Port Adelaide’s record in tight games has turned again — and to the wrong results
PORT Adelaide is again being tormented by last-minute results that have put the Power’s AFL finals hope on edge.
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- Eagles’ theft a hammer blow to Port’s finals hopes
- Power’s horror day as finals hopes fade
- Shaw fears injury could end season
- Live ladder: How Cats could miss September
“WE will never, ever give up.”
Port Adelaide fans would change Ken Hinkley’s billboard theme for the Power to: “We will never, ever give up a lead.”
The Power is developing a complex in tight games this season — by either bad decisions on its players’ part, bad luck and some bad breaks, sometimes all rolled into one spectacular play.
And the supporter base — that six years was at risk of losing its AFL dream while Port Adelaide games were in ruin before half-time — is no longer appeased by having their club’s matches on the line to the final minute.
How they wish the Power was the English Premier League’s version of Liverpool (the team with the most 90th minute winners in league history). Hinkley & Co. at Alberton do suffer for lifting hope to fans who expects wins — not just effort.
There have been six Port Adelaide matches decided by nine points or less this season. The first two were reassuring for those fearing a deep-seated scar being left by last year’s elimination final loss in extra time to West Coast.
Wingman Jared Polec — the player who handed Eagles midfielder Luke Shuey his free kick after the siren last September — stopped Brisbane midfielder Allen Christensen’s snap on the goal line at Adelaide Oval with 78 seconds to play in Round 3.
Geelong recruit Steven Motlop stunned the Crows in the last 21 seconds of Showdown 44 in Round 8.
And since then it has been four tight losses — Hawthorn by three points (and a rash of 50-metre penalties) in Round 11; Fremantle by nine points (and a fever of turnovers) in Round 17; Adelaide by three points (and perhaps a goal post) in Round 20 and West Coast by four points on Saturday after the Power commanded a 28-point lead in the third term.
And then lead ruckman Patrick Ryder hobbled off again with a hip strain and, in 20 seconds, key forward Charlie Dixon (right ankle) and young defender Dan Houston (concussion) were lost.
Port Adelaide does not fold to be true to the “never give up” theme. But the Power does crack. On Saturday, it was under extreme pressure — and on the points Ken Hinkley’s line-up could least afford to lose: A ruckman to command clearances; a tall forward to complete the plays and a switched-on defender to stop the Eagles running to the goal line.
Inevitable perhaps … until hours later Greater Western Sydney proves why the Giants are a top-four contender despite the carnage piled up on their bench in Canberra where Leon Cameron watched his 19 fit players dictate terms to the Crows.
Never giving up a lead means more than never giving up now.
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au