Belligerents
PORT ADELAIDEYear to date: LWWWWWWWLWLWLL
Last five at ground: WWWLW
Currently ranked: 1st
NORWOOD
Year to date: WLLLWLWLWWWWLWLW
Last five at ground: WWWWL
Currently ranked: 2nd
HEAD TO HEAD
Magpies 194 v 189 Redlegs (Drawn: 16)
LAST FIVE
Magpies 1 v 4 Redlegs
PLAYBILL
SANFL IGA League – Round 17Port Adelaide v Norwood
Sunday 17 August
First bounce: 2:10pm
Hashtags: #portlegs
Academy: 11:25am
Broadcast: Life FM
Tickets: $14 general admission, $8 concession, children under 18 years free
Pre-game event: Details
Buy a 2014 Magpies media polo or Soft-shell jacket and get a free double pass to the game
TIME MACHINE
Round 1, 2014 A new era dawned for Port Adelaide with all its players playing for the Magpies, but it was the continuation of an old one as Norwood again took the honours under lights at the Parade with an emphatic 37-point win.PORT ADELAIDE 1.2 4.3 5.7 8.9 (57)
NORWOOD 4.4 7.5 10.8 11.10 (76)
portadelaidefc.com.au's best: A. Young, S. Gray, Summerton, Biemans
Goals: Harvey 2, Neade, Slattery, Haren, Summerton, Hitchcock, Stewart
at Norwood Oval
FOUR POINTS
Battle for top spotThis match means plenty for Port Adelaide’s minor premiership aspirations. A win will put it an unbeatable two games clear atop the ladder with superior percentage over Norwood and Sturt, and will ensure the Magpies get the double chance and the first weekend of finals off. A loss will be perfect for the Redlegs who will level the Magpies on points and take the battle for top spot down to the wire next weekend. It makes this the undeniable match of the round.
Form streaks
Port Adelaide has lost consecutive games for the first time this season after one of its poorest performances against the Panthers in Round 15 followed by last weekend’s on-the-siren loss to Central District.
Losses have been rare territory for the Magpies this year, and its first game was a loss to these Redlegs.
In contrast, Norwood has overcome indifferent early season form to come home with a wet sail.
Performance drop
Port Adelaide has lacked the multiple contributors that characterised its early wins. Last week Tom Logan notched up 40 disposals – daylight ahead of his teammates – and was probably the only player to put in a full game performance.
Garry Hocking will demand a team-wide effort this week as it looks to see off one of the teams that might trouble the black-and-white in September.
Final home game
This is Port Adelaide’s final game at Alberton for 2014 before the finals series at the Adelaide Oval.
Against the club’s oldest rival – Port and Norwood’s is arguably the oldest sporting rival in South Australia – the club will look to get another big turnout to what is traditionally one of its signature games.
With the Power playing on the Gold Coast on Saturday and a warm forecast for Sunday’s action at Alberton, it shapes as the perfect day to bring the family down to Alberton one last time this year.
