Just watching the replay. We were all over Port for the first half of the 3rd quarter. Absolutely dominant. Difference to the first 2 quarters was we couldn't score. That was where it started to break down. Our forward entries were poor, but Port flooded back to stop the big boys. Then it Seychelles. Port kicked a couple of tall good goals. Most telling though was the repeat entries. Our Achilles heal showed through again in our inability to get it past half back from the kick in. Old habits die hard. When the heat came, we reverted back to our old ways. Kick long to a pack repeatedly. Problem was Port were sweating on it. Knew that's what was coming. They spoiled forward where players were waiting for it and in they went again until eventually they got the goal.

From there the momentum completely swung. We went into our shell and instead of moving to make space for ourselves, started only worrying about our opponent to the point where we forgot to attack. We forgot to run. In essence we just shit ourselves. The demons of the past haven't been exorcised yet. The belief is better, but hasn't got to the point where the 5 goal runs can be stopped yet. The players like the supporters when a team comes just think, here we go again, this always happens and no one is strong enough to say not today.

Good post The Cranium.
Thought we blew so many good chances when we were on top and when we were under the pump.
Agree with Caz, the ruck frees against Pitto are bewildering.
Curnow’s presence around the ball in the dying minutes was important I thought. He didn’t do much but showed leadership and Port players would have been aware he was there.
The only enjoyment of the second half was listening to Russell having to commentate Port not winning.
And Robbie Grey actually missed against us.

Pottering around outside, went into the shed and turned the radio on for a score. We're 45 points up in the third quarter, I can relax now, surely we can't lose from there.

Walk back in later, turn radio on, theme song playing. Hoping we've buried them, three point win... I rarely watch or listen to the games now, it's not good for my health.

Just watching the replay. We were all over Port for the first half of the 3rd quarter. Absolutely dominant. Difference to the first 2 quarters was we couldn't score. That was where it started to break down. Our forward entries were poor, but Port flooded back to stop the big boys. Then it Seychelles. Port kicked a couple of tall good goals. Most telling though was the repeat entries. Our Achilles heal showed through again in our inability to get it past half back from the kick in. Old habits die hard. When the heat came, we reverted back to our old ways. Kick long to a pack repeatedly. Problem was Port were sweating on it. Knew that's what was coming. They spoiled forward where players were waiting for it and in they went again until eventually they got the goal.

From there the momentum completely swung. We went into our shell and instead of moving to make space for ourselves, started only worrying about our opponent to the point where we forgot to attack. We forgot to run. In essence we just shit ourselves. The demons of the past haven't been exorcised yet. The belief is better, but hasn't got to the point where the 5 goal runs can be stopped yet. The players like the supporters when a team comes just think, here we go again, this always happens and no one is strong enough to say not today.

I haven’t watched a replay yet, but I’d be keen to hear from others any insight into how Martin & Owies went statless in the last quarter.

Jack put in a big third quarter, getting himself into the action at half back, but (Fisher aside) the crumbers and half forwards were a piss poor group in the second half.

Can't see us getting within 5goLsof Freo next week

I haven’t watched a replay yet, but I’d be keen to hear from others any insight into how Martin & Owies went statless in the last quarter.

Jack put in a big third quarter, getting himself into the action at half back, but (Fisher aside) the crumbers and half forwards were a piss poor group in the second half.

The trick to preserving one's mental/cardiac health when barracking for us, is to focus on golf.

Go and watch Jack Martin play live and focus on him. When others are jogging around the field, he sprints up and down the ground creating options, drawing defenders which creates space for his team mates and attacking the ball/player as hard as anyone.
If his body can hold together and he can stay on the park long enough to build his endurance, he'll be great value. I watched him yesterday when he didn't have the footy and couldn't believe his workrate and application.

Owies and Durdin didn't have big games but we still had 16 inside tackles which is very good. It's our connection between half back and half forward that's creating us issues.

That's on a par with your best posts...

I noticed it against GC, and it was there again today, when we needed to play temp footy we just dont work hard enough. There is not enough players in motion creating space, running at the ball. Our ball carrier then has no option to bomb it long down the wing to a contest. Which creates turnovers and the ball rebounding fast into our under pressure backline.

Port did it well, So did the Hawks.

Frustrates me to no end.

Go Blues

Wrong again keogh, we have improved massively to be an average team.

Go and watch Jack Martin play live and focus on him. When others are jogging around the field, he sprints up and down the ground creating options, drawing defenders which creates space for his team mates and attacking the ball/player as hard as anyone.
If his body can hold together and he can stay on the park long enough to build his endurance, he'll be great value. I watched him yesterday when he didn't have the footy and couldn't believe his workrate and application.

Owies and Durdin didn't have big games but we still had 16 inside tackles which is very good. It's our connection between half back and half forward that's creating us issues.

You make a good point.

I don't know how keogh can predict the result if Lycett played.

Once we stopped trying and felt we had done all the work needed (a trait from the past imo), Port were allowed to cmme back.

Blues looked incredible in the first half, with or without Pitto, Lycett, jack.
Have to give credit where credit is due. The overlap running was a result of effort and connection. Period.