Fox Footy’s Dwayne Russell says Port Adelaide shouldn’t get spooked by Adelaide Crows’ Eddie Betts

DWAYNE Russell says reborn Port Adelaide should back itself in a full-blown shootout with Adelaide and not be spooked by superstar Showdown nemesis Eddie Betts.

DWAYNE Russell says reborn Port Adelaide should back itself in a full-blown shootout with Adelaide and not be spooked by superstar Showdown nemesis Eddie Betts.

CHOOSE YOUR ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN SIDE

Fox Footy caller Russell rates Betts AFL’s premier small forward with 24 goals in Showdowns since 2014 including three, five-goal hauls.

However the addition of gun rookie Sam Powell-Pepper and ruckman Paddy Ryder in the centre square has transformed Robbie Gray, Chad Wingard and Charlie Dixon into a triple threat for Adelaide — deprived of ruck-forward Josh Jenkins.

“Port Adelaide has as many dangerous guys as the Crows. In theory Eddie could kick five and the Crows loose,” said Russell of Betts who booted five goals in Adelaide’s 24-point, round five loss to Port in 2015.

“It is a different Port, if you add Paddy Ryder and Sam Powell-Pepper to your centre square that means Robbie Gray can play forward more often and it really changes your dynamics.

“Port has really added two new recruits and getting the ball out of the centre quicker helps Charlie Dixon.

“Both teams have forwards who could kick big numbers. It could end up being 18 goals to 18 goals which would be awesome.”

Betts is a superior force to rivals including Hawthorn’s premiership forward Cyril Rioli, says Russell, through sheer consistency and weight of 486 goals across 255 games.

All the pre-match plans in the world can count for little against a mercurial showman who thrives on instinct alongside Taylor Walker, Tom Lynch, Mitch McGovern.

“He is unpredictable. It doesn’t matter what your forward scout tells you about him or what you have seen him do in the past,” noted former Port and Geelong star Russell.

“I would rather Eddie Betts in my team than Cyril Rioli, if you are picking a team from scratch there’s not many people you pick before Eddie.

“The beauty of the way Eddie Betts plays is his consistency and that’s the difference between the great players and those that only play one good game and let you down the next week. You know he will almost always deliver.”

Adelaide Crows’ Eddie Betts flexes his muscles after another goal. Picture Sarah Reed

Adelaide has won 20 of its 41 clashes against Port underlining why form doesn’t shape Showdown odds as it would contests with interstate sides.

Port Adelaide’s stirring, undefeated start to the season has a true “believer” in Russell.

“That’s why this game is so good. It’s two teams with a really good complement of players especially in the midfield,” Russell told The Advertiser.

“Sam Jacobs has a rival for the No. 1 ruck battle again with Ryder. Centre square clearance will be massive and both sides have forwards who can kick big numbers.

“The way the Crows use Charlie Cameron off the back of the square, they have become a potent force as they have so many guys you have to watch.”