Port Adelaide has not beaten Collingwood since 2004 but the Power squad has turned a full-revolution in that time.
The Power team that will head to Melbourne on Friday boasts 10 players that missed last season's round 20 clash withthe Pies through injury, none more important than Warren Tredrea, Michael Wilson, Dom Cassisi and Damon White.
Port Adelaide's dream start to the season may have come to a halt last week, but the young team will be better for the experience.
Collingwood will be without two former Port Adelaide Magpies in Nathan Buckley and the man responsible for last year's come from behind win over the Power, Alan Didak.
Greg Bentley and Nathan Krakouer will play their first AFL games at the MCG while Brad Symes will play his first game for the season following some irresistible form in the SANFL.
Port Adelaide’s recent form: Lost to Adelaide by 24, beat Kangaroos by 18, beat Fremantle by 16, lost to Fremantle by 79 and beat Adelaide by 14.
Recent form against Collingwood:
Round 20, 2006, Collingwood 12.17 (89) d Port Adelaide 12.15 (87)
Round 5, 2006, Collingwood 18.12 (120) d Port Adelaide 11.13 (79)
Round 14, 2005, Collingwood 14.18 (102) d Port Adelaide 9.17 (71)
Round 21, 2004, Port Adelaide 16.11 (107) d Collingwood 9.16 (70)
Round 6, 2004, Port Adelaide 14.17 (101) d Collingwood 12.12 (84)
Strengths: Last week Port Adelaide was denied the opportunity to showcase its pace and play the Power’s potentially devastating brand of football. While other sides may have been given the blueprint on how to stop the Power’s run, not every side is capable of executing it. Collingwood has some young, quick midfielders in Dale Thomas, Dane Swan and the Shaw boys, Rhyce and Heath, but they lack the class of their Power equivalents. Provided Port Adelaide’s execution goes up a couple of notches on last week, the Power onballers Shaun and Peter Burgoyne, Kane Cornes, Steve Salopek and David Rodan should be able to get on top of the Magpies.
Potential weaknesses: It only takes one injury to turn your biggest strength into a weakness. The absence of Dean Brogan from the side this week is a huge blow for the Power, who have decided against playing a back-up ruckman. Brendon Lade had more hit outs than both Adelaide ruckmen combined last week and was arguably the Power’s best in a losing side. The All-Australian is capable of turning a game on its head with impeccable timing and placement in the ruck contests and the ability to float forward and kick a goal. Lade will need to stay sound for the whole game to carry the majority of the ruck load with Toby Thurstans looming as the potential pinch-hitter.
They’re sweating on: Unfortunately the same thing Port Adelaide was sweating on last week: putting the score on the board. Power coach Mark Williams would have been pulling his hair out last week when the boys kicked eight behinds before Shaun Burgoyne snared Port Adelaide’s first goal in the second quarter. After a week in front of the big sticks the Power will be hoping to put their inaccuracy from the last two rounds behind them, and kick a few early majors to give the forwards a confidence boost.
Dangermen: Brendon Lade: For the first two games of the season Brendon Lade had the luxury of Dean Brogan in the supporting ruck role. In fact Ladey started on the bench last week, with Brogan taking the opening-bounce duties. Just a quarter later the big man found himself again the lone ruckman in the Port Adelaide team and stepped up to the plate as he did for so much of the 2006 season. Lade almost single-handedly got the Power back into the game last week and will be fired up to re-establish his title as the lead ruckman at Alberton with a solid game against Collingwood’s Josh Fraser.
Chad Cornes: Chad is a barometer for the Port Adelaide side. The older Cornes brother is named at centre half-back on the dangerous Anthony Rocca, but it’s unlikely Mark Williams will sacrifice Cornes’ run from defence with such a big job. Last week Cornes was moved into the midfield late in the game and finished up with 31 touches and eight inside 50ms. Regardless of where he plays, Cornes’ strong body and great endurance make him a difficult match-up for any Collingwood opponent. Chad was in the Power’s best in the round 20 clash with the Magpies last season and will be determined to avenge the heartbreaking two-point loss.
Shaun Burgoyne: He started the game on fire last week racking up 14 touches in the first half. But the slick midfielder was quiet, by his standards, in the second half picking up just seven possessions. As one of the game’s elite onballers, Burgoyne won’t be happy with the fade out, or his return of one goal and four behinds. But as we're regularly told by teams post-match, there is always next week and players of Burgoyne’s calibre rarely stay down for long. Pity the Collingwood player who is assigned the task of shadowing the All-Australian because Burgoyne will run out on to the MCG on Saturday ready to play.
Did you know? Four players remain from Port Adelaide's inaugural list in 1997; Warren Tredrea, Peter Burgoyne, Brendon Lade and Michael Wilson.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Port Adelaide Football Club
