Round 16: North v Port, Sunday 15 July 2012 @ Prospect Oval

V

Sunday 15 July
Prospect Oval

Reserves: 11:25am
League: 2:10pm

Broadcast: 5RPH

North are coming off a double bye, which they limped into with a couple of very ordinary losses, while Port are coming off the usual single bye, but also not in crash hot form. Who will regain some winning form?

North at home by 2-3 goals.

logic suggests North but i can't pick this one, perhaps it'll be a draw

Surely we can't loose against the bottom team again like always,

Have to finally beat one eventually

North know that this game is virtually a final for them. Lose to the bottom team AGAIN, and the season is over. They expect a raft of key players back from injury - Currie, Ryswyk, Miles, Gallman - and with the possible inclusion of the new players Dalwood and Shannon, the team will be much stronger. The Roosters have been decimated by injury and the unfortunate loss of a few players unable to commit to League Footy, and they are still hanging in there just out of the 5. With 8 very winnable games remaining, they are still a strong chance to finish 4th, or even 3rd. When they play their best footy, they can beat anyone - Norwood and a big win against the Eagles. When they don't, they look very ordinary, and lose games they should win against Sturt, Port and the Eagles. With the apparent dissension down at the Magpies, North should strike and get the rest of their season up and running for a tilt in the finals. North by 30 points.

is there 'dissension' at Port ? i just think they haven't got the cattle

Port for mine, are playing for their season and must win this to stay in contention for that fifth spot!

North at home and Port to stay on the floor of the ladder.

testy wrote:

North at home and Port to stay on the floor of the ladder.

Well I got that wrong, but I did hear 2 Port senior players were dropped to the maggoos today for diciplinary reasons.

Cockshell and Summerton were the players dropped for missing training.

Port & its coach made a statement today with the two players mentioned above but wasn't it three players ?, i was on my way from Plympton oval to Woodville oval & heard CK give that info on the radio & i pulled over & backed North it wasn't all doom & gloom though as i had already backed wwt at the points, this decision could be the best decision Port & Tony Bamford has made in his tenure.......the question must be asked about North & its mental toughness, because with a finals berth looming they can beat Norwood but can't perform against the likes (with respect) of Sturt & Port

was mouse missed ?

So is it the playing group, or is it Francou?

Will he be there next year or will the club show him the door?

I would hope the club does not bow down to supporter pressure and invest in him as a long-term project, much like West have done with Collins.

howthewestwaswon wrote:So is it the playing group, or is it Francou?

Will he be there next year or will the club show him the door?

I would hope the club does not bow down to supporter pressure and invest in him as a long-term project, much like West have done with Collins.

if 'that pressure' comes that'll be a hatrick

testy wrote:Cockshell dropped for missing training.

Surprise, surprise. Hasn't done that before

Next stop .. amateur league.

bayman wrote:..the question must be asked about North & its mental toughness, because with a finals berth looming they can beat Norwood but can't perform against the likes (with respect) of Sturt & Port

Just looking at the team that played today, they must be missing at least 7-8 players who played against Norwood. Bennett, Backwell and Stewart are three for a start.

Bennett....absolutely
Backwell....their choice to sack him
Stewart...absolutely

however AH, they apart from some of the third term didn't give a yelp & for a team in fifth place to meekly surrender is a lack of mental toughness, where's the attitude of the 'call ups' thinking to themselves ''i'm going to burn today & show the coach i should be in'' ? i'll add while i think of it that you could say Port were missing their best players also

As much as I am no fan of the PAFC the way they go about running their club and what they expect from their players is something I have always admired. People write Port off at their peril and one thinks Port are just slowly getting better and better. God help the SANFL if they do keep going and begin to recapture some of their 1990's form which I believe is coming around again!

As for North and Francou I just do not know. Its not unreasonable for any Coach in Francous position to have the screws turned on him, it comes down likely to the plan that he presented to the board of the NAFC when he took the job on and how they are tracking with it. Plenty of rumours running around, but little to substantiate it with!