Port Adelaide
Form: W W W W W
Ranked: 2nd
North Melbourne
Form: L L L W L
Ranked: 13th
Last time
Port Adelaide came from a 32-point deficit late in the final term to pip the Kanagroos at the post after Matthew Broadbent sets up Paul Stewart with the Power’s goal of the year at AAMI Stadium.
Memorable moment: It’s hard to go past Paul Stewart’s goal in the dying moments as he plays on while shrugging off Roos defender Michael Firrito to put the Power ahead at the end of play last year.
Round 8, 2012: Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) def North Melbourne 14.9 (93) at AAMI Stadium
Form Guide
Past 5: Power 2 v Roos 3
Past 27: Power 8 v Roos 19
The fine print
AFL Round 6
North Melbourne v Port Adelaide
Saturday May 4
Blundstone Arena
15 Derwent Street, Bellerive TAS
First bounce: 2:10pm (local time) / 1:40pm (SA)
Broadcast: Live on FOX Sports 3 and Seven; Radio on FIVEaa and Triple M
Complete coverage during and post-match on portadelaidefc.com.au
Twitter: #pafclive #aflnorthpower
Buy tickets
Our top three
1. Hamish Hartlett
Hartlett is ranked second in the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award, leads Port Adelaide’s own Supporters’ Player of the Year voting, and undoubtedly has been the Power’s most significant player for the first five rounds. Being awarded the Peter Badcoe VC Medal against the Eagles in ANZAC Round was justified by an incredible final term performance as he played a major role in wresting the lead away from West Coast and into the hands of the Power. He has been strong defensively and offensively this year, contributed in all five games and remains on track for another strong performance against the Kangaroos.
2. Travis Boak
Although he’s our number two player in this week’s list, the Port Adelaide skipper has been so critical in Port’s wins. He has been influential at critical points in the Power’s comeback wins over the Crows and Eagles and his leadership and passion on field has been evident. It is that leadership that has been inspiring - the way he plays lifts a crowd - and he is playing some of the best football of his career. Expect it to continue this weekend.
3. Justin Westhoff
Westhoff was quiet against the Eagles in terms of his scoreboard influence, but it was probably the most visible demonstration of the way he can be used around the ground. Pinch-hitting in the ruck, floating back to provide another tall option in defence as well as feeding supply forward from the middle of the ground, his versatility has been his most promoted asset in the pre-season and he has blossomed with it this year. If he can impact the scoreboard this week as well as continuing his contribution around the ground, the Power will be in with a red-hot go.
Final Word
Port may be slightly hurt through the illness-induced absence of its senior coach but ultimately Alan Richardson, the Power’s second in command and director of coaching and strategy, will fill the void with aplomb.
Both work closely in mapping out Port’s football program and Richardson maintains the club’s senior assistant role at every match.
‘Process’ and ‘behaviour’ have been the key themes of Port Adelaide’s football program this year and these will continue irrespective of who makes the calls on game day.
On field is where the real battle is and North has been in hot form, even if its win-loss ratio doesn’t show it (the Roos were just moments away from beating last year’s grand finallists Hawthorn last week).
Port Adelaide needs to start well this weekend.
The Kangaroos are one of the better teams to be at 1-4 in recent times. Playing against last year’s best club in the first five rounds of the year, North is billed as favourites this weekend and Port will face a stiff challenge playing them.
Port’s slow starts against West Coast and Gold Coast in the last fortnight have been concerning and the Power won’t want to let North gain any ascendency this week.
The Roos have ground-experience and Blundstone Arena is slightly narrower than Port’s home of AAMI Stadium.
The structural chink in Port’s armour with the loss of Jackson Trengove to injury will need to be patched over – but the club has the cattle to do so, with a number of fit, medium and tall players capable of drifting back.
Stopping the influence of key runners Andrew Swallow (35 touches against the Hawks), Daniel Wells (27) and Jack Ziebell (26) is super important and ‘run-with’ players like Kane Cornes and Dom Cassisi may be assigned to any of those three Roos.
Lindsay Thomas booted five goals last week and is in dangerous form, so Port’s defence will need to be at its best against him, particularly with a number of other attackers like Drew Petrie always a chance to damage opposition on the scoreboard.
Port’s strength has been its ability to score quickly, in bursts, and from many players.
Jay Schulz and Justin Westhoff will certainly draw opponents, but the ability of Angus Monfries, Chad Wingard and Jake Neade to provide difficult match ups in the first five weeks with their freakish skills and hard-running is an asset in Port’s favour.
The Roos are favourites to win this week, but Port is always in with a chance and loves to claim a win with the underdog tag.
Much like it did in Round 8 last year…
Current odds
Port Adelaide 3.05 – 1.38 North Melbourne
