AFL 2021: Port Adelaide wins thriller over Richmond at Adelaide Oval
The match looked like it was going down an eerily similar path to the preliminary final, but the Power flipped the script. However, the Tigers aren’t concerned.
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Port Adelaide will not get back its 2020 preliminary final against Richmond.
But if there are any demons lingering from October’s six-point loss, Power players will have taken a step in overcoming them.
In another fast-paced, high-pressure night match at the same ground – though in dry conditions, rather than rain, in April, not October and with four points at stake instead of a grand final – Port Adelaide was this time on the winning side of a nailbiter, prevailing by two points.
You could sense the relief and how much it meant in the aftermath of the victory.
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On the ground, there were hugs among Power teammates when the siren sounded.
In the change rooms, Port Adelaide assistant coaches Michael Voss, Nathan Bassett and Jarrad Schofield, along with a handful of players not in the 23 joined in for a rousing rendition of the club song.
It was Power captain Tom Jonas who called on them to link arms.
“You always know the significance of the moment when all the coaches and the staff are in the team singalong,” Brisbane great turned commentator Jonathon Brown said on Fox Footy.
“You very rarely see that happen so obviously this win meant a lot to the Port Adelaide Football Club.
“It would give them belief that they’ve slayed the dragon from last year, albeit in a home-and-away game.”
In the last quarter, the match looked like going to go to an eerily similar script to the preliminary final.
The Power struggled to get the ball out of its back half at the southern end of the ground in the closing stages and Kane Lambert kicked a late goal to give the Tigers the lead.
Port Adelaide would have had itself to blame if it lost, given it had dominated the second quarter but could not make it count.
In that term, the Power led inside 50s 18-8 and clearances 9-3, only to kick 3.7 and leave the door ajar.
It finished with 29 shots at goal for just 11 majors (39 per cent accuracy), but was able to hold on.
Power coach Ken Hinkley said matches between the sides had a habit of going down to the wire.
In Round 11 last year, Port Adelaide fought back from a one-point three-quarter time deficit to triumph by 21 points at home.
“Richmond and Port have great games, they respect each other enormously, and you’ve got to go all the way,” Hinkley said.
“There was that game last year and that game earlier in the year where there was a bit of deja vu.
“Lambert kicks a goal, we find a way, Robbie kicks a goal, we find a way to hang in there.
“And in the last two minutes 40 (seconds), where we just had to stay tough under the footy.
“It could’ve went either way right to the end.
“Some of our efficiency kept Richmond in the game but that’s what they do, they won’t go away.”
A major difference to preliminary final night was the Power’s ability to win the clearances.
Port Adelaide lost the count 41-29 to the Tigers in October, including 28-9 in the last half and 16-4 in the final quarter.
That was despite the Power being the league’s best clearance differential team last season and the Tigers being middling in that area for much of their run of success these past four seasons.
“Richmond last year beat us in that key space, but we always know it’s week to week,” Hinkley said.
“You’ve always got to get things right and you’ve got to do it well against quality opposition.
“Last week (in the 37-point loss to West Coast) we didn’t get it done as well as we would’ve liked – quality opposition was too good for us.
“This week against quality opposition we stuck pretty hard and pretty tough in there and the people in there deserve some credit.”
Richmond and Port Adelaide do not meet again during the 2021 minor round but it will not be a surprise if they face off again in the finals.
Brown said Friday night’s match “looked like a final” because of its intensity.
Hinkley said he was sure his side was a good team again this year, but injuries would play a part in the season and it was only Round 4.
“You’ve got to go a long, long way,” he said.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick’s relaxed demeanour was a sign he was not too concerned about his side being 2-2 and losing against the Power.
“Always against Port Adelaide we have some great tussles and I thought it was another outstanding game of footy we both played against each other,” Hardwick said.
“There was always going to be a sorry loser and that’s us tonight.
“I thought our guys fought back really valiantly and had some chances to win, we just couldn’t nail the ones when we needed to.
“I think our fans would walk away thinking ‘good effort, didn’t quite get the chocolates tonight’.”
Hardwick believed his team had turned the corner after its surprise 55-point loss to Sydney at the MCG last week.
He said it needed to clean up its efficiency going inside 50, turnovers and composure, “but the positives for us far outweigh that”.
“I thought it was a big step forward for us,” he said.
“If you play deep into finals, you do start a bit slower and Port are probably a little bit the same.
“But I think you’ll start to see us play a better brand of footy.”
Richmond and Port Adelaide will be hoping to go deep into the major round again this season.
Bookmakers had them as the two premiership favourites before the match, so they would be expecting that to be the case.
If the two clubs face off in September, expect another epic.
“We’ve got a bit of a knack of beating them in the regular season, we’ve got to try to do it in the finals now,” Power vice-captain Ollie Wines told Fox Footy post-match.
REVEALED: WHAT WAS SAID BETWEEN FAN AND DIMMA
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was on the end of a bizarre exchange with a Port Adelaide fan in the moments after his side’s loss on Friday night.
Hardwick was walking from the coach’s box through the Adelaide Oval crowd when the fan made a point of speaking to the three-time premiership leader.
Hardwick initially kept walking before stopping to exchange words with the fan.
“The guy was giving me a tissue,” he said after the match.
“I was thinking, that’s a bit harsh. We have won three out of the last four flags mate. I’m not sure whether I need a tissue.”
However, Hardwick clearly didn’t have any issues with the overall Power crowd.
Damien Hardwick had words with someone from the crowd after the game. pic.twitter.com/iQr3Jq6N7w
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 9, 2021
“I must admit, this is a great place to play footy. The ground is outstanding. I find myself singing the bloody INXS song as I’m walking out onto the ground which is never a good sign.
“The Port crowd are outstanding. I think they do a great job supporting their boys.”
WHY THE TIGERS SHOULDN’T PANIC
Richmond was gutsy to fight back late, coming off double six-day breaks.
But it is now 2-2 after consecutive losses following its surprise defeat at the MCG to Sydney last week.
Regardless, it is certainly not time to panic for the Tigers.
Not only did they perform strongly on the road, they have been here before during its run of three flags from the past four seasons.
Last year, Richmond was 1-1-2 and 14th after four rounds.
In 2019, the Tigers were 2-2 and 13th.
We know how those years ended.
But Richmond will be wanting to avoid three straight defeats when it faces St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
LAMBERT AGAIN
It was as if Tiger Kane Lambert had not left Adelaide Oval after the narrow preliminary final win over the Power.
Lambert nailed the final two Tigers’ goals to get the side home and kicked the first goal in the round 4 clash.
There was another preliminary final memory revived in the opening term when Dustin Martin outmarked Karl Amon with his trademark clever body use.
Martin was expected to have the set shot from 40m, only to handball to Jayden Short running passed and he kicked truly for the goal.
For the record, Martin had nine touches in the first quarter, and what about his snap for goal early in the final term to cut the deficit to five points.
MOMENTUM HALTED
The Power had the momentum for much of the early minutes of the second term. But 14 minutes into the quarter, experienced defender Hamish Hartlett produced a howler.
His clearing kick under no pressure was intended for Darcy Byrne-Jones. Instead, he found gun Tiger Jack Riewoldt, who bombed from outside 50 and it bounced through for a goal.
The goal cut the Power lead to just two points. Fortunately for the Power, they nailed a goal shortly after.
Tigers ruckman Toby Nankervis returned the favour in the third quarter when he missed a target in defence, allowing Connor Rozee to pounce and kick a goal.
And Hartlett then made amends when he kicked a stunning major from 60m.
WASTED CHANCES
The Power were their own worst enemy in the second term, wasting prime opportunities in front of goal.
And it was some senior players having trouble with their accuracy. Robbie Gray and Charlie Dixon missed set shots as the Power added 3.7 for the quarter.
What should have been a substantial lead at halftime was only seven points. The Power smashed the Tigers in the inside 50 count, but the domination failed to be reflected on the scoreboard,
THE JONES BOY
Lachie Jones might just be the latest cult hero for the Power.
Making his debut on his 19th birthday, he was introduced into the contest after nine minutes to the delight of the home crowd.
The youngster coughed up some mistakes, but he is a goer and the Power fans enjoyed his endeavour.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 3.3 6.10 9.12 11.13 (79)
RICHMOND 4.2 6.3 8.7 11.11 (77)
BEST: Power: Boak, Wines, Butters, Burton, Aliir, Amon. Tigers: Houli, Short, Martin, Cotchin, Lambert, Grimes.
GOALS: Power Motlop, Rozee 2, Houston, Duursma, Hartlett, Gray, Fantasia, Butters, Georgiades. Tigers Riewoldt 3, Lambert 2, Martin, Castagna, Short, Aarts, Lynch, Bolton.
INJURIES: Power Duursma (knee), Butters (ankle)
UMPIRES: Rosebury, Deboy, Hosking
VENUE: Adelaide Oval
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
3 T. Boak (Port)
2 O. Wines (Port)
1 B. Houli (Richmond)
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