PORT ADELAIDE beat the Western Bulldogs by 13 points in its return to Adelaide Oval on Monday night.
Despite the four-day turn around Port managed to find its energy in the second half with a four-goal burst in the third quarter enough to see off the Dogs.
Here are some key things we learned from our win over the Dogs.
1) Rockliff like a pig in mud
Two weeks ago Tom Rockliff was on the outer, having been dropped to find form. The 30-year-old came back in against Melbourne and his contribution to help organise Port’s midfield was visible to those within the club. After another strong showing in the win over the Western Bulldogs, coach Ken Hinkley described Rockliff as the club’s stoppage architect. “He’s the architect around the stoppage for us, he can control lots of people so his football brain, and his ability to win it and be composed,” Hinkley said. Not only did he help with the structure against two quality midfield outfits, but his toughness was incredible. To go with his 23 disposals, four score assists and four clearances, Rockliff had a game-high 15 tackles including one to stop ruckman Tim English in his tracks outside 50 and set up a goal for his opposite number Peter Ladhams just before three-quarter time. Against Melbourne Rockliff had 10 tackles. His career average is 5.7 per game, which ranks him as elite. He’s averaging 6.7 in 2020 already.
2) Port can overturn a slow start.
The first quarter stats were damning. Port lost the inside 50s 15-7 and the clearances 12-6 and the Bulldogs should probably have been further in front than the nine-point advantage they held at the first change. By half time the clearance numbers were almost even but the inside 50 stat still read 25-12, although Port trailed by just three points thanks to more wastefulness from the visitors and some resolute defending by the back six. With an expectation that the Power might tire in the second half, it was almost a surprise to see the dominance of territory and inside 50s in the third quarter. Port had 17 inside 50 to 3 and kicked four goals to none in the third term, which proved enough to secure victory in the end. Hinkley said the side’s “resilience was pretty special” and he noted that it was not the first time his side had been able to “adjust, re-set and get it done.”
3) Butters butters up
When Port needed a spark in the third quarter, up stepped Zak Butters. In just his second season and his 29th game, the 19-year-old did a lot of small things right as well as a few big things. Composed on the ball, he collected a career-high 24 disposals and career-high three clearances to go with six marks, but there were other moments too including his desperation and ability to create goals. He had six score involvements including two at critical times. His turnover at half forward which created a goal for Robbie Gray in the second term and his desperate dive over two Bulldog opponents to tap the ball to Kane Farrell for a goal off the ground in the last quarter were vital at points of the game where the Bulldogs were threatening.
4) Port and Dogs always up for a fight.
After Monday’s result, Port has now beaten the Dogs in four of their last five encounters but across history it could not be much closer. The overall head to head record from 30 games is 16 wins to Port Adelaide and 14 to the Western Bulldogs. Even closer is the total scores by each side. Port has scored a total of 2923 points in those 30 games while their opponents have scored 2892, just 31 points less in 30 meetings, with both sides averaging 14 goals and 11 behinds against each other. That’s tight!
5) Has Port unearthed another one?
Much has been said of Port Adelaide’s 2018 AFL draft crop with Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma making themselves at home at AFL level in the last season and a half. But one member of that crop that was probably forgotten about by many, except those within the club, was Boyd Woodcock. Despite a strong season at SANFL level in 2019 as a small forward, the 20-year-old was not considered close enough to AFL selection earlier this season to be taken to the Gold Coast to be part of the club’s time in the hub. Left in Adelaide, and having worked hard during the AFL stand-down period, Woodcock has since earned his chance and made his debut against the Dogs on Monday night. While his eleven disposals and two tackles aren’t huge numbers, he had four score involvements and showed enough composure to suggest he could stick around. Ken Hinkley said he thought the club had found another player. Woodcock was unlucky not to join the club of players to have kicked a goal with their first AFL kick, and may be the first player to have their first goal overturned by the ARC score review.
