West vs Port Sat 21st March @ City Mazda Stadium

[Thiele]

League 10.30am

Reserves 1.30pm

Port Adelaide did not want this trial played on Saturday and need time to recover for the following Friday league game opener v Norwood and it only gives them a 6 day break..They originally wanted a Friday night trial but it didn't suit Westies. If Port agreed to the normal 2pm time slot they said they would use mainly B grade players, so both clubs came to an agreement to start early. This now gives Port a few extra hours recovery

[wycbloods]

Bloody sooks what difference is 4 hours going to make really.

[beenreal]

With the game finishing at 1ish, it probably means they can devote an afternoon to player rehab instead of rushing it through in the evening. Our opening, Round 1 clash with Norwood is just too important to take any chances.

[redandblack]

Port have named a squad of about 35 for this trial, according to the paper.

Have they been playing large numbers in their trials so far?

[wycbloods]

R&B there is already a thread for this game. Can they be merged?

[Farbs]

Is Cupido lining up for Westies? Someone reported on the amatuer league thread that he trained for Plympton last night???

[Thiele]

Is Cupido lining up for Westies? Someone reported on the amatuer league thread that he trained for Plympton last night???

Yes he is playing for Westies tomorrow

[Thiele]

West Adelaide league Squad

EZARD,BARBER,CUPIDO,BAILEY,ANDERSON,PORPLYCIA,MARTIN,FERGUSON,DANGERFIELD,DAVIESCAIRE,MUNN,
WILLITS,FISHER ,FISHER,DEJONGH,DAVENPORT,MORRIS,BLESING,BLESING,BEECH,PLANT,SCHMIDT,MORAN??

INS=,BAILEY,ANDERSON,PORPLYCIA,MARTIN,FERGUSON,DANGERFIELD

[wycbloods]

Is Cupido lining up for Westies? Someone reported on the amatuer league thread that he trained for Plympton last night???

And you believed it . One of the best footballers, albeit a lazy one, playing div 5 for Plympton.

[nickname]

Half time:
WA 3 13
PA 0 4

[topsywaldron]

And you believed it . One of the best footballers, albeit a lazy one, playing div 5 for Plympton.

I think it was the word training that let me know something wasn't right.

[nickname]

3/4 time:

WA 9 15
PA 2 5

[Brodlach]

Saw the first half ot this game and Westies were all over Port, but just couldnt kick straight for goal. First time I have seen them this year and they have improved a great deal on last year.

[nickname]

Final score:

WA 12 18
PA 5 8

Hold the front page, we kicked more than 9 goals.

[Brodlach]

Final score:

WA 12 18
PA 5 8

Hold the front page, we kicked more than 9 goals.

Still kicked more points than goals again, but a good win.

Even though they were trials, when was the last time Westies won 2 in a row?

[mr o]

great to see another win for the club,who did they have at full forword today,the kicking for goal is still a bit of a worry.

[CK]

Port Jason jumpers while Willits shows what he's talkin' bout.

West Adelaide overcame an highly inaccurate first half to down Port Adelaide at City Mazda Stadium, 12-18 (90) to 5-8 (38).

After kicking 3-13 in the first half, with many gettable shots being sprayed, West, through full forward Ryan Willits straightened noticeably. AFL listed players had major influences for West, with the two Jason's, Porplyzia and Davenport, having some monster passages. The former, in particular, was dazzling with unselfish play, mixed with pure brilliance, while Davenport, despite sitting out much of the second half, showed what a major influence he will have at this level.

Willits was very impressive with his confident leading and movement to create a constant target in the forward 50. Starting with 3 behinds, he finished with 5-4, and dished off other opportunities. James Ezard stood out as best afield, however, with a dashing display to break the lines and create numerous opportunities, finishing with 2-2 to reward his high contested possession count.

Port looked flat for most of the first three quarters, and had it not been for two majors to Ryan McInerney in the final 35 minutes, the scoreboard would have been much worse. Frustrating both supporters and the coaching staff with a massive overreliance on handball at times, some of their topliners looked to struggle, with Steven Summerton,, Brad Murray and James Miekeljohn all having some blooper moments. Miekeljohn may have been lucky not to be facing a tribunal date after a late, high collision with Chris Schmidt that sent the West midfielder off with the blood rule. Josh Thurgood showed poise from defence at times, while Jeremy Clayton was clearly Port's best, racking up numerous possessions all over the ground and showing the class that makes him arguably the SANFL's premier player. Port had their hands full containing Patrick Dangerfield, who has bulked noticeably and had some passages of play that indicated he will be an AFL regular if he continues his upward trend.

Damian Cupido's 25 disposals stood out in defence for West, who still overused the ball far too much at times. The penchant for chains of handballs broke down under Magpie pressure, but the likes of Steve Bailey and Bronik Davies - who could be one of West's best recruits for 09 if he carries that same class and cool headed disposal into the main season - were able to sweep the Bloods into attack to capitalise. A mark of the day contender by Ryan Ferguson was disallowed by the umpire, much to the chagrin of some Bloods supporters, and some other decisions by the men in white raised the ire of both teams.

Port will be concerned at their lack of firepower up forward. Clive Waterhouse roamed up the ground but did not have a major influence and while Matthew Beckmans showed signs of being the clever crumbing forward coach Tim Ginever needs, there still looks to be plenty of work at Alberton if they are to challenge in 2009. West looked better than some earlier games in this series, but would be wary of drawing too much from the game. Fortunato Caruso played the last quarter of the seniors, while Shane Birss was listed in the Reserves.


WEST: 0-6 3-13 9-15 12-18 (90)
PORT 0-3 0-4 2-5 5-8 (38)

GOALS: West - Willits 5, Braydn Fisher, Ezard 2, Ben Fisher, Munn, Porplyzia

Port - McInerney 2, Weetra, Beckmans, Batson

[bosvit]

Thanks CK couldn't make it today so was a great read

[Thiele]

Final reserves score

West 9.16.70

Port 7.7.49

[redandblack]

Thanks for the write-up, CK.

It's been a long time since Westies dominated even trial games, but to beat Central and then hammer Port seems to show there might be better things ahead.

It has to be said that James Ezard's form today was superb.

To keep Port without a goal to half-time was also pleasing.

For Port fans, they played an almost totally different team after half-time. Didn't make much difference.