Venue: Avalon Airport Oval
Conditions: Perfect with no wind. A little chilly but the sun was out which was nice.
In action:
Dan Currie - 10 disposals, 4 marks, 40 hit-outs
Kieran Harper - 19 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 1 goal
Taylor Hine - 20 disposals, 4 marks
Kayne Turner - 22 disposals, 5 marks
Mason Wood - 21 disposals, 7 marks, 3 goals
Scott McMahon - 16 disposals, 4 marks
Nathan Grima - 8 disposals, 5 marks (50% game time)
Ben Brown - 14 disposals, 7 marks, 1 goal
Jarred Moore - 14 disposals
NMFC's best: Kieran Harper, Mason Wood, Taylor Hine, Kayne Turner
Key match ups:
1. Taylor Hine vs Chris Cain
2. Scott McMahon v Daniel Connors
Story of the game:
After an even first half, Port took control in the second and despite a final term assault from the Tigers managed to hold on.
The visitors made the perfect start with three goals and hopped out to a 17-point lead. The signs looked ominous for the Tigers, but they fought their way into the contest with Ben Brown kicking their first goal for the match.
Nathan Grima made a successful return from a foot injury and played just a half, with nothing separating the teams at the long break.
Wasted opportunities cost the home side as it booted seven behinds to Port's three majors in the third. Mason Wood bobbed up to get things back on track in the fourth quarter kicking his third and his side closed within nine points. But it wasn't to be.
Some poor skills errors and turnovers gifted Port the match and the Tigers headed into the change rooms having let a real chance of a win slip through their fingers.
What the coach said (John Lamont):
Quarter time - "That hard wiring in you that made you play a team sport as a kid, make sure that's coming to the fore!"
Three-quarter time - "Of course we can do it, but we must play with bravery!...You must tackle well for thirty minutes! Every single one of you must tackle to the best of your ability and when we've got the footy, put pressure on by taking them on. Let's play with some bravery! C'mon!"
Points of interest:
1. Nathan Grima got through unscathed after making a return from a foot injury. The key defender played the first half, before watching the rest of the match from the bench.
"I was quite pleased, despite him only playing a limited time. His experience was quite evident, I thought he defended one-on-one well. He didn't have the energy to run off his opponent as much as he probably would have liked and to get involved offensively. The most important thing is that he got through the game. He told me at halftime that he felt he could have played on, but obviously we're not taking any risks." - Senior Development Coach Gavin Brown
2. Kayne Turner is pushing for an AFL debut.
"He had a massive last quarter with 11 touches and played more on the wing today. He's starting to get the hang of the running patterns and has the capability to run all day and use his speed. 22 possessions for him is significant against some pretty big boys and he's really getting the hang of it.
"He's knocking on the door...not from an offensive point of view, but certainly defensively. He puts an enormous amount of pressure on the opposition with his tackling from behind. He's putting his name up there."
3. Kieran Harper may have found a new role/position
"He's had 19 possessions off a half back flank...I really liked his game. He hasn't been getting that much footy as a midfielder as that but I really liked the offensive side of his game considering he hasn't played half-back before. For him to go back, in one game, and defend like a defender...that was the most pleasing thing.
"You could see that he was quite determined to beat his opponent and defend first, but he also had the initiative to run off his opponent and grab 19 touches. I thought he was almost our best."
4. Mason Wood was best-on-ground despite carrying an illness.
"He was feeling a bit unwell coming into the match so it wasn't a bad effort actually to see him pushing through it. He's ended having six shots at goal; it's not a bad day's work. He didn't quite have the same spark that he normally does but it's pleasing that he was able to grind away really."
5. Taylor Hine's shut down role was superb
"He did a terrific job playing on Chris Cain, one of their best players. He's done himself no harm at all."
Most likely call-ups: Mason Wood, Taylor Hine
