1. Giants’ surge continues
The Giants have now won six of their last seven matches and are surging up the ladder despite being savaged by injuries this season. Wins against Richmond and Port Adelaide in consecutive weeks has reminded the competition what a threat they pose. At Adelaide Oval their clearance work and tackling was top rate, while the returning Brett Deledio and Toby Greene are only going to get better in the coming weeks. Just as pleasing was their ability to withstand a challenge from Port Adelaide – goals to Adam Tomlinson and Zac Langdon icing the result. With matches against St Kilda and Carlton ahead expect the Giants, not the Power, to challenge for 4th spot.

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2. Power blows another opportunity
For the second week in a row Port Adelaide has had a chance to claim a top-four spot but failed to deliver on expectations. Sunday’s match showed they rely too heavily on ruckman Paddy Ryder, and their possession efficiency under extreme pressure can deteriorate. The clangers were wide spread at Adelaide Oval with even the team’s best players butchering the ball at times during the first half. Despite their deficiencies, the Power’s never-say-die attitude, displayed in the second half, will ensure they’ll still prove a handful come finals time. Sydney’s shock loss to Gold Coast means Port remains only percentage out of 4th spot, but they’ve only played in patches over the past month of footy.


3. Coniglio class provides counter punch
A determined Port Adelaide got the crowd of 34,693 on its side when a Robbie Gray goal reduced the margin to 21 points midway through the third quarter, but the home side’s work was quickly erased by two impressive plays by Stephen Coniglio. He out-marked Dougal Howard to goal from close range, and then evaded two Power defenders to fire out a handball which set up Jacob Hopper for a major a minute later.

4. Wingard screamer provides morale boost
Port Adelaide’s play of the day came in the dying seconds of the third quarter. A lucky bounce saw Karl Amon win a vital ball deep in the Giants’ attack and pump the ball out onto the wing. It was there Chad Wingard got a ride on and took a spectacular overhead mark. The Power then moved the ball quickly into the forward line with a Justin Westhoff tackle setting up a crowd-lifting goal from close range for Robbie Gray. It saw the home side enter the final quarter trailing by 16 points and with momentum on their side.


5. Ryder injury leaves gaping hole
With the injured Paddy Ryder on the sidelines, Port started with Charlie Dixon in the ruck. The Power forward line suffered without him, kicking only three goals in the first half.  The home side fell 33 points behind before it got the combination of small and tall players right in attack. While he’s only kicked 20 goals this year, Dixon needs to stay in attack and Port needs another Plan B for the ruck. The midfield is more decisive when he’s there and Robbie Gray, Sam Gray and Chad Wingard can feed off his marking contests. Here’s hoping Ryder’s powers of recovery are swift because the trickle-down effect on team structure is concerning.