Doom and Gloom (Port 69 - 108 Collingwood)

Sorry for another delay! Port doesn't play. I don't write. Showdown is right around the corner, and we play like THAT?! I was really mad after last week's game, and I am still disappointed. No surprise I'm having a writer's block. Still, I am in this for the good and the bad. So, I am goingo to write a couple of things.

---

I have only listened the game, so I may be wrong about this. We didn't play in the first quarter against Collingwood, but reacted well in Q2. Then, Rozee opened Q3 with a goal, putting us 18 points behind Collingwood. After that, however, they outscored us 5.5:35 to ONE before we scored a goal again. I wonder whether our reaction had been nothing but an illusion. It does look like they simply stepped on the gas again, dominating us whenever they wanted to. That is not a good sign at all.

Dixon is out. I get that. But having Ryder and Hoff to replace him doesn't make sense. After all, neither would be out once Dixon is back in. The whole point is that we are playing without Dixon or someone playing AS Dixon. This doesn't allow Ryder/Lycett and Westhoff to fully play as they should.

Our structure is not build to allow Hoff to play as Hoff. He doesn't throws off our structure. Our structure is already off BEFORE the game begins. Westhoff is best as the "extra man" wherever needed. However, once Hoff is deployed around the field, there is no one to cover for him in the forward line. That's why our "structure" seems to be thrown off.

The only explanation is that Marshall would be the one replacing Dixon. If so, at least, that Round 3 "Sam Gray for Marshall" change doesn't make any sense. Either Marshall is our tallest small or he is our KPF, but he can't be both.

Am I missing something?! The way I see it, we have a 2nd tall and a bunch of 3rd talls, but no primary target down forward:

- Marshall is not a KPF (target, 1st tall), but a CHF/3rd tall.
- Westhoff is not a KPF, but a "wild-winger"/3rd tall.
- Ryder is not a KPF, but a ruckman/"supporting target" (2nd tall).
- Ebert is not a KPF, but a HFF/insider/3rd tall.
- Sam Gray is not a KPF, but a courier (HFF)/winger — not a tall at all.

We should not play them as KPF. Play them where they can contribute the most. Frampton is a KPF. We need one to replace Dixon. We should play him there. Coaches should be showing Dixon tapes to Frampton. Dixon should be giving tips to Frampton. Frampton should be practicing as Dixon. Frampton should be playing for Dixon, until Dixon is back.

We should have played Frampton against Collingwood. Well, this won't happen this week either.

Changing 2 to 4 players every week should be the norm; regardless of form. My main complaint is that we don't do that much. So, I am OK with picking and dropping players, even if the way they have been playing could make those decisions unjust.

Sometimes, the debates on selection get really weird, however. For instance, "AJ's form is bad, thus we should have picked Frampton" is not a solid argument. The contrary wouldn't make any sense either. Frampton and AJ aren't like to like, and "form" is a measure between two similar players fighting for the same spot.

The key is that Hinkley decided for someone like AJ. It was a strategic decision. Then, if the issue is AJ’s form, the right question for it would be: who could play like AJ that is in better form than AJ?

I have no idea, but it is definitely not Frampton. If there is no one, choosing AJ makes sense; his form notwithstanding. If the debate is on Frampton, then, the debate should be on the strategy behind the selections.

Finally, for all that has happened in the last portnight, the club should take the initative and: (a) make us play with the Prison Bars [Eddie and the AFL be damned]; and (b) make Boak wear the #1 guernsey. It would be only for the Showdown, but it doesn't matter.

Make it a surprise. Put NTUA to play, raise the banner [why not simply the prison bars, with nothing written on it?], and let the players march in lead by Boak. The oval would go completely bananas! Do we want people to be on the club's side? Let's do this.

AFL would gives us a fine; which is ok. We would pay it smiling.Pyke builds his teams to take advantage of the AO's field dimensions. Hinkley prefers to focus on MCG's. Kenny's Showdown record against Pyke shouldn't be surprising. We need all the help we might get. Evoking our "winning days of old" could give us the necessary edge to beat the Crows.

Alas!, be what may...

I just hope the good guys win. Last Mothers' Day weekend showdown was AWESOME! 
[here, my review of that great night: https://farwestfooty.blogspot.com/2018/05/shove-this-showdown-44-port-95-90-west.html]

CARN THE POWER!!

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