AFL finals: Port Adelaide ready to be brave as grand final spot goes on the line

Port Adelaide only lost four games in 2020, one of them was a preliminary final, and a simple idea is shaping them to stop that happening again.

Port aims to right the wrongs of 2020. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Steeled by the experience of last year’s preliminary final loss Port Adelaide players are building themselves to “be brave” as a grand final spot goes on the line.

There’s equal parts edginess and nerves at the club this week as big selection calls loom but also a level of calm according to defender Dan Houston, who will play his 100th game against the Western Bulldogs.

He and around 95 per cent of the team set to run out at Adelaide Oval this Saturday were part of the team that lost by just a goal to eventual premiers Richmond last season.

Orazio Fantasia wasn’t, and he’s set to play this week after a “managed session” at training on Tuesday, which was mainly handballing on the sidelines with veteran Robbie Gray.

That loss in 2020 has been front of mind this week, and been reviewed again, but the significant growth among the playing group has left Houston adamant that this time the result will be different.

“We’ve all got a better version ourselves,” he said on Tuesday.

“We have all taken a leap forward in our game and a leap forward as a person. We’re ready to put ourselves back out there and we’re in a better position to embrace what comes at us this time around.

Dan Houston plays game 100 this week. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

“During the week we have gone back through (the preliminary final from) last year and what we thought we could have improved on.

“It was a pretty close game but probably our composure during the game hurt us a little bit.

“We will be looking to use what we learnt from last year – all the little things help us be a better team this time around.”

Assistant coach Nathan Bassett called a preliminary final the “scariest game of the year”, and Houston couldn’t disagree.

But he said how players approached the cutthroat nature would determine the outcome

“It’s a big game, high pressure. It is a bit daunting,” Houston said.

“But with fear comes bravery and we feel like we are building towards being brave this weekend.

“You’ve got to dream (about making the grand final), but you don’t want to be complacent at the same time. You don’t want to look too far ahead and take your eyes off the game, you want to be in the moment.

“We feel like we’re a really strong connected group that does the little things really well. We feel like we have taken a step forward from last year and that is what it will come down to on the weekend.”

Port Adelaide players won’t die wondering. Picture Dean Martin

More composure, and straighter kicking after Port kicked 6.10 in last year’s prelim, are the on-field focus for Saturday.

Port also kicked 9.12 against the Bulldogs in a two-point win less than a month ago, which is very fresh in their minds.

“It’s got a little bit of relevance, they are still the same side,” Houston said.

“But the score didn’t reflect how we played. We felt like we were pretty dominant. We just need to kick straighter.”

Houston had no thoughts on the forward line discussions – four-talls or three – that could determine the final 22 because you “only kick it to one at a time”.

But he conceded the selection drama for such a big game was hard for the players to ignore.

“Everyone is a bit on edge this week, everyone wants to play, but everyone is excited for each other. It’s some guys’ first prelim. we all know it’s a tight selection,” Houston said.

“It’s a good spot to be in. Some boys will be disappointed come (selection on) Thursday and some will be excited, but we will get around each other and stay connected and tight.”

Originally published as AFL finals: Port Adelaide ready to be brave as grand final spot goes on the line