ROBBIE Gray is back in the Power's line-up for this weekend's all-important Showdown XXXVIII against the Adelaide Crows at the Adelaide Oval.
OPPOSING FORCES
PORT ADELAIDE
LAST MATCH: Round 4: Port Adelaide 16.9 (99) def Hawthorn 13.13 (91)
ADELAIDE CROWS
LAST MATCH: Round 4: Adelaide Crows 10.8 (68) def by Western Bulldogs 18.17 (125)
HEAD TO HEAD
Port Adelaide 20 v 17 Adelaide Crows
LAST FIVE
Port Adelaide 3 v 2 Adelaide Crows
THIS YEAR
Port Adelaide: LLWW v WWWL Adelaide Crows
PLAYBILL
Showdown XXXVIII
Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide
Adelaide Oval
Sunday 3 May
First bounce: 4:10pm (local) / 4:40pm (AEST) / 3:40pm (AWST)
Hashtags: #AFLCrowsPower
Broadcast: Channel 7, FIVEaa
YOU’RE INVITED
Gameday Events
Game Day Village
Memorial Drive Tennis Courts
Enter adjacent Tennis SA
Open from 3:00pm
TIME MACHINE
Round 15, 2014: Despite controlling the game early, the Power succumbed to a strong second half against the Adelaide Crows at the Adelaide Oval, having failed to put their rivals away on the scoreboard after dominating the second quarter.
PORT ADELAIDE 5.3 7.10 7.14 10.16 (76)
HAWTHORN 3.5 6.6 9.15 14.15 (99)
Best: Pittard, Carlile, Jonas, Westhoff, Broadbent
Goals: Polec 3, Schulz 2, Hartlett, White, Boak, Westhoff
at the Adelaide Oval
FOUR QUARTERS
THE EDGE
Port Adelaide goes in favourite, likely given his track record over the last few years, but the Crows are playing an exciting new game style under former Power midfield manager Phil Walsh, so its fair to expect a new-look Adelaide in Showdowns, just as a new-look Adelaide has been seen around the country this last month.
Jay Schulz - No doubt Talia will go to the Power's big key forward, but if Schulz can continue the strong form he's shown over the last two weeks, he can be the barometer for Port both up forward and overall. His game against the Hawks last week was one of his best, and he's showing he's still got it as a key target and as a roaming pressure player further up the ground.
Taylor Walker - In a battle of the key forwards, Walker is on 14 goals for the year, but as the Crows' new captain provides a big presence that will draw Alipate Carlile. Fortunately for Power fans, Carlile is playing career-best footy, but he'll need to lift again to curtail the Crows' spiritual leader.
This is where Adelaide has the edge. Going into this game at full-strength, the Crows will draw confidence knowing they have their best cattle on the field. Port Adelaide is still missing Ollie Wines, although Robbie Gray has been regained after a minor calf injury.
THE THEATRE
The Adelaide Oval is an evenly balanced ledger for both teams, but with Phil Walsh adopting some basic Power principles in the Crows' new game plan, it will suit the running style of each team. Fine conditions will mean this game simply comes down to whichever side brings a full game of quality, efficient football, and match-long intensity.
THE VIBE
Never a game for the faint-hearted, this Showdown should be a real cracker with the Power looking to end the first five rounds 3-2 and the Crows searching for redemption after last week's loss to the Bulldogs.
