Forum topic

Nice words to say Robbo. Port has underperformed but you are right the wins will come starting V Preston this weekend. Overall I think the Borough won’t be rising by any significant means this season especially when they kick straight to opposition players and when they lose games after exceeding the inside 50s count like the past two games. At the commencement of the season I thought we would win around 10 games but it’s hard to see us winning 10 from 14 of the remaining games. If we can’t get it right now  (my definition of that is making finals and doing some real damage once there) with a AFL quality coaching panel and a team full of ex AFL players then I fear we never will and could possibly become a side that only makes up the numbers like we’ve done every season post Covid.

You could argue that although last season we were in the same position we are at present, we were performing better as we were playing in games we were winning in the last quarter and should have closed out whereas this season we haven’t looked like being in any match winning situations. Having said that your words of encouragement are appreciated.

In over in Thailand at the moment and missed this game and will miss the Preston clash. 

I fear that at 0-4 start again that our season is ask but over. I can't view the replay from over here.

Did Port have any note worthy individual performances?

As we discussed in another thread, a poor forward half had been a standout issue. 

Port should approach James Hird's comments (Footy Classified} about Melbourne moving to Port's home ground carefully.

We don't wan't another St Kilda, Sandringham type takeover!

I caught the tail end of a footy news item about the new  Melb FC new CEO talking about settup up at Caulfied; I assumed he was talking about the race track; can any one shed any light on this matter

Caufield racecourse is a consideration for Melbourne as a new home for their headquqrters.

Hames Hird stated that Port would be a good place also.!

Does that signal the demise of Casey Fields as a VFL venue

Re: noteworthy individual performances, Heppell played his best game yet for Port Melbourne and was our best player. He spent more time in the midfield than he has before and looked good there. Green and Bedendo were also very good. I'm very pleased with how Bedendo has performed recently. I'd have Lazzaro among the bests again as well. I think in the past couple of games he hasn't been able to get as much space for his long runs with the ball, but he consistently gets a fair bit of it and also works hard defensively. Tom Hird was good aside from a couple of turnovers on kick-ins in the fourth quarter; Hooper was good aside from giving away some silly 50-meter penalties. I wouldn't have Polkinghorne in the bests but continue to be generally pleased with him - he had some good moments and for the amount of experience he's had at this level continues to look very promising. I do wonder why Highmore isn't spending more time in the backline - he again spent more time in the midfield, although he was in the backline more in the second half.

I don't have any particular hopes for this season at this point, but if we can improve the forward lines in the next offseason I think it would then become realistic to hope for better things. My prediction of a finish somewhere between 8th and 10th was clearly unrealistic, but even aside from the forward lines it's perhaps not surprising that it's taking some time for a team with a new coaching panel and so many new players to gel. Hopefully we do at least see improvement over the course of this season.

Digs, thanks for mentioning that interview with Melbourne's new CEO. I listened to the segment - it does sound concerning. James Hird even mentioned Melbourne and Port Melbourne having the same song. They were talking about possible sites for Melbourne's new home base, Eddie McGuire mentioned James Hird having mentioned Port Melbourne as a possibility, Hird agreed, Eddie noted that they both wear red and blue, and Hird added that they have the same song. So that does not sound great at all, and I wonder whether/how much he's spoken to the board about this idea and where they stand on it.

Haven’t heard the comments but going from what’s being said here it’s indeed very concerning. I can accept that outsiders will sometimes say things detrimental to our club but this coming from one of our own is very intriguing!!!

Hopefully the board quickly crushes this one - we are Port Melbourne playing at port Melbourne cricket ground, a venue for Port Melbourne sides to call home. 
 

I think your 8-10th wasn’t unrealistic and that’s where we should have finished but it’s fair to say we have underperformed. Should have won at least 2 by now which would be considered a pass, not having a win it’s fair to say we have underachieved. 
 

The place is changing, port rebuilds never used to take long, used to be the case of exodus happening and finals the next year.

Yes, I agree we should have won at least 2 by now. The losses to Brisbane and Box Hill weren't particularly surprising (although against Box HIll especially we definitely had our chances - poor kicking has been costly), but the Frankston and Essendon games were both very winnable.

I really don't know where James Hird could have been coming from with that wild idea about Melbourne using our ground as a home base, or how he could think it would be acceptable to supporters. He should understand the importance of a club's history and identity and how that means more than whatever financial benefit I assume he's envisioning. It would seem strange for him to be talking about this publicly without having spoken to the board, but the board certainly ought to shut down the idea immediately!

ETA: I should note that it sounds to me like Melbourne are still most interested in pursuing Caulfield as their home base, although their new CEO did seem to have some doubts about whether that would work out. Eddie McGuire also mentioned Waverley as a possible home base for Melbourne. But it is strange that Port Melbourne's ground should even have come up as a possibility at all.

It came up a few years ago when Eddie mentioned it back then. He said something about the colours, song, central location and from memory going into an alignment? 
 

One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is the playing surface. It’s been a ongoing challenge even with the re laying of the ground to put out a quality surface that meets current standards, will it be able to withstand the demands of another semi professional club training on it ?