Round 8 Power Rankings: Could Tom Rockliff and SPP hold key for Port?
COULD it be that two players who found themselves in the reserves together for two weeks now shape as the most important to Port Adelaide’s premiership hopes? Reece Homfray wraps up the Showdown in his Round 8 Power Rankings.
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COULD it be that two players who found themselves in the reserves together for two weeks now shape as the most important to Port Adelaide’s premiership hopes?
Tom Rockliff and Sam Powell-Pepper ended their AFL exile with an almighty statement in Saturday’s Showdown when they won 23 contested possessions and 10 clearances between them to drag their side over the line.
They were the firestarters and Robbie Gray was the finisher and Port Adelaide’s ability to win finals may well rest on that type of performance becoming the benchmark for the pair.
Port knows what it’s going to get from Paddy Ryder in the ruck, Tom Jonas in defence and Ollie Wines on the ball, but when guys like Rockliff and Powell-Pepper play well the team is able to exploit its strengths.
Most notably, Gray can play forward and stay forward.
“It allows you to put scoring threats in the scoring space and that’s what we were able to do because Rocky got the job done,” Ken Hinkley said.
Hinkley has been very patient, more so than some supporters, who have been quick to question the recruiting of Jack Watts and Steven Motlop and to a lesser degree Rockliff this year.
On Saturday night Hinkley was rewarded for keeping the faith, for recruiting them and knowing what makes them tick. To make Rockliff come back through the reserves when he was out of form and for backing in Motlop and Watts to stick at it. All three were very good in the second half.
And with Powell-Pepper, Port put its arm around him as a 20-year-old in the eye of a storm last month but that sentiment has now shifted and it’s time for Powell-Pepper to pay them back.
“You’re here to play footy, that’s what you should be doing, play footy,” Hinkley said bluntly on Saturday night.
It takes a fair bit to trigger the sort of reaction we saw from Hinkley in the box post-match. The last time he was that animated was after the Ryder-to-Gray miracle goal against St Kilda last season.
And so it proved what Showdowns mean but also what that win meant to Port Adelaide’s season. What would it have done to Port mentally if they’d lost from 17 points up in time-on of the last quarter?
Instead they are now full of belief, and particularly those who needed it most.
GOOD WEEKEND FOR ...
Rookies. Particularly Sydney rookies. The Swans had 10 players come off the rookie list to play in the win over Hawthorn on Friday including seven-goal star Ben Ronke.
ONE TO FORGET FOR ...
Essendon. The season is fast becoming a nightmare for the Bombers who became Carlton’s first scalp of the season on Saturday.
BURNING QUESTION
Is Hugh Greenwood an A-grader after just 23 games? He had 12 tackles and 99 pressure points on Saturday night, and the last three clearances that should have got his side home.
POWER RANKINGS
1. WEST COAST (7-1)
The Eagles retain top spot on the Power Rankings after their seventh win on the trot but also beating GWS away and without Shuey and Nic Nat was big.
2. RICHMOND (7-1)
Another week, another challenger, another win. The Tigers took everything North could throw at them and won by 10 points.
3. N. MELBOURNE (4-4)
Can’t believe I’m saying this but North Melbourne might just be the real deal. Lost to the reigning premier in the last 10 minutes but showed enough to say they can play finals.
4. ADELAIDE (5-3)
The Crows will take some huge learnings from the loss to Port Adelaide but won’t lose too much sleep over it. Their midfield looks a lot better with Sloane and Brad Crouch but the question is, when will they be back?
5. PORT ADELAIDE (5-3)
How different 5-3 looks to what 4-4 would have been like heading to China. Loved Jake Neade’s tackling, Jack Watts’ last quarter and Sam Gray’s handball to Steven Motlop for the game-winning goal.
6. GEELONG (5-3)
And just like that the Cats are third on the ladder after winning four of their past five. Loving Blicavs’ work as a more permanent defender.
7. SYDNEY (5-3)
Sydney’s formline is almost impossible to read. Losing at home, winning away. Ben Ronke was the story but how good is South Aussie Will Hayward going to be?
8. HAWTHORN (5-3)
Could have and should have won from where they were against Sydney on Friday night so enough positives without closing out the game.
9. MELBOURNE (5-3)
The Dees are on a three-game winning streak but St Kilda, Essendon and Gold Coast is hardly finals form so see what they produce against Adelaide in a fortnight.
10. COLLINGWOOD (4-4)
Had the chance to make a big statement with a win over the Cats but really only have themselves to blame with 5.15.
11. GWS (4-3-1)
There’s a chance the Giants, pre-season premiership favourites in some people’s book, could miss the eight. Have North Melbourne and Adelaide in the next month and face an angry Essendon this week.
12. W. BULLDOGS (4-4)
Not a bad effort for the Dogs to limp to 4-4 after the start they had. That’s three wins in a row but could be in for a reality check against the Crows.
13. FREMANTLE (4-4)
Ended a tumultuous week the best way possible, with a win, albeit over a struggling St Kilda. Hold fire on that Brownlow Medal going to Jack Macrae after Nat Fyfe was best on.
14. GOLD COAST (3-5)
Sam Day suspended for striking, Steven May straight to the tribunal for contact with an umpire and a third loss on the trot for the Suns.
15. CARLTON (1-7)
Loved the Brendon Bolton circle with the players at three-quarter-time. Showed what this win meant to the Blues who finally move off the bottom of the rankings.
16. ST. KILDA (1-6-1)
Rate Carlton’s win over Essendon higher than St Kilda’s solitary win over Brisbane.
17. ESSENDON (2-6)
Four losses and a draw in their past five games. Something is clearly wrong.
18. BRISBANE (0-8)
Chris Fagan says the Lions are sick of the close losses and they should be. They’ve now lost four games by 14 points or less.
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