Chris McDermott Round 13 Team of the Week: Charlie Dixon brings Port more cheer
PORT Adelaide’s strong Round 13 performance continued with domination in Chris McDermott’s Team of the Week, with four Power players making the cut while the Crows’ woes are reflected with just the one selection. Blog with Bone at 12.30pm today.
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WHAT a mixed and unpredictable season the AFL is experiencing in 2018. On field and off it!
In Round 13, as wintry conditions made life hard for forwards, goals dried up and defence reigned supreme.
Not one player could manage more than three goals, leaving Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin’s haul of 2.5 in the Swans’ gutsy win over the West Coast at the SCG enough to secure him a key role in attack.
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Franklin rose to the occasion with victory on the line to steer his team home.
Back here in Adelaide, the Power’s key forward Charlie Dixon finally got closer to his imposing best, booting majors in their comfortable win over the Western Bulldogs.
Dixon had a hand in another and while he was still slightly off his best, it was a welcome sign for all Power fans.
Dixon was joined in this week’s team by the mercurial Robbie Gray, who produced some of his famous party tricks in his 28-possession, three-goal BOG performance.
Ollie Wines game could also not be ignored with the midfielder thriving in the conditions gathering 35 disposals at an outstanding 80 per cent effective disposal, with seven inside 50s, one goal and two assists.
The Power dominated the TOTW this round with four members, the final one being Tom Rockliff after his season-best performance for his new club.
Rockliff gathered 25 possession and kicked three goals as the Power moved a step closer to a top-four berth.
It was a much different story for the Crows after their absolute thrashing at the hands of Shaun Burgoyne in his 350th game and his Hawthorn team.
Jake Kelly played some of his career-best football to be the only Crow worthy of a spot in this week’s team, grabbing 23 possessions and taking 10 marks.
It was a different story for the Hawks.
James Sicily is in the TOTW again after another brilliant game on the big stage.
Sicily did as he pleased and when he pleased amassing 24 disposals, kicking three long goals and chipping in for 11 one percenters.
Team-mate Tom Mitchell did his Brownlow chances no harm, after another 40-disposal game and potentially another three votes.
Around the country, as the big men struggled, some new faces emerged, none more exciting than Bulldogs youngster Ed Richards.
The smooth-moving left footer kicked three goals and gave another away as his star continued to rise.
Richmond’s Shane Edwards continued his sensational season rotating through the midfield and in attack to be BOG in the Tigers’ potential grand final preview victory against Geelong.
Jade Gresham made his selection an absolute certainty with his last-minute brilliance securing a rare win for the Saints, while Nic Nat made his case by dominating the stoppage duels with 32 hit outs and a dream run to his midfield while playing just 64 per cent of the game.
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History suggests strongly that if you miss out on a premiership at your first try as a coach, you should not get another chance — unless you’re Mick Malthouse or Malcolm Blight, writes Chris McDermott.
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It was the game that stopped a state — the first Showdown between the Crows and Power on April 20, 1997. Chris McDermott shares his memories for Part 1 of The Greatest Showdowns series.