Questions aplenty as Port Adelaide Power fails again to claim an AFL top eight scalp with loss to Richmond Tigers at Adelaide Oval
WATCH the critics line up to pot Port Adelaide now — and they better take a ticket — because the doubts over the Power in big moments in big games have only grown after Saturday night’s loss to Richmond.
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WATCH the critics line up to pot Port Adelaide now — and they better take a ticket — because the doubts over the Power in big moments in big games have only grown after Saturday night’s loss to Richmond.
For fourth-versus-sixth on the ladder it was far from premiership football but it was finals-like pressure and once again Port Adelaide stood up for three quarters but couldn’t get it done when it mattered.
The Power now has been competitive against GWS, Adelaide, West Coast, Geelong and Richmond but have nothing to show for it.
Six unanswered goals from just before three-quarter-time to midway through the last term turned the game in Richmond’s favour and once the Tigers had their noses in front they went on with the job.
The visitors got the first goal of the final quarter when Dan Butler out-marked Dan Houston on the goal line, then Jack Riewoldt’s hanger over Tom Clurey, who had been very good to that point, gave Tyson Stengle his second goal on debut and it was game over.
Again this season, goal kicking was an issue for Port Adelaide which, even considering it was a high-pressure game, was sloppy.
The Power kicked 3.8 from set shots and sprayed chance after chance, including Matt White whose pressure was good but his 0.3 didn’t help the situation on the scoreboard.
But it was more than that. The Power had very little method going forward. Their structure fell apart badly after halftime and to lose by 13 points after winning inside 50s 68-52 was damning.
Dustin Martin was a major reason Richmond won the game and he enhanced his Brownlow Medal stocks with a brilliant 37-disposal performance, while Toby Nankervis had an impact at both ends and Dylan Grimes blanketed Robbie Gray.
Port’s defence was pretty good.
Clurey was very solid on Jack Riewoldt all night, Tom Jonas won four 50/50s in the first quarter alone and Hamish Hartlett did some nice things before his night ended in the third term with a corked quad.
Ollie Wines, Chad Wingard, Sam Powell-Pepper and Jared Polec were good around the footy, with Wingard the pick of them.
His hands in tight were superb and he finished with 39 touches.
But Richmond was better around the ground.
Alex Rance was beaten for strength by both Jackson Trengove and Charlie Dixon in the first half but as the chaos balls kept coming in, he improved and got the Tigers moving.
Jake Neade, who is playing for his footy life every week, justified his late inclusion by forcing three turnovers in the first term and kicked a really important goal against the tide in the second quarter.
Likewise Charlie Dixon’s work off the ball for his teammates again underpinned his value to the team but Port desperately needed goals and it just wasn’t happening for him inside 50.
The Power led by 15 points at halftime and Robbie Gray’s goal put Port 16 points up with five minutes to go in the third term but it was instantly met by Tyson Stengle’s goal on debut then rippers on the run from Daniel Rioli and Dustin Martin.
From there the Tigers had all the momentum and ran away with it, leaving the question marks to linger over the Power.
CHRIS McDERMOTT’S FIVE THINGS
1. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again until they get it right or at least get it better. Bad kicking is still bad football and the Power’s use of the ball by foot whether at goal or in general play was poor. Terrible. Costly. Jared Polec’s hacked clearance late in the last term said it all. Too many missed goals and too many missed targets. Eventually you’ll pay a heavy price. They did.
2. The Power put all its energy into stopping Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin but let Dustin Martin run free. It was a mistake. Cotchin is a great player, Martin is a matchwinner. Brad Ebert went to Cotchin and took himself out of the game, albeit while reducing the Tiger’s effect. Martin ran amok with 37 disposals, one goal and two goal assists. He was the most influential player on the ground. Wingard was the Port free man and while he got ball he had no impact on the scoreboard.
3. The Power’s forward line continues to look too small. If Dixon doesn’t mark it and Gray can’t get to it, no-one can. If it’s not Brett Eddy who is it? Sometimes you’ve got to go long to a tall and unless Ryder is an option, another must be found or the season will finish too quickly
4. No run and carry for the Power. It continues to be a problem and a great inconsistency in Port’s game. White and Polec look the answers but couldn’t produce on the night. A solution must be found soon.
5. Port Adelaide still cannot beat a top eight side. They look to be contenders but until they can take a decent scalp they are not.
SCOREBOARD
RICHMOND 1.4 3.8 7.10 11.10 (76)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.6 5.11 6.14 8.15 (63)
BEST — Port Adelaide: Wingard, Powell-Pepper, Clurey, Jonas, Wines, Polec. Richmond: Martin, Nankervis, Ellis, Grimes, Rance, Butler.
GOALS — Port Adelaide: Powell-Pepper 2, Ebert, Neade, Dixon, S. Gray, Trengove, R. Gray. Richmond: Butler 3, Stengle 2, Riewoldt, Lloyd, Cotchin, Rioli, Martin, Short.
INJURIES — Hartlett (cork).
UMPIRES — J. Schmitt, B. Ryan, J. Mollison.
CROWD — 39,979 at Adelaide Oval.
reece.homfray@news.com.au
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