HERE'S what we learned from Sunday's loss in Showdown XXXIX...
1. History keeps repeating, and repeating, and repeating, and repeating...
The Crows led all game, and Port Adelaide could only muster a quarter of good football [pic: AFL Photos]
Ken Hinkley summed it up perfectly: it's Round 16, and Port Adelaide is yet to string four quarters of footy together. The Power could have won that game, but certainly didn't deserve to.
The exciting, clearance-driven football put on show in the final term might be great to watch, it might even be some of the best football the Power played all day, but it needs to be produced for two hours, not 20 minutes.
... and the Power hasn't played a full two hours of footy all year.
HINKLEY: Still searching for four quarters
TALKING POINTS: Showdown XXXIX
2. It's hard to win when you're beaten at your own game...
Scott Thompson and Patrick Dangerfield had 13 clearances each. [pic: AFL Photos]
A stats sheet doesn't explain everything, but it does explain some things.
Port Adelaide was smashed in the fundamentals all afternoon, only overtaking the Crows when it turned the game in the fourth quarter.
Two of the telling statistics that didn't go Port Adelaide's way were contested possessions and clearances.
With 28 fewer contests won, there's little wonder the game went the Crows' way.
REPORT: Power falls short in Showdown
PTV: Highlights
3. Boak solid again
Boak was again best for the Power. [pic: AFL Photos]
When the chips are down, Travis Boak has a little switch he flicks to lift his game and bring the Power to life.
11 final quarter disposals spoke volumes of the Power skipper's will to win. Once again, Boak showed his class and impact around the ground, but it wasn't quite enough to wrest the Power into the lead by the final siren.
It takes a team to do that.
PLAYERS' VIEW: Ebert, Broadbent
MACCA'S FIVE: Boak best on for Power
4. Port fans love their footy
The record crowd posted on Sunday is unlikely to be beaten. [pic: AFL Photos]
The results might not be going Port's way, but the supporters know how to fill out a stadium.
Sunday's crowd was another record-breaker, built on the back of a huge member attendance and ticket sales.
As much as the Crows fans swept up the smattering of general admission tickets left, it was a show of force from the black, white and teal.
They'll never beat that figure again. Not for a long time.
RECORD: Power home game cracks 54,000
TRIBUTES: Power and Crows tribute old mentor
