R2: Port v Centrals Review

[Macca19]

RESERVES

Port Adelaide were victorious in the reserves by 25 points. A seven goal to zero second quarter was the winner for the pies, despite a spirited third quarter comeback from the Dogs.

The match started with an even first quarter. Centrals looked more steady going forward and were using the ball better. Despite this, the Magpies led by 5 points at the first change.

The Magpies took control of the match with a blistering second quarter where they kicked 7 goals and kept the Dogs to only 5 behinds for the quarter.

The dogs hit back in the third quarter, kicking 5 goals in the space of about 10 minutes to get the margin to 24 points at the last change. The Magpies kicked a goal in the first minute of the last quarter which seemed to break Centrals confidence. Both teams went pretty much goal for goal in the last quarter with the final margin being 25 points.

Port Adelaide had many good players. Smalls Nick Salter and Mark Dolling kicked four and three goals respectively, whilst young gun Lindsey Thomas had the ball on a string all day. Experienced players in Cam Ilett and Matthew Gates also played well, whilst Todd Hughes had a good day in defence. Port Power rookie listed player left the ground on a stretcher in the third quarter with what looks like a serious knee injury.

Samuel Agars kicked 4 goals for Centrals

PA 3.3 / 10.4 / 12.5 / 16.9 (105)
CD 2.4 / 2.9 / 7.11 / 11.14 (80)

BEST:
PA - L. Thomas, Dolling, Hughes, Salter, Gates, Hay, Ilett, Looby

GOALS:
PA - Salter 4; Dolling 3; W. Bilney, Coleman, Gates 2; Mann, Natt, L.Thomas
CD - Agars 4; C. Obst, Westhoff, Hudson, Camplin, Mclean, Brading

SENIORS

Port capped off a fine day with a thumping 44 point victory over recent nemesis Central Districts. Having not beaten Centrals in their last six outings, Port Adelaide led from start to finish to record the victory.

The Magpies started off stronger, kicking the first two goals through Morrison and Meiklejohn - who started at Full Forward. The Magpies had 75% of the play in the first quarter but couldnt put it on the scoreboard. Morrison kicked his 2nd before Centrals kicked the last two goals of the quarter through Matthew Slade (who also kicked one earlier) and Adrian Wilson. The Pies led by 4 points at 1/4 time.

The Magpies started much stronger in the second quarter but again couldnt put that onto the scoreboard. Meiklejohn kicked 2 more goals to open the quarter before Morrison kicked his third. Centrals then blocked up play and looked the more dangerous for the rest of the quarter. James Gowans, playing on a forward flank kicked his first before big Ivan Maric kicked his first. Quinton Graham playing up forward kicked the last goal of the quarter to cut the margin to 19 points at the main break.

With 15 scoring shots to 6, the Magpies should have been further in front but wasted numerous chances in front of goal. Bigmen Shane Morrison, James Meiklejohn and Ivan Maric were great in the first half whilst Full Back Steven Eichner had a blinding first half. Jeremy Clyaton dominated the middle whilst Kristian DePasquale was a rock at half back.

For Centarls, Leigh Westhoff had a strong first half, as did Brad Symes and James Gowans. Matthew Slade also played well.

The third quarter was a tough tussle. Scott Dutschke opened the scoring partway through the quarter. The Pies again had a lot of the ball but were completely falling down across half forward. The Dogs cut Morrison out of the match in the quarter and ran the ball out of defence with ease. Again the Magpies wasted some chances. They kicked the last two goals of the quarter through Mark Clayton - who played mainly on a forward flank - and Ivan Maric.

A big three quarter time rev up by Tim Ginever seemed to work as Shane Morrison kicked his 4th a minute into the last quarter. Centrals looked like they would attack but everytime they goaled Port would equalise. Troy Butcher came onto the ground in the last quarter and played a blinder, kicking a goal and helping set up a couple of others. The Magpies kicked the last three goals of the match and ended up runaway winners by 44 points.

The Magpies had a swag of good players on the day. Jeremy Clayton won possesion at will, as did Jackob Surjan playing in the centre. Both bigmen in Maric and Meiklejohn dominated around the ground and kicked 6 goals between them as well. The defence was rock solid all day with Eichner, DePasquale, Dane Fitzgerland and John Baird all playing well.

Centrals had a couple of good players. Leigh Westhoff had a great match and was my pick for the Dogs best. Brad Symes battled hard all day in the middle and at half back, whilst the Gowans twins had strong second halves. Paul Thomas also was busy in the second half.

Port looked strong all over the ground and always had options everywhere. They look a very fit and confident unit and have a lot of options. A worrying sign is the continual poor kicking for goal. In all the trial games and the first two games of the season we have kicked terribly for goal and wasted a lot of chances within 30 metres. If it continues it will lose us games this year.

PA 3.5 / 7.8 / 9.13 / 14.17 (101)
CD 3.1 / 5.1 / 6.4 / 8.9 (57)

BEST:
PA - Surjan, J Clayton, Eichner, Maric, DePasquale, Morrison, Jenner, Fitzgerald
CD - Westhoff, Symes, C Gowans, O'Sullivan, Slade, J Gowans, Graham

GOALS:
PA - Morrison, Maric 4; Meiklejohn 3; Butcher 2; M. Clayton
CD - C. Gowans, Slade 2; Dutschke, Wilson, J. Gowans, Graham

[Magpiespower]

Been dying to read this write-up Macca and once again you didn't disappoint.

Neither did the Maggies!

13.20 last week, 14.17 this week - by the looks of things we've let some % go begging.

But I'll take the early season wins - makes a welcome change over recent years.

[Macca19]

Port Player Reviews:
M Clayton - Played on a forward flank due to the team missing a lot of its forward line. Marked well, but wasted two shots at goal in the first half. Kicked one in the third. Reasonable game.

J Clayton - The things this guy can do on a football field. Very very good yet again. Marvellous footballer. Just wins so much of the football, especially at stoppages.

Davis - Came on for 10 minutes in the second quarter, had 2 disposals, both of which went straight down the throat of an opponent with not one Magpie near him. Horrid.

Carr - Played pretty well in defence. Attacked well.

Poulton - Came on in the second quarter. Usual crappy disposal every now and then but had a pretty good second half.

Harry - Lively up forward but didnt make the most of his opportunities.

Baird - Poor disposal in the first half but manned the backlines well. Very good.

Bullen - Started on a forward flank, didnt get a lot of touches in the first half but had a superb second half.

DePasquale - Outstanding first quarter, continued that through the rest of the match. Tough and direct.

Morrison - Kicked 4, should have had another one or two maybe. Played well though fell in and out of the match.

Lokan - Good at times but overall didnt impact much.

Eichner - His best game for the club. Rebounded out of defence at will. Outstanding.

Fitzgerald - Like Dipper, he played tough and direct. Did a couple of extra nice saves and tackles.

Surjan - His best game for the club as well. Playing as a centreman he did what he liked in the second half. Won a lot of ball in close, and his tackling and harrasing was something we dont usually see from him. BOG for mine.

Butcher - Made a terrible mistake in the first quarter and was benched up until the last quarter, where he dominated from that point on. Despite that one poor mistake, he was very very good. Kicked two and setup another couple. Looks like a great spare parts player.

Meiklejohn - Was excellent today. Started up forward, kicked 3 goals in the first half and performed well in the ruck. Come on heaps since the bumbling mess of last year

Maric - May be his last game at SANFL level. Kicked 4 up forward when resting there and his marking whilst in the ruck was excellent. Seems to have developed his around the ground work a lot in the summer. He now knows where to run and his hands are strong.

Biacsi - Fairly quiet game

Jenner - Great all day. Has great skills and a great mark for his size. Should have been drafted.

Ah Chee - Not a lot of disposals but defended well.

Slattery - Spent most of the match on the bench but had a few kicks when he came on

Centrals Player Reviews:
Westhoff - Impressive. Very impressive. Tried his heart out and had a lot of the ball

Symes - Seems to have all the time in the world when he has the ball. Solid and skillful, had a lot of touches in the middle and in defence.

O'Sullivan - Another who was impressive. Budget says hes only 16. Worked hard.

Dutschke - Busy when on the ground up forward.

Thomas - Wasnt dominant but was consistent across four quarters

Obst - Reasonable in defence before heading to attack in the last quarter. Skills were poor.

C Gowans - Kicked two in the last quarter and was busy throughout the match.

Wilson - Played across half back and had a strong first half.

Sibenaler - Was alright at times in defence. Great third quarter.

Graham - Played back and forward. Was busy

Slade - Kicked two in the first quarter and had a solid game.

[RoosterMarty]

I tipped Centrals, it wouldn't have surprised me if Port did get up.. but to get up by so much... unbelievable stuff.
It shows Port will be around the mark this year, have the Dogs dropped off or was it just a bad day? Time will tell.

[Dog_ger]

I think Port were pumped from the start. They played at a different level. Lucky for us that they didn't kick straight. Hard to judge the performance of the dogs. I thought they were gone early last year but surprised... I don't think anything went right for the dogs today, but your only as good as the opposition let you play. Watch the Pies, they impressed all over the ground.

[MightyEagles]

The Dogs were always going to lose one sooner or later. Pity it didn't happen in the last game of last year.

[giffo]

The Doggies were lucky not to have been absolutely buried due to Port's poor kicking. Central's defence tried hard all day but continually broke down at half-forward. Long bombs might work when Schell and Cowan are playing but not with Port's tall defence and Maric dropping back into the hole. This kid is getting better every time I see him, Surely an AFL game isn't far away.

[Apachebulldog]

Should of been a 15 Goal flogging Maggies have recruited some good AFL rejects who all played well, some good signs from our juniors, hopefully we should improve once we get all our injured players back.

Well done Maggots you will be the team to beat this year, when yah got the cattle, yah can achieve anything, great recruiting after 6 years of trying!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF !!!!!!!