Sturt v Port Review

[csbowes]

I do agree that this year there is the feeling of "here we go again" with Glenelg, Sturt and the Eagles not looking as strong as last year, and Norwood and West a year away.

I very much hope I'm wrong and Glenelg or Torrens can do the business... as I really can't see Sturt doing anything. After last year I was confident we'd be top three again and pushing for a flag, but that trains already left it seems.

[Mr Irate]

Agree, if the AFL really did want an even comp they would simply rotate the draft around each year rather than keep rewarding mediocrity......

We do the same here. Most hopeless club gets first choice of new AFL recruits. Its obviously only a subset of what is the recruiting phase here in the SANFL, but we do something similar. Besides, look at the stats, something like 5 clubs won the 20 flags leading up to 1990, now you have 13 teams who've won the last 20, its definitely evened up and more teams have had a go at it.

I'm not advocating a system where its manipulated to get that effect...

All I'm saying is Centrals winning year in, year out, while great for them, is a sad endictment on the rest of the league. While I don't remember being sick of Port Adelaide in the 1990's, I'm sure others on here probably were...

A very very small subset......of which surprisingly the 'Dogs have done very well out of last pick.....

The AFL is a manipulated system, rotate the draft and it becomes equal (Richmond would however continue to be an exception )

[FlyingHigh]

I do agree that this year there is the feeling of "here we go again" with Glenelg, Sturt and the Eagles not looking as strong as last year, and Norwood and West a year away.

I very much hope I'm wrong and Glenelg or Torrens can do the business... as I really can't see Sturt doing anything. After last year I was confident we'd be top three again and pushing for a flag, but that trains already left it seems.

I understand your disappointment, I thought Sturt would be minor premiers. Coad was a big loss, reasonably but not completely covered, by Thurstans. Plus Hinge and Hassan added to an already impressive running unit.
Objectively, the Eagles are just off the mark, they are steady but don't seem to have a real suprise factor, in particular pace.

[Bluedemon]

well done to port today, you wanted it more than our boys and to me you played with heart, passion and intentisy. we had too many passengers that were waiting for the 172 bus to town. i even enjoyed the passion of the port supporters that came onto the ground after the game and embraced the players, it just showed that when a club is being kicked down that you guys and your players are showing the way it should be done.

looks like my wedding on sanfl semi-final day will be fine now as sturt wont be playing in the finals. sturt just need to go back and play the basic football, not trying to play perfect footy.

maybe next week is sturts on week.

[StrayDog]

Well done Port, persistence and focus apparently paying dividends again.

Just an aside, is it a sign of the times when a Sturt-Port thread rapidly veers off into a philosophical discussion on the state of football?

[The Sleeping Giant]

Jimmy doesn't like to lose to the 'pies. haha

[csbowes]

Well done Port, persistence and focus apparently paying dividends again.

Just an aside, is it a sign of the times when a Sturt-Port thread rapidly veers off into a philosophical discussion on the state of football?

We do it because we're BIG clubs who look at the league from a strategic level...

[sjt]

What disappoints me more than Sturt falling apart this season, is the fact that I'm really down to hoping Glenelg will do something to stop Centrals, as at the moment, the whole league is just coughing up another flag to them without even a whimper. We, as in the other 8 clubs, are just not dishing up anything competitive to stop the Dogs.

The league, as it is, is taking a step closer, each year, towards becoming a pointless league.

No one can blame Centrals, they're just fantastic, but geez, how pathetic are the rest of us...

Or we could be like the AFL, and Centrals would have three flags in four years and not played in a GF for five years, whilst South would be favourites this year.

I'd be happy with that... one team winning all the time is a sign the competition is not right. From a purely business perspective, having multiple teams fight it out and share the spoils is better for the ongoing viability of the league.

No one can say that if Centrals wins 8 of the next 10 flags again, that this league isn't dead. I don't think that will happen, but certainly my club and others, really need to start getting some runs on the board.

Just look at the last ten years, you've had Torrens constantly try and fail with the one exception, Sturt constantly try and fail with the one exception, everyone else just miserably fail year in, year out.

Its hardly been a ringing endorsement...

The last ten years, would have been much better for the league, had Centrals won say 4 flags, Torrens 3 flags, Sturt 1, Glenelg 1 and someone else one... lets say South!

Personally i like it the way it currently is.

Very wise. Me too.
What round is it anyway? Long way to go.

[purch]

Jimmy doesn't like to lose to the 'pies. haha

Doesn't matter who it is, I reckon Jimmy doesn't like his first game in 6 years to be a loss to the bottom team

[The Sleeping Giant]

Jimmy doesn't like to lose to the 'pies. haha

Doesn't matter who it is, I reckon Jimmy doesn't like his first game in 6 years to be a loss to the bottom team

Karma.

[zipzap]

Pains me to say it but kudos to the many Maggies fans who travelled today. Would have outnumbered Sturt support on the hill 2-1. Made for a great atmos if not result.

[topsywaldron]

Jimmy doesn't like to lose to the 'pies. haha

Funny how chatty some North fans get after a win isn't it?

[The Sleeping Giant]

Jimmy doesn't like to lose to the 'pies. haha

Funny how chatty some North fans get after a win isn't it?

Didn't Norwood have a bye this week? At least I give it a rest for a week.

[StrayDog]

Well done Port, persistence and focus apparently paying dividends again.

Just an aside, is it a sign of the times when a Sturt-Port thread rapidly veers off into a philosophical discussion on the state of football?

We do it because we're BIG clubs who look at the league from a strategic level...

Ah, so there is at least a strategy involved - perhaps all is not lost afterall

[whufc]

How would Sturt fans rate Giles season so far.

For him personally he would have made the right decision, with Griffen being on the outer at the Crows and playing so well at SANFL level Giles probably would have only played 1 league game for the Dogs this year.

[CENTURION]

How the hell did $turd (sorry CUTTERMAN) flog Us?

[csbowes]

How would Sturt fans rate Giles season so far.

For him personally he would have made the right decision, with Griffen being on the outer at the Crows and playing so well at SANFL level Giles probably would have only played 1 league game for the Dogs this year.

I actually think Giles has been decent. I think we mainly got him so he could run with Buckets in the big games. People might be critical of the fact that he hasn't dominated matches, but I think his performances have ranged from average to good.

[csbowes]

How the hell did $turd (sorry CUTTERMAN) flog Us?

Attitude was right on the day... whereas every other game, I reckon we've just expected it to all happen like magic.

[zipzap]

How would Sturt fans rate Giles season so far.

For him personally he would have made the right decision, with Griffen being on the outer at the Crows and playing so well at SANFL level Giles probably would have only played 1 league game for the Dogs this year.

I actually think Giles has been decent. I think we mainly got him so he could run with Buckets in the big games. People might be critical of the fact that he hasn't dominated matches, but I think his performances have ranged from average to good.

I'd agree with that. Hasn't set the world on fire but has done enough to be our number 1 ruckman at the moment. Both Bowen and Angus Kurtze have the capability and have shown signs of taking over that mantle but as yet haven't been able to be consistently good.

Hinge has been the biggest disappointment in terms of recruits for me. He showed signs early on that he might go some ways to being a replacement for Coad but he seems to be directionless for big patches of a game. Turning it on in the last 5 minutes, like he did yesterday is too little too late

[The Apostle]

And Sturts Jekyll and Hyde act continues...