AFL Round 3 Essendon v Port Adelaide: Matt Turner takes a close look at the Power’s ‘disappointing’ loss

It wasn’t a capitulation like round 1 against Collingwood when critics accused Port players of throwing in the towel – but it wasn’t far off, writes MATT TURNER.

Some of the problems Port Adelaide masked for a week are back.

Contested ball struggles, badly missing Zak Butters, a low tackle count and a lack of supply to an attack that desperately needs another tall to help Mitch Georgiades – just to name a few.

Pre-game at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night, coach Ken Hinkley asked his team, which featured four teenagers for the first time since 2019, to bring energy and use its youthful legs.

But the Power ran out of puff in the last term when it was outworked by a hungrier opponent that had one less teen and the same five-day turnaround between games.

The visitors led by six points at the final break, kicked the opening major of the last term a minute in, then added just four more behinds as the Bombers piled on four consecutive goals.

This was not a capitulation like round 1 against Collingwood when critics accused Port players of throwing in the towel.

Not being tough enough in contests or working hard enough with the game on the line and having your desire questioned is a concern though.

“They were stronger and more willing to keep going for the whole way, which was really disappointing,” Hinkley said.

Port Adelaide players walk off Marvel Stadium after Thursday night’s loss. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Power half-back/wingman Jase Burgoyne told The Advertiser: “They outworked us and it showed on the scoreboard. They smashed us in the contest. It all comes down to workrate, being able to turn up to the contest, outnumber and help your teammate. We weren’t able to do that. We talked (before the match) about how young our team was and how exciting we are, so we wanted to come into the game with some energy and show our youth and our legs, but obviously Essendon were too good for us.”

Fox Footy expert David King said: “The Bombers were just too tough in the middle. That fourth quarter was a mauling.”

His colleague, Jason Dunstall, added: “This is one team that wanted the game more than the other.”

During the last term, Port was smacked 34-20 in contested possessions, 16-8 in inside 50s and barely touched the ball, recording 73 disposals to the Bombers’ 111.

The Power laid 13 fewer tackles (56-43) for the match.

It was down 26 (69-43) against Collingwood in the 91-point shellacking in round 1.

Tackle numbers can sometimes reflect effort.

Port averaged the second-most per game (64.7) in the AFL last season and reached a preliminary final.

It was +13 in tackles in last week’s 72-point home drubbing of Richmond.

Then again, premiers Brisbane ranked second-last for tackles per game in 2024.

Hinkley’s team had few players ahead of the ball able to really stamp their influence on Thursday night’s game.

The bulk of its best were defenders like Burgoyne, Aliir Aliir and Miles Bergman.

Dual All-Australian Butters is regarded as a sneaky chance to return from a knee injury next week and his return cannot come quickly enough.

Jye Caldwell and the Essendon midfield were just too good. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Jason Horne-Francis didn’t have his best night. Picture: Michael Klein

The Power’s midfield was beaten with only Ollie Wines (31 disposals, five clearances, one goal, nine score involvements) and second-game wingman Christian Moraes (27 touches) shining.

Captain Connor Rozee was quiet, star Jason Horne-Francis was disappointing until the last term and the reliable Willem Drew was a fair way off his best.

Hinkley said the team’s senior players were a little down as a collective.

“We had too many … probably around the ball as much as anywhere,” he said.

Burgoyne said Butters, winner of Port’s past two best-and-fairest awards, was “so dynamic and crucial to us”.

“We’re definitely missing him out there,” he said.

In fairness to Rozee, he was probably the Power’s best player in each of the first two rounds.

Horne-Francis has had a modest start to 2025.

Dropping a sitter of a mark inside 50 in space summed up his fumbly, frustrating opening three quarters against the Bombers.

Of Rozee and Horne-Francis’s performances on Thursday night, Burgoyne said: “There’s going to be weeks where your star players are down, but that’s when you look to other players in the team to step up and lead the way. We want a whole team buy-in and not to rely on too many players. Those boys will be disappointed, but I’m sure they’ll bounce back next week.”

Georgiades threatened to be the difference between the sides.

He booted two first-term goals, assisted another and was hard to stop on a lead.

From 12 disposals and five marks to three-quarter time, the high-flyer added just one more of each during a final stanza when the Bombers dominated territory.

Georgiades needs more support up there.

Playing ruckman Ivan Soldo in attack as a secondary tall target did not work.

The ex-Tiger recorded just five touches, one mark and a clearance before being subbed off at three-quarter time.

Soldo came into the team instead of Jeremy Finlayson, who had round-1 efforts so poor, you wonder if it might have cost him an immediate recall.

The Power’s other forward options were limited.

Jack Lukosius (knee) and Todd Marshall (achilles) are sidelined long-term, while Ollie Lord (shoulder) is unavailable until at least next week.

Lord is primed to come in for Soldo against St Kilda if passed fit.

“We’re thin on our talls,” Hinkley said.

“Our ability to use the ball and run with the ball was going to be critical to our outcome tonight, but we were too untidy.”

Mitch Georgiades takes a hangar

Burgoyne (27 disposals, 10 marks) was one of few clean Power players.

The wingman reverted to half-back – where he starred during last year’s semi-final win over Hawthorn – to help replace injured duo Lachie Jones (adductor) and Ryan Burton (hip).

Burgoyne’s workrate could not be questioned, covering the furthest distance (15.3km) in the match.

He also went at an elite 96 per cent disposal efficiency and had the highest Champion Data ranking points on the ground (121).

Moraes’s performance, a week after being the substitute, might make the Power coaches ask Burgoyne to do an extended backline stint.

Jase Burgoyne was again a shining light for the Power. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The son of 2004 Port premiership player Peter Burgoyne was happy to play either position.

“Being versatile is something I pride myself on,” he said.

“There’ll be times throughout the year I probably have to go back.

“The coaches didn’t say anything if it was permanent or a fill-in.”

Thursday night’s defeat was against the tide for the Power, which prided itself on winning close games – it was 6-0 in clashes decided by a goal or less last season.

Port also had beaten the Bombers eight consecutive times, dating back to 2018, and had won 11 of its previous 12 matches against any opposition at Marvel Stadium.

Scrutiny on Hinkley, the club’s coaching succession plan and whether the team can make the finals for a third straight season will rear again now that Power is 1-2.

“We know how good we can be and what works for us,” Burgoyne said.

“There’s going to be ups and downs throughout the season, it’s how we bounce back from that.

“We’ve got to put this game behind us and look towards next week.”

Originally published as AFL Round 3 Essendon v Port Adelaide: Matt Turner takes a close look at the Power’s ‘disappointing’ loss