PORT ADELAIDE
Season to date: The Power couldn’t have hoped for a better start to 2007. After missing the finals last season, Port Adelaide is on top of the ladder after seven rounds and playing some exciting team footy. While Mark Williams’ side might have exceeded some rivals’ expectations, the Swans wouldn’t be surprised by the Power’s form during the early rounds after playing the resurgent Port Adelaide during the pre-season.
Recent form (Last five rounds):
Round 3 – Port Adelaide 8.15 (63) lost to Adelaide 13.9 (87)
Round 4 –Collingwood 9.12 (66) lost to Port Adelaide 12.12 (84)
Round 5 – Port Adelaide 14.12 (96) def St Kilda 6.7 (43)
Round 6 – Melbourne 9.17 (71) lost to Port Adelaide 10.16 (76)
Round 7 – Port Adelaide 16.19 (115) def Richmond 10.15 (75)
Last time out: Round 17, 2006 at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. Port Adelaide 7.8 (50) lost to Sydney 10.17 (77). The Swans had the Power’s measure all night when the two teams last met as Paul Roos’ men really started to hit top gear in the run home to the finals. While Port Adelaide had controlled the midfield battle when the two sides met earlier in the year, it was a different story this time around as the Swans were supreme in all areas as they kicked clear in the second half to enjoy a comfortable win.
Form on the road: Travel doesn’t faze Port Adelaide. It has lost one clash this season and that was at AAMI Stadium against the Crows. The Power also have fond memories of the SCG, having beaten the Swans on the ground by 26 points in their round two clash last year. Port Adelaide fans with a longer memory will still remember the day in 2002 when former Power utility Jared Poulton booted a goal after the siren to steal victory for the South Australians.
The coach: Mark Williams is a straight-down-the-line character who expects his men to play tough, hard footy. They will do that but there is also plenty of flair about the Power when they’re up and running, as they can attack with the best of sides. They have speed and goal-kicking power, and Williams will back his men in to outscore the Swans.
Strengths: Pace, pace, pace. Mainly through the centre of the ground, the Power has speed to burn. Danyle Pearce and the Burgoyne brothers – Peter and Shaun – frequently explode away from packs and the Swans’ midfield will have been honing in on tapes this week, watching how they can minimise the trio’s impact this Sunday. If the Power midfield is able to break loose of the hold Jude Bolton and Brett Kirk will try to exert, then life could get tough for the Swans’ defence.
Missing in action: Port Adelaide is in great shape on the injury front. Troy Chaplin (foot) won’t play senior football this week but Steven Salopek has been picked to return from a hamstring injury. Michael Wilson (chest) is still a few weeks away.
The key player: Chad Cornes. This man has been in blistering form so far this year, and when the Power upset the Swans at the SCG early last year he was supreme – especially in the air. Whoever gets the job of running with Cornes has a huge job ahead of him, but should he be successful the home side will be a long way towards securing the four points.
Who does Paul Roos play on him? Cornes is an unusual type as he can play in almost any position on the ground. If you go through the Swans list one obvious player stands out as having the same ability – Adam Goodes. Whether Roos sacrifices one of his big guns in a nullifying role remains to be seen, but given Goodes’ comparatively quiet start to 2007 it might not be such a bad move to give him a run-with role on arguably the league’s in-form player.
The young gun: Damon White. Warren Tredrea gets most of the attention in the Power forward line and that’s where White is of enormous value. Swans fans should remember him from last year’s round two clash, and if they saw any of him last week against Richmond they’ll know he’s one to watch. Big, strong and with a great pair of hands, White is emerging as one of the game’s next premier marking forwards.
The stopper: Domenic Cassisi can play tight but also pick up plenty of the footy. He recently re-signed with the Power on a long-term deal, so life’s pretty sweet for the in-and-under Port midfielder. He’s rugged and not the prettiest footballer to watch, but by gee he’s effective.
The query: Chad Cornes, Jacob Surjan and Toby Thurstans have all been selected for Port Adelaide despite copping heavy knocks in their side’s spirited main training session this week. Coach Mark Williams put his charges through a rigorous session and not all got through unscathed, with Cornes and Thurstans suffering knocks and leaving the track early, while Surjan required assistance to head back to the dressing rooms after suffering a corked thigh. Time will tell what effect the session had on the Port Adelaide players.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
