A TRIP to Etihad Stadium is not the easiest task for Port Adelaide these last few years, and the Power will be fighting its own indifferent form as well as the Bombers when it players run out on Saturday night.
OPPOSING FORCES
PORT ADELAIDE
LAST MATCH: Round 16: Port Adelaide 17.11 (113) def by Adelaide Crows 18.8 (116)
ESSENDON
LAST MATCH: Round 16: Essendon 9.14 (68) def by North Melbourne 14.9 (93)
HEAD TO HEAD
Port Adelaide 14 v 11 Essendon
LAST FIVE
Port Adelaide 0 v 5 Essendon
THIS YEAR
Port Adelaide: LLWWWLLLWWLLLWL v LWWLWLLWLLLLLW Essendon
PLAYBILL
Round 17
Port Adelaide v Essendon
Etihad Stadium
Saturday 21 July
First Bounce: 6:50pm (SA time) / 7:20pm (EST) / 5:20pm (AWST)
Hashtags: #AFLBombersPort
Broadcast: Channel 7 (national), Fox Footy (national), FIVEaa (SA)
BUY TICKETS
YOU’RE INVITED
March to Etihad
Port Adelaide is encouraging all supporters to meet at Spencer Street Station at 6.00 to March together to Etihad at 6.10pm.
The March has become a ritual for our supporters and we hope to see as many of you there as possible to make lots of noise and cheer the boys to victory.
Pre Match Function
Bells Hotel
157 Moray Street, South Melbourne, VIC
3pm – 5.30pm
1st goal scorer raffle
Selected officials in attendance, all members and supporters welcome
Post Match Function
Victory room, Level 1 near Aisle 12 at Etihad Stadium
Commencing at completion of the game.
Selected players and officials in attendance. All members and supporters welcome.
Supporter group raffle – prizes including footy signed by 2015 squad.
TIME MACHINE
Round 16, 2014: Essendon took control at the Adelaide Oval against a Port Adelaide side unable to sneak home in the late stages of a wet and wild game.
PORT ADELAIDE 1.4 2.8 4.14 7.18 (60)
ESSENDON 2.4 6.8 7.12 8.14 (62)
Best: R.Gray, Hartlett, O’Shea, Boak, Jonas, Lobbe
Goals: Schulz 3, White, R.Gray, Boak, Mitchell
At the Adelaide Oval
FOUR QUARTERS
THE STAKES
Finals aren't out of reach for the Power, but the players do not need to be told twice that every game is a must-win. Essendon is in a similar position, but a win to Port Adelaide could spell be the end of their season.
RYDER: Big man ready for old side
THE STOCKS
There were no injuries reported after the Showdown, and Port Adelaide put a number of players through fitness assessments this week including Tom Jonas, Jasper Pittard and Matt White. Essendon also has a number of players facing tests.
THE HISTORY
Port Adelaide leads the head to head 14 to 11, but Essendon have had the better form in recent times winning the last five contests between the two sides. The last time these teams met was in Round 16 last year, where Port was behind all day and inaccurate kicking proved costly in a two-point loss.
BY THE NUMBERS: Power at Etihad
THE VIBE
After a heartbreaking loss in the Showdown, Port Adelaide must bounce back against a up and down Essendon side. It goes without saying, this is a must-win game.
