G’day, welcome to Couch Companion

This is your chance to share the Power v Eagles game with your fellow Power fans as we watch it unfold on the TV.

If you’re looking for score updates, use the AFL’s sensational live match centre by going here

But if you’re looking for some opinions on the game, or have a lot to say yourself but no-ones at home to listen, this is for you.

To contribute, email the Couch Companion, and refresh this article to see the latest updates.

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PRE-GAME

Couch Companion: We’re watching Channel 7’s build up to the game at the moment. It’s Foxtel who are covering the game but Channel 7 take their coverage and show it into Adelaide, with their own preview hosted by Bruce Abernethy and Chris Dittmar. We’ve seen interviews with Josh Carr, Shaun Burgoyne, and the FiveAA commentators KG and David Wildy. Nice to have plenty of Power content on TV!

CC: Aber said Toby Thurstans’ 100th game hasn’t made the banner because the Cheer Squad didn’t know he was going to play in time to make the banner. I guess it would have also been tough to fit four milestones on the banner with Chad Cornes’ 200th, Shaun’s 150th and Ebo’s 100th also all today.

CC: They’re showing the Live the Creed video! Sensational stuff! Of course, you can watch it whenever you like here at the club’s website. How’d you like it?

Andrew from Alberton: That video sent shivers down my spine! Where do you think Toby Thurstans will play when he’s not relieving in the ruck?
CC: I guess that will depend on match-ups Andrew but I’d reckon he will help out down back where he had such a good year in 2007. Choco did say though that he’s in the team for his versatility so he could even go forward 2004 style!

FIRST QUARTER

CC: First time we’ve worn the white clash strip for premiership points. And looks like Shaun’s started forward, spent a bit of time there last week too. Now we’ve got the Fox commentators…sounds like Gerard Healy, Glen Jakovich and Brian Taylor.

CC: So Ashley Hansen gets the first goal of the game. Free kick to Surjan for hanging on on the wing before it got turned over anyone?

CC: Horrible start, haven’t got our game going at all yet. Score is 2.2 to nothing with 12minutes left in the opening term.

CC: Gee, how good was that spoil by Thurstans of two Eagles forwards! Well done on your 100th Toby. Sets up our first score, unfortunately a point, to Westhoff from a tight angle.

CC: We’re right on top now but no goals to show for it. Thurstans, Tredrea and Robbie Gray could all have goaled. On a side note, how annoying is the way Brian Taylor says ‘e-BERT’.

CC: LeCras goals to put the Eagles back to 14 points in front. We could be in front ourselves if we’d kicked straight – seven scoring shots to six.

CC: Quarter time: West Coast 4.3 (27) to Port Adelaide 1.6 (12). Prominent for us so far have been Chad Cornes, Danyle Pearce, Dom Cassisi and Steven Salopek. For them, Matt Rosa seems to have had it a lot. Kane Cornes is following Daniel Kerr closely.

PowerFan79:What is wrong with us today? All our kicks are off, we’re not getting any of that fast running game we keep promising at all! I just hope West Coast stop like they did last week against Brisbane. Thanks for listening! Go POWER!

SECOND QUARTER

CC: Great goal Salopek! I thought Carlile was going to kick it for a minute, the same as the first goal last week. The reply from Lynch hurts. Just a simple turnover on 60m but that boot of his really makes you pay. So does Shannon Hurn’s. Two goals to one this quarter, and we’re in some trouble now if we weren’t before.

CC: Shaun, we really needed that one. Difficult shot. It seems like we’re getting well beaten at the centre clearances. Cox’s influence with no Brogan?

CC: Wow, you don’t see that often. Sums up the day so far: Salopek – just about our best kick – went from one behind post, across the face of goal, out on the full by hitting the other behind post. Then Kerr, who hasn’t had it all day thanks to a Carr and Kane tag, steps up and bananas it through the big sticks. We’re down by 33 points now.

CC: Anyone think this game is over? It’s 9.5 (59) to 2.9 (21) with 6 minutes left in the second half. Email and let me know.

PowerFan79:Its never over until its over, that’s the PAFC way! But even then its going to take a miracle now. Some of our kicks have been absolutely appalling. What’s going on??????

CC: Well, that’s half time. West Coast 10.6 (66) lead Port Adelaide 4.9 (33). We’re nowhere near the side we were last week and it’s going to take a massive turnaround to get back in the game, let alone try to win it. Struggling to come up with better players for us. Salopek’s had a lot of the ball, but of course that howler that cost a goal is front of mind. I’d reckon Choco will get right into them at half time, let’s hope they come out fired up but even so it might be too late. Email your full-time predictions or any half-time thoughts and we'll use them here for others to respond to.

THIRD QUARTER

CC: That really hurts. Shaun misses from 15m, then we look certain for a turnover in our forward 50 but we give away a free for something I have no idea what for. Then a ridiculous 50m, even the commentators couldn’t believe it, and Embley soccers one through. It’s really not our day.

CC: What a contrast of emotions this game is. Motlop does the unbelievable, again, to give us a glimmer of hope then that new 50m rule for slinging in the tackle absolutely kills us. Seems an absolutely ridiculous penalty. Gerard Healy saying we’ve butchered the ball more than at any time last year and Eagles could win by 10 or 15 goals.

CC: At least we’re finding a path to goal now. Motlop’s got two this quarter, we just need to dry them up at the other end. We can’t get the margin below 30 points, but they can’t push it out either. We’ll need to be closer than this at three quarter time to challenge though.

CC: MOTLOP! Big hanger over two players. He’s almost got us back in this game on his own. Apparently that’s the first time we’ve kicked two goals in a row. That would tell the story of the day. PS Don’t forget to vote for Motlop’s hanger for mark of the week, he should get the nomination, then it’s up to fans to vote from Tuesday(ish) at afl.com.au

CC: If I was Rex Hunt, and had to sing like a woman to signify when the game was over, I would be warming up the vocal chords now unfortunately. 3mins left in the third term and we’re down by 38. Priddis goaled from a turnover on our defensive 50m.

CC: Three quarter time: West Coast 16.8 (104) lead Port Adelaide 8.12 (60). This has all the makings of a very difficult last quarter to watch…. If the first three weren’t tough enough. Just don’t know where our tough tackling, smart running game from last week went today. With the commentators having the full oval perspective, they’ve really talked up the Eagles midfield zone as a key reason to shutting our game down.

FOURTH QUARTER

CC: Half way through the final term and there’s not much left to get out of this game now. Daniel Kerr has kicked another goal to go with his 16 disposal third term.

CC: Brian Taylor reckons we throw the tape away, forget about it, and move on. I’m not sure about that. The coaches will do their homework on it and make sure there's lessons learned. 

CC: The siren goes and Channel 7 chops off the coverage within the second! Clearly a Port supporter pressing the buttons in the studio! Anyway, to wrap up the game, we were completely outplayed. We couldn’t move the ball quickly or effectively and there was some real skill blunders. Daniel Motlop’s four goals and individual highlights reel was clearly the best bit of the day. Other than that, it was one to forget. Unfortunately the four milestone boys in particular will have to remember it for a long time. West Coast 19.11 (125) defeated Port Adelaide 10.15 (75).