AFL Finals 2021: All the Port Adelaide news and selection updates ahead of the first preliminary final
Port Adelaide will have no excuses in its preliminary final against the Bulldogs, with coach Ken Hinkley thrilled after a near-faultless preparation. See the full Power team.
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Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says he could not have imagined any better preparation for his side ahead of Saturday night’s home preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs.
“We’ve had the right build-up, we’ve earned the right to be where we are, we’ve worked really hard, we’ve trained really well in the last seven or eight days and the boys are ready to play so we just have to come out and execute tomorrow night,” Hinkley said on Friday.
The Power confirmed on Friday it would be going into the blockbuster unchanged.
It might have kept the same side even if forward Mitch Georgiades (hamstring tightness) was available.
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Sam Powell-Pepper will again be the medical substitute after booting two goals in the role during the qualifying final win over Geelong a fortnight ago.
“It was pretty simple all the way through for us and obviously the Mitch stuff took away any doubt,” Hinkley said.
“(Georgiades) is 90 per cent … but the upside is we know if we can win this game there would be no doubt he would be 100 per cent come the next time we have to play.”
Hinkley said leaving players out for finals was difficult but particularly when it came to leadership group member Hamish Hartlett.
Hartlett returned from knee surgery via the SANFL on Saturday and had not played AFL since Round 14.
“He’s known it would take a significant bit of luck for it to happen for him,” Hinkley said.
“But he’s given himself a chance, being able to get back after surgery and playing a really solid game in the SANFL on Saturday.
“So it’s just good to have him around the place ready to go if we’re needed to.”
Hinkley said the Power had planned for Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli to play despite a knee concern and for ruckman Stef Martin to be recalled.
“The Bulldogs were confident most of the week he (Bontempelli) was going to be OK and Bont’s a star, so you can understand why they want him out there and needed him out there,” he said.
Hinkley described preliminary finals as the toughest games of the year.
He said his side got most things right at this stage last season when it fell to eventual premier Richmond by six points at Adelaide Oval.
“We’ve got to get it all right and have got to get a bit of luck along the way,” he said.
“I think we’re an improved football team, a more challenging team than this time last year.”
The Power will go into Saturday night’s clash as warm favourites but Hinkley said he paid no attention to odds or predictions.
“We all get worried about what the opposition are and we know the quality,” he said.
“We know we’ve got a great opponent to come up against but we are really well prepared.”
PORT PAIR FACES PRELIM HEARTBREAK
Port Adelaide will go in unchanged against the Western Bulldogs as the Power seeks to go one better than last year on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.
With young gun key forward Mitch Georgiades judged to not have recovered sufficiently from his hamstring injury to compete at AFL level this week Ken Hinkley has gone in with the same 22 that was dominant against Geelong in the qualifying final.
Georgiades was at Adelaide Oval on Thursday but didn’t feature in the warm-up or initial training sessions with his Power teammates.
Ruckman Scott Lycett, wingman Karl Amon and defender Ryan Burton all trained away from the main group on Thursday but have been named.
Sam Powell-Pepper is expected to be the medical sub again for the Power, meaning Hamish Hartlett and Tom Clurey both face some preliminary final heartbreak.
Port Adelaide general manager of football Chris Davies said this showed just how well placed the side was at this stage of the season.
“There are always stories of hard luck,” he said on FIVEaa.
“Tom Clurey couldn’t have done any more (in the SANFL) … Hamish also played a solid game.”
Clurey has been named among the emergencies, meaning he can be named the medical sub, along with Powell-Pepper, Sam Mayes and Jarrod Lienert.
The Bulldogs have named inspirational captain Marcus Bontempelli in their line-up, after he suffered a knee injury in their thrilling semi final win over Brisbane.
But important defender Alex Keath has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
He joins exciting small forward Cody Weightman (concussion) on the injury list while makeshift ruckman Lewis Young has been dropped.
This means the Bulldogs will take a risk on Stefan Martin, in his first game since round 12, while Jason Johannisen and Zaine Cordy also come into the side.
Should the Power beat the Bulldogs and seal a spot in the grand final, the plan is to fly them out to Perth the weekend before the showpiece event.
“In the case of Port Adelaide, I think we’d probably get them here about a week out from the game. That’s the weekend of the Brownlow, Saturday the 18th or Sunday the 19th to have them here for the week,” AFL executive general manager Travis Auld said.
“Part of that is to make sure we’ve got the teams here ready to go for a grand final. The other part is there’ll be a lot of activities here as we build that momentum into the grand final that you want your playing groups to be around for.”
TEAMS
Second Preliminary Final
PORT ADELAIDE v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Saturday September 11, 7:40pm at Adelaide Oval
POWER
B: R.Burton, T.McKenzie, A.Aliir
HB: M.Bergman, T.Jonas, D.Byrne-Jones
C: X.Duursma, O.Wines, D.Houston
HF: K.Amon, T.Marshall, Z.Butters
F: R.Gray, C.Dixon, C.Rozee
FOLL: S.Lycett, T.Boak, W.Drew
I/C: S.Motlop, R.Bonner, O.Fantasia, P.Ladhams
EMG: S.Powell-Pepper, S.Mayes, J.Lienert, T.Clurey
IN: Nil
OUT: S.Powell-Pepper (sub)
BULLDOGS
B: E.Wood, R.Gardner, B.Williams
HB: C.Daniel, Z.Cordy, B.Dale
C: B.Smith, J.Dunkley, L.Hunter
HF: L.Vandermeer, A.Naughton, A.Treloar
F: J.Schache, T.English, M.Hannan
FOLL: S.Martin, J.Macrae, M.Bontempelli
I/C: J.Johannisen, T.Liberatore, T.Duryea, R.Smith
EMG: A.Scott, Le. Young, M.Wallis, E.Richards
IN: Z.Cordy, S.Martin
OUT: A.Keath, C.Weightman (both injured), Le. Young (omitted)
Port rules out young high flyer
Port Adelaide has ruled Mitch Georgiades out of its preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
Georgiades was at Adelaide Oval for Port’s training on Thursday but did not emerge onto the field as the Power’s entire group was put through its paces.
Georgiades hurt his hamstring in the Round 23 clash against the Western Bulldogs and while he got through a SANFL game on the weekend the Power have ruled him out of the prelim.
In a statement, Port said Georgiades, who finished third in the Rising Star award this year, had not recovered sufficiently to compete at AFL level this week.
It means the Power is set to go into the clash against the Bulldogs unchanged.
Hamish Hartlett trained but the veteran was not a part of the Power’s AFL side when players split into groups.
Ruckman Scott Lycett, wingman Karl Amon and defender Ryan Burton trained separately from the main group on Thursday but are expected to be fine.
PORT ADELAIDE INJURIES
The Power have a wealth of options after a number of AFL-listed players got through the SANFL on the weekend, even if Mitch Georgiades has been ruled out for another week. Hamish Hartlett, who played his first game since having minor knee surgery, will put his hand up. Sam Powell-Pepper started strongly in the SANFL and suffered a corked quad but the club is confident he will be fine. Orazio Fantasia joined teammates for a light run on Monday.
INJURY LIST
Trent Burgoyne (hamstring) season
Kane Farrell (knee) season
Taj Schofield (hamstring) season
Why Burgoyne chose Power over Crows, AFL
AFL great Shaun Burgoyne says he is coming home to Port Adelaide after being lured by where the club is heading and the chance to work in several off-field areas.
Burgoyne had been widely sought, including from the Power’s cross-town rival Adelaide and the league, since pulling the pin on his 407-game career last month.
But on Wednesday the 38-year-old accepted a position at Port Adelaide, where he played SANFL for the Magpies, 157 matches for the Power and in its 2004 premiership.
His multifaceted role will involve player development, corporate and government relations, list management and becoming the club’s indigenous liaison officer, focusing on community programs.
Burgoyne requested a trade from Port Adelaide at the end of the 2009 campaign, seeking a fresh start, but said there definitely would be no awkwardness returning.
“I feel like I’m coming home,” Burgoyne, who won three flags at the Hawks and played his 400th match against the Power, told News Corp.
“Not only am I coming back as a former player in a working capacity, the club’s obviously doing really well, is really united and going places – that’s what attracted me to them.
“The role they put forward was really good as well.
“I look forward to connecting again with a lot of the Port fans who … gave me nothing but love and admiration for the nine years I was there.”
Burgoyne said he seriously considered the Crows’ offer, telling FIVEaa rejecting it had nothing at all to do with Adelaide star Taylor Walker’s racial vilification saga.
“My chats with them were very good … and the vision they have going forward seems to be a really good vision under Nicksy (coach Matthew Nicks),” he told News Corp.
“It was a very tough decision.”
Burgoyne said the AFL position also interested him but he, wife Amy and their four children, wanted to be back in SA, particularly because of how Covid had changed the travel and football landscapes.
“We just wanted to be back home, close to our families in a good footy role where I can add something to the program and to what Port are already doing very well,” he said.
“I’m very keen to try lots of things to see what I’m good at then nailing it down.”
. Burgoyne said he and his manager had been preparing for post-football life for about seven years, but his body held up so he put decisions off while he concentrated on playing.
The AFL’s indigenous games record holder will link up with his nephew Trent, who is a Power rookie and the son of Burgoyne’s brother, premiership teammate Peter Burgoyne
Trent’s brother Jase is eligible to join Port Adelaide as a father-son selection this year.
“Trent flew over a few weeks ago and was on my couch for a few weeks after he had his hamstring surgery,” Burgoyne said.
“Jase has been going really well and I’m not too sure what Crippa (Power list manager Jason Cripps) has in store.
“There could be another Burgoyne there this year.”
Burgoyne was also looking forward to mentoring the club’s leaders, passing on his knowledge from 21 seasons and 35 finals – the second-most major-round matches in league history.
Power chief executive Matthew Richardson said the club was thrilled Burgoyne would be starting the next phase of his life back at Alberton.
Burgoyne will start his new role on November 1.
Power switched on to exorcise prelim demons
Steeled by the experience of last year’s preliminary final loss, Port Adelaide players are building themselves to “be brave” as a grand final spot goes on the line.
There’s equal parts edginess and nerves at the club this week as big selection calls loom but also a level of calm according to defender Dan Houston, who will play his 100th game against the Western Bulldogs.
He and around 95 per cent of the team set to run out at Adelaide Oval this Saturday were part of the team that lost by a goal to eventual premiers Richmond last season.
Orazio Fantasia wasn’t, and he’s set to play this week after a “managed session” at training on Tuesday, which was mainly handballing on the sidelines with veteran Robbie Gray.
That loss in 2020 has been front of mind this week, and been reviewed again, but the significant growth among the playing group has left Houston adamant that this time the result will be different.
“We’ve all got a better version ourselves,” he said on Tuesday. “We have all taken a leap forward in our game and a leap forward as a person. We’re ready to put ourselves back out there and we’re in a better position to embrace what comes at us this time around.
“During the week we have gone back through (the preliminary final from) last year and what we thought we could have improved on.
“It was a pretty close game but probably our composure during the game hurt us a little bit.
“We will be looking to use what we learnt from last year – all the little things help us be a better team this time around.”
Assistant coach Nathan Bassett called a preliminary final the “scariest game of the year”, and Houston couldn’t disagree. But he said how players approached the cutthroat nature would determine the outcome.
“It’s a big game, high pressure. It is a bit daunting,” Houston said. “But with fear comes bravery and we feel like we are building towards being brave this weekend.
“You’ve got to dream (about making the grand final), but you don’t want to be complacent at the same time. You don’t want to look too far ahead and take your eyes off the game, you want to be in the moment.
“We feel like we’re a really strong connected group that does the little things really well. We feel like we have taken a step forward from last year and that is what it will come down to on the weekend.”
More composure, and straighter kicking after Port kicked 6.10 in last year’s prelim, are the on-field focus for Saturday.
Port also kicked 9.12 against the Bulldogs in a two-point win less than a month ago, which is very fresh in their minds.
“It’s got a little bit of relevance, they are still the same side,” Houston said.
“But the score didn’t reflect how we played. We felt like we were pretty dominant. We just need to kick straighter.”
Houston had no thoughts on the forward line discussions – four-talls or three – that could determine the final 22 because you “only kick it to one at a time”.
But he conceded the selection drama for such a big game was hard for the players to ignore.
“Everyone is a bit on edge this week, everyone wants to play, but everyone is excited for each other. It’s some guys’ first prelim. we all know it’s a tight selection,” Houston said.
“It’s a good spot to be in. Some boys will be disappointed come (selection on) Thursday and some will be excited, but we will get around each other and stay connected and tight.”
POWER’S JAB PUSH
Port Adelaide is encouraging its players to get vaccinated and will work with the AFL if it makes receiving the jab compulsory.
Inoculations have become a major talking point in global sport as the pandemic continues and there are reports some NBA teams plan to prevent unvaccinated players from entering home arenas next season.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on 3AW last week the league was urging everyone to get vaccinated and it was likely to determine a policy by the end of the season, but it was a complicated position with the players.
Power footy boss Chris Davies said most, if not all, of the club’s football department had been vaccinated, while a majority of players would have had at least one shot.
“A number of our players have already got theirs done and we’ll obviously have another group that will get theirs done now their (SANFL) season is over,” Davies said on SEN SA.
“We haven’t forced it upon players right now but I’m sure there’ll come a time for all players to get done.
“We’ll make sure we’re compliant with whatever the AFL has done and will absolutely be supportive of our people getting the vaccine.
“We’re encouraging it and if the AFL wanted to mandate it, then we would obviously have to work with them to get that done.”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews suggested last Friday that people might soon need to be vaccinated to enter sports stadiums.
St Kilda and Sydney are among the AFL clubs to have urged supporters over the past week to have the jab.
EARLIER: WHAT IS PORT’S MOST-POTENT FORWARD MIX?
– Russell Gould
Port Adelaide’s coaching staff knows what the best combination of talls and smalls is to stretch the Bulldogs’ defence in the “scariest game of the year”.
But they aren’t giving anything away.
The three talls combo of Charlie Dixon, Todd Marshall and back-up ruckman Peter Ladhams got the job done in the qualifying final against Geelong and looms as the go-to option.
That could mean young star Mitch Georgiades misses out despite proving his fitness in a state league game.
“We can go both ways,” assistant coach Nathan Bassett said.
“I think I know which (model is best) … (but) no (I won’t say which).
“It’s not so much about size, it’s about what they are capable of doing.
“The great thing is we have really strong depth. Clearly, the AFL team performed well last time we played, so whoever plays we know we have good people to pick from.”
It was only three weeks ago Port saw both attacking options in play, after a second-half injury to Georgiades, in a heart-stopping two point victory over the Bulldogs.
“We have adjusted depending on who is available,” Bassett said.
“The great thing is what (each forward) is capable of doing. We have a whole team of quite talented forwards — we are developing into a strong forward line. And we will be capable of playing both ways. But we will pick the team best suited to winning.”
The forecast for a “chance” of showers late in the afternoon could also impact who Port picks.
“You want people who can pick the ball up off the ground and give it to their teammates or kick a goal or get to the next contest if the conditions are compromised by weather,” Bassett said.
“The Western Bulldogs are a good ‘outnumber’ team with terrific hands and shape around the contest. They are going to challenge you in terms of getting your hands on the footy to start with.”
Port tripped at the preliminary final stage in 2020, going down to eventual premier Richmond.
Bassett said the players didn’t need to be reminded what’s at stake, noting even his son is too nervous to attend Saturday night’s game.
“I‘m not sure much (lingers from last year) other than the guys have being through that before,” Bassett said.
“The start is important and we have not been the best starting side. We did start well against Geelong. So the focus is on starting well by initially getting us involved in the contest because it does bring pressure … preliminary finals are the scariest game of all for any player.”
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