Port Melbourne travels to Essendon this Saturday, and are on their way to repeating their efforts of 2011 when they remained unbeaten for the season. After six rounds of the current season the Port is looking mighty ominous as Steve O’Brien reports.
Essendon, coming off a last quarter fadeout against Sandringham which saw them give up a 21 point lead at three quarter time, will need to call on an enormous effort from all of its players in order to quell what is the Port juggernaut.
At selection Essendon has been forced to make six compulsory changes with Kurt Aylett, Tom Bellchambers and Patty Ambrose all in the AFL side, Tayte Pears and Dylan Van Unen suffering calf injuries, while first year rookie Johnny Rayner has a hip flexor issue which will keep him sidelined for another week or two. Their replacements will be Marty Gleeson, Ben Howlett and Jason Ashby all of whom have been mainstays for the AFL side while Sean Gregory, Orazio Fantasia and 23rd man Jack Langford who will make his debut for the Dons. Langford, at 194 cm, comes to the club from Macleod in the Northern Football League originally hailing from Banyule - the same club Essendon recruited Brent Stanton from.
Port on the other hand have a very settled squad with the only change being Sandy Robinson out of the side to be replaced by either James Wilsen or Mitch Woods both of whom have been included on an extended interchange bench. Oakleigh Charger Jack Sinclair has been named for his second game as 23rd man.
The men from North Port Oval have been dominant this season with comfortable wins over Coburg, Collingwood and Bendigo, while were pushed by Williamstown who they downed by 27 points in a low scoring affair, and were seriously challenged by Werribee before being victorious by 13 points.
This week’s selection of the State squad saw no fewer than nine Port representatives including Chris Cain, Danny Noonan, Sam Pleming, Josh Scipione, Toby Pinwill, Luke Tynan, Shane Valenti, Julian Rowe and David Fanning. Many others could be left scratching their heads at their non-inclusions, such is the strength of the playing personnel. One man who has been a main stay of the State squad in resent years is Pleming, who will play VFL game 200 Saturday.
- CLICK HERE to see Pleming's reaction to being named in the squad, and his feelings leading up to game 200
The Bombers have three players selected in the squad, with captain Ben Duscher, Josh Mellington and Alistair Kefford in the initial squad. Kefford, who has spent time at Williamstown, spent most of last year playing for Aberfeldie and is blossoming into one of the better key forwards in the VFL and richly deserves his selection in the squad.
It is near impossible to pick against Port with their playing stocks and the rich vein of form they are showing, especially with its goal to goal line and ruck division having been selected in the state squad. Backing them up on the flanks and wings are the likes of captain and former State squad member John Baird, throw in Marcus Marigliani and James Magner and goal kicking option of Will Johnson and their line up appears flawless.
Essendon have some quality players in Howlett , Leroy Jetta and Travis Colyer and youngsters Ashby and Gleeson but will all need to play at their best if they are to push Port.
VERDICT: Too many good players on each line suggest a comfortable win by 40 points for Port Melbourne.
Last Modified on 16/05/2014 23:23