ON the back of its win against Melbourne, Port Adelaide will make only one change for its Sunday afternoon clash with the Fremantle Dockers at AAMI Stadium, with any of four players a possibility to come in for the injured Jasper Pittard.
The Teams
Port Adelaide
Form: W L L L L L L W W W L L L L L W
Ranked: 14th
Fremantle
Form: W L W W L W W L L L W L L W W W
Ranked: 9th
Keys to victory
Composure under pressure will be pivotal for the Power this weekend as it confronts one of the more defensive outfits in the league - Fremantle.
Port Adelaide saw a number of its players - particularly inexperienced ones - demonstrate cool-heads amongst the hot and humid Darwin conditions last weekend. With slower, sloppier ball movement synonymous with games in the Top End on show, Port’s youngsters, the likes of Moore, Young and Wingard, helped the Power to gain the match ascendency across the last three quarters and choke the Demons scoring.
Against a defensive side like Fremantle and with likely rain, the Melbourne game may prove an excellent dress rehearsal for the Power. Composure amongst the Docker scrum will be pivotal for Port Adelaide.
Read more: Crunch
Read more: Crunch
Walking wounded
Jasper Pittard is the only omission from Port Adelaide’s side with four inclusions named on the Power’s extended bench:
Out: Pittard
In: Redden, Pfeiffer, Jacobs, Hitchcock
Jasper Pittard is the only omission from Port Adelaide’s side with four inclusions named on the Power’s extended bench:
Out: Pittard
In: Redden, Pfeiffer, Jacobs, Hitchcock
The replacement will hinge mainly on whom Fremantle names in its side. Port Adelaide will confirm its final team on Friday afternoon.
Forming up
Dom Cassisi
Dom Cassisi
Much like his vice captain Travis Boak, Port skipper Dom Cassisi stormed out of the post-injury blocks with a fine 30-disposal performance against the Demons last weekend.
His experience and maturity is a key asset to the Power and with him likely to float across half back this weekend, as well as spending time in the midfield, another strong performance from the Power captain will help the Power rebound and move the ball all over the ground.
Paul Stewart
With five goals against Melbourne backing up four against the Crows the fortnight prior, Matthew Primus may have found a good reason to keep Paul Stewart up forward. Comfortable as a play-anywhere utility, Stewart has surprisingly filled the void left by injured goal master Jay Schulz. His ten goals from the last three games has seen him quickly rise up the goal kickers list and a similar performance against the Dockers is not out of the question.
Paul Stewart
With five goals against Melbourne backing up four against the Crows the fortnight prior, Matthew Primus may have found a good reason to keep Paul Stewart up forward. Comfortable as a play-anywhere utility, Stewart has surprisingly filled the void left by injured goal master Jay Schulz. His ten goals from the last three games has seen him quickly rise up the goal kickers list and a similar performance against the Dockers is not out of the question.
Aaron Young
How far away is Aaron Young from his breakout game? He has flown under the radar this year but the 2012 debutant is often seen where the ball is. ‘Youngy’ simply needs to impact the contest a little more before he really starts to turn heads - his form in the SANFL at the beginning of the year is impressive and his work under pressure rivals that of some senior players.
How far away is Aaron Young from his breakout game? He has flown under the radar this year but the 2012 debutant is often seen where the ball is. ‘Youngy’ simply needs to impact the contest a little more before he really starts to turn heads - his form in the SANFL at the beginning of the year is impressive and his work under pressure rivals that of some senior players.
He injured his ankle against Fremantle earlier in the year so he’ll be hoping for an about face on Sunday.
Fact file
Fremantle has prevailed in the last four games played between the two sides. Not since the Power’s entry into the AFL in 1997 through to 2000 has either team (in that case Port Adelaide) won five in a row.
Fremantle has prevailed in the last four games played between the two sides. Not since the Power’s entry into the AFL in 1997 through to 2000 has either team (in that case Port Adelaide) won five in a row.
Milestones
Tom Logan - 100 AFL games
Matthew Broadbent - 50 AFL/PAFC games
The ledger
Played: 24, Port Adelaide: 14, Fremantle: 10
The last time
Round 7, 2012 Patersons Stadium - Port Adelaide 7.5 (47) def by Fremantle 12.15 (87)
Match details
Port Adelaide v Fremantle
AAMI Stadium, West Lakes
Sunday 29 July 2012
Opening bounce: 12.40pm (CST)
Game Day and Broadcast guide
Match centre
Final word
Breaking Fremantle’s suffocating style of play is the only way Port Adelaide will win. Goals are possible up forward but the midfield will need to contribute on the scoreboard as well.
Played: 24, Port Adelaide: 14, Fremantle: 10
The last time
Round 7, 2012 Patersons Stadium - Port Adelaide 7.5 (47) def by Fremantle 12.15 (87)
Match details
Port Adelaide v Fremantle
AAMI Stadium, West Lakes
Sunday 29 July 2012
Opening bounce: 12.40pm (CST)
Game Day and Broadcast guide
Match centre
Final word
Breaking Fremantle’s suffocating style of play is the only way Port Adelaide will win. Goals are possible up forward but the midfield will need to contribute on the scoreboard as well.
