Port Adelaide
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Ranked: 8th
Gold Coast
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Ranked: 14th
Last time
An unbeaten Port Adelaide showed its class with a nine-goal second quarter to set up a 38-point win at Metricon Stadium.
Round 4, 2013: Port Adelaide 16.8 (104) def by Gold Coast 9.12 (66) at AAMI Stadium
Form Guide
Past 3: Power 2 v Suns 1
The fine print
AFL Round 21
Port Adelaide v Gold Coast
Saturday 17 August
AAMI Stadium
Turner Drive, West Lakes
First bounce:1:40pm (AEST)
Live Social: #pafclive #aflpowersuns
Match information
Broadcast guide
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The three
1. Angus Monfries
Monfries played his best game for the year against the Cats last weekend, kicking seven goals straight and collecting 19 touches. The ex-Essendon player has arguably been one of the best off-season pick-ups this season and he continues to influence most games. Having kicked 13 goals in the past five weeks, Monfries is currently third on the club’s goal kicker standings and with three matches to go has an excellent chance of taking top spot ahead of Chad Wingard and Jay Schulz.
2. Matthew Lobbe
Lobbe relished the opportunity to play as a solo ruckman last week against the Cats and went on to dominate with 59 hit-outs. The big man was a class above in the centre of the ground and has been an integral part of Port Adelaide’s success this year. With the third-most hit outs in a single AFL game and allowing the Power to win the clearances 43 to 30 against the Cats, Lobbe will no doubt prove to be a handful for the Suns come Saturday afternoon.
3. Hamish Hartlett
Hartlett could be set for a big weekend if his previous encounter with the Suns is anything to go by. With an impressive 29 touches and three goals last time these two sides met, his confidence will be sky high going into this weekend’s game. His blistering run through the midfield and long kick of the football has been critical for the Power this season. If Hartlett gets going he will be a hard player to stop (although the Suns have their own dynamo in Gary Ablett for the Power to match as well).
Final Word
Wins are precious commodities at this time of year and Port Adelaide will need to earn every chance at the four points in the next three matches.
Gold Coast is its first challenge.
Port has always found the AFL newboys a tough ask, infamously falling in their first encounter at AAMI Stadium before prevailing in 2012 and earlier this year at Metricon Stadium.
The Suns are no easy beats and have proven it seven times this season – they are a real threat in the competition.
It’s set to be an intriguing match-up and Port’s side will need to be on the ball from the get-go.
The Port Adelaide midfield has been in phenomenal touch over the last couple of weeks with Travis Boak, Brad Ebert and Kane Cornes all producing some of their best football.
But with the brilliance of Gary Ablett and determination of youngsters Dion Prestia and Jaegar O’Meara they will also be on red-alert when the ball is bounced for the first time on Saturday.
A return to AAMI will be welcomed by the Power who holds a solid 7-3 record there this season.
Along with the home ground boost, the Power will most likely welcome defender Tom Jonas back into its line-up after serving his three-week suspension.
With such a strong record at home, Port Adelaide will be ready to go for a strong four-quarter effort in its final AAMI Stadium.
Current odds
Port Adelaide 1.21 – 4.40 Gold Coast
