Port Adelaide faces a tough challenge against a lively Western Bulldogs outfit at Darwin’s TIO Stadium on Saturday night.

Port Adelaide
Form: WWWWWLLLL
Ranked: 9th

Western Bulldogs
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Ranked: 16th

Last time
The Power played catch up all day against a cleaner Western Bulldogs outfit at Etihad Stadium. Despite having plenty of opportunity to hurt the Bulldogs on the scoreboard, Port squandered several chances in front of goals. Jay Schulz famously injured his abdomen in a mid-air collision with Justin Westhoff only to return to the field to see out the final quarter.

Round 14, 2012: Port Adelaide 8.9 (57) def by Western Bulldogs 13.17 (95) at Etihad Stadium

Form Guide

Past 5: Power 0 v Bulldogs 5
Past 21: Power 11 v Bulldogs 10

The fine print
AFL Round 10
Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide
Saturday June 1
TIO Stadium
70 Abala Road, Marrara, NT
First bounce: 7:10pm (CST)
Broadcast: Live on FOX and Seven
Live Twitter: #pafclive #afldogspower
After match function at TIO Stadium

Our top three

1. Travis Boak
Boak has been the Power’s most consistent player this year, one of its most efficient ball users and an important cog in its midfield machine. As captain he has provided important playing leadership in the club’s recent losses and it could be argued there isn’t much to his game that needs to change. Against the challenge of an improved Western Bulldogs his role will be to influence at stoppages and clear the ball forward. If he can contribute on the scoreboard while continuing his 20-plus disposal efforts he will complete a strong ten-round start to his year.

2. Chad Wingard
Wingard could very well be leading Port Adelaide’s best and fairest count. He certainly leads the portadelaidefc.com.au Supporters’ Player of the Year award and generally has had an impact in each game through the year so far. The difference between his last month and his first is his ability to influence longer and provide the coaches with a flexible midfield and forward option. He was one of the club’s best against Geelong last week and after a reasonable performance in the Power’s win in the top end last year, will look to enter the bye with a good performance.

3. Robbie Gray
It’s been an up-and-down year for Robbie Gray, but his form since returning from a long-term ACL injury has been consistent and improving. The only thing lacking has been the significant scoreboard impact he built a reputation for in 2011. While he is equally suited to a midfield role, Gray’s complete package of evasiveness, pressure tackling and accurate kicking makes him an integral component of Port’s forward half. He’s looked close to breaking a game open for several weeks – this one could be it.

Crystal Ball

A massive task awaits Port Adelaide this Saturday night.

Challenged by four consecutive losses to North Melbourne, Richmond, Carlton and Geelong, Port has slid from a top four position to now sit outside the top eight.

The task, and consequences, of this weekend’s game could not be starker.

Win, and the Power positions itself to reclaim a spot in the eight, lose and with it lose valuable momentum heading into its Round 11 bye.

The bye represents an opportunity for its fit senior players to reset and recover for a massive mid-season stanza which includes big games against the form sides of the competition – Sydney, Collingwood, Essendon and Hawthorn – so to go into that period with a 6-4 record is important.

Just as its propensity to turn the ball over damaged its chances in individual games last year, so has the team’s inability to hold strong during the time-on period of final terms.

The Bulldogs’ win-loss record is deceptive. After defeating NAB Cup winners Brisbane in Round 1, it has played some of the best teams in the country – Richmond, Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, West Coast in Perth, North Melbourne and the much-improved Gold Coast.

It notched its second win in a hard-fought battle with St Kilda last week.

And the Bulldogs’ record against the Power in Darwin is significant.

Port has lost six consecutive games to them and only won once from five encounters in the top end.

So expect this to be a close game.

Three keys to victory are for the Power to start well and play a strong, consistent first half; to utilise focal points Jay Schulz and Justin Westhoff up forward and provide plenty of quality inside 50s, and to be defensively sound.

That last point has been a challenge over the last month – with injuries to key defenders, Port’s defence is one of the youngest and least experienced going around. Led by senior backman Alipate Carlile, the likes of Tom Jonas, Campbell Heath and Cameron O’Shea combine for less than fifty games between them.

They need to have a strong game, but equally does the midfield and that’s where the quality clearance work around stoppages that has been shut down by seasoned opposition in the past few matches needs to return.

Current odds
Port Adelaide 1.60 – 2.35 Western Bulldogs