PORT ADELAIDE players have rallied around Matt Thomas as the young midfielder sweats on the outcome of Monday’s match review panel.
Thomas was reported for rough conduct against Crow Nathan Bassett after an incident that left the All-Australian defender unconscious.
The 21-year-old tackled Bassett from behind, pinning his arms. The forward momentum of both players resulted in Bassett’s head slamming into the AAMI Stadium turf.
The AFL Laws of the Game committee warned clubs that such tackles would be scrutinised more heavily in 2008, but defender Troy Chaplin believed Thomas’ attack on the player with the ball to be “fair”.
“You’re taught to tackle and take the arms, so the player can’t release the ball, and it was just unfortunate that Bassett hit his head on the ground,” Chaplin said.
“I think it’s a bit unfair because Matty tackles hard, and the same thing happened to Kane Cornes at the MCG last year with Byron Pickett.
“It’s a tough situation, but the guys are really rallying around him because we know that’s the way we want to tackle.”
Chaplin was confident that other contests involving Dean Brogan and Michael Pettigrew would also be given the all-clear.
“We focused on being the first to the football, and that’s what we were last night,” he said.
“There were incidents in the game that happened, but I don’t think the video review panel will have too much to look into.
“It was just guys attacking the footy. I think Brogan and Luke Jericho’s clash was just two guys going for the footy who bumped into each other.”
The Power has taken plenty of positives out of Sunday’s narrow loss to the Crows, and will now turn their attention to the Brisbane Lions this week.
Both teams have been involved in close encounters this season, with the Lions having claimed just one victory and Port Adelaide still looking to open its 2008 account.
“We’re probably coming up against a side that is in a similar situation to us,” Chaplin said.
“We’ve lost a couple of close games, and last year we had a bit of luck and won those close games.
“We could’ve easily been 2-1 this season and now we’re 0-3, but we do move forward.
“If we were to go 0-4 it would make it very hard, but if you look at the Kangaroos last year, they were 0-3 and made the preliminary final, so there is a positive outlook there.
“We’ve always said we don’t like losing at home, and it’s a huge challenge for us again. It’s going to be a great game again, and hopefully we can bring that ferocious attack on the footy and play that fast exciting footy that was there last night.”
