Doing a "role" is the latest catch phrase excuse for a player who can't get a kick. Fantasia spent half a season in the SANFL playing ok football but was bypassed by Hinkley and crew even when they had nothing of note ie McEntee taking his place, he was playing a role too. I like Orazio for his smarts and skills but he isn't getting it done and should have only got a one year deal initially imo and we now have the situation where the coach is having to defend recruiting him and trying to justify his position in the team. He is getting a game for two reasons imo and they are lack of fit in form alternatives and the coach not willing to admit he is out of form and delivering what he thought he would. This week will test him along with Williams and Fogarty given Essendon have some very attacking small defenders who are starring at the moment and Orazio in particular will need to provide defensive pressure if he ends up on Martin, McGrath etc especially if he isn't kicking goals or doing much to create them..
Fantasia is getting a game because Motlop has been injured and was poor in his return game, Martin is having his usual third of the season holiday and Durdin couldnt get a kick in a loaded horse float.
Looked like he went in low (good) but was second in and a little bit indiscriminate (bad) for mind, kind of like Dangerflog. It's the pattern of behaviour I don't like....a lot of "oops sorry clumsiness" but that doesn't hold water when people get hurt.
I thought McG got a lot of treatment last night...marginally late physicality and was constantly held. I wonder if they considered him a bit "fragile" - there was an awful lot of feeling in his goal celebration (it was a stunner to be said).
I thought McGovern had a bit of a shocker and Georgiades played very well on him, he did cop a block from Soldo which was a free but not paid by the umpires, he seemed to be trailing behind the Port kid all the time and that goal he kicked was about his best piece of play for the evening. The umpires let a lot of stuff go and paid some real rubbish imo....Soldo continually pushed TDK well before the ball arrived in several ruck contests and got away with it as well as being conveniently clumsy and connecting with our players heads on occasions.
Williams has lifted his output as a forward and the responsibility of not having a man and being allowed freedom has helped his game and he is doing more than Durdin and Fantasia in getting to the fall of the ball or where kicks are dropping short. Agree with Tonyo on Fogarty, a no name player whose role is as vital as most in what he brings and when he doesn't play we lose our structure and balance down forward. I think the coach likes Fantasia and I expect he will hold his spot for the bombers clash unless Motlop has a blinder in the VFL.Motlop might replace Carroll...
I was really worried that Port’s huge thug, Ollie Wines, was going to hurt Harry in a ruck contest but, fortunately, Harry got through unscathed 🤣
Strange move from Hinkley imo and I thought Wines contributed well early when not in the ruck but tired when he went in the ruck and that move helped us both in the ruck contests and around the clearances.
Any update on TdK, look like an arm or wrist or even ribs? Landed very heavily.
Type of player you take off when the game is won to protect him from himself, hopefully only badly winded with some bruising at worst, played very well despite Soldos efforts to injure him and others..
Just imaging if we had Zac Butter in our midfield, his speed is incredible and he is always on the move.
We probably timed it well given they had Rozee and Rioli out.....the extra mid and the latter being able to kick a goal unlike the Port smalls who were unsighted probably made a real difference. I wouldnt mind either ZB or JHF in Navy Blue...
Very good win and the skipper after a quiet night tore the game open and played a fine last quarter. Fine effort from Cincotta on Butters and I thought TDK was consistently good through the game, got a contribution from most players. Jacob Weitering was my BOG keeping Big Bad Charlie to one disposal and his little mate Boyd blanketed the Port smalls along with Saad. Nice to win in a venue where wins have been non existent and we have a good rest now till we play the Bombers which will probably be the game of the season for us...
Struggling in the clearances even though Rozee is out and Butters well held by Cincotta...I think Port are playing better but the good thing is they have kicked poorly for goal apart from Georgiades who is their lone forward. Cripps, Hewett and Kennedy need to give us something along with Acres and we will win the game.
If it's wet as some have indicated, they might just ruck Soldo and one of Finlayson or Marshall.....hard to see them having Dixon, Marshall and Finlayson up forward in the wet, along with Georgiades....and without Rioli.
If it's up against Finlayson or Marshall then H would be fine. If it's up against Finlayson, Kennedy could probably be enough of a chop out for 5-8 minutes each quarter.
Surfie..Dont think the rucks/tapouts will have much influence, Soldo is a meathead rather than a delicate technician and Id expect him to be more interested in planting his big frame in stoppages and trying to collect a few of our blokes as well as body up on TDK. It will be down to the midfield dominance and Wines vs Cripps, Drew vs Walsh and maybe Hewett/Kennedy/Cincotta trying to lock onto Butters and JHF, not expecting Rozee to play..
