‘Chad who?’ — Rozee shows he can handle pressure of expectation in amazing five-goal third-game

Port Adelaide gave up three goals in time-on to collapse to a 17-point loss to Brisbane at the Gabba — but young gun Connor Rozee showed he can handle the pressure of expectation.

History is in the making for Port Adelaide on Saturday night when the Power will have two captains on the field for the first time in the club’s 149-year history — Tom Jonas, left, and Ollie Wines, right. Picture: Sarah Reed.

Port Adelaide certainly knew Connor Rozee could deal with expectation when the Power handed the North Adelaide recruit the No. 20 jumper in the summer.

As Wingard, the 2013 club champion, cleared the No. 20 locker at Alberton in October, many Port Adelaide fans wondered why coach Ken Hinkley would trade away (particularly to Hawthorn) a proven — but temperamental — match-winner.

Those unsettled souls at Alberton now have reason to think their hearts will be lifted by a new sensation in the No. 20 guernsey. It will never be “Chad who?” but — just as Kane Cornes has suggested — it is less and less likely to be “Chad why?”

Rozee, 19, is becoming the stand-out of the three 2018 first-round draftees Hinkley has trusted to play their roles in the first three games of the AFL premiership season. The No. 5 draftee (seven years after Wingard was called at No. 6 by the Power) was at ease with the hectic speed of the AFL game from the moment Brisbane set a fast pace in the “Battle of the Unbeaten” at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Connor Rozee of the Power celebrates a goal against the Lions at The Gabba. Picture: Getty Images

Rozee’s five-goal performance puts him in line for a Rising Star nomination as the AFL rookie of the year in just his third game. Wingard did not score multiple goals in a match until his 21st game — and in his second season in 2013 — with Port Adelaide. He did not have his Rising Star nomination until Round 22 in 2012.

Rozee’s lively start signalled how the South Augusta kid was not to be overwhelmed by a game that carried early heat with Brisbane’s fast-tempo game. He had seven touches — many while other Port Adelaide players could not find the Sherrin — in the first term and put on the scoreboard 2.1 of the Power’s opening 3.2. But beyond the numbers it was the way Rozee threw himself into the contest, always to create an opportunity in the Port Adelaide attack.

Connor Rozee of the Power during the clash with the Brisbane Lions. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

After missing the frist scoring chance of the game — with a behind from a set shot — Rozee’s composure in his kicking at goal. This strength from a new kid on the AFL block makes it more difficult to explain how experienced players such as Justin Westhoff, Brad Ebert and Robbie Gray could each miss two critical shots as the game was turning to Port Adelaide’s agenda in the second term.

Rozee’s fifth goal — in the third minute of the last term — gave the Power the lead for the first time in the 95 minutes after Rozee’s game-opening behind in the third minute of the first quarter.

On a night when Port Adelaide made history — running two captains, Ollie Wines and Tom Jonas, for the first time in the club’s 149-year story — this match emphasised what Rozee is to deliver to the Power’s future … and present.

QUARTER BY QUARTER

FOURTH QUARTER
Lions 16.11 (107)
Power 13.12 (90)

Connor Rozee with the fly and the finish!

Five goals for the young man playing just his third game!#AFLLionsPower pic.twitter.com/HJNufuwN8T

— AFL (@AFL) April 6, 2019

Rozee had his fifth goal in the third minute of the last term — and it gave Port Adelaide the lead for the first time since the third minute of the first quarter. The goal-for-goal trend continued until Port Adelaide cleared away its yips to score 4.1 for a nine-point lead at time-on. Oscar McInerney’s set shot after a pack mark with 2:19 to play and Hipwood’s sixth goal with 1:54 to play settled the result in the Lions’ favour.

THIRD QUARTER
Lions 11.6 (72)
Power 9.10 (65)

Pretty handy player, Connor Rozee!#AFLLionsPower pic.twitter.com/mjmuVG9vBr

— AFL (@AFL) April 6, 2019

Tougher game — and harder to score as Port Adelaide and Lions went goal for goal to time-on. Power midfielder Tom Rockliff’s return to the Gabba — where he was Brisbane captain before taking his free-agency path to Alberton last year — had “Rocky” seeing stars on the bench after a crunching bump from Hugh McCluggage midway through this tough term.

SECOND QUARTER
Lions 8.4 (52)
Power 5.9 (39)

Tempers flared at the Gabba after Zak Butters collided with Hugh McCluggage.#AFLLionsPower pic.twitter.com/g7P39z21ym

— AFL (@AFL) April 6, 2019

Stronger control of the clearance from the Power, but not much return on the scoreboard after some messy finishing from experienced players. Veteran Justin Westhoff missed two set shots (out-of-bounds on the full and hit a goal post) in the first seven minutes to close the gap. Brad Ebert and Robbie Gray also found the yips. Port Adelaide dominated the count of scoring shots, 9-4.

FIRST QUARTER
Lions 5.2 (32)
Power 3.2 (20)

Dan McStay runs in and the Lions are on a roll early!#AFLLionsPower pic.twitter.com/8xhh7rDOOU

— AFL (@AFL) April 6, 2019

Flying start by the usually slow-building Lions had Brisbane leading by 24 points with the first four goals in the first 11 minutes. Key forward Eric Hipwood scored three of the first four goals, all from simple set shots. Port Adelaide’s defence was twisted out of shape by the Lions’ fast-moving football. The Power’s late response was built on the energy of No. 5 draftee Connor Rozee.

BRISBANE v PORT ADELAIDE

The Gabba, 6:55pm

Saturday, April 6, 2019
Weather: Mainly fine, max 30C

TV: Channel 7, Fox Footy

Live stream: Kayo

BRISBANE LIONS

B Luke Hodge, Harris Andrews, Daniel Rich

HB Alex Witherden, Darcy Gardiner, Zac Bailey

C Dayne Zorko, Lachie Neale, Hugh McCluggage

HF Cam Rayner, Eric Hipwood, Lincoln McCarthy

F Charles Cameron, Daniel McStay, Oscar McInerney

FOL Stefan Martin, Jarrod Berry, Jarryd Lyons

I/C Ryan Bastinac, Mitch Robinson, Josh Walker, Rhys Mathieson

EMG Ben Keays, Nick Robertson, Connor Ballenden, Archie Smith

No change

PORT ADELAIDE

B Riley Bonner, Tom Clurey, Dan Houston

HB Ryan Burton, Tom Jonas, Darcy Byrne-Jones

C Steven Motlop, Tom Rockliff, Justin Westhoff

HF Travis Boak, Brad Ebert, Zak Butters

F Robbie Gray, Paddy Ryder, Connor Rozee

FOL Scott Lycett, Ollie Wines, Willem Drew

I/C Sam Gray, Sam Powell-Pepper, Xavier Duursma, Dougal Howard

EMG Sam Mayes, Aidyn Johnson, Joel Garner, Todd Marshall

IN: Wines, S. Gray, Howard

OUT: Marshall, Amon, Watts

Every game of every round of the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. SIGN UP NOW!