It's midway through the second quarter.. Beginning to work out way into the game... The ground must be heavy despite looking alright.. Plenty of players going down.
Casey are just able to find space and move the ball better than us. Turnovers also hurting us.
What a turn around that was from mid way in the 3rd. If it wasn't for some bad goal.kixiing we may have won by more. All of a sudden marks begun to stick, link up play was linking well, Hand balls begun to work and aome undisciplined Casey play helped us with the win. Sitting 6th at this point is a heap better than my expectations and I'm.confident that we are finally finals bound.
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!
I was so disappointed with that first half, but a mighty second half and my hopes for finals have also been bolstered. Agree with you Mega that we moved the ball far better and disposal was a lot cleaner.. We have a few players to come back in and with us sitting in the top 6, there is a lot of excitement around the club.
Gaga, back in the side following his engagement last week was getting a ton of the ball, and repelled well when we were really under the pump in the first half. Hobbs had been in such great form, surely he will be looked at again by an AFL club in 2027.
That's one of the best finds we have had for a while. Kids only 18 and can play, I could be jumping the gun but I feel that if he sticks to vfl could be one of the leagues highest goal scorers before his 21st birthday. If we include him and resign our other key forwards then we will have a very good forward line which would allow positional changes such as Baldwin spending more time at back to strengthen the defense and Clarke playing more in the middle
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!
Agreed, Mega and NorthPort. The first half was a terrible watch, but as you say in the second half our skills and structure improved significantly. Hobbs and Gahan definitely brilliant, and a very good debut for Tonelli as you note. I was impressed with the games of Rudd and Rosman as well - they really stood up with some key intercepts. Stubbings was excellent as well and was among the few shining lights in the first half. Van Es and Farrant being late outs was concerning, but we seem to have some real depth this season, and the selectors will have tough decisions to make when currently injured players are ready to return.
In the first quarter we were smashed in the clearances despite leading the hitouts - I think we were beginning to show some improvement in that area late in the second quarter. One thing I noticed in the first half was that when one of our mids got the ball from a tap, often one of two things would happen: he would find himself almost immediately caught by a Casey player or he would realize that he was about to run into trouble and give off a short handball to no one in particular, which Casey would often recover, leading to a Casey clearance. I think teams have realized that Hobbs is our main clearance player and put more work into trying to keep him from getting the clearances - he always finds a way to be one of the leading clearance players anyway because he is just that good, but he does need other mids to stand up as well. In this game it was when Tovey, Penry, and Green all stepped up to start winning more clearances that things started to turn around for us. Tovey is back in great form. The rematch against Werribee in two weeks will tell us a lot about where this midfield group currently stands.
Once the midfield was functioning better as a unit, we were able to move the ball quickly enough that Casey couldn't clog our forward lines as effectively, which led to much better forward 50 entries. Sending Baldwin and Manton behind the ball worked very well also and played a big role in our win, and they also hit the scoreboard. The in-game positional moves have been working out better lately they they did earlier this season, perhaps because the moves themselves are more judicious, perhaps because the team overall is gelling better, or perhaps some of both. It's also a good sign that we finished +6 for tackles - we were trailing in the tackle count at the half, so our defensive work rate improved as well in the second half.
Good to see Drew Lloyd back after all the injuries he's had this season. A bit rusty this week, but that's to be expected after missing so much time with injury.
After all the times last season when we were overrun late, it's good to see the team having the composure to be on the right side of a fourth-quarter comeback. It looks like the playing group is building some resilience that they didn't have last season.
I took a look at our points for and points against this season compared to last season. This season, at the 13-game mark, we've scored 70+ points in 11 games, 80+ points in 9 games, 90+ points in 6 games, and 100+ points in 4 games. Last year, in contrast, out of the 18 games we played, we scored 70+ points in 12 games, 80+ points in 7 games, 90+ points in 5 games, and 100+ points in 3 games. So we're kicking higher scores this season thanks to improved goalkicking and better forward 50 entries.
As for points against, out of 13 games so far, we've given up 70+ points in 9 games, 80+ points in 8 games, 90+ points in 7 games, and 100+ points in 4 games. Last year, in our 18 games, we gave up 70+ points in 13 games, 80+ points in 7 games, 90+ points in 5 games, and 100+ points in 3 games. So our opponents are kicking high scores against us a bit more often this season. To some extent that fits with us attacking more successfully - a more attacking gameplan is naturally a bit more vulnerable to being scored against on transition. But it does also fit with my thought that, aside from Van Es who has been impressive, the key defensive position may be a bit of a weakness. With Sparkman, Gahan, and Rankin, we have good run and carry out of defence, but intercept marking is still an area where we could stand to improve. We have one player in the league top 20 for disposals (Hobbs), two in the top 20 for goals (Bedendo and Baldwin), and two in the top 20 for tackles (Hird and Tovey), but none in the top 20 or even top 40 for marks.
But although there are aspects where we need to develop more, we're moving in the right direction and will hopefully be able to keep building on that.
Good to see the VFLW side get the win also. Still some problems with forward structure but we were able to open the game up in the second half after a very scrappy, contested second quarter. At one point the commentators were discussing whether it would be possible to bring in Ruby Dale alongside both Emily Harley and Georgia Foran; I think that would potentially work and would give us more marking power up forward, although then again everyone who played this week deserves to stay in the side. Mackenzie Bourne was impressive in the ruck, and Caffry, Ashley-Cooper, and O'Keefe had their usual good games. Hart, Creaton, and Stutt were involved in some good passages of play as well. There were some good defensive efforts as well to keep Casey from fully capitalising on the opportunities they did get.
I meant to mention the VFLW game. A much improved performance and I was thrilled to see us put real scoreboard pressure on the opposition. Casey were well held all day.
This coming week the women's side goes up against 7th placed Sandringham who will be desperate to post a win in the one and keep pressure on the Borough, currently sitting 4th.
The early forecast for Sunday looks decent, with rain developing later in the day (around 5pm) so hopefully we can get both games in without being significantly rain affected.
On a side note.. I'm not enjoying the current clash jumper and will be much happier in our normal colours in a good old fashioned Sunday afternoon clash against long time VFA rivals.
Casey v Port Melbourne..
It's midway through the second quarter.. Beginning to work out way into the game... The ground must be heavy despite looking alright.. Plenty of players going down.
Casey are just able to find space and move the ball better than us. Turnovers also hurting us.
* It's time to restore the VFA name.
What a turn around that was from mid way in the 3rd. If it wasn't for some bad goal.kixiing we may have won by more. All of a sudden marks begun to stick, link up play was linking well, Hand balls begun to work and aome undisciplined Casey play helped us with the win. Sitting 6th at this point is a heap better than my expectations and I'm.confident that we are finally finals bound.
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!
I was so disappointed with that first half, but a mighty second half and my hopes for finals have also been bolstered. Agree with you Mega that we moved the ball far better and disposal was a lot cleaner.. We have a few players to come back in and with us sitting in the top 6, there is a lot of excitement around the club.
Gaga, back in the side following his engagement last week was getting a ton of the ball, and repelled well when we were really under the pump in the first half. Hobbs had been in such great form, surely he will be looked at again by an AFL club in 2027.
* It's time to restore the VFA name.
Also Tonelli looks promising as well. Had the confidence to fly for pack marks and kicked a couple of goals on debut
* It's time to restore the VFA name.
That's one of the best finds we have had for a while. Kids only 18 and can play, I could be jumping the gun but I feel that if he sticks to vfl could be one of the leagues highest goal scorers before his 21st birthday. If we include him and resign our other key forwards then we will have a very good forward line which would allow positional changes such as Baldwin spending more time at back to strengthen the defense and Clarke playing more in the middle
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!
Agreed, Mega and NorthPort. The first half was a terrible watch, but as you say in the second half our skills and structure improved significantly. Hobbs and Gahan definitely brilliant, and a very good debut for Tonelli as you note. I was impressed with the games of Rudd and Rosman as well - they really stood up with some key intercepts. Stubbings was excellent as well and was among the few shining lights in the first half. Van Es and Farrant being late outs was concerning, but we seem to have some real depth this season, and the selectors will have tough decisions to make when currently injured players are ready to return.
In the first quarter we were smashed in the clearances despite leading the hitouts - I think we were beginning to show some improvement in that area late in the second quarter. One thing I noticed in the first half was that when one of our mids got the ball from a tap, often one of two things would happen: he would find himself almost immediately caught by a Casey player or he would realize that he was about to run into trouble and give off a short handball to no one in particular, which Casey would often recover, leading to a Casey clearance. I think teams have realized that Hobbs is our main clearance player and put more work into trying to keep him from getting the clearances - he always finds a way to be one of the leading clearance players anyway because he is just that good, but he does need other mids to stand up as well. In this game it was when Tovey, Penry, and Green all stepped up to start winning more clearances that things started to turn around for us. Tovey is back in great form. The rematch against Werribee in two weeks will tell us a lot about where this midfield group currently stands.
Once the midfield was functioning better as a unit, we were able to move the ball quickly enough that Casey couldn't clog our forward lines as effectively, which led to much better forward 50 entries. Sending Baldwin and Manton behind the ball worked very well also and played a big role in our win, and they also hit the scoreboard. The in-game positional moves have been working out better lately they they did earlier this season, perhaps because the moves themselves are more judicious, perhaps because the team overall is gelling better, or perhaps some of both. It's also a good sign that we finished +6 for tackles - we were trailing in the tackle count at the half, so our defensive work rate improved as well in the second half.
Good to see Drew Lloyd back after all the injuries he's had this season. A bit rusty this week, but that's to be expected after missing so much time with injury.
After all the times last season when we were overrun late, it's good to see the team having the composure to be on the right side of a fourth-quarter comeback. It looks like the playing group is building some resilience that they didn't have last season.
I took a look at our points for and points against this season compared to last season. This season, at the 13-game mark, we've scored 70+ points in 11 games, 80+ points in 9 games, 90+ points in 6 games, and 100+ points in 4 games. Last year, in contrast, out of the 18 games we played, we scored 70+ points in 12 games, 80+ points in 7 games, 90+ points in 5 games, and 100+ points in 3 games. So we're kicking higher scores this season thanks to improved goalkicking and better forward 50 entries.
As for points against, out of 13 games so far, we've given up 70+ points in 9 games, 80+ points in 8 games, 90+ points in 7 games, and 100+ points in 4 games. Last year, in our 18 games, we gave up 70+ points in 13 games, 80+ points in 7 games, 90+ points in 5 games, and 100+ points in 3 games. So our opponents are kicking high scores against us a bit more often this season. To some extent that fits with us attacking more successfully - a more attacking gameplan is naturally a bit more vulnerable to being scored against on transition. But it does also fit with my thought that, aside from Van Es who has been impressive, the key defensive position may be a bit of a weakness. With Sparkman, Gahan, and Rankin, we have good run and carry out of defence, but intercept marking is still an area where we could stand to improve. We have one player in the league top 20 for disposals (Hobbs), two in the top 20 for goals (Bedendo and Baldwin), and two in the top 20 for tackles (Hird and Tovey), but none in the top 20 or even top 40 for marks.
But although there are aspects where we need to develop more, we're moving in the right direction and will hopefully be able to keep building on that.
Good to see the VFLW side get the win also. Still some problems with forward structure but we were able to open the game up in the second half after a very scrappy, contested second quarter. At one point the commentators were discussing whether it would be possible to bring in Ruby Dale alongside both Emily Harley and Georgia Foran; I think that would potentially work and would give us more marking power up forward, although then again everyone who played this week deserves to stay in the side. Mackenzie Bourne was impressive in the ruck, and Caffry, Ashley-Cooper, and O'Keefe had their usual good games. Hart, Creaton, and Stutt were involved in some good passages of play as well. There were some good defensive efforts as well to keep Casey from fully capitalising on the opportunities they did get.
I meant to mention the VFLW game. A much improved performance and I was thrilled to see us put real scoreboard pressure on the opposition. Casey were well held all day.
This coming week the women's side goes up against 7th placed Sandringham who will be desperate to post a win in the one and keep pressure on the Borough, currently sitting 4th.
The early forecast for Sunday looks decent, with rain developing later in the day (around 5pm) so hopefully we can get both games in without being significantly rain affected.
On a side note.. I'm not enjoying the current clash jumper and will be much happier in our normal colours in a good old fashioned Sunday afternoon clash against long time VFA rivals.
* It's time to restore the VFA name.
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