PORT Adelaide’s confidence will be boosted by the inclusion of some key talent this week as it seeks to emerge from one of its toughest starts to a season on record by reclaiming a stake in one of the tightest years on record.
The Teams
Port Adelaide Form:
W L L L L L L
Ranked: 15th
North Melbourne
Form: L W W L W L L
Ranked: 11th
Keys to victory
The challenging opening to the season continues with the Power set face an even mix of finals contenders and similarly-positioned sides. North Melbourne are coming off a loss to the 13th-ranked Western Bulldogs and are likely to be without big man Hamish McIntosh. With an even ruck contest likely, the onus will be on the Power’s midfield to step up and work the ball forward with better efficiency than against Fremantle.
Tackles were up against the ultra-defensive Dockers but the turnovers peaked alongside them. Whilst the team’s intensity hit the levels seen in the club’s round one win over the Saints, it needs to be paired with high-quality ball usage. If the Power pulls these two ‘game factors’ together they will be both competitive and successful on Saturday.
Walking wounded
Aaron Young is unlikely to front up for Port Adelaide after sustaining an ankle injury against the Dockers at Subiaco. On the flip side the Power are close to confirming the return of Jay Schulz and Chad Wingard - with strong performances on the track this week allowing them the best possible opportunity to return for the Power against the Roos.
Read More: In The Mix
The stats that matter
Sometimes stats don’t tell the story of a football match, but Port Adelaide’s game against Fremantle was certainly shown accurately through the final tallies. Port led the tackles and clearances and was rewarded for its attack on the footy, but was massively up on clangers compared to the Dockers and trailed on the possession counts, hit outs and inside 50s. An inversion on previous weeks, the performance showed that the Power can play hard at the ball - it just needs to make better use of it this weekend.
Read More: The Crunch
Key match-ups
Jay Schulz? / Justin Westhoff v Michael Firrito
Who will Firrito man up on? The main Shinboner back will almost certainly play on Jay Schulz should the Power big man return to the forward lines this weekend. Schulz is capable of breaking away from a hard, negating defender like Firrito but will be helped with support from the midfield putting the ball to him cleanly, and through fellow attackers Westhoff and Butcher continuing to develop as high-tier goal kickers to relieve the pressure on him.
Read More: Schulz Trains Strongly
Chaplin / Trengove / Carlile v Drew Petrie and Todd Goldstein
It seems a simple comparison, but Port’s defending spine of Troy Chaplin, Jackson Trengove and Alipate Carlile will again face a challenging mix of bulk and quick-running in the North Melbourne forwards this week. The key target is surely Drew Petrie - who could have either of Trengove or Carlile go to him on the last line of defence. The Bulldogs held Petrie to three goals in their win last week and closing down the North Melbourne game breaker goes a long way to maximising the chances of a Kangaroos opposition. Todd Goldstein may rotate ruck duties with his role on the half forward line, but Chaplin is a capable defender to take to him.
Profile: Trengove
Kane Cornes v Brent Harvey
Both Cornes and Harvey are uncontested possession kings - able to get the footy and dispose quickly and cleanly. In their prime, two of the best midfielders in the competition, their influence this weekend as the ‘old hands’ of the Power and Roos will be important. Cornes’ performance last week was down on an otherwise serviceable start to his season. If he can recapture that early and pre-season form he will be a key asset in a Power victory.
Read More: The Crunch
Key match-ups
Jay Schulz? / Justin Westhoff v Michael Firrito
Who will Firrito man up on? The main Shinboner back will almost certainly play on Jay Schulz should the Power big man return to the forward lines this weekend. Schulz is capable of breaking away from a hard, negating defender like Firrito but will be helped with support from the midfield putting the ball to him cleanly, and through fellow attackers Westhoff and Butcher continuing to develop as high-tier goal kickers to relieve the pressure on him.
Read More: Schulz Trains Strongly
Chaplin / Trengove / Carlile v Drew Petrie and Todd Goldstein
It seems a simple comparison, but Port’s defending spine of Troy Chaplin, Jackson Trengove and Alipate Carlile will again face a challenging mix of bulk and quick-running in the North Melbourne forwards this week. The key target is surely Drew Petrie - who could have either of Trengove or Carlile go to him on the last line of defence. The Bulldogs held Petrie to three goals in their win last week and closing down the North Melbourne game breaker goes a long way to maximising the chances of a Kangaroos opposition. Todd Goldstein may rotate ruck duties with his role on the half forward line, but Chaplin is a capable defender to take to him.
Profile: Trengove
Kane Cornes v Brent Harvey
Both Cornes and Harvey are uncontested possession kings - able to get the footy and dispose quickly and cleanly. In their prime, two of the best midfielders in the competition, their influence this weekend as the ‘old hands’ of the Power and Roos will be important. Cornes’ performance last week was down on an otherwise serviceable start to his season. If he can recapture that early and pre-season form he will be a key asset in a Power victory.
Read More: Cornesy
The History
Port Adelaide’s record against the Kangaroos is, on paper, poor. The Power entered the competition when after North Melbourne’s 1996 premiership and was beaten regularly by the dominant side of the nineties. It is perhaps no wonder the Roos were so successful against Port Adelaide in the early days. Since then, the Power has managed to peg the ledger back to a 7-19 record and in doing so won two massive finals over the Shinboners - the 2005 elimination final (164-77) and the 2007 preliminary final (133-46) which put the Power into that year’s title fight.
The ledger
Played: 26, Port Adelaide: 7, North Melbourne: 19
The last five
Round 14, 2011 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.7 (91) def by North Melbourne 21.10 (136)
Round 6, 2011 Etihad Stadium - Port Adelaide 10.13 (73) def by North Melbourne 18.25 (133)
Round 13, 2010 Etihad Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.9 (93) def by North Melbourne 19.15 (129)
Round 1, 2010 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 13.18 (96) def North Melbourne 12.10 (82)
Round 22, 2009 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 9.13 (67) def by North Melbourne 10.11 (71)
Match details
Port Adelaide v North Melbourne
AAMI Stadium, SA
Sunday 19 May 2012
First bounce: 1.15pm
Game Day
Broadcast guide
Match centre
Final word
If Port Adelaide finds its way to being intense and the footy and sharp with the skills - they will be red hot on Saturday.
The History
Port Adelaide’s record against the Kangaroos is, on paper, poor. The Power entered the competition when after North Melbourne’s 1996 premiership and was beaten regularly by the dominant side of the nineties. It is perhaps no wonder the Roos were so successful against Port Adelaide in the early days. Since then, the Power has managed to peg the ledger back to a 7-19 record and in doing so won two massive finals over the Shinboners - the 2005 elimination final (164-77) and the 2007 preliminary final (133-46) which put the Power into that year’s title fight.
The ledger
Played: 26, Port Adelaide: 7, North Melbourne: 19
The last five
Round 14, 2011 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.7 (91) def by North Melbourne 21.10 (136)
Round 6, 2011 Etihad Stadium - Port Adelaide 10.13 (73) def by North Melbourne 18.25 (133)
Round 13, 2010 Etihad Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.9 (93) def by North Melbourne 19.15 (129)
Round 1, 2010 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 13.18 (96) def North Melbourne 12.10 (82)
Round 22, 2009 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 9.13 (67) def by North Melbourne 10.11 (71)
Match details
Port Adelaide v North Melbourne
AAMI Stadium, SA
Sunday 19 May 2012
First bounce: 1.15pm
Game Day
Broadcast guide
Match centre
Final word
If Port Adelaide finds its way to being intense and the footy and sharp with the skills - they will be red hot on Saturday.
