Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide
AAMI Stadium, SA
First bounce: 4.10pm
Broadcast guide
Match centre
The History
The History
2012 marks the fifteenth year of Showdown derbies between Port Adelaide and the Crows. Port Adelaide famously won the first Showdown way back in 1997 - stunning the pre-match favourite Adelaide side in what was the Power's fourth match in the AFL. It was a fantastic start for the Port Adelaide Football Club after being beaten to the national competition by the rival Adelaide franchise earlier that decade. Today, the two sides continue their battles with the Power leading the overall victory tally. This Sunday's game is the 32nd instalment of Showdown history.
Umpires: S. Stewart (10), G. Fila (12), M. Nicholls (15), S. Hay (20)
The Teams
Umpires: S. Stewart (10), G. Fila (12), M. Nicholls (15), S. Hay (20)
The Teams
Port Adelaide (W L L L)
Ranked: 14th
Ranked: 14th
Keys to victory
Port Adelaide has improved its competitiveness and ability to win the football over the last three weeks. Showdowns are unlike any other game though and the intensity level is high. Port Adelaide typically brings a quality brand of footy to a Showdown but it is yet to win a tackle count this year. It matched St Kilda for tackles in the round one win over the Saints, but has lacked the ground pressure to hurt teams. Coach Primus wants to see four quarters of intensity from the Power and winning the tackles is a great place to start
Tall Timber Talent Time
John Butcher and Jay Schulz: Port Adelaide’s key tall forward will need to be at maximum output on Sunday night - accurate in goals and making the most of the Power’s forward entries. Both have led from the front and scored well in their respective games this year, however Showdown pressure is unlike any other and both men will need to score multiple goals if Port Adelaide is to have scoreboard impact. In a positive, Schulz has been in fine touch against quality defenders in the last three weeks and Butcher was dangerous against a good Collingwood side. Expect great things from this pair.
Getting into it
Brad Ebert and John McCarthy: We know the ability that established Port midfielders Dom Cassisi and Kane Cornes have for the Power midfield but Sunday’s derby is the first opportunity for new boys Brad Ebert and John McCarthy to ruffle the Crows’ feathers in their debut Showdown. Ebert grew up supporting the Power and knows the rivalry well, whilst J-Mac glimpsed an ability to fire in big games against his old side Collingwood last week. Solid run-and-carry and accuracy in front of the sticks from these boys will be an invaluable contribution to the Power’s chances.
Solid in defence
Port Adelaide’s key defenders Jackson Trengove, Troy Chaplin and Alipate Carlile are likely to be given the task on the Crows’ main forwards Tippet and Walker. Big games from the experienced Chaplin and fiery Trengove will be critical, whilst Carlile will look to continue his solid work on the last line of defence. Successfully restricting the Crows’ two main men will make the Power’s job all the more easy on Sunday.
Adelaide (W W L W)
Ranked: 5th
Curb their influence
Scott Thompson and Graham Johncock: Regrettably for the Port Adelaide faithful, two of the most consistent Crows players learned their stuff in a Port Adelaide SANFL jumper. These two players are proven Showdown performers with Johncock’s ability to run the football out of defence and Thompson’s prolific on-ball ability can break games of football open. Port Adelaide’s taggers will need to keep Thompson down in the midfield if it wants to restrict the Crows forward entry.
The ledger
Port Adelaide has improved its competitiveness and ability to win the football over the last three weeks. Showdowns are unlike any other game though and the intensity level is high. Port Adelaide typically brings a quality brand of footy to a Showdown but it is yet to win a tackle count this year. It matched St Kilda for tackles in the round one win over the Saints, but has lacked the ground pressure to hurt teams. Coach Primus wants to see four quarters of intensity from the Power and winning the tackles is a great place to start
Tall Timber Talent Time
John Butcher and Jay Schulz: Port Adelaide’s key tall forward will need to be at maximum output on Sunday night - accurate in goals and making the most of the Power’s forward entries. Both have led from the front and scored well in their respective games this year, however Showdown pressure is unlike any other and both men will need to score multiple goals if Port Adelaide is to have scoreboard impact. In a positive, Schulz has been in fine touch against quality defenders in the last three weeks and Butcher was dangerous against a good Collingwood side. Expect great things from this pair.
Getting into it
Brad Ebert and John McCarthy: We know the ability that established Port midfielders Dom Cassisi and Kane Cornes have for the Power midfield but Sunday’s derby is the first opportunity for new boys Brad Ebert and John McCarthy to ruffle the Crows’ feathers in their debut Showdown. Ebert grew up supporting the Power and knows the rivalry well, whilst J-Mac glimpsed an ability to fire in big games against his old side Collingwood last week. Solid run-and-carry and accuracy in front of the sticks from these boys will be an invaluable contribution to the Power’s chances.
Solid in defence
Port Adelaide’s key defenders Jackson Trengove, Troy Chaplin and Alipate Carlile are likely to be given the task on the Crows’ main forwards Tippet and Walker. Big games from the experienced Chaplin and fiery Trengove will be critical, whilst Carlile will look to continue his solid work on the last line of defence. Successfully restricting the Crows’ two main men will make the Power’s job all the more easy on Sunday.
Adelaide (W W L W)
Ranked: 5th
Curb their influence
Scott Thompson and Graham Johncock: Regrettably for the Port Adelaide faithful, two of the most consistent Crows players learned their stuff in a Port Adelaide SANFL jumper. These two players are proven Showdown performers with Johncock’s ability to run the football out of defence and Thompson’s prolific on-ball ability can break games of football open. Port Adelaide’s taggers will need to keep Thompson down in the midfield if it wants to restrict the Crows forward entry.
The ledger
Played: 31 Port Adelaide: 17 wins Adelaide: 14 wins
The last five
Round 19, 2011 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 11.13 (79) def by Adelaide 16.15 (111)
Round 4 2011, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.14 (98) def Adelaide 9.12 (66)
Round 17 2010, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 13.10 (88) def Adelaide 9.5 (69)
Round 6 2010, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.13 (97) def Adelaide 10.14 (74)
Round 17 2009, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 9.8 (62) def by Adelaide 19.18 (132)
Final word
Power’s 2012 record no indicator of its performance this weekend - expect a fiery affair.
The last five
Round 19, 2011 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 11.13 (79) def by Adelaide 16.15 (111)
Round 4 2011, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.14 (98) def Adelaide 9.12 (66)
Round 17 2010, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 13.10 (88) def Adelaide 9.5 (69)
Round 6 2010, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.13 (97) def Adelaide 10.14 (74)
Round 17 2009, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 9.8 (62) def by Adelaide 19.18 (132)
Final word
Power’s 2012 record no indicator of its performance this weekend - expect a fiery affair.
