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Power’s young guns shine as veterans Justin Westhoff and 200-gamer Robbie Gray cash in at the ‘G

Port Adelaide’s four first-game players have given a glimpse into a promising future with the Power as the visitors held on for an upset 26-point win over the Demons at the MCG.

Liz Walsh
4 min read
March 23, 2019 - 4:12PM

The kids are all right: that’s the take-home message for Power fans after their 26-point win over Melbourne at the MCG on a hot autumn afternoon.

The second half in particular was like being given a tantalising sneak peek into the Power’s future as their debutant youngsters — last year’s first-round draft picks Connor Rozee, 18, Zak Butters, 18 and Xavier Duursma, 19 and 2016 second-round pick Willem Drew, 20 — displayed composure and footy intellect beyond their years.

The awesome foursome were hard at work all day, showcasing speed and courage, not shying from contests, nor did they shy from giving their opponents a little bit of lip.

Butters in particular would have excited Ken Hinkley, thanks to his second efforts and his ability to bounce straight back up after being on the end of a Neville Jetta bump.

Butters kicked two goals for the day: his first coming in the second quarter after he combined with Duursma, who fed him a well-timed handball and he easily slotted the goal. A few minutes later and Butters was at it again, when he impressively snapped his second and not long afterwards Duursma had one to his name too.


That the teenaged Butters felt confident enough to give a bit of lip to the Dees’ 100-gamer ruck giant, Max Gawn, as the sides left the field for the half time break speaks volumes and suddenly assistant coach Michael Voss’s comment before the game — “We think they will thrive (under pressure)” — made complete sense.

Rozee delighted Power fans when he attacked the ball in the third quarter with Dees’ Clayton Oliver bearing down on him.

Despite Duursma coming off in the third quarter under an injury cloud, he was back on the ground for the last and finished the game with 17 disposals, including five marks.

Rozee was equally impressive, with 18 disposals of his own and Butters finished with 13.

But it was big-bodied midfielder Drew — a replacement for injured co-captain Ollie Wines — who really stood out and ended up being among Port’s best. He had 10 kicks, seven handballs and took five marks.

As they all stood in the inner circle arm in arm in the changerooms after the game, surrounded by their teammates as the Gatorade rained down them, it was with gusto that they sung the Power anthem. It won’t be last time they do that this year.

Port Adelaide Power ultimate guide

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER

QUARTER TIME

Melbourne 4.3 (27)

Port Adelaide 2.4 (16)

It was scrappy footy in the opening minutes, but Demon Tom McDonald opened the scoring with the first major of the match after an impressive mark in the goal square.

There weren’t many highlights for the Power, but former skipper Travis Boak has been something of a shining light, booting Port’s first goal. Todd Marshall kicked 1.1.

There’s no hiding that it was a difficult pre-season for former Demon Jack Watts and this quarter hasn’t he gave up a 50m penalty this quarter playing against his old club.

Port steadied after being as much as three-goals down.

HALF TIME

Melbourne 6.5 (41)

Port Adelaide 6.8 (44)

After Port were three goals down midway through that first term and things were starting to look scary, they’ve fought their way back into the game well and with Justin Westhoff kicking the first goal of the second quarter, suddenly the margin was cut back to seven.

Two more to Butters and suddenly they were three points up.

If Sam Powell-Pepper was more accurate Port would have been more in front: he kicked three behinds.

Melbourne’s two goals for the quarter have come from Bayley Fritsch and Christian Petracca.

Scott Lycett in his first game in his new colours, has been taking on 100-gamer Max Gawn and is holding his own.

But it’s been Port’s work around the stoppages that has reaped them the goals: at the 10-minute mark they were leading the clearance count 5-2, kicking two goals to the Demons none as a result.

Travis Boak goes into half time as Port’s leading disposal-getter, with 19, followed by Tom Rockliff with 16.

In key stats, Port are leading the Demons in disposals (219 to 175), handballs (104 to 59), tackles (35 to 24) and inside 50s (31 to 28).

THREE-QUARTER TIME

Melbourne 9.7 (61)

Port Adelaide 10.9 (69)

Another early goal to Westhoff kicked off the Power’s term and their led was out to nine points, but Melbourne kicked the next three through three different players and the Demons were back in front.

The lead see-sawed again with steadying goals for Port thanks to Westhoff (who now has three) and Brad Ebert. Robbie Gray capped off his 200th game with a goal late in the term and Port were eight points up.

FULL TIME

Melbourne 9.7 (61)

Port Adelaide 12.15 (87)

The final quarter was all Port Adelaide, with Justin Westhoff booting his fifth straight goal and the Demons held scoreless.

Port have beaten Melbourne by 26 points: 12.15 (87) to 9.7 (61).

It could have been worse for the Demons too, if Ryan Burton, Robbie Gray, Sam Powell-Pepper and Travis Boak had been accurate, but they each kicked behinds in that last term.

Tom Rockliff has finished with 44 disposals, followed by Travis Boat with 34.

MELBOURNE V PORT ADELAIDE

Saturday March 23, 1:15pm at the MCG

TV: Fox Footy (live), Channel 7 (live)

RADIO: TripleM, ABC, FIVEaa

WEATHER: 32C — possible showers

TEAMS

DEMONS

B: Sparrow, O. McDonald, Jetta

HB: Hibberd, Frost, N. Jones

C: Fritsch, Oliver, Salem

HF: Neal-Bullen, T. McDonald, Petracca

F: Melksham, Weideman, Viney

FOLL: Gawn, Harmes, Brayshaw

I/C: Spargo, Hunt, Hore, Wagner

EMG: Preuss, Petty, Sparrow, Keilty

POWER

B: Bonner, Clurey, Houston

HB: Burton, Jonas, Byrne-Jones

C: Motlop, Rockliff, Westhoff

HF: Boak, Watts, Ebert

F: R. Gray, Ryder, Rozee

FOLL: Lycett, Powell-Pepper, Drew

I/C: Butters, Duursma, Amon, Marshall

EMG: Mayes, S. Gray, Farrell, Howard

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