PORT ADELAIDE moved into outright third on the AFL ladder after a controlled 54-point win over St Kilda on the evening of ANZAC Day.
Port led throughout the game despite an early Saints forward half onslaught and came away injury-free and with the four points.
Here are some key things we learned from the game.
1) Ollie Wines and Karl Amon are in career-best form
The ever-humble Ollie Wines thinks he is “probably close” to career best form but his stats paint a more definitive picture. The 26-year-old is averaging a career-high 31.5 disposals per game in 2021, ranking him as elite amongst the competition. He is equal fourth overall for possessions in the AFL and third in the competition for contested possessions. He has put it down to simplifying his outlook on the game and understanding the role he plays for the side. Another who has joined him is Karl Amon. Traditionally pencilled in on a wing, Amon has spent more time in and under in 2021 and his first half in particular was extraordinary. He had 26 disposals to the main break and finished with a career-high 34, a career-high 15 marks and eight pressure acts. He also had a game-high 555 metres gained. Both have been vital cogs in the Port engine room and key to releasing the pressure on Travis Boak in the middle.
2) Port’s NGA is showing its value
In just six rounds of the 2021 season Port Adelaide has had five club and three AFL debutants including two straight from its Next Generation Academy. Defender Lachie Jones’ ankle injury opened the door for fellow NGA product Martin Frederick to debut and the 20-year-old with South Sundanese heritage looked at home at AFL level. He finished with 23 disposals and six marks, and displayed his trademark speed and run and carry. He was instrumental in an early goal to Connor Rozee and another to Steven Motlop and went at 95.7 per-cent disposal efficiency. Port supporters could also get excited about father-son NGA products Jackson Mead, Trent Burgoyne and Taj Schofield who are waiting in the wings.
3) Mature Port adapting to game conditions
Port Adelaide absorbed a lot of pressure in the first quarter, and it was prepared to given St Kilda was coming off an embarrassing defeat to Richmond last week. With 19 inside 50s against seven to Port, St Kilda really should have been ahead at the first break but Port’s defence withstood the pressure and was able to create goals on the counter to have the home side leading. From the point Steven Motlop booted a late goal, his second of the term, St Kilda’s spirit was broken. Port started to control the possession by chipping the ball around. It enjoyed a run of six straight goals and eleven of the next twelve to open up a comfortable lead and break the game open. Port finished with 142 more uncontested possessions and 66 more marks than the Saints, adapting its game style to be possession focussed at times, yet still score on the rebound. After the game coach Ken Hinkley was full of praise of his side’s maturity and adaptability after the game. ‘I rarely give them too much instruction on what to do when we get hold of the ball,” he said. “I was always tempted or a few years but they know where they’re going and they know what they’re doing and we’ll only get in the way by trying to interfere.”
4) Port respects its ANZAC history
For the 17th consecutive year, Port Adelaide has hosted a game in the AFL’s ANZAC round. The occasion is special for the club, which counts more than 130 past players and officials among those who have served in the Australian Defence Force. The club runs programs in the community to assist with the unique challenges that ADF families face, including a new program to help recently discharged veterans transition into civilian life. With a special free documentary screening of The Rover of Tobruk – a film about the life and acts both on the field and in battle of Port Adelaide great Bob Quinn – before the game at Adelaide Oval on Saturday evening, and tributes to past and present ANZACs in the lead-up to the bounce, it was a special evening, described by club CEO Matthew Richardson as a “privilege” that Port Adelaide was proud to host.
5) Powell-Pepper’s power is back
In just his second game of 2021 after taking leave from footy to focus on some issues in his personal life, Sam Powell-Pepper was outstanding in the club’s SANFL game against Glenelg on Saturday night. Powell-Pepper had a game-high 34 disposals, eight tackles and eight clearances, then added a goal for good measure as his side went down narrowly at the Bay. Hinkley said he was most pleased with the 22-year-old’s growth as a person but he was impressed with how Powell-Pepper played “like a good Port Adelaide player”. He said the midfielder had tried all game and showed good team care. Along with Tom Rockliff, Trent McKenzie, Jarrod Lienert, Kane Farrell and a handful of others, Powell-Pepper appears ready and waiting for his AFL opportunity.
