Looking back
Port Adelaide battled hard against the Sydney Swans all day, but was unable to stem the tide of the Swans breaking from the centre bounce in the final quarter to put on a number of key goals. The Power’s performance against the Swans was spirited and demonstrated the club’s ability to challenge 2011 finalists yet again. Key skill errors late in the game cost the home side any chance however, but in an encouraging sign, the Power was able to deliver the final two goals of the match to reduce the final margin to 22 points.
[ Related: Quarter by Quarter ]
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 12.11 (83) def by
Sydney Swans 16.9 (105)
Best: Trengove, Chaplin, Cassisi, Brad Ebert, Carlile, Hartlett
Goals: D. Stewart 3, Brad Ebert, Schulz, Westhoff 2, Broadbent, Surjan, Thomas.
The Coach, Matthew Primus
“I thought we handballed far too much (against Sydney) and their pressure was very good which forced us into a lot of turnovers - and those turnovers really hurt us.”
“Basic errors cost us and we need a bit more game sense and a bit more composure. No one went to play on, no one went to take risk with kicks no one went up to take risks. We were just lacking and made it easy for them to kick goals.
“I thought we looked fresher than Sydney and I thought we were able to overrun them- the evolution of some of our younger players needs to happen pretty quickly though and we need to understand that.”
Stats stack
Disposals: Cassisi 26, Trengove 25, Westhoff, Cornes, Hartlett 24.
Marks: Brad Ebert 12, Chaplin, Trengove 11, Cornes 8
Tackles: Cassisi 7, Gray, Boak 5, Wingard, Cornes 4.
Dream Team: Brad Ebert 123, Cassisi 108, Cornes 100
The planets align this weekend
Statisticians will be thinking the Australian Football cosmos is giving them the run-around with this weekend’s Port Adelaide fixtures. Port Adelaide faces Collingwood in the AFL and Central District in the AFL at almost the exact same time this Saturday. In doing so, the club’s sides face both of last year’s losing grand finalists, with Collingwood falling to Geelong and Central to the Eagles in the AFL and SANFL respectively. But the symmetry gets even better - Port Adelaide’s teams, Collingwood and Central all enter this weekend with 1-2 records, all are ranked side-by-side on the ladder and all four coaches - Primus, Bamford, Buckley and Laird have played for the sides they now coach.
Pacific Smiles thank Port supporters
Pacific Smiles has thanked supporters of the Port Adelaide Football Club for their support for Fijian communities following recent flooding in the island nation. Power players David Rodan and Alipate Carlile are of Fijian descent and put the call out to the club’s fans to donate material goods to Pacific Smiles as support for the relief effort and the response was phenomenal - thanks for getting behind the effort team!
[ Related: Quarter by Quarter ]
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 12.11 (83) def by
Sydney Swans 16.9 (105)
Best: Trengove, Chaplin, Cassisi, Brad Ebert, Carlile, Hartlett
Goals: D. Stewart 3, Brad Ebert, Schulz, Westhoff 2, Broadbent, Surjan, Thomas.
The Coach, Matthew Primus
“I thought we handballed far too much (against Sydney) and their pressure was very good which forced us into a lot of turnovers - and those turnovers really hurt us.”
“Basic errors cost us and we need a bit more game sense and a bit more composure. No one went to play on, no one went to take risk with kicks no one went up to take risks. We were just lacking and made it easy for them to kick goals.
“I thought we looked fresher than Sydney and I thought we were able to overrun them- the evolution of some of our younger players needs to happen pretty quickly though and we need to understand that.”
Stats stack
Disposals: Cassisi 26, Trengove 25, Westhoff, Cornes, Hartlett 24.
Marks: Brad Ebert 12, Chaplin, Trengove 11, Cornes 8
Tackles: Cassisi 7, Gray, Boak 5, Wingard, Cornes 4.
Dream Team: Brad Ebert 123, Cassisi 108, Cornes 100
The planets align this weekend
Statisticians will be thinking the Australian Football cosmos is giving them the run-around with this weekend’s Port Adelaide fixtures. Port Adelaide faces Collingwood in the AFL and Central District in the AFL at almost the exact same time this Saturday. In doing so, the club’s sides face both of last year’s losing grand finalists, with Collingwood falling to Geelong and Central to the Eagles in the AFL and SANFL respectively. But the symmetry gets even better - Port Adelaide’s teams, Collingwood and Central all enter this weekend with 1-2 records, all are ranked side-by-side on the ladder and all four coaches - Primus, Bamford, Buckley and Laird have played for the sides they now coach.
Pacific Smiles thank Port supporters
Pacific Smiles has thanked supporters of the Port Adelaide Football Club for their support for Fijian communities following recent flooding in the island nation. Power players David Rodan and Alipate Carlile are of Fijian descent and put the call out to the club’s fans to donate material goods to Pacific Smiles as support for the relief effort and the response was phenomenal - thanks for getting behind the effort team!
[ Related: Carla Rodan thanks supporters ]
Nick on the road to recovery
Nick Salter is on the road to recovery after fracturing his foot during the pre-season. Salts is the only man to remain on the long-term injury list after Cameron Hitchcock returned in strong fashion for Glenelg at the weekend. Salter’s recovery program should see him return to action mid-way through the year as he works through a series of routines that do not place pressure on his injury. Ruckman Matt Lobbe is also expected to return from injury this weekend in the SANFL for West Adelaide.
Surjan’s goal of the year?
Exploding from the defensive half, Port Adelaide hard nut Jacob Surjan crumbed a handball from Danyle Pearce and bolted forward. Taking on Sydney star Adam Goodes, Surjan booted the ball from fifty and scored a memorable goal. The kick earned Surj one of the three nominations for the Origin Goal of the Year for Round 3. You can vote for Surj’s great goal by clicking here, or view this and other plays of the match below.
[ Related: Plays of the Week ]
Coming up
Port Adelaide travels to Etihad Stadium for the second time in the opening four rounds to play 2011 grand finalist Collingwood. An eternal rival of the club, Collingwood has struggled to gain momentum under new coach Nathan Buckley this year, with losses to Hawthorn and Carlton and just one win over Richmond. The Power sit just above Collingwood on percentage and a close game beckons with the Magpies stricken by knee injuries - the latest to star Luke Ball.
Port Adelaide’s last win against Collingwood came in Round 4 2007 when the Power began its run to the grand final of that year. Since then Collingwood rose to powerhouse status and has won the last five games against the Power. With Port Adelaide on the uphill road and questions over Collingwood’s form in 2012, this could be the Power’s best chance to bridge the ledger between the two sides.
Port Adelaide travels to Etihad Stadium for the second time in the opening four rounds to play 2011 grand finalist Collingwood. An eternal rival of the club, Collingwood has struggled to gain momentum under new coach Nathan Buckley this year, with losses to Hawthorn and Carlton and just one win over Richmond. The Power sit just above Collingwood on percentage and a close game beckons with the Magpies stricken by knee injuries - the latest to star Luke Ball.
Port Adelaide’s last win against Collingwood came in Round 4 2007 when the Power began its run to the grand final of that year. Since then Collingwood rose to powerhouse status and has won the last five games against the Power. With Port Adelaide on the uphill road and questions over Collingwood’s form in 2012, this could be the Power’s best chance to bridge the ledger between the two sides.
The last five
Round 20 2011, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 3.3 (21) def by Collingwood 23.21 (159)
Round 1 2011, Etihad Stadium - Port Adelaide 12.8 (80) def by Collingwood 24.11 (155)
Round 15 2010, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 12.7 (79) def by Collingwood 16.9 (105)
Round 10 2009, MCG - Port Adelaide 11.10 (76) def by Collingwood 17.12 (114)
Round 20 2008, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 10.15 (75) def by Collingwood 16.10 (106)
The Black and the White
Port Adelaide went down to Norwood by 41 points at Alberton in what was Port Adelaide’s first SANFL home game for the year. The Magpies faced a side which has rapidly risen to premiership favouritism, with no less than 5 Port Adelaide AFL players running around for the Redlegs. The loss leaves the Magpies at 1-2 ahead of this weekend’s match against Central District.
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 11.12 (78) def by
Norwood 18.11 (119)
Best: Kirkwood, Dolling, Beard, Hoskin, Biacsi, Summerton
Goals: Young, Biasci, Summerton 2, Ebert, Clayton, Wilson, Banner, Cockshell.
Next match: Round 5 against Central District, Saturday 21 April, 2.10pm, reserves 11.25am.
Round 20 2011, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 3.3 (21) def by Collingwood 23.21 (159)
Round 1 2011, Etihad Stadium - Port Adelaide 12.8 (80) def by Collingwood 24.11 (155)
Round 15 2010, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 12.7 (79) def by Collingwood 16.9 (105)
Round 10 2009, MCG - Port Adelaide 11.10 (76) def by Collingwood 17.12 (114)
Round 20 2008, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 10.15 (75) def by Collingwood 16.10 (106)
The Black and the White
Port Adelaide went down to Norwood by 41 points at Alberton in what was Port Adelaide’s first SANFL home game for the year. The Magpies faced a side which has rapidly risen to premiership favouritism, with no less than 5 Port Adelaide AFL players running around for the Redlegs. The loss leaves the Magpies at 1-2 ahead of this weekend’s match against Central District.
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 11.12 (78) def by
Norwood 18.11 (119)
Best: Kirkwood, Dolling, Beard, Hoskin, Biacsi, Summerton
Goals: Young, Biasci, Summerton 2, Ebert, Clayton, Wilson, Banner, Cockshell.
Next match: Round 5 against Central District, Saturday 21 April, 2.10pm, reserves 11.25am.
