West v Port Rd 20 2006
Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:31 amPort on knife edge
DOUG ROBERTSON
August 18, 2006 12:15am
Article from: The Advertiser
IS IT redemption time for Port Adelaide Magpies against West Adelaide at Richmond tomorrow?
Or is opportunity knocking twice for the bottom-placed Bloods to get a rare taste of victory?
The fifth-placed Magpies are the only team to fall to the Bloods this year but strangely that creates a strong motivation for both teams. West had a talent rush with clever Crows forward Jason Porplyzia and rookie Adrian Bonaddio back in, hard-working midfielder Ross Glover returned from injury and possibly pacy debutant Aaron Barnett, 19, named in a squad of 23. Coach Wayne Weidemann knows the Bloods' single triumph won't count for much tomorrow but at least he has the personnel to take it up to Port and probably a touch of self-belief - something in short supply at Richmond this year.
"It helps knowing we've beaten them but the important thing is for us to match it with them in the hardness," he said. "Port's as hard as anyone going around and they're getting their best team back together."
Port's accuracy in front of goal is average - 54.7 per cent - but West is worse (48.7). Port gets much more of the ball (340 possessions to 301 average) which could spell disaster for the Bloods if the Magpies clean up their efficiency. West and former Port defender Jeremy Jaques will have a say in that. The Maggies have rushed back no-nonsense skipper Mark Clayton (knee) and key utility Shane Morrison (broken thumb).
Revenge is a powerful motivation but so is knowing that any slip could count Port out of finals contention because of its poor percentage.
It has one more win than sixth-placed South Adelaide (one less game played because of the bye) but Port lags the Panthers by 4.1 percentage points, which might be damaging in the finals countdown.
"We can't come off the knife edge," Port coach Tim Ginever said.
"If that's not a good motivation, I don't know what is."
It is critical for Port, which rolled Central District last week, to win this game and again next week against Sturt and go in against the top two outfits in the Eagles and North Adelaide to finish the minor season.
DOUG ROBERTSON
August 18, 2006 12:15am
Article from: The Advertiser
IS IT redemption time for Port Adelaide Magpies against West Adelaide at Richmond tomorrow?
Or is opportunity knocking twice for the bottom-placed Bloods to get a rare taste of victory?
The fifth-placed Magpies are the only team to fall to the Bloods this year but strangely that creates a strong motivation for both teams. West had a talent rush with clever Crows forward Jason Porplyzia and rookie Adrian Bonaddio back in, hard-working midfielder Ross Glover returned from injury and possibly pacy debutant Aaron Barnett, 19, named in a squad of 23. Coach Wayne Weidemann knows the Bloods' single triumph won't count for much tomorrow but at least he has the personnel to take it up to Port and probably a touch of self-belief - something in short supply at Richmond this year.
"It helps knowing we've beaten them but the important thing is for us to match it with them in the hardness," he said. "Port's as hard as anyone going around and they're getting their best team back together."
Port's accuracy in front of goal is average - 54.7 per cent - but West is worse (48.7). Port gets much more of the ball (340 possessions to 301 average) which could spell disaster for the Bloods if the Magpies clean up their efficiency. West and former Port defender Jeremy Jaques will have a say in that. The Maggies have rushed back no-nonsense skipper Mark Clayton (knee) and key utility Shane Morrison (broken thumb).
Revenge is a powerful motivation but so is knowing that any slip could count Port out of finals contention because of its poor percentage.
It has one more win than sixth-placed South Adelaide (one less game played because of the bye) but Port lags the Panthers by 4.1 percentage points, which might be damaging in the finals countdown.
"We can't come off the knife edge," Port coach Tim Ginever said.
"If that's not a good motivation, I don't know what is."
It is critical for Port, which rolled Central District last week, to win this game and again next week against Sturt and go in against the top two outfits in the Eagles and North Adelaide to finish the minor season.
