Port Adelaide 2024 fixture: Anzac Round clash, Thursday night highlights as every game revealed
Port Adelaide will be out to atone a straight sets finals exit next year, and its early fixture paves the way for Ken Hinkley’s side to do just that. But then it gets harder – see every game.
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Port Adelaide could race out of the blocks next year.
But just where it sits in the pecking order for the 2024 premiership race will likely be made clear in the run home Ken Hinkley’s side has been handed.
After going out in straight sets in the finals, you’d expect the Power to want to come out firing in 2024 to try to silence some of the doubters.
And, on paper, the Power has the early run to do just this.
Wooden spooners West Coast are up first at home in Round 1, a change from recent history of the Power hosting the Eagles in the Anzac Round.
The Power then travel to the MCG to take on Richmond, and new coach Adem Yze, before three straight games at Adelaide Oval – against Melbourne, Essendon and Fremantle – prior to a clash against Collingwood at the MCG.
Hinkley’s side could be coming into the clash with the reigning premiers on a big winning run, with the Demons by far the hardest out of their first five matches – but it is at home.
From there, the Power got its main wish of hosting a game during the Anzac Round, a Friday night clash against St Kilda.
And then there’s the historic Thursday night Showdown against fierce rivals the Crows, with the Power to be desperate to regain bragging rights after going down in both encounters in 2023.
Out of its first eight games, six of them are at Adelaide Oval.
And the Power doesn’t really cop anything in the rest of its fixture, in terms of travel, in a trade off for this early run of games at Adelaide Oval.
The Power does have to travel to Geelong, Hobart and Sydney across a six week period when it takes on the Cats in Round 9, North Melbourne in Round 11 and GWS in Round 14.
There’s also a trip to the Gold Coast later on in the year.
But there’s no voyage to the Gabba, where the Power hasn’t won in some time, with Brisbane to come to Adelaide Oval in Round 15.
However, the Power’s run home is a formidable one – but one that will show just where Hinkley’s side sits in the 2024 premiership equation.
In its final five games of the season, the Power takes on Carlton at Marvel – where it was smashed last year – Sydney at Adelaide Oval, Melbourne at the MCG, the Crows in its home Showdown and then finishes with Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
It could be a fast start for the Power in 2024.
But after what happened in 2023, the important part will be how it finishes the season and how it is travelling ahead of a potential finals campaign.
Port avoids grand double-up in 2024
Port Adelaide will only have to play three 2023 top-eight teams next season on two occasions, with the Power avoiding duel match-ups against the teams that made the grand final.
But the Power won’t get any double-ups against any of the teams that finished in the bottom four.
Ken Hinkley’s side has also received its main wish of hosting a game during the Anzac Round, with the Power to take on St Kilda in a Friday night clash at Adelaide Oval.
It’s other main request was to have a good slot for its home Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash, but the Power have been given Hawthorn on a Sunday afternoon.
The Power will be looking to put the disappointment of its straight sets exit in 2023 firmly in the rear view mirror in 2024 and has received a fixture list that can allow Hinkley’s side to do so.
The Power have six of its first eight games at Adelaide Oval, in what Port chief executive Matthew Richardson would be a big boost.
“Six of the first eight at Adelaide Oval is great,” he said.
“Obviously you have Gather Round there and the Thursday night Showdown in Round 8 which is terrific, especially with it being on free to air which I know both clubs have been calling for a long time.
“So six of the first eight at Adelaide Oval is terrific.”
Opening with a home match against 2023 wooden spooners West Coast, the Power will then take on Richmond and new coach Adem Yze at the MCG in Round 2 in a Saturday afternoon slot.
The Tigers are one of six teams the Power will take on twice in 2024 with the two to clash against in Round 19 at Adelaide Oval.
The other sides the Power will take on twice include fellow top four side in 2023 Melbourne, preliminary finalists Carlton, finalists St Kilda, Fremantle and fierce rivals the Crows.
The Power host Melbourne in a Saturday night blockbuster in Round 3 and then are scheduled for a trip to the MCG to take on the Demons in Round 22.
Carlton will travel to Adelaide Oval for a Thursday night match in Round 12, with the Power to take on the Blues at Marvel Stadium in Round 20.
After hosting the Saints in Round 7, the Power will take on Ross Lyon’s side in Round 16 at Marvel Stadium.
The Power’s home Showdown will be in Round 23, with the fierce rivals to clash in a historic Thursday night clash in Round 8.
“In South Australia we don’t need to tell people about the rivalry,” he said.
“It is a fantastic rivalry, it is always a terrific game so for that to be standalone on a Thursday night is really significant.”
Port will host Fremantle in Round 4 on a Saturday night before ending its home and away campaign with a trip to Optus Stadium to take on the Dockers.
The Power avoid two matches against premiers Collingwood and grand finalists Brisbane.
Port and the Magpies will clash on a Saturday lunchtime at the MCG in Round 6, while the Power have avoided a trip to the Gabba – where it has a poor record – with Brisbane coming to Adelaide Oval for a Saturday lunchtime clash in Round 15.
The Power will play three games at the MCG, two at Marvel Stadium and one at Optus Stadium, Heritage Bank Stadium, GMHBA Stadium, Giants Stadium and Blundstone Arena in Hobart.
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