Port Adelaide analysis: How will the Power compete with dynamic ruck duo Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy?

Brynn Teakle and Jeremy Finlayson might not be the first names fans think of when it comes to AFL ruckmen. And this week they face one of the best duo’s in footy.

Brynn Teakle has a big task in front of him. Picture: Getty Images

Veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein gave Port Adelaide a taste of what it should expect in its blockbuster home match against Melbourne this Friday night.

While North Melbourne hardly tested the Power after quarter-time, in what became a 70-point smashing in Hobart, Goldstein dominated hit-outs, collected a heap of possessions and finished with the highest Champion Data ranking score on the ground.

Port Adelaide, which again had Brynn Teakle and Jeremy Finlayson in the ruck, was able to combat his influence by smashing the Kangaroos in centre clearances (18-5) and win clearances overall (43-41).

North Melbourne was well ahead in hit-outs (63-24) and around-the-ground clearances (36-25).

An even greater challenge awaits against the Demons.

Athletic but undersized duo Teakle and Finlayson will have to contend with All-Australians Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy in what shapes as a critical match-up between two sides with 7-2 records.

Power midfielder Zak Butters said Teakle, who had played the past four games this season, and Finlayson, the club’s leading goalkicker in 2023 with 14, were building a good relationship on field.

Brynn Teakle has a big task in front of him. Picture: Getty Images

Butters said their focus was on minimising opponents’ influence, “making it a bit more of a scrap and not letting them mark it, bringing the ball to ground and forcing contests”.

“Brynn’s done a good job in there,” Butters said.

“Just the way he competes and gives us a contest is really good.

“He doesn’t let them get too many clear hits, which is what his role is and he’s done that really well.

“He just gives us a chance and at ground level if we can be proactive with our bodywork and get the ball in a bit of a scrap, that suits us and our midfield.

“Our pressure in there is what helps us win those balls.

“It’s not pretty, we don’t win many first hits or sexy plays, but we just go to work and really help each other and support each other as a midfield group.”

Teakle, who joined the Power from East Fremantle via the mid-season draft last year, had been picked ahead of veteran ruckman Scott Lycett this past month.

When he was selected to make his AFL debut a fortnight after arriving at Alberton, East Fremantle coach Bill Monaghan likened Teakle to Rory Lobb in that he was probably a forward/ruck foremost.

But Monaghan said Teakle’s mobility was impressive for a big man and he would improve his ruck contests by being in the AFL system.

On Saturday, the West Australian registered 12 disposals, 17 hit-outs, three inside 50s, five score involvements and a goal against the Kangaroos.

Finlayson made it four successive games with a Champion Data ranking score of more than 100, finishing with 101.

His athleticism, ability at ground level, nimbleness in bursting from contests and prowess as a forward (3.5 on Saturday) has made him one of the Power’s most important players.

Even more so when the side was without spearhead Charlie Dixon (quad strain) in Hobart and lost Todd Marshall (concussion) early in the match.

Jeremy Finlayson is digging in despite being outsized in the ruck. Picture: Getty Images

“The best thing about them is they’re both really good runners and both cover the ground really well, and that’s been a good thing to have in the team,” Butters said.

“We definitely know how big (important) Jez is inside our four walls.

“Just his versatility to be able to go in the ruck and how well he moves for a big guy as well.

“Obviously we had Charlie out and lost Todd early, so I thought the way he stood up really led that forward line.

“He had a lot of shots on goals, so he probably didn’t quite get the reward.

“He had a big game.”

Lycett’s shoulder injury against Melbourne in round 4 last year prompted a Power ruck reshuffle that initially led to Sam Hayes’s selection.

After seven consecutive weeks with him in the line-up, Port Adelaide shifted to the Finlayson-Dixon combination.

The move not only gave the Power more versatility and mobility, it helped their clearance differential, chances of gaining first possession and scoring from stoppages.

Port was 8-8 heading into its last meeting with Melbourne in Alice Springs in round 18, needing a victory to stay in touch with the finals contenders.

The Power won clearances that day (40-26), as well as centre clearances (13-11) and inside 50s (55-49), while Finlayson had the equal second-most clearances on the ground (five) as he and Dixon levelled the ruck battle against Gawn and Luke Jackson.

Max Gawn celebrates after beating the Power last year. Picture: Getty Images

Melbourne still prevailed by 14 points.

Even if Dixon does return to face the Demons at Adelaide Oval on Friday night, Port has looked to reduce his ruck time due to a lingering knee issue so the hosts will rely again on Teakle and Finlayson.

“It’ll be a tough game and it’ll start in the midfield,” Butters said.

“They’ve got some really good midfielders so we’ll have our work cut out.

“We’re looking forward to going out there and giving it a red hot crack.”

Lycett is out of contract at season’s end and is looking unlikely to remain at the club, Teakle does not yet have a deal for 2024 and is perhaps best suited to being a forward who rucks or a second-choice ruckman, and you have to wonder if the Power seeks to bring in a first-class tapman again after being interested Grundy last off-season.

Teakle and Finlayson may just be a short-term combination but right now they are getting the job done for a Port team that has won six games in a row to contend for the top four.

FIZZER: JHF’S FIRST NORTH DUEL A MASSIVE ANTICLIMAX

If you watched Port Adelaide’s game against North Melbourne hoping for theatre, you probably would have changed the channel.

All the sizzle was in the build-up, which started when Jason Horne-Francis left the Kangaroos in October after just one season and was potted on social media by teammate Cam Zurhaar.

But Saturday’s first meeting between the prized Power recruit and his former side was a massive anticlimax.

A 70-point Port Adelaide win that featured next to no by-play.

Perhaps it should not have been a surprise.

Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson had tried to diffuse the tension between Horne-Francis and North Melbourne on Thursday when he told reporters he texted the 2021 No. 1 pick last month to clear the air and assure him there were no grudges held at Arden St.

Clarkson also implored Kangaroos fans not to boo the 19-year-old.

Jason Horne-Francis celebrates a goal against his former side. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

While the jeers came, the physical attention was minimal.

North treated him like any other Power player.

Maybe that was part of the problem on a day that resembled a walk in the park for Port Adelaide for periods after quarter-time.

Plenty of interest surrounded the first bounce – who would go to Horne-Francis and would North players get stuck into him?

The answers were veteran Hugh Greenwood and no.

TOM JONAS HAS SCORED 🚨

The 32-year-old's second AFL goal.#AFLNorthPowerpic.twitter.com/i8iSnrpinm

— AFL (@AFL) May 13, 2023

Horne-Francis started in the midfield, met by Greenwood, who gave him a couple of nudges, that was it.

No Kangaroos seemed to get in the young gun’s face or in his ear.

Zurhaar and the Power young gun crossed paths a few times without anything looking close to boiling over.

You would hardly have known that they were rivals, who, according to former teammate Atu Bosenavulagi, did not like one another and always used to be at each other’s throats at training.

When Zurhaar’s knee clipped Horne-Francis in the last term, the Kangaroo even patted him on the back to make sure he was OK.

North started the game well, taking it up to the Power early, while Horne-Francis was quiet with just one disposal in the first term.

At quarter-time, Fox Footy expert Gerard Healy thought the Kangaroos’ approach to their former player was wise because being aggressive could have been a distraction.

Tom Jonas salutes after a rare goal. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

“They probably didn’t want to get the whole (Port Adelaide) side involved,” Healy said.

As the Power grew into the game after the first break, so did Horne-Francis, who was booed by North fans every time he came on and off the ground or had the ball.

His increased aggression in hunting the footy to start the second quarter led to him giving away two high contact free kicks.

Zurhaar shrugged off another of his tackles, before Horne-Francis booted a goal, much to the delight of his new Power teammates and disdain of the Kangaroos supporters.

Half-time footage showed a North player with a knee across Horne-Francis’s throat at the bottom of a pack and a hand on his face, which was uncomfortable as it got for him.

Port Adelaide star Zak Butters told the Sunday Mail his side had expected some physicality towards Horne-Francis and there was a bit of that on the ground.

TOM JONAS HAS SCORED 🚨

The 32-year-old's second AFL goal.#AFLNorthPowerpic.twitter.com/i8iSnrpinm

— AFL (@AFL) May 13, 2023

“He prepared himself for that and we were prepared to back him up,” Butters said.

“He hit his straps and it was really good to see him kick a goal.

“At still only 19, he handled himself terrificly.

“I thought as a footy club we handled it really well.”

Horne-Francis finished with 15 disposals, five tackles, four clearances, two inside 50s and a goal.

Post-match, it was all handshakes, pats on the back and well dones.

Whatever angst there has been about Horne-Francis leaving North Melbourne now seems only to exist over the other side of the fence.

Hopefully the booing the blond-haired midfielder has received most weeks this year stops soon too.

Originally published as Port Adelaide analysis: How will the Power compete with dynamic ruck duo Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy?