Watch the match review from Saturday’s game against Richmond on PTV above. Can’t see the video? Watch on YouTube.
A CRACKING final game of season 2012 saw an old-fashioned arm wrestle between Port Adelaide and Richmond at the MCG end in a heart-stopping draw.
End Game
The Power and Tigers traded goals throughout the day - Port trailing at quarter time but opening up a one point, then one goal lead in the following breaks.
It seemed as though each time one team pulled out a sudden spurt, the other had as many tricks to respond with - the final result fitting somewhat.
Highlights were many - with Brad Ebert, Matthew Broadbent, David Rodan and Danyle Pearce all kicking exciting running goals whilst Jay Schulz was again a force in attack with four majors.
The Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 16.10 (106) drew with
Richmond 16.10 (106)
Best: Brad Ebert, Schulz, Broadbent, Pearce, Boak, Casissi, Hartlett
Goals: Schulz 4, Brad Ebert 3, Brett Ebert, Broadbent 2, Pearce, Rodan, Thomas, Wingard, Young
Injuries: McCarthy (groin)
Substitution: John McCarthy replaced by David Rodan in the third quarter
Leader board
Disposals leader: Kane Cornes (29)
Marks leader: Jay Schulz (12)
Tackles leader: Hamish Hartlett, Jarrad Redden (6)
Clearances leader: Hamish Hartlett (6)
Hitouts leader: Jarrad Redden (29)
Scores leader: Jay Schulz (25 points)
Dreamteam leader: Kane Cornes (109 points)
Headlines
Port shares the points
Hocking still undecided
Quarter by Quarter
Footage
Clairvoyant Broadcasting
Hocking and Cornes press conference
Pearce Goals from Hartlett missile
The final two minutes
Ten second goal
Match highlights: Power v Tigers
Schulz screamer and goal
Ebert from the boundary
Analysis
Little separated the teams at the close of play.
Particularly the final score.
The Power finished its season on a ‘spirit’ positive. When the game was on the line, Port rallied to find an edge over the Tigers and kept at their rivals all day.
This does not belie the fact that the Power was unable to build enough for a win, but it showed that a playing group heading into the unknown, with questions over the identity of its 2013 coach and playing list, was resolved to make amends for a season captain Dom Cassisi acknowledges didn’t reach its potential.
Day-long contributions from the likes of Brad Ebert, Matthew Broadbent, Jay Schulz, Travis Boak and Hamish Hartlett showed the impact Port’s big names will continue to have on its development heading into 2013 and their improvement is something many will look forward to.
That's a wrap
Port Adelaide's playing group will be on annual leave for several weeks with players gradually returning back to Alberton for training resumptions in late October.
Meanwhile, the football department will remain active in preparation for the early October trade and free agency periods.
The club will fly to the United Kingdom at the end of October ahead of its November 3 exhibition clash with the Western Bulldogs at KIA Oval in London.
Throughout this club CEO Keith Thomas will spearhead the interview and appointment process of the Power's new senior coach.
Next Match
Saturday 3 November, 3.30pm (GMT) / Sunday 4 November 2.00am (CST)
AFL European Challenge Cup
Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs
KIA Oval, Surrey Cricket Club, London UK
Stay tuned to PortAdelaideFC.com.au throughout the off-season for the latest on the club’s 2013 recruiting and pre-season training.
