It was the best game of the opening round, between two of last year’s finalists. And fans of both sides can take heart from their performance. The pace was hectic and both sides showed flashes of brilliance. The Dockers let themselves down with their skills at times, but can rest safe in the knowledge that Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands and Hayden Ballantyne are almost certain to take them into another finals series. And they won a scintillating game of football. Port Adelaide, meanwhile, was irresistible on the counter-attack and has more than enough stars in Brad Ebert, Travis Boak, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec and Chad Wingard to carry it to premiership glory. The result may have handed Fremantle the four points, but the Power will move on, quickly.

In last year’s semi-final, Ryan Crowley restricted Port Adelaide captain Boak to just 16 possessions. And, while the Power ended Fremantle’s premiership dream that afternoon, Crowley’s effort on Boak had given them every chance at victory. This time around, Crowley’s absence - while he serves a provisional ban for doping - came as a huge blow to the home side, which would certainly have hoped to keep one of the Power’s dominant midfielders quiet. Boak had a great first half before Clancee Pearce was able to curb his influence in the third term. In the last, he kicked an important goal that gave the Power a sniff of victory. Boak finished with 25 possessions and five tackles.

 

Like many former Essendon players, Paddy Ryder and Angus Monfries were always going to be under the spotlight this week. Both sat out the pre-season games, along with 32 former Essendon teammates, while they waited for the AFL’s Anti-Doping Tribunal to deliver its findings. Cleared by the tribunal midweek, they took their places in the Power line-up, though Monfries was spared the gut-busting opening to the game when he was made the substitute. Ryder, meanwhile, was thrown to the wolves after Matthew Lobbe’s late withdrawal left him to shoulder the majority of the rucking duties against Aaron Sandilands and Zac Clarke. He performed admirably, registering 12 disposals and 20 hit-outs. Monfries was largely ineffective when he came on in the last quarter, gathering three possessions, but giving away a free kick.

 

But only for the first 10 minutes of the match. In that time, an amazingly efficient Port Adelaide systematically picked apart the Fremantle press and broke free in waves. The Dockers, usually so stingy in defence at home, gave up two goals in the first five minutes. And it could have been more. Every Port Adelaide kick hit the intended target and those who raved about Port Adelaide’s best footy of 2014 would have again been vociferous in their praise. But, slowly, the Dockers worked their way back into the game and Port couldn’t continue to hit their targets at such a high rate. By the 20-minute mark, the game had become an arm wrestle. And that’s how it remained.

 

Necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention. So, when Lee Spurr was tackled just 30m out from Port Adelaide’s goal early in the second term, he tried to invent a way out of trouble. Invoking the ghost of former Essendon full-forward Matthew Lloyd, whose 2007 back-heeled goal won him goal of the year, Spurr threw the ball out behind him and then shot out his leg. But he failed to make contact and was penalised for holding the ball. The error handed Jake Neade an easy set shot at goal. Fortunately for Spurr, Neade’s kick was just as bad, sailing out of bounds on the full to complete the worst 30 seconds of football in what was otherwise a highly skillful game.