The Lowdown: What Power should do with Esava Ratugolea after another disappointing game

Esava Ratugolea may hold his spot this week against Carlton, but is the Power better with two key defenders? The former Cat hardly inspired confidence on his return, leading SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON to ask if Port is better without him.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 19: Ben Keays of the Crows celebrates kicking a goal during the round 19 AFL match between Essendon Bombers and Adelaide Crows at Marvel Stadium, on July 19, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Both South Australian clubs notched wins on the weekend in the AFL, with the Crows snaring a monster scalp by beating Essendon and Port Adelaide accounted for lowly-placed Richmond at home.

LIKES

1. CROWS’ LEADERS STAND UP

Last month in the wake of the horror loss to Richmond this column called out the Crows’ leadership group outside of captain Jordan Dawson. The response from Adelaide’s leaders have been impressive with the Crows’ leaders instrumental in their massive win over Essendon. Ben Keays could well have been dropped to the SANFL so poor was his form at one stage but he has been brilliant the last couple of weeks and kicked a career high five goals to cap a virtuoso performance. Darcy Fogarty started the season ice cold but was red hot against the Bombers and looks to have found a new level of consistency that Crows fans have been waiting for. Mitch Hinge came back into the side and was massive with his ball use off halfback. Many of the Crows leaders were missing when their season hit the low of the Tigers loss, but they have been big in Adelaide salvaging some pride and respect in the way it is finishing 2024.

Ben Keays has stood up for the Crows in the past month after questionable form early in the year. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

2. FINDING A WAY

Too often Adelaide has been the close but no cigar team. On Friday night the Crows came away with some Cubans. It was a win for the ages for Matthews Nicks’ team, maybe even better than the victory over Carlton earlier this year. Their best player Izak Rankine was missing through suspension and talisman Taylor Walker managed. Key defenders Nick Murray and Jordon Butts went down injured during the game. The Bombers have also been a team that has had the wood over the Crows, especially at Marvel Stadium. But the Crows found a way to win. They didn’t embrace the expectations on them at the start of the season, but they are creating some hope for 2025. Post their bye they are seventh for points scored, fifth for score per inside 50 percentage, second for points from clearances and seventh for chain to score percentage. Teams contending for finals won’t want to run into the Crows in the final weeks of the season.

Adelaide’s younger crop such as Zac Taylor have given the side some spark. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

3. WILLIE RETURNS

Port Adelaide has missed Willie Rioli. The Power did what it had to do and banked a win against Richmond. But with its daunting run home, the Power will have to lift if Port are to be a chance of staying in the eight and making finals. A fit and firing Rioli is key to this. With Sam Powell-Pepper out for the season, Rioli is the polish and class of the Power’s small forward stocks. He finished with 2.2 and six score involvements. Before he got injured and then missed a game for personal reasons he kicked four goals in the Power’s best win of the season against Geelong and three in the thrilling comeback victory over Hawthorn.

Willie Rioli returned for the Power on the weekend. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

DISLIKES

1. JUST A BAD LOOK

It might have been that it was the incident involving Nic Martin in the fourth quarter, rather than the one with Nate Caddy in the third, that resulted in Dawson entering concussion protocols. But the AFL had to issue the Crows with a please explain for their management of their concussion management protocols regarding Dawson and his head knocks on Friday night. We are told again and again that the AFL is taking the issue of concussion seriously, and that clubs are understanding of their desire to protect players.

Jordan Dawson will miss this week with concussion. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

But the current system just doesn’t seem to be in line with this, when HIA’s are being done quickly on the ground – when everyone can see that a player has received a blow to the head. It wasn’t the worse look of the weekend, that was Carlton and Harry McKay even though he did pass his tests, but more needed to be done to at least get Dawson off the ground for his HIA. It was good that Dawson self-reported after the incident with Martin and yes the game was well and truly in the balance when he suffered the first knock. But if the game is serious about concussion, then we can’t have more situations like we did over the weekend.

Harry McKay stayed out on the field after looking visibly distressed after a head clash. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

2. WHAT TO DO WITH ESAVA?

Are the Power better defensively with two key defenders? In his return to the team Esava Ratugolea didn’t do a lot to change this increasingly discussed narrative. His opponent Sampson Ryan did not kick a goal but you couldn’t say it was a performance by Ratugolea that inspired confidence. He looped a backwards kick that sold Logan Evans completely short and led to a Tigers goal in the first quarter. Unfortunately for the Power it seems that he almost has one of these moments every week. Carlton’s two-headed monster of Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay might necessitate Ratugolea holding his spot in the Power’s side for Friday night given his height. But the Power’s defence is still a big issue and Ratugolea right now isn’t inspiring supreme confidence.

Esava Ratugolea and Tom Brown contest for the footy on Saturday. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

AND THE LOWDOWN ON …

Ken Hinkley sure didn’t miss when he unleashed an “old school” spray towards his midfield group at halftime on Saturday night.

Fox Footy cameras caught the end of the Power senior coach laying down the law to his midfield group.

The crack went for about 60 seconds and caught many in the Power’s rooms completely off-guard as Hinkley let the midfield group know in no uncertain terms about what he thought about their defensive actions and efforts – something that has been identified by opposition teams.

It got the reaction that Hinkley wanted against Richmond in the second half on Saturday night.

With some of the best midfields in store in their run home, he will be hoping the spray is one the Power midfielders don’t forget in a hurry.

Ken Hinkley gave his midfielders a spray on Saturday. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Originally published as The Lowdown: What Power should do with Esava Ratugolea after another disappointing game