BY THE END of Saturday night, Port fans were comparing the great Lade-Burgoyne midfield partnership of the late 2000s, to Paddy Ryder and Robbie Gray.
For at least one ruck contest on Saturday night, the comparison was fitting.
The synergy between Ryder and Gray in the dying moments of Saturday night’s Round 19 game was incredible.
With 18 seconds left on the clock, Ryder deftly tapped the ball from a boundary throw-in to a sprinting Gray.
He had shaken a chasing Seb Ross, and Jack Billings was unable to block his run, leaving Gray to boot his most important 50-metre kick of the year.
But while Gray drew the praise for his clutch goal, it was nothing without the tap of Ryder, whose form in 2017 will have him firmly in consideration for the All-Australian ruck position.
Speaking to portadelaidefc.com.au after the game, Ryder explained the impromptu plan hatched by the pair at the stoppage.
“I knew there was less than 30 seconds to go,” Ryder said.
“Me and Robbie both looked at each other at that last stoppage, and we both said at the same time where he wanted to put it, and where I wanted to hit it to him.
“It was just connection between myself, Robbie, I just knew I had to get it there.
“Once I got it in his hands, we have so much confidence in the bloke – he’s a superstar – I knew he was going to kick the goal.”
WATCH: Robbie talks about his amazing goal
Much needed to go right for the pair.
Blind to what was immediately behind him, Ryder needed faith in not just his own work, but Gray’s ability to collect the ball in space and evade potential tacklers.
It was a fear Ryder admits he had in the immediate aftermath of making contact with the ball.
“I felt like I put it in the right spot first, and then I’m turning to see if he got the ball - whether he was being tackled, or had been bumped out of position,” Ryder said.
“He just got there at the right time, and took off… From then on it’s a bit of a blur.”
Ryder’s return to ruck supremacy after a tough battle against Melbourne’s Max Gawn last week was among the better displays in a rain-affected match.
Foot and hand skills were poor throughout the night as players on both sides contended with the slippery ball and highly contested nature of the game.
Ryder said grinding away at the win was important, especially with the Saints errant goal kicking keeping Port in the match.
“It felt like we were in the game, but a lot of things didn’t go our way,” Ryder said.
“You have to try to do whatever you can to get the win, even when it’s not a great idea out there.”
Ken Hinkley described the victory as one that could define Port’s season, especially as the battle for the top four heats up.
Wins to Geelong, GWS and Richmond keep Port Adelaide out of the top four, with a month of football to play.
Port Adelaide plays the Adelaide Crows in Showdown XLIII on Sunday 6 August at 4.10pm.
