Legend Jason Dunstall loses it over dismal errors in Port Adelaide win over North
Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall could barely believe his eyes during a bizarre stretch in Port Adelaide’s win over North Melbourne.
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Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall could barely believe his eyes during a bizarre 15-minute stretch that saw both Port Adelaide and North Melbourne players shank several shots at goal in the Power’s nine-point win.
In a match that proved more competitive than many predicted, the Kangaroos pushed Port all the way before succumbing 14.13 (97) to 13.10 (88) at Adelaide Oval.
But some of the “skills” on show failed to hit the mark.
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After an earlier awful miss, Kangaroos key forward Nick Larkey had a set shot from just inside the 50m arc, only for the ball to spray off the side of his boot and out of bounds on the full.
“I don’t know where I go now. He’s missed one each way from as far as you could possibly miss from those positions,” Dunstall said during Fox Footy’s broadcast.
Minutes later, Larkey’s teammate Jack Darling had a shot from a similar position, but his attempt slid left for a behind.
“They’re their own worst enemies aren’t they?” Dunstall said of the Kangaroos. “This must be frustrating for Alastair Clarkson.
“You put things in place and they’ve answered with their ability to be competitive, they’re having a red-hot go.
“But they just will not reward themselves when they get their opportunities.”
A few Power players, later in the second term, didn’t fare much better.
Port forward Mitch Georgiades had a set-shot opportunity from the right forward pocket within 15m of goal.
He decided to snap on his non-preferred left boot – and the ball went nowhere near the goals, flying high into the air before landing in the opposite pocket just inside the boundary line.
“He went to snap it left-foot around the corner – and he hit the wrong side of the ball and it went in the opposite direction than it was intended,” Dunstall said.
“We are seeing everything today.
“Look at his disgust! Absolute disgust!”
But perhaps the most extraordinary effort was saved until last.
Power forward Sam Powell-Pepper was awarded a free kick just outside the goalsquare, setting up a set-shot from near point-blank range.
Bizarrely, Powell-Pepper kicked the ball straight into North defender Charlie Comben, who was standing on the mark, sparking a loose footy and eventual a ball-up.
“This is as bizarre as it gets,” Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell said.
Dunstall added: “I’ve never seen so many regulation goals missed in a short space of time.”
Power star Jason Horne-Francis showed some class at the stoppage after Powell-Pepper’s miss, snapping a brilliant goal on his left boot.
As Russell called, it “stopped the rot” of poor missed shots.
The Roos kicked 11 goals to seven after quarter-time, but were unable to chase down a 29-point deficit at the first break.
Originally published as Legend Jason Dunstall loses it over dismal errors in Port Adelaide win over North
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