Rnd 1 - Eagles v Port @ Thebarton* (Fri N 23/3 @ 7:40pm)

The seaspn opener sees the Reigning Premiers take on probably the form team of the trial games. The Eagles have been scratchy through the trials but have had a few plaers out for various reasons while the Maggies have shownearly, they may be one of the most improved sides in 2012.

For mine, the key match up in this game will be Ben Grieger at full back on new Port forward Callum Wilson. The former West Coast Eagle has kicked a couple of bags early and has proved to be a tough match up.

Parry v Meiklejohn and Cockshell in ruck will be worth the price of admission alone while if he plays, it will be interesting to see how new Eagles recruit Robert Eddy goes.

I think the Eagles might just have a slowish start to the season and the Magpies are coming off some good trial game form, inlcuding a draw with the Bays last week.

Will be great to have night footy at Thebarton, should the lights be ready in time* and I am certainly looking forward to getting down to this one.

For mine, the Maggies might just get up in a close one here...

Port Magpies by 1-12 points.

Go the EAGLES.

maggies by 15 - 20, points thats is...

Eagles by a few

Thinking Port here too but that could change before the end of the week.

Eagles by 2-3 goals.

Port by 4-5 goals.

I think Port will suprise a few this year
Maggies by 2-3 goals

Eagles team for round 1:

F: Toumpas, Grocke, Goldworthy
HF: Lewis, Staple, Knights
C: Jarrad, Eddy, Raymond
HB: McKenzie, Day, Thompson
FB: Shirley, Grieger, Giuffreda

Ruck: Parry, Cicolella, Powell
Int: Bock, Kane, Hall

Ins: Mckenzie, Hall, Cicolella Outs: Martyn, Culley, Irons, Lane


Magpies team for Round 1:

FF: J Erskine, C Wilson, R McKenzie
HF: J Clayton, J Thurgood, M Banner
C: M Rose, S Summerton, S Biasci
HB: L Slattery, A Cockshell, N Madden
FB: J Young, K Beard, J Hoskin
1st Ruck: J Meiklejohn, M Dolling, L Harder

Interchange from:
Z Kirkwood, S Gray, B Ebert, D Kulikowski, D Lees

New: R McKenzie, C Wilson, A Cockshell

Thurgood and Cockshell around the other way seems more likely.

FOOTYfollower wrote:Thurgood and Cockshell around the other way seems more likely.

FF, do you think the coaches would play 'ducks & drakes' so early in the season ?....yep i do as well

Yes, I'd say you could be right there bayman.

as for the game i was tempted to back Port but after looking at the teams i'd suggest wwt will be too good but it should be a close match....looking forward to going to the match