Sharp-shooting Port Adelaide breaks the shackles in a big way against sorry St Kilda in Shanghai
It was a goalkicking feast for Port Adelaide in Shanghai as it kicked the most goals of any club this season and its highest score since 2017 to complete a horror weekend for St Kilda.
Port Adelaide
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It was the day Port Adelaide broke the shackles.
And, boy, did they break.
With coach Ken Hinkley demanding his men start with urgency in their third Chinese expedition after worryingly — and damningly — failing to kick a goal in the opening quarter of three of their previous four games, the Power attacked with a steely determination, speed and ferocity from the opening bounce.
Unlike its sluggish beginnings that had netted just 0.5 to the opposition’s 13.8 in the first quarter of matches against Collingwood, Adelaide and Hawthorn in rounds seven, eight and 10 respectively and had co-captain Tom Jonas declare the club had “a bit of a Royal Commission’’ into its opening stanzas, Hinkley’s men hit the ground running against St Kilda on Sunday.
The first goal came from an unlikely source, with regular defender Dougal Howard — starting forward for the first time this season after some late-game heroics in attack in Showdown 46 — marking a Travis Boak pass and cleverly curling the ball through the big white uprights at Jiangwan Stadium from just inside the boundary line.
His goal — after just 112 seconds — was just the kickstart Port needed.
And it illustrated while this 199cm athletic machine, who can take a strong mark and kick well, should play forward more often.
By quarter-time, the Power had kicked 5.1 — one point behind its previous best first quarter this season of 5.2 against North Melbourne in round six.
With goals flowing freely and Port using the wide, open spaces of the Shanghai ground to great effect, the team suddenly looked like the one that the Power coaches had promised they would deliver in the pre-season — fast-running, creative and exciting.
After 10 rounds, Port led the AFL for inside 50s with an average of 60.1.
But it ranked a paltry 16th for goals per inside 50 (19.1 per cent) and last for goalkicking accuracy (41.4 per cent).
It had averaged just 9.5 goals in the previous month.
But with a daring attitude that saw it post a surprising 4-2 record after round six, it made the most of its chances in 30-degree heat in China.
It’s just a pity more people did not witness it live, with so many empty seats in the stands.
With elite, left-foot kicks, small forward Kane Farrell and playmaking defender Riley Bonner, booting two first half goals — three of them were gems — the Power had kicked 12.3 (75) from 33 inside 50 entries at the long break.
That’s a conversion rate of 36 per cent — almost double its season average.
Its previous best first half score this year was 9.9 (63) in the massive upset against premier West Coast in Perth.
And it passed its previous highest score of the season, 13.17 (95) against the Eagles by the 18-minute mark of the third quarter when exciting first-year wingman Xavier Duursma kicked accurately.
But Port didn't stop there.
It kicked nine unanswered goals during the second and third quarters and chalked up 20 goals for the first time in a year when the out-of-touch Steven Motlop goaled seven minutes into the final term.
Its final score of 22.7 (139) was its highest since kicking 22.18 (150) against Brisbane at the Gabba in round six, 2017.
No team has kicked more goals in a game this year, with Fremantle the only side to have scored more total points, 21.15 (141) against North Melbourne at home in round one.
This was a red-letter day for the Power, which at 6-5 is back in the top eight, and ensures it will sleep better during its bye week before tackling the in-form Dockers in Perth.
Sheesh how's the superboot of Riley Bonner?#AFLSaintsPower pic.twitter.com/OGNgIeg1yg
— AFL (@AFL) June 2, 2019
FOURTH TERM
Port Adelaide has made it three from three in China with a comprehensive 70-point victory against St Kilda in a goalkicking masterclass in China.
The Power did not take its foot off the pedal in the final term, ensuring it won every quarter, by booting 4.4 to 2.5.
Riley Bonner provided the highlight of the final term when he kicked his career-high third goal, with all coming from outside 50m, including one on his non-preferred right foot.
Robbie Gray finished the game strongly to end up with 28 disposals and three goals while Boak (33 disposals) and defender Jarrod Lienert (31 and eight marks) also were standouts as Port made it three from three in China.
THIRD TERM
Port Adelaide has kicked its highest score of the season, and still has a quarter to play, as it looks to extend its unbeaten run in China.
The Power continued to press the Saints in the third term, kicking the opening five goals of the term to extend its lead to 59 points at the last change.
Ruckman-forward Paddy Ryder added his name to the goalkickers list, with two.
When exciting first-year player Xavier Duursma bagged his first at the 18-minute mark, Port had kicked its highest score of the year, 16.3 (99), eclipsing the 13.17 (95) it kicked against the Eagles in April.
The Saints are being completely outplayed and booted their first goal for more than a quarter when Jade Gresham kicked truly 22 minutes into the term.
His goal ended a run of nine consecutive goals from the Power.
Travis Boak leads the disposal count with 24, with Dan Houston and Karl Amon both on 23.
Sheesh how's the superboot of Riley Bonner?#AFLSaintsPower pic.twitter.com/OGNgIeg1yg
— AFL (@AFL) June 2, 2019
SECOND TERM
Port Adelaide opened up a handy half-time gap on St Kilda after an impressive second quarter at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai.
In the opening four minutes, star Travis Boak capitalised on a 50m penalty to goal and when Robbie Gray snapped truly 90 seconds later, Port was out to a 22-point lead.
Relishing the fast Shanghai track, the Power continued to attack and by half-time had broken the game wide open, leading by 37 points.
Its 12.3 (75) is its highest first half score of the season.
Brownlow Medal chance Boak leads all players with 19 disposals while also kicking two goals.
Youngsters Kane Farrell and Riley Bonner have also bagged two majors.
FIRST TERM
Port Adelaide needed a fast start against St Kilda in China after failing to kick a goal in the opening quarter of three of its previous four matches.
And it got it through an unlikely source, with regular defender Dougal Howard — starting at the goalfront — goaling in the second minute from the forward pocket after a superb pass from former skipper Travis Boak.
It was the kickstart the slow-starting Power needed and it continued to play attacking football, kicking 5.1 for the term — its second-best opening stanza for the season behind the 5.2 it booted against North Melbourne in round six.
Boak, Zak Butters, the returning Riley Bonner and Connor Rozee also hit the scoreboard for Port at Jiangwan Stadium, where the temperature is 27 degrees.
But the Saints had some attacking success of their own, kicking 3.4 to trail by nine points.
Never Tear Us Apart still rings true in Shanghai!
— AFL (@AFL) June 2, 2019
Follow #AFLSaintsPower live in the Macca's Match Centre: https://t.co/xaQ40TknNE pic.twitter.com/jIUSvuoM8W
St Kilda was forced to withdraw two players ahead of today’s Shanghai clash after illness took hold among the group.
Dan McKenzie and Jonathan Marsh have had to be replaced, with Nick Coffield and Darragh Joyce late inclusions.
The late dash made by Nick Hind and Ben Paton overnight was not required in the end with all other players ready to go.
Coach Alan Richardson has also recovered from his minor stomach bug and will lead the team.
Warm conditions are forecast in Shanghai temperature was 27 degrees.
ST KILDA V PORT ADELAIDE,
JIANGWAN STADIUM (SHANGHAI), 1.50pm
TV: Channel 7, Fox Footy
Radio: FIVEaa, Triple M, ABC
Streaming: Kayo
SAINTS
B: Coffield, Brown, Savage
HB: Wilkie, Battle, Geary
C: Long, Ross, Newnes
HF: Billings, Bruce, Sinclair
F: Kent, Membrey, Parker
Followers: Marshall, Steele, Gresham
Interchange: Dunstan, Phillips, Young, Joyce
IN: Geary, Coffield, Joyce
OUT: Acres, McKenzie, Marsh
POWER
B: Burton, Clurey, Houston
HB: Jonas, Howard, Byrne-Jones
C: Duursma, R. Gray, Amon
HF: Farrell, Westhoff, Motlop
F: S. Gray, Ryder, Rozee
Followers: Lycett, Powell-Pepper, Boak
Interchange: Lienert, Butters, Bonner, Broadbent
IN: Burton, Lycett, Bonner
OUT: Rockliff, Ladhams, Frampton
The moment @chadcornes pushed his right hamstring too hard. 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/kvqdP0JFLa
— Daniel Norton (@Norts1974) June 1, 2019
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