AFL news: Willem Drew says the Power’s fourth quarter struggles aren’t much of a concern
Port Adelaide is on the charge after a poor start to 2025, but one major flaw is threatening its progress. Can the Power remedy the problem in time to crack the top eight?
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Last year Port Adelaide was among the best teams in the competition when it came to fourth quarters.
This year the Power have won one final term after six rounds.
Leadership group member Willem Drew concedes it does “get a bit tense” at times, but he believes it is a big positive Port can find a different way to win.
The Power are on a two-match winning run with victories over Hawthorn and Sydney revitalising its season following a slow start.
But in those games the Power have raced out of the blocks to get a jump on its opponents and then have had to hold on at the end.
For a team that was plus 130 points when it came to fourth quarters in 2024, enough to be the third best in the competition, the Power are now 16th for the final terms this year with minus 86 points.
Drew said it was hard to maintain four quarters of footy at a high level and it was important that the Power were finding ways to get the job done.
“I think in this day and age it is really hard to play four quarters of footy and be dominant all the time,” he said.
“I suppose the thing for us is we are able to win in different ways which is pretty pleasing.
“Obviously it does get a bit tense in those last quarters but we have been able to get the job done and that is the pleasing thing.”
The Power will be looking to keep the winning run going against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher will be available to play this weekend after suffering a back injury in pre-season.
But the key defender is likely to play in the SANFL rather than come straight back into the AFL side.
“Definitely really pleasing,” Drew said.
“He (Zerk-Thatcher) has put in a mountain of work and has been grinding away there.”
With Ryan Burton a test from a hip flexor strain only Jack Lukosius (knee) and Todd Marshall (achilles) are on the Power’s injury list after the causality ward at Alberton was quite full during pre-season.
Ollie Wines was subbed out against Sydney due to his heart condition but is expected to be available to play North Melbourne.
The clash with the Roos will be the 100th game for Drew’s good friend Kane Farrell.
“We lived together early days and he has been through a lot with a few injuries, so it will be a really exciting game for him,” Drew said.
“I’m pumped for him.”
Saturday’s clash will be the 21st year in which Power has hosted an AFL game during Anzac week.
Port will pay tribute to the club’s 164 past players who have served in the military in its latest Anzac guernsey.
“This is a really significant week for our footy club and for the country,” Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson said.
“It is significant culturally for our club, there are 164 players who have represented our club who also served the country in conflict.
“All of those people will have their names on our guernsey this week.
“The proceeds from the sale of those match-worn guernseys will be shared by the RSL and the club’s ADF (Australian Defence Force) veterans program.”
More Coverage
Originally published as AFL news: Willem Drew says the Power’s fourth quarter struggles aren’t much of a concern
Bevo concedes: When Jamarra drama will ‘come to a head’
Luke Beveridge has conceded he’s unsure if Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will play another AFL game and revealed when a tipping point might be reached that decides the forward’s Western Bulldogs future.
Crows crumble in west amid Dawson form concerns
Adelaide has been dealt a harsh reality check in the west, falling to a disappointing loss against Fremantle which left the club with injury and MRO concerns. See full SuperCoach takeaways and reaction here.