Activate war mode! Port Adelaide’s players will don the lightning flashes of old on Easter Sunday against the Saints. Fair to say both sides will want to bring home the chocolates…
Clubland
Hello Charlie Dixon. He’s the only debutant for the Power this weekend in a side that doesn’t look terribly different to the one that ended 2015. There are two notable absentees in Monfries and Ryder, however.
The Saints are full-strength as well. First-round draftee Jade Gresham will make his debut.
This is Jade Gresham [pic: AFL Media]
Now for something completely different…
If you’re used to seeing Nick Riewoldt play as a dedicated forward, don’t be surprised to see the Saints skipper spending time further up-ground. It will free up the new breed of St Kilda forwards like Josh Bruce to drill themselves against the Power’s defence.
The long wait
You’ve heard it all before: Port Adelaide wants to win the inside ball, use the corridor, take the game on - there’s not a lot of difference in the way the Power wants to play the game this year.
The difference has been in the training method. With an extra couple of weeks of pre-season, Port consolidated its fitness with a footy focus over summer. Now it gets to put that work into practice.
Ken Hinkley guides Matthew Broadbent, Jasper Pittard and Robbie Gray through training [pic: AFL Media]
Red flag
It’s Round 1. That means a couple of things. First, upsets. Port Adelaide might be a short-odds favourite for this match, but anything can happen in the first game.
Look at Carlton nearly beating Richmond, the Demons pipping GWS and Sydney demolishing pre-season fancies Collingwood – and it’s not even Sunday!
St Kilda are an up-and-coming side that are maturing quickly under Alan Richardson. Expect them to play hard.
The Final Word
Footy’s back!
The hard yardsThe hard work of pre-season is over...The really hard work begins tomorrow.#weareportadelaide
Posted by Port Adelaide Football Club on Saturday, 26 March 2016
Afterwords
Port Adelaide commemorates the start of its 20th AFL season by wearing a replica of its first AFL jumper – an away Guernsey worn against Collingwood in Round 1, 1997.
Charlie Dixon becomes the Power’s 156th AFL player on Sunday.
Leigh Montagna will play in his 250th AFL game for St Kilda.
Nick Riewoldt will also become the fifth player in AFL history to captain 200 games.
Port Adelaide hosts St Kilda in AFL Opening Round on Easter Sunday, March 27 at 2:50pm (ACDT).
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Last time: Power beats Saints in Round 18, 2015
