Port Adelaide’s recent form: WLWW
Recent results against St Kilda
Round 18, 2008: St Kilda 14.17 (101) d Port Adelaide 14.9 (93), Docklands
Round six, 2008: Port Adelaide 12.10 (82) d St Kilda 9.7 (61), AAMI Stadium
Round five, 2007: Port Adelaide 14.12 (96) d St Kilda 6.7 (43), AAMI Stadium
Round 16, 2006: St Kilda 8.16 (64) d Port Adelaide 8.12 (60), Aurora Stadium
Round four, 2006: Port Adelaide 19.8 (122) d St Kilda 18.10 (118), AAMI Stadium
Medical room
Port Adelaide: Shaun Burgoyne (knee) - test, Matt Thomas (suspended) - 1 week, Peter Burgoyne (suspended) - 1 week, Mitch Banner (sinus fracture) - 2 weeks, Jarrad Redden (ankle) - 2-3 weeks, Nick Salter (knee) - 6-8 weeks, Justin Westhoff (fractured foot) - 7 weeks, Jackson Trengove (hamstring/knee) - indefinite
St Kilda: Justin Koschitzke (hamstring) TBC, Max Hudghton (calf) - 1-2 weeks, Jarryd Allen (torn hip muscle) - indefinite, Sean Dempster (knee) - indefinite
Summary
Warren Tredrea bagged another six goals to take his tally to 12 in two weeks, Tom Logan took a mark of the year contender and Hamish Hartlett impressed on debut.
Alipate Carlile and Troy Chaplin kept dangerous duo Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead to three goals and Kane Cornes had another effective afternoon against Hawthorn skipper Sam Mitchell.
The Saints continued their unbeaten run last week with an 83-point drubbing of a disappointing Fremantle.
Captain Nick Riewoldt signalled his return to form with five goals and midfield duo Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna picked up 61 possessions between them.
St Kilda arrested a poor record at AAMI Stadium with a win over Adelaide in round two, but has not beaten the Power on their home turf since round 22, 1997.
The last time these two sides played in the wet, Port Adelaide emerged comfortable victors. With rain forecast again for Friday, Choco’s charges will go in quietly confident.
Key match-up
Kane Cornes v Nick Dal Santo
Cornes was at his pesky best last week, gathering 26 possessions while restricting Mitchell to just 16. The Power super-stopper has already identified Dal Santo as a key contributor to St Kilda’s early-season success and will be committed to quelling his influence.
Kick it to me
The mercurial Daniel Motlop was unusually subdued last week, finishing the game goalless for just the third time in 18 months. However, he did manage five behinds and will work to tune his radar against the Saints. Motlop is capable of just about anything and will be one to watch with the slippery ball.
Somebody stop me
Big-kicking Jason Gram starred in his side's win over the Power in round 18 last season with 34 touches and two goals. Gram is one of the maestros across St Kilda's half-back line and splits games open with his devastating run and carry.
At the selection table
Skipper Dom Cassisi is free to play having served his one-match suspension but out goes fellow tough nut Matt Thomas, who has copped a one-week-ban from the AFL tribunal. Peter Burgoyne will also watch from the stands as he serves the second of his two-week suspension. Shaun Burgoyne, who also missed the win over Hawthorn, must pass a fitness test on his sore knee before he can be considered for this one.
Hartlett, Logan and David Rodan were all impressive after being recalled to the side last week and Nick Lower continued his standout form in the SANFL. It promises to be another tough week for the selection committee at Alberton.
It’s not generally known that...
The last time Port Adelaide started a season 3-1 was in the club’s premiership year of 2004.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
