Moment on Monday: Port Adelaide debutant Joel Garner shows a cool head under pressure in Power’s win over Gold Coast Suns
Port Adelaide had 1215 games’ experience sitting injured at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. But the kids — including first gamer Joel Garner — didn’t even blink. Plus see where your team sits in this week’s Power Rankings.
Reece Homfray
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Port Adelaide had 1215 games’ experience sitting injured behind a glass panel at Adelaide Oval yesterday and if the Power was ever going to be vulnerable this season, then this was it.
Favourites — which as Power fans know doesn’t sit comfortably with them — coming off a two-game losing streak and missing half their side against a gritty and determined Gold Coast, the dark clouds began to hover.
At quarter-time Port Adelaide was behind in disposals, contested ball, tackles, inside 50s and 28-19 on the scoreboard.
But two moments helped turn the tide in the second quarter and they involved four players with 18 games between them.
The first was a centre clearance when Connor Rozee broke away from the square and gave the footy to Joe Atley, who handballed back to him. Rozee had every right to have a shot from 50m given he had time and space, but he instead waited, looked sideways and hit Zak Butters with a perfect pass and Butters did the rest.
The second moment and perhaps more telling given it involved first-gamer Joel Garner came 22 minutes into the quarter when the Suns still had their noses in front.
Gold Coast was surging forward and the ball heading towards Ben King when Garner made the decision to leave his opponent — the dangerous Alex Sexton and not only affect the spoil but win the footy and start the counter attack. Port went coast-to-coast, Sam Gray kicked the goal the Power was finally in front.
“He’s got a very mature head on his shoulders even for a 19-year-old,” Power defender Darcy Byrne-Jones said.
“He makes really great decisions out on the field and that was one of numerous times where he came off (his opponent) and assisted us.
“He was fantastic, with Joel you know what you’re going to get — he’s tough and hard, he loves hitting bodies and the conditions were perfect for him.
“I’m excited about the future for him.”
It was only minutes earlier the TV commentators were suggesting Ken Hinkley move Garner off Sexton so he wouldn’t be exposed.
Sexton kicked two goals and had eight disposals in the first quarter but finished with two and 13.
Garner also tracked him inside 50m in the last quarter and out-bodied him to take front position and the mark to stop a shot on goal.
Post-match Hinkley said it was never the plan for Garner to play on Sexton permanently and he did a good job when he did.
“He did a really good job with his whole game and our defenders typically play where they need to play, and that was another example of that regardless of the personnel you’re faced with,” Hinkley said.
“I thought he was incredibly strong a couple of times, but we knew that about him that he was going to be pretty honest in every contest.”
Port’s team was so young it opted to go with Dougal Howard as stand-in skipper because he typified the demographic that’s emerging at Alberton.
“They’ve brought a real energy to the club not just on game day but during the week,” Byrne-Jones said.
“The main message is just to keep it simple. They’ve come in for a reason because they’ve been playing strong footy in the SANFL so keep playing the way you have been — you don’t have to set the world on fire, just play your role.”
On Sunday they more than simply played their role.
Billy Frampton and Kane Farrell kicked 6.1 between them with textbook set shots and their positioning was just as good. Frampton crashed packs and brought the ball to ground and Farrell got dangerous front and centre.
The other one was Atley who got the nod ahead of Jack Trengove for a midfield spot and had 19 touches including 12 contested and his body strength made him difficult to tackle.
GAME NOTES
DON Pyke had to do something about Lachie Neale who had 25 touches in the first half. By sending Chayce Jones to him in the third term, he got a close-up look at one of the game’s best but we also got a better look at the Crows’ top draft pick last year. Jones didn’t look out of place around the ball — he cannoned into Daniel Rich at speed and bounced off him and laid a big tackle on Ben Ainsworth which led to a Rory Atkins goal. It was also Jones’ clearance which led to a Taylor Walker goal late in the game as the Crows threatened to steal the points. It was no surprise Pyke was so keen to get Jones back in the side as soon as possible.
A WEEK after their Showdown heroics, Reilly O’Brien and Elliott Himmelberg were shown up by the Lions at the Gabba. Adelaide lost the hit-outs and clearances — particularly in the middle — where Stefan Martin and Oscar McInerney were able to jump over O’Brien and put it down Neale’s throat. Alastair Lynch called them “unpressured clearances” and they often scored from them. Himmelberg, meanwhile, maintained his goal-a-game output but was beaten by Harris Andrews. It will be interesting to see whether Pyke holds his nerve or reacts to Josh Jenkins’ impressive six goals in the SANFL.
TOO often the Crows kicked short to a one-on-one contest, missed their target and conceded a goal. Alex Keath, Luke Brown and Brad Crouch all went short to a one-on-one instead of long and it came back with interest.
IT’S almost harder to get into the Crows’ side than it is to get dropped at the moment and Bryce Gibbs made the most of his lucky break on the weekend. As Pyke put it, Gibbs had been a victim of circumstance when he went out with a sore back but was called up to replace Matt Crouch. Back in the side and tellingly, back in the middle, he had 22 touches and two goals.
MR ONE PER CENTER
Who are the unsung heroes of SA footy? The players who have an impact on the game without hitting the stats sheet. Champion Data records one per centers by tallying spoils, knock-ons, shepherds and smothers every game. Here’s the leaderboard from Port Adelaide and Adelaide after Round 9:
78: Dougal Howard (Power)
75: Daniel Talia (Crows)
59: Tom Clurey (Power)
49: Jake Kelly (Crows)
47: Alex Keath (Crows)
43: Paddy Ryder (Power)
42: Tom Jonas (Power)
39: Dan Houston (Power)
37: Scott Lycett (Power)
SUPERCOACH TOP 10
ADELAIDE midfielders Rory Sloane and Brad Crouch, and Port Adelaide’s first-year prodigy Connor Rozee were the three top SuperCoach scorers in SA across the weekend. Rozee’s 116 was well up on his average of 83 and is making some serious cash for those who still have him in their team. Top 10:
1. Rory Sloane (Adel) 124
2. Brad Crouch (Adel) 119
3. Connor Rozee (Port) 116
4. Travis Boak (Port) 106
5. Tom Rockliff (Port) 103
6. Sam Gray (Port) 101
7. Tom Lynch (Adel) 100
8. Karl Amon (Port) 98
9. Brodie Smith (Adel) 96
10. Bryce Gibbs (Adel) 89
QUOTED
Although I heard a bit of his pre-game talk and he didn’t quite get that right … it made the boys laugh though so it’s a really good way to take them out onto the ground.
— Ken Hinkley on Dougal Howard as stand-in skipper.
TIPS
An early look at Round 10 tips:
COLLINGWOOD over Sydney at the SCG, HAWKS to beat Port in Tassie, DOGS over the Roos, ADELAIDE to bounce back over West Coast, CATS over the Suns, RICHMOND in the Dreamtime game, GWS too good for Melbourne, SAINTS over Carlton and FREO at home over Brisbane. Last week: 7. Running total: 51
POWER RANKINGS
1. GEELONG (8-1)
Dismantled the Dogs and unearthed another promising gem in ruckman/forward Darcy Fort from Central District.
2. RICHMOND (6-3)
The Tigers just keep on keeping on. This time it was Hawthorn at the MCG, now bring on Dreamtime at the G.
3. COLLINGWOOD (7-2)
Took a while to shake the Saints but that’s six on the trot now.
4. GWS (6-3)
Destroyed the Blues and went past 100 points without Coleman Medal leader Jeremy Cameron even kicking a goal.
5. BRISBANE (6-3)
Very mature win from Brisbane which shows they’re ready to play finals.
6. WEST COAST (6-3)
Took three quarters to put Melbourne away and Shannon Hurn for All-Australian captain anyone?
7. ADELAIDE (5-4)
Could have pinched it late but the Lions were the better team all day. Recent inclusions Ellis-Yolmen, Gallucci and Greenwood were all down after a big few weeks to get their season back on track.
8. HAWTHORN (4-5)
Another 30 touches for Ricky Henderson but a loss to the Tigers. Sets up a 50/50 game against Port in Tassie.
9. PORT ADELAIDE (5-4)
Ken Hinkley made a point of keeping the win over Gold Coast in perspective — they’re only just in the top eight — but he was clearly a relieved man last night. That was a danger game for Port and while the kids didn’t blink Travis Boak and Tom Rockliff were enormous.
10. ST KILDA (4-5)
Brave against Collingwood and how good to see Robbie Young lighting up the MCG.
11. WESTERN BULLDOGS (4-5)
Not quite up to it against the Cats but can hit back against the Roos.
12. ESSENDON (4-5)
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Dylan Shiel dragged the Dons over the line in a game you won’t want to see ever again.
13. GOLD COAST (3-6)
They would have made Port very nervous on Sunday and they were missing some names too like Touk Miller and Pearce Hanley.
14. MELBOURNE (3-6)
Got surprisingly close against West Coast in Perth and they’ve found two real goers in Marty Hore and Jay Lockhart.
15. SYDNEY (3-6)
Gutsy win over North Melbourne in Hobart. Can they make it three in a row against Collingwood on Friday night?
16. FREMANTLE (4-5)
For the second week in a row found themselves in a winnable position but couldn’t hit the scoreboard against Essendon.
17. NORTH MELBOURNE (2-7)
Only played one good quarter against Sydney.
18. CARLTON (1-7)
At 108-14 down, it didn’t bode well for those preaching improvement at Carlton under Brendon Bolton.
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