Power Rankings: Port Adelaide’s Steven Motlop shows his true worth
IT is 10 weeks since Steven Motlop became a Showdown hero against Adelaide and as the Power prepares for a rematch this weekend, he has underlined his importance to the side. See why and where your team sits in this week’s Power Rankings.
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IT IS 10 weeks since Steven Motlop became a Showdown hero with his goal in the dying stages against Adelaide and as the Power prepares for a rematch this weekend, he has underlined his importance to the side.
Motlop’s performance on Sunday wasn’t a high-possession game — he only had 12 disposals in Port’s win over the Western Bulldogs — but he got maximum value for every touch.
Motlop was a late withdrawal for the game against GWS last week and Port Adelaide missed him terribly.
They had no composure going forward, couldn’t hit a target inside 50m and didn’t take their chances in front of goal.
In Ballarat on Sunday Port Adelaide addressed those deficiencies and at the centre of it was the recruit from Geelong who is looking more and more at home in a Power jumper with every game.
While the game was dominated by five-goal forward Charlie Dixon in another reminder of just how important it is to have Paddy Ryder in the ruck, Motlop was instrumental in getting it to him with five inside 50s.
He kicked a brilliant goal on the run in the second quarter, helped deliver the footy to Dixon for a goal to start the third term and was involved in Chad Wingard’s goal soon after as the Power took control of the game.
He also hit Robbie Gray inside 50m and kicked cleverly into space which should have led to a Darcy Byrne-Jones goal in the final quarter.
Apart from an undisciplined act on the wing when he gave away a 50m penalty which cost the Power a goal, it was exactly what Port Adelaide needs from him.
Not that it should be a surprise. Motlop’s form had been building in his 16 games before missing the GWS loss but when Port needed class and composure on a dirty day for footy, Motlop stood up.
It was a good day for Port’s other off-season recruit in Jack Watts who kicked the first goal of the game and impressed with his second efforts around the ground.
And so now we go back to the Showdown with Adelaide’s season all but over and Port believing anything is possible after leaping back into fourth spot on the ladder.
There are so many intriguing storylines in Showdown 45 and not least of all is which team will go ahead of the ledger — or Ken Hinkley’s counter — with them both locked on 22 each.
GOOD WEEKEND FOR …
Essendon. The Bombers may have left their run too late but all those questions surrounding John Worsfold and his contract extension have suddenly gone quiet.
ONE TO FORGET FOR …
Sydney. The Swans are now outside the top eight and face Collingwood, Melbourne, GWS and Hawthorn in a fight to play the finals.
BURNING QUESTION …
Will we see Brodie Smith in the Showdown? Has not played at AFL level since the qualifying final but two very good games in the SANFL has him on the cusp.
ROUND 19 POWER RANKINGS
1. RICHMOND (14-4)
The Tigers still have Collingwood’s number and retain top spot on the rankings this week. Josh Caddy has kicked an incredible 20.1 from set shots this season.
2. GWS (11-6-1)
Wasn’t pretty and nor were the Giants overly clean with the footy but they got the win to enhance their top-four claims. Harry Himmelberg (four goals) continues to impress.
3. WEST COAST (13-5)
Kicked just six goals for the game in Sunday’s loss to North Melbourne which snapped their three-game winning streak.
4. COLLINGWOOD (12-6)
The Pies are no closer to beating Richmond but will have Jordan De Goey back if they get another crack at them in finals. Shattering for Matthew Scharenberg who’s done his third ACL.
5. PORT (12-6)
How quickly Port’s fortunes seem to go from doomsday to top-four contender. Dixon’s 5.2 was his best return since 2015 and how good was it to see Kane Farrell kick a goal on debut in the final quarter.
6. GEELONG (11-7)
The rise and rise of Tom Hawkins continued with seven goals taking him to 48 for the season and second behind Ben Brown in the Coleman Medal race.
7. MELBOURNE (11-7)
I got a lot of feedback for leaving Clayton Oliver out of the votes on Saturday night but thought Petracca turned the game in the third term and Harmes did a stellar job on Sloane.
8. ESSENDON (10-8)
Essendon is just about the form team of the competition having won eight of its last 10 and is making a serious play for finals.
9. HAWTHORN (11-7)
Looking like a legitimate finals side now after easily beating Fremantle in Perth and has Essendon this week. Big game.
10. NTH. MELB (10-8)
Very impressive win in Tassie against a genuine premiership contender in West Coast. Paul Ahern (37 disposals) and Ben Cunnington (39) led the way.
11. SYDNEY (11-7)
Major concerns for the Swans who are in freefall. Their loss to the Bombers on Friday night made it four losses in their past five games and their only win was thanks to that Aliir goal in the dying stages against North.
12. ADELAIDE (9-9)
Wayne Milera has come of age this season and I haven’t seen him as composed and confident with the footy as he was on Saturday night. Two turnovers aside, it was a big positive on an otherwise disappointing night.
13. BRISBANE (4-14)
More good signs in another honourable loss against Geelong which doesn’t count for much on the ladder but is encouraging for supporters. Beams back to his best with 37 touches.
14. ST KILDA (4-13-1)
Competitive against the Giants who were in form but were still left to rue missed opportunities. Had 60 inside 50s to GWS’ 48 and lost by 25 points.
15. FREMANTLE (7-11)
Blown away by the Hawks in the first half which was their fourth loss in five weeks but anything is possible in this week’s Derby.
16. GOLD COAST (4-14)
Couldn’t ride the wave of confidence from last week’s win over Sydney into Carlton and kicking 5.14 didn’t help the situation.
17. W. BULLDOGS (5-13)
The Dogs were kept to their second lowest score for the season in Ballarat on Sunday when they managed just 5.4. The big difference was marks inside 50 where they took five compared to Port Adelaide’s 13.
18. CARLTON (2-16)
A Blues fan told me that was the worst team Carlton had fielded all year yet it produced their best win. Cripps firming as a Brownlow Medal smoky.
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