Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

[Rocket Science]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

Great to see Honeychurch and Williams stepping up. I understand that Hamling probably didn't do too bad - none of their big forwards got off the leash.

Certainly acquitted himself no worse than Roberts did in his first game back, particularly in a high pressure, high stakes contest.

[dog town]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

Huge win in the context of the season and you sense maybe in terms of our overall development and belief as a team. To be able to hang in there when Port had control of the game and to not let them gap us on the scoreboard was a huge effort. It speaks volumes as to how invested the group is and how much they are playing for each other and the coach.



I didn't think Port controlled it for as long as the commentators seemed to think. The first 2/3rds of the 2nd qtr and about 1/2 of the 3rd qtr I thought they dominated.



We played the big moments better than Port and did the right thing more often. I was very impressed with the way we were able to wrestle control of the contested ball numbers and clearances after being completely dominated for periods in the 2nd and 3rd qtrs. It was really just guys willing themselves to get hands on the ball that got us back on top. I thought our ruck dominance had a say as the game went on and players got tired. We started hitting it to open space and getting on the end of it. I actually think we really lacked a Stevens type today. Ports mids are all explosive, big bodied guys. Our guys are smart and tough but we were getting bulldozed around the ball a bit for a while there. The Port guys were at the absolute peak in terms of effort so to withstand that and turn it back our way was huge.



We used the ball better than Port in the last qtr too and guys like Daniel, Biggs and Libba making the right decisions had a huge impact. We got the ball to open space more as they tired and couldn't maintain their pressure. Once their pressure dropped slightly we could change direction and release guys more effectively which got our forwards back involved in the game.



Have to say that I still saw a few negatives. In a game of inches (was always going to be) we had some guys make critical errors at really bad times. Some of these guys helped win us the game but still think worth highlighting



Stringer- Dropped an uncontested mark that would have given him a chance to put us 3 goals up. They kicked the next 4. He did some things in the first 3 qtrs that were not at the same intensity as the rest of the team. The last qtr he went up the ground and helped change things but I think we need to be a bit harder on him. The effort in the first 3 qtrs wasn't great. If he is getting beaten he can still tackle, chase and be unconditional at ground level.



Honeychurch- Did a good job but there was a couple of missed tackles that he just can't afford to be missing. As I said game of inches and he had a chance to lock it in our end a few times and missed. Overall pretty happy with his game first up.



Few other things I noted.



Daniel- Can anyone at the game tell me what role he was playing in the 2nd qtr? It seemed like during the period that we couldn't exit our D50 for 15 minutes he barely entered the tv screen. When we got some control back we got it out the far side and he got his hands on it and we kept possession. Incredibly important player when we get trapped in our own end.



Campbell- Needs to be a bit stronger in marking contests sometimes. Coming along ok though.



Roughead- Big game I though. Involved at ground level, clear hit outs, timely marks.



Morris- Up there with Chris Grant as the bravest player back with the flight we have had. Seems like he could play another 3 years. Incredibly lucky to have two absolute professionals like him and Boyd.



Biggs- Made great decisions under the most intense pressure a few times. Thought he was great.



Libba- Hands were instrumental in the last qtr. Willed himself back on top in the midfield battle much like Wallis. A better kick than people give him credit for.



Suckling- Looks like we moved him up the ground in the last to see if he could have a few telling touches. Didn't really work but good for our versatility.



Bont- Few classy touches at the right time. I like that he seems to have a sense of when to impose himself on the game.



Dickson- Return to form has been very important the last few weeks.No coincidence we are starting to connect a bit more up forward.

Macrae- I know Jack gets a bit of criticism but jesus his effort is consistent. Genuinely tough player who always does the hardest thing first.

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

Macrae- I know Jack gets a bit of criticism but jesus his effort is consistent. Genuinely tough player who always does the hardest thing first.

Was tagged today, but still managed to get his hands on the ball and laid 10 tackles as well.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

Was tagged today, but still managed to get his hands on the ball and laid 10 tackles as well.

A team high 10 tackles. I wish he'd just take another bloody shot and get his demons out of his head and be a little cleaner, but he's doing all the hard work which is great to see.

[jeemak]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

I note dog town's comment about Macrae's effort week in and week out, alongside his toughness. I saw Broadbent trying to rough him up at one stage as if Jack's a bit soft, and throwing back to a comment I made after the Melbourne game, because of the way he looks when he has the ball in the open he's perceived that way by the broader football public which is really weird.

[SquirrelGrip]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

Matty Boyd should have gone up to the Fox Footy booth at 3/4 time and had a word with the commentators.

Any chance of a "push red for Bulldogs commentary" in the future? The drivel today was beyond belief.

[jeemak]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

Matty Boyd should have gone up to the Fox Footy booth at 3/4 time and had a word with the commentators.

Any chance of a "push red for Bulldogs commentary" in the future? The drivel today was beyond belief.

It's probably the thing that aggravates me the most when the umpiring is terrible, you know, commentators who have money on the game barracking and being completely one sided.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

If you have an AFL pass or recorded the game, check out Redders tackles with 12 seconds to go. Yes he dropped the mark which would've iced it all together, but when the ball hits the ground he lays what I can only describe as a bone bruising, if not bone breaking mega tackle to then ice the game. It's a thing of beauty.

[Twodogs]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

That was a tough game but we prevailed and that is what counts. Had a finals feel to it and you could say it is a great dress rehearsal for the finals. Jack Redpath becoming very handy up forward now. Stringer did a lot of great things later in the game. Picken just never gives up along with Morris. Libba kicked some freakish goals. So happy for Honeychurch - great game back. Sucks that Dahl got injuried but in saying we are doing really well despite those injuries.

It did have a finals feel to it. The only non-finals feel was that Port was playing in it.


Go dogs!

[Flamethrower]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

Ricciuto is totally unprofessional as a commentator - should be terminated from Fox Footy's stable. Keep that home town biased drivel for 5AA.

[anfo27]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

What a win today! Thats our best win for the year. They really put us under pressure, their tackling was great and to walk out of there with 4 points is massive.

Caleb Daniel is just money when he has the ball. To run at 90% efficiency under that heat for a 20 game player just tells you what a special kid we have.

Just great to have kids like the Bont and Stringer really stand up when it counts in a big game and have a huge impact.

Sweet Jesus didn't miss a beat either in his first game for the year.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

A team high 10 tackles. I wish he'd just take another bloody shot and get his demons out of his head and be a little cleaner, but he's doing all the hard work which is great to see.

Macrae could have had a shot was clear enough to fire it in but decides to pivot back away from goal to look inside for a pass. Then ends up loosing possession. It's like his been spooked from having a shot.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

Macrae could have had a shot was clear enough to fire it in but decides to pivot back away from goal to look inside for a pass. Then ends up loosing possession. It's like his been spooked from having a shot.

Yep, he got possession running towards goal 50m out today and did what you said. Maybe he needs a sport psychologist because it's his immediate thought and most other AFL players in the same spot would have a shot unless a much, much better option was immediately evident.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

ok, I'm gonna drag the 'lopsided free kick count' corpse out of it's shallow grave, and drag it's stinking carcass through the main street.

23 to 10.

Now, it's not so much the ones they got, it's the ones we didn't get. And Honeychurches denied goal.

but..................WE STILL #$%@$&$%#ing won. So suck on that Adelaide and port Adelaide and Mark Ricciuto.

[SonofScray]

Re: Game Day Round 12 2016 - Port Adelaide V Western Bulldogs

Ricciuto is totally unprofessional as a commentator - should be terminated from Fox Footy's stable. Keep that home town biased drivel for 5AA.

He made a snide, malicious comment about us "being used to winning the free kick count" before making some factually incorrect comments at half time. The guy is an example of the disgracefully low standards that exist in Australian sports media.