SUMMARY
Port Adelaide is a shell of the side that pushed Hawthorn to the brink in last year's preliminary final. The Power have now lost three games on the trot; against West Coast, the Brisbane Lions and Richmond, and now turn their attention to a contest against a revitalised Melbourne. The Demons were excellent in their 38-point win over the Western Bulldogs last week, with young forward Jesse Hogan leading the charge with three goals. If the Power are still heading in the direction that everyone thinks they are heading, and that's premiership contention, then they must win this game and make a statement that they are a force to be reckoned with.
WHERE AND WHEN: TIO Traeger Park, Saturday 1.40pm ACST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for the broadcst guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R19, 2014, Port Adelaide 10.12 (72) d Melbourne 10.9 (69) at Adelaide Oval
R11, 2014, Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) d Melbourne 11.9 (75) at TIO Traeger Park
R1, 2013, Port Adelaide 19.19 (133) d Melbourne 8.6 (54) at the MCG
R17, 2012, Port Adelaide 12.12 (84) d Melbourne 8.8 (56) at TIO Stadium
R24, 2011, Port Adelaide 17.10 (112) d Melbourne 15.14 (104) at Adelaide Oval
THE SIX POINTS
1. Port Adelaide's ability to score continues to drop, with the Power averaging 76 points per game in 2015. Ken Hinkley's team averaged 100 points per game last season.
2. On the other side of the ledger, Melbourne is the worst scoring side in 2015 with just 70 points per game. However, the club broke the 100-point barrier against the Western Bulldogs last weekend.
3. Port Adelaide has struggled to win contested possessions in 2015, ranked 11th in the competition with 136.2 per game. The Power were ranked fifth in this area in 2014.
4. Saturday's clash between Port Adelaide and Melbourne will be just the second game played in Alice Springs for premiership points. It follows last year's contest between the sides in round 11 at the venue, which the Power won by 20 points.
5. Port Adelaide has won five of its past seven games against the Demons. Melbourne's last victory against the Power came in round 17, 2011.
6. Melbourne's Jeremy Howe is on the upward trend in the Official AFL Player Ratings, moving from the fourth top ranked player at the club to the third. He now sits behind Nathan Jones and Tom McDonald.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR…
Jay Schulz.
The Port Adelaide spearhead's lack of confidence has been reflective of the team's mentality. Normally one of the most reliable kicks in front of goal, Schulz fluffed two set-shots from 20 and 25m out in the loss to the Tigers last Sunday. Not even coach Ken Hinkley could believe he had missed. Schulz' performance is vital to the Power's success rate, with the forward kicking four, five and five goals in his side's three wins. To illustrate his importance to the Power, Schulz has kicked just four majors in Port's five losses.
PREDICTION: Port Adelaide by 15 points
