Justin Westhoff says Port Adelaide must rediscover workrate caught out this season

PORT Adelaide’s Mr Fixit Justin Westhoff on what the Power must to do avoid being ‘caught out’ against Essendon and beyond this season.

Brisbane’s Stefan Martin competes with Port Adelaide ruck rival Justin Westhoff at Adelaide Oval. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Media/Getty Images.

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JUSTIN Westhoff concedes Port Adelaide must look hard in the mirror to march on without Paddy Ryder and rediscover its game-day edge or get “caught out” this season.

Man in the middle Westhoff could alter his role if retained as the Power’s stop gap ruckman against Essendon on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.

Port Adelaide has coughed up a 105-67 hitout discrepancy and is -12 in clearances across two games without the injured Ryder.

Stefan Martin’s ruck superiority almost guided Brisbane to an upset win against the Power at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

“He played an awesome game, it probably comes back to me to not hunt the ball so much but he dominated us and set the scene for them to come back,” said Westhoff of Martin, who had 48 hit-outs, nine inside-50s and 14 contested possessions.

“He is a class act and has been good for many years.”

Justin Westhoff rucks against Stefan Martin of the Lions on Saturday. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Port’s first-half workrate and return of its poor (14.13) finishing inside 50 hurt against Brisbane and can’t be replicated against the Bombers, says 229-game veteran Westhoff.

Selfless 199cm Westhoff is Ken Hinkley’s Mr Fixit but may need a specialist back-up against 202cm Tom Bellchambers in the form of Billy Frampton or greater chop-outs from Jack Watts, Charlie Dixon and Dougal Howard.

All-Australian Ryder is sidelined for at least a month with an Achilles strain.

“There were a few areas we weren’t up to scratch. If we do that through the year we are going to be caught out more times than not. We can’t really bring that effort too often,” Westhoff told The Advertiser.

“We are 3-0 but there are still a few areas we can improve individually and as a team.”

Essendon jumped Port with quick ball movement, banking a 48-point quarter-time lead with 13 scoring shots before winning by 70 points in round 12 last season.

Essendon ruckman Tom Bellchambers flies for a mark against the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

“They touched us up last year and got off to a flying start and that is something we will look to,” Westhoff said.

“They have been in pretty good touch and always play well at Etihad, so we will reassess where we are at. Hopefully we are back to our best next week on a quick deck.”

Port can’t afford to let Bellchambers dominate and feed a unit that works Etihad at lightning speed.

However, Westhoff noted the holistic approach required for success at Etihad.

Port was annihilated by Essendon despite Ryder winning hit-outs 37-23 against Bellchambers last June. It was Essendon’s high disposal count and 67-51 inside-50s that crushed Port in a game where Cale Hooker slotted five goals.

“They have some really good weapons and love it at Etihad, it suits their game style so they will come out firing. It will be a tough ask over there,” Westhoff said.

Westhoff said the positives in Port’s close shave against Brisbane were hanging tough through a defensive-50 stoppage when it couldn’t against West Coast in last year’s elimination final.

Jared Polec, who completed a match-saving mark, Ollie Wines, Sam Gray, Hamish Hartlett and Brad Ebert all fired in a side with many passengers until halftime.

“They were scoring pretty freely. I am happy those guys stood up at the right time and we were able to close the game out,” Westhoff said.

Originally published as Justin Westhoff says Port Adelaide must rediscover workrate caught out this season