Well it's make or break at the business end of the season
To keep its chances of holding a spot in the top 8, Port must win this one against the Scorpions.
Port Melbourne vs. Casey Scorpions
Saturday 4th August
TEAC Oval at 2:00 PM
Port Melbourne
B Milhuisen Livingston Pleming
HB Obst Baird Hazell
C Brewer McMahon Rowe
HF Nahas Smith Pitt
F Bonaddio Dukes Cotchett
R Fanning Robbins Spriggs
Int Pearce B. Nixon Dwyer
Shaw Sutcliffe Pinwill
Langford McGlynn
Casey Scorpions
B Mercoulia Gwilt Unsworth
HB Geary Ferguson Voss
C Matthews Makepeace Frost
HF Harrison Watts Armitage
F Garrubba Fraser Dunne
R Brooks Thompson McQualter
Int Rix McGrath Howard
C. Jones R. Clarke Wall
Biagi Parker
Forums
Dukes, Smith still in... No sign of Pitt or Gilham...
If we don't win this, i might take a leaf out of the Essendon supporters book...
One feels it's the same for both clubs involved, will be an absoloute cracker, unfotunately am unable to attend. We have been on top of the Burra for the last couple of years but this shapes as a real season definer for both clubs.
Crunched! Now it becomes very difficult.
Port Melbourne 3.3 5.8 8.9 13.10 (88)
Casey Scorpions 0.8 3.13 13.15 18.19 (127)
GOALS:
Port Melbourne: Bonaddio 2 Dukes 2 Pitt 2 Pleming Pearce Cotchett McMahon Fanning Smith Robbins
Casey Scorpions: Brooks 4 Armitage 3 Clarke 2 Voss 2 Rix 2 Dunne 2 Ferguson Parker Matthews
BEST:
Port Melbourne: McMahon Obst Hazell Pitt Rowe Baird
Casey Scorpions: Geary Matthews Ferguson Harrison Brooks Unsworth
Got off to a good start kicking into the win, while the Scorpions were very inaccurate early.
Unfortunately the Borough wasn't able to make use of the breeze in the second quarter, with Casey narrowing the margin to just a couple of kicks.
It was all the Scorpions in the third quarter who erased the inaccuracy of their early start, piling on 10 goals for the term.
Port kicked a few in the last quarter, but the result was never in doubt.
The Borough must win at least two of the last three games this season to keep their finals hopes alive.
In the Reserves, Port conitinued its good form.. Posting a relatively easy win.
Port Melbourne 3.3 6.7 11.12 13.16 (94)
Casey Scorpions 1.1 2.1 5.1 9.4 (58)
GOALS:
Port Melbourne: Nixon 2 Langford 2 Gilham Monteath Plymin Thomas Nayna McGlynn Cain Henshaw Carroll
Casey Scorpions: Biagi 2 Sweeney 2 Taylor 2 Raymond Rosier McDonald
BEST:
Port Melbourne: Bloomfield McGlynn Debruin Carroll Monteath Langford
Casey Scorpions: Frost Youle Biagi Raymond Taylor McGrath
The problem was, that after getting off to a flier against the wind, we played a defensive set up with it and played like we were kicking into the wind again.
Playing a literal "zone" defense is just plane stupid. I almost understand why, but when they kick 4 goals almost without Port touching the ball between the bounce and the goal, then surely you give up and revert to man on man - Seriously, giving them the ball to around 50 before your defenders come into play is moronic. It wasn't like he was flooding, which is what almost works, he was just playing with a 7 - 8 man defensive 50. In all my years of football watching i have not seen a more frustrating and stupid set up.
Anyway, i won't bang on about the play of the day...
Port were beaten out of the middle, and given the afore mentioned set up, were under the pump all day. I thought most of the midfield was missing for a better part of the day. Spriggs, who is normally ultra reliable had a quiet day. Shooter was probably quiet. Cotchy was poorly used, on and off the bench and Nahas was having hamstring problems.
I still don't understand Tobes being on and off all day, and i don't get Bona being treated the same. Throw Sammy Dyer into that too.
Obba was down i thought, and Milly, despite a nice possession count also seemed down. Tired, injured - I didn't think he was moving as well as he normally does.
Pitt back in the side was good. Dukes was moving more freely than he has for a while, and Rooster was getting hands on the ball also. I also liked Matty Pearces game in limited time.
Spazzy.... I could not agree more. You took the words write out of my mouth. I feel sorry for the players who seem to get treated very poorly.
Any reason Bo Nixon is in the reserves?
I don't think he has really set the world on fire in the reserves to warrant a spot. He's been in the 'bests' a few times but so have some regular players in the reserves.