PORT ADELAIDE
Season to date:
With one round played, you can't read too much into Port’s nine-point loss to the Cats; Geelong is, after all, still the benchmark.
Nevertheless, Port coach Mark Williams would've been buoyed to get to within touching distance of the premiers courtesy of a vastly improved second half. However, poor kicking let his side down.
Port exited the pre-season NAB Cup in round one losing at home to Carlton by 15 points.
Recent form:
Round 1: Port 14. 12. (96) lost to Geelong 15.15. (105)
Last time out:
Sydney Swans 17. 16 (118) defeated Port Adelaide 13.9 (87), round 8, 2007, at SCG
The Swans lead at every break to easily account for the visitors in front of just over 25,000 fans. After taking a 38-point lead into three-quarter time, the Swans held off a late charge from Port to win by 31 points.
Port was beaten in disposals 305 to 258 with Swans’ stars Kennelly, Craig Bolton and Malceski all enjoying 20+ disposals for the game while 2006 Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes kept dangerman Chad Cornes relatively quiet.
Similarly, Port youngster Greg Bentley had an effective match up on the in-form Ryan O'Keefe, keeping him down to just three touches in the first half and 12 for the match.
Spearhead Brett Ebert with four goals was also effective. Elsewhere, Kane Cornes starred with 23 disposals while Peter Burgoyne and Domenic Cassisi racked up 18 and 17 disposals respectively.
The venue: SCG
Port should feel relatively comfortable on the smaller surrounds of the SCG having played Sydney here in all of their eight matches in the harbour city since 1997. That said, Port has only won three times out of these eight fixtures.
The coach: Mark Williams
Lauded for taking a side generally regarded as in a transition period all the way to last year's grand final, the 49-year-old former Collingwood and Brisbane player has his Port side playing eye-catching free-flowing, high scoring footy. And he has been able to bring through exciting youngsters like Justin Westhoff, Travis Boak and Nathan Krakouer who've benefited from having experienced superstars such as the Cornes and Burgoyne brothers and skipper Warren Tredrea at the club.
Now starting his tenth season coaching Port Adelaide, a premiership in 2004 and an overall win/loss ratio of 130/84 speaks volumes for one of Australian football’s most exciting young coaches.
Williams will also coach the Dream Team in May.
Strengths:
A good blend of older and younger players although that does lean more towards youth with over half aged 21 and under. Still, they are in the top five tallest squads in the league with ruck duo Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan two of the best around. Port has a youthful vigour and free-flowing approach that can destroy sides.
Missing in action:
Aside from defender Michael Wilson who ruptured his achilles tendon in last year’s preliminary final, Port is relatively injury free. As for Sunday’s clash, they should be boosted at selection with key defender Troy Chaplin cleared to play after recovering from a broken hand. And Robbie Gray (adductor) and Nathan Krakouer (calf) may be included depending on fitness tests.
The key: Shutting down Port
Two sides with contrasting approaches, the Swans have been able to snuff out Port Adelaide’s trademark run and carry in recent times, having won four of the last six encounters between the two. And on the shortest venue in the AFL, such a strangling game plan will provide Port with a second tough test in as many weeks.
The young gun: Justin Westhoff
Last year the sleek 19-year-old forward broke through playing 16 games after debuting in round 10. He went on to win the club's best first-year player award and the Gavin Wanganeen Medal for best young player. Last week, one goal and ten disposals was a solid, if unspectacular, start to 2008 for this star of the future.
The questions:
Can Shaun Burgoyne escape the clutches of Brett Kirk in the midfield? Will the Cornes brothers dominate? Can Port execute their free-flowing game plan despite the expected pressure on the man from the Swans? And will Port dominate in the ruck like they did last week against Geelong?
Did you know?
Five Port players made their debut last season – Nathan Krakouer, Adam Cockshell, Robert Gray, Justin Westhoff and Travis Boak - with the quintet racking up 48 games between them in a season that saw them reach the grand final.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
