Two “why” questions stand out from the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide performances in the AFL

HALL of Fame Legend Malcolm Blight looks at the major form issues at AFL clubs Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows

Jake Neade of Port Adelaide celebrates a goal with Charlie Dixon.

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WHY?

A big “why” questions comes from each of the Crows win and the Port Adelaide loss at the weekend. One is easy to answer, although why it still needs to be asked is ridiculous; the other has tormented every coach - and fan. And it will continue to do so.

WHY does Port Adelaide persists with making its “hot spot” inside its 50-metre forward arc be at the behind post or wider rather than the goalsquare? Why?

Ask that question in the coach’s box - as some of us have done across the years - and the answer is: “Stops us getting opened in the middle (on by the defending team on the rebound).”

My answer to that: Rubbish!

Port Adelaide had 12 inside-50s in the decisive last term against Geelong’s 13 at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. Geelong scored a match-winning 4.2, the Power managed just 0.2. In the second half, it was 26-27 by the inside-50 count - and on the scoreboard that matters, Port Adelaide kicked three goals compared with the Cats’ seven. Such waste!

Charlie Dixon of Port Adelaide taps towards Jake Neade during the loss to Geelong.

And if you mapped the entries - as you would expect from the coaching staff at each AFL club and from some of us mere observers in the stands at the Oval - there is a clear and disturbing image.

Port Adelaide works the ball wide - too wide. Be it slow movement from the midfield or a deliberate ploy, there is a shuffle from the goalsquare to that zone between the behind post and a half-forward flank.

The Power is taking the ball from the most dangerous spot in attack ... because of the opposition’s defenders? Forget the opposition. It is the Port Adelaide attacking zone - it is the opposition that is supposed to be under pressure, not the Power forwards.

Why is this happening? Don’t come up with the “we’re good at clearances” and there is a good chance to score from stoppages. Wrong. Those boundary throw-ins or stoppages are giving the opposition more time to put more defenders around the ball. It becomes more difficult to score for the Power forwards.

Forwards want space. The mapping of Port Adelaide’s forward movement highlights they are being denied this basic need.

This theme of “keeping the ball in the forward line” is over-rated. Seriously overstated too.

Ask the defenders where they do not want to see the ball when Port Adelaide is moving from defence and through the midfield? Why the Power is putting the ball where the opposition defenders would prefer it - rather than where it best suits its forwards - might just explain why Port Adelaide is not scoring enough goals.

WHY did the Crows look so impressive in Sydney after being so poor at home seven days earlier against Collingwood? It is the question that turns AFL coaches into very grumpy men.

Coaches will say it again and again - their responsibility is to prepare the players to perform at their best. Here, Don Pyke and his coaching staff at the Crows deserve full credit for the environment they created - while the Adelaide Football Club and its leaders were under enormous pressure after the Collingwood debacle - to ensure their players delivered a superb 10-point win against the Swans.

Against all the negative messages that bombarded the Crows, they defied Sydney - and the much-admired Swans midfield - without vice-captain Rory Sloane, goalkicking specialist Eddie Betts and the Crouch brothers in the midfield.

Someone once noted that the first coach who finds the secret to what happens above the shoulders with his players will become a millionaire. Make that a billionaire.

Clearly, the Crows players not only took on their shoulders responsibility for their lame performances against Collingwood, but they also accepted the challenge to respond. This gives the coach the chance to set up a winning team.

Much can be made of Pyke’s selection decisions against Collingwood. But now there must be credit for how he corrected the set-up against Sydney - and the approach his team took in taking on the Swans from the first bounce. They played to win.

Looking at the best players list in The Advertiser on Saturday morning tells the story. Pyke created a perfect balance while dealing with a heavy injury list denying him eight first-choice players.

Two novices stood up - defender Tom Doedee and midfielder Hugh Greenwood. Two players just recently past their 50-game milestone - Paul Seedsman and Rory Atkins - delivered under pressure.

Experienced men - key forward and captain Taylor Walker and one of the AFL’s most consistent stoppers, Daniel Talia - played critical roles superbly.

In the battered midfield, ruckman Sam Jacobs dictated the tone of the most-critical contests. And again the All-Australian - and clubhouse leader for the best-and-fairest title at Adelaide - Rory Laird delivered with consistency that honours the Ross Lyon theme of “anywhere, anytime, any opponent”.

It is the perfect mix of the eight players you need to deliver the win. And when Bryce Gibbs and Cam Ellis-Yolmen are each out-pointing Sydney captain Josh Kennedy for clearances to give Adelaide 10 clear winners on the night, the game is a dream to watch as a coach.

But why it can happen one week but not every week will keep coaches awake in the early hours of the morning forever. However, why Port Adelaide plays wide is one nightmare Ken Hinkley can - and must - end.