THE Power have gone down in a thriller against Richmond in Alice Springs, with the Tigers finishing 3 point winners, 13.11.89 to 14.8.92.
PTV Exclusive: Matt Primus Post-Match
Played at Alice Spring’s Traeger Park, the match was played with an intensity that belied it’s ‘practice match’ status, with several heated clashes between players in the hot temperatures.
In terrific signs for the Power, vital player Robbie Gray started in the midfield and won the first clearance, with Justin Westhoff booting the first goal of the game.
PTV Exclusive: Justin Westhoff
With eight players on the bench rather than six and two substitutes due to the hot weather, it wasn’t long before fellow young gun Travis Boak rotated with his housemate, with his second possession a pinpoint pass to Daniel Stewart in the midst of three Tiger players on the wing.
Daniel Motlop was on fire, particularly in the first half of the game, tackling and running hard, and kicking a goal from 50 metres out on the boundary - a superb kick by a player having a ripping pre-season.
Fellow experienced player Chad Cornes was similarly proving that he had plenty to offer to the side, leading and marking strongly from the forward line. Brother Kane was everywhere, picking up where he left off in 2010 with every indication being that he’ll continue to be a John Cahill Medal favourite, with Dom Cassisi once more showing fearless leadership in the clinches.
Justin Westhoff and Jay Schulz were marking strongly in the forward line, while defensive lynchpins Troy Chaplin, Alipate Carlile and Jackson Trengove were guiding play from deep in defence, with Tom Logan offering plenty of run from the back half. Silly mistakes cost the Power, with too many free kicks being given away and poor passing to teammates dogging the side.
But the good far outweighed the bad, with Daniel Stewart and Jarrad Redden showing strength in the ruck, while Motlop gifted John Butcher his first goal in Power colours after Richmond got back into the game following a succession of free kicks and 50m penalties had helped the Tigers take the lead. Motlop then booted a goal on the siren to give the Power the lead at half-time.
The third quarter saw the match ebb and flow as the sides exchanged goals, with one from Robbie Gray particularly brilliant as he kicked it with the outside of his boot from the boundary. There were promising signs from young Power players such as rookie list player Jarrad Irons, Cam O’Shea and Jasper Pittard all showing exciting signs for the future.
Marlon Motlop might have had more years on the list than those three, but as a 20 year old with only five games to his name his poise in the contest was thrilling to see, and his level head saw him boot a goal on the three-quarter time siren to extend the Power’s lead to 9 points at the final break.
In a see-sawing game that saw the lead change multiple times throughout the match, the Power looked set to run away with the game after Danyle Pearce kicked truly at the beginning of the final term following some terrific frontal pressure and some clever work from Irons.
The young Tiger side then dominated for a long period of time, before Danyle Pearce once more dobbed a long goal after dodging around a pack to kick from 50 and reduce the margin to three points after the Tigers - lead by exciting tall Tyson Vickery - had stretched the lead to 9 points.
With the Alice Springs crowd absolutely deafening, the final siren rung out as Richmond looked set to boot another major, with the siren just beating the kick. While a loss is always disappointing, there were some incredibly encouraging signs from the Power in a game that was played with an intensity far beyond a normal NAB Challenge match.
Goal-kickers: Justin Westhoff 4, Daniel Motlop 3, Danyle Pearce 2, Marlon Motlop, Jay Schulz, Robbie Gray, John Butcher
Best players: Justin Westhoff, Daniel Motlop, Daniel Stewart, Jarrad Irons, Danyle Pearce, Dom Cassisi, Kane Cornes, Tom Logan
