Port Adelaide’s mid-year report card: The best might be still to come from the Power
PORT Adelaide is building towards a promising run in September’s top-eight AFL finals ... if it can conquer its inconsistency bug. See how Michelangelo Rucci rates the season so far and give your own grade in our poll.
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PORT Adelaide changed a lot in the off-season. But halfway through the home-and-away campaign what has changed on the field?
The Power is 7-4 and holding eighth spot (with a game in hand). At the same stage last season, the count was 6-5 with the AFL’s fifth ranking.
The significant change in this record is the end of the “flat track bully” image of Port Adelaide beating up on bottom-10 clubs and failing against the pacesetters.
From the top bracket, Ken Hinkley’s crew so far has beaten Sydney at the SCG, AFL premiers Richmond at Adelaide Oval, 2017 grand finalist Adelaide when the Crows were a top-eight side in Showdown 44 and North Melbourne.
The Power has an 82-76 scoreline from its 11 games this season - it was 98-76 in all matches last year. This fall in scoring is not the result expected when Port Adelaide added to its midfield depth and attacking options by signing Brisbane free agent Tom Rockliff, Geelong free agent Steven Motlop and Melbourne forward Jack Watts.
This snapshot puts an emphasis on two conclusions. Defence coach Nathan Bassett has done an exemplary job with his so-called “no-name defence” where the stand-outs are Tom Jonas and former ruckman-forward Dougal Howard.
And it is going to take time for Port Adelaide to work out how to maximise the riches it has in midfield and attacking options. Finding that “right mix” or the perfect roles for its players was highlighted last week at Adelaide Oval against Richmond by taking Chad Wingard from his confused existence in the Power attack to live off his strengths in the midfield.
What must change for Port Adelaide in the next three months? The Power is tracking to a fifth ranking at the end of the home-and-away season - just as it had last season. Rising to the AFL top four - probably ahead of Melbourne and Geelong - demands an extraordinary run in the next 11 weeks when Port Adelaide has seven games at Adelaide Oval.
And to achieve a 15-win season - to claim a top-four finish - the Power will need to deal with its trademark inconsistency ... and hope All-Australian ruckman Patrick Ryder’s Achilles does not flare again as it late in the season-opener against Fremantle.
It was in that game - that forced Ryder to spend five weeks on the sidelines - that Dockers coach Ross Lyon recognised the power of Port Adelaide’s new speed. This remains the gamebreaking element - repeatedly measured by wingman Jared Polec’s work - in the Power’s best results.
RATINGS: CHRIS McDERMOTT SCORES EVERY PLAYER IN THE SUNDAY MAIL
Speed, contested football and pressure to lock the ball in the forward half are the hallmarks of Port Adelaide’s best football. Its worst is the slow, indirect and error-riddled football that brings into question the skill base at Alberton.
Power captain Travis Boak knows his team has found the key to its best game - and now has to avoid losing it.
“We’ve set a standard - and we have to demand that is delivered consistently,” he said.
“We have to live up to that by remaining hungry for that pressure football. We’ve been really good at it for a one or two weeks, but never three.”
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au
PORT ADELAIDE
POSITION 8th
WINS 7
LOSSES 4
108.23%
LAST YEAR: 7th
STORY SO FAR
R1 Fremantle W50
R2 Sydney W23
R3 Brisbane W5
R4 Essendon L22
R5 Geelong L34
R6 N Melbourne W33
R7 West Coast L42
R8 Adelaide W5
R9 Gold Coast W40
R10 bye
R11 Hawthorn L3
R12 Richmond W14
THE RUN HOME
R13 W Bulldogs AO
R14 Melbourne AO
R15 Carlton MCG
R16 St Kilda AO
R17 Fremantle Perth
R18 GWS AO
R19 W Bulldogs Ballarat
R20 Adelaide AO
R21 West Coast AO
R22 Collingwood MCG
R23 Essendon AO
SURPRISE PACKET
SAM GRAY
Who would have thought the “other” Gray - Sam rather than Robbie - in the Port Adelaide attack would be leading the Power’s goalkicking (with 17.11) when the forward zone has been loaded up with prime recruits Jack Watts, Steven Motlop and Tom Rockliff?
GONE BACKWARDS
CHARLIE DIXON
After 11 games last season, the giant key forward had 24.16; he has 8.14 this year. There is the note that Dixon was forced into ruck earlier this season to cover the absence of All-Australian ruckman Patrick Ryder, but the 36 per cent conversion rate is concerning when it was a critical issue in Dixon’s game last season.
FINALS ANALYSIS
ODDS for eight $1.20
ODDS for flag $13
CONSECUTIVE finals series for the first time since 2013-14 seem a very good bet today with Port Adelaide. The fixture has the Power at home at Adelaide Oval in seven of the next 11 weeks - putting Ken Hinkley’s group in contention for at least 14 wins in the home-and-away series. This puts Port Adelaide on pace for fifth or sixth spot - and a home elimination final again.
UNKNOWN QUANTITY
ALL season the question has been: What does Port Adelaide stand for?
Inconsistent. Inaccurate at inopportune times. And inefficient with kicking.
Yet, the Power is 7-4 and looking to challenge for a top-four finish while that door remains open. The key theme to emerge in recent weeks is Port Adelaide understanding - and wanting - to win contested football, the ultimate key performance indicator.
The question that lingers from last season is: Can the Power generate more for its attack - and put this on the scoreboard ... with greater consistency?
MONEY MAN
JUSTIN WESTHOFF
HE is Port Adelaide’s oldest player (32 at season’s end in October) - and incredibly evergreen. The release of Westhoff from a key forward role - now taken by Jack Watts - has allowed “Humphrey” to roam the field to play an important role wherever needed. And he does not appear to be slowing down.
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