Round 12 Power Rankings: Port Adelaide’s defence keeps Richmond to its lowest score since 2016
PORT Adelaide kept Richmond to its lowest score in two years on the weekend and with continuity comes predictability and reliability from its defence.
Reece Homfray
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PORT Adelaide kept Richmond to its lowest score in two years on the weekend and with continuity comes predictability and reliability from its defence.
Selective and aggressive recruiting gave the Power’s midfield and forwardline a boost over summer while the backline built on its familiarity playing together and is now “moving like a unit” according to defensive general Nathan Bassett.
The Power restricted Richmond to just 58 on Friday night after conceding scores of 64 (Hawthorn), 42 (Gold Coast) and 90 (Adelaide) in the past month to rank third in the competition for points against.
Reigning premier Richmond was averaging 102 points a game this season but the Power’s backline set up well behind the ball and thwarted constant attacks.
“We’ve put a fair bit of work into that space of getting good shape behind the ball in terms of where the defenders are, but also where they’ve come from to give us that shape,” Bassett said.
“While it’s not overly experienced they’ve been playing together for a little while and they’re starting to move as a unit.
“We’ve probably seen good efforts individually more so in the past, where as there is that real movement as a group and starting to see some direction now, helping others or bringing them with them.
“I think we’ve shown some continued improvement and the guys are getting better at working together all the time.
“The guys stuck at it pretty well, Richmond missed a couple of opportunities but I think we defended well as a team and got some good support from the forwards and mids as well with the pressure and work into defence.
“But we won more than our fair share of battles in Richmond’s forward line.”
Port kept Richmond to 49 inside 50s and eight marks in front of goal, where as the week before the Tigers had 59 and 15 against Essendon.
The back six also has depth and versatility and there is competition for spots with Jack Hombsch dropped last week.
“We’re more playing with the three bigger guys than the four, depending on form, and Jasper (Pittard) had been playing a bit better so came back in,” Bassett said.
“Tom Jonas’ form has been outstanding so he’s not going to miss out, Dougal is our point of difference in defence with his ability to impact the high ball and his speed to shut down opposition players.
“Tom Clurey has missed out this year on one occasion and this time he was performing a bit better than Hombschy so kept his spot.”
Points conceded in the past month:
217 - Sydney
224 - Geelong
254 - Port Adelaide
286 - Essendon
289 - Melbourne
292 - West Coast
295 - Collingwood
310 - North Melbourne
314 - GWS
322 - Richmond
340 - Adelaide
344 - Hawthorn
346 - Western Bulldogs
365 - Brisbane
401 - Carlton
403 - Fremantle
432 - St Kilda
483 - Gold Coast
GOOD WEEKEND FOR ...
Mason Cox. I once thought Collingwood would never do any good with Cox as its key forward and while I’d still like to see him back it up or do it in a final, it’s now very clear he can play and dominate at this level.
ONE TO FORGET FOR ....
Stuart Dew. Looked helpless at times in the box against GWS and after such a promising start to the season he must be wondering how it’s all gone so wrong so soon.
BURNING QUESTION ...
Will Rory Sloane play this week? The Crows are running out of time this season and brought Tex Walker back ahead of schedule to play Fremantle. Sloane is running at training but will he play the Hawks?
POWER RANKINGS
WEST COAST (10-1)
Stay top of the rankings despite the week off and get to re-load starting with Sydney at the SCG this Friday night. Can secure a top-four finish in coming weeks.
RICHMOND (9-3)
Minor slip up or is three losses on the road this season a concern? Not if you finish top two and march into finals on the MCG. Had their chances but didn’t take them against Port.
SYDNEY (9-3)
Amazing first quarter from the Swans to remind everyone they are very much a premiership threat when they’re up and going.
COLLINGWOOD (8-4)
Big fan of Jaidyn Stephenson, I was wrong about Mason Cox and the Pies aren’t relying on Pendlebury and Sidebottom to dominate to win anymore. Finals-bound for sure.
GEELONG (8-4)
As convincing as they could be against an emerging North Melbourne. Mark Blicavs transformation to key defender is complete after his shutdown of Ben Brown.
PORT ADELAIDE (7-4)
Best win by any team of the weekend. Loved the way their defenders set up behind the ball and Sam Powell-Pepper’s last month since returning to the side has been elite.
N. MELBOURNE (7-5)
Minor reality check against Geelong but don’t rule a line through their finals aspirations. Dogs, Essendon and Gold Coast after the bye.
MELBOURNE (8-4)
This was a reality check. The Dees will play finals but must find a way to make sure their defenders aren’t isolated now Jake Lever isn’t floating across to help out.
GWS (6-5-1)
The Giants are starting to look ominous after annihilating Gold Coast. Jeremy Cameron finally regaining form and have Brisbane after the bye so look out.
ADELAIDE (6-6)
If the loss to Melbourne was a wake-up call, GWS was the chance to respond and Fremantle was the game they had to and they did neither. I’d like to see Patrick Wilson get a game this week. Marty Mattner describes him as the best kick in the SANFL.
HAWTHORN (6-5)
Crunch game against the Crows on Saturday night in Shaun Burgoyne’s 350th. Then Gold Coast and GWS to come. Must win two of the three to stay in the hunt.
FREMANTLE (5-7)
Great win without Fyfe and Sandilands over a team that is almost playing for its season. Big-day out for SA boy Brennan Cox who is this week’s rising star.
ESSENDON (5-7)
Had to work for the win over the Lions without Dyson Heppell for most of the game. At 5-7 going into the bye it’s far from a disaster compared to where Hawthorn and the Crows are at.
W. BULLDOGS (4-7)
Come to Adelaide to play the Power with fresh legs after the bye but they’ve got to find a way to score after kicking just 26, 55 and 51 in the past three games.
BRISBANE (1-11)
Competitive against the Bombers and Harris Andrews’ stocks continue to rise in defence. Locked in a three-way battle for the spoon with St Kilda and Carlton.
ST KILDA (1-10-1)
Embarrassing first quarter against Sydney on Saturday night. Must beat Gold Coast this weekend because it’s Melbourne and Port Adelaide after the bye.
CARLTON (1-10)
Will the week off help Carlton re-focus? Bottom of the ladder but should see themselves as a genuine chance against the Dockers at Etihad this weekend.
GOLD COAST (3-8)
In their past four last quarters, Gold Coast has kicked 0.1, 0.1, 0.0 and 2.2 while leaking 3.2, 4.4, 3.2 and 7.3.
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