Round 13 - Roosters Alberton Streak Ends!
Our Mighty Roosters looked to continue their winning ways at Alberton on Saturday. It was another must win game for us against a lower ranked opponent. There were no further changes to the selected 21. Skipper Daryl Wintle made his long awaited return and in a Minor Miracle, White and Lonie were picked for AFL duty, deservedly, and low and behold, actually played AFL footy!
In the 1st stanza, the flood appeared to be on. Port spent a lot of time in attack but had to resort to chipping it around due to congestion. When a goal opportunity presented itself, they were invariably off target. North had several opportunities to sting Port on the break but were guilty of over finessing the footy, and missing targets. It wasn't until halfway through that we had our first real opportunity. GONZALEZ Thompson missed with the first. Minutes later he took a nice pass from Archard and converted. Port continued with the points. Late in the term The Roosters worked it to the pocket. Younie was infringed upon. His free kick from a tight angle split the middle. After an unremarkable stanza, we led by 8 points, 2-1, 13 to 0-5, 5.
In the 2nd term, North seemed to catch Port's first term kicking yips. Several opportunities, well constructed by the likes of Younie, Alleway,
Ryswyk and Wintle went begging. Port brought up their first with some extraordinary assistance from the umpy! Cunningham was pinged for over the shoulder, even though he never touched his opponent and seconds later paid a mark to Port even though it was dropped (who needs a visit to the Eye Doctor?) Mind you the men in tights, sorry I mean White cannot be blamed for further conversion failures by The Roosters, 7 straight points to be exact! It felt all the more worse when Port got their second late in the term. At half-time North were clinging to a 2 point lead, 2-8, 20 to 2-6, 18. It could've been so much more.
In the Premiership Quarter, flooding tactics appeared to be dispensed with which opened up the goal opportunities. Port took the first 2 to take a ten point break. We brought it back to 4 when Allan and Younie combined to find Stewart. He drilled one. Things seemed to be back on course as North went forward again. However, a wasteful turnover saw Port run it down the other end to score. Port then banged another 3 goals to take control of the match. Some good work at the back by the likes of Gallman prevented another Port goal and led to a goal against the tide to Ivens. After Port quickly replied, Alleway and Wintle combined to put a pass on to Thompson. "Gonzalez" booted his 2nd. Allers was involved again minutes later when he strongly marked and goaled. The Roosters careered forward from the re-start; Younie took a shot on the run. Agonisingly he hit the post. Even more agonisingly, Port scored on the rebound. The Unit got his redemption for the poster when he scored later in the quarter! At Lemon-Time, Port held all the aces, 7-9, 51 to 10-8, 68
In the last stanza, early opportunities went begging again. It was third time lucky when Alleway marked and goaled minutes later. The influential Ryswyk was then involved in another unrewarded foray. Moments later, we ran it out of defence. A very costly turnover saw Port have loose men everywhere; they scored. We stayed in the hunt when Archard and Ryswyk yet again were instrumental in moving it forward. Krieg got a free at half forward and calmly slotted it. The Magpies went forward from the re-start. Gallman took a crucial relieving mark at Full-Back. This turned defence into attack. An attractive passage ended in the Big Mitts of Alleway. He went BANG. A 4 point ball game, into time on. Could we steal it? At this point I feel I was singing "KNOCKING ON HEAVEN'S DOOR" with Jimmy Barnes! "It's gettin' dark, too dark to SEEEE" (Barnsey screams!) North Adelaide worked it forward in search of the winner. At half-forward , Ward conceded the free and an needless 25 metre penalty. GAME OVER! It is impossible to gloos over the fact that it was a wasteful performance by OUR MIGHTY ROOSTERS! The final scores
North 10 -12, 72
Port Adelaide 11 -10, 76
Kym Chaplain
June 29th 2008