HOW good is Port Adelaide?
At 2-0 - and with a phenomenal percentage of 290.6 reflecting Port Adelaide has scored three times as often as its rivals - the view from the top of the AFL ladder is very good.
But the jury is clearly still out, very much noting Port Adelaide has played two teams that are not considered top-eight contenders (Gold Coast and Adelaide).
PRISON BAR PETITION: Sign to bring back the Bars in every Showdown
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks argues his team - with its "bruise-free" opposition, as he called it - flattered Port Adelaide to make the derby rival look better during the record-breaking 75-point loss in Showdown XLVIII at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
AFL official telecaster Channel Seven has Port Adelaide at No. 4 (of 18) in its power rankings.
And there is no doubt falling short of expectation in the past two seasons (with the lampooned rankings of 10th) leave the judges casting a tougher eye on Port Adelaide. The credit points need to be earned. You do get what you deserve, as Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley often says.
But Hinkley also expects his current squad to be valued for its work rather than the disappointments from differing lists across the 2018-19 seasons.
"There is no hiding from the fact we have not achieved (in recent seasons) the consistency we'd have liked," Hinkley said. "But this group is different; they will set their own direction (rather than be burdened by the results of earlier squads).
"The commentary won't change overnight, but it will be different as we go through this year."
To achieve such, Port Adelaide will have to claim the scalps of the other teams that have the jury divided - North Melbourne, Essendon, St Kilda, Hawthorn ...
This week Port Adelaide faces the winless - but extremely competitive - Fremantle that has pushed Essendon and Brisbane in the long-stretched opening two rounds of the shortened and complicated AFL home-and-away season. Part of those complications posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have Fremantle and Port Adelaide play this match on Sunday evening at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast while neither team can work (just yet) to a fly in, fly out routine in either Adelaide or Perth.
Fremantle is working to a new, first-time coach, Justin Longmuir who follows the tactically testing Ross Lyon.
How does Longmuir rate Port Adelaide? Just how good is the competition leader?
"Clearly they are in great form," Longmuir said after reviewing Showdown XLVIII. "I was impressed with what they did around the contest - how strong and competitive they were at the contest ... and outside. Their young talent is playing with that freedom and to their strength.
"It makes for a great challenge".
For all that is being said of Port Adelaide's stronger connection between its midfield and forwards, there is the need to recognise the strength of the defence that has conceded just 64 points - a league-best figure.
The back group is changed by the loss of Hawthorn recruit Ryan Burton, who has had surgery after suffering a knee injury in the second half of the derby on Saturday night when the defence kept Adelaide to a record low score in the Showdown.
A win gives Port Adelaide its best start to a premiership season since 2018 when Ken Hinkley's crew beat Fremantle, Sydney and Brisbane with two games (those against the Dockers and Lions) at home at Adelaide Oval.
A 3-0 start with two of the first three games on the road takes the calendar back to 1999 when Port Adelaide beat Sydney at the SCG and Brisbane at the Gabba in the opening three rounds - and finished the season in the AFL finals for the first time.
ROUND THREE
Fremantle v Port Adelaide
Ross Lyon - and his well-worn playbook that tested Port Adelaide with extra numbers at contest and in breaking from stoppages - are gone.
But old themes fade slowly in AFL football, more so when Fremantle has noted the threat posed by Port Adelaide's quick and space-generating moves from stoppages.
There is the hardened edge, class and experience of Tom Rockliff, Robbie Gray and former captain Travis Boak on the inside and the new dimension of first-round draftees Connor Rozzee and far-reaching wingman Xavier Duursma.
So what has Fremantle - that was effective in forcing Brisbane into slow football at the weekend - made of its challenge with Port Adelaide on Sunday?
Fremantle assistant coach - and former North Melbourne and Hawthorn ruckman - David Hale dealt with the new-look Port Adelaide midfield when he stepped into the senior seat in round 23 last season after Ross Lyon's sacking.
Hale still managed to organise resistance inside (losing the clearances by just one, 33-34) but there was pain outside where Port Adelaide dominated the uncontested possession count 262-193.
Hale accepts it is a far more imposing challenge to deal with Port Adelaide both inside and outside this year.
"They are explosive inside with those big bulls," Hale said. "And when they get it outside to Steven Motlop, Brad Ebert ...
"It is going to be a good battle - one that will decide the contest."
Fremantle has its star quality noted with the threats posed by Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe and match-winner Michael Walters. But too much asked of too few ultimately exposes teams, even in the shortened game (of 16-minute quarters rather than 20).
Port Adelaide has the attention on its 2018 first-round draftees, Connor Rozzee, Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters who have stepped up to the challenge of advancing their reputations and contributions in their second seasons.
"They are having a big impact straight away," Hale said.
Port Adelaide key forward Charlie Dixon returns to the Gold Coast for his first game at his previous home ground since leaving the Suns at the end of 2015. The long absence has been created by either injury or Gold Coast's home games against Port Adelaide in 2017 and 2018 being moved to Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai, China.
Dixon's record at Metricon Stadium is 30 matches with a score count of 44.18.
DERBY COUNT
What happens after a Showdown? Since 2015, Port Adelaide has a 6-4 win-loss record after the derby - with three wins against Gold Coast, two against Essendon (in 2015 and 2016) and one against Collingwood (in 2017). None of these teams were competition pacesetters at the time.
The four losses were to top-ranked rivals, West Coast (twice), Greater Western Sydney and last year to the fast-rising Brisbane.
After winning three of 10 Showdowns in the past five years, Port Adelaide is 1-2 (with the losses to Brisbane at Adelaide Oval last year and West Coast in 2015 also at home, by margins of 48 and 10 points respectively). The lone win was against Gold Coast in 2018.
Conclusion? Results after the derby are more about competition form rather than any letdown or slowdown after the Showdown.
SELECTION TABLE
Port Adelaide
SELECTION TABLE
Port Adelaide
Ken Hinkley has recalled vice-captain and midfielder Ollie Wines, who was Port Adelaide's best in the scratch-match derby against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Wines will play his first AFL game of the year after having his pre-season derailed by a shoulder injury suffered in training in early February.
This changed was forced by the need to cover the loss of defender Ryan Burton, who suffered minor damage to a knee while tackling Adelaide midfielder Paul Seedsman in the third term of the derby on Saturday night. He could spend the next month in recovery.
IN: Wines
OUT: Burton (shoulder)
Fremantle
Fremantle half-back Stephen Hill will not make his highly anticipated return to the AFL, as planned when the Dockers named their 22 on Friday evening.
Hill reported calf soreness from his Thursday night training run and is replaced by defender-wingman Nathan Wilson in the match 22.
Fremantle's ruck division is remodelled with forward Rory Lobb reassigned to lead the battery against Scott Lycett - a move that opens the line-up to the much-awaited return of Jesse Hogan, exactly a year since his last AFL game.
Fremantle lead ruckman Sean Darcy hyper-extended his left knee during the 12-point loss to Brisbane.
Fremantle has made three changes - just one forced.
First-year coach Justin Longmuir has recalled Hogan, Wilson and Rising Star nominee Sam Sturt who adds to the Dockers' arsenal in attack.
This trio replaces Darcy, defender Taylin Duman and forward Bailey Banfield.
IN: Hogan, Sturt, Wilson
OUT: Darcy (knee), Banfield, Duman
BIRD SEED
(the little stuff that counts most)
Fremantle v Port Adelaide, Metricon Stadium
When: Sunday
Time: 7.40pm (ACST)
Last time: Port Adelaide 15.20 (110) d Fremantle 10.7 (67) at Adelaide Oval, round 23 August 25, 2019
Overall: Port Adelaide 20, Fremantle 17
Past five games: From the most recent, W L L W W
Scoring average: Port Adelaide 94, Fremantle 88
Tightest margin: Port Adelaide by seven points at the WACA Ground in round 17, 1999 Fremantle by seven points at Subiaco Oval in round 1, 2015
Biggest margin: Port Adelaide by 92 points (163-71) at Subiaco Oval, Perth in round 14, 2001; Fremantle by 79 points (151-72) at Subiaco Oval, Perth in round 22, 2006
By venues: Adelaide Oval (Port Adelaide 5-0), Football Park (7-5), Subiaco Oval (7-9), WACA Ground (1-1), Perth Stadium (0-2). Never met at Metricon Stadium.
At Metricon Stadium: Port Adelaide 6-0; Fremantle 4-2.
FORM
Port Adelaide 2-0 with wins against Gold Coast (47 points at Metricon Stadium) and Adelaide (75 points at Adelaide Oval).
Fremantle 0-2 with losses to Essendon (six points at the Docklands) and Brisbane (12 points at the Gabba).
CHANGING SHIPS
Port Adelaide premiership midfielders Jarrad Schofield and Josh Carr - team-mates at both Alberton and Fremantle - will know the club songs across the divide very well.
Schofield is in his second season with the Port Adelaide coaching staff after finishing his AFL playing career with 12 senior games at Fremantle in 2005-2006.
Carr this season returned to Fremantle - after playing 83 AFL games with the Dockers from 2005-2008.
Both Schofield and Carr have premiership records as coaches at WAFL club Subiaco and SANFL club North Adelaide respectively.
QUOTE OF THE PRE-GAME
"I would have thought so .…. Ken (Hinkley) has been pretty determined to get him in there since the start of the pre-season really, to add to our mix as well."
Port Adelaide senior assistant coach Michael Voss on second-year rising star Connor Rozee playing in the midfield.
TIP
Port Adelaide by 35 points
