Recent results against North Melbourne
Round 22, 2008, Port Adelaide 23.10 (148) d North Melbourne 10.12 (72), MCG
Round 15, 2008, North Melbourne 10.16 (76) d Port Adelaide 10.14 (74), AAMI
Preliminary Final, 2007, Port Adelaide 20.13 (133) d North Melbourne 5.16 (46), AAMI
Round two, 2007, Port Adelaide 17.20 (122) d North Melbourne 15.14 (104), AAMI
Round 18, 2006, North Melbourne 12.12 (84) d Port Adelaide 9.11 (65), TD
Medical room
Port Adelaide
Mitch Banner (sinus fracture) – test
Hamish Hartlett (hamstring) – test
Toby Thurstans (hamstring) – test
Shaun Burgoyne (knee) - 3-4 weeks
Jarrad Redden (ankle) - 2 weeks
Nick Salter (knee) - 5 weeks
Justin Westhoff (fractured foot) - 5 weeks
North Melbourne
Daniel Wells (hip) – test
Matt Campbell (hamstring) – test
Liam Anthony (foot) – 1-2 weeks
Jesse Smith (hamstring) – TBA
Daniel Pratt (knee) – 2-3 weeks
Robbie Tarrant (knee soreness) – 1-2 weeks
Lachlan Hansen (hamstring) - 3-5 weeks
Brent Harvey (elbow) – 10-12 weeks
Summary
It doesn't get much sweeter than a convincing win over your bitter rivals with all guns blazing in a near-perfect display of modern football.
The Power responded to their round five shocker against St Kilda to claim a tactically and physically brilliant victory over the Crows at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.
Showdown medallist Dean Brogan handed the young Adelaide ruckmen a lesson as the Power midfield put on a master class at the stoppages.
Former skipper Warren Tredrea sparked his side with three goals and Robbie Gray and Daniel Motlop also chimed in with three each to help bury the Crows.
North Melbourne, minus stars Brent Harvey, Daniel Wells and Matt Campbell, failed to dig its way out of a 36-point half-time deficit on Friday night, going down to Collingwood by 52 points.
The Power responded to their round five shocker against St Kilda to claim a tactically and physically brilliant victory over the Crows at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.
Showdown medallist Dean Brogan handed the young Adelaide ruckmen a lesson as the Power midfield put on a master class at the stoppages.
Former skipper Warren Tredrea sparked his side with three goals and Robbie Gray and Daniel Motlop also chimed in with three each to help bury the Crows.
North Melbourne, minus stars Brent Harvey, Daniel Wells and Matt Campbell, failed to dig its way out of a 36-point half-time deficit on Friday night, going down to Collingwood by 52 points.
The Roos claimed victory in the first nine games ever played between these two sides, but the Power have started to balance the lop-sided ledger with three wins from the past four hit-outs.
Key match-up
Warren Tredrea v Scott Thompson
Tredrea, with the aid of some sharp ball movement, made Adelaide’s All-Australian full-back Ben Rutten appear second-rate at AAMI Stadium last week. The in-form veteran racked up 18 touches, eight marks and maintained a career-best goalkicking average despite finishing with a return of 3.3. The North Melbourne backline, minus Daniel Pratt and Lachlan Hansen, let through 19 goals last week and could struggle to control the Power forwards in perfect conditions at Docklands.
Kick it to me
Robbie Gray was under an injury cloud going into Saturday night’s clash but showed no signs of a sore back in his three-goal performance. The 21-year-old picked up 18 possessions, four marks and also demonstrated his proficiency as a midfielder with three clearances.
Somebody stop me
North Melbourne, with injured skipper Harvey resigned to watching from the stands, was in need of a leader last week and found one in former captain Adam Simpson. Simpson amassed a season-high 34 disposals in the loss to Collingwood and if Wells misses another week is likely to attract the attention of Kane Cornes.
At the selection table
Hamish Hartlett’s hamstring injury is not as bad as first feared, but the composed teenager could still be sidelined for Saturday night’s game.
Josh Carr, a surprise omission from the Showdown win, starred for Glenelg and would be the obvious replacement if not for a nagging hip injury.
Marlon Motlop and Nick Lower both continued their good SANFL and one of the two is likely to get the nod if both Hartlett and Carr are deemed unfit.
It’s not generally known that...
Robbie Gray (21), Warren Tredrea (20) and Daniel Motlop (17) are all ranked top 10 in the AFL for marks inside 50m this season.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
