The Lowdown Round 23: Simeon Thomas-Wilson’s likes and dislikes from Showdown weekend

Jase Burgoyne has plenty of talent, but in his debut season, seemed to be lacking in some intensity. But after some tough love from the Power, the son of a gun is rewarding his team in spades.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – AUG 17: Jase Burgoyne of the Power celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 23 match between the port Adelaide Power and the Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval on August 17, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

In a bumper Showdown edition of the Lowdown, SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON unpacks the likes and dislikes from across a controversial weekend of footy.

DISLIKES

1. UNDISCIPLINED

If there were any doubts about whether Taylor Walker should be at West Lakes in 2025, then they were answered as the Crows descended into the red midst in the Showdown and couldn’t snap out of it. Matthew Nicks said the warning signs were there before Houston’s huge bump that concussed star Crow Izak Rankine – and ignited tensions in one of the most fiery Showdowns we have seen for some time.

But the Power were just able to settle after tempers flared the Crows didn’t. They were sucked into free-kicks that they shouldn’t have given away and it was players that should have known better. Matt Crouch had a great game overall but was too angry after that flashpoint, while leadership group member Darcy Fogarty also lost his head while tempers flared. The Crows missed the experience of Walker on Saturday night on the field and it shows that he is still required at the club in 2025.

Darcy Fogarty was hot-headed on Saturday night. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

2. TOO MANY PASSENGERS

As mentioned before Crouch had a very good game in the midfield, so did captain Jordan Dawson – especially when the Crows were under the pump. Worrell stood up in defence, Mark Keane kept Charlie Dixon goalless and Hugh Bond had the better of Willie Rioli until the final quarter. But there were just too many passengers for the Crows on Saturday night especially when the Power put the heat on. Rory Laird had 24 disposals but barely had an impact on the game off half-back, with just 111m gained. Mitch Hinge had just the 19 disposals, Sam Berry 21 but 13 of them handballs, Jake Soligo 18 and 152m gained, while Reilly O’Brien had just the one mark. You can’t have passengers in such an intense game.

Charlie Dixon wrestles with Rory Laird during the Showdown. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

3. SHOWDOWN BRINGS OUT THE WORST

The Showdown is the best rivalry in the game but it seems like it brings out the worst in SA footy fans. Yes they were inflamed by Josh Rachele’s Port fans have no teeth barb – which he didn’t back up on Saturday night – before the game. But during the game for some fans, not all of them, to boo Rankine as he was stretched off following a sickening concussion – he had that tonic posturing pose that you hate to see – was to disgraceful.

Dan Houston's bump on Izak Rankine AFL tribunal high hit

As was the racist abuse that Rioli was again targeted with on social media. Unfortunately it seems that the line keeps getting crossed given we have had Eddie Betts targeted with racist abuse and a banana thrown in his direction in the past, as well as Paddy Ryder and Aliir Aliir also subjected to vile racist abuse. There is so much that is good about the Showdown, the theatre, the hatred that exists between the two clubs, the games themselves. But it is the bad that is increasingly leaving a bad taste in the mouth after what should be a celebration of another instalment in such a great rivalry.

Tempers flare in the Showdown after Dan Houston cleaned up Izak Rankine. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

LIKES

1. JASE BURGOYNE

He has always had talent, it is why he played eight games in his debut season at Port Adelaide despite being as skinny as a rake. But there were questions around the intensity and body-language of the son of 2004 premiership winner Peter. Coaches would question whether he would even be trying, so languid he looked at times. But in one of the fiercest Showdowns in recent memory, Burgoyne played with plenty of intensity. He finished with 22 disposals, seven marks, four tackles and a crucial goal in the fourth quarter as the Power began to get on top of the Crows. And the way he celebrated was nothing but intense. It has been a breakout year for Burgoyne after he got the tough love it looks like he needed.

Jase Burgoyne celebrates a goal in the Showdown. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

2. JOSH WORRELL

He continues to impress with his intercept marking, but there were a couple of moments that showed that if he isn’t yet then he is well on his way to becoming the Crows best defender. There was the moment in the first quarter where he basically stopped a goal by himself despite being seriously outnumbered by Power attackers and then in the fourth quarter it was his smother that led to Ben Keays’ goal. He even put that arm he broke badly in the Round 9 clash against Brisbane – for which he still wears a protective sleeve on – on the line and played through the pain after a big smother. It has largely been an extremely disappointing season by the Crows, but how different might have it had been if Worrell didn’t miss around three months of action with that broken arm? Regardless he has established himself as a massive part of the Crows going forward and could hold his head up high with his performance on Saturday night.

Josh Worrell has continued to impress. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

3. PORT’S DEFENCE

Port Adelaide are a completely different side at this stage of the season compared to the one the Power was at the end of 2023, when it limped into finals and was quickly eliminated in straight sets. And while we had questions over it going into the season, and as recently as under two months ago, the Power’s backline has become a serious prospect in Port’s premiership push. Over the last six rounds it is ranked first for points against, while since Round 16 it is ranked first for score per inside 50 against percentage and clearance to score against percentage, while it is second for turnover to score against percentage and third for pressure rating. This has coincided with the Power going to a two-man tall defender backline with Esava Ratugolea thrust forward and using the versatility of players such as Miles Bergman, Lachie Jones and Logan Evans. Dan Houston’s impending big ban will test the Power’s backline and its stellar form of late though.

Miles Bergman has been a key cog for the Power since they retooled their backline. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

AND THE LOWDOWN ON …

Next week we are going to get the first indication of just how busy the Crows expect to be in the off-season. Exit interviews are expected to take place at West Lakes on Tuesday and Wednesday and there will be a few Crows who might be a bit nervy about their meetings. Especially since the Crows could be in line for moves for SA products Alex Neal-Bullen and Jack Lukosius, and have been interested in GWS duo of Harry Perryman and Isaac Cummings. And add some more draftees in on top of that. Taylor Walker will sign a new contract soon, while Brodie Smith has hit a trigger for 2025. So that leaves nine Crows potentially in limbo for next year and just how busy Adelaide intends to be in the trade and free agency market could decide their futures at West Lakes.