After the Port - Melbourne game the other night my mate said, "without knowing who who they play next week, both sides will loose". He could be right.
It was a very intense game played in (unseasonal) very warm and humid conditions. You worked up a sweat just sitting there watching game and many in the crowd were continually fanning themselves with their records.
At each break both teams left the ground, presumably into cool rooms.
Melbourne in particular looked spent at half time. I was really surprised they maintained their intensity for the whole game. (they did drop off towards the end of the 1st, 2nd and last quarters, but had to pick up again to wrestle back the lead at the end of the game.
Port had to work very hard in trying conditions to get back into the game and both sides dug deep for the last 10-15 minutes of the game. This game would have knocked the crap out of both these side, who then had a 4hr + flight home.
Whether the result has any influence on how well port back up, I don't know, but they could very well be flat next week. If we can maintain our intensity for the whole game like against Whorethorne then I believe we are a chance to knock Port.