Power thump North Melbourne to keep AFL top four hopes alive
IT’S all in the mind at Port Adelaide, isn’t it? So which trigger accounts for the fourth-ranked Power dealing with expectation by beating North Melbourne by a reassuring 70 points at Adelaide Oval?
Port Adelaide
Don't miss out on the headlines from Port Adelaide. Followed categories will be added to My News.
IT’S all in the mind at Port Adelaide, isn’t it?
So which trigger accounts for the fourth-ranked Power dealing with expectation by beating North Melbourne by a reassuring 70 points at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon?
Is it the “significant” confidence built up by beating a top-eight rival, West Coast, at the Eagles’ supposed fortress in Perth a week ago?
Or is the fear put into the camp at selection on Thursday when coach Ken Hinkley sent key defender Jack Hombsch to the Bs at Elizabeth – and made it very clear he will call up others from the SANFL while working with a minimal injury list at Alberton?
The big question of whether Port Adelaide can be “trusted” while carrying red-hot favouritism to a game was answered emphatically against the 17th-ranked Kangaroos who are not a measuring stick in this year’s AFL race.
Expectation did not weigh heavily on the Power players’ minds yesterday, in particular the long-sleeved Chad Wingard floating between the midfield and goalfront and the sharp Robbie Gray inside 50.
Gray’s intercept of North Melbourne defender Aaron Mullett’s handpass in the north-western pocket and stab kick to goal in the 17th minute of the second term captured just how Port Adelaide was sharper of mind and touch than the Kangaroos.
Even the supposedly laconic Justin Westhoff, who has now secured a contract for next season, made a statement to his detractors by covering so much ground and influencing so many plays that no-one can question his motivation.
Port Adelaide’s midfield strength again was built on the All-Australian-contending ruck work of Patrick Ryder, who worked against Majak Daw and 2015 All-Australian ruckman Todd Goldstein. And the Power midfielder finding the greatest opportunities with striking clearances from Ryder’s deft tap work is Brad Ebert.
Ryder’s day was complicated by a scare when he turned on his right ankle while being crunched in a marking contest by Lindsay Thomas at half-forward in the 19th minute of the third term.
He could not take his kick, opting to handpass to defender Dan Houston and then hobbled to the bench where he stayed for five minutes. He played on until mid-way through the final term when he went to the bench and his ankle was iced.
This was a game put away at quarter-time when the Power led by 37 points. And the Port Adelaide players will enjoy the video edits of their highlights at the team review on Monday, as much as North Melbourne coach Brad Scott can cut the tape as an instructional guide to his group.
Port Adelaide’s 8.1 opening – with three goals from Wingard – is the club’s best start in 32 games against the Kangaroos, who 15 years ago merely needed to have their name mentioned at Alberton to create a wobble among the Power players.
The mind coaches hired by Port Adelaide during the summer will be seeking bonuses for quickly cleaning up the goalkicking yips. The 89 per cent accuracy rate in the first term has not been achieved by a team mockingly known as “Point Power” since the 8.1 in the opener against Richmond in the 2014 elimination final against Richmond.
The scoreboard dominance was achieved without key forward Charlie Dixon, who kicked 5.1 against the Eagles, scoring in the first half when he was played far from goal against Robbie Tarrant. An open forward-50 does work to emphasising the opportunistic brilliance of Robbie Gray.
Dixon did assist in three goals before he put his name on the scoresheet with a goal in the sixth minute of the last term, after juggling a mark at 20 metres from an Ebert kick.
He was on the bench two minutes later nursing his arms after being handed a free as Tarrant was penalised for sending Dixon crashing into the fence on the western boundary.
Port Adelaide (10-6) returns to the MCG on Saturday to play Melbourne seeking its fourth consecutive win on the grand final venue. Hinkley’s men are in a good frame of mind for the assignment.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 8.1 11.4 14.9 19.13 (127)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.0 5.3 6.5 8.9 (57)
BEST – Port Adelaide: Wingard, Ebert, Westhoff, Ryder, Wines, S. Gray, Hartlett. North Melbourne: Cunnington, Brown, Swallow, McDonald, Nielson.
GOALS – Port Adelaide: S. Gray 4, Wingard 3, R. Gray, Powell-Pepper, Trengove 2, Dixon, Hartlett, Polec, Westhoff, White, Wines. North Melbourne: Brown 3, Atley 2, Garner, Higgins, Hrovat.
INJURIES – Port Adelaide: Ryder (right foot). North Melbourne: Hibberd (shoulder).
UMPIRES: H. Gavine, A. Mitchell, S. Ryan.
CROWD: 34,138 at Adelaide Oval.
Originally published as Power thump North Melbourne to keep AFL top four hopes alive
The elephant Port must still get out of the room
Port Adelaide planning to confirm its succession plan from Ken Hinkley to Josh Carr before round 1 is odd timing. This could and should have been done by now, as MATT TURNER writes.
Track watch: Port bull passes big test, JHF sizzles
Rory Atkins on kick-in duty, the SSP midfield audition and Sam Powell-Pepper ticking off a major milestone in his comeback – there was plenty happening at Alberton on Friday.