by Booney » Fri Jun 15, 2018 10:58 am
Round 13 – Unlucky for some…..not us.
If you read the views of some knockers Port aren’t genuine, Dixon is no good and the forwards don’t take their opportunities. Some of that might be true from time to time, some of it isn’t. Then you look at the scoreboard, a 57 point win kicking 20 goals for the side sitting with 8 wins and 4 losses. What am I missing?
Country supporters were hamstrung by the Thursday night time slot and families stayed in front of the fire given the prediction you’d need an ark to get to the ground, as such the crowd number was well down and it’s fair to say the atmosphere was too. Nevertheless the Port boys jumped out of the blocks with 5.5 to one solitary behind and in reality you could have packed the beanie in the bag then and headed home as it was, for all intents and purposes, game over at quarter time. A special moment that resonated across the competition when at the 13 minutes mark those of us there stood in support of Todd Marshall. A moment in time many people will remember and one, I’m sure, will never forget.
Again it was the engine room that sparked the side. Port Adelaide lead the competition in many of the “grunt” statistics, one thing we aren’t is soft inside. We lead the competition for tackles and for clearances around the ground and are behind only Melbourne for centre square clearances. Michael Voss, often questioned in his role as midfield manager has the inside mid’s firing and he’s got plenty of options to work with. Wines, Powell-Pepper, Rockliff and the rejuvenated Wingard (16 tackles in the last two weeks) are feeding off the great work of Paddy Ryder who, since his achilles induced lay off, has returned in fine form.
We’re getting a very even spread across the board, stand out mid Ollie Wines aside, the likes of Wingard, R.Gray, Rockliff, Powell-Pepper, Polec, Westhoff and Motlop (4 of his last 6 games 20+ and a goal) in the middle or forward of centre are demonstrating consistent good form, so when Ebo or Boaky have a quiet night as they did last night it’s not the end of the world.
Again last night we were lead by Ollie Wines, surely in All Australian form, the bloke is a beast. I’ve rated him BOG twice so far this year and second best another 3 times, he’s in career best form and his numbers this year are nothing short of A grade. Averaging 26 touches, 13 of them contested, 7 clearances and 5 tackles. He’s taken the step this season into the A grade of the competition in my view, I wouldn’t be alone there. Fantasy Pig Rockliff rolled around in the muck last night filling his Super Team coaches with delight as he racked up 25 and 3 goals with 6 tackles. His best showing of 2018 and hopefully there’s more of that to come. He looks fit now and it’s reaping rewards for the side.
Wingard has had back-to-back 30 touch matches since Hinkley moved him into the guts along with 16 tackles and 13 clearances in two weeks. Fine form. The cream rises to the top and how good has Robbie Gray been in the last few weeks? 9 goals in 3 weeks and for some unknown reason he found himself on his lonesome as 4 defenders went up to compete with Dixon in the air. I’d think the Bulldogs review will focus on how one of the most dangerous small forwards in the game was left unattended. Powell-Pepper is playing with surety beyond his years and experience and takes the game on whenever he has ball in hand. Loving his attitude at the moment.
Defensively we’re still a work in progress as we look for our best back 7. Hartlett going down has unsettled us a little, Howard’s closing speed and reach is a weapon in itself, Jonas (inj) is the versatile one of the group and it looks like Hombsch and Clurey are in a tussle for the bigger bodied role. This time last year Clurey was well ahead of Hombsch, the gap is closing. Houston needs to tidy up his disposal a little so Bonner isn’t charged with all the long kicking from the defensive arc, Pittard is playing a role moving the ball around deep with DBJ sticking like the proverbial to a blanket.
With a big game next Friday night against a wounded Melbourne side we again find ourselves under the prime time spotlight and have an opportunity make a statement. Get your bum in your seat, get behind the boys. See you at the footy!
Boons best – Wines, Rockliff, R.Gray, Powell-Pepper, Wingard, Dixon, Westhoff
PAFC. Forever.
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