PUT SIMPLY, Port Adelaide will have to play ‘really well’ to knock off the unbeaten Hawks at Launceston on Saturday, according to coach Mark Williams.
The Power have won eight of their past nine clashes with Hawthorn and have a superb record at Aurora Stadium, but Williams conceded the task would be a lot tougher this time around.
“We’ve been very successful at playing Hawthorn and, certainly, down at Launceston we really like the surroundings, but that’s not to say it’s going to be easy,” he said.
“Last year we won on the last kick of the game and you’d expect Hawthorn is playing better than that now, so we’ll have to play even better.
“It’s going to be a really difficult task. Obviously, they’ve won seven in a row, are cherry ripe and are feeling good about themselves, so they deserve to be favourites.
“But we’ll back our players. We’re a team that has won three in a row and are pretty excited to have the opportunity to play an undefeated team.”
Port Adelaide went through its paces at a rain-soaked Alberton Oval on Friday morning before flying out to Tasmania.
Michael Wilson, who will play for the Port Adelaide Magpies on Saturday, joined his teammates along with all three emergencies Nick Lower, Paul Stewart and Damon White.
Wilson has not played since rupturing his achilles tendon in last year’s preliminary final, but was in contention for a recall to the Power this week.
“On Wednesday, Wilbur [Wilson] actually fell on his knee and hurt it a little, so we were a little concerned about that,” Williams said.
“We thought ‘well, what’s the point?’ We’ll make sure he’s all right for next week.”
Williams had a close look at Hawthorn star Lance Franklin while coaching the Dream Team last week, but said he was no closer to uncovering the secret to stopping Buddy.
“I learned that Buddy’s big. He’s a big guy,” Williams said with a laugh.
“I didn’t really learn much more about him. He’s a pretty good player for a 21-year-old, and you can imagine how good he’s going to be in a few years time.
“But Michael Pettigrew played pretty well against him last year and has got the leg speed to go with him.”
With the Buddy-Pettigrew match-up sorted, the attention turned to former Port Adelaide star Stuart Dew, who will line-up against his former side for the first time on Saturday.
Williams said he had ‘no plans’ for Dew, but took the opportunity to reflect, tongue-in-cheek, on all the former Power people in Hawthorn’s camp.
“They’ve got 'Dewy', and Brent Guerra is a very good player too. Stephen Gilham has played well and [fitness coach] Andrew Russell has done a wonderful job there,” Williams said.
“Then there’s Alastair Clarkson, Damien Hardwick, Geoff Morris, Chris Pelchen and I think Nick Russell, who is their video man. I think that pretty well clears that up. Is there anyone else? No, that’s about it.”
