Port Melbourne will play its first game of the season this weekend after a bye in Round 1 - we preview their season.
The Borough were given one extra week to prepare for the season and get ready for their opening game of the season against Northern Blues.
Vice Captain Chris Cain will lead the team in Round 2, with new captain Toby Pinwill on the sidelines for the first three games.
Coach: Gary Ayres (8th year)
Captain: Toby Pinwill
2014 finish: 3rd
2014 best & fairest: Toby Pinwill
Last premiership: 2011
Alignment: VFL standalone
Notable ins: Jordan Lisle (Brisbane), Khan Haretuku (Frankston), Lucas Cook (North Ballarat), Daniel Toman (Bendigo), Leigh Osborne (Gold Coast), Dylan Van Unen (Essendon), Alex Urban (Oakleigh Chargers), Nathan Batsanis (Richmond), Lachlan Waddell (Oakleigh Chargers), Shannon Taylor (Frankston)
Notable outs: Sam Pleming (Maffra), John Baird (retired), Marcus Marigliani (Essendon), Shane Valenti (Noble Park), Marcus Davies (Tigers), Dan Connors (Bridgewater), Julian Rowe, Adrian Bonaddio
It will be a changing of the guard this season at Port Melbourne with the Borough entering the year without experienced namesJohn Baird (retired), Sam Pleming (Maffra) and Shane Valenti (Noble Park).
Port has looked at players that are no strangers to the comp, signing AFL delisted players Dylan Van Unen, Jordan Lisle and Leigh Osborne to add senior experience to the list. They have also covered the losses of leading goal kickers Julian Rowe and Dan Connors by securing Lisle and former Frankston forward Khan Haretuku. Along with the strong preseason form of Hugh Sandilands, the Borough forwards will be hard to stop when you add in a fully fit Josh Scipione and Chris Cain pushing forward from the midfield.
A young ruck division will be shouldering the load this year as Gary Ayres tries to add some pace and added skill to the team after their Preliminary Final departure against Footscray.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Round 19, 2014
Port Melbourne 2.5, 7.10, 12.12, 18.17 (125)
Northern Blues 2.2, 3.3, 5.6, 9.6 (60)
GOALS
Port Melbourne :
H. Sandilands 4, D. Connors 4, S. O'Sullivan 2, C. Johnston 2, T. Gordon 1, W. Johnson 1, T. O'Sullivan 1, T. Pinwill 1, M. Wooffindin 1, J. Rowe 1
Northern Blues :
M. Watson 3, B. Johnson 1, K. Lucas 1, N. Holman 1, R. Warnock 1, B. Bransgrove 1, L. Reynolds 1
BEST
Port Melbourne :
H. Sandilands, M. Marigliani, J. Magner, S. Pleming, M. Wooffindin, M. Davies
Northern Blues :
N. Holman, P. Cripps, J. Anthony, M. Watson, K. Lucas, B. Taglieri
Last Modified on 24/04/2015 11:32
