FRIDAY night footy came to AAMI Stadium in Round 7, with the Power taking on the Hawks in a clash under lights and in prime-time.
Port Adelaide’s season has seen an occasional high - such as the comeback victory over the Crows in the Balfours Showdown 30 - but far more disappointing lows, with that victory the sole sweet taste for 2011 thus far.
Matt Primus and his fellow football department reacted to the disappointing loss to North Melbourne, losing two players to injury and dropping a further three from the side. Returning to the side were leaders Travis Boak and Jay Schulz, as well as Dan Stewart and Danyle Pearce, plus Simon Phillips picked to make his debut for the Power.
Before the game, former Swan Simon Phillips, whose time with Norwood saw him given a second chance in the AFL with the Power, was presented with his jumper by 2004 Norm Smith Medallist Byron ‘Choppy’ Pickett.
Phillips was the starting sub for the night, and was joined on the bench by Matthew Broadbent, Robbie Gray, and Daniel Stewart. The Power donned black arm bands are for former Board member Ian McLachlan, who passed away recently.
Hawthorn had all the early ball - Guerra missed a set shot, then Renouf kicked the first goal of the game. Pearce’s first shot on goal was errant but he made no mistake with his second after a Hawthorn error, and Ebert soon booted the second Power goal of the game. Former Power hero Shaun Burgoyne missed a shot on goal.
The Power’s pressure was superb, causing turnovers and more scoring opportunities that were being missed, with a snapped kick over the shoulder missing. A gutsy mark by Broadbent under the high ball set up a first goal for Pittard, with the ball switched wide to Cornes, who then hit up Hitchcock, when went back inside the centre to Pettigrew, who then hit the top of the 50 where Pittard roved the loose ball to goal.
A bad error by Logan gave away a 50m penalty and secured a goal for Mitchell, and then a seeming certain holding the ball decision didn’t go in Port’s favour right in front of goal, and the Hawks cleared the forward 50. Eventually the ball ended with Burgoyne, who missed from directly in front but a fair way out. A poor kick-in by Pittard gifted the ball to the Hawks, with Carlile then giving away a 50m penalty to make a certainty of a Shiels goal. The Power won the centre clearance and the ball eventually was swung high towards goal after Brogan won the hit-out, with Hartlett marking strongly in front of goal and making no mistake.
The Power’s tackling was a feature of the first quarter after a poor performance in that regard last week against the Kangaroos. Dan Stewart’s attack on the ball was also commendable after a tough start to 2011, crashing packs and generally going much harder at the ball.
QUARTER TIME: 5.1.31 TO 3.5.25. Goals: Pearce, Ebert, Westhoff, Pittard, and Hartlett. Possessions: Cornes 8, Brogan 6, Chaplin 6, Trengove 6.
A host of opportunities presented themselves early for the Power in a great start to the second term, but 4 points was the result. As Motlop hurt his finger or shoulder in a marking contest the Hawks cleared the forward 50 and goaled.
With both Motlop and Ebert off the ground injured, Gray was able to arrest the Hawthorn momentum with a much-needed goal, that Sewell immediately answered to reduce the margin back to a goal.
After earning a free directly in front of goal Schulz made no mistake, and the Power’s domination around the contest despite having a host of injured players - Motlop, Ebert and Chaplin all looking proppy - they continued to pile on the pressure, but couldn’t put a result on the scoreboard, missing a heap of opportunities.
Eventually the Hawks made the Power pay, with Renouf kicking truly after getting a free for holding against Chaplin. Port continued to blaze away but not put it on the scoreboard - there were a heap of opportunities to really hurt the Hawks on the scoreboard but it simply wasn’t happening for the Power. When Franklin got his chance he didn’t miss, reducing the margin to just 1 point very late in the second quarter, then the Hawks tied the scores up with another errant shot at goal.
HALF-TIME: 7.7.49 to 7.7.49. Goals: Pearce, Ebert, Westhoff, Pittard, Hartlett, Schulz and Gray. Possessions: Cornes 17, Chaplin 16, Pearce 15, Hartlett 12 and 3 tackles, Rodan 12, Brogan 12 and 13 hit-outs.
The Hawks won the initial clearance in the third term via a free against Brogan, but it was the Power who had the first scoring opportunity, with Gray getting his second goal for the game after earning a free when he was pushed out of the contest.
After Hodge missed everything the Power were able to clear the ball off half-back with a quick kick. Gray had oodles of space and he needed every bit of it after fumbling the loose ball - but eventually the ball fell to Motlop who made absolutely no mistake from an angle.
In a big blow, Rodan crumbled to the ground on half-back after being caught in a tackle, seemingly injuring his right knee, which he had reconstructed in 2005 when he was at Richmond. Phillips was immediately activated from the bench, set to come onto the ground for the first time for the Power.
Both sides traded points in a series of clashes, before a contentious mark in the goal square saw Hodge kicked a goal. Renouf continued his dominant display to boot his third goal of the game after taking a big grab up forward. The Hawks kicked a goal with 20 seconds of the quarter to go to give them a lead at three-quarter time.
THREE-QUARTER TIME: 9.11.65 to 9.11.65. Goals: Gray 2, Motlop, Pearce, Ebert, Westhoff, Pittard, Hartlett, and Schulz. Possessions: Cornes 22, Pearce 20, Chaplin 17, Brogan 17 and 20 hit-outs, Trengove 16, Hartlett 15 and 3 tackles, Rodan 15.
The Power looked set to score the first goal of the final term but errant kicks meant they went unrewarded, and eventually the Hawks were able to spread and find a loose man with Franklin escaping the clutches of Carlile to kick his second goal of the game.
The Hawks continued to dominate play around the game, with another poor kick coming out of defence favouring the Hawks, hitting Gibson plumb on the chest. The ball was rushed forward, stretching the lead to over 2 goals.
The Power were struggling to get the ball past the wing, with the Hawks regularly pumping the ball inside their 50, as players like Hodge, Ellis and Lewis started to really get involved in the play. A number of chances came and went for the Power, but Hawthorn continued to, for the most part, control the play, and despite some terrific defensive effort from Paul Stewart, Franklin was able to kick his third goal of the game.
Finally, Hitchcock was able to break his 2011 duck, kicking his first goal for the year after 8 points in the previous 5 games he had played for the year, but Smith immediately answered it for the Hawks, stretched the margin back out to 20 points as the game entered time-on.
Hawthorn's sub Savage took an uncontested mark straight in front of goal and made no mistake to stretch the lead further. He then kicked another within minutes to make it a 5 goal difference in a quarter that the Hawks dominated. It was a disappointing end to the match in a game that had many positive moments for the Power, but ultimately Hawthorn was the better side.
Post Game Coverage: Exclusive interviews with Cripps, Boak, Phillips & More
FINAL SCORE: 10.12.72 to 15.14.104.
Goals: Gray 2, Motlop, Pearce, Ebert, Westhoff, Pittard, Hartlett, Schulz, and Hitchcock.
Possessions: Cornes 27, Pearce 24, Chaplin 21, Brogan 19 and 23 hit-outs, Trengove 19 and 3 tackles, Hartlett 18 and 4 tackles, Boak 17 and 7 tackles.
Crowd: 21,819.
