End Game
Port Adelaide was soundly beaten by Collingwood in the application of its defensive pressure. The Power led the disposals , tied for effective disposals, and matched the Pies in contested and uncontested possessions, but its tackling pressure and ability to win the ball inside fifty were critical deficiencies. Encouraging signs for the Power came through midfielders Kane Cornes and John McCarthy spiking the possession count and Travis Boak’s best game for 2012 - the Club Champion winning a game-high seven clearances.
The Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 10.13 (73) def by
Collingwood 14.13 (97)
Best: Boak, Cassisi, Pearce, McCarthy, Cornes.
Goals: Schulz, Gray 2, Brad Ebert, D. Stewart, P. Stewart, Pfeiffer, Butcher, Westhoff.
Injuries: Gray (knee)
How it was Reported
Port’s Gray Day
Fears For Robbie’s Knee
PTV: Power v Pies Highlights
PTV: Cornes Post-Match
Pies Too Strong For Port
Quarter-By-Quarter
In his own words - Primus
We’ve got some guys in SANFL in some form they’re different to Robbie (Gray) but we’ll find someone else to fill the breach and that’s why we’ve worked hard in pre-season to make sure that we’ve got a squad that can step up when we need it.”
“You can win from there (quarter time) but it makes life very difficult. We might’ve won on the scoreboard in the next three quarters but we made some fundamental errors and went away from exactly what we needed to do. They worked hard for some goals and we made some errors that really gave them some goals.”
“It’s a similar story to what I’ve said the last three weeks I reckon and we’re getting sick and tired of saying that and talking that and reviewing that. So we’ve got to keep either finding out why, bringing the right people to keep making sure these fundamental things don’t happen to us.
“(But) Probably the overall picture of it is that it’s a developing group and they’re going to make blues and to keep educating them and decrease those blues because we’re not a top four team that can afford to make those mistakes and still win games.”
What it means
Port Adelaide has lost its last three games by an average of 23 points - its largest loss against Essendon and marked reductions against Sydney and now Collingwood. Undoubtedly the Power is a competitive side this year - and with the toughest start by any team to finish sixteenth on the ladder in recent memory (four finalists including one grand finalist in the first four rounds) - there is a definite improvement in this year’s team. But with a 1-3 win-loss record it is a bitter pill to swallow after being in positions to compete for victory in all of those losing games.
The future
Port Adelaide plays in Adelaide for the next fortnight with the ‘away’ Balfours Showdown against the Crows this Sunday and Richmond a week later. It then faces a tough challenge against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium before returning to Adelaide to play North Melbourne. The Balfours Showdown against the Crows will be the first opportunity for the Power to play a side which is similarly recovering from a tough 2011 season. An intense, hard-tackling brand of football will match up well against both the Crows and Tigers.
Injury list
Robbie Gray will have scans today to determine the extent of suspected damage to his ACL joint. It is unlikely that Gray will undergo LARS surgery as used by teammate David Rodan and will instead opt for a traditional reconstruction if scans confirm the worst. No other injuries were sustained by the Power during the match and the club was bolstered by the successful return of John Butcher.
Welcome to the club
Brent Renouf and Darren Pfeiffer debuted for the club on the weekend and both put in serviceable performances during their first games in Power colours. Pfeiffer was particularly impressive with 20 touches, three tackles and playing 78 percent game time. He should be up for consideration to play his old team Adelaide this week. Renouf was subbed off late in the game but with 17 hit outs his debut was equally as solid.
The Black and White
Port Adelaide went down to Central District at home on Saturday. It is the Magpies’ third loss in the SANFL for the year, with the sole win against last years premiers Woodville-West Torrens its only victory. Uneven performances against likely finalists Norwood and Central will count against Port Adelaide come finals time, but the critical measuring stick of the club’s form in the SANFL will come in the next four weeks with away games against South, West and Glenelg and a home battle against North. These are must-win games for the Magpies if it is to feature at all during September action.
The Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 11.9 (75) def by
Central District 16. 8 (104)
Best: Summerton, Dolling, Clayton
Goals: Summerton 3, Rose, Kulikowski 2, Clayton, Wilson, Cockshell, McKenzie
Coming Up
Sunday 29 April, 4.10pm
Balfours Showdown XXXII
Adelaide v Port Adelaide
AAMI Stadium, West Lakes
Saturday 28 April, 2.10pm
South Adelaide v Port Adelaide
Hickinbotham Oval, Noarlunga
