Head to head: Port Adelaide 13 wins, Essendon six wins
Last time: Port Adelaide 15.17 (107) d Essendon 9.12 (66), round one, 2009 at AAMI Stadium
MISSING IN ACTION
Essendon
Darcy Daniher (quad) - 1 week
Ricky Dyson (knee) - 4-6 weeks
Michael Hurley (knee) - test
Tayte Pears (arm) - 3-4 weeks
Kyle Reimers (thumb) - 3-4 weeks
Andrew Welsh (suspended) - 4 weeks
Port Adelaide
John Butcher (back) - indefinite
Nathan Krakouer (groin) - test
Marlon Motlop (fractured foot) - indefinite
Jasper Pittard (hamstring) - 2-3 weeks
Matthew Westhoff (groin) - 1-2 weeks
FORM
Essendon: LWLLW
Port Adelaide: WLLWW
SUMMARY
Both sides secured victory with dominant final-quarter performances last weekend. Essendon kept its season alive with a win over Hawthorn, while Port Adelaide came from behind to keep cross-town rivals Adelaide winless after six rounds.
The Bombers’ form has been unpredictable this season, with the club serving up sub-par performances against Collingwood and Fremantle and then turning it on against the Hawks and Carlton.
The Bombers’ form has been unpredictable this season, with the club serving up sub-par performances against Collingwood and Fremantle and then turning it on against the Hawks and Carlton.
The Power struggled with similar inconsistencies last year but appear to have bridged the gap between their best and worst footy, with four wins from six starts to be level on points with Geelong and the Brisbane Lions.
These two sides haven’t met since round one last season, when Port Adelaide ruckman Dean Brogan was suspended for bumping former Bomber Andrew Lovett at the quarter-time break. Essendon coach Matthew Knights has gone on the record as saying there’s a lack of respect between the two teams, so there may be fireworks again on Saturday.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Essendon speedster Nathan Lovett-Murray tore the Hawks' zone to pieces last weekend with 32 disposals, five inside 50s and four running bounces. The dashing onballer also showed a willingness to work the other way, laying a game-high 12 tackles in a best-on-ground performance.
Port Adelaide midfielder/forward Robbie Gray earned maximum votes from both coach’s boxes for his five-goal haul in Showdown XXVIII. Gray had minimal impact in his first two games of the season but was the dominant forward for the Power last weekend, finishing with nine scoring opportunities.
QUESTION MARKS
Will the Bombers bring their A-game to Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon? Essendon’s thirst for the contest last weekend was underscored by the fact they laid a club-record 107 tackles, but it remains to be seen whether Knights can extract that level of desire from his players each week.
Can the Power kick enough goals to overcome the high-scoring Bombers? Port Adelaide is ranked 14th in the competition in scores for this season, averaging just 11 goals a game. Essendon has the ability to score heavily and quickly and Port Adelaide will need to be at its defensive best if the club expects to win with a score of 100 points or less.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Essendon was impressive in its win over the struggling Hawks, but has battled against Port Adelaide in recent times.
The Power have won the past five games played between the two sides and Mark Williams’ men have showed enough this season to suggest that streak will extend beyond this weekend.
PREDICTION
Port Adelaide by 21 points
Follow Jason Phelan’s inside view of Essendon v Port Adelaide at #aflbomberspower on Twitter.com from 2.10pm Saturday or @AFL_JasonPhelan#aflbomberspower
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of clubs or the AFL.
