Power midfielder Brad Ebert says Port Adelaide must continue to attack

BRAD Ebert says Port Adelaide’s win against Richmond will serve as a blueprint against the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night while former Melbourne great Garry Lyon says Jack Watts’ omission to the SANFL comes as no surprise.

13/06/18 - AFL - Port Adelaide training at The Adelaide Oval. Brad Ebert and Steven Motlop. Picture SARAH REED

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PORT Adelaide midfielder Brad Ebert believes the Power needs to maintain its attacking mindset against the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night to start pushing towards the top four.

And Melbourne great Garry Lyon says he was not surprised when former Demon Jack Watts was dropped to the SANFL.

Brad Ebert says the Richmond game is the blueprint for Port Adelaide. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Last week’s win against Richmond — and the first quarter against Hawthorn at Launceston — featured fast, attacking and daring football.

But more importantly, the Power has managed to keep the ball in their forward half, which allowed the club to win even though it was wasteful in front of goal against the Tigers and only kicked one goal in the second half.

Ebert expected the rain to turn Thursday night’s match at Adelaide Oval to a more basic game, where field position will be king and getting the ball forward — and then locking it in — will be at a premium.

“I guess it (the key) is sticking to what we’ve tried to play,” Ebert said on radio TripleM. “They’re quite good in the contest and we’ve got to match them there.

“And really try to get it in our forward half and lock it in.

“We’ve just got to get back to making sure we’re consistent.

“That (the Richmond win) was one performance and we’ve got to back it up.

“But I thought it was good how we were able to restrict — even though we only kicked one goal in the second half — their scoring and play some pretty good footy off it.

“Our pressure was up.”

Ebert also spoke about identifying the brand that works for Port Adelaide.

“I think we’ve got to play our style and our style is attacking footy,” Ebert said. “You do have to adjust to certain things — the weather might slow it down a bit and then you go back to a basic style.

“But I think the way we play is always that exciting footy on the back of strong defence.”

Jack Watts takes a grab against Richmond at Adelaide Oval last week. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Jack Hombsch, who returns to the Power side, contests with Tom Clurey at training on Wednesday. Picture Sarah Reed

Lyon said it had always been a possibility Watts would be dropped at Port Adelaide and much of it had to do with his approach to the game.

It was why Melbourne had been comfortable letting him go.

“By his own admission, footy is not the be all and end all and therefore he doesn’t play like the desperado that we want him to be,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.

“Jack wouldn’t be at Port Adelaide if this wasn’t a chance to happen,” he said. “That’s the bottom line.

“He doesn’t play on the edge and that’s the reason he’s not at Melbourne.”

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