PORT ADELAIDE host Richmond in a blockbuster Round 4 clash on Saturday afternoon at Adelaide Oval.
In the last meeting between the two sides, Port came out on top at Adelaide Oval thanks to a seven-goal to two second quarter.
Ollie Wines was emphatic with 29 disposals and 12 tackles, while midfield bull Sam Powell-Pepper was hard at the contest gathering 28 touches himself.
Justin Westhoff (three goals), Robbie Gray (two goals) and Sam Gray (two goals) were the spark up forward which led to the Power’s 14-point victory.
Ken Hinkley’s men suffered their first loss of 2019 to Brisbane at the Gabba in Round 3, while the Tigers have lost their previous two games.
Damien Hardwick’s men have been cruelled by injury so far this season, with Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt and skipper Trent Cotchin all missing Saturday’s game, while Dustin Martin won’t make the trip to Adelaide after copping a one-match ban from the tribunal.
The huge clash is from 4.05pm Saturday 13 April.
The teams:
Senior assistant coach Michael Voss confirmed the Power would face the Tigers with an unchanged line-up at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
The match committee were encouraged by the performance against the Lions despite the 17-point loss and reiterated the importance of looking at form over a number of weeks.
Richmond made six changes at the selection table for its trip south. Jayden Short and Cotchin sustained injuries against GWS, while Martin is suspended.
Dan Buttler, Ryan Garthwaite and Oleg Markov have all been omitted for the clash with the Power.
Dylan Grimes returns from suspension, while Bachar Houli and Josh Caddy have both passed fitness tests and been given the all clear to play.
Liam Baker and Shai Bolton both return to the side, while Jack Ross will make his AFL debut.
The coaches:
Ken Hinkley
“Our form has been pretty consistent through the first three weeks of the season so we are comfortable enough to know the players we are putting out are giving us opportunities to win.
“We are home in front of our people and it’s really important to us that we perform the way we need to perform.
“If we rewind three weeks, well people were saying they (Richmond) were premiership favourites.
“They have had a few things at the moment that are challenging them. Damien’s got some things that are challenging his team.
“We respect them as one of the great clubs of the competition.
Damien Hardwick
“We’ve got some great stories. Shane Edwards will captain the club for the first time which is very exciting for us.
“A young fella by the name of Jack Ross will play his first game also. We have loved the way he plays. He’s tough. He’s hard.
“We look forward to the challenge of heading over there on their home deck in a hostile environment.
“They (Port) have been terrific. What they’ve got is a great core group of high-end talent and then they’ve injected some young kids who have brought about a spark.
“It’s what good footy clubs do, and they’ve done that.
“Ken’s got them playing an exciting, fast, attacking brand of footy.”
