MUCH is being said of how Port Adelaide scores at the moment. Much more will be noted on Saturday night at the Gabba where the common features of a three-game losing streak to Brisbane are on the agenda.
On Port Adelaide's scoring prowess: There is the so-called "three-headed monster" with the three-man tandem of All-Australian Charlie Dixon, Todd Marshall and double Rising Star nominee Mitch Georgiades.
There is the new bite at ground level of Essendon recruit Orazio Fantasia adding to the match-winning experience of Robbie Gray.
There is a lot more space in Port Adelaide's forward-50 at critical times ....
After six home-and-away rounds, Port Adelaide's "source of score" for its season tally of 86.59 (averaging 96 points) that has driven a 5-1 win-loss record is drawing attention from afar. There is the notable change from last season's minor-premiership winning ways.
"The game we are playing is somewhat slightly different," said Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley at Alberton Oval on Friday.
This new playbook has delivered an extreme - rather than slight - change to how Port Adelaide creates its scores this season.
Where Port Adelaide led the league in Season 2020 for scores generated in the forward half, it is now at the other end of the Champion Data AFL rankings.
Where Port Adelaide ranked lowly for creating scores from the back half of the field, it is now leading the AFL ... and this significant change is being well noted.
Champion Data has Port Adelaide scoring from -
FORWARD HALF 33.7 points (ranked 17th of 18)
DEFENSIVE HALF 49.5 points (ranked first)
On Saturday night in Brisbane, Port Adelaide's scoring methods will be tested by an opponent that in the past two seasons has blunted Ken Hinkley's attack - 6.12 in the shortened game at the Gabba last season and 6.13 across normal game time at Adelaide Oval in 2018 while conceding 85 and 97 points in these two matches.
Brisbane's midfield - particularly in the decisive second term of last year's clash at the Gabba - has successfully set the agenda to unravel Port Adelaide's game.
Lead ruckman Scott Lycett is itching for his first win against Brisbane after carving out a 4-1 win-loss record as a West Coast player.
"We definitely are aware of the past games against Brisbane," Lycett said. "Hopefully, we can take a lot out of those games.
"We are in a different spot this year ... and our midfield group loves a challenge. It's definitely up for it this weekend."
Port Adelaide midfield coach Jarrad Schofield notes the change in his team's playbook is in tune with the game's adjustments to the rule book.
"We are comfortable where our game is at. But it might be how the game is moving (in reaction to new rules and fewer rotations)," Schofield said this week. "We have not changed the way we want to play. If anything we are glad that we are more efficient when we do go back in (the forward-50 arc).
"It might have been a knock on us maybe while we were playing front-half football that we did not execute going forward. But we have been able to execute from a little bit further back. It is a credit to all we have been doing in offence; and we are still defending really well."
For the statistical analysts, Port Adelaide's scoring sources this season are -
TURNOVERS 58 per cent
STOPPAGES 33 per cent
KICK-INS 9 per cent
New Brisbane strategy coach Mark Stone has reviewed the Champion Data figures and rankings to conclude: "Port Adelaide are really, really good with their ball movement and they have the ability to play different styles. They can go slow and be patient and wait for the opportunity and kick it a lot. And they can go really quick and use handball.
"There is not one way to defend against Port Adelaide.
"But one of their real strengths that you see clearly when you watch them is their high half-forwards get the ground and come back (into open space) really quickly. And if they are given the opportunity and get the ball to those guys in space - and do it quickly - they are hard to stop.
"You have to put a strong defensive game in place.
"But with all methods of scoring it always starts at the source - and Port Adelaide is a very good team around the contest. So we are going to need to work hard at the contest," added Stone who does not get to call on Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale (ankle) while Port Adelaide's midfield is denied former captain Travis Boak (quad).
"It will be a territory battle. We will need to get the ball in our forward half and put up really good structure behind the ball to keep it there. That is not going to be easy against a team that is in good form and balanced."
The scoreboard will tell many stories at the little cricket ground in Brisbane on Saturday night.
BIRD SEED
(the small stuff that matters)
Brisbane v Port Adelaide
Where: Gabba
When: Saturday, May 1, 2021
Time: 6.55pm (SA time)
Last time: Port Adelaide 6.12 (48) lost to Brisbane 12.13 (85) at the Gabba, round 5, July 4 last year
In pre-season: Port Adelaide 14.14 (98) d Brisbane 12.5 (77) at Moreton Bay Central Sports Reserve
Overall: Port Adelaide 18, Brisbane 18, 2 drawn
Past five games (most recent first): L L L W W
Scoring average: Port Adelaide 94, Brisbane 95
Tightest margin - 0 from two draws, both at the Gabba: Round 20, 1997 and round 12, 1998.
Smallest winning margin - Port Adelaide by one point (104-103) at the Gabba in round 17, 2003; Brisbane by 10 points (86-76) at Football Park in round 2, 2003.
Biggest margin - Port Adelaide by 113 points (159-46) at Adelaide Oval in round 4, 2014; Brisbane by 69 points (147-78) at Football Park in round 8, 2006.
By venues - Adelaide Oval: Port Adelaide 4-1; Football Park: 7-6; Gabba: 6-2-11; MCG: 1-0.
