SUMMARY
After a tough loss to Sturt, the Magpies are back at Alberton this week to face reigning premiers West Adelaide. The Bloods are winless and sit on the bottom of the ladder, with this game turning out to be one of the clashes of the round.
WHERE AND WHEN: Alberton Oval, Saturday 7 May. First Bounce: 2:10pm
TICKETS: Tickets available at gate: Adult $14, Concession $8, Children U18 Free.
TV AND RADIO: Audio stream on portadelaidefc.com.au
LAST FIVE TIMES
2015, Qualifying Final: West Adelaide 10.10 (70) def Port Adelaide 6.5 (41) at Adelaide Oval
2015, Round 19: Port Adelaide 17.6 (108) def West Adelaide 10.11 (71) at Alberton Oval
2015, Round 10: Port Adelaide 13.9 (87) def West Adelaide 5.7 (37) at Richmond Oval
2014, Round 11: West Adelaide 15.8 (98) def Port Adelaide 12.9 (81) at Richmond Oval
2014, Round 4: Port Adelaide 21.8 (134) def West Adelaide 11.10 (76) at Alberton Oval
THE SIX POINTS
1. Kane Mitchell returned from his suspension to gather 31 disposals and two goals to be the Magpies' best in the 63-point loss. Aside from Mitchell, Port’s usual ball winners were held well and failed to make their mark as Sturt recorded 116 more disposals.
2. Port Adelaide’s bad injury run continues with Matthew Lobbe an omission after injuring his PCL, facing 12 weeks on the sideline. In more positive news, Chad Wingard could return to the AFL side after his concussion, forcing another experienced player back in to the Magpies.
3. With the injury to Lobbe and Dougal Howard expected to keep his spot in the AFL side, Billy Frampton will face the task of shouldering the bulk of the ruck work. Frampton will line up for his third game this year after overcoming a foot injury that interrupted his pre-season.
4. Last year's premiers have struggled to kick-start their season after losing a host of premiership players to injury. They could get some relief if defender Brad Helbig can overcome a fitness test on his quad.
5. The last time these sides met was the 2015 Qualifying Final, where the Magpies got away to an early lead but couldn’t match the Bloods intensity in the second half. Port Adelaide eventually lost 70-41, with Port's new draftee Will Snelling named in West Adelaide’s best.
6. An average losing margin of 67 points in their first five games will have West Adelaide coming off their bye hungry to hit the scoreboard. To date they have scored 36.44, while Port has made the most of their chances with 61.38.
FINAL WORD
The message from Chad Cornes to his boys is simple - back yourselves in and continue to believe in what you are doing. It’s been a long couple of weeks on the training track but Cornes is confident the hard work is ready to pay off, and a depleted West Adelaide may be where it all clicks.
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