ROBBIE Gray has expressed his disappointment and frustration with the way Port Adelaide began the game against St. Kilda as the players spent a Monday morning recovery session at the SA Leisure & Aquatic Centre at Marion.
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He explained that one of the Power’s key imperatives before the game begun was to start strongly against the Saints.
“We had a big focus, because we knew they’d be coming out hard because we knew that they had a lot on the line,” he said. “To come out like [we did] was really disappointing and we just couldn’t wrestle the momentum back after that.”
The game begun in comical fashion, with plenty of push-and-shove all over the ground resulting in a hit by Jackson Trengove on St. Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt noted by the umpires, with a free kick paid before the ball had been bounced and a goal gifted to the travelling side.
The 56 point loss extends the Power’s losing streak to 5 matches, and sees the club remain rooted to the bottom of the table, ahead only of Gold Coast by percentage.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a motivating factor,” Gray said of the team’s desire not to ‘earn’ a wooden spoon. “We don’t talk about it that much. We focus from week-to-week and hopefully we can win a few more games before the end of the year.
“We’re definitely aware of it,” he continued, referring to the stain of finishing last on the ladder, “but like I said it’s not something we focus on.”
Gray’s individual form throughout 2011 has been impressive, whether it be up forward or rotating through the midfield. Against St. Kilda he played primarily as a midfielder, picking up 26 disposals - his highest count for the year - and kicking a goal, as well as laying 8 tackles.
“It’s been good to be out there and try and help the team,” he said of his - thus far - uninterrupted year, a far cry from previous seasons that have seen the impressive playmaker miss games with injury.
Winning clearances and getting the ball inside 50 is an area that the Power have struggled with in 2011, with the last time they won both counts against Richmond in Darwin. The team returns to the top end this coming Saturday night for the second of two fixtures at TIO Stadium, this time taking on a Melbourne side who defeated the Power by a solitary point in a thrilling 2010 fixture at the same venue.
“[We need to] get some quick ball in there and give the forwards some opportunity,” Gray said. “Once we get it in there we’re pretty good at locking the ball in there, and that’s a lot of today’s game, getting the ball in there and then pressing forward. We definitely need to improve on that.”
