Chris McDermott rates the Port Adelaide Power players after strong AFL win over West Coast Eagles
PORT Adelaide produced the goods when it mattered most in its clash with West Coast. Chris McDermott rates the Power players from a vital, courageous win.
- Match report: Power makes its point
- Hinkley hails important win
- Analysis: Port on target, on song
- Win provides ‘significant’ belief: Ryder
PORT Adelaide produced the goods when it mattered most in its clash with West Coast. Chris McDermott rates the Power players from a vital, courageous win.
Boak 7: Off to his best start in a long time with a nice assist and some important touches, none more important than his goal just before half time to give the Power hope. His best game for some time and a great sign for the weeks to come.
Powell-Pepper 6: Back in his home state and on song from the start but injured his shoulder midway through the second term and his day looked over. Courageously returned and did not flinch and made an outstanding contribution for such a young man.
Ryder 7: Gave his mids good service early and marked strongly to give his team a much needed strength as they battled to stay in touch. Battled well despite tiring in second half but kicked the last goal of the game to make it a good night.
Ebert 7: Strong start but injured early and spent some time on the bench trying to recover. Returned in style to gather 19 possessions to the long break and an impressive 31 for the game in an outstanding game.
Hartlett 7: Good start but didn’t look 100 per cent after corky from last week and there was no run and carry with his 10 first half possessions. Gutsy mark to start the third term then monster goal minutes later and it was game on! Second half much better than his first and that’s exactly what his team needs from him.
R. Gray 6: Held goalless by Sheppard last time they played but took him no time to kick his first in this one., Took a fair while to get his second but it came in the last to stretch the Power’s lead to three goals with 12 minutes to play. His third came quickly and it was game over.
Trengove 5: Marked straight in front early in the second but missed an easy shot on goal. Made up for it in the last with goal to give them the lead and got his second moments later to put the result beyond any doubt.
Wines 7: Got the Power off to the perfect start with an uncontested mark inside 50 and a perfect shot on goal. Typical bullocking, combative game from the midfielder and rose to the occasion when his team needed him the most.
Clurey 5: Strong start until he conceded front spot to Darling and allowed him an important goal, then lost his way for a while and Darling took control. Then gifted Darling his fourth with poor free kick to start the third term. Finished off better but lost this battle, just.
White 5: Some brilliant moments with great pace and set up the Power’s much-needed fifth goal afterseven straight to the Eagles. Much to like about the improvement we saw and looks in good shape.
Wingard 6: Lively start with snap goal to give the Power a four-goal lead but dropped out of it and didn’t have another kick for the rest of the quarter. Missed one he needed to kick late in the second. second half outstanding after switch to the midfield and helped turn this game back in Port’s favour.
Polec 5: Indifferent start where he won enough ball but turned it over a little too often for his liking. Much to like about the way he soldiered on and continued to get the ball inside the Power’s attacking 50m.
Impey 4: Unsighted in opening term but provided a couple of strong running bursts in the second term to lift his team. Little else to talk about. Again too quiet for too long but there were signs of brilliance at times.
Pittard 5: Unsighted for much of the first half with just the three kicks to the main break. Better after half time and finished well to do just enough to hold his place but he has not put it beyond doubt and must do better.
Dixon 7: Looked dangerous early and cashed in with strong mark and clinical finish but supply dried up for a long time in second quarter. Strong mark and quality finish to start the fourth quarter gave the Power a six-point lead. His fifth came near the end to make it game, set and match for the Power.
Atley 4: Got a couple of nice touches early and didn’t look out of place but found the speed of the game tougher as it wore on. Great experience.
Hombsch 5: Sluggish start but second term better despite the odd hiccup or two. Conceded mark and goal to Le Cras in last term to level the scores. A tough night where he never looked 100 per cent.
Byrne-Jones 5: Quiet start by the youngster in a frenetic opening to a big game for both teams. Made every touch count but not one of his best games.
Westhoff 7: Strong opening and it was needed as the West Coast controlled much of the first half after the Power’s strong start. Started forward in the third and gave Dixon a much-needed goal to bring the margin back to 11 points then got himself another later to give the Power back the lead. That's the game he must replica-
saving moments.
Houston 6: Ten possessions in the first term got him off to the best start of his short career and looked in excellent nic in one of the biggest games he has played. Tired a little but that was a career changer for the youngster.
Sam Gray 4: Just the four touches in the first half as he struggled to find any ball in the chaotic opening. second half much the same but did win some crucial ball late.