AFL: Port Adelaide defeats St Kilda by 54 points in Round 6
Port Adelaide is a more complete team than it was in 2020 – and the reason why comes down to some gun recruits and emerging young stars.
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The two big criticisms of Port Adelaide in 2020 are getting more and more dispelled with each passing week of the Power’s 2021 campaign.
The acquisition of Aliir Aliir has gone a long way to addressing the perceived lack of height Ken Hinkley’s side had in defence last year, with the former Sydney Swan making an immediate impact at his new club.
And we can just about say the Power are no longer ‘Charlie Dixon or bust’ in the forward line, as they were guilty of being on too many occasions in 2020.
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The rule changes for 2021 has led to many saying the big key forward is back, as big men across the AFL dine out on the increased space.
But after an All-Australian year in 2020, Dixon is yet to fully feast on the lack of congestion.
His two goals against St Kilda in the Power’s dominant win now have his season tally at 10 from six games.
At the same point of last season, even with shortened quarters, Dixon had 15.
But Hinkley said it wasn’t a concern at all that Dixon’s goals were down.
“I see the team succeeding and that’s all I care about and that’s all Charlie cares about,” he said.
“We see Mitch (Georgiades) kicking goals, we see Todd (Marshall) improving every game, we see (Orazio Fantasia) come in, we see Boyd Woodcock come in.
“We see all of them come in and be a part of it.
“Like the midfield group, the forward group functions best when they all play OK and Charlie plays his role in that.”
With more teammates making an impact on the scoring front, Fantasia has 14 goals and Georgiades 12, Dixon no longer has to kick a bag for the Power to win.
“He absorbs an enormous amount of attention for us,” Hinkley said.
“In his own words, he says ‘I put my hand up so I have to do it’ and that’s what he does for us.”
Power young gun Connor Rozee told The Advertiser after the big win over the Saints that Dixon was a “selfless footballer” for Port.
“We probably have been a little bit too reliant on him in the past in the forward line,” he said. “But I think it has gotten to a point now that all forwards and even midfielders coming forward have a bit of an impact, can all hit the scoreboard and can all be targets, so we are no longer relying on Charlie all the time.
“That has been really good for us, especially this year, he hasn’t had as big of a load and I think he has been enjoying that as well.”
Seamless transition
Martin Frederick became the latest Port Adelaide player to look at home at AFL level on debut.
Hinkley and his fellow coaches forecasted that 2021 would be a season in which they employ a squad approach to try and realise their premiership ambitions.
And aided by a system that more than stands up against the rest of the competition, while the growing injury list has been a blow for the Power, the way the young kids have stepped up has lessened it considerably.
The dashing defender, of South Sudanese heritage, looked completely at home at Adelaide Oval on Sunday night, finishing with 23 disposals and six marks.
It follows on from Miles Bergman in Round 1 having 14 disposals and two marks, and then Lachie Jones in Round 4 having 17 disposals and six marks.
Rozee said the amount of depth the Power had was one of their biggest strengths.
“We’ve had a fair few injuries so far and it has shown great character from the boys in being able to step up and fill a role,” he said.
“We’ve had boys in nearly every line do that.”
Hinkley said the way the team played, and the leaders in it, helped the young players make the step up to the AFL.
But he said the youngsters also deserved credit for rising to the challenges laid in front of them.
“We give our players every opportunity to grow as people and as players and we challenge them to work to be the best that they can be,” he said.
“But if they don’t buy in it is no good just having coaches tell you, it’s around your choices and if you choose to put the work in.
“And Marty is a great example because at the end of last year he was not contracted and he had to wait for one.
“But we knew he had some talent and we wanted to keep him around and what he has shown during the pre-season is if you put your head down and listen to the coaches, but more importantly commit to your own career, (then you’ll get an opportunity).”
Simple is best for wines
Prior to the start of the season, Hinkley predicted a big campaign for vice-captain Ollie Wines.
Now six games in, the toughnut midfielder looks like he will make a run at the All-Australian squad, at least, with another sensational game.
Wines’ 36 disposals, seven marks and five tackles earned him the Peter Badcoe VC Medal for demonstrating the Anzac spirit and qualities of skill, courage in adversity, self-sacrifice, teamwork and fair play during the win against the Saints.
He said not having to undergo surgery in the off-season helped, but that wasn’t all behind his stunning start to 2021.
“There probably comes a time in your career where you realise what you do well and what you have to be as a footballer, and for me discovering that it has become a lot more simple for me,” he said.
“I’m not a flashy, kicking on the outside player, I’m more in the trenches in and under and simplifying that for myself and what I need to do for that role has made it really easy and it has made it simple.”
Slow saints
Surprisingly, despite the 54-point margin to the Power come the final siren, the Saints actually had as many inside 50 entries as them – 52 each.
St Kilda coach Brett Ratten said one of his sides’ strengths in 2020, scoreboard efficiency, was now non-existent for his side.
“We just don’t get the scoreboard nourishment that other teams are getting,” he said.
“To think that our field position was about 81 per cent to 19 in the first quarter but we are down, they go in seven times and score five … that is hurting us.”
That isn’t the only worry for the Saints, who were tipped by many to at least challenge for the top four but now look miles off even mounting a reasonable fight for a finals spot.
They again lost the centre bounce clearances by 10, and let Port Adelaide have 142 more uncontested possessions against them.
Ratten was more concerned about the centre bounce loss, but the fact the Power won the uncontested possession count by 142 and Essendon won it by 106 in Round 3 should have the alarm bells ringing at Moorabbin.
“I thought we were slow to locate a man and react,” Ratten said.
“I’m not saying that we don’t value that uncontested play against us … it depends where it is. “But I thought we were just slow to react.”
WINES: WHY POWER IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVER
– Warren Partland
Port Adelaide star Ollie Wines can feel something special building at Alberton after the emphatic 54-point belting of St Kilda at Adelaide Oval on Sunday night.
The Power claimed its fifth win from six rounds to reinforce the club as a serious title threat, but it is the work away from the game which has had a significant influence, according to Wines.
The onballer, named the Peter Badcoe VC medallist as best on ground in the Anzac Day clash, said coaches Ken Hinkley and Michael Voss had strived to make the players a more unified group in the past couple of years.
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“The team care and connections on the field begin off the field, getting to know one another,” Wines said.
“There has been an enormous amount of work in the last two or three years with a number of programs to connect us more.
“A guy goes down and a guy comes up from the SANFL and they know their role, know their teammates, and that begins off the field.
“The growth in that area, to be so together, is shining through in our football.”
Wines agreed his form was close to career-best and noted the midfield group was connected and had really good chemistry.
Asked if he felt something special building at the Power, he said he had for a few years.
“This year, we have started really well and won those games we are supposed to win,” Wines said.
“That creates momentum and we have shown resilience through injury.
“A lot of guys have gone down and it creates competition for spots.”
Hinkley was not only satisfied with the four premiership points, but to escape without further injury was a relief.
He said the Power had controlled the contest and produced a calm, composed game of football.
“Everyone in the competition is being banged up a bit, so I’ll take the result, but also take the added little bit on the top which is a fresh squad,” he said.
“This group has been getting better and better with playing with the conditions they get. I rarely give them too much instructions on what to do now when they get hold of the ball.
“I was always tempted for a few years, now they know where they are going and what they are doing and I’ll only get in the way if I interfere. They are led very well.”
Hinkley said the side was going okay, adding there are two teams on top of the ladder undefeated and a premier which is a very good side.
“We have Brisbane in Brisbane next week and that is a good challenge, it is going to be tough,” he said. “This competition is hard.”
Port-tress: is power at home afl’s toughest task?
Confronting Richmond at the MCG is the toughest challenge in the game — according to a media claim — as unbeaten Melbourne prepared for the Saturday night contest against the Tigers.
However, there would be plenty willing to back Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval as the most imposing test in the AFL after it demolished St Kilda by 54 points on Sunday night.
The Power continue to make significant statements and they had far too much class and firepower for a lacklustre Saints.
After being tipped to make a run at a top-four spot, the Saints coughed up another substandard effort and the early season pressure on the club is mounting.
Frederick shines on debut
The Power wasted little time throwing debutant Martin Frederick into the game, giving him his first taste of AFL action after seven minutes.
Shortly after, he took advantage of a poor kick from full back from former Power defender Dougal Howard.
After marking unopposed in the centre square, Frederick handballed to Hamish Hartlett, who bombed the ball long where Charlie Dixon attracted a crowd.
The ball spilt to Connor Rozee who goaled.
Frederick got another touch in defence immediately after and continued to be active across half back.
Too many wasted chances
After being belted by the Tigers last week, the Saints looked switched on early, but they wasted too many opportunities in front of goal.
The Saints won the inside 50 count for the opening term by an incredible 18-7.
The issue for the Saints was the Power’s ability to counter-attack with precision and the home side made the most of their visits deep into attack.
The Power nailed four goals and added a behind from their seven trips inside 50 with Steven Motlop kicking two of those majors.
Making their mark
There was a damning statistic for the first half which highlighted the defensive deficiencies of the Saints.
The Power had 81 marks and just seven were contested, such was the freedom gifted by the Saints. Karl Amon amassed 13 of those marks.
A supremacy in the clearances also aided the Power, who had 93 more possessions for the first two quarters, spreading with discipline and moving the ball with skill.
Apart from struggling to defend all over the ground, the Saints rarely threatened to add to their score.
Power switched on
It was just too easy for the Power in the third quarter. They dominated all facets of the game and tore the Saints apart in a dominant performance.
The Power were far more organised and their work ethic was simply far more superior. The term showed why the Power are a genuine premiership threat, while the Saints were woeful and seemingly lacking the passion for the fight.
HILL BLOW ADDS INJURY TO INSULT FOR SAINTS
– Simeon Thomas-Wilson
An ankle injury to big-money recruit Brad Hill compounded a woeful night for St Kilda against Port Adelaide.
The Saints came to Adelaide Oval on Anzac Day looking to avenge a thrashing at the hands of Richmond in their last game.
But Brett Ratten’s side, which was tipped by many to challenge for the top four this year, found itself on the end of another heavy loss.
Brownlow Medal winner Gerard Healy described the Saints as “rudderless” on Fox Footy, as the Power further strengthened their premiership credentials in an impressive display.
“This is a side that is a shadow of itself,” he said.
Not only were the Saints be on the end of a heavy loss, they will also be sweating on Hill’s fitness.
Hill had ice on his ankle on the bench during the fourth quarter.
Ratten said it was a pre-emptive move to remove Hill from he match after he complained of a tight Achilles’ tendon.
“He just has a bit of Achilles awareness,” he said.
“He is a bit tight there so he will be a test for next week.
“But after Gresham snapped his we aren’t taking any risks because that is a nine month injury.”
Ratten said Paddy Ryder should return next week after getting through his outing in the VFL.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 4.1 8.3 11.814.9 (93)
ST KILDA 1.4 2.5 3.7 5.9 (39)
BEST – Power: Wines, Amon, Jonas, Aliir, Houston, Boak, Lycett. Saints: Marshal, Ross, Steele.
GOALS – Power: Motlop, Fantasia 3, Georgiadis, Rozee, Dixon 2, Gray, Boak. Saints: Carlisle, Hill, Marshall, Higgins, Membrey.
INJURIES – Saints: Hill (ankle).
UMPIRES – Margetts, Findlay, Whetton.
VENUE Adelaide Oval
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
VOTES
3 Ollie Wines (Power)
2 Karl Amon (Power)
1 Tom Jonas (Power)
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