The Lowdown: Simeon Thomas-Wilson’s likes and dislikes from round 6 for the Crows and Power

Even Reilly O’Brien’s fiercest critics would say he responded against the Giants, even if he still hasn’t notched up a contested mark in 2025.

Both the Crows and Port Adelaide are flying high after round 6.

Adelaide got back on the winners list with a workman-like performance against the Giants, while the Power got some finals revenge in Sydney.

Simeon Thomas-Wilson names his likes and dislikes from the weekend.

LIKES

1. ZAK BUTTERS

No doubt he already has a working relationship with him given he is the midfield coach but Josh Carr has one job above all this year, make sure its a watertight one with Zak Butters. Take him out for coffee every day, go play golf with him, wine him, dine him, whatever it takes to replace the ultra-strong relationship between Butters and Ken Hinkley by the time he becomes the senior coach. We’ve seen what the Power looks like without Butters for the first three games this season and it was not pretty. The Port vice-captain has made his teammates walk taller since he returned early from his time on the sidelines to take on St Kilda, and outside of that first quarter against the Saints the Power have looked like a better side.

Against the Swans, Butters’ 27 disposals was the lowest so far of the season for him but his eight tackles, 17 contested possessions, seven clearances and six score involvements were massive. The Power says it will have the cap space to match any big-money bid from Victorian clubs for the two-time All-Australian. It needs to leave nothing to chance.

2. THE RESPONSE

Even Reilly O’Brien’s fiercest critics would say he responded against the Giants. Not only did he monster GWS’ Kieren Briggs in the ruck battle - registering 21 more hitouts - but he did what he had not done a lot of so far this season, claim the battle across the ground. O’Brien’s lack of marking results has been well publicised this year so there was a loud cheer when he clunked his first at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. And he finished with four more, although none were classed as contested so he is still searching for his first of the season in that regard.

Reilly O'Brien hit back in the Crows’ win. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But also along with this came 17 disposals, his most since early last year, four clearances and four tackles. Before the game O’Brien was in the midst of his worst rated four-game run of his career. He broke out of that slump. And he wasn’t the only one. Mitch Hinge had some of the worst mistakes you might see this year against Geelong. Against the Giants he was key in the Crows plan to go off their man and take intercept marks.

3. LACHIE JONES AND ESAVA RATUGOLEA

They have had their moments that have made Port fans nervy and frustrated but the two defenders have been solid over the last couple of weeks for the Power. Yes the Swans were wasteful and terribly inefficient when they went into their forward 50 on Sunday but there were just some solid acts from the two defenders that helped the Power hang on. For Ratugolea he needs to play well with Brandon Zerk-Thatcher getting closer and closer to a return and the Power looking better with two key defenders rather than the three.

Esava Ratugolea was instrumental in the win over Sydney. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Lachie Jones is in good form. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

DISLIKES

1. TURNOVER AFTER TURNOVER

The good thing for the Crows is their stars probably couldn’t have been more inaccurate if they tried and they still got the win. Captain Jordan Dawson had 27 disposals but went at 52 per cent efficiency with eight turnovers, Izak Rankine had 20 disposals at 40 per cent with eight turnovers and Jake Soligo 22 at 59 per cent with seven turnovers. The conditions were terrible on Saturday and it was a downright ugly game. But the Crows might not be able to get away with key players such as the three mentioned above coughing up the ball so much when they take on other top teams this year.

The Crows’ skipper needs to put his kicking boots back on. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

2. INTERESTING REVIEW

It could be an interesting review at Alberton. The big thing was that Port Adelaide got the win over Sydney. But so many of the key metrics that we normally associate with a Power win were lost by Hinkley’s side. Port were quite convincingly beaten when it came to the inside 50 count (53-61), clearances (33-46) and contested possessions (110-156), yet still got the four points. So how do you look at it? Is it the Power finding a different way to win? Or is it the Swans not taking their chances? One aspect the Power will be happy with will be the tackle count (57-42), indicating that the pressure was at the level required.

3. MISSED PAYDAY

Sam Draper’s Achilles injury could not have come at a worst time for the Essendon ruckman. With fellow Bomber Nick Bryan out for the season the Reynella product had a chance for a massive year as Essendon’s No. 1 ruck option. And in a contract year, with the Crows keen, it could have resulted in a big deal with Draper interestingly an unrestricted free agent. But now he is on the sidelines for the rest of the year and ruck might be a big issue when it comes to the Crows’ list but they surely could not shell up for Draper in the wake of another injury for the SA product.