The Lowdown: All the Adelaide and Port Adelaide likes and dislikes from round 2

Adelaide has started the season in hot form while Port bounced back to win big in round 2. But are either genuine threats? Simeon Thomas-Wilson names his likes and dislikes.

The Crows continued their hot start to the season while the Power did what they had to against a young Tigers side.

See the likes and dislikes from round 2 here.

LIKES

1. GETTING THE JOB DONE

Did we actually learn anything of substance about Adelaide and Port Adelaide from the weekend? Maybe, but what the two clubs did do was win games that they simply had to. For the Crows, yes they broke their MCG hoodoo, but if they didn’t beat a poor Bombers outfit it would have been same the same old Adelaide we have seen for the past couple of years.

Adelaide were big winners against Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein

The Power demolished the Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

There’s a lot of excitement around the Crows, especially given how high scoring they have been, but even though St Kilda shocked Geelong on Saturday night we aren’t going to know just yet whether Matthew Nicks’ side is the real deal for those who are already calling them “contenders”. But in a good sign for them they have won the games that they have to win if they are to contend for finals. For the Power, this response was always on the cards given the history of this side. Ken Hinkley’s side looked a lot more accurate when going inside 50 than they have been but like the Crows the Power were taking on an opponent who was not competitive at times. But you can only beat who is in front of you and the Crows and Power got the job done.

Matt Crouch has made a fantastic start to 2025. Picture: Getty Images

2. MATT CROUCH

The Crows midfield now has some sexy names in it but the renaissance of Crouch continues to be one of the great stories at West Lakes. He’s been on the outer with Nicks at times, would have left at the end of 2021 if there was another suitor, looked to again be frozen out and actually leave in 2023 before playing the final six games of the year and making the Crows realise how important he can be. The knock has been on him that yes he gets the footy but isn’t damaging enough with it. But surround him with guys who can be damaging with the footy and then Crouch’s true significance to a midfield shines through. After 31 disposals and a goal against the Saints, Crouch had 32 disposals against the Bombers.

In both games so far this season he has had seven clearances. By him winning it at the coalface it can allow Izak Rankine, Jordan Dawson and Jake Soligo to punish the opposition. Here’s one for Adelaide fans, if he wasn’t languishing in the SANFL for most of 2023 would have the Crows made finals?

3. POWER IN NUMBERS

As mentioned above it is hard to know if we have learnt anything about the Power and how it will fare in 2025 from the convincing win over the Tigers. But it does look like the Power are going to go with a committee approach to replace Dan Houston. The two-time All-Australian’s game against the Power in Round 1 had plenty criticising the deal to trade Houston to Collingwood and questioning whether Port can actually replace him. It looks like the Power will have Kane Farrell, Logan Evans and Josh Sinn all looking to attack from half-back, while Miles Bergman was also showing some drive from defence.

Kane Farrell is key to replacing Dan Houston in defence. Picture: Getty Images

Having kickers in your defensive half is already looking to be related to success in 2025 and while they will have way harder days out then they did against the Tigers that trio gave the Power good use of the footy by foot from its defence. Farrell had 31 disposals (17 kicks) and a goal, Evans 24 (19 kicks) and Sinn 22 (19 kicks).

Jack Lukosius is set for a stint on the sidelines. Picture: Getty Images

DISLIKES

1. TERRIBLE TIMING

Jack Lukosius missing three to four months of footy after he fractured his kneecap just minutes into the win over Richmond is one of the last things Port Adelaide needs. It isn’t the worst injury the Power could have – that would be to Aliir Aliir – but Lukosius would be one of those along with Connor Rozee, Mitch Georgiades and Miles Bergman that Port could not afford to lose for an extended period of time given the current injury list at Alberton. Along with Georgiades, Lukosius was going to be a key piece of the Power’s new-look forward line – which looked to be the big change for Hinkley’s side this year.

Georgiades kicked four in the win over the Tigers but he won’t be able do it all on his own. Ollie Lord was tipped to receive more opportunities this year but his pre-season has been a little bit off and he hurt his shoulder in a SANFL trial on the weekend. Does the Power go back to Jeremy Finlayson? Yes some of his efforts as a defender against Collingwood were poor but in 2022 and 2023 he was a key player for Hinkley’s side. Coming to Alberton on big coin Lukosius had a great chance to show why he went No. 2 in the 2018 “super draft”. It’s terrible timing for him and the Power.

Essendon were able to kick 100 points against Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

2. MINOR RED FLAG?

There hasn’t been a lot that would worry Crows fans so far from the first two games of the year. But is there a minor concern about just how many points Essendon were able to score against them? It is still early on in the season so it is unsure whether this is going to be a trend but given how inexperienced the Bombers forward line was does indicate that this could be an area to work on in the coming weeks. It’s North Melbourne and its gun forward Nick Larkey this week, that is going to be a good indication of just how the Crows defence is shaping up.

AND THE LOWDOWN ON...

The Power have already had two debutants this year from its recent draft class. Tom Cochrane did his very best to put his name forward to be the third on the weekend. The son of former Port player Stuart kicked four goals during the Magpies’ trial game against West Adelaide, two of which were from the boundary line. It was a bit of a surprise when the Power selected him with the 13th pick of the rookie draft. He might just continue to surprise this year.