A BRUTAL contest awaits Port Adelaide as its comes up against rank favourites Sydney at the SCG on Saturday.

BELLIGERENTS

PORT ADELAIDE
Year to date: W W L W W W W W W W
Last five at ground: W L L L L
Currently ranked: 1st

SYDNEY SWANS
Year to date: L L W L W W W W W W W
Last five at ground: W W L W W
Currently ranked: 3rd

HEAD TO HEAD
Power 7 v 15 Swans

LAST FIVE
Power 1 v 4 Swans

PLAYBILL

2014 AFL Premiership Season - Round 13
Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide
Saturday 14 June
First bounce 2:10pm (AEST)/ 1:40pm (ACST)
Hashtags: #pafclive #AFLSwansPower
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YOU’RE INVITED

Official pre-game event
Royal Exhibition Hotel (opposite Central Station – Chalmers or Devonshire St exit)
Cnr Chalmers and Devonshire Street
Surry Hills

Commencing 11:00am
NSW Supporter Group post-game event
Royal Exhibition Hotel (opposite Central Station – Chalmers or Devonshire St exit)
Cnr Chalmers and Devonshire Street
Surry Hills
Commencing after the game

TIME MACHINE

Round 13, 2013. No one expected it, but up against the then-reigning premiers, Port Adelaide wrestled with Sydney on a wet AAMI Stadium deck to pull away late in the game with starring performances from acting captain Brad Ebert and goalsneak Chad Wingard.

PORT ADELAIDE   1.2   3.5    5.6    10.12 (72)
SYDNEY SWANS   4.1   5.2    6.4     8.6 (54)

Best:
Brad Ebert, Wingard, Broadbent, Cornes, Cassisi, Lobbe, Westhoff
Goals:
Wingard 3, Monfries 2, Broadbent, Neade, Schulz, Westhoff, Gray
at AAMI Stadium

NUMBER CRUNCH

Points For: Power 1223 v 1285 Swans
Points Against: Power 819 v 866 Swans
Kicks: Power 2390 v 2351 Swans
Handballs: Power 1792 v 1901 Swans
Marks: Power 1073 v 948 Swans
Disposals: Power 4182 v 4252 Swans
Contested percentage: Power 36.7% v 38.55% Swans
Frees: Power 180 v 169 Swans
Tackles: Power 745 v 787 Swans
Clearances: Power 424 v 429 Swans
Inside-50s: Power 625 v 620 Swans
Rebound 50s: Power 350 v 397 Swans

FOUR POINTS

Long time, no see
It’s been a while since Port Adelaide has played at the SCG. Familiarity with the ground you’re playing at is important in the modern game and at 12 metres shorter and 13 metres wider, the SCG is one of the most unique venues in the competition. But good sides are adaptable and competitive on any venue, so this will be a true test of where the Power is at on the road.

Bobby’s Buddy
It’s been almost as long since Port Adelaide has met a team with Lance Franklin – that was back in 2012 at AAMI Stadium against Hawthorn. Alipate Carlile has tended to be the man with the Buddy job, and has had success in constraining the gun forward. But nor has Port Adelaide ever faced a Sydney team with Lance Franklin in it. With Kurt Tippett out, the strain on the Power’s defence will be lessened, but only just. There are plenty of candidates spread through the Sydney forward line and midfield capable of kicking a score, so the Power will need to produce its best defensive game on Saturday.

Changing of the guard
Eight members of last week’s Power lineup that defeated St Kilda played in that last game at the SCG. It will be an interesting team that lines up on Saturday, with plenty of fresh faces to lineup for their first game in Power colours against the Swans in Sydney. While the look of this Port Adelaide is significantly different three years later, the challenge is little changed. The win over the Swans at AAMI Stadium last year snapped a losing streak dating back to 2006, so there is little momentum on the ledger for the Power to carry into this weekend's game. What Port Adelaide can take in is the belief and knowledge its game plan has stood up all year, and it simply needs to control what it can to take the fight to the red and white.

Big smoke, big crowds
Port Adelaide has enjoyed playing on friendly territory at the Adelaide Oval this year - with big crowds and big noise in favour of the Power undoubtedly creating an inhospitable venue for visiting sides. The tables may be turned this weekend, however, with Swans coach John Longmire calling on the Bloods army to turn out in force for the big game and try breaking their 2006 record attendance at the SCG. If that happens, it will be a welcomed by a Power side thirsty for match experience surrounded by hostile crowds.
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CURRENT ODDS

Power 2.90 v 1.42 Swans