IT was a tumultuous week for both the Power and the Dogs in the build up to their Round 22 clash - the Power were under pressure having lost by a record margin against the Hawks at the MCG, while the Dogs said goodbye to coach Rodney Eade, with Paul Williams stepping into his shoes for the first time.
Sunday arrived for Round 22 and the Power was in the news, with reports in the paper making it seem like Port Adelaide was in the gun - something that AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou categorically refuted at the PAFC President’s Before the Bounce Luncheon in the Magarey Room at AAMI Stadium.
On the field, the Power welcomed back important defender Tom Logan, livewire forward Daniel Motlop and Daniel Stewart, who was coming off an 8 goal haul in the SANFL that saw him heralded as the Player of the Week for Round 19 of the local competition.
Before the game, the Dogs lost Round 21 NAB Rising Star Luke Dalhaus to soreness, bringing in tall forward Jarrad Grant as his replacement. The Power began the game with Banner, Jacobs and Jonas on the bench, with Rodan the substitute for the day.
Some extremely scrappy play saw the Power have the opportunity but not the ability to get the first score on the board, with the Dogs instead opening up the scoring with a goal on the run from first gamer Tutt, who then had his second kick in football also sail through after a series of handball errors from Power defenders.
A lack of defensive awareness at a stoppage saw the Dogs get their third goal all too easily, with Djerrkura reading the fall of the ball beautifully and then running around the pack to snap truly. Once more Tutt was allowed far too much latitude around the 50, and he dobbed his third with only his third kick in the AFL.
Once more the Dogs were able to get out in the open with far, far too much ease, and Ward was able to stroll into an open goal, making it the Bulldogs’ fifth in ten minutes - a lack of intensity at the ball and the man was hurting the Power, and the Dogs players were simply working much, much harder to win the loose ball.
Some flash from Boyd deep in the pocket after a couple of set shots had missed saw the Dogs add their seventh goal, with Port yet to register a scoring shot. A strong mark and lead by Hall then saw Cassisi, the skipper, run straight through the mark to gift a 50m penalty and a certain goal to the retiring full-forward. Boyd added another mere minutes later in an embarrassing display of a lack of intensity from the Power players.
Ward added another in a game that simply had to be seen to be believed. In the shadows of the siren, Stewart pulled down a strong mark and kicked it on the siren to give the Power a goal and save them from the disgrace of a scoreless first term.
QUARTER TIME: 1.0.6 to 10.3.63. Goal: D Stewart. Possessions: Trengove 10, D Stewart 10, Thomas 9, Pearce 7.
Primus went ballistic in the huddle, as you would expect that he would, and the Power started the second term by winning the ball out of the centre, with Butcher marking strongly on the lead and goaling from deep in the pocket.
He took another strong mark and kicked a goal on the run from outside 50, showing just why he has been so highly rated by those associated with the Power.
The forward momentum that the Power had was lost when the defenders were unable to work the ball out of the defensive zone, and finally Griffen was able to dribble through another goal for the Dogs.
It soon became all too easy for the Dogs once more, with skill errors badly hurting the Power, with Hall able to waltz into goal unimpeded, then Grant was able to add another.
Hall missed a couple of long-range set shots, but Boyd made no mistake with his chance from inside the arc, kicking a third goal for the game for the first time in his career.
Banner earned a free kick to nail his first goal for the game, but the Dogs answered within seconds as Hall got out the back and walked into the open square to goal once more.
Hitchcock missed a running snap, but the Power managed to exert some defensive pressure on the Dogs, at least keeping the ball inside 50. It didn’t take long before they worked it out, and got it inside their 50 with just so much ease, with Higgins marking to have another set shot on goal as the siren rung out.
HALF-TIME: 4.1.25 to 15.9.99. Goals: Butcher 2, D Stewart, Banner. Possessions: Trengove 16, Westhoff 15, Pearce 14, Thomas 12.
The third term started in the same way that the game had gone to that point, with another goal after a Power turnover coming out of the backline. Motop remains clever around goal, sharking a tap from Hitchcock to kick a goal, before Tutt booted his fourth of the game.
Rodan was subbed on for Schulz, and immediately set Butcher up - he was crunched by 3 Dogs players and came off the ground looking very groggy indeed. Some nice ball movement along the wing saw Banner work his way free towards the top of the square, mark, then goal.
Giansiracusa kicked his fortieth goal for the season after a handball over the top from Hall, and the margin was once more above the 80 point mark.
After a couple more missed shots from the Dogs, Butcher’s return to the ground was heralded by a great mark, then a floating shot that recalled Kernahan’s ability to float them through. He then got behind the pack to receive a handball from Gray and nail his fourth goal for the game.
A shocking turnover from Surjan across half-forward saw the Dogs sweep forward, and Grant was able to kick a goal from inside the arc after receiving a handball from Djerrkura. Vezpremi - fresh from being substituted onto the ground - was able to run into an open goal with ease.
Some hard in and under work saw the ball worked forward, and Gray was rewarded with his desire to win the ball with a free kick - he had no trouble kicking his first goal of the day, and his 25th for the season.
Once more the Dogs were able to work the ball far too easily to Hall, who goaled with his fourth of the game.
THREE-QUARTER TIME: 9.3.57 to 22.12.144. Goals: Butcher 4, Banner 2, D Stewart, Motlop, Gray. Possessions: Trengove 21, Westhoff 20, Banner 18 and Salopek 18, Motlop, Pearce and Thomas all 17.
Some hard attack at the ball saw the Power work the ball down the member’s wing, with Banner the beneficiary as Gray handballed over the top and he could run into goal unimpeded.
After earning a free kick for a throw against a Bulldog player, Pearce’s long kick at goal was rushed through as the Power at least were playing with genuine attacking intent in the last quarter - of course, it’s all a bit easier when the heat has well and truly gone out of the game.
A seemingly certain mark to either Butcher or Surjan - they both had claims for it - went unrewarded and the Dogs streamed forward unimpeded as too many defensive errors by the Power saw the ball failed to be turned over time and time again.
Another strong mark to Butcher saw him mark strong and boot his fifth goal for the game in an exciting display by a second game player. Hall soon marked strongly directly in front, and booted his fifth goal for the game too.
A lovely piece of play saw Westhoff hit Rodan inside 50, and he reeled around the man on the mark to kick the goal. Banner then earned a free after working hard to win the ball at ground level, but his set shot slewed across the face. Westhoff added a goal to the tally to give him 19 for the season so far.
Cassisi snapped another, and then the Power won the centre clearance, with Butcher diving low to mark well and line up for his sixth goal of the game, which he sent straight over the goal umpire’s head.
Hall soon answered him to kick a sixth goal as well for the Dogs as the Dogs ran out 10 goal winners.
FINAL SCORE:15.7.97 to 24.13.157
GOALS: Butcher 6, Banner 3, D Stewart, Motlop, Gray, Rodan, Westhoff, Cassisi
POSSESSIONS:Trengove 28, Pearce 27, Banner, Salopek and Westhoff all 24, Motlop 22, Thomas 21, Boak and Cassisi 20.
CROWD: 14,169
