SUMMARY
This is a hugely important game for both clubs, but with a little bit more riding on it for Port Adelaide. Last weekend's three-point loss in Showdown 45 against cross-town rival Adelaide leaves the Power with a tentative grip on a place in the top eight. Lose to the Eagles, and the Power could find themselves on the outside looking in by the end of the round. The Eagles need to win two of their remaining three games to lock in second spot and potentially a pair of home finals. Andrew Gaff's brutal hit on Andrew Brayshaw leaves the Eagles without one of the premier outside runners in the competition. Elliot Yeo and Jack Redden have stepped up in the midfield, Jack Darling and Jamie Cripps are a dangerous one-two combo in attack and Nathan Vardy is providing Scott Lycett with solid support in the ruck. The Power's midfielders need to raise their game to compete with the Eagles and take advantage of Paddy Ryder's ruck work.
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Saturday, August 11, 4.05pm ACST
LAST FIVE TIMES
R7, 2018, West Coast 16.6 (102) d Port Adelaide 9.6 (60) at Optus Stadium
1EF, 2017, West Coast 12.6 (78) d Port Adelaide 10.16 (76) at Adelaide Oval
R16, 2017, Port Adelaide 18.12 (120) d West Coast 13.10 (88) at Subiaco Oval
R7, 2017, West Coast 15.7 (97) d Port Adelaide 12.15 (87) at Adelaide Oval
R9, 2016, West Coast 14.10 (94) d Port Adelaide 13.8 (86) at Adelaide Oval
THE SIX POINTS
1. A dominant first-half display from the Eagles, booting nine goals to three, was the key to their round seven victory over the Power. Josh Kennedy finished with four goals and Andrew Gaff starred with 35 disposals.
2. Port is one of the strongest defensive teams this year, conceding just 71 points per game, second in the League for points against. The Eagles aren't far behind, ranked fifth.
3. The Eagles have the wood on the Power, winning five of their past six contests. But they have usually gone down to the wire, with four of those decided by 10 points or fewer.
4. No team in the competition takes more contested marks than the Eagles, averaging 13.3 per game. Recently re-signed Jeremy McGovern is a major reason why, leading the League with 51 contested marks, nine more than the next best.
5. The Eagles have a great record at Adelaide Oval, winning six of their eight visits to the venue. Four of those have been against the Power, including last year's epic elimination final.
6. Defender Jeremy McGovern will be the highest-ranked player in the Schick AFL Player Ratings on the ground. McGovern is ranked 19th overall, just one spot ahead of the Power's Robbie Gray.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Power vice-captain Ollie Wines will be ruing his decision to take a rushed snap at goal, which missed everything, in the last quarter of last weekend's epic Showdown. Wines will be desperate to redeem himself and will throw himself into every contest to make up for it.
PREDICTION: Port Adelaide by 12 points
