An all-round effort from the team saw the Power bring home the four points in its Sunday twilight game against St Kilda with contributions from all players.
Port Adelaide’s side remains relatively unchanged from that which ran out last Sunday, with John Butcher omitted with a hamstring injury, whilst best and fairest Jackson Trengove returns after recovering from a fractured finger.
[ Related: Gameday v Essendon ]
Port Adelaide needs to win this game to build momentum as it continues a challenging early-season fixture. With battles programmed against 2011 finallists Sydney and Collingwood over the next two weeks, a win over the Bombers will instill a significant boost of confidence when confronting the juggernauts of the AFL.
Boosted by the signing of more young talent in Hamish Hartlett during the week, Port Adelaide’s unchanged side ensures stability on the park and certainty off of it.
It is the Power’s youth brigade that promises the club’s future, with Dom Cassisi and Kane Cornes the only 2004 premiership players taking to the field on Saturday.
Senior coach Matthew Primus has echoed the sentiments of his young charges by emphasising the need to play and win the contested football, in order to continue Port Adelaide’s impressive record against Essendon.
"Our competitiveness, our contested stuff has got to be good and we've got to try and do that for every minute of every game," he said.
"What we did last week means nothing.
"As much as the win was great, we got over it pretty quickly and we've got to make sure, as a football club, we're prepared to play that same intensity on the road, away from our home fans, away from round one and that's our greatest challenge."
Essendon scraped home against North Melbourne last week, with a Kangaroos miss after the final siren handing the Bombers a two point win. Despite this, Primus expects a tough challenge against the black and red and emphasies the need for the club’s players to improve week in, week out.
“We understand Essendon play a pretty fast brand of football and we want to move the ball pretty quickly too, but we certainly don't want to get into a shootout with them - we want to play a contested style of footy, similar to last week."
"We're focused on making sure our players are fully aware that we need to get better again than we were against St Kilda."
Essendon will be without David Winderlich who has been ruled out from returning to his first game since the middle of last year. Heath Hocking (concussion) and key-defender Cale Hooker (ankle) have also been struck from the match with injuries.
Boosted by the signing of more young talent in Hamish Hartlett during the week, Port Adelaide’s unchanged side ensures stability on the park and certainty off of it.
It is the Power’s youth brigade that promises the club’s future, with Dom Cassisi and Kane Cornes the only 2004 premiership players taking to the field on Saturday.
Senior coach Matthew Primus has echoed the sentiments of his young charges by emphasising the need to play and win the contested football, in order to continue Port Adelaide’s impressive record against Essendon.
"Our competitiveness, our contested stuff has got to be good and we've got to try and do that for every minute of every game," he said.
"What we did last week means nothing.
"As much as the win was great, we got over it pretty quickly and we've got to make sure, as a football club, we're prepared to play that same intensity on the road, away from our home fans, away from round one and that's our greatest challenge."
Essendon scraped home against North Melbourne last week, with a Kangaroos miss after the final siren handing the Bombers a two point win. Despite this, Primus expects a tough challenge against the black and red and emphasies the need for the club’s players to improve week in, week out.
“We understand Essendon play a pretty fast brand of football and we want to move the ball pretty quickly too, but we certainly don't want to get into a shootout with them - we want to play a contested style of footy, similar to last week."
"We're focused on making sure our players are fully aware that we need to get better again than we were against St Kilda."
Essendon will be without David Winderlich who has been ruled out from returning to his first game since the middle of last year. Heath Hocking (concussion) and key-defender Cale Hooker (ankle) have also been struck from the match with injuries.
[ Related: Behind Enemy Lines ]
Having won six from the last seven games and twice as many encounters between the two sides as their rivals, Port Adelaide’s ‘paper’ record against Essendon is impressive. Last year’s heartbreaking loss at Ethiad Stadium after holding a significant lead early in the final quarter has had many of the Power side who played that day keen on redemption.
A close match tomorrow promises and the form displayed by a number of emerging players for the club sees a competitive side selected to make the trip. Resurgent performances from Jacob Surjan and a last quarter burst from David Rodan after being subbed on has many supporters excited for the prospects of a traditional, blue-collar Port Adelaide side rebuilding the club’s fortunes. Chad Wingard and Jarrad Redden will continue to play this week after their impressive AFL debuts in Round 1, whilst Brad Ebert and John McCarthy will make their second appearance in the Port Adelaide jumper following their first games for the club last week.
Having won six from the last seven games and twice as many encounters between the two sides as their rivals, Port Adelaide’s ‘paper’ record against Essendon is impressive. Last year’s heartbreaking loss at Ethiad Stadium after holding a significant lead early in the final quarter has had many of the Power side who played that day keen on redemption.
A close match tomorrow promises and the form displayed by a number of emerging players for the club sees a competitive side selected to make the trip. Resurgent performances from Jacob Surjan and a last quarter burst from David Rodan after being subbed on has many supporters excited for the prospects of a traditional, blue-collar Port Adelaide side rebuilding the club’s fortunes. Chad Wingard and Jarrad Redden will continue to play this week after their impressive AFL debuts in Round 1, whilst Brad Ebert and John McCarthy will make their second appearance in the Port Adelaide jumper following their first games for the club last week.
[ Related: Selection ]
South Australian fans can tune into the game live from 1.00pm on the Seven Network and FOX Footy, with the radio broadcast as-it-happens via 891 ABC Adelaide, 1395 FiveAA and Triple M 104.7fm.
PortAdelaideFC.com.au will have quarter-by-quarter updates with live social interaction on Facebook and Twitter via the #aflbomberspower and #pafclive hastags.
South Australian fans can tune into the game live from 1.00pm on the Seven Network and FOX Footy, with the radio broadcast as-it-happens via 891 ABC Adelaide, 1395 FiveAA and Triple M 104.7fm.
PortAdelaideFC.com.au will have quarter-by-quarter updates with live social interaction on Facebook and Twitter via the #aflbomberspower and #pafclive hastags.
Key points
Match: Round 2
Opponent: Essendon Bombers
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Time: 1.45pm local, 1.15pm SA time
Jumper: White (End Hunger Front, V.I.P back)
Shorts: White
Socks: Black with white and teal banding
Opponent uniform: Black with red sash, black shorts, black and red hooped socks.
Captain: #1 Dom Cassisi
Local Live Coverage: Quarter by Quarter on PortAdelaideFC.com.au, Facebook, Twitter, TV on Seven Network and FOX Footy, Radio on ABC 891AM, FiveAA 1395AM and Triple M 104.7FM.
Opponent: Essendon Bombers
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Time: 1.45pm local, 1.15pm SA time
Jumper: White (End Hunger Front, V.I.P back)
Shorts: White
Socks: Black with white and teal banding
Opponent uniform: Black with red sash, black shorts, black and red hooped socks.
Captain: #1 Dom Cassisi
Local Live Coverage: Quarter by Quarter on PortAdelaideFC.com.au, Facebook, Twitter, TV on Seven Network and FOX Footy, Radio on ABC 891AM, FiveAA 1395AM and Triple M 104.7FM.
Port Adelaide side to face Essendon
B: Jackson Trengove, Alipate Carlile, Jacob Surjan
HB: Danyle Pearce, Troy Chaplin, Ben Jacobs
C: Kane Cornes, Dom Cassisi, John McCarthy
HF: Travis Boak, Jay Schulz, Hamish Hartlett
F: Chad Wingard, Daniel Stewart, Justin Westhoff
Foll: Jarrad Redden, Bradley Ebert, Matthew Thomas
I/C: David Rodan, Paul Stewart, Matthew Broadbent, Cameron O’Shea.
Emg: Mitch Banner, Simon Phillips, Darren Pfeiffer
B: Jackson Trengove, Alipate Carlile, Jacob Surjan
HB: Danyle Pearce, Troy Chaplin, Ben Jacobs
C: Kane Cornes, Dom Cassisi, John McCarthy
HF: Travis Boak, Jay Schulz, Hamish Hartlett
F: Chad Wingard, Daniel Stewart, Justin Westhoff
Foll: Jarrad Redden, Bradley Ebert, Matthew Thomas
I/C: David Rodan, Paul Stewart, Matthew Broadbent, Cameron O’Shea.
Emg: Mitch Banner, Simon Phillips, Darren Pfeiffer
