HERE'S what we learned from Saturday's loss to the Western Bulldogs...
1. Port Adelaide isn't going to play finals...
Saturday wasn't a good day, nor has 2015 been a good year [pic: AFL Photos]
It's mathematically possible, but reality suggests otherwise.
To play finals, Port Adelaide entirely relies on bottom six teams teams beating sides currently in the top eight in each of the next four rounds.
We're all realists - it's not going to happen (and Champion Data acknowledged this by rounding down the Power's finals chances to zero percent on its contention predictions).
As Ken Hinkley said in his post-mortem on Saturday, it's been a season of disappointment for Port Adelaide.
You get what you deserve.
HINKLEY: Power's worst game in three years
2. Three things have damned the Power this year …
Sometimes it just isn't your day. But there's been a few too many bad days for ball use this year. [pic: AFL Photos]
Effort, consistency, execution. These three things are what have continually plagued the Power in 2015. On Saturday it was effort. In many other games it's been the other two factors.
It's been a tough pill to swallow, but the Round 19 game was a perfect storm of all three.
It will be a long journey back to the pointy end of the competition. It's been done before, it can be done again, but the mountain is a steep climb once more.
TALKING POINTS: Power v Bulldogs
3. Jack Hombsch could be a goal keeper...
It was one highlight of a bare reel for the Power. Jack Hombsch taking on Stringer and Bontempelli and winning by a fingernail while lying on the ground was the type of desperation supporters expect of Port Adelaide players.
Unfortunately it was one instance that was rarely replicated on Saturday.
REPORT: Power's worst performance of 2015
4. Sam Gray is a tryer
He kept going all day. [pic: AFL Photos]
Tip of the cap to Sam Gray, his effort was great all day. When a bloke who has spent most of his year in the SANFL is among your leading ball-winners, and visibly plays his guts out to win the football, a Port supporter can sit back and appreciate his performance.
He's been a solid SANFL player and has transferred that to the AFL with the chance he's been afforded.
