PORT ADELAIDE planned to be fierce and take the game on against the Western Bulldogs despite the difficult conditions in Ballarat on Sunday afternoon, according to
The Power was dominant in most areas except the scoreboard in the first half, taking just a four-point lead into the main break.
But from there, Port kicked away with seven second-half goals to one with Dixon providing a key target and finishing with five majors himself.
He told Melbourne radio program SEN Breakfast his side coped best in the cold and wet, and it was pleasing to run out 44-point winners.
“It was a bit of a miserable day all together but it was just good to come away with the win,” he said.
“We knew that if we stuck to our system and the way we wanted to play we would come out on top.
“Credit to the lads, we dug in and were able to hit the scoreboard in those crappy conditions and just the mindset around the boys going into that second half was pretty large.
“We wanted to be fierce and take the game on, even though the conditions weren’t great.”
Along with his five goals, Dixon had 14 disposals, took five marks inside 50 (three contested) and also dished off a goal assist.
The 27-year-old revealed the conditions at Mars Stadium were tricky for a key forward with the wind and rain, and the temperature sitting around six degrees.
“Coming from Cairns and playing on the Gold Coast it was the coldest I have ever been on a footy field,” Dixon said.
“The first quarter, it was raining sideways, I couldn’t feel my hands.
“You just had to try and run around a little bit more to warm up, it hurt to try and clench your fist.
“By the end of the
The big forward was also full of praise for ruckman Paddy Ryder who was managed through a return to football, winning 33 hit-outs in just over 50% game time.
Ryder sat out last week’s loss to Greater Western Sydney with a hip flexor complaint, forcing Dixon and Justin Westhoff to share ruck duties.
“Our system works a lot better with Paddy in the ruck - he’s an All-Australian, he’s phenomenal,” Dixon said.
“He was managed a bit yesterday but I think if I stay forward we’ve got a beacon for our small forwards and our midfielders to kick to.
“We discussed on the weekend where we want to go and being predictable to our teammates and it’s much easier when I can just play forward.
“But sometimes you can’t do that, you get players who go down and you have to fill in spots.”
The Power now sits fourth on the ladder with 12 wins and six losses.
Despite that, its position in the finals is still not assured with tricky games to come against West Coast (2nd), Collingwood (3rd) and Essendon (11th).
But first, the Power will get an early taste of a finals-like atmosphere when it takes on cross-town rival Adelaide in Saturday’s Showdown.
“Those games are always like finals,” Dixon said.
“The crowds are very hostile.
“The whole week is a good week, you always get people telling you if they’re a Crows or Power supporter if you go into cafes.
“It’s a big week and I know the boys will be pumped for it.”
More on portadelaidefc.com.au...
