HANDLING the heat of high-pressure football was high on the agenda at Alberton following the Power's loss to Sydney last week, and there will be plenty of heat on the visitors this weekend as they come up against bogey side North Melbourne.
OPPOSING FORCES
PORT ADELAIDE
LAST MATCH: Round 2: Port Adelaide 10.8 (68) def by Fremantle 11.9 (75)
NORTH MELBOURNE
LAST MATCH: Round 2: Sydney 10.12 (72) def Essendon 9.6 (60)
HEAD TO HEAD
Port Adelaide 8 v 21 North Melbourne
LAST FIVE
Port Adelaide 1 v 4 North Melbourne
THIS YEAR
Port Adelaide: 2L v 1W 1L North Melbourne
PLAYBILL
North Melbourne v Port Adelaide
Etihad Stadium
Saturday 18 April
First bounce: 7:20pm (local) / 6:50pm (ACST) / 5:20pm (AWST)
Hashtags: #AFLNorthPower
Broadcast: Channel 7, FOX Footy, FIVEaa
BUY TICKETS
DON'T MISS MILESTONES
150 AFL games - Brad Ebert
AFL Debut - Brendon Ah Chee [PAFC AFL cap No. 155]
YOU’RE INVITED
Pre-Game Events
March to Etihad
Meet: Steps of Southern Cross Station (Cnr Spencer St and Bourke St)
Time: 6:00pm
March Departs: 6:10pm
March Arrives: 6:20pm
Bells Hotel
157 Moray Street. South Melbourne
Time: 3:30pm
Selected club officials in attendance
Post-Game Events
Victory Room
Aisle 12, Etihad Stadium
Commences after the game, selected players and officials in attendance
All supporters welcome
Victorian Members' Day
Sunday 19 April
9:00am-11:00am
North Port Oval
Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne
TIME MACHINE
Round 3, 2014: Port Adelaide looked the goods against North Melbourne, before Angus Monfries pinged a hamstring and was forced out of the game when having a scorcher. A final term flurry from the Roos put paid to the Power's good early start to the game.
PORT ADELAIDE 4.3 6.8 11.9 13.12 (90)
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.2 7.3 9.11 14.13 (97)
Best: R. Gray, Hartlett, Trengove, Wingard, Wines
Goals: Schulz 3, Monfries, Wingard, Hartlett 2, Wines, Westhoff, Boak, Broadbent
at the Etihad Stadium
FOUR QUARTERS
THE EDGE
Port Adelaide needs a spark this weekend and undoubtedly that will come from a hard-running midfield on the solid deck of Etihad Stadium.
Jasper Pittard - They don't run much harder than Jasper and he was the bright point on a dark Saturday night for the Power in Round 2. His ability to take the game on is a fantastic asset. He's a heart-in-mouth player to watch, and that might be just what the Power needs to spark on Saturday.
Brent Harvey - Loves playing Port. Has kicked more goals against the Power than any other team and wins plenty of ball against the black, white and teal. As one of the Roos' more prolific players for the first two rounds, will be one to watch on Saturday.
Short of regulars Jarman Impey (hamstring) and Kane Cornes (rested), Port Adelaide will take a new-look side to Etihad on Saturday, with Brendon Ah Chee (Debut) and Nathan Krakouer (first AFL game since 2011) featuring on the team list. North welcome back Ryan Bastinac and Robbie Tarrant, but have lost Nick Dal Santo through injury.
THE THEATRE
Etihad Stadium is a fast track, and Port Adelaide prides itself on its running game, but has also struggled to find wins at the ground under Ken Hinkley and previous coaches. The Power is 2-4 at the ground under Hinkley - notably yet to defeat Brad Scott in a premiership season game - and 15-27 in overall win-loss.
THE VIBE
The stakes are high for both teams again this weekend, and the Power would love to return to form for a couple of favourite sons playing, and returning.
