How Port Adelaide and Adelaide could both win in race to AFL finals
What was seen as a two-horse race between the Crows and Power for eighth spot has suddenly changed and could see both qualify for finals, despite Adelaide’s narrow loss on Sunday. Find out how.
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What was seen as a two-horse race between the Crows and Power for eighth spot has suddenly changed and could see both qualify for finals if Essendon continues to stumble its way to the finish line.
With two rounds remaining, Port Adelaide clings to eighth spot by 1.5 per cent from Adelaide which is on the same points (40) in ninth position.
But seventh-placed Essendon – a game ahead on 44 points – is suddenly looking very vulnerable after a 10-goal loss to the Power and 104-point hiding to the Bulldogs on Saturday night.
The Bombers will play Fremantle in Perth and Collingwood to finish the season. If they lose both and Port Adelaide and Adelaide win their last two games, both SA teams can return to September after missing in 2018.
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The Power plays North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium and Fremantle at home to finish, while the Crows host Collingwood and then travel to Ballarat to play the Western Bulldogs who are also on 40 points.
The three outsiders are Hawthorn, Fremantle and St Kilda who sit 11th, 12th and 13th on 36 points.
Port Adelaide’s youth is inspiring its late charge to September but coach Ken Hinkley says that puts no limit on expectations at Alberton.
“We don’t care what age we are, we just care about winning enough to qualify as high as we can, and then push ourselves to go as far as we can,” he said.
“Belief is a good thing, it helps you get going, and what you’re challenged by is that tomorrow you have to get up and go again.
“We have to build on that and know that this Port team is capable of building on that. That’s the important part – this is a really, really capable team.
“We like some of the opinions we’ve heard, we don’t like a lot of them, but we have heard some that we actually like and they’re pretty respectful of what we can do.”
One of the big talking points at Port Adelaide is when ruckman Scott Lycett forces his way back into the side after 30 disposals for the Magpies on Sunday.
“First and foremost for Scott, the best way is to really play well (in the SANFL) and get the opportunity because he has worked hard and his form is good enough,” Hinkley said.
“I would be surprised if he’s not in the best two or three players there.
“He’s embracing that challenge and I know he will fight for that challenge and work really hard to get that back.”