2-goal Tippett unable to save slippery swans from praiseworthy Port

On a water-logged afternoon at AAMI Stadium the much awaited debutant Kurt Tippett took just 20 seconds to add his first goal in the red and white of Sydney to his name. The Swans and the Power battled it out for dominance in the opening 10 minutes of a closely fought first quarter as players struggled to find their feet in the troubling conditions. However, it wasn’t long until the Swans, led by usual ball magnets Josh Kennedy and Kieren Jack, managed to find themselves some space to get the ball into the Sydney forward 50. Goals to Adam Goodes, a second to Kurt Tippett and one slotted by Jack himself saw Sydney leading 4-1-25 to Port Adelaide’s 1-2-8, with their solitary goal scored by 19 year old midfielder Chad Wingard, at the conclusion of the opening term.

Port Adelaide came out firing in the second quarter, scoring 13 unanswered points in the first 7 minutes, closing Sydney’s lead to just 4 points. The only other goal of a congested second quarter was scored by Sydney youngster Tom Mitchell after the umpires gifted him with a free kick deep inside Port territory. The sides went into the half time break on quite level terms, with Sydney leading 32-23, with the match anyone’s for the taking.

Neither side could find an opportunity on goal for the first 12 minutes in a tense third quarter, conditions taking their toll on players as both sides struggled to find a handle on the ball, players fumbling left, right and centre. This rendered the Swans unable to put into practice their trademark brand of slingshot football as they looked to revert to their old style which has been so effective for them in the past. It was clever work from Adam Goodes which finally opened the scoring in third term, after some clever roving and a brilliant close in finish saw the former Brownlow medalist notch a much needed 6 pointer for the men in red and white. Port Adelaide began to swing the momentum their own way as the likes of Angus Monfries and Jay Schulz put the ball through the big sticks to put Port within 4 points of the reigning premiers at the final break.

It was anyone’s guess at three quarter time which side would bring home the 4 points in this game, only the brave would guess against Sydney in conditions like this, but Port Adelaide’s home crowd support and their third quarter ascendency would suggest their momentum going into the final term. Surely enough Port continued their dominance from the closing stages of the third quarter as they took charge from the very start of the last, with the outstanding Angus Monfries slotting home for Port in the opening minute. Sydney struck back just 2 minutes later with some brilliant work from Kieren Jack on the far side boundary, beating 2 players before slotting home from 40 metres on an angle, to put the Swans back in the lead by just 3 points.

It was goal for goal from Chad Wingard and Mitch Morton before Port Adelaide ran away with the final term and the match. A simply marvelous final quarter showing from aspiring top 8 finishers Port Adelaide to put the closing touches on a well-earned victory against the previously 3^rd placed Sydney Swans. Goals to Robert Grey, another to Wingard and the finishing touches from Justin Westhoff sealed a well-deserved 18 point victory for Port Power. The final score, Port Adelaide 10-12-72 beat Sydney Swans 8-6-54.

An injury to Adam Goodes saw him subbed in the third quarter for Jed Lamb, further souring an upset loss for the Sydney Swans and coach John Longmire. Major ball winners for the day were (# of disposals) Josh Kennedy (31), Jarrad Mcveigh (27), Brad Ebert (26) and Nick Malceski (26).

GOALS

Port Adelaide: Wingard 3, Monfries 2, Broadbent, Neade, Schulz, Westhoff, Gray

Sydney Swans: Goodes, Jack, Tippett 2, Mitchell, Morton

That’s Roseys Wrap on Port vs the Swans,

Thanks for Reading!

By Jake Rosengarten

Picking a Socceroos Starting XI that will not be embarrassed in Brazil.

Socceroos coach Holger Osieck has shown great loyalty to the same eleven players in the past three world c

up qualifiers against the likes of Japan, Jordan and Iraq. Whilst Australia did secure qualification, albeit not in a particularly convincing manner, if they are to put up any sort of a fight in Brazil then Osieck must find a system and a group of players who will be able to match it with the world’s best.

Osieck's current favoured starting 11 from the qualifiers.

Osieck’s favoured starting eleven has an average age of 30.6 years, a remarkable statistic, especially when contrasted against tonight’s opponents Iraq, whose average age was a spritely 21. Australia certainly showed their age in attack at Stadium Australia, as they struggled to string together anything that resembled a fluid move in attack. Their reliance upon cross after cross after cross was a testament to their patience but it simply wasn’t productive. In the end it took a decision by Marco Bresciano to actually try passing the ball in the final third to finally find Josh Kennedy's head and in turn the decisive goal that secured qualification for the under par Aussies.

If Australia are to score goals in Brazil then they must find a balance between experience and youth, speed and technical ability. Where they have previously employed a 4-2-3-1 formation, they would perhaps be more suited to a 4-3-3 which would allow them to use Tom Rogic through the middle, push Brett Holman out to the left wing and allow for Tommy Oar’s pace to be an asset off the bench.

Rogic brings a great deal of technical ability to the table and offers a different dimension to the Socceroos attack. Brett Holman showed in the 2010 world cup in South Africa just what a destructive force he can be playing on the left, and this is where he can provide the Aussies with a real threat coming from wide and cutting into the middle with a view of goal. As for Tommy Oar, he is simply not ready for international football yet, whilst he provides pace, youth and energy, his form is sporadic and he tends to go missing just when he is most needed.

A new look 4-3-3 formation could provide a new dimension to the Socceroos going forward.

In terms of defence, the Aussies are already playing their best back four aside from one small issue. Matt Mckay is simply not a left back and if Australia are to solidify their defensive structure then it will suit them to have a natural left back in the side whose positioning is spot on and who will not lose his man as Mckay has recently been prone to doing. Therein lies a depth issue in Australian football, there is no man in the squad who is an international quality left back and so Mckay will have to do for the Aussies into Brazil.

On the whole, the Socceroos and their German coach Holger Osieck should be over the moon about their qualification to Brazil but if they are to stay in such a happy mood changes must be made to their side or else they will be delivered a wakeup call by whichever of the world’s best sides they are drawn up against in the opening rounds. Against sides of the calibre of Iraq and Jordan they are expected to win easily and judging by their inability to cement their qualification earlier it would seem they are simply not up to the lofty standards of the 32 best footballing nations in the world.

That’s Rosey’s wrap on how the Socceroos should line up in Brazil,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten