Port's plan to continue Eagle nightmare
Port Adelaide plans to repeat Geelong's shutdown of West Coast
PORT ADELAIDE will seek to repeat Geelong's ruthless shutdown job of West Coast when it faces the Eagles at Patersons Stadium on Saturday.
The Cats were simply awesome in round four at Simonds Stadium, holding the Eagles goalless after quarter time.
West Coast took just one mark inside 50 after the first break.
Power midfielder Ollie Wines said he didn't watch Geelong's defensive master class live but the Power would dissect it this week.
"That's what we pride ourselves on, our defensive pressure, creating our offence from our defence," Wines said.
"It's really important to stop teams scoring and Geelong had the ability to do that on Saturday night so we'll have a look at that and see what they did and try and implement it ourselves.
"I didn't watch it, I was out for dinner with Dad but I'm sure we'll go through it tomorrow."
While renowned for their emphasis on defence, the Power's attack has developed into one of the League's most potent.
Port Adelaide booted 24 goals against the Brisbane Lions last Saturday, with Jay Schulz (seven goals) joined by Justin Westhoff, Sam Gray, Matt White (three each) and Robbie Gray (two) as multiple goal kickers.
The forward line is set for a further boost this weekend with the expected return of reigning best and fairest Chad Wingard after an ankle injury sidelined him last week.
Wines said the number of options capable of finishing the midfield's work made his job much easier.
"I was thinking that after the game, in a way us midfielders don't really need to spear it, we've just got to pop it up and Jay and Justin and Chad and Angus (Monfries) [can mark it], then we've got ... little forwards crumbing around," he said.
"I think we've got the best of both worlds in there and it's really been jelling well."
The 19-year-old said it was by far the most lethal attack he'd ever had the privilege of supplying.
"[Throughout] my under-18 career I didn't really have a forward line and Echuca seniors didn't really have a forward line," he laughed.
"It's definitely the most potent forward line I've ever kicked to."