Round One vs Pt Adelaide

[Bomberland5]

Currently Wellman and Solomon are injured, Fletcher is suspended (again!!) also Andrew Welsh, Mercuri and Mark Johnson are all doubtful.

If Port has Tredrea, Chad Cornes, both Burgoynes, Dew, and Lade playing up forward - then who should EFC match up with.

My thoughts are that Lucas could follow Tredrea, Mc Veigh and Bullen cover the Burgoynes, McPhee on Dew and hope that Bradley can cope with Lade.

Not exactly looking forward to this game to be totally honest!!
What are your thoughts?

 

[bOmBeR_BoY1]

Originally posted by Bomberland5
Andrew Welsh, Mercuri and Mark Johnson are all doubtful.

All three will play - trust me.

Andrew Welsh is well over his hamstring injury that he received nearly 4 weeks ago against the Dockers, and is playing today against the Swans.

 

[windyhill]

This is going to be nasty. port part own us . I`ll be happy with a competitive performance. 30-40pt loss.

 

[bacon buster]

cupido out as well?
i don't give us much chance in this game, but hopefully we put up a good fight.

 

[Stealth bomber]

We'll get pole-axed. Zero chance of winning this match. But we'll have gotten it out of the way first, I guess.

The one I really want to win is the return match, in Round 16. We need to beat Port this year if we are to be taken seriously. Otherwise I worry about a psychological block developing.

I'm tired of everyone else beating them in finals except us.

 

[Mero]

Well, call it SEA (Sheer Essendon Arrogance) or over-confidence, but I reckon we're a big chance to knock them off.
Port haven't had a great preseason, and have had plenty of senior players miss plenty of time so far.
If ever we're a chance to knock them off I reckon this is it.
Match-ups:
Lucas on Tredrea
M Johnson will be right, Welsh was our best v Sydney on the Burgoynes
I think you guys are forgetting the answer to the question who will stop Hird and Lloyd?
Their 2003 Full Back is retired, and I just don't see who will play on Lloyd, and Hird is back to full fitness, I doubt a hack like Cochrane is going to stop him this time, especially if blokes like Alvey, Murphy and J Johnson get the ball to him quickly and therefore one out.
Add to that we now have a ruckman who gives a contest in the middle and things loook good to me.

Having said that, we will still have to be at our best, but STG (Sheedy The Genius) has made sure they get off to good starts in years gone by, so I expect them to give this one a very good shake.

 

[lufc618]

I'm really looking forward to this game. I'd expect most of those players named will play and if so i think we will give this game a real shake.

 

[M29]

Originally posted by lufc618
I'm really looking forward to this game.

The only people that are looking forward to it are power supporters.

I just hope we don't get more injuries.

 

[lufc618]

I heard this morning that Wellman will definietly be missing this game. With Fletcher and Soloman missing as well we are in huge trouble in defence

 

[go team]

Originally posted by M29
The only people that are looking forward to it are power supporters.

I just hope we don't get more injuries.

so you're not just a little bit excited about the first game of the year...

 

[M29]

Originally posted by go team
so you're not just a little bit excited about the first game of the year...

Not at all.

I'm dreading it.

 

[Dan26]

Saw Wellman at the Casino last night getting sloshed. Seemed to be moving around okay. Maybe that's what he has to do - play p*ssed.

As for round 1, what I'll say is we've got more chance of beating them in a day match in round 1, than later in the season. The Power are slow starters, having lost their first two H&A games each of the last two seasons.

They deserve to be favourites obviously, but I think we are some chance.

'89 started with an away match against a team no one thought we could beat and it propelled us to a 17-5 season (after an '88 season very similar to the one we had last year)

 

[Mero]

You're going back a bit there with the West Coast 89 game.
I'd have gone for Richmond R1, 1996, after they'd knocked us out of the finals in 95 for inspiration.
Or Carlton R 1 1997, when we hadn't beaten them for 2 years.

Did I mention Brent Guerra will also not be playing for them.
He would have been a handy midfielder we no longer have to cover.

Sheedy has this way of getting them ripe for game on.
And I expect nothing less.
We have a few out, but so do Port, I would't underestimate STG just yet.

 

[Portia]

I really can't see how you guys can win, so you probably will or at least come close. I guess it'd have to come down to you guys winning in midfield.

FYI Guerra would only have needed to be covered for a quarter as Choco would've benched him the rest of the game.

 

[bozza]

Porthos

If you could name 7 players who you would imagine would share the most of the midfield work, who would they be? Taggers included.

 

[Darealrath]

Port will run us off our feet and Tredrea will dominate as usual if we don't thrash them in the middle, and i doubt we'll do that.

 

[bOmBeR_BoY1]

I hope we are at least, competetive. Winning a couple of quarters would be good, and keep the losing margin respectable.

I'd be somewhat confident with a full strength side going out there to play them on their home turf, but our defence is going to look dreadfully small with our 2 big key defenders out, along with Solomon and McVeigh.

If we can manage to go over there and scrap a win, it would have to rate as one of the biggest upsets in our history and would be the dream start for a hopefully successful premiership campaign.

 

[marcuz]

Play all the kids and make Henno captain. Least this way we dont get injuries to our good players and when we get smashed we have a good excuse.

Port by 50 points.

 

[Pornstar]

Originally posted by Dan26
The Power are slow starters, having lost their first two H&A games each of the last two seasons.

Seems like as soon as people point out things like this the trend will reverse instantly. Last year pre-season i pointed out that Collingwood had never in their 100+yr history had 4 successive years of improvement in their H&A record. So what do those maggots go and do? Have their 4th successive season of improvement in their H&A record.

Originally posted by Mero
I think you guys are forgetting the answer to the question who will stop Hird

Hahaha. If Cochrane doesn't embarrass Hird for a second time, there's always Wanganeen who thoroughly owns Jimmy.

 

[mik]

Originally posted by Mero
I think you guys are forgetting the answer to the question who will stop Hird and Lloyd?
Their 2003 Full Back is retired, and I just don't see who will play on Lloyd, and Hird is back to full fitness, I doubt a hack like Cochrane is going to stop him this time,

although paco is gone, wakelin has to step up, and bishop has started the pre-season very well....apart from them two, thurstans is a very good tall defender/forward, and cornsey will be back there, so there are a few options...

yeah, i tend to agree that cochrane wont play as well as he did last year...

hopefully wangas can save the day..(ps, i cant really see how gav has the wood over jmmy.....he is smaller, and not as strong in the body, but somehow makes every contest at least)....

LET THE FOOTY BEGIN!!!!

 

[mik]

Originally posted by bozza
Porthos

If you could name 7 players who you would imagine would share the most of the midfield work, who would they be? Taggers included.

although porthos may have a different opinion, these are our main midfielders (available) who would most likely play...

P. Burgoyne
K. Cornes
J. Carr
J. Schofield
S. Salopek
D. Cassisi
M. Wilson

S. Cochrane (maybe)

 

[bozza]

Originally posted by mik
although porthos may have a different opinion, these are our main midfielders (available) who would most likely play...

P. Burgoyne
K. Cornes
J. Carr
J. Schofield
S. Salopek
D. Cassisi
M. Wilson

S. Cochrane (maybe)

vs J.Johnson, Ramanauskas, Murphy, Alvey, Misiti, Hird, Peverill.

We should beat them out of the middle.

 

[go team]

Originally posted by M29
Not at all.

I'm dreading it.

just think positivley...
dont think of us as five goals down, think of us as six goals away from victory!

 

[Portia]

Originally posted by bozza
vs J.Johnson, Ramanauskas, Murphy, Alvey, Misiti, Hird, Peverill.

We should beat them out of the middle.

J. Johnson vs Carr - break even
Ramanauskas vs K. Cornes - break even
Murphy vs Dew - break even
Alvey vs Cassisi - break even
Misiti vs Schofield - break even
Peverill vs Salopek - dunno

Surely Hird will need to be up forward. If so, Wanganeen. If not, Cochrane. Port win on that score.

You'll need to do better than even, I'd reckon. Also, will Lucas play forward or back?

 

[pazza]

Lucas will play at CHB on Tredrea..could be a very interesting contest that