Port Adelaide in danger of sliding out of the top eight after losing to Western Bulldogs
A week after upsetting ladder leaders Geelong, Port Adelaide continues to frustrate after stumbling in the wet against the Western Bulldogs that drops them back in the pack.
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It is said if you expect nothing of someone you are never disappointed, but Port Adelaide did its talent a disservice in defeat to the Western Bulldogs.
Luke Beveridge’s men won’t play finals and Port might be watching on again in 2019 as the AFL’s big tease in a 25-point loss.
Port this week linked its inconsistency to a tight competition, but noted its supercharged win against Geelong would mean nothing without victory against the 15th ranked Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs extended a 15-point lead at the final change at Adelaide Oval through goals to Tory Dickson and Patrick Lipinski.
Port Adelaide legend Warren Tredrea was moved to question the club’s leadership and gumption.
“Where is the leadership of this team, Travis Boak is trying?
“They do everyone’s head in.
“We are not seeing a side rock up and play footy.”
It was wet, wild and Port slipped up again with a finals spot for the taking.
Power coach Ken Hinkley said his unit’s inability to win consecutive games since Round 6 was indicative of side that needed to “grow up, harden up”.
“I know it is simple, we deliver what we deliver pretty consistently. We can’t be reliable as a football team when we need to be reliable and that is a fact,” said Hinkley, adding next Saturday’s Showdown against Adelaide would be “prickly”.
“I am sure everyone gets annoyed with it that supports Port and we are equally annoyed about it. We beat a great side and not discrediting the Bulldogs – because they outplayed us for the most part – but we were in a position where we should play strong footy and back it up.
“We have to keep coming back.
“I thought they dominated the ball early. It was a long way back.”
Port will enter next Saturday’s Showdown with a 7-7 win-loss record and notionally requiring six more wins to seal a finals spot.
Port’s run home entails Adelaide, Brisbane, Richmond then GWS before a winnable month to finish against Essendon, Sydney, North Melbourne, and Fremantle.
OUTDONE
Port is ranked No.1 for stoppage clearances this season, but it was Western Bulldogs leading 29-15 at halftime.
Marcus Bontempelli (18 contested possessions), Jackson Macrae (35 touches, 19 contested) and Josh Dunkley ran riot for the duration.
Travis Boak, Darcy Byrne-Jones, Hamish Hartlett and ruckman Scott Lycett moved mountains to keep Port in the game, but it had too many playing dry weather football. Port lost stoppage clearances 34-29.
Dogs’ forward Josh Schache (3) impressed with the pack marks and goals that saw Brisbane lavish the No.2 pick on the forward in the 2015 national AFL draft.
SWITCH OFF AND ON
A Hinkley halftime rev-up sparked goals from Peter Ladhams and Connor Rozee and Port was finally “on”.
Defender Tom Clurey’s first mistake — a turnover — allowed Macrae to goal against the run of play. It was the start of three goals in as many minutes. Lipinski punished another defensive 50 turnover from Xavier Duursma, then Schache booted his third for restore a 20-point lead.
A fortunate free against Jackson Trengove gifted Charlie Dixon a reply that kept Port within a 13-point striking range at the final change.
BEST BONT
Bontempelli is great value at $15 for the Brownlow Medal.
The brilliant midfielder was exceptional from the outset, with 12 first-term touches and a perfectly weighted assist that paved Matt Suckling’s snap goal. Bontempelli had scooped six clearances by quarter-time, matching Port’s combined tally, while winning 11 contested possessions.
Port skipper Ollie Wines (12 touches) was sent to the Bont in the second term after registering just one touch in the first term, but the Bulldogs champion was the primary reason for a gutsy away win.
Only players of supreme class can operate at 85 per cent efficiency during torrential downpours.
TAG TEAM
Scott Lycett dominated hit-outs against Tim English but Port wasn’t cashing in. Peter Ladhams showed promise as a forward asset with a third term mark and goal.
Lycett forced a final-term turnover, but Steven Motlop missed a crucial set shot and momentum for Port.
TOUGH CALLS
This was the willing occasion suited to the inside midfield might of Tom Rockliff, Sam Powell-Pepper and another mature body in Justin Westhoff.
Port got its selection right against Geelong, but different conditions meant some of its rookies faced a battle against hardened bodies. Co-skipper Ollie Wines was tailor-made for the wet, but didn’t impact as Port needed. Rockliff amassed an incredible 57 possessions in the SANFL.
PORT ADELAIDE 1.2 2.5 5.8 5.11 (41)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.2 5.2 8.3 10.6 (66)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Dixon 2, R.Gray, Ladhams, Rozee
Western Bulldogs: Schache 3, Lipinski 2, Dickson 2, Suckling, R.Smith, Macrae
BEST
Port Adelaide: Byrne-Jones, Hartlett, Boak, Dixon, Garner, Clurey, R. Gray
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Dunkley, Macrae, Schache, Crozier, Smith Johannisen
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Fleer, Mitchell
Official crowd: 25,623 at Adelaide Oval
VOTES: 3. Bontempelli, 2. Dunkley, 1. Macrae
Originally published as Port Adelaide in danger of sliding out of the top eight after losing to Western Bulldogs
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