Review Round 15, 2025 vs Sydney

[tribey]

Think many Port supporters simply overrated his talents.

Guess Clarkson was onto something after all this time.

I think it’s as simple as, the catastrophic leg injury he suffered playing for his school means his physical age far outweighs his biological age — a bit like Polec and his foot.

His birth certificate says 28, his body says 35+.

 

[Chewy316]

My issue is that he might need to cut some talented people in order to be effective in changing the locker-room culture.

There are certainly some players who need to be moved on for the sake of the Club's future. Without naming names, some of them have been regulars in the 23 this season. The Club are very much aware of the situation, and the ones I've been told about have contracts which make it easy to move on from. So I'm hoping they do indeed pull the trigger at the end of the season.

That was shit in a multitude of ways, but one thing I feel the need to say is...

...Sam Powell-Pepper needs to stop playing like an idiot. He's wonderful in terms of his attack, aggression, bravery, strength... But he's dumb as shit on too many occasions. He needs to look around and understand the situation. Sometimes it feels like he's trying to wipe out our players like he's an undercover spy for the opposition. There was one moment where JHF called for a kick to a spot on the boundary in the forward 50 and it was kicked perfectly for him... Only for SPP to launch in and spoil him and almost injure him.

I appreciate the self-confidence, but know your role.

Bill Belichick's mantra for 6 Superbowl wins was "do your job." We have too many players who try to go outside their jobs or don't know what their job is and it's beyond frustrating.

Or, we could look at SPP the other way, and realise that no amount of instructions are going to positively change the way he consistently approaches contests like a bull in a China shop, even if he isn't the best position to put himself there. In that scenario, maybe the other players need to identify it's SPP coming through, and those players roles need to change on the fly, to create and hold space in the contest so they don't get caught out defensively being one short if the ball spills out.

But right now we have a team who are rigid in their on field thinking and have not trained to think for themselves and adapt to the game situation. Under Carr, I expect that to change in a big way.

 

[SonOfKek]

The game is cyclical by nature, each club goes through their time, and the peak of each cycle varies. But it also requires a shift in mindset and approach.

Look at our plight from the Hegelian perspective.

Thesis: 2011/12 our club needed a change in direction.

Antithesis: The work of Kochie sees Hinkley appointed as coach.

Synthesis: We see an immediate turnaround and results improve.

New thesis: Koch, Hinkley and co have fostered an environment that stifles growth in favour of being a bunch of good blokes.

New antithesis: Hinkley will end his tenure after no material success. (We are here)

New synthesis: ?

 

[Peninsula Boy]

One of the most impotent football games I've ever watched.
A tight, contested game by Sydney meant we were no chance.
The exact opposite to the circle work and jerk against Melbourne last week.
It meant we had to fight to win and these players aren't going to do that.
Smashed in contested ball.
It had all of the hallmarks of the Hinkley era. The Hornet injured but still playing. A whole heap of dud players who don't impact the game. Old veterans still getting games.
Once again, Hinkley didn't have a couple of big names pull a rabbit out of the hat for him.
They knew we were so soft that Amartey kept on pi$$ blasting for goals and they didn't care. They knew they would win.

2 rucks and Finlayson. WTF
Sinn on Amartey. I don't get it.
Burton should be nowhere near the team. Soft as.
Mead doing nothing in this game and probably for 50 more.
Powell-Pepper taking out three of our guys.
Liddy getting centre bounce attendances. WTF.
Big concerns over Drew having a crud year.

We need guys in the midfield and peripheral midfield to be able to play hard and win contests.
No heart. No ticker. No Port.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

Or, we could look at SPP the other way, and realise that no amount of instructions are going to positively change the way he consistently approaches contests like a bull in a China shop, even if he isn't the best position to put himself there. In that scenario, maybe the other players need to identify it's SPP coming through, and those players roles need to change on the fly, to create and hold space in the contest so they don't get caught out defensively being one short if the ball spills out.

I don't have a problem with that if Powell-Pepper was awesome and marked everything under the sun and kicked miracle goals but he isn't that and he is the problem, not the 17 other players on the park.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

He, Burton, Mead and Farrell are extremely uncompetitive in aerial contests. Really stands out how consistently meek they are 1v1.

Conversely, just about all of Sydney's team are above average taking a mark.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

I know he's a hipster doofus but I really like Brodie Grundy

4

Brodie Grundy

Age

31

Ht

202cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.5

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

9.6

5star

CL

4.1

5star

HO

32.0

5star

D

16.4

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

9.6

5star

CL

4.0

5star

HO

34.6

5star

D

13.8

4star

K

5.2

2star

HB

8.6

5star

CL

2.6

5star

HO

20.6

5star

and his game. He's so strong.

 

[Sewer de Lance]

There are certainly some players who need to be moved on for the sake of the Club's future. Without naming names, some of them have been regulars in the 23 this season. The Club are very much aware of the situation, and the ones I've been told about have contracts which make it easy to move on from. So I'm hoping they do indeed pull the trigger at the end of the season.



Or, we could look at SPP the other way, and realise that no amount of instructions are going to positively change the way he consistently approaches contests like a bull in a China shop, even if he isn't the best position to put himself there. In that scenario, maybe the other players need to identify it's SPP coming through, and those players roles need to change on the fly, to create and hold space in the contest so they don't get caught out defensively being one short if the ball spills out.

But right now we have a team who are rigid in their on field thinking and have not trained to think for themselves and adapt to the game situation. Under Carr, I expect that to change in a big way.

I wish I could share your overall optimism & confidence surrounding Carr. Our midfield has barely fired a shot this year & he has a major say in how it functions & operates.

 

[rogerjames]

Was Drew warning Heeney he would cough on him or something?

Also, Burgoyne seems to be getting a pass here. If it wasn’t his 50th, it would be a game to forget. I think his first 3 or 4 touches were some of the worst defensive disposals I’ve seen.

He has seemed very hesitant with his kicking over the last 3-4 weeks. Some of it is the lacking of options being provided as he likes to kick directly to a team mate rather than bang it on his boot to a contest. Agree his first 3 disposals were turnovers & very poor which is unusual for him imo. His calm disposal is key to his game so he needs to fix this.

 

[Chewy316]

I wish I could share your overall optimism & confidence surrounding Carr. Our midfield has barely fired a shot this year & he has a major say in how it functions & operates.

He has to work within the confines of how Ken's game plan and how he wants structures, set ups etc.

 

[theouthouse]

I think it’s as simple as, the catastrophic leg injury he suffered playing for his school means his physical age far outweighs his biological age — a bit like Polec and his foot.

His birth certificate says 28, his body says 35+.

Not sure there's too many players that reach their potential after breaking a leg, most of the footballers I heard about it cut their playing life and potential very short.

First and foremost AFL is a highly aerobic running game, high impact and stress is placed on the lower body in terms of running, changing direction etc. So any lower body weaknesses are amplified. Plus training. It's almost as though to reach the fitness level required you would need to train via swimming or bike riding and just stick to running on gameday.

 

[rogerjames]

SPP needs to spend a month at the Maggie’s to remember how to football…

He's infuriating to watch. Has he learnt a thing in terms of teamwork. Pretty much every disposal is a train wreck. Sick of watching his dumb crap.

 

[davesnothere]

Mead had better have some very good kids eventually.

 

[TeeKray]

I wish I could share your overall optimism & confidence surrounding Carr. Our midfield has barely fired a shot this year & he has a major say in how it functions & operates.

Senior coach and line coach are two completely different things. You could be a bad midfield coach but a good senior coach and vice versa.

Either way, a line coach can only be as good as the players at his disposal. Rozee has been moved back, JHF mostly forward in between a bunch of injuries. So it's basically been Butters on his own with the support cast an ageing Wines and a bunch of potatoes, all playing to a rotating cast of losing rucks every week. Bad players will get you bad results.

 

[tribey]

I know he's a hipster doofus but I really like Brodie Grundy and his game. He's so strong.

 

[all seeing eye]

With Wines out, jHF playing injured, Bergs playing injured, Drew out of form , Grundy dominant, we only had Butters to get contested hard balls.. Liddy and Mead were are fill ins . Thats why Id be chasing Worpel , yes hes another poorer user of the ball, but he can win the ball at the source and feed it out. A major improvement in depth.

 

[Bump Bailey]

I know he's a hipster doofus but I really like Brodie Grundy and his game. He's so strong.

I know we didn’t end up getting Grundy, but I sleep better at night knowing our PowerPoint presentation to him was revolutionary and league-leading.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

If there is a player culture of just trying to get into the 23 and cruising, you have to remove those players but it can only really be allowed by the coach who has a boys club mentality.

 

[Scodges]

Willem Drew goes up to his opponent before the bounce and openly says “I’m feeling pretty crook”, automatically giving him the edge.

**** me, what a club

Actually submitted

 

[rogerjames]

100%, we have had some terrible games at home recently including finals but that (considering the average opposition) was the flattest I have been at a game for a very long time there was literally nothing to be excited about in fact Sydney did everything they could to keep us in it. Just a disgraceful effort by everyone involved.

Didnt give a yelp. Swans knew all they had to do was apply intense pressure in Q1 & we would fold. Their goal kicking was next level awful & was the only reason we remained in the game. Absolutely boring, infuriating game to watch.

Our players do not understand that a decent effort is required every week. They are well paid & owe it to the fans who turn up. But when you are continually told by your head coach that other things are more important we will continue to get these garbage performances. The entitlement of our head coach has infiltrated throughout the playing group for many years now.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

It is time to play the young guys.

We ain't making finals and if we did, it would be an universal embarrassment, I'm sure.

 

[rogerjames]

I'm impressed he can say it with a straight face every time.

I think it might be a reflection of his IQ

 

[Izzy01]

Glad I have pretty busy this year and missed watching quite a few games including yesterday’s. Have we sacked Hinkley yet

 

[rogerjames]

I will give SPP some credit.
Yes he did some dumb things but from the outset he at least looked like he actually cared and put in some effort.

Thats all hes got atm & its not enough

 

[Expat power]

I can't believe there are people still watching this season, let alone getting tickets and going to the game. Your patience is admirable.

I can’t believe you read and comment on a forum about a team you no longer support.