of AFL football this year.

As long as Mitchell empties the tank in 1.25 quarters then he doesn't need to go to the SANFL. But him and Jakey can swap being subs whilst the weather is good and the grounds firm over the next month or so.