PORT ADELAIDE confirmed a top-two position and a home Qualifying Final with a heart stopping win over the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.
An inaccurate Port outfit trailed for nearly the entirety of the game before stealing the lead with five minutes to go and holding on to win by just two points.
Here are some key things we learned from the game.
1) Melbourne Marvels
Six wins in six games at Marvel Stadium tells a tale for Port Adelaide in 2021. Some have been in the most arduous of circumstances with hasty trips across the border and with rearranged and relocated fixtures. The wins have been over North Melbourne (by 52 points in Round 1), Hawthorn (by 34 points in Round 16), St Kilda (by 13 points in Round 18), Collingwood (by 28 points in Round 19), GWS (by 27 points in Round 20) and then against the Bulldogs on Friday night (by two points). Add to those two wins at the MCG (against Carlton by 28 points in Round 5 and Collingwood by one point in Round 10) and Port has been unbeaten in Victoria in 2021.
2) Momentum is king
Friday night’s win was a tale of two clubs. While the Western Bulldogs will go into the finals with three losses in a row, Port has won six games in a row and nine of its last ten games. With the pre-finals bye now a thing of the past, momentum could be vital leading into a finals series that appears on paper to be closer and more even than ever.
3) Robbie Gray the ice man
Robbie Gray took the mark and the responsibility for a shot on goal with a little over five minutes on the clock to put his side in front, where it would ultimately remain. With Port trailing by three points at that stage, supporters would have had every right to have been nervous. A closer look at the stats might have given them some comfort with the ball in Gray’s hands. Stats guru @sirswampthing pointed out on Twitter that Gray’s last seven scores in the fourth quarters of games in 2021 have been goals. Port Adelaide 300-gamer Kane Cornes went better, highlighting how many times Gray has been tasked with and executed such a decisive kick during his career.
4) Win em close
The final margin on Friday night was just two points, although considering some of Port’s statistical dominance it perhaps could have been a bit higher had the side kicked more accurately on goal. It was the sixth time this season where Port Adelaide had won a game by under 13 points. It was also the fourth game the club had won by under a goal. It shows a level of maturity amongst the side that it does not panic in the close games and has plans in place to execute under the extreme pressure that comes with tight margins.
5) Making the most of milestones
It is rare for Port Adelaide to lose a milestone match in recent years. It happened earlier this campaign for Steven Motlop’s 200th where the side went down to Minor Premiers Melbourne and the silky forward suffered an ankle injury but it was not about to happen on Friday night. With Karl Amon celebrating his 100th game and coach Ken Hinkley his 200th as coach, the side ensured both milestones were respected and celebrated in the right way. For the record, Hinkley now has 120 wins in his 200 games and Amon 62 in his 100. The result means Port has won milestone games for Tom Clurey (100 games), Travis Boak (300 games), Robbie Gray (250 games) Connor Rozee (50 games), Todd Marshall (50 games) Amon and Hinkley in 2021 with Motlop’s loss the only blight on the record.
