The picture shows me during last year's AFL Grand Final. Friday, Richmond should enter on the field surrounded by a guard of honor, and receiveing thunderous applauses from the home crowd. We can kill the Tiger during the game, for sure; but, before, we could show all our appreciation for what they have done for us last year.



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Finally, a Port's night game! This means the bounce-off happens at 7am GPT (GremioPower time). I can believe I will be able to watch the game while fully rested. And what a game it may be! Against the club who shares its song with Brazil's America Football Club , the AFL reigning premiers, that which Glenelg wishes to, but will never be: the Richmond Tigers.





By the way, the truth is that Port Adelaide were Richmond before Richmond was cool. Both teams were supposed to play a similar brand of football: forward pressure; contested footy; and fast transition into attack. Richmond won a flag playing Port style. (Damn!) This season, however, we look different. As we try to improve our F50 entries, we have been struggling both offensively and defensively. So far, we are:





a) not pressuring as low on the pitch as we should;

b) slow after winning contests, allowing the opposition to settle and/or to immediately pressure us; and

c) unable to use possession football as a way to open defenses up.



I mean, this is true, except for third quarters (or for Q1 last week). For some reason, we only look as the team we should be for no more than one quarter per game. So far, I don't see anyone who has been able to explain why this is so. It is the "Riddle of the Sphinkley!"





Speaking of last week, I am still pissed with our performance. That was masterclass on dumb lazy football! After a bye, against Hawthorn, there is no excuse for that. We should have been excited, glad we were playing football again. We didn't. Against Richmond, we must be better - and with the same line-up. There was only one change from the squad who didn't play against Hawthorn: Pittard replacing Hombsch, due Richmond's small forward line. It is not based on form. I believe that McKenzie would have been picked, if he wasn't injured. Pittard has to raise his game. Perhaps, a primetime blockbuster game is precisely what he needs.[1]



To be fair, we began the game fired up, but all the excitement lasted one quarter. I understand the umpires screwing us over, but we have to be smart, and not to let that getting us. I once listened to Tom Brady explaining why smart players are more important than talented players. The guy knows a thing or two about championship teams. We need have a line-up full of smart hardworking players. They are supposed to be the ground on which a good team is build. Then, a couple of freaking-talented men would be able to lift such a team high enough for a championship. We have hardworking players and have talented players, but do we have smart players? At least, enough smart players? I don’t know. Maybe this is our problem.





For instance, players must be able to adjust to anything the opponent does by themselves. If something is already not working, they should have both the capacity and the authority to address the issue before any message arriving from the coaches' box. After all, if it works, there is no need for a message to arrive from the coaches' box. Another example: players must also be able to adjust for whatever the umpires are calling in a particular game - i.e., if you are giving frees for tackling in a certain way, stop doing that! But only smart players are able to make such adjustments, and we don’t seem able to do them. That is a huge issue. Sometimes I sincerely doubt our ability of playing smart football.





It is true that one cannot teach nor coach someone into being smart, but one can teach or coach someone who is already smart to use his smartness properly. Perhaps, we have a way out. If we change our attitude, play smart and not let the circumstances of the game to affect us, this game against Richmond can be very different than last week's. We may end up asking ourselves "where was this team last week?" Please, Port, I want to ask myself that.





If we lose 2 of the next 3 home games, but we play better football, I would take it. It would be a sign that we are contenders, even with a 7-6 record. For a Top-4 spot, I believe that a 15-7 record could be enough. Losing to both Tigers and Demons would force us playing 8-1 ball for the remainder of the season to get there. However, looking at our schedule, our odds to pull it off wouldn't seem that crazy, would they? Top-4 spot, I believe that a 15-7 record could be enough. Losing to both Tigers and Demons would force us playing 8-1 ball for the remainder of the season to get there. However, looking at our schedule, our odds to pull it off wouldn't seem that crazy, would they?



The club is really putting its chips onto these three next games at home, but the sequence against Carlton, Saints, Freo, Giants, and Dogs seems more important to me. If we don't gel there, than we never will. I miss the "flat-track-bully" Port, to be honest; and the games against Blues, Kilda, and Docks are the best opportunity we have to unmercifully obliterate our opponents this season. It could be a confidence-building moment, the keystone for the remainder of the season. The club is really putting its chips onto these three next games at home, but the sequence against Carlton, Saints, Freo, Giants, and Dogs seems more important to me. If we don't gel there, than we never will. I miss the "flat-track-bully" Port, to be honest; and the games against Blues, Kilda, and Docks are the best opportunity we have to unmercifully obliterate our opponents this season. It could be a confidence-building moment, the keystone for the remainder of the season.



Still, let's beat Richmond. Shall we? Please!



