Port Adelaide’s recent form: LLWLW

Recent results against Adelaide
Round six, 2009, Port Adelaide 15.15 (105) d Adelaide 12.7 (79), AAMI Stadium
Round 16, 2008, Port Adelaide 13.14 (92) d Adelaide 11.14 (80), AAMI Stadium
Round three, 2008, Adelaide 12.13 (85) d Port Adelaide 11.13 (79), AAMI Stadium
Round 18, 2007, Adelaide 9.19 (73) d Port Adelaide 10.5 (65), AAMI Stadium
Round three, 2007, Adelaide 13.9 (87) d Port Adelaide 8.15 (63), AAMI Stadium

Medical room          
Port Adelaide
Shaun Burgoyne (knee) – test
Hamish Hartlett (hamstring) – test
Daniel Motlop (ankle) – 5 weeks

Adelaide
Nathan van Berlo (ill) – test
Robert Shirley (ill) – test
Tyson Edwards (hamstring) - 1 week
David Mackay (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks
Nick Gill (ankle) - 3-4 weeks
Shaun McKernan (arm) - 4-5 weeks
Brad Moran (knee) – indefinite
James Moss (hip) – indefinite
Chris Schmidt (shoulder) – season

Summary

Port Adelaide put in one of its season-best best performances to dismantle the Crows in round six and will need similar intensity to stretch their Showdown streak to three.

An in-form Adelaide has won seven of its past eight games and will be smarting after its loss to St Kilda.

The Power have only lost to the unbeaten Saints at home this year and although Sunday’s twilight clash is technically an ‘away’ game, they will be confident they can spring another Showdown upset and climb back into the top eight.

Key match-up
Dean Brogan/Brendon Lade v Ivan Maric/James Sellar
The experienced duo dominated proceedings when the two sides met at AAMI Stadium earlier this season. Brogan racked-up 16 possessions, five marks and 27 hit-outs to claim the Showdown Medal for best on ground, while Lade was handy finishing with 15 hit-outs. The Power, through Brogan and Lade, were able to establish complete control at both the hit-outs (44-17) and clearances (42-22) in round six and will look to gain the advantage over the Adelaide ruckmen again on Sunday.

Kick it to me
The Eagles thought they had the Power midfield covered when youngster Patrick McGinnity got the better of barometer Danyle Pearce, but exciting recruit Jason Davenport slipped under their guard and produced a match-winning performance.
The former Geelong-listed onballer racked up a career-high 26 disposals including 12 in the first quarter, to go with nine tackles and two goals. The Crows will have the likes of Pearce, Shaun Burgoyne and David Rodan in their sights on Sunday, but Davenport could be afforded enough freedom for a repeat performance.

Somebody stop me
The Power traditionally match-up pretty well against the workman-like Adelaide forward line, but the main threat again appears to be Jason Porplyzia. The skilful goalkicker bagged three from just nine disposals in Showdown XVI and forecast dewy conditions will suit his game. Jacob Surjan was entrusted with the big job on dangerous West Coast forward Mark LeCras last week and could be given the shutdown role on Porplyzia.

At the selection table
Star onballer Shaun Burgoyne will make his long-awaited return to football after getting through training on Wednesday and Troy Chaplin will return from a two-match-ban for rough conduct. Hamish Hartlett (hamstring) and Matt Thomas (knee) will also be strongly considered making for some unlucky players at the selection tale this week.

It’s not generally known that...
Port Adelaide has claimed three consecutive Showdown wins just once in club history on its way to a six-game winning streak against the Crows between round 22, 2000 and round 22, 2003.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.