Port Adelaide’s Robbie Gray cannot be left as the Power’s sole match-winner
Warren Tredrea says it’s time for more Power leaders to stand up when the chips are down — rather than always leaving it to Robbie Gray to save the day.
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IT’S time Port Adelaide stood up instead of always relying on Robbie Gray.
That’s my message to the Power players after last week’s terrible nine-point loss to the low-on-confidence but tenacious Fremantle Dockers.
Sure, the Power were restricted with only 19 fit players, with Gray (concussion) and Paddy Ryder (hip flexor) out of the game and young gun Riley Bonner forced to play on with a crook knee.
But if ever they needed a line-in-the-sand moment, it was last Sunday.
After ugly wins against Carlton and St Kilda, it looked like Port had turned the corner when it came to claiming a professional four-point win against a lowly opponent.
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And while Sunday’s game started off well, with Port owning the ball and winning the first-quarter clearances 18-2, they once again failed to hit the scoreboard and left the door ajar for a Fremantle comeback.
Scoring has become a huge problem at Alberton.
Of all the teams in the top eight Port is clearly the worst at scoring, averaging 83.8 points per game — 21.2 points behind the No. 1-ranked ranked Melbourne on 105.
Field kicking has been poor, too often when clear of genuine pressure they fail to hit the target. And what’s becoming more familiar, when under pressure they over-possess the ball, often giving to a teammate who’s under more pressure.
Even more baffling is trying to play dry-weather football in wet conditions, with players refusing to adjust the way they play. There was no greater example of this than on the weekend.
Over the past four years when Port was in a pickle, Robbie Gray was the man to get them out of it. Whether he was moved into the midfield to win clearances or pushed forward to kick a vital goal, he’s been Ken Hinkley’s go-to guy to get them out of jail.
I don’t need to remind Crows fans of what he did in the round eight Showdown — Gray gathered 20 disposals and kicked six goals, single-handedly ripping the game out of Adelaide’s hands in a best-afield performance.
On Sunday for the first time this year, through concussion, Gray couldn’t swing the game Port’s way — and bar Chad Wingard, who won 24 disposals and kicked two goals, there were too few players willing to get their knees dirty and play life-and-death football to turn the game.
It was a situation ageing Docker David Mundy was only too happy to oblige, as he gained 29 disposals, kicked a goal and delivered a game-high eight inside 50s.
We can’t overlook that the Dockers were missing arguably their best two players, Brownlow Medalist Nat Fyfe and four-time All-Australian Aaron Sandilands.
Fremantle’s pressure was too much for the Power, who turned over the ball a colossal 89 times. In reality, the nine-point loss was flattering — much like the three-point loss to Hawthorn in Launceston in round 11.
In both games Port dominated early, only to be totally outplayed — but somehow, they stayed in touch to nearly pinch it.
Last week’s loss has certainly made a top-four finish a lot harder. A win in Perth would have Port sitting equal top on percentage, but they now sit fifth, well and truly among the
pack.
This week’s opponent Greater Western Sydney sits seventh and they’ve found form, narrowly beating reigning premier Richmond last weekend by two points. They dominated the Tigers in contested ball, tackles and were +12 in clearances.
With Ryder missing through injury and Justin Westhoff and Charlie Dixon having to cover in his absence, Port’s structure is set to take a hit.
Robbie Gray is also no certainty to play as he’ll have to prove he’s fully recovered from his heavy concussion. Gone are the days of players being able to con doctors that they are OK, he’ll have to be 100-per-cent fit.
It’s a now-or-never moment for Port. Win against GWS and they’ll retain a valuable buffer over the chasing pack and stay in touch with the top four. Lose, and they get absorbed by the teams vying for the eight.
I’ve lost count of the number of times that Robbie Gray has turned a game off his own boot for Port.
It’s about time the Power’s senior players started consistently delivering in games where a win is a must.
This week Port must win, with the four points worth their weight in gold.
Port can’t keep relying on Robbie Gray. It’s about time others stood up, no longer leaving it to the little master to get the job done.
If you want to be great like Gray, you have to want to be the man in the moment.