Can Power even the ledger? Your ultimate guide to Showdown 46
Everything you need to know about Saturday’s Showdown 46, including key match ups, history, where to watch and match, transport and parking information in our ultimate guide.
Port Adelaide
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Port Adelaide has been whacked by injuries. But the Power have a habit of winning against the odds in the big ones.
Can they once again even the Showdown ledger with Adelaide or will the Crows make it two on the trot?
SHOWDOWN 46
Adelaide v Port Adelaide, Saturday
Start time: 7.10pm
Gates open: 4.45pm
TV: Live on Fox Footy, Seven
Stream: Kayo
Radio: Triple M, ABC, FIVEaa
The trophy: The winner of Saturday’s game will be presented with the Variety Showdown Shield.
THE KEY MATCH-UPS
Reilly O’Brien v Scott Lycett/Paddy Ryder
Last week against the Dockers, Reilly O’Brien was the best man on the ground.
Of all ruckmen to play more than two matches this season, the seven-game Crow ranks third for contested possessions, intercept marks and pressure acts.
And only Ben McEvoy averages more contested marks per game.
Talk about sentences you thought you’d never see.
While O’Brien’s body work and ability to follow-up around the ground has Adelaide ranked as the third-best stoppage outside of the centre bounce in the competition, the combination of Scott Lycett and Paddy Ryder is his biggest challenge yet.
As a duo, Lycett and Ryder combine for 14 hitouts-to-advantage per game and the Power’s total of 97 so far this season is second-only to Melbourne and Max Gawn.
It’s little surprise, Port Adelaide are the best clearance side in the competition.
With O’Brien averaging 8 hitouts-to-advantage per game, Adelaide has recorded a centre clearance-differential of — 5 this season. Port Adelaide ranks equal-first with a differential of +19.
Will the 23-year-old’s work around the ground be enough to off-set the Power’s advantage at the centre bounce?
Tom Clurey v Eddie Betts
While he’ll miss again with a calf injury, Power co-captain Tom Jonas says the in-form Clurey will get first crack at stopping Adelaide’s mercurial forward — a task he would usually take on. After a slow start to the year, Betts has booted 12 goals in the past four weeks to sit ninth in. the Coleman Medal race after six rounds. In his 10 Showdowns since crossing from Carlton, Betts has booted 35 goals, including six bags of four or more. But, Clurey, who would have to be in the All-Australian squad if it was picked today, is up for the challenge after a terrific start to 2019. Highlighting his ability to play any type of forward, Clurey has held Ben Brown (113 minutes directly opposed to him) and Jack Darling (58) goalless while restricting Jordan De Goey (85) and Tom McDonald (58) to one goal.
Travis Boak, Tom Rockliff and Sam Powell-Pepper v Rory Sloane, Matt Crouch and Brad Crouch
It’s a battle of bulls in the midfield. The Power (No. 1) and Crows (No. 5) sit inside the top-five for contested possession in the competition with Boak (6), Sloane (9), Rockliff (17), and Matt Crouch (24) all leading the way in the individual rankings. But they are not only winning it in close. Matt and Brad Crouch and Boak feature in the competition’s top-11 ball-winners as their sides sit second and third for total disposals respectively.
While it appears an even battle, it’s likely to come down to the second rotation of on-ballers. With Wines, Robbie Gray and Brad Ebert missing, it will need to be the youngsters — Willem Drew, in particular — who will need to step up. With Cam Ellis Yolmen (Contested-possession rate of 45%) and Hugh Greenwood (71%) stepping in next for Adelaide, it looks well placed to gained the ascendancy despite the ruck combination of Lycett and Ryder.
Dougal Howard v Taylor Walker
Fremantle defender Alex Pearce got the better of him last week but Adelaide co-captain Taylor Walker was influential in his side’s previous two victories, ranking first in the competition for scoreboard impact (goals, behinds and assists) in Rounds 5 and 6.
But Dougal Howard, who averages 9.8 spoils per game — the fourth-most in the competition — won’t be far away.
And, if he doesn’t end up getting the job on Betts, expect Clurey to start on Walker.
THE BIG QUESTIONS
Who plays on Connor Rozee?
Brodie Smith could match the young star for leg-speed and at 189cm is a similar height to Rozee (186cm). It would make for an exciting match-up but Smith’s run and drive from half-back has been key to Adelaide’s turnaround in the past three weeks. The returning Luke Brown or Jake Kelly appear the likely candidates.
Will Rory Laird be tagged again?
Boak put time in to Laird last season when he was playing forward but who gets the job on Saturday night? Jonas hinted earlier in the week that attention may again be coming Laird’s way.
TEAMS
POWER
B: Broadbent, Clurey, Houston
HB: Burton, Howard, Byrne-Jones
C: Duursma, Rockliff, Amon
HF: Marhsall, Westhoff, Motlop
F: S. Gray, Ryder, Rozee
FOLL: Lycett, Powell-Pepper, Boak
I/C: Drew, Johnson, Lienert, Farrell
EMG: Butters, Frampton, Mayes, McKenzie
IN: Broadbent, Motlop, Johnson, Farrell
OUT: Bonner (omitted), Butters (omitted), Wines (injured), Ebert (injured)
CROWS
B: Laird, Talia, Hartigan
HB: Smith, Keath, Mackay
C: Gallucci, B. Crouch, Atkins
HF: Knight, Walker, Lynch
F: Murphy, Himmelberg, Betts
FOLL: O’Brien, M. Crouch, Sloane
I/C: Greenwood, Kelly, Brown, Ellis-Yolmen
EMG: Poholke, Jones, Fogarty, Hunter
IN: Brown
OUT: Gibbs (injured)
AT THE GROUND
Tickets: Ticketek is the only authorised ticketing agent for Adelaide Oval.
Security: Arrive early and be patient. Increased security measures will have an impact on the time taken to admit patrons to the stadium. Please allow an extra 20 minutes and don’t leave your arrival until the last minute.
Food and drink: Adelaide Oval food and beverage outlets now accept payment by card only.
Public transport: Free travel for valid AFL game day ticket holders on all regular Adelaide Metro train, tram and bus services as well as Footy Express services. Visit the Adelaide Metro website for details.
Car parking: Open from 3:45pm. Due to wet weather casual parking will be very restricted.
East Car Park: No casual parking
North Car Park: No casual parking
Oval #2 Car Park: Very limited casual parking
University Lane: Very limited casual parking
Permit and disabled parking will also be available at the Torrens Parade Ground.
SHOWDOWN STATS
Meetings: 45 (Adelaide 23 wins, Port Adelaide 22)
Meetings at Adelaide Oval: 10 (Adelaide 7 wins, Port Adelaide 3)
Biggest crowd: 53,698, Round 3, 2017, at Adelaide Oval
Highest score: Port Adelaide 23.15.153, Round 3, 2001, at Football Park
Lowest score: Port Adelaide, 5.10.40, Semi-final, 2005, at Football Park
Highest winning margin: 84 points, Adelaide, Round 20, 2017, at Adelaide Oval
Most goals in a game: 7 (Peter Vardy, Adelaide — Round 19, 1998; Tony Modra — Adelaide, Round 4, 1997; Warren Tredrea — Round 7, 2004)
Most career Showdown goals: 39 (Taylor Walker, Adelaide)
Most Brownlow votes in Showdowns: 14 (Josh Francou, Port Adelaide)
Most individual player wins: Josh Carr, Port Adelaide (10 wins, 0 losses)
Most disposals in a game: 41 (Mark Ricciuto, Adelaide — Round 7, 2000 and Peter Burgoyne, Port Adelaide — Round 3, 2008)
LAST 10 MEETINGS
2018: Round 20: Adelaide 13.18 (96) d Port Adelaide 14.9 (93) at Adelaide Oval
2018, Round 8: Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) d Adelaide 14.6 (90) at Adelaide Oval
2017, Round 20: Adelaide 18.22 (130) d Port Adelaide 7.4 (46) at Adelaide Oval
2017, Round 3: Adelaide 15.10 (100) d Port Adelaide 12.11 (83) at Adelaide Oval
2016, Round 22: Adelaide 15.19 (109) d Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) at Adelaide Oval
2016, Round 2: Adelaide 22.12 (144) d Port Adelaide 11.20 (86) at Adelaide Oval
2015, Round 16: Adelaide 18.8 (116) d Port Adelaide 17.11 (113) at Adelaide Oval
2015, Round 5: Port Adelaide 18.7 (115) d Adelaide 13.13 (91) at Adelaide Oval
2014, Round 15: Adelaide 14.15 (99) d Port Adelaide 10.16 (76) at Adelaide Oval
2014, Round 2: Port Adelaide 19.14 (128) d Adelaide 11.7 (73) at Adelaide Oval
2013, Round 19: Port Adelaide 17.5 (107) d Adelaide 15.13 (103) at Football Park
SHOWDOWN MEDALLISTS
2000, Round 7: Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide)
2000, Round 22: Nick Stevens (Port Adelaide)
2001, Round 3: Josh Francou (Port Adelaide)
2001, Round 18: Josh Francou (Port Adelaide)
2002, Round 5: Jarrad Schofield (Port Adelaide)
2002, Round 20: Josh Francou (Port Adelaide)
2003, Round 5: Graham Johncock (Adelaide)
2003, Round 22: Peter Burgoyne (Port Adelaide)
2004, Round 7: Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide)
2004, Round 22: Warren Tredrea (Port Adelaide)
2005, Round 3: Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide)
2005, Round 20: Simon Goodwin (Adelaide), Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide) *joint winners
2006, Round 6: Tyson Edwards (Adelaide)
2006, Round 21: Chad Cornes (Port Adelaide)
2007, Round 3: Andrew McLeod (Adelaide)
2007, Round 18: Simon Goodwin (Adelaide)
2008, Round 3: Bernie Vince (Adelaide)
2008, Round 16: Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide)
2009, Round 6: Dean Brogan (Port Adelaide)
2009, Round 17: Nathan Bock (Adelaide)
2010, Round 6: Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
2010, Round 17: Dom Cassisi (Port Adelaide)
2011, Round 4: Justin Westhoff (Port Adelaide)
2011, Round 19: Nathan van Berlo (Adelaide)
2012, Round 5: Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
2012, Round 15: Sam Jacobs (Adelaide)
2013, Round 3: Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
2013, Round 19: Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide)
2014, Round 2: Hamish Hartlett (Port Adelaide)
2014, Round 15: Sam Jacobs (Adelaide)
2015, Round 5: Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
2015, Round 16: Scott Thompson (Adelaide) — *Phil Walsh Medal
2016, Round 2: Tom Lynch (Adelaide)
2016, Round 22: Matt Crouch (Adelaide)
2017, Round 3: Rory Sloane (Adelaide)
2017, Round 20: Sam Jacobs (Adelaide)
2018, Round 8: Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
2018, Round 20: Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)