The Port Adelaide and Mid Season Break Curse!

The Boy From Brasil

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Thread starter #1
This time last year we were absolutely flying until we ran into Port Adelaide in Darwin just before the break. Although we won the game, we had the aker handstand controversy, Big Will getting himself into trouble with the Cornes boys, and from then on we really struggled in the second half of the season dropping a heap of games, with many key players running badly out of steam.

What will we do differently this time around to make sure that the second half of the year fade out doesn't happen again? Will we go about the mid season break in a different fashion to that of last year?
 

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2691617

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#2
We have a pretty settled run home with only one week of travel.

Aker is a bit of concern already, he has been quiet the last couple

I think Eade mentioned pre-season about rotating or resting players like Johnson, Aker etc, this may prove important
 

Gridlock'd

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#4
Completely different circumstances this year with regards to preparation and player fitness levels etc.
 

doggiesin08

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#6
If Rodan did that this year we'd get a free kick straight in front:D

A question on the new rushed behind rule ... do you still get the point?
 

stefoid

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#10
I hope they dont do this whole loaded training malarky again. How about we just keep winning and not flog the team this time?
 

X_box_X

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#11
From the AFL website:

PORT Adelaide is putting the finishing touches on its month-long preparation for Saturday night’s game against the Western Bulldogs at Tio Stadium in Darwin.

The Power players, under the guidance of fitness coach Cam Falloon, have been paying regular visits to the University of South Australia’s humidity chambers to help them acclimatise to the Territory’s draining conditions.

Falloon introduced the acclimatisation approach during his time with the Dogs and Port Adelaide skipper Dom Cassisi said his team was keen to try it out.

“We’ve been here [at the humidity chamber] once or twice a week for three or four weeks now, just building it up slowly with the amount of humidity and training intensity in there,” Cassisi said on Tuesday.

“It’s all about us getting a bit of an advantage over the opposition this weekend.
The Western Bulldogs did it (acclimatised last year) so that might have been a factor in them running out the game better than us.”

Tuesday’s 30-minute bike session was Cassisi’s sixth in the humidity chamber.

He said the conditions inside the chamber were pretty similar to those in Darwin.

“When you walk into the chamber, it’s like when you step off the plane in Darwin. You do feel that humidity hit you straight away, so for us to be exposed to us prior to going up there can only be beneficial for us.”

Players are notorious for giving the old ‘one-week at a time’ cliché, but Cassisi admitted his side had been looking forward to Saturday night’s clash for some time.

“Preparation-wise, a lot more has gone into this week than a normal game and that’s why we’re looking forward to seeing how it rolls out come game day,” he said.

“It’s all part of being professional and getting our bodies right for the game.”

Cassisi said a win over the in-form Dogs would put the Power in an ideal position going into the second-half of the year.
 

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Dogs Rule

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#15
From the AFL website:

PORT Adelaide is putting the finishing touches on its month-long preparation for Saturday night’s game against the Western Bulldogs at Tio Stadium in Darwin.

The Power players, under the guidance of fitness coach Cam Falloon, have been paying regular visits to the University of South Australia’s humidity chambers to help them acclimatise to the Territory’s draining conditions.

Falloon introduced the acclimatisation approach during his time with the Dogs and Port Adelaide skipper Dom Cassisi said his team was keen to try it out.

“We’ve been here [at the humidity chamber] once or twice a week for three or four weeks now, just building it up slowly with the amount of humidity and training intensity in there,” Cassisi said on Tuesday.

“It’s all about us getting a bit of an advantage over the opposition this weekend.
The Western Bulldogs did it (acclimatised last year) so that might have been a factor in them running out the game better than us.”

Tuesday’s 30-minute bike session was Cassisi’s sixth in the humidity chamber.

He said the conditions inside the chamber were pretty similar to those in Darwin.

“When you walk into the chamber, it’s like when you step off the plane in Darwin. You do feel that humidity hit you straight away, so for us to be exposed to us prior to going up there can only be beneficial for us.”

Players are notorious for giving the old ‘one-week at a time’ cliché, but Cassisi admitted his side had been looking forward to Saturday night’s clash for some time.

“Preparation-wise, a lot more has gone into this week than a normal game and that’s why we’re looking forward to seeing how it rolls out come game day,” he said.

“It’s all part of being professional and getting our bodies right for the game.”

Cassisi said a win over the in-form Dogs would put the Power in an ideal position going into the second-half of the year.
Or it could just be that we're a better side than yours.
 

Riverat

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#16
As far as comparing last year to now, i think its completely different.

2008 Rd 11- form declining.

2009 Rd 11- Form on the up.

We learned last year that you dont win a flag being red hot early in the year.
I think Coons and Murphs injurys early in the season may turn out to be a blessing in disguise also.

This doggies outfit is sitting pretty at at the moment and with a sweet run home from here on!!
 

Borgsta

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#17
Or it could just be that we're a better side than yours.
Being a better side has nothing to do with running a game out. It was painfully obvious that we were better suited to those conditions in the last qtr last year.
 

2121

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#18
Hopefully our boys turn up and play 4 quarter footy and make a game of it and hopefully come away with the four points.

There will be a number of good match ups through out the game
Akker Vs Surjan
Johnson Vs Chaplin
Hahn Vs Carlie
Pettigrew Vs Hill
Cornes Vs Cooney
Tredrea Vs Lake
Motlop Vs Morris.
 

lifelike_

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#19
Last year we fell away after the Geelong game.
Was going to mention this.

The mid season break hasn't been the problem, it's playing Geelong in round 16.

In 2006 we won three of the last six after winning nine of the first fifteen.

In 2007 we didn't win any of the last six after winning nine of the first fifteen.

In 2008 we lost four of the last six after being winning thirteen of the first fifteen.

Overall we've been 31/45 before playing them, and 5/21 after playing them.

Could purely be coincidence, but at least we don't play them in round 16 this year.
 
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