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2022 Toyota AFL Premiership
Richmond v Port Adelaide
Round 13 •
77 11.11
Full Time
65 10.5
Tigers Won By 12
MCG,  Melbourne  • Wurundjeri

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    Match preview: Port Adelaide vs Richmond

    Port Adelaide resumes from the mid-season break seeking at least seven wins to push into the AFL top eight - and the first challenge is a rival with the same goal.

    Both Port Adelaide and Richmond will be looking for a very important Round 13 win as they both eye off a spot in the top eight. Image: AFL Photos.

    EIGHT is the magic number. Some will say this Port Adelaide-Richmond encounter is the classic "eight-point game"; that this round 13 match is effectively worth eight AFL premiership points to the winner while both clubs are chasing the same objective - a place in the top eight in September.

    The winner only gets four premiership points to bank on the AFL ladder. But the loser would then need to find eight to restore its pre-game ambitions against the rival.

    After resting at the weekend with the AFL mid-season bye, Richmond is 10th with 24 points; Port Adelaide is 12th with 20. The winner at the MCG under Thursday night lights will take a significant step towards recovering ground lost by poor starts to the home-and-away season (Port Adelaide 0-5, Richmond 1-3).

    Richmond could widen the gap on Port Adelaide to eight premiership points.

    Port Adelaide could finally square the ledger at 6-6 ... and become more than just a mathematical contender for the top eight. It would have the meaningful scalp of a team that might be considered "the most dangerous outside the top eight" today.

    There are in fact eight premiership points - that will shape the final top eight - on the line in two Port Adelaide-Richmond clashes that will be played out across an eight-week gap. The first at the MCG on Thursday night; the second at Adelaide Oval in round 21 (with date and time still to be confirmed by the AFL working a floating fixture).

    Eight is indeed the magic number.

    A Port Adelaide win would level the Power with Richmond on premiership points, while the Tigers could widen the gap on Port Adelaide to eight points. Image: AFL Photos.

    THE RE-START

    PHYSICALLY and mentally refreshed by the mid-season break, Port Adelaide resumes with 11 home-and-away games to play - and at least seven wins (plus some percentage) needed to be in the conversation for a top-eight finals berth.

    Finding that momentum carries a big agenda for how Port Adelaide builds on the 5-1 win-loss record that followed the 0-5 start to the home-and-away season.

    "For us, there are key areas (of focus)," says Port Adelaide midfielder Zak Butters. "Our contest work. The pressure we put on the opposition. When we have lost, it is because we have not brought a consistently high level of work at the contest.

    "For our group, that contest work is the biggest thing - and that is what we are focusing on going into the back half of the year. We let it slip in the Essendon game (before the bye) and that runs the risk of putting ourselves in bad positions.

    "Our group is on edge about that. We know we need to bring (the contest) every week. That starts with training at a high level."

    For the record, Richmond ranks 13th of 18 for contested football this season (averaging 134.9 contested possessions) and Port Adelaide is 14th (134.7). It is a marginal difference by the statistics, but a major issue is deciding AFL games today even if the numbers are not always easy to read.

    "It is a pretty accurate statistic (on a team's fortunes), even if there is more to contested possession than just a groundball fight," says Hinkley. "It is a lot more than that."

    09:33

    THE DUEL

    PORT ADELAIDE has averaged 74 points in 11 games this season - down on last year's average of 84 and the club's lowest since entering the AFL. Having to rebuild the attack while waiting for All-Australian key forward Charlie Dixon to recover from two rounds of ankle surgery partly explains this.

    Richmond is averaging 98 points this season, significantly up on last year's mark of 79. But now Richmond has to refashion its forward zone while dealing with the loss through injury of prime goalkicker Tom Lynch.

    Dixon will play his second AFL game of the season - and there is the question of how his commanding presence in attack changes the dymanics for a midfield that had come to understand the differing ways to present opportunity to key forwards Todd Marshall and recently recruited Jeremy Finlayson.

    "We have Charlie in the side for one game and there is the question, 'Are we too Charlie focused?'," Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley said. "That second half against Essendon was wet and slippery and the ball was kicked in deep - for both teams. That is the way the game is played (in the wet).

    "We have worked hard to become more than Charlie. But if you think we are going away from Charlie too often, we're probably not. It is the way we like to play. It is the way we expect to play."

    Charlie Dixon returned to action in Round 11, finishing the match with two goals. Image: AFL Photos.

    THE MATCH-UPS

    OR is it THE match-up?

    Richmond does test its rival with the puzzle of the extraordinary Dustin Martin, the Brownlow Medal-winning midfielder and Norm Smith Medal-winning opportunist forward.

    If the once-in-a-generation 'Dusty" is in the midfield, there is the prospect of Brownlow Medallist v Brownlow Medallist, bull against bull with Port Adelaide vice-captain Ollie Wines.

    And if Martin slips - as he does - to the space he finds inside-50, Port Adelaide has captain Tom Jonas, this week recognised with All-Australian premiership defender Steven May as the top-two backmen in one-on-one match-ups.

    "Tom Jonas, Ryan Burton, Dan Houston ... we have good flexibility with our backs," Hinkley said of his options to deal with Martin.

    "But 'Dusty' is a unique challenge; very much a unique challenge ..."

    Ollie Wines can expect to attract plenty of attention from the Richmond midfielders. Image: AFL Photos.

    THE RIVALRY

    TENSIONS - built on competitive spirits at both clubs - have bubbled between Port Adelaide and Richmond for some time off the field. There have been so many Port Adelaide people - from recruiting (Blair Hartley) to coaching (Damien Hardwick and Adam Kingsley) - at Punt Road, Richmond that there was to be an inevitable edge to the club's on-field contests.

    And the past seven, from 2017 to today, have created some classic clashes decided:

    BY seven points or less three times (one in favour of Port Adelaide)

    BY three goals or less five times (two in favour of Port Adelaide)

    BY four goals or less six times (three in favour of Port Adelaide)

    BY more than six goals just once (by 38 points in favour of Richmond during the club's last encounter at the MCG in 2019).

    The rundown of the past seven games, by margins, reads: two points (Port Adelaide), six points (Richmond in the 2021 preliminary final), 21 points (Port Adelaide), 38 points (Richmond), seven points (Richmond), 14 points (Port Adelaide) and 13 points (Richmond).

    Port Adelaide celebrates the victory in the sides' most recent encounter in Round 4, 2021. Image: AFL Photos.

    It is almost comparable to the Showdown rivalry.

    "Definitely in the past few years with both teams up there on the (top of the AFL) ladder - and playing finals (the preliminary final at Adelaide Oval in 2020)," says Port Adelaide midfielder Zak Butters. "The games have been close.

    "Richmond definitely is a good team - and with any good team comes a bit of a rivalry when you play against each other in big games that mean a lot.

    "There is definitely some tension there. You don't like teams that knock you over in a final.

    "This one is a big game - Thursday night ... and both teams need to win. We know it is a really important game for us."

    THE 'G

    IN the 26th season of Port Adelaide-Richmond encounters in the AFL, the battleground is the MCG for just the seventh time.

    "Richmond are a scary proposition at the MCG," says Hinkley with the record books detailing Richmond has a 5-2 win-loss record at the 'G this season and a 51-2-14 win-draw-loss record since the start of its premiership run in 2017 (a phenomenal 76 per cent strike rate).

    "Your best is the only way you have a chance."

    Port Adelaide has two wins against Richmond on its home ground - and the cradle of Australian football - plus a draw that marked the final game of the "dark chapter" era concluded in 2012.

    Port Adelaide last won against Richmond at the MCG - by 35 points - on April 30, 2016 with the survivors of that game being former captain Travis Boak, Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines, defender Darcy Byrne-Jones, key forward Charlie Dixon and captain Tom Jonas.

    For the record, Port Adelaide lost the contested-possession count 145-161 that Saturday night yet dominated the scoreboard, 13.16 (94) to 8.11 (59).

    Of the 35 Port Adelaide-Richmond matches played for the AFL premiership since 1997, none has been decided by eight points. There always is a first time ...

    Port Adelaide last played Richmond at the MCG in 2019. Image: AFL Photos.

    QUOTE OF THE WEEK

    "This is one year when anything can happen."

    Port Adelaide midfielder Connor Rozee on the wild ride to the 2022 AFL premiership.

    BIRD SEED

    (the little stuff that counts most)

    Where: MCG

    When: Thursday, June 9, 2022

    Time: 6.50pm (SA time)

    Last time: Port Adelaide 11.13 (79) d Richmond 11.11 (77) at Adelaide Oval, round 4, April 9, 2021

    Overall: Port Adelaide 20, Richmond 14, one drawn

    Past five games (most recent first): W L W L L

    Scoring average: Port Adelaide 89, Richmond 84

    Drawn game: Port Adelaide 16.10 (106) drew with Richmond 16.10 (106) at the MCG in round 23, September 2, 2012

    Tightest winning margin - Port Adelaide by two points (32-30) at Football Park in round 11, June 12, 1999 and (79-77) at Adelaide Oval in round 4, April 9, las year; Richmond by four points (127-123) at Football Park in round 13, June 21, 2008

    Biggest margin - Port Adelaide by 84 points (154-70) at Football Park in round 12, June 23, 2002; Richmond by 85 points (146-81) at the MCG in round 21, August 24, 1997

    By venues: Adelaide Oval (5-4), Football Park (10-5), MCG (2-1-3), Docklands (2-2), Marrara Oval, Darwin (1-0)

    By States and territories - South Australia (15-9), Victoria (4-1-5), Northern Territory (1-0).

    Post-Match Function

    Join fellow Port Adelaide supporters at our official post-match function after the final siren in the Ponsford Atrium. Access via level 2 of the Ponsford Stand.

    Players will be in attendance for interviews.

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    Match report: Port fall short to relentless Tigers

    Port Adelaide fell short - by 12 points - in a major test against a resurgent Richmond on the MCG under the Thursday night lights. Not in question is the team's want for the fight.

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    MAYBE the competition still won't be sold on Port Adelaide as an AFL top-eight finals contender. But there would have to be admiration of how Ken Hinkley's team wants to see out the fight to September to the fullest.

    It becomes tougher on the back of this 12-point loss at the MCG to a revived Richmond that moves into the top eight.

    But in a season in which Port Adelaide has discovered seemingly endless reserves of resilience there should be no doubt that Hinkley has a team that will not surrender until the door to the AFL top eight is shut.

    Port Adelaide falls to 5-7. The equation to stay in the race to September's top-eight now demands at least seven wins from 10 games. While there is life, there is hope.

    But there might be questions on how Port Adelaide is playing, in particular why it is forced - or chooses - to work wide and with short football. If Plan A fails, the need for an alternative game is paramount ... but the task of finding better ways to impose Plan A with that direct, running game in the centre channel to the goalfront seems a pressing challenge today.

    The quick summary of this game is - Port Adelaide started fast; it faded under the pressure of Richmond's trademark game that traps opponents in their own errors; Port Adelaide responded with a meaningful "Plan B" to regain the lead at the start of the last term; and then it faded again.

    The frustration with such inconsistency challenges Port Adelaide to be better.

    06:56

    Port Adelaide's resilience was tested to the limit early in the last term as the injury count mounted. After subbing out Trent Dumont (calf) late in the third quarter, Port Adelaide had captain Tom Jonas and midfielder Zak Butters clash heads while they tried to stop Richmond opponent Liam Baker.

    Both returned to the field with bandaging to their heads, but not enough to stop Butters from continuing to bleed from a cheek. Port Adelaide's medical staff insists they were dealing with two players bleeding from cuts to their faces rather than the demands of the concussion protocols that would have kept the pair off the field for 15 minutes at a critical stage of the game.

    Both Port Adelaide and Richmond had patches of dominance with their most creative games during the first term. But it was Port Adelaide that adapted to a "Plan B" far better than Richmond until the 2017/19/20 premier simply worked harder and with greater intent for the last 25 minutes.

    Port Adelaide delivered a spirited start, built on hard running and control of possession. It built a two-goal surge off Karl Amon and Todd Marshall from set shots in the first six minutes and 26 seconds. And then it all stopped - the running, the repetitive long drives to forward-50 territory and the willingness to put Richmond on the back foot.

    The consequence of falling into an indirect and short game - with repeat out-of-bounds when moving wide at the MCG and turnovers on hasty handpasses - was to allow Richmond to rediscover its preferred game of preying on opposition mistakes. The five-goal response - with two goals from the first two kicks of AFL debutant Judson Clarke - gave Richmond a significant 19-point lead at quarter-time, confidence and ominous momentum.

    By the time Port Adelaide added to the 2.1 scoreline from the seventh minute of the first term with Marshall's set shot at the top of the goalsquare in the 15th minute of the second quarter, Richmond had put up six goals and had built a 26-point lead.

    There was a brake on Richmond's free-flowing score rush - and a starkly contrasting grind for Port Adelaide to work the ball forward, patiently moving the ball from flank to flank seeking the path of least resistance from the Richmond defence before targeting Marshall and fellow key forward Charlie Dixon at the goalsquare.

    This method of slow-burn momentum - that gave Port Adelaide 59 possessions more than Richmond during the term - delivered two goals from Marshall and one from Dixon to put the half-time margin at a manageable eight points.

    00:42

    By three quarter-time, Port Adelaide had reduced the match-high deficit of 26 points to just one by outscoring Richmond six goals to two while setting the agenda on how the game was being played. The strength of the Port Adelaide game was still with the intercept and rebound off the half-back line led by Ryan Burton and Dan Houston and the variation of methods to hit targets inside-50. It was Richmond's turn to look static and unsure on how to isolate its forwards for set shots.

    Port Adelaide opened the last term with the lead regained - for a very short moment - off Sam Powell-Pepper converting a free kick on a holding-the-ball call on Shai Bolton.

    Richmond's immediate two-goal response - from a contentious free kick on the goal-line against Burton to defender-cum-forward Josh Gibcus and Dustin Martin after pushing out Riley Bonner in a marking contest - gave the home team a lead it never again conceded ... although the door was left ajar by Shai Bolton repeatedly missing seemingly simple shots.

    Port Adelaide midfielder Connor Rozee danced through the Richmond defence at the top of the 50-metre arc to score his team's 10th and last goal with 5:09 to play to have the margin at four points.

    With preferred lead ruckman Scott Lycett absent by a shoulder injury and novice ruckman Sam Hayes kept in Adelaide, Port Adelaide improvised with its ruck battery against Richmond pair Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo.

    Port Adelaide worked Jeremy Finlayson as the prime ruckman with the Greater Western Sydney recruit winning the first centre ruck contest with the hit-out to Travis Boak - and finishing the first inside-50 sortie with a behind.

    Dixon was the support act in a ruck battery that was constantly interchanging - and working to equally revolving midfield rotations that won the critical clearance numbers. Port Adelaide lost the hit-outs 18-41 but won the centre clearances (13-9) and all clearances (25-22).

    And that much-quoted barometer of contested possessions finished square - 146 each.

    08:58

    Richmond's grand luxury to allow Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin to slip from the midfield to torment defences put Port Adelaide captain, defender Jonas, first on "Dusty watch" followed by Burton who savoured the contest to win the ball against one of the AFL's most-dangerous players.

    Burton had 19 disposals at half-time, a game-high shared with teammate Houston. Such figures underline how so much work was being done on Port Adelaide's half-back line.

    Martin, who was repeatedly checked by the Richmond medical staff, was soundly checked by Jonas and Burton who conceded just 13 disposals. Martin's two goals were scored away from either Jonas or Burton in classic examples of how the Richmond champion knows how to make the most of his opportunities, even when they are well checked and limited.

    Port Adelaide key defender Tom Clurey took the other major match-up in the defensive 50 by manning Richmond's 736-goal forward Jack Riewoldt who preferred to play closer to the top of the 50-metre arc than the goalsquare. All-Australian defender Aliir Aliir patrolled the defensive goalsquare against the stand-in tall Noah Balta who was re-assigned to the Richmond attack to cover the absence of prime goalscorer Tom Lynch.

    At half-time, Clurey and Aliir had not conceded a goal. Riewoldt and Balta responded with the first three set shots on goal of the third term (for two goals and Riewoldt putting the third shot out-of-bounds on the full). The final count was 2.1; Riewoldt 1.1 and Balta 1.0 - less than what was scored by the Port Adelaide key forwards (Marshall 3.1, Dixon 1.0 and Finlayson 1.1). 

    Ultimately, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick decided if Balta was not to be a menacing threat in attack then he should deal with Port Adelaide's major goalkicker, Marshall who had beaten Gibcus. It was a late move that paid off, even if with the assistance of a contentious free kick at the goalfront.

    Port Adelaide returns to Adelaide Oval next week for Saturday afternoon football with another test against a team noted for contested, one-on-one football: Sydney.

    RICHMOND v PORT ADELAIDE

    PORT ADELAIDE     2.1    5.2   8.4   11.11 (77)

    RICHMOND              5.2    6.4   8.5   10.5   (65)

    BEST - Port Adelaide: Burton, Houston, Boak, Marshall, Amon, Rozee.

    GOALS - Port Adelaide: Marshall 3, Amon, Dixon, Farell, Finlayson, Powell-Pepper, Rozee, Wines.

    INJURY - Motlop (dislocated finger); Dumont (right calf, subbed out late in third term); Tom Jonas (head knock); Zak Butters (head knock).

    MEDICAL SUBSTITUTE: Martin Frederick (subbed in for Dumont late in third term).

    CROWD: 21,757 at the MCG

    NEXT: Sydney at Adelaide Oval, next Saturday with 1.15pm start

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