AFL Power Rankings: Port Adelaide Power only has itself to blame

SOMETIMES you’re just beaten fair and square by the opposition and sometimes you only have yourself to blame, and Port Adelaide will take a good look in the mirror after Saturday’s loss to Hawthorn.

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• ‘Undisciplined, stupid’ mistakes cost Power

SOMETIMES you’re just beaten fair and square by the opposition and sometimes you only have yourself to blame, and Port Adelaide will take a good look in the mirror after Saturday’s loss to Hawthorn.

Coaches will always say “credit to the opposition’’ and in this case Hawthorn deserved the four points in Launceston because it held its nerve and fought back from four goals down at quarter-time.

James Sicily flies for a spoil over Port’s Charlie Dixon while James Frawley roves. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

The half-backline was almost impossible to penetrate with James Sicily, Ben Stratton and James Frawley taking intercept marks at will and repelling everything the Power could throw at them.

But the Power was its own worst enemy and brought undone by their own hands through two key factors - bad kicking and ill-discipline.

Bad kicking is so often measured by scoring conversion but 9.7 was one of its better efforts this season.

The problem was around the ground and particularly coming out of defence.

Ball use coming off half-back hasn’t typically been Port Adelaide’s weakness in recent seasons but there were just too many turnovers against Hawthorn and at crucial times.

In the fourth quarter alone there was Jared Polec’s miskick to Robbie Gray, Dan Houston’s sprayed pass to Jack Watts and then turnover from full back when he kicked it straight to Jarman Impey, and further up the ground Chad Wingard went sideways inside 50m instead of long, direct and dangerous.

Then there was the problem of ill discipline.

The umpires were clearly whistle happy from the get-go and at times it unfairly impacted the game. How Shaun Burgoyne was reported for rough conduct by jumping on Jared Polec with the ball is a dead-heat with the free kick against Essendon’s Michael Hurley on Richmond’s Dustin Martin for the worst call of the weekend.

Jared Polec competes with the ball with former Power teammate turned Hawk Jarman Impey. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

But that aside, the Power gave away 31 free kicks compared with Hawthorn’s 23, and in an AFL record 11 50m penalties for the game, nine of them were against Port Adelaide. Hawthorn had to rally to get back in the game after falling 24 points behind but Port Adelaide gave them a hand.

Tom Mitchell had been well held before kicking two goals from 50m penalties which dragged his side back.

“Ill discipline, we let ourselves down a bit after that first quarter,” Power forward Jack Watts said. “We did lose our way a bit, even in the first quarter the goal they got was from ill discipline and it kept rolling into the second quarter.

“Then we were fighting pretty hard and battling away.”

It’s hard enough to beat your opponent fair and square without having to beat yourself as well and the Power will be kicking itself in the review.

GOOD WEEKEND FOR ...

Shane Edwards. He instigated a move for Aboriginal players to wear number 67 last year in a tribute to the 1967 referendum and on Saturday night he was best-on in Dreamtime at the G.

ONE TO FORGET FOR ...

Jake Lever. Went to Melbourne on big money and with big hype and was starting to deliver as his side was hitting its straps. Now he’s done his ACL and will be out for 12 months. Footy can be cruel.

BURNING QUESTION

Is Geelong a contender or not? The Cats are in the eight but I’m yet to be convinced of their flag credentials. North Melbourne this week is big.

AFL POWER RANKINGS

Jack Darling of the Eagles is assisted off the field with a right ankle injury against St Kilda. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Media/Getty Images

Jake Lever of the Demons is assisted off the ground by a team official against the Western Bulldogs. Picture: AAP Image/Joe Castro

1. WEST COAST (10-1)

Jack Darling’s ankle injury was the story but the Eagles’ juggernaut rolls on and now they’ve got the week off before playing Sydney at the SCG.

2. RICHMOND (9-2)

Far too good for Essendon, as expected, and it sets up a huge clash with the Power at Adelaide Oval on Friday night where the Tigers have won just one of their past five.

3. N. MELBOURNE (7-4)

Crushed Brisbane at Etihad to shore up their spot in the eight and Geelong this week will finally reveal just how serious the Kangaroos are this year.

4. MELBOURNE (8-3)

Jake Lever was the player Melbourne could least afford to lose because it now isolates a young Oscar McDonald and may rob it of a forward threat if Tom McDonald has to go back and help. Huge blow.

5. SYDNEY (8-3)

Hit its straps in the second half against the Blues to make it four in a row with St Kilda and West Coast before the bye.

6. COLLINGWOOD (7-4)

Regulation win from the Pies, who progress to 7-4 going into the Queen’s Birthday game against Melbourne which, for the first time in years, looks like a genuine blockbuster worthy of the timeslot.

7. GEELONG (7-4)

A few were lining up to call Gary Ablett Jnr’s football career as good as over during the week and he responded with 37 disposals and three goals.

8. PORT ADELAIDE (6-4)

Jasper Pittard should come under real consideration to come in this week and Jack Trengove can’t be far away either. Dan Houston might be a bit nervous.

9. ADELAIDE (6-5)

First time the Crows have dropped two games in a row this season. Midfield class was exposed by the Giants and the sooner Rory Sloane gets back to boost the team the better.

10. HAWTHORN (6-5)

The Hawks get their noses in front of the ledger again at 6-5. Sicily, Stratton and Frawley were enormous in defence in the win over the Power in Launceston.

South Aussie Ryan Griffen was in vintage form against Adelaide. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

11. GWS (5-5-1)

Just when we thought the Giants were gone, they go and beat Adelaide in Adelaide. Broke a four-game losing streak, midfield enormous and Griffen wound the clock back big-time.

12. ESSENDON (4-7)

Was never realistically beating Richmond on Saturday night but showed some fight in the first half. Jake Stringer has already vindicated the club’s decision to chase him in the off-season.

13. W. BULLDOGS (4-7)

Kicked the first three goals against Melbourne on Saturday then faded badly to lose by 49 points. Time to reload in the bye this weekend.

14. FREMANTLE (4-7)

Three losses on the trot for the Dockers, who now could be now be without superstar captain Nat Fyfe after his high hit on Levi Greenwood.

15. BRISBANE (1-10)

Big loss to North Melbourne on the road and now injuries to Cameron, Christensen and McCluggage will really test the Lions’ depth heading into winter.

16. GOLD COAST (3-7)

Jarryd Lyons was dropped and the Suns’ midfield was no match for the Cats in their return to Metricon Stadium.

17. ST KILDA (1-9-1)

Second week in a row the Saints have shown some spirit - against Richmond and now West Coast - but still stuck on just the one win. Sixth 30-plus possession game for Seb Ross this season.

18. CARLTON (1-10)

No-brainer to play Jacob Weitering for the rest of the season if Carlton is to salvage anything going forward. At 1-10 going into the bye, it might be time to reassess the list.