PORT Adelaide coach Mark Williams has willed ruckmen Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan to lift against the Swans on Saturday following last week’s narrow loss to Hawthorn.
The Power’s typically dominant ruck duo had its colours lowered by the Hawks big men in Launceston and Williams said Lade and Brogan would “have to improve” for his team to win at AAMI Stadium this week.
“Ladey and Broges know that their performance last week wasn’t up to scratch,” Williams said.
“For 10 years we’ve had Matty Primus, Lade and Brogan rule the rucks and rule the hit-outs, so our guys have had a fairly good ride. We continually think, ‘well that quarter didn’t work, but the next one will’, because for so many years, it’s happened.
“It’s going to be a huge battle this week. Peter Everitt and Darren Jolly are fantastic ruckmen and, actually, Jolly towelled us up last time.
“Without doubt, our ruckmen will have to improve on last week and the last time we played Sydney.”
Williams was hopeful an improvement in the ruck contest and the additions of hard nuts Chad Cornes and Michael Wilson would help rectify last week’s disappointing display at the centre clearances.
Both Cornes and Wilson got through Friday’s short training session unscathed and appear certain to take their places in the team.
“Chad and Michael will spend some time in the midfield, so that will go a long way towards improving that [the clearance work],” Williams said.
“They have wonderful experience, they are both premiership players and they’re really tough, so it’s fantastic to have them back in the side.
“They are two great leaders of our team and have been for a long time. It’s important to have those sort of players in the team against Sydney.”
In round two, the Power suffered a 10-goal loss at the hands of the Swans after lapsing in a lacklustre third term.
“The playing group is very aware of how poorly they played that day in Sydney and what we dished up,” Williams said.
“We probably haven’t dished that up since, although the last quarter against Brisbane was pretty poor, but the rest of the time we’ve been very competitive.
“We’d like to think we could play four quarters this week and win.
“We think it’s a really important game for us. It’s a home game and Sydney is ahead of us.
“If you look at the finals group, there are three or four teams that have taken off ahead of everyone, then there are a whole lot of teams in the middle that have a chance and we’re one of those.”
The spotlight fell on Port Adelaide during the week after the team conceded a six-goal lead against the Hawks to lose by 15 points.
Williams defended the Power’s use of ‘tempo’ football and said, despite suggestions in the media to the contrary, his team did not lack the courage to actually go out and win games with attacking footy.
“A few weeks back everyone hailed Adelaide for holding on to the ball in the last quarter against Fremantle. I think it’s a little easy to pick and choose when you think it’s [tempo footy] a good idea based on the result. If it’s a good idea, it’s a good idea every week and not just depending on the result,” Williams said.
“Fremantle might [lack the courage to win games], but we certainly don’t. There are so many things going on in the coach’s box. We understand the condition of the players, we have a view on the fitness of the players before and during the game -- all of these aspects of the game, that outsiders wouldn’t have a clue about.
“They guestimate and that’s their view. We don’t dismiss any criticism. We look at it and analyse it with a lot more factors in our hand rather than the one or two that emerge after the result.”
