All season Port Adelaide's maintained there's light at the end of this 2008 tunnel and last week we saw more than a glimmer. But a loss is still a loss and the club hopeful the belief gained from last week's performance will hold them in good stead to topple the Blues.
Lost to St Kilda by eight, lost to Fremantle by 28, beat Adelaide by 12, lost to North Melbourne by two and lost to Western Bulldogs by 54.
Recent results against Carlton
Round 11, 2008, Carlton 10.15 (75) d Port Adelaide 8.15 (63), AAMI Stadium
Round 19, 2007, Port Adelaide 17.14 (116) d Carlton 14.9 (93), AAMI Stadium
Round 11, 2007, Carlton 22.9 (141) d Port Adelaide 14.18 (102), TD
Round 10, 2006, Port Adelaide 17.16 (118) d Carlton 12.12 (84), TD
Round 19, 2005, Port Adelaide 18.15 (123) d Carlton 16.13 (109), MCG
Strengths
Port Adelaide fans got a glimpse into the future last week with emerging stars Travis Boak, Paul Stewart, Fabian Deluca and Justin Westhoff all putting in, arguably, their best games for the club.
Mitch Farmer and Nick Salter made impressive debuts and the younger members of the Power’s leadership group, Kane Cornes and Dom Cassisi, were instrumental.
The plucky Port Adelaide line-up was unlucky not to secure an upset victory last week and, if the Power can replicate the same passion and competitive spirit on Sunday, there’s no reason they can’t put an end to Carlton’s finals campaign.
On Wednesday, Boak conceded fourth quarters hadn’t been Port Adelaide’s biggest strength this season and that was blatantly obvious at the Telstra Dome last week.
The Power, for at least the sixth time this year, conceded a potential match-winning position to succumb to St Kilda by a mere eight points.
In round 11 this season, the fast-finishing Carlton took advantage of Port Adelaide’s faltering final terms, turning a 30-point three-quarter-time deficit into a two-goal win at a rain-soaked AAMI Stadium.
The Blues’ upset win effectively put an end to Port Adelaide’s season and the Power will be keen to return the compliment this week.
The former rookie had a mixed bag in his AFL debut last week, booting two goals from just four kicks before being sidelined with mild concussion. Salter presented strongly across half-forward and looked at ease lining up for two shots on goal from outside 50m. The solidly built 21-year-old has loads of talent and will only get better with more game time in the AFL.
Dangermen
The young Fijian full back continues to excel opposed to the game’s best forwards. Last week, Carlile had his work cut out on the athletic Nick Riewoldt, but was far from disgraced, keeping the Saints’ skipper to three goals. Carlile restricted Coleman Medal fancy Brendan Fevola to just two majors in round 11 and should go into the match up full of confidence this week.
Kane Cornes
Mark Williams surprised many by starting Cornes on former teammate Nick Stevens, and not Chris Judd, when these two sides met in round 11. Cornes restricted Stevens to just 19 touches before being shifted onto the best a field Judd.
The reigning John Cahill medallist nullified Saint Nick Dal Santo last week and will be desperate for the opportunity to take on Judd on Saturday.
Deluca’s spindly arms wreaked havoc at the ruck contests last week with the impressive youngster notching up a game-high 22 hit-outs. The lanky Victorian had just seven possessions, but disposed of each with 100 per cent efficiency. Carlton’s ruck department of Cameron Cloke and Matthew Kreuzer is not its strong point and Deluca and fellow big man Dean Brogan should have a distinct advantage at the stoppages.
It’s not generally known…
Last week, Nick Salter became the 105th player to pull on the Power guernsey.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
