Belligerents

PORT ADELAIDE
Year to date: W
Last five at ground: W
Currently ranked: 7th

ADELAIDE CROWS
Year to date: L
Last five at ground: -
Currently ranked: 13th

PLAYBILL

AFL Premiership Season - Round 2
Port Adelaide v Adelaide Crows
Saturday 29 March
First bounce 4:15pm (SA)
Hashtags: #pafclive #aflpowercrows
Click here to buy your 11-game reserved seat or Essential Power membership and guarantee your place at the game
BROADCAST GUIDE

YOU’RE INVITED

Official Port Adelaide pre-game event
March from the Mall, Cnr Stephens Street and Rundle Mall, Adelaide
Entertainment commencing 1:00pm
March commences 2:00pm for 2:30pm arrival
Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas, Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood and NOVA 919's Cale Porter in attendance

Official Port Adelaide post-game event
William Magarey Room
Level 3, Riverbank Stand, Adelaide Oval
Commencing after conclusion of game
Players, coaches, directors and staff in attendance ?

 

TIME MACHINE

Round 19, 2013. Unbelievable. Literally. With just 6:11 left on the clock, Port Adelaide mounted a frenzy-inducing comeback from 20 points down. Goals from Robbie Gray (composed), Angus Monfries (defying physics) and Chad Wingard (twice, including the sealer) to defeat the Crows in the final Showdown at Football Park made for undeniably the most exciting derby ever played at West Lakes.

Port Adelaide     2.1     9.3     11.4     17.4     (107) def
Adelaide Crows 3.2     5.6     12.10   15.13   (103)
at AAMI Stadium.

VERSUS

Travis Boak v Patrick Dangerfield
Leaders of their respective clubs, the pair will be instrumental in determining the on-field fortunes of their teams on Saturday afternoon. Both battled to produce their usual influence in Round 1 - Dangerfield locked down by the Cats while Boak didn’t quite hit his usual peak against the Blues. Both are competitive beasts who thrive on big games, so expect to see them get while line fever when their boots cross it.

Chad Wingard v Eddie Betts
These two livewire forwards love big games and Wingard lifted in the clutch moments the last time these sides met. It’s Betts’s first Showdown in the tricolours and he’ll be out to impress after his first two-goal performance against the Cats. Betts also kicked a bag of five goals against the Power during the NAB Challenge.

Matt Lobbe v Sam Jacobs (and their respective midfields)
The battle of the big men will be critical. Stoppage wins will be as important as ever on the narrower Adelaide Oval playing field and quick and effective clearances towards attack will be highly sought after by both sides. A key aspect for the game.

 

NUMBER CRUNCH

Score: Power 18.12 (120) v 12.9 (81) Crows
Disposals: Power 362 v 370 Crows
Kicks: Power 221 v 178 Crows
Handball: Power 141 v 192 Crows
Marks: Power 108 v 70 Crows
Contested possessions: Power 143 v 133 Crows
Frees: Power 14 v 12 Crows
Tackles: Power 73 v 60 Crows
Clearances: Power 42 v 34 Crows
Inside-50s: Power 47 v 47 Crows
Rebound 50s: Power 30 v 44 Crows
AFL Fantasy: Power 1669 v 1444 Crows

 

FINAL SAY

Nothing rides on this game except four points and a shiny, refurbished Showdown Trophy.

It’s difficult to explain to non-South Australians or, indeed, non football followers, the significance of that trophy.

It is about pride, passion and bragging rights.

Port Adelaide has the distinction of playing in and winning the first AFL game at the Adelaide Oval, but at this new stadium it will want to walk away with victory as well.

That isn’t easy against an Adelaide side equally determined to chalk its first win. The Crows were competitive against the evergreen Geelong on the challenging trip to Simonds Stadium and held a narrow lead in the fourth quarter.

On the fast and thin Adelaide Oval surface, sparks are sure to fly as both sides vie for early blood in the latest chapter of South Australian football.