Round 14: Sydney v Port Adelaide

[Nico]

I said to Dr J last night in the last quarter that the Shaw move forward may be the signal he is gone. With us undermanned and a lead that needed to be protected, I thought it telling that Longmire went with Jones back and keep Shaw as far from goal as possible.

I thought Rampe and Grundy were sensational down back with Hanners and Joey at the top of their game also.

I thought Jets stunk it up bigtime, fumbly and just terribly out of sorts but it was telling that his effort and endeavour to get involved didn't waiver. In years gone by he would have faded right out of the game when he was having 'one of those nights'.

I have mellowed substantially over the past 20-25 years watching the games, but I was at my outraged best when Broadbent went the dog act on Parks. I am still almost hoarse from my outrage. Geez that pissed me off.

I couldn't help but think that 'Nico' would have been going spare in front of the TV at home at some of Harry's non efforts. I've always been of the opinion that Harry offers us something doing what he does and his lack of an in and under game can be carried, but last nights game was just one of those games you had to take one for the team and on too many occasions he failed to get in the line of fire, imo.

And finally, it was bloody cold.....

Yes I did notice Harry's inability to get into the action. In one play he even backed off a contest with his "gimme" hands palm up hoping for a spill to come his way. He did though find himself fortuitously in the right spot for a game saving goal at the end. He was on for 2.5 quarters as sub and generally failed in the role. Surely Hewett gets a game now before him.

Towers again failed to flatter at the top level. If only he took the footy on about 4 occasions when presented by his team mates, instead of looking for where his opponent was. Fractionally took his eyes of the footy causing a fumble.

[Ampersand]

I thought Rampe was very good against Schulz but this morning I began thinking whether the likely suspension was hanging over Schulz just like the commentators were saying about Buddy last week.

Didn't Schultz kick his only goal after the tackle occurred in Q4? It looks to me like he has had the yips all year.

[111431]

Not sure if my eyes were deceiving me, but I think that Ted has allowed a bit of playing for free kicks to creep into his game these days. Both times last night he received a bump and went flying forward to allow his opponent to take an uncontested mark. I cant help but think that in his All Aust year he would have tried to out-body the forward and stand his ground. I think I have seen it a few times this year and it is a bit of a concern.

I agree - looked straight at the umpire for the free

[Doctor]

Noone commenting on the possibility that we may lose the points for last night if the rest of the round doesn't go ahead?

Nope. I didn't think it was appropriate to comment on anything like that, and I'm glad no one else did either. I think the right call was made in the end, but this is one of those times where we just accept that whatever decision is made, is made with the very best and most appropriate of intentions.

[Dosser]

Not sure if my eyes were deceiving me, but I think that Ted has allowed a bit of playing for free kicks to creep into his game these days. Both times last night he received a bump and went flying forward to allow his opponent to take an uncontested mark. I cant help but think that in his All Aust year he would have tried to out-body the forward and stand his ground. I think I have seen it a few times this year and it is a bit of a concern.