Preview Rd 9 vs Melbourne Changes

[MitchIn3D]

Another opportunity for Ken to slowly change my opinion of him.

If he takes some risks and picks players like Hayes then I'll be willing to give him some more slack.

In saying that, I fully expect Sutcliffe to come back in.

 

[Port85]

I'm not too worried about stoppages around the ground because we can make adjustments with positioning of high half forwards and wings etc if we have to.

We could get absolutely destroyed at centre bounces without significant improvements from everyone in there.

 

[SureBuddy]

**** that's horrible news. I think either way we are screwed. Play Hayes and he will get slaughtered in his first game by the best ruck in the comp and potentially the guy leading the brownlow right now. Play Ladhams and he also gets slaughtered. I legit don't know what we should do here. Our only option is for our midfielders to go ultra defensive in the ruck contest and just try and kill the ball. Also need our defenders to not play from behind when there is a centre square bounce, as there will be a number of ultra quick forward entries banged forward.

 

[TeeKray]

Worst part about all of this is that Gawn will be fired up as all hell after we went after him in round 1 last year. This could be one of the all time most one sided hitout/clearance games. Barring an amazingly efficient forward 50 display (lol, imagine that), I can't see how we possibly win this game.

 

[JUSTWORK]

fu** that's horrible news. I think either way we are screwed. Play Hayes and he will get slaughtered in his first game by the best ruck in the comp and potentially the guy leading the brownlow right now. Play Ladhams and he also gets slaughtered. I legit don't know what we should do here. Our only option is for our midfielders to go ultra defensive in the ruck contest and just try and kill the ball. Also need our defenders to not play from behind when there is a centre square bounce, as there will be a number of ultra quick forward entries banged forward.

Play both. Let Hayes do the majority of the Centre Square work, it is a big ask god him to debut against Gawn but he is the best tap ruckman we have. Let Ladhams do the around the ground work and leave Hayes up forward and let the Melbourne defence worry about out marking him at 203cm and Dixon.

 

[Chizza12]

0 AFL games, 0 good AFL Games, coming off a horrific broken leg with coaches saying he really struggling to deal with it.

I would like to see what Hayes has to offer, but realistically it is not good depth and unfortunately we can’t hope for much from these three this year.


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The under 23 game against the Crows Hayes absolutely dominated in the ruck. He wasn't against a genuine ruck but his leap was good and he was moving around the ground well. Would prefer he gets a go over Buzza.

 

[Holden Hillbilly]

Defender Trent McKenzie will be pushing for a recall after missing the loss to St Kilda on Saturday because of back spasms in the lead up to the match.

He will need to prove his fitness by the club’s final training session to come into contention.

Ruckman Scott Lycett will also undergo a fitness test to determine if he has overcome a knee injury which has kept him out of the last two games.

Young forward Boyd Woodcock is edging closer to an AFL debut after again being named amongst the emergencies for the Saints game while Tobin Cox is another forward who could come into selection contention.

Experienced midfielder Tom Rockliff was among the better performers in a trial game against Adelaide on Saturday, picking up plenty of the ball, while assistant coach Nathan Bassett also praised the performances of Willem Drew and Joe Atley during the week.

Meanwhile if selectors opt to replace Marshall with a tall forward there is a chance former Geelong big man Wylie Buzza could be considered for a club debut.

In the Mix: Round 9

A look at how Port Adelaide could line up against the Demons, with at least one forced change on the cards.

www.portadelaidefc.com.au

 

[Forzaport]

This is definitely Ken's biggest test as a coach. First time he 100% can prove whether he has changed or whether he's gonna make the same decisions that cost us the last 5 years.

I have a feeling Ken will bring in Sutcliffe to replace Marshall...

 

[PowerBaz]

Ken won't play Hayes.... Rockliff and Sutcliff...... Ken will want the two 'cliff's' in!

 

[PowerBaz]

I have a feeling Ken will bring in Sutcliffe to replace Marshall...

Like for Like

 

[Del165198]

I have a feeling Ken will bring in Sutcliffe to replace Marshall...

I'm sure he'd like to but isn't Sutcliffe still injured? He'll probably go with "big boy" Boyd woodcock

 

[PowerBaz]

Worst part about all of this is that Gawn will be fired up as all hell after we went after him in round 1 last year. This could be one of the all time most one sided hitout/clearance games. Barring an amazingly efficient forward 50 display (lol, imagine that), I can't see how we possibly win this game.

'efficient forward 50 display'

Boak, Wines, SPP, Dixon spraying shots from 30m out comes to mind.......

 

[Del165198]

'efficient forward 50 display'

Boak, Wines, SPP, Dixon spraying shots from 30m out comes to mind.......

I felt a pang or two of jealousy seeing JK nail 7.0 in the west coast game the other day. I miss Schulz..

 

[FutureShock]

Meanwhile if selectors opt to replace Marshall with a tall forward there is a chance former Geelong big man Wylie Buzza could be considered for a club debut.

In the Mix: Round 9

A look at how Port Adelaide could line up against the Demons, with at least one forced change on the cards.

www.portadelaidefc.com.au

Ha ha...only at Port could this even be in question.

 

[Renewable Power]

Ken won't play Hayes.... Rockliff and Sutcliff...... Ken will want the two 'cliff's' in!

Right on time for the team to fall off a cliff

 

[PowerBaz]

I felt a pang or two of jealousy seeing JK nail 7.0 in the west coast game the other day. I miss Schulz..

I reckon SPP, Boak, Wines, Dixon are all 50/50 at best.

They always look so tired lining up for goal. All the skilled kickers like Burton, Watts etc... all end up as backmen?

 

[PowerBaz]

 

[Renewable Power]

I think Boak needs a rest. I remeber a few weeks back he mentioned being more tired at this stage of the season than ever before and his form has declined since. Turning 32 in a few days too, can't be leaned on forever

 

[tribey]

Out: Marshall (inj.), Bonner (never again), Westhoff (omit), Rozee (rest)

In: Buzza/Hayes (one of), Garner (I assume he’s alive), Watts (see Garner), Bergman/Williams (one of).

 

[Mutha F]

When do we find out who else will be joining Westhoff on Thursday?

 

[all seeing eye]

Westhoff forward, Mckenzie back to replace bonner, rockliff in to rove to a losing ruck, rinse repeat you know its true.

 

[Forzaport]

I'm sure he'd like to but isn't Sutcliffe still injured? He'll probably go with "big boy" Boyd woodcock

Sutcliffe isn’t on the latest injury list

 

[Chewy316]

Rockliff really needs to get a game this week. Just not sure who he comes in for. I'd rather rest Ollie and play Rocky and Boak as the 2 inside bulls against Melbourne, but we'll see what happens.

Going up against Gawn is going to be a ridiculous challenge. If Lycett is out as expected we either go the 2016 Trengove defensive set-up, or we play 2 rucks. Whatever the game plan, i want to see us play the bully ball style that we saw in round 1 last year. Niggling off the ball etc. Even if one of our players cops a week for it, so be it, use the missed game as their way of getting a rotational.breka through this crammed fixture.

If we let Gawn dictate the game, we will be absolutely screwed. Melbourne have played really good footy the last 3 weeks. They'll burn us on the outside if they get first dibs on the ball.

 

[Mutha F]

Westhoff forward, Mckenzie back to replace bonner, rockliff in to rove to a losing ruck, rinse repeat you know its true.

Nothing like doing the same thing over & over and expecting a different result. Classic Ken.

 

[Lightning_Rod]

Absolutely dreading this match, we are the mentality marshmallows, after last week hard not to expect the fall we've experienced oh so often.

Would love some fresh changes but expecting westhoff to stay and suttcliffe to come in.