Port Adelaide defy early AFL 2020 season trend as goalkicking radar goes completely off in Round 1 win over the Gold Coast Suns
So far in the first round of the AFL season it looked as if the empty stadiums was resulting in improved goalkicking accuracy. Port Adelaide’s second half against the Suns is the only exception.
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Empty stadiums and no fan distractions was meant to result in improved goalkicking accuracy, and while they won Port Adelaide did not get that particular memo.
But Tom Rockliff says the Power should not be concerned at their inaccurate kicking in the second half against the Gold Coast Suns.
As a result of fans being locked out of stadiums because of COVID-19 measures it has been speculated goalkicking accuracy – which reached a 20-year low last season – would improve.
Before Port’s 47-point win at the Gold Coast there were signs this might be the case.
Only Fremantle (8.9) kicked more behinds than goals, while at Adelaide Oval the Crows and Swans kicked nine straight in the first quarter.
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In the first half against the Suns the Power kept up this early trend, kicking 9.6 to take a 40-point lead into halftime, but upon the resumption of the match this accuracy completely deserted them.
Port didn’t kick a goal in the third, and only managed one through Mitch Georgiades in the final term, as the Power finished up with 10 goals and 16 behinds from their 32 shots that stemmed from 62 inside 50s.
Rockliff said while it wasn’t what the Power wanted, the conditions at a humid and slippery Metricon Stadium did make goalkicking a little bit harder.
“I don’t think it’s something to jump at,” he told The Advertiser after the match.
“It hasn’t been an issue in pre-season for us so if we continue to give ourselves a look inside 50 we just have to go back and convert and make sure we make the most of the opportunities.
“We didn’t feel like the game was going to get away from us … we just have to continue to work on it (goalkicking).”
A big reason why the Power were in such a comfortable position, after the Gold Coast came out firing, was the work of Rockliff and Travis Boak in the middle – finishing with 26 and 25 disposals respectively.
Of Rockliff’s 10 were contested possessions, and he had six clearances, while Boak had 12 contested and seven clearances.
“It feels like it’s our job to do that in there,” Rockliff said.
“We are the two experienced boys in there so if we can get control around the stoppage, set the boys up and get them moving through the contest as well we give us a really good chance.
“The more me and Boaky play together the better our relationship is getting, it felt like we did that really well at the start of last season and it was good to continue that.”
Another experienced head to shine was Brad Ebert, who after looking to be in an uphill struggle to win a spot for Round 1 finished with 20 disposals, eight marks, four tackles and a goal.
“He had a really complete game and it was outstanding for ‘Ebo’ to get back to that really good form we know that he can play,” Rockliff said.
“I think he’s just been doing what he does best, contest to contest work and he is an elite runner and he is strong in the contest as well.
“If he continues to bring that then he plays footy all year for us
“He got a bit of a reward for effort, you always know what you are going to get from ‘Ebo’ he is one of the hardest workers on the track and fronts up week after week so good for him to get a bit of a reward.”
Originally published as Port Adelaide defy early AFL 2020 season trend as goalkicking radar goes completely off in Round 1 win over the Gold Coast Suns