The Power lost to the Bombers despite mounting a strong third term comeback.
The club now has an opportunity to put its second win on the board and maintain a perfect start at home against the Swans.
Port Adelaide’s side remains unchanged save for Robbie Gray returning to the team in place on David Rodan.
Gray has recovered from two weeks of hamstring soreness and provides extra strength to Matthew Primus’ forward and midfield stocks.
“Robbie (Gray) adds a bit of versatility - we know what he can do up forward and he’s a difficult match up,” Primus told PortAdelaideFC.com.au.
“On-ball he’s a guy who’s good at the contested stuff and can turn a 50-50 into a 70-30 for us because he’s got such skill.
“He’s a quality player when the ball can get in his hands whether up forward or on-ball.”
[ Related: Gameday v Sydney ]
Sydney is the third 2011 finalist faced by Port Adelaide in as many weeks.
The Power remains underdogs against the undefeated Swans, however with a start to the season which has many pundits praising the new emphasis on tough, contested footy at Alberton, Port Adelaide will look to chalk up its second win for the season.
To win, Port Adelaide’s taggers will need to overcome a Sydney side bolstered by the inclusion of Shane Mumford as well as curbing the influence of regular contributors Adam Goodes and Josh Kennedy
Post-match reviews after the Essendon match provided Primus the opportunity to highlight the importance of on-field structure to his players, and he is confident that the Power is better placed as a result of experiencing last week’s loss.
“After the game (against Essendon) we were able to show them (the players) what they could have done in certain situations to give us a better result, and also show how not doing other things makes life difficult for us,” said Primus.
“The education and evolution of the group - be they young or senior guys - it’s continual learning on that.
“The critical thing is it makes them understand that you have to play with a high level of intensity if you want to win every week.
“Against St Kilda we did it, and we did it for two quarters against Essendon, so we have got to come with the same level of intensity as we did in round one.
“We know what we’re going to get against the Swans - it’s going to be a tough game - but if we play and go about our business the way we have all summer we’ll get the result we want.”
Sydney withheld a late Fremantle surge last weekend and with Primus determined that his players won’t resort to a second half charge to challenge on Saturday, the Swans will be watching for a determined Power outfit playing in front of its home crowd.
Primus emphasised the need to maintain strong defensive pressure on Sydney’s quality stocks, particularly given the Swans’ ability to suffocate games of football and dictate play.
“Everyone’s known their contested stuff for a decade - they’ve been great at it and still are - but they’ve really added some good outside run through the half-back, wing and half-forward,” said Primus.
“It’s important that we don’t allow them an easy possession or an easy goal. It will be a great battle and we think we’ll be able to win the game.
“The key is to prepare ourselves mentally to be able to do what we need to do.”
The Swans are without Lewis Roberts-Thomson (fractured cheekbone) Nick Smith (virus) and Mark Seaby (omitted) whilst Andrejs Everitt and Jessie White enter the visitors’ team alongside Mumford.
[ Related: Behind Enemy Lines ]
Port Adelaide has little home game experience against Sydney, having only played against the Swans three times since winning the 2004 premiership. It will derive an advantage from playing on a larger ground with Sydney’s home being the smaller SCG.
Port Adelaide’s new style of contested football will match up well against Sydney, having defeated a similarly defensive side in St Kilda at home in round one.
The stability of the Power side will also work in the home team’s favour. With a positive pre-season and improvement on-field, Port Adelaide’s sole change this week will ensure that coach Primus can drill home the club’s game plan under match conditions.
[ Related: Selection ]
South Australian fans can tune into the game live from 1.35pm on Fox Footy, with the radio broadcast as-it-happens via 891 ABC Adelaide, 1395 FiveAA and Triple M 104.7fm.
PortAdelaideFC.com.au will have quarter-by-quarter updates with live social interaction on Facebook and Twitter via the #aflpowerswans and #pafclive hashtags.
The Power remains underdogs against the undefeated Swans, however with a start to the season which has many pundits praising the new emphasis on tough, contested footy at Alberton, Port Adelaide will look to chalk up its second win for the season.
To win, Port Adelaide’s taggers will need to overcome a Sydney side bolstered by the inclusion of Shane Mumford as well as curbing the influence of regular contributors Adam Goodes and Josh Kennedy
Post-match reviews after the Essendon match provided Primus the opportunity to highlight the importance of on-field structure to his players, and he is confident that the Power is better placed as a result of experiencing last week’s loss.
“After the game (against Essendon) we were able to show them (the players) what they could have done in certain situations to give us a better result, and also show how not doing other things makes life difficult for us,” said Primus.
“The education and evolution of the group - be they young or senior guys - it’s continual learning on that.
“The critical thing is it makes them understand that you have to play with a high level of intensity if you want to win every week.
“Against St Kilda we did it, and we did it for two quarters against Essendon, so we have got to come with the same level of intensity as we did in round one.
“We know what we’re going to get against the Swans - it’s going to be a tough game - but if we play and go about our business the way we have all summer we’ll get the result we want.”
Sydney withheld a late Fremantle surge last weekend and with Primus determined that his players won’t resort to a second half charge to challenge on Saturday, the Swans will be watching for a determined Power outfit playing in front of its home crowd.
Primus emphasised the need to maintain strong defensive pressure on Sydney’s quality stocks, particularly given the Swans’ ability to suffocate games of football and dictate play.
“Everyone’s known their contested stuff for a decade - they’ve been great at it and still are - but they’ve really added some good outside run through the half-back, wing and half-forward,” said Primus.
“It’s important that we don’t allow them an easy possession or an easy goal. It will be a great battle and we think we’ll be able to win the game.
“The key is to prepare ourselves mentally to be able to do what we need to do.”
The Swans are without Lewis Roberts-Thomson (fractured cheekbone) Nick Smith (virus) and Mark Seaby (omitted) whilst Andrejs Everitt and Jessie White enter the visitors’ team alongside Mumford.
[ Related: Behind Enemy Lines ]
Port Adelaide has little home game experience against Sydney, having only played against the Swans three times since winning the 2004 premiership. It will derive an advantage from playing on a larger ground with Sydney’s home being the smaller SCG.
Port Adelaide’s new style of contested football will match up well against Sydney, having defeated a similarly defensive side in St Kilda at home in round one.
The stability of the Power side will also work in the home team’s favour. With a positive pre-season and improvement on-field, Port Adelaide’s sole change this week will ensure that coach Primus can drill home the club’s game plan under match conditions.
[ Related: Selection ]
South Australian fans can tune into the game live from 1.35pm on Fox Footy, with the radio broadcast as-it-happens via 891 ABC Adelaide, 1395 FiveAA and Triple M 104.7fm.
PortAdelaideFC.com.au will have quarter-by-quarter updates with live social interaction on Facebook and Twitter via the #aflpowerswans and #pafclive hashtags.
Key points
Match: Round 3
Opponent: Sydney Swans
Head to Head: Port Adelaide 6, Sydney Swans 14
Venue: AAMI Stadium
Uniform: Home jumper - black with white and teal Vs, Black shorts, black socks
Opponent uniform: Stylised red bib on white body, red shorts, red socks.
Captain: #1 Dom Cassisi
Local Live Coverage: Quarter by Quarter on PortAdelaideFC.com.au, Facebook, Twitter, TV on Seven Network (delay) and FOX Footy, Radio on ABC 891AM, FiveAA 1395AM and Triple M 104.7FM.
Opponent: Sydney Swans
Head to Head: Port Adelaide 6, Sydney Swans 14
Venue: AAMI Stadium
Uniform: Home jumper - black with white and teal Vs, Black shorts, black socks
Opponent uniform: Stylised red bib on white body, red shorts, red socks.
Captain: #1 Dom Cassisi
Local Live Coverage: Quarter by Quarter on PortAdelaideFC.com.au, Facebook, Twitter, TV on Seven Network (delay) and FOX Footy, Radio on ABC 891AM, FiveAA 1395AM and Triple M 104.7FM.
Port Adelaide side to face Sydney
B: Ben Jacobs, Alipate Carlile, Jackson Trengove
HB: Danyle Pearce, Troy Chaplin, Jacob Surjan
C: Hamish Hartlett, Dom Cassisi, Kane Cornes
HF: John McCarthy, Daniel Stewart, Robbie Gray
F: Chad Wingard, Jay Schulz, Justin Westhoff
Foll: Jarrad Redden, Bradley Ebert, Travis Boak
I/C: Matt Thomas, Paul Stewart, Matthew Broadbent, Cameron O’Shea.
Emg: Simon Phillips, Brent Renouf, Darren Pfeiffer
B: Ben Jacobs, Alipate Carlile, Jackson Trengove
HB: Danyle Pearce, Troy Chaplin, Jacob Surjan
C: Hamish Hartlett, Dom Cassisi, Kane Cornes
HF: John McCarthy, Daniel Stewart, Robbie Gray
F: Chad Wingard, Jay Schulz, Justin Westhoff
Foll: Jarrad Redden, Bradley Ebert, Travis Boak
I/C: Matt Thomas, Paul Stewart, Matthew Broadbent, Cameron O’Shea.
Emg: Simon Phillips, Brent Renouf, Darren Pfeiffer
