1st Qualifying Final
	V
Port Adelaide 10.9 (69)		Hawthorn 10.12 (72)

Words cannot totally describe the range of emotions I went through at Footy Park during the course of this game. Elation, Bewilderment, Frustration, Sadness and Disbelief I think pretty much sum it up. This was the one that was slated as a win but during the week, I felt none of the excitement I did like the previous week before we played Brisbane. Maybe the events in the USA has made everyone a little bit more sombre.

It looked like we we were in it from the start and it was great to see the pressure that was being applied throughout the ground. It was certainly evident that we were missing Pacco. But tell tale signs of where the game was going were already beginning to show and the Hawks' unrelenting push forward was a key to where it was going to end up. Luckily, they kicked very badly towards the golf course end or else it could have been a very different scoreline.

We saw signs of endeavor, and again, pressure was pretty full on as well as some off the play pushing and shoving (Carr). And then came the second quarter where it started to become obvious that Port may have had a game plan but had no idea how to execute it. They resorted to last years game and the fast break out of the mid field and burst through the centre had completely disappeared. In fact, combined with some heavy flooding, the Hawks exploited this game style to full potential.

The second half was very sobering because the writing was on the wall. When we started to make the quick centre break and get it up forward it looked like we could do it but, again, the option to stop after a mark, square the ball, chip it, was our undoing. Hawthorn punished us on turnovers where, when we got the turnover, we couldn't do anything with it. I must admit, Che is a great player but at times he was just being too smart and it frustrated the shit out of me, not to mention the other supporters.

So we got taught a lesson about finals footy that I don't think we'll ever forget. We played with our hearts for a well earned 3rd in the minor round and pissed it up the wall to finish 5th. I honestly thought we could make it to the Preliminary Final.  My heart goes out to the club as well because it must be absolutely devastating but if we put things in perspective, this week has seen a tragic event in the US which will have irreparable global repercussions for the future, a part of Australian airline history has disappeared putting up to 60,000 people out of work with an unimaginable impact on families around the country and an admired race driver of mine, Alex Zanardi, has just had both legs amputated after a horrific race crash. So we lost a Semi Final.

We will draw strength from this and, believe you me, if this doesn't make them absolutely hungry for victory in future, then I don't know what will. So that's it for this year, folks. The fat lady has sung for Port. See you in 2002.

Highlight:
1) Cocky's quick goals in the 3rd quarter that gave us some hope.

Lowlight:
1) The way Port just lost the plot.
2) The most pathetic umpiring I have seen all year. Really bad. I mean, really, really bad.

FOOTY REPORT ARCHIVE

Click here to read in depth, sometimes controversial, but always thought provoking previous round reports...