A BIG WEEKEND for Port Adelaide has seen the Power and Magpies take wins home. Here's four things we've learned...
1. Bully Wingard at your peril...
Wingard let his footy do the talking...again [pic: AFL Photos]
Bash a bloke into the post and you'd expect him to drop out of the game.
Chad Wingard, it turns out, is no ordinary bloke.
And instead of knocking him out of the match, apparently you'll just fire him up.
Whatever happens to Luke Hodge after his hip-and-shoulder with Wingard in the second quarter, no one's going to deny Wingard an All-Australian tilt after his two-goal burst in the aftermath of the whack (and four for the game).
Few small forwards can have such scoreboard impact and win as much ball as Wingard has all year. Now a lock for the club's leading goal kicker award and a frontrunner for the John Cahill Medal, he's surely in line for a place on the field of this year's top representative team.
FROM THE PLAYERS: Wingard, Ryder, Ebert, Westhoff
2. Gray vote likely…
Robbie Gray is certainly shaping for an All-Australian selection. [pic: AFL Photos]
If Wingard's a lock for an All-Australian selection, surely Robbie Gray is too - potentially even a dark horse in the Brownlow. Having 34 disposals, seven clearances, and seven inside-50s, his stats sheet read well on Friday night. Unfortunately his finishing in front of goals was down, but his hand in setting up four major scores was significant.
Along with Wingard, he's in the mix for the Power's best and fairest and surely a dead-cert for another AA.
FAN REVIEWS: Macca's top...six
3. Power has plenty to play for
Brendon Ah Chee's story has been one of the highlights of a difficult season for Power supporters [pic: Chris Kelly Photographics]
Port Adelaide might officially be out of finals contention, but there's plenty to play for, as shown by strong performances against the Giants and Hawks. As well as the unearthing of promising talent in Sam Gray and Brendon Ah Chee over the last three weeks, the Power also has the opportunity to run into its pre-season on the back of good form.
Finishing the year with two wins against the Suns and Freo would cap a season of overall disappointment with something every non-finallist wants through summer - hope.
4. The Maggies are hitting nice form at the right time...
Andrew Moore had three goals for Port in the SANFL on the weekend... [pic: AFL Photos]
Don't forget the Magpies.
Port Adelaide is polished itself up for its second SANFL finals campaign in as many years with a good win over fifth-placed South. After a slow start, the Magpies really got going with six goals in the second quarter and seven-to-three after half time. They now face a tough challenge at Alberton against the third-placed Bloods in what could be a dress rehearsal for the qualifying final in a fortnight.
And while we're at it, Mark Clayton's Academy team is playing itself into handy form too. They're locked in second place with a double chance and set on a finals journey that might well mimic their League counterparts.
It will be a black-and-white September, make sure you're there to support!
MAGPIES: Double-chance all but secure with win
