Todd Marshall details his crucial goals that helped the Power to a win and how he learnt from Darcy Fogarty
The Power came from behind in the last term for a memorable win over the Dogs. Todd Marshall can be thanked for his late heroics, as can a star Crow. Here’s why.
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The best fielders want catches to come to them in crucial cricket moments.
Todd Marshall, an Australian high schools cricket representative, hopes to have shots at goal in pressure situations.
The 24-year-old tells News Corp all forwards always want the ball – “you’re probably not playing the right sport if you don’t want the footy in your hands”.
But few in the AFL would have had the composure or skill to nail the shot he did to put the Power four points ahead with 12 minutes remaining in the last quarter against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
Nestled on the other side of the boundary, along the fence, under Adelaide Oval’s famous old scoreboard, Marshall slotted a clutch major in difficult, wet conditions.
He did so after moving a plastic chair that was in his way and tweaking his run-up.
Marshall told News Corp he had improved his goalkicking by working with the club’s mindfulness coach, David Stephenson, particularly last pre-season, and practising while fatigued both during and after trainings.
He said Stephenson had helped him develop a clear routine and focus in the moment.
“When I have a set shot now, I have no other worries, I know what I’m doing and can block out the noise,” Marshall said.
“We do a lot of goalkicking (at training) post a drill, when you’re fatigued, and that really makes you work on centring your breathing and getting calm, really focusing.
“We probably do 10 to 20 shots under fatigue.
“It was a little bit tough with that fence and I changed my run-up a little bit.
“I took a couple of seconds at the top of my mark and really locked in.”
Marshall has booted 79.31 at 72 per cent over the past three years and is 10.4 this season.
Earlier in the night, Richmond great Matthew Richardson, the 12th-highest goalkicker in VFL/AFL history, said on Channel 7: “I would nearly have him kicking for me after the siren”.
Marshall told News Corp those sorts of compliments were nice “but you’ve got to keep putting yourself in those moments”.
“Once you handle that pressure, it gives you confidence you can keep doing it,” he said.
Marshall said he learnt from watching other accurate goalkickers across the competition, singling out a Crows young gun.
“Darcy Fogarty is one that I love watching kick a set shot,” he said.
“He’s so natural how he kicks the footy.
“It’s always the same way – he doesn’t poke at it, he doesn’t stab at it – he’s always got that lovely leg through the footy.
“In my early years, I was a bit inconsistent with the way I kicked the footy.
“I’d either stab at one from close range that I’d think was a bit of a gimme and it makes you miss, but I’m really confident now in my routine.”
The Power was eight points down with 13 minutes remaining when Marshall had his first really big moment of Saturday night – a pack mark.
He converted the set shot from about 35m, almost directly in front, then shortly after came his brilliant kick from the boundary.
Until the last term, Marshall had been quiet (six disposals, two marks, zero inside 50s).
Then he had four, four and one in the fourth quarter.
The absence of defender Josh Bruce, who was subbed off at the final break with a rib injury, seemed to hurt the Bulldogs.
Marshall said he “felt a little bit off” during the first three quarters.
“The Bulldogs, the way they defend they’re so aggressive and as that last forward it’s hard to know whether you go and impact the contest or roll up to the next one,” he said.
“At three-quarter time, as a forwards group, we spoke about (how) a few of us weren’t having our best game but it can be a quarter.
“I think in the last quarter a lot of forwards stepped up and we converted.”
Power coach Ken Hinkley said Marshall hung in there during the game to have a couple of great moments.
Hinkley said he was usually very confident when Marshall kicked for goal but the conditions on Saturday night reduced the coach’s optimism a little at that kick under the scoreboard.
Marshall was maligned externally in some circles for a few seasons before kicking 45.15 last year in a breakout campaign.
In a chicken and the egg type scenario, his goalkicking accuracy has boosted his confidence, just as playing well has boosted his belief when he takes shots.
“They go with each other for sure,” he said.
“If you kick 0.3, your confidence is going to be down, but that’s when it comes back to trusting yourself and your work during the week.”
Marshall, who opened the season with 4.1 against Brisbane, said his form was a little below what he had hoped in 2023, particularly in contests and aerially.
“I need to be a bit stronger and stand up to the moment,” he said.
The 198cm spearhead did that on Saturday night, so too did the Power.
Winning took Port to a 3-2 record after a difficult draw that included facing three of last year’s preliminary finalists in the opening month.
“We’ve come up against some really good sides to start the year so … (now) I think we’re in a really good position to springload into this next five or six weeks,” Marshall said.
‘LINE IN THE SAND’: PORT, ROOS CONDEMN JHF BOOING
North Melbourne and Port Adelaide are both adamant the booing of Jason Horne-Francis should stop immediately as the Power said on Sunday the constant attention was “overwhelmingly designed to bring him down”.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley hit out in a carefully orchestrated plea after the Power’s Adelaide Oval clash against the Western Bulldogs.
Hinkley said he would be “embarrassed by my performance if I was those people” booing Horne-Francis in a game where mostly neutral fans joined on the negative attention from the first bounce.
Horne-Francis has battled with the constant attention that has seen media building him up as a hero one week then tearing him down for poor performances the next.
North Melbourne’s belief is that they have moved on from a trade which saw them secure No.4 selection George Wardlaw and Port Adelaide’s first-round selection this year.
They also retained their earliest selection to secure brilliant teen Harry Sheezel.
The Roos have long moved on and while they cannot control their supporters on social media they are keen for them to accept former No.1 overall pick Horne-Francis has departed and instead support the club’s list.
Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies told the Herald Sun on Sunday morning all parties had to move on from the events of last year.
“Surely it is time to draw a line in the sand. It is hard to think everyone hasn’t left that situation feeling good about what happened. Everyone got a good outcome out of it,” he said.
“There was booing from the start of the game last night. We would say the scrutiny on whatever Jason does has been overwhelmingly intended to bring him down. And we think it’s unfair.”
He confirmed the constant speculation on Horne-Francis “had some effect” on the 19-year-old, who has moved back to Port Adelaide to be closer to his family.
While the pantomime booing of players after they depart clubs by their former fan base is a part of footy, the Power are determined to call it out to make clear Horne-Francis is being affected.
Asked whether he was referring specifically to the booing that has begun to plague Horne-Francis around the country, Hinkley said it was the overall treatment of the young star by fans and media alike.
“I’m talking about lots of things,” he said.
“I’m talking about people who write stories every week, talk stories every week and I’m talking about the treatment that they give him, at times, tonight.
“Without making a big deal of it, the kid’s trying, he’s giving his best. He’s 19. Stop treating him like he’s 28 and treat the kid with some respect.
“And I tell you what, some people who put pressure on kids in this game need to have a good hard look at themselves.”
Hinkley unloads on booing fans in passionate JHF defence
— Jason Phelan
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley launched an impassioned defence of star recruit Jason Horne-Francis in the immediate aftermath of the Power’s gutsy Gather Round win over the Western Bulldogs.
Horne-Francis was booed by sections of the Adelaide Oval crowd on Saturday night, and Hinkley was seen sharing an intense exchange and a hug with the 19-year-old on the ground shortly after the final siren.
The 2021 No.1 draft pick, who was also booed by Collingwood fans at the MCG in Round 2, has played all five games in his first season with the Power after his controversial trade from North Melbourne.
“Some parts of this really annoy me about the way people are treating him,” Hinkley said.
“It’s annoying me.
“He’s never going to play four (great) quarters every week, he’s a 19-year-old.
“If you were treating my 19-year-old son the way that some people have treated him … I’d be embarrassed by my performance if I was those people.
“The kid made a courageous decision to come home, let the kid play footy, he’s 19.”
Hinkley was asked if he was referring to booing from opposition fans.
“I’m talking about lots of things,” he fumed.
“I’m talking about people who write stories every week, talk about stories every week, and I’m talking about the treatment that they gave him at times tonight.
“Without making a big deal of it, the kid is trying, he’s giving it his best, he’s 19 … stop treating him like he’s 28 and treat the kid with some respect.
“I tell you what, some people who put pressure on kids in this game need to have a good hard look at themselves.
“Great credit to him, he just wants to play good footy and he’s happy being at home.
“Good on him.”
Horne-Francis was pivotal in the come-from-behind win with 11 possessions and four clearances in the final term.
In a surprisingly tense press conference following a courageous victory, Hinkley bristled when asked what had changed in his players’ approach in the past two weeks after they ‘disappeared’ in the Showdown in Round 3 when Adelaide kicked the last six goals to win by 31 points.
“Disappear? This team doesn’t disappear,” Hinkley replied.
“AFL footy is bloody tough and for people to think that they disappear … I think that’s unfair.
“They try to keep going in every game that they’re in, but I just get really frustrated sometimes when you attack the team.
“No one gets out there to try to disappear, they try to hang in for as long as they can, but sometimes that’s tough in this game.”
The Power has righted the ship after tough losses to Collingwood and the Crows, with wins over Sydney and the Dogs improving the win-loss record to 3-2, compared to last season’s disastrous 0-5 record at the same stage.
“You’ve just got to give yourself a chance and what we’ve done now is give ourselves a chance to stay in the comp for longer than we were last year,” Hinkley said.
“I think that’s significant for us that we’ve got to this stage at 3-2.
“I’m really proud of the team.”
Power secure gutsy win as Butters, Marshall stand up
The driving rain and the Cody Weightman-inspired Western Bulldogs couldn’t ruin Port Adelaide’s Gather Round party, Zak Butters starring as the Power came from behind to score a gutsy 14-point win at Adelaide Oval.
Port trailed by eight points early in the tense final term, but rattled home with the last four goals of the match to seal a memorable 10.10 (70) to 8.8 (56) win on Saturday night.
Butters was superb with 32 possessions, seven clearances, and booted the last goal of the match that sparked wild celebrations on the field and in the stands.
In a tough, tight grind of a game, Weightman’s class shone out, the star forward booting four goals in his first game of the season.
In a tense finale, Aliir Aliir helped secure the Power’s third win of the season with a typically desperate piece of defending, the star back man running down Aaron Naughton as he was set to pick up a loose ball and goal.
JEERS FOR JASON?
Jason Horne-Francis would have been forgiven a double-take and a quick check of his surrounds when his first touch was greeted by loud boos from the stands.
Perhaps a bunch of North Melbourne fans had decided to take in the game after watching their side’s loss to the Lions in Mt Barker in Saturday’s early match.
Port fans were certainly cheering for the most part during a first quarter when the ground was lashed by torrential rain.
A Bulldogs forward line featuring Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Rory Lobb looked a tall order for a smallish Power backline that was without Tom Jonas, who was managed with a sore knee.
But the slippery conditions made marking tricky early, with the Power adapting quickly to win the territory battle.
All-Australian defender Darcy Byrne-Jones, reinvented as a forward, booted a goal to help his side lead by 15 points at the first break and added another just before half-time to restore a nine-point lead.
MARSHALL’S MARKS
The Bulldogs were eight points up when Weightman booted his fourth early in the final term, but Todd Marshall wrenched back the momentum.
On a tough night for tall forwards, Marshall stood tall to take a commanding pack mark with 10 minutes played and booted his first from 30m out in front.
His next was a sliding effort out near the scoreboard pocket boundary line, which set up a difficult shot from 40m out that he sent sailing through the big sticks.
Xavier Duursma followed suit, with Butters intercepting an errant pass to inflict the killer blow.
WORTH THE WEIGHT
Playing his first game of the season after overcoming a groin injury, Weightman made his presence felt right away.
The star forward took a spectacular mark over Kane Farrell in the first quarter then delivered a dart to Mitch Hannan inside 50 that ended in a goal to Tim English.
He accounted for half his side’s goals in the first half after he booted two in the second quarter, including a groin-tester from right on the 50m line.
Weightman reacted quickest to get a boot on a ground ball in traffic to add the first major of the third in a welcome return that added another dimension to the Dogs’ forward line.
Marcus Bontempelli was just as important for the visitors.
The skipper’s career-best clearance number was 12, and the skipper had 10 at half-time, Ollie Wines and Butters the Power’s best in that category with three each.
The Bulldogs led for the time seven minutes into the third term when Bontempelli out-marked Willem Drew and converted from a tight angle.
He finished with 23 possessions, a goal, and 12 clearances.
Tom Liberatore was influential in his 200th game, finishing with 26 touches.
SCOREBOARD
POWER 3.5 5.8 6.10 10.10 (70)
BULLDOGS 1.2 4.5 7.6 8.8 (56)
PHELAN’S BEST
POWER: Butters, Rozee, Wines, Houston, Horne-Francis, Byrne-Jones, Marshall, Burton. BULLDOGS: Weightman, Bontempelli, English, Treloar, Johannisen, Liberatore, Macrae.
GOALS
POWER: Marshall 2, Byrne-Jones 2, Powell-Pepper, Butters, McEntee, Duursma, Boak, Houston.
BULLDOGS: Weightman 4, Bontempelli, Naughton, English, Hannan.
INJURIES
POWER: Nil. BULLDOGS: Nil.
UMPIRES Rosebury, O’Gorman, Deboy, Howorth
ADELAIDE OVAL
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JASON PHELAN’S VOTES
3 Butters (Port)
2 Weightman (WB)
1 Rozee (Port)
BYRNE-JONES THE GOALSNEAK
— Matthew Turner
Port Adelaide will have to think about making Darcy Byrne-Jones’s forward switch permanent after a second influential showing in attack in as many matches.
A week after the no-frills defender’s late cameo as the substitute helped the Power notch a two-point away victory over Sydney, Byrne-Jones impressed both offensively and defensively ahead of the ball in the wet against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old kicked two goals, had 11 disposals and three tackles in the 14-point win while also restricting Bailey Dale to 15 touches.
Dale had back-to-back 30-disposal games the previous two weeks, both Bulldogs victories.
Byrne-Jones was an All-Australian half-back in 2020, claiming the Power’s best-and-fairest that year, on the back of a runner-up finish the previous season.
Before Saturday night, he had booted 7.16 from 154 games.
The Power leadership group member kicked two by half-time against the Dogs.
“You’ve got to love it when a coach makes a positional move,” Richmond great Matthew Richardson said on Channel 7.
“For a long-term defender, Darcy Byrne-Jones, an All-Australian defender, he’s playing an inside 50 role tonight and playing an important role on Dale.”
Fox Footy’s Jordan Lewis added: “He came on last week and changed the momentum of the game and now he’s got a job to do as a defensive forward, but also kicking two goals himself, so he’s been a really important player for Port in the first half.”
Port Adelaide’s small forward mix has been something of a puzzle the last two seasons.
After superstar Robbie Gray retired at the end of last year and Steven Motlop hung up his boots midway through 2022, the Power recruited Junior Rioli and Francis Evans to boost its stocks.
Rioli booted three goals in his club debut against Brisbane in round 1 but had since been underwhelming.
The West Coast premiership player kicked 0.2 from seven touches on Saturday night after 0.3 from six disposals last week.
Ex-Geelong player Evans has featured just once for his new club, as the substitute in the season-opener.
The Power talked up fellow goalsneak Orazio Fantasia over summer as almost like a recruit after never taking to the field at AFL level last season due to a quad injury.
But he is sidelined again and has played just three times in 2023, including being substituted against the Lions and coming on as the sub in round 3.
While Byrne-Jones reinvents himself in attack, former forward Dylan Williams has looked comfortable in the veteran’s usual role, making smart decisions and using the ball nicely.
Those positional swaps have helped the Power to two important wins in a row so there is a big case for them to remain there.
Originally published as Todd Marshall details his crucial goals that helped the Power to a win and how he learnt from Darcy Fogarty
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