Captain crunch: Star holds the key to team, and coach’s, finals fate

When your team is in trouble, you need your leaders to stand up.

Port Adelaide are again facing a straight-sets exit from finals on Friday night, and their first-year captain Connor Rozee is under pressure to carry his team out of the fire. He cannot hide from this moment that will define him as a player and leader.

The pressure is building on Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee, his team, and his coach.Credit: AFL Photos

But Rozee has his own form to address. His lacklustre 16-disposal performance in the Power’s disastrous 84-point loss to Geelong in the qualifying final has put Rozee under a greater spotlight, and under as much pressure as his team.

This is the moment when Connor Rozee must stand up.

The midfielder is coming off a very low base, too, with Champion Data listing Rozee’s 16-possession effort against Geelong as his sixth-lowest-rated game of the season.

There is a trend emerging here. Last year, in the semi-final loss to GWS, Rozee recorded his second-lowest-rating game of the year.

The conclusion – one that opponents will note – is that when the pressure and intensity rise in finals, Rozee struggles to deliver his best.

A deeper dive into Champion Data ratings reveals more concerning issues for the two-time All-Australian. When Port Adelaide lose, Rozee’s output drops significantly.

In wins this season, Rozee averages 25.6 disposals, gains 428 metres, and has 5.6 inside 50s, 0.7 goals and 6.5 score involvements. But in losses, his numbers drop to 21.1 disposals, 275m gained, 2.7 inside 50s, 0.3 goals and five score involvements. His overall influence on games drops by 34 per cent when the team loses.

No one questions Rozee’s character, talent and brilliance, but these figures suggest he falters when the game is not played on his and his team’s terms. While Rozee was not the only Power player to lower his colours against Geelong, his highly credentialled midfield teammates were also well below their best.

Geelong overwhelmed Port Adelaide in scores from stoppages, winning this statistic by a staggering 54 points. Compounding the issue, Port coach Ken Hinkley made the questionable decision to start third-year midfielder Jason Horne-Francis on the interchange bench for the first and second quarters, a mistake that surely will not be repeated on Friday night against Hawthorn in the semi-final.

Adding to the pressure on Rozee are the question marks on his vice captain, Zak Butters, who also has an underwhelming finals record. After being subbed out at half-time against Geelong with bruised ribs, Butters enters Friday’s contest against Hawthorn with lingering doubts about his fitness and ability to put his mark on the game.

When a captain is out of form, it stands out. It can become a significant distraction. Sydney skipper Callum Mills is fortunate his team won a thrilling qualifying final against GWS otherwise, his mistake-laden performance would have been a major talking point. He has now been ruled out of the Swans’ preliminary final with a hamstring injury sustained in training this week, meaning he will become a selection focal point should Sydney reach the grand final.

Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs leader and All-Australian captain Marcus Bontempelli delivered his worst performance of the season in last Friday’s elimination final exit to Hawthorn, further illustrating the pressures of leadership.

Bontempelli was hampered by coach Luke Beveridge’s decision to play him as a deep forward in the second and third quarters. He managed only four touches and failed to win a clearance in that role. The Dogs have been so reliant on Bontempelli’s brilliance that none of his teammates could step up to ease the pressure on their captain.

Sometimes, a defining moment in a captain’s career arrives, when nothing less than a brilliant, inspiring performance will suffice. For Rozee, that moment has come.

Port Adelaide stand on the brink of a second consecutive straight-sets fail in finals. If that happens, the fallout could be severe, with Hinkley possibly paying the ultimate price.

Hinkley has always judged leadership by on-field performance, and now he needs his captain at his best. Rozee must remind the football world of just how good he can be. He must deliver a scintillating captain’s performance that sparks his teammates to keep Port Adelaide’s season alive.

On Friday night, all eyes will be on Rozee. His response could determine not only the fate of his team but also the future of his coach.

In finals, when the pressure is at its peak, true leaders must rise. It’s time for Rozee to do so.

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