Former Eagle Scott Lycett comes back to haunt premiership team-mates

West Coast didn’t know what hit them as the Power upstaged the 2018 AFL Premiers in Perth — but they should have recognised two familiar faces in Brad Ebert and Scott Lycett.

• Match report: Power no longer Eagles’ bunny
• Match centre: All the stats and SuperCoach scores

West Coast should have known what hit them; the Eagles knew two of Port Adelaide’s prime movers better than anyone.

Premiership ruckman Scott Lycett was back at Perth Stadium for the first time since crossing to Port Adelaide and just as he was during the finals series last season, he was a treat to watch.

Lycett tormented former teammates Nathan Vardy and Tom Hickey with stern body work in the ruck, roved some of his own taps and had a presence around the packs as the Power put on a pressure masterclass against the Eagles last night.

Brad Ebert of the Power breaks from a tackle by Andrew Gaff of the Eagles. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

He was a microcosm of the Power: his pressure was at a premium but he was also the first link in several chains of quick ball movement that made the Eagles look flat-footed and took away their ability to employ their natural possession game.

Lycett is thriving on being the main man in the ruck — just as he was for the latter part of last year for West Coast — and his partnership with Paddy Ryder is thriving.

Ryder is just as dangerous as a forward as he is in the ruck and now that he is coming into the autumn years of his career he seems better suited — and have more impact — in attack.

He has one of the best long kicks in the side and the extra responsibility handed to Lycett has helped make him one of the most influential ruckmen in the game.

The other player that made the fans at the glitzy new Perth stadium cringe for what might have been was Brad Ebert.

Tom Hickey of the Eagles and Scott Lycett of the Power contest the ruck during the round 5 AFL match. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Ebert is part of Port Adelaide royalty because of his bloodlines and has chalked up 240 games but those with good memories can recall him spending his first four seasons in the AFL as a midfielder for West Coast.

He has matured and turned into a more versatile player since then and looks like he should have made the move years ago.

Not only does he have one of the best overhead marks at Alberton, his maturity has also helped him read the game better and know what to look out for when it comes to stopping the Eagles’ well-known defenders and their penchant to intercept and run off.

West Coast had only two intercept marks by half time, the lowest of the season, and Ebert had a couple of goals to go with the way he kept the Eagles from putting on a show.

Lycett and Ebert were two of many impressive Port Adelaide players as the club upset last year’s premiers, and the two that the Eagles know better than most.

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER

FIRST QUARTER

Eagles 1.1 (7)

Power 3.5 (23)

Brad Ebert had all the angles right!#AFLEaglesPower pic.twitter.com/4XiFIj4kAP

— AFL (@AFL) April 19, 2019

IT was the start of the season for Port Adelaide, which dominated clearances, possession and the running.

The Power moved the ball quickly be playing on and using plenty of handball and overlap and goals to Sam Powell-Pepper after an intercept mark from Tom Clurey and Xavier Duursma after a chain of handballs typified the quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

Eagles 2.2 (14)

Power 9.9 (63)

Sam Gray was awarded this goal despite Brad Sheppard's protests.#AFLEaglesPower pic.twitter.com/5QdDjwf2l2

— AFL (@AFL) April 19, 2019

Port Adelaide adjusted as the rain started to tumble down by simplifying their game and playing for territory rather than using quick handball passages. The Power continued to dominate with intercept marks, had better pressure around the ball and played with more purpose and conviction.

Powell-Pepper was strong at the ground ball and Brad Ebert looked comfortable in the forward line.

🔥🔥🔥#AFLEaglesPower pic.twitter.com/vbCag8m4Is

— AFL (@AFL) April 19, 2019

THIRD QUARTER

Eagles 5.3 (33)

Power 12.12 (84)

PACE, REAL PACE!

Take a bow, Connor Rozee! #AFLEaglesPower pic.twitter.com/kOjQKnt4uE

— AFL (@AFL) April 19, 2019

THE scoring dried up as West Coast started getting better numbers around the ball and more stoppages were created. Towards the end of the quarter, when dual Coleman Medallist Josh Kennedy slotted his first, it even felt like the momentum was swinging in West Coast’s favour.

But a steadying goal to Ollie Wines and Power’s relentless pressure meant the Power steadied.

FOURTH QUARTER

Eagles 8.5 (53)

Power 13.17 (95)

FT stats:

Disposals: Wines 35, Rockliff 32, S Gray 26, Boak 23

Goals: Duursma, Ebert, S Gray 2, Marshall, Powell-Pepper, Ryder, Rozee, Drew, Houston, Wines #AFLEaglesPower #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/xJ01yzoqiO

— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) April 19, 2019

Sections of the crowd left early as the Power maintained control of the pace of the game, at times slowing things up and just hanging on to possession and at times turning up the heat but going for overlapping runs.

Jack Petruccelle continued to kick goals and was one of the Eagles’ best but the heat had gone out of the game when he kicked his fourth towards the end of the quarter.