Battling Port Adelaide in freefall

ESSENDON has snapped a 12-year losing streak to Port Adelaide at West Lakes and forced the Power deeper into rebuilding mode.

Jackson Trengove

ESSENDON has snapped a 12-year losing streak to Port Adelaide at West Lakes and forced the Power deeper into rebuilding mode.

The Bombers had not won against Port here since 2000 but did it with a cool hand on the wheel yesterday.

The Bombers are firmly on the road to finals; Port Adelaide is turning around from another dead-end. It will be another long road to becoming a contender as another season is slipping away.

A play in the eighth minute of the final quarter summed the game up: Here was one team full of spunk, enterprise and spark against one still trying to recapture the basic skills.

Alwyn Davey took off on a dashing run after the Bombers won the ball in defence, took them on and palmed it off to Jobe Watson for Essendon's sixth goal in succession. Game over.

The Power had shown signs yesterday, but it was what Essendon had and they didn't that painted the picture.

The Bombers have dash, daring and enterprise where Port Adelaide runs the risk of looking honest and honourable but not very inspiring.

Essendon has the players that make people go to the game: Leroy Jetta for his flair and unpredictability, Watson for the sheer will he imposes on the game, Ben Howlett for refusing to be beaten and Dustin Fletcher for just continuing to be Dustin Fletcher, the oldest and youngest man in the competition at the same time.

The real challenge from here for Port Adelaide will be to find what Essendon paraded and they couldn't: Match breakers, creative players, ones who can make a difference with a few quick moves and decisions.

This was further proof the Power's list is damaged and need of a major reworking.

There wasn't much to split them in the opening passages, and much of it was because of a couple of moves from the Port Adelaide coach's box.

Matthew Primus has been in struggletown in recent weeks, as much over the future of Travis Boak as the long injury list, but you could not question his move of Kane Cornes to Brent Stanton and Andrew Moore to Watson.

Watson has been one of the best players in the competition this season, Moore is barely known outside of Alberton, yet at half time the statistics sheet read: Watson 11 disposals, Moore 10. A coach worth his salt would take those numbers any day of the week.

Others impressed with Port Adelaide, and lifted the longer the game went.

Brett Ebert hauled down marks and kicked goals to prove there is much left in the tank, Alipate "Bobby" Carlile was calm and composed in defence and Justin Westhoff proved why he is one of the most difficult match-ups in the league.

Westhoff polarises crowds for his tendency to mix quiet games with those boomed out of loudspeakers but when he's on, it takes a rare defender to stand him. He's tall and rangy and relies more on agility than an eye-catching leap, the unexpected rather than obvious presence.

A couple of things were nagging Port Adelaide. Essendon has a bit of X-factor about it; the Power not so much.

The Bombers have the trusty Dustin Fletcher, the oldest man in the game, sweeping and controlling from the back, but there's also gems such as Jetta and Alwyn Davey, little sparks of men who can just turn a game in the space of seconds.

Port Adelaide is more tradesmanlike, with Brad Ebert and Boak keeping a firm hand in it around the packs.

The Power also have an issue in defending, and it's the defensive work of the forwards and midfielders in particular that needs much to wish for.

It was on display time and again: the ball is held by the Bombers in the backline and they rush it out for another coast-to-coast goal, or at least a good attempt at one. There is only so much the backline six can do if the remaining 12 don't pull their weight.

They stayed, the Power. Daniel Stewart appreciated his turn back in the side and his goal late in the third quarter was important in keeping the Power in touch.

But Essendon, through the initial service from Tom Bellchambers, the continuous work from Ben Howlett, David Myers and Ricky Dyson and the threat of Cory Dell'Ollio was always there.

Add to that the statesmanlike David Hille, who kicked the second of two quick goals as the siren was about to sound for the end of the third quarter with coach James Hird gesticulating from the sidelines.

It was the beginning of the end for Port Adelaide, because the Bombers didn't look back from there. They have bigger fish to fry.