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ANALYSIS

Port Adelaide’s big men must add a physical edge for the Power to challenge top sides

There are so many positives to the Power’s season but if it wants to play finals in 2019 its big men must stand up when it counts. Recap with quarter-by-quarter updates.

There’s no nice way to say this; Port Adelaide’s big men are too nice and it was a big reason why Fremantle stole the show against the Power in Perth on Saturday night.

There were several things that jumped out from that match; Ross Lyon is one of the most wily and cunning coaches around and manages to get games played on his terms.

What he did — again — was to outnumber the Power around the stoppages.

Lyon’s not particularly worried about having big numbers ahead of the ball — he gets them around the ball and it went a big way towards beating the Power.

Michael Walters is just brilliant and there was a suggestion his game was so good he deserved four Brownlow votes for his 25-disposal, six-goal contribution against Port Adelaide.

But the one thing that jumped out more than most in this match was how two of the game’s most recognised ruckmen — Paddy Ryder and Scott Lycett — allowed a 21-year-old in Sean

Scott Lycett of the Power during the match against the Fremantle Dockers in Perth. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright
Scott Lycett of the Power during the match against the Fremantle Dockers in Perth. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

Darcy to have it all his way in the last quarter.

At one stage this young ruckman had steered Fremantle to have 13 clearances to the Power’s three and the worst part was that he never looked like he was really challenged.

When you’re two against one and you’re not making life more difficult than that against somebody who’s just learning the craft you are asking for it.

There is so much to like about Port Adelaide this season.

The old cliche about having a nice blend of youth and experience is there at Alberton.

Justin Westhoff does things you’d never expect from the oldest player in the side and his banana kick goal in the second quarter, his mark and then gift of a goal to Kane Farrell and the was he chases was a treat to watch.

It sums up the old and the new; Westhoff still being such a significant player and handing it over to the new generation in Farrell.

Former captain Travis Boak is another great example: he’s getting towards the end of his career but after giving away the captaincy and returning to the midfield after a couple of years in the starvation corner also known as half back flank he is in career-best form.

It could not be a better time for this football club to have Boak in top form and be able to guide outstanding young talents such as Xavier Duursma, Connor Rozee and Zak Butters.

But on the evidence from Western Australia on Saturday night there is one ingredient missing for Port Adelaide and it is one that needs to be addressed quickly: this mob is just too nice.

Where was the mongrel and the ruthless nature that has underpinned the history of the club?

Ryder and Lycett should not be singled out here, because they’re not the only ones in the midfield.

But to let a player like Darcy have such an impact without making him earn every touch in the last quarter was a let-down that might just cost the Power a spot in the finals this season.

Good on Darcy, because he played a ripper, and good on Walters for having such an outstanding game in what was a great game of football.

But Port Adelaide’s players have to ask themselves this: were they too nice and too friendly about how they went about their business over in Western Australia?

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER UPDATES

FIRST QUARTER

Dockers 3.2 (20)

Power 5.1 (31)

Hamish Hartlett could not have been more impressive in his first game back at the highest level after missing 2018 to a knee reconstruction. He was one of the Power’s most influential players and kept racking up disposals while Justin Westhoff kicked a goal for the scrap book with a beautiful banana kick. The Power had more of the ball and won more contested ball.

SECOND QUARTER

Dockers 8.4 (52)

Power 7.5 (47)

Fremantle made a charge after starting to win more of the clearances and Jesse Hogan kicked a couple of quick goals to put the Dockers in front. Two of the biggest names on the ground — Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe and former Power captain Travis Boak — started to assert themselves and were two of the most prominent players on the ground as the game was on edge.

THIRD QUARTER

Dockers 12.6 (78)

Power 12.7 (79)

Port Adelaide continued to have more inside-50 entries but the Dockers made more of their opportunities. Michael Walters kicked his fourth goal but it remained close through standout efforts from players such as Justin Westhoff, who was tireless and Kane Farrell kicking his fourth goal.

FOURTH QUARTER

Dockers 15.10 (100)

Power 12.7 (79)

Fremantle dominated the clearances and that’s how the game was won; as good as Xavier Duursma had been on the wing, Travis Boak in the middle and Hamish Hartlett on his return, if you get smashed in the clearances in the final quarter of a close game it’s game over. Michael Walters was outstanding for the Dockers — again.

FREMANTLE V PORT ADELAIDE

Saturday June 15, 4:05pm at Optus Stadium

Weather:

TV: Fox Footy, Channel 7 (live)

Radio: TripleM, FIVEaa, ABC

Live stream: Kayosports.com.au

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DOCKERS

B: Hamling, Wilson, Ryan

HB: Blakely, Hughes, Duman

C: B. Hill, Fyfe, Langdon

HF: Brayshaw, Cox, Walters

F: Conca, Hogan, Matera

FOLL: Darcy, Tucker, Mundy

I/C: Logue, Bewley, Switkowski, S. Hill

EMG: Banfield, Crowden, McCarthy, Meek

IN: Darcy, Logue, S. Hill

OUT: Pearce, Lobb, Cerra

POWER

B: Burton, Clurey, Houston

HB: Hartlett, Jonas, Byrne-Jones

C: Duursma, R. Gray, Amon

HF: Westhoff, Howard, Motlop

F: S. Gray, Ryder, Rozee

FOLL: Lycett, Powell-Pepper, Boak

I/C: Bonner, Lienert, Farrell, Butters

EMG: Drew, Wines, Ladhams, Garner

IN: Hartlett

OUT: Broadbent

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/port-adelaide/why-port-adelaide-is-primed-for-rare-win-over-dockers-in-perth/news-story/b54542e940ae81a5e4b1756f1d5f372f