David King says Port Adelaide must topple vulnerable Adelaide midfield and release Robbie Gray forward

WHY this is time for Port to end its Showdown misery with find match-winning role for Robbie Gray.

Port Adelaide’s Robbie Gray and Paddy Ryder celebrate their last gasp that secured round 19 victory against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval. Picture Sarah Reed.

DAVID King has challenged Port trio Ollie Wines, Sam Powell-Pepper and Travis Boak to target a “vulnerable” Adelaide midfield - releasing match-winner Robbie Gray to end its Showdown misery.

King rates Adelaide a premiership favourite but says its minus-50 contested ball ratio “mauling” against Collingwood – the second worst across the competition this season – gives the Power a sniff on Sunday.

Enter Wines, Powell-Pepper and Boak.

The key to Showdown 43 is Port finding Gray’s sweet spot in attack and not rely on the superstar’s midfield Midas touch that conjured a remarkable, last play win against St Kilda.

“The Crows midfield isn’t a super strong suit. I know Matt Crouch has had a fantastic year and we all know about Rory Sloane but outside of them the rest are gettable,” said Fox Footy expert King.

“I am not speaking Adelaide’s midfield down but that’s probably an area where Ken Hinkley could say Powell-Pepper, Wines and Boak when he goes in there, can get the job done and be a bigger presence than Crouch and Sloane. There could be a thought, ‘maybe we can leave Robbie Gray forward and capitalise on the scoreboard’.

“Port is still wrestling with where to utilise Robbie Gray, he’s so good in midfield, every area of the game.”

Adelaide leads the competition for contested possession averaging 154.2 per game but drops off with effect when it doesn’t win - punctuated by its epic draw against Collingwood.

“It was the second worst contested possession result for the year behind Gold Coast versus Hawthorn with +62 in round three and Collingwood were +50 against Adelaide,” King told The Advertiser.

“That was a mauling and even when they got rolling against the Pies it was all in ball use and turnovers, still losing 19-3 in clearances during the third quarter.

“There is vulnerability in the Crows in terms of the numbers we saw last weekend but they are an awesome outfit. Not many teams could comeback like they did.”

Boak has put his hand up to tag Sloane but Brad Ebert could also put time into the Crows vice captain who has struggled with hard tags all year. King insists Sloane’s “a star” who can and must break the shackles.

“There will be a breakout game this season regardless of being tagged. Sooner rather than later will be better for the Crows before finals,” said King.

“At some point Sloane will be comfortable with the tag, accept it will affect the volume of possession but not the quality.”

Sam Jacobs and Paddy Ryder square off in potential clash for All Australian ruck honours. King reinforced the onus on Port’s on-ball brigade to cash-in on Ryder’s excellence and short-circuit the Crows sling-shot surge.

“It comes back to Ebert, Wines, Boak to get their hands on the footy and make the work that Ryder does translate into territory.

“It’s critical for Port to win clean clearances which gives them the ability to lock it in their forward half and take away Adelaide’s counter-attack.

“If they don’t get that right, shut the gate.”

Originally published as David King says Port Adelaide must topple vulnerable Adelaide midfield and release Robbie Gray forward