PORT Adelaide plays Fremantle in its only trip to Western Australia this season - a tough trip at the best of times, but one with added importance for the Power looking to re-enter the winners’ circle with a critical performance.
The Teams
Port Adelaide
Form: W L L L L L
Ranked: 15th
Fremantle Form:
W L W W L W
Ranked: 7th
Keys to victory
Port Adelaide has been placed in a tough position on the back of a Jekyll and Hyde performance in its loss to Richmond where a poor second quarter put the game beyond reach in the wet, but a intense response in the second quarter clawed back the margin. As has been the case for the past few weeks, Port Adelaide needs to find a four-quarter intensity that can put itself into the lead and win games. There is no doubt, and most commentators agree, that the Power’s best is a match-winning brand - the issue has been finding a way to keep it going for the full duration of an AFL game.
Walking wounded
Keys to victory
Port Adelaide has been placed in a tough position on the back of a Jekyll and Hyde performance in its loss to Richmond where a poor second quarter put the game beyond reach in the wet, but a intense response in the second quarter clawed back the margin. As has been the case for the past few weeks, Port Adelaide needs to find a four-quarter intensity that can put itself into the lead and win games. There is no doubt, and most commentators agree, that the Power’s best is a match-winning brand - the issue has been finding a way to keep it going for the full duration of an AFL game.
Walking wounded
Cameron Hitchcock has been ruled out of selection this week after enduring a hamstring strain against Richmond. In his first game back Hitchcock strained his hamstring during the opening quarter - bringing substitute Darren Pfeiffer onto the field. Hitchcock will undergo rehabilitation over the next month in a tough blow to the young forward who only just came of the club’s long term injury list following shoulder surgery in the pre-season.
Kane Cornes also left the field late in the game with a bruised knee and will be tested Thursday to determine his fitness for selection.
Read More: In The Mix
Slippery when wet
The Power stats sheet took a hammering against Richmond - unable to match the Tigers on the day. Aside from the obvious discussions about why Port can’t seem to top the Tigers in the rain, in May and at AAMI Stadium (it’s happened before), the one question from the fans must surely be “Where’s the pressure?” It’s no secret that coach Matthew Primus has emphasised the need for the squad to heap the pressure on to win the football but it seemed to disappear in the second quarter against the Tigers. This stat will need to reverse if Port Adelaide wants to win the game.
Read More: The Crunch
Key match-ups
Matthew Pavlich v Troy Chaplin
He’s done it many times before and this will be one of the most important performances for Chappy this year. Playing on Fremantle’s prolific captain will be a tough task for the Power’s defensive chief, but his performances this year have been on the money and Chaplin’s experience against the big forward will count towards a big defensive effort. If he doesn’t peel off to support the midfield he could restrict Pavlich to only a handful of majors.
In Profile: Chappy
Brad Ebert v Michael Barlow
These two are the possession kings and have the ability to win the contested footy as well. Ebo has been prolific for the Power and has been amongst its best players every week while Michael Barlow continues to fire since his return from long-term injury. Both are huge possession getters and can kick forward well. Their influence on the game as the form midfielders will be important, and if Brad continues to put goals on the board, it could be a deal breaker come full time.
Read More: Brad Ebert
John Butcher/Justin Westhoff/Jay Schulz/Daniel Stewart v the Fremantle defence
Delivery is the key to a successful Power outfit and there was short supply last week against the Tigers. John Butcher plays dedicated footy and is excellent on his feet whilst Justin Westhoff crept into the goal kicking lead at the Showdown two weeks ago. His form has been good and they will be targeted by the Freo defenders. The possible selection of Jay Schulz and the decision by the selectors to pay three or four tall forwards (Daniel Stewart being number four) will also throw some interest into the mix and the likes of Johnson, McPhee, McPharlin and Dawson could match up on any of Port Adelaide’s primary attack.
Read More: Schulz injury update
The History
Port Adelaide and Fremantle have played 23 games since the Power’s entry to the AFL and the two played in the first ever ‘Power’ match was against the Dockers as as the ‘wharfie’ clubs of South Australia and WA respectively, they are in many respects kindred clubs. Port leads the win-loss count 14-9, but has only won one game out of the last five.
Umpires: TBA
The ledger
Played: 23, Port Adelaide: 14, Richmond: 9
The last five
Round 9, 2011 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.6 (90) def by Fremantle 21.16 (142)
Round 14, 2010 Subiaco Oval - Port Adelaide 8.10 (58) def by Fremantle 17.13 (115)
Round 19, 2009 Subiaco Oval - Port Adelaide 11.8 (74) def by Fremantle 17.14 (116)
Round 11, 2009 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) def Fremantle 1.4 (70)
Round 17, 2008 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 15.11 (101) def by Fremantle 20.9 (129)
Match details
Port Adelaide v Fremantle
Patersons Stadium, WA
Sunday 13 May 2012
First bounce: 2.40pm (local)
Game Day
Broadcast guide
Match centre
Final word
Tackle, tackle, tackle.
Read More: The Crunch
Key match-ups
Matthew Pavlich v Troy Chaplin
He’s done it many times before and this will be one of the most important performances for Chappy this year. Playing on Fremantle’s prolific captain will be a tough task for the Power’s defensive chief, but his performances this year have been on the money and Chaplin’s experience against the big forward will count towards a big defensive effort. If he doesn’t peel off to support the midfield he could restrict Pavlich to only a handful of majors.
In Profile: Chappy
Brad Ebert v Michael Barlow
These two are the possession kings and have the ability to win the contested footy as well. Ebo has been prolific for the Power and has been amongst its best players every week while Michael Barlow continues to fire since his return from long-term injury. Both are huge possession getters and can kick forward well. Their influence on the game as the form midfielders will be important, and if Brad continues to put goals on the board, it could be a deal breaker come full time.
Read More: Brad Ebert
John Butcher/Justin Westhoff/Jay Schulz/Daniel Stewart v the Fremantle defence
Delivery is the key to a successful Power outfit and there was short supply last week against the Tigers. John Butcher plays dedicated footy and is excellent on his feet whilst Justin Westhoff crept into the goal kicking lead at the Showdown two weeks ago. His form has been good and they will be targeted by the Freo defenders. The possible selection of Jay Schulz and the decision by the selectors to pay three or four tall forwards (Daniel Stewart being number four) will also throw some interest into the mix and the likes of Johnson, McPhee, McPharlin and Dawson could match up on any of Port Adelaide’s primary attack.
Read More: Schulz injury update
The History
Port Adelaide and Fremantle have played 23 games since the Power’s entry to the AFL and the two played in the first ever ‘Power’ match was against the Dockers as as the ‘wharfie’ clubs of South Australia and WA respectively, they are in many respects kindred clubs. Port leads the win-loss count 14-9, but has only won one game out of the last five.
Umpires: TBA
The ledger
Played: 23, Port Adelaide: 14, Richmond: 9
The last five
Round 9, 2011 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.6 (90) def by Fremantle 21.16 (142)
Round 14, 2010 Subiaco Oval - Port Adelaide 8.10 (58) def by Fremantle 17.13 (115)
Round 19, 2009 Subiaco Oval - Port Adelaide 11.8 (74) def by Fremantle 17.14 (116)
Round 11, 2009 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) def Fremantle 1.4 (70)
Round 17, 2008 AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 15.11 (101) def by Fremantle 20.9 (129)
Match details
Port Adelaide v Fremantle
Patersons Stadium, WA
Sunday 13 May 2012
First bounce: 2.40pm (local)
Game Day
Broadcast guide
Match centre
Final word
Tackle, tackle, tackle.
