FOR the fourth consecutive week Port Adelaide has been beaten in the key midfield statistical areas of contested possessions and tackling.

Coach Matt Primus lamented his midfield’s poor performance in Balfours Showdown XXXII with Patrick Dangerfield (15 contested possessions), Rory Sloane (15) and Scott Thompson (13) picking up more contested possessions than the best Power player (David Rodan - 11).

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The Power’s midfield pressure was lacking at times with just Dom Cassisi (7 tackles), David Rodan (5) and Paul Stewart (5) laying more than 4 tackles in a tensely fought Showdown.

Travis Boak and Kane Cornes combined for 52 possessions and 7 inside 50s, but were lacking support with skipper Dom Cassisi managing just 12 touches, Matthew Broadbent just 14 and Brad Ebert a quiet 15.

The Power’s backline battled manfully with Troy Chaplin leading the way with 22 possessions, 10 rebound 50s, 11 marks and 6 1%ers. He was backed up well by Alipate Carlile - who kept Kurt Tippett to 1 goal - and Jackson Trengove, who mixed his time between the ruck and defence.

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Justin Westhoff and John Butcher were effective up forward booting 4 goals apiece, with Westhoff also taking a game-high 6 marks inside 50.

But Westhoff’s heroics were ultimately not enough, with 51 clangers for the team contributing to turnovers which cost the Power the game.

See full stats from the game here