Rnd18 - Port V Coburg

I'll do a wrap of the ressies cos I wasn't there for all the senior match. RESERVES A very good side was pitted against a very ordinary one, and by quarter time it was clear that Coburg were struggling to match the class shown by the Borough. Coburg started well with the first goal, but Port started to go bang, bang, bang and by quarter time had 7 individual goalkickers, and players such as Scott McMahon in the midfield, along with Josh Rudd in the middle, Marcus Carroll across half forward, the loose man in defence Nick Thomas, as well as Sam De Bruin in the backline were gathering plenty of the ball. McMahon gets an enormous amount of cheap footy by finding space on a wing lateral to the player with the ball, amazing that nobody did anything about it. Port by 34 points at quarter time. The second quarter was much the same, although there was a bit of flooding both ways. Port were able to break from the flood and run the ball forward pretty easily, something I'd imagine they do fairly often on their little ground. Coburg's errors, such as a shocking turnover by Orton set up Aloi with the easiest of goals, while Andrew Gilham and Anthony Aloi both kicked two goals for the quarter. Limbach kicked two goals for Coburg. At half time Port led by 55 points. Coburg came out after half time and had 19 players on the field, although within a minute they quickly rectified the situation. That in my view shows a very low level of professionalism - surely someone on the bench would have realised there were only three players there as the third term got underway? Leading goalkicker in the reserves Andrew Gilham was getting the upper hand up forward and by the end of the day had 11 goals. His effort was terrific, although I felt for Nat Caruso whose a good player being exposed by his coaches at full back where he was undersized for the entire second half. By three quarter time Port led by 83 points. Last quarter was much the same the rest of the game...Moran had the upper hand in the ruck against the duo of Dean Limbach and Russell Laurie who were gallant, yet undersized. Port's midfielders were too smart and too sharp for Coburg's and by the end of the day they won by 118 points, with 45 scoring shots to 12. Port are a serious Grand Final contender, Coburg would struggle to beat a high school school footy team. The difference showed on the scoreboard at the end of the day. It's embarrassing that the standard is so great between the two sides, what is worse is that at least half a dozen of the Coburg side were new faces and really that is not ideal for a footy team at this level. I'm not sure if they had top ups or not but they need to look at where they are going as a club at the end of the season.

I had a quick flip through the Herald Sun this morning and have to say I didnt even spot the VFL article! I'm 3/4 of the way through the replay of the senior game so I might have something to post later...but now i'm off to werribee. Hopefully you will comment on Port Ons.

Just finished looking at the senior game, seriously how poorly skilled were Coburg? Geez some of those kicks inside 50 were woeful. Not much talent inside 50 either, Adam Houlihan is their leading goalkicker what a joke. They missed Foley and Pattison because they are two of their best three players this year. Rix was great - they needed three of him though, Morrison was brave. Randello was super and Dean Polo as frustrating as he can sometimes be was pretty good as well. Can't say I rate Richmond's kids that highly...Roach, Gilmour and Meyer especially. The two Aboriginal kids Stephensen and Calma who were signed up about four weeks ago weren't in the seniors or reserves, have they gone home or quit the Tigers??? Port kicked away at the end, but I thought they were always in control. Shows you how much of a joke the 12-10 rule was at the start of this year when Gibson and Schwarze were forced into playing reserves. They were two of their best three yesterday!!! You can take us through Port Ons cos you're the Borough fan.

Ons, do ya reckon Gilham could have a shot at the draft?

I have watched Coburg play 7 times this year including Saturday. Their skills are shocking for that standard of footy. (both Richmond & Coburg listed players) Most of the Richmond guys are young raw players and some maybe lucky to be on a AFL list but they are no doubt in the development stage. Most of the Coburg players although great triers are short of VFL standard. Both combined makes a ordinary side who are poorly coached. I must say Flood's addresses at the breaks are almost the same week in week out. From the outside all players seem to be gettting on well and with a touch of luck they should have won more games this year. Thier leadership group in Kuret / Randello and Rayson have great endeavour and bust their guts every week but their kicking is sub-standard. One thing I think we should remember is that they lost many experienced players and are a very young side. Some of the Coburg players like Sylvester and Rimmington have got better as the year as gone on. I think Richmond could do worse than look at them for a rookie spot similar to big McKinnon - very raw but moves OK

bones wrote:I have watched Coburg play 7 times this year including Saturday. Their skills are shocking for that standard of footy. (both Richmond & Coburg listed players) Most of the Richmond guys are young raw players and some maybe lucky to be on a AFL list but they are no doubt in the development stage. Most of the Coburg players although great triers are short of VFL standard. Both combined makes a ordinary side who are poorly coached. I must say Flood's addresses at the breaks are almost the same week in week out. From the outside all players seem to be gettting on well and with a touch of luck they should have won more games this year. Thier leadership group in Kuret / Randello and Rayson have great endeavour and bust their guts every week but their kicking is sub-standard. One thing I think we should remember is that they lost many experienced players and are a very young side. Some of the Coburg players like Sylvester and Rimmington have got better as the year as gone on. I think Richmond could do worse than look at them for a rookie spot similar to big McKinnon - very raw but moves OK

Excellent post bones. They did lose experienced players, but Kuret, Rix, Rayson have played over 60 senior VFL matches now. Shane Morrison and Adam Houlihan are experienced as well. I find the argument about the team being "so young" a bit of a cop out. In case people haven't noticed, the VFL is a young players competition...how many over 25s are there in the whole comp??? When the U22 game was being talked about I could swear something like 80% of VFL listed players were eligible for it - meaning 80% of players on VFL lists are under 22 years of age. You are right what you say about the 'leadership group' and their skills. Rayson in particular the other day I thought used the ball poorly. He was terrific at the start of the season but his form seems to have gone downhill since the flogging he got from Shane Harvey last time Coburg met Port. Kuret has only been named in the Tigers best twice this year from 16 games this season. Possibly they don't have the money or the good name like other clubs to attract better mature age recruits. On David Flood, well the Richmond fans have the knives out for him so it's going to be interesting what happens there. They really just need an imposing figure in the forward line, I don't think Houlihan is the answer to kick enough goals. Rix might be, but like I said earlier they need a few of him. Good luck to them in the last two games, I can't see them winning either of them. On what you have seen this year bones, who is your Coburg B&F tip? I'd say it is down to Foley, Pattison or Rix. The AFL games Foley and Pattison have had lately might cost them in the end. Rix has been going alright lately.