Showdown 8

[mic59]

I was watching my video of Showdown 8 the other day. That was the one where we led by 53 points after the first quarter and won by 47. And our run of dominance started. What impressed most was that everyone, including last years' culprits in slowing down the game, were moving the ball on crisply and long. And although the Cows came back in the middle quarters that was not caused by unlucky turnovers but more the fact they lifted in those periods. Given that Francou and Primus were playing, and we had a fit and in-form Lockwood the question remains why did we slow the game down so often this year when we have first-hand experience of what works?

My theory on this is exactly what seems to be plaguing all types of jobs at the moment. Everyone is under such scrutiny they are terrified of making a mistake, and would sooner do nothing. I know that I have more than once been hauled over the coals at work for doing the right thing in a way that is not accepted. Umpires have this pressure too; I once saw a scorecard that is filled out after a game on an umpires' performance, it showed that if an umpire makes a 50/50 decision that may be wrong they are scored down, whereas if they make no decision at all points are unlikely to be lost.

Surely when Mark Williams is in the coaches box he should be able to focus totally on winning the game, and not whether his performance may lose him his job? I couldn't care less if Mark Williams makes every wrong move in the book and plays young blokes too green for the AFL if a premiership comes our way in the end. Unfortunately the current directive seems to be keeping the fans happy during the minor round and winning home games. After all, Port are the ones who profit financially from the minor round. It may be distasteful, but priorities appear to be misplaced, because finals do not give much of a return to the club.

But I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Macca19]

Originally posted by mic59
I was watching my video of Showdown 8 the other day. That was the one where we led by 53 points after the first quarter and won by 47. And our run of dominance started. What impressed most was that everyone, including last years' culprits in slowing down the game, were moving the ball on crisply and long. And although the Cows came back in the middle quarters that was not caused by unlucky turnovers but more the fact they lifted in those periods. Given that Francou and Primus were playing, and we had a fit and in-form Lockwood the question remains why did we slow the game down so often this year when we have first-hand experience of what works?

Bowsers best game that one. If you have the non advert version of that match then my ugly face is on after Bowser kicks that ripper torp in the third quarter.

Why did we slow the game down so often this year? Well probably the same reason we slowed it down the two eyars previous. Its the one thing that bugs me most about Port Adelaide in its current form. THe fact we never win big and always stop once we have a lead going, whether that lead be at half time, 3/4 time or in the last quarter.

I remember absolutely screaming at the television during the Port v Geelong game at Cat Park in 2001 because we let an 80 point lead during the last quarter go down to 50 odd. Everytime we look like winning huge we stop and let the opposition outscore us by 4-5 goals in the last quarter and a half. It bugs me. It more than bugs me.

We've been (in home and away anyway) the most dominant side in the last 3 years yet we rarely win by over 8 goals. Theres a couple of wins by 8-12 goals but only 1 or 2 above that in the Powers history. It bugs me.

I hate the slowing down crap. I hate the fact we stop when we are totally thrashing and demoralising the opposition.

More big wins. That can be Macca's 2004 Motto #2 "More Big Wins"

 

[Portia]

I hate that we haven't seen a decent torp in 3 years.

 

[Andre]

Re: Re: Showdown 8

Originally posted by Macca19
Why did we slow the game down so often this year? Well probably the same reason we slowed it down the two eyars previous. Its the one thing that bugs me most about Port Adelaide in its current form. THe fact we never win big and always stop once we have a lead going, whether that lead be at half time, 3/4 time or in the last quarter.

I remember absolutely screaming at the television during the Port v Geelong game at Cat Park in 2001 because we let an 80 point lead during the last quarter go down to 50 odd. Everytime we look like winning huge we stop and let the opposition outscore us by 4-5 goals in the last quarter and a half. It bugs me. It more than bugs me.

We've been (in home and away anyway) the most dominant side in the last 3 years yet we rarely win by over 8 goals. Theres a couple of wins by 8-12 goals but only 1 or 2 above that in the Powers history. It bugs me.

I hate the slowing down crap. I hate the fact we stop when we are totally thrashing and demoralising the opposition.

More big wins. That can be Macca's 2004 Motto #2 "More Big Wins"

Totally agree. And I'm of the opinion that this comes back to bite us big time come finals. Sides are only beaten by us by smallish margins, so of course they think the can make it up without making major game/personnel changes. If we smash a side by 80+ points in the minor round then come finals they are going to have to think major changes to the side /game plan are required and consequently go in unbalanced.

Sure the short term less risk of injury is important, but I think we are cuting off our noses to spite our faces (so to speak) with this. If we put our foot down every match in 2004 and have an average winning margin of 10 plus goals then even with our finals record sides are going to worry about meeting us. It's much better intimidation I'd wager to win 16 games by a 60 point margin on average then 18 by a 20 point average. Lets mentally scare some sides! We only did that to one (west coast) in 2003.

 

[Lidge]

regional board

 

[Portia]

Originally posted by Lidge
regional board

Are you on drugs?

 

[mic59]

Re: Re: Showdown 8

Originally posted by Macca19
Bowsers best game that one. If you have the non advert version of that match then my ugly face is on after Bowser kicks that ripper torp in the third quarter.

I was recording and editing the ads but I forgot to turn the pause off whem Bowser kicked the torp. So I'll just have to accept that you are ugly. Although with most Port supporters that doesn't seem to require much of a leap of faith.

Originally posted by Macca19
I remember absolutely screaming at the television during the Port v Geelong game at Cat Park in 2001 because we let an 80 point lead during the last quarter go down to 50 odd.

Even in the 2002 one at Footy Park that we won by 75 points was a bit of a disappointment. We were on line to give the Cats a proper whipping in that game and we slacked off and actually let them win the last quarter. Good teams don't do that, if they've got a bad team down they kick them in the guts.