Port Adelaide great Tim Ginever was on the money when he said the Power would rue the Round 17 loss to Fremantle
PORT’S loss to Essendon on Friday was a disaster from the moment Brad Ebert was told to get off the field at the first bounce because he was meant to be on the bench. But the Power really lost their way in Perth on July 15.
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“PORT Adelaide will rue this day”, club legend Tim Ginever said on radio on July 15.
The Power had just lost to Fremantle in Perth, ending a five-game winning streak but still had a very favourable 11-5 record and Ginever’s comments seemed a bit dramatic.
But Port fans were nervous and Ginever’s words became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The Power lost five of its next six games and its decline can be traced back to that day against the Dockers.
Watching Port Adelaide in the past month has been like watching a marathon runner stave off dehydration and stagger towards the finish line, zig-zagging all over the road one agonising step at the time.
They knew where the finish line was but the only prize for finishing was to say they finished at all.
Friday night’s loss to Essendon was a disaster from the moment Brad Ebert lined up at the first centre bounce and was told to get off the field because he was meant to be starting on the interchange bench.
The Bombers kicked six goals to one in the first quarter and when the bronx cheers started the only conjecture was whether they were for the umpires or the players.
And now to sift through the wreckage. Port is about to watch its most creative and attacking player Jared Polec walk out the door a year after its other speed machine Jarman Impey was traded to Hawthorn.
All while trying to come up with a way of injecting a different dynamic into a midfield that looks predictable, one-paced and one-dimensional.
Sam Powell-Pepper’s form has reflected Port’s slide in the back half of the year, although Power fans must remember he is 20 and has played just 38 games. But when he was up and about mid-year so was the team, when he dropped away, likewise.
He only had 13 touches on Friday night, tried to do too much with it instead of looking for the first option, and when he did kick it he went at 53 per cent. But he wasn’t alone.
Adelaide by contrast has finished its equally as disappointing season on a relatively good note with back-to-back wins and winning five of their past seven games.
But its fall from grand finalist to missing the finals altogether is worse than the Power’s slide.
It’s just that the Crows have had longer to get used to the idea and to book their holidays.
Although mathematically a chance, in reality their season ended on June 16 when they surrendered to Hawthorn at the MCG.
Reviews at both clubs will focus on how to fix the problems but it appears Port Adelaide has the bigger headache of the two.
How does it rejuvenate its midfield? Where to settle Chad Wingard? How best to use Jack Watts? Will they have a second ruckman? How do they replace Jared Polec? Can the next tier like Aidyn Johnson, Billy Frampton and Karl Amon become regulars? Will we see Matthew Broadbent back to his best?
Six weeks ago if you got to pick who you’d rather be then it would have been Port Adelaide in a heartbeat.
But that suddenly became a 50/50 question, and possibly now you’d be leaning towards the Crows who despite all their shortcomings this year have seemingly already moved on from 2018 with a sense of optimism.
Port will too get to that point but not without their own prolonged period of soul searching.
ROUND 23 POWER RANKINGS
1. Richmond (18-4)
The team to beat. Fast, skilful, unselfish, won't have to leave the MCG, almost zero injuries and able to handle pressure and expectation.
2. Hawthorn (15-7)
Have come from the clouds mid-year to emerge as the greatest test to Richmond going back to back. Loved their gritty win over the Swans at the SCG.
3. West Coast (16-6)
Had to fight it out against Brisbane to finish the season. But home final straight up, double chance if required and will be hard to deny a prelim final.
4. Collingwood (15-7)
Nothing really exciting about a nine-point win over lowly Fremantle to finish the season but it's one man out, another steps up at the Pies and they march on. Brodie Grundy for the Brownlow?
5. Sydney (14-8)
Brave effort against Hawthorn without Buddy and Parker. Won't be devastated by the result and will fancy themselves against the Giants in an elimination final derby.
6. Melbourne (14-8)
Deserves a home final after winning six of their past eight games going into finals. Will give themselves a huge chance of toppling the Cats. Like the emergence of Sam Weideman and James Harmes this year.
7. Geelong (13-9)
Back-to-back 100-point wins to finish the season, good form or a false dawn? Tom Hawkins will give Melbourne nightmares for the next two weeks but Sam Frost is the man for the job.
8. GWS (13-8-1)
Back to back losses heading into finals but they can expect some star power to return for the clash with the Swans and desperately need Toby Greene fit and firing.
9. Essendon (12-10)
Best team outside the eight. Bombers fans will be kicking themselves they're not playing finals but a 2-6 start put paid to that. Still, the way they've finished the year is very promising for 2019.
10. Adelaide (12-10)
The Crows have also flown home. Feels like they've moved on from the disaster of 2018 long ago and are already thinking about next year. Like the look of Himmelberg, can see him and Fogarty both playing together next year along with Walker and Jenkins with McGovern surely on his way out the door. Doedee the rising star but Milera arguably most improved.
11. North Melbourne (12-10)
Disappointing not to play finals after such a strong start to the year but look like they'll finally land a big fish in the off-season with Jared Polec and possibly Andrew Gaff on their way.
12. Western Bulldogs (8-14)
Not a disaster but still a fail from the premiers two years ago. Pushing Richmond all the way on Saturday will however solidify in their minds that they've still got it.
13. Port Adelaide (12-10)
The most disappointing team in the competition right now. I'm staggered they haven't tried to match Jared Polec's offer in value or length. Going hard after Scott Lycett but need pace and skill particularly coming off half-back and on the wing. Hinkley copping a lot of heat but he can only work with what he's got. Losing Jarman Impey last year has hurt Port as much as Charlie Cameron's departure hurt Adelaide this season.
14. Brisbane (5-17)
The best of the bottom five which is cold comfort for the Lions and nothing to celebrate but it should be. Played large parts of the second half without Charlie Cameron and Harris Andrews and earnt the respect of the competition. Tough to beat at home which is a start.
15. St Kilda (4-17)
Competitive against North Melbourne to finish a long and painful year but showed enough in the past two weeks (pushed Hawthorn last weekend) to make sure Richo keeps his job and there is some hope moving forward.
16. Fremantle (8-14)
Very disappointing end to a season that never really got going. Ross Lyon selling optimism at Freo but it's hard to see it right now.
17. Gold Coast (4-18)
Hard to know whether Stuart Dew will think the job of rebuilding the Suns is bigger now than when he started. Showed good patches, horrific patches, but still beat Sydney so that's something, however that's the last they'll see of Tom Lynch.
18. Carlton (2-20)
Non-competitive against Adelaide to finish the year. Like their tall forwards in Curnow and Mackay but Patty Cripps desperately needs help on the ball.
Originally published as Port Adelaide great Tim Ginever was on the money when he said the Power would rue the Round 17 loss to Fremantle
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