1. It's a fine line between pleasure and pain...
... And sometime that line takes just six minuets to cross.
You'd be forgiven for thinking Port Adelaide was playing for sheepstations these past three weeks. In a way, it has, and the pressure-cookers against Fremantle and North Melbourne have been finals-like in their intensity. Hard to believe it's only Round 3! Aside from the second half against Sydney, the Power has brought quality football to the table. Yep, the Power can lift their levels and make their opposition do the same to create classic, brutal matches that go down to the wire. It's probably why pundits have called Saturday night's encounter the game of the year so far, taking the mantle for the Round 1 clash with Freo.
Fortunately for the Port players and their faithful supporters, they were on the right side of the ledger on Saturday night...
It's a fine line. From the pain of losing the lead, to the pleasure of two late goals, Port was on the winning side of the scoreboard on Saturday night. [pic: AFL Photos]
2. Port lives and dies by the sword...
On any given day, the take-the-game-on trademark of Port Adelaide will cost or win it games. Even to the end on Saturday night, the Power attacked North Melbourne to create opportunities - that's why the margin was eight points. Not content to milk the clock, Port surged forward for Boak and Monfries to create Kane Mitchell's final goal. Unrelenting football puts pressure on both teams, and in the end Port won out.
We'd forgive you for booking an appointment with your cardiologist after the game, though...
It's not over 'til the final siren, and the Power's attacking game reaped Mitchy's sealer. [Pic: AFL Media]
3. Etihad is fast, fast, fast
The speed of Saturday night's game was incredible and the fatigue in the legs of both sides was evident late in the game. North and Port's runners looked dangerous all night long, and the Kangaroos looked set to win the game with their late bursts from the middle. At other times, it was the Power with all the run. The swings and roundabouts of the game and the 50/50 contests borne from the hard running surface made for another cracking encounter between Port and North.
Clearly though, there are other sides out there with legs to match the Power's...
Matthew Broadbent's run was perfect on Saturday night. He had 12 touches in the first quarter (and a bad early case of leather poisoning). [Pic: AFL Media]
4. Seamless structure...
Brendon Ah Chee didn't look out of place when he took off the green vest and ran straight into the middle for his first night of AFL football. After years working to develop his game in the SANFL, 'Arch' chased, harrassed and attacked the game for all of his brief stint on the night. However, It was his unselfish handpass to teammate Aaron Young that the coaches will love. Not caught up in the moment of his debut, or of a potential fairytale of a first career goal, Ah Chee's selfless act came straight from the Port playbook used by Ken Hinkley, and Garry Hocking in the SANFL: Team first.
If you weren't sure whether the club's streamlined AFL-SANFL structure had an impact last night, you need only turn to the performance of Nathan Krakouer as well. A season under Hocking as a contracted SANFL player last year led to a rookie selection for 2015, and after a few nervous moments, Krakouer slotted into the Power's lineup well - with 14 effective touches and five defensive rebounds.
It was also nice to see Krak, Arch and Paddy singing the song together after the game...
You've been trained well, young apprentice: Brendon Ah Chee didn't look out of place in his first game as a Power midfielder. Helps when you've been drilled in the club way at SANFL level. [Pic: AFL Photos]
