Port Adelaide has upstaged St Kilda at its home-away-from-home clash in Launceston with an emphatic 42-point win, to notch up its fifth win in succession and its fifth win in a row against St Kilda.
The Power 15.9 (99) defeated the Saints 7.15 (57) in cool, but sunny conditions in the picturesque surroundings at York Park in Tasmania.
Port Adelaide has now won nine of its last 10 matches, with its most recent loss coming against Melbourne in round seven at the MCG.
The ‘visitors’ was simply too good for St Kilda, who clearly missed the likes of Aaron Hamill, Andrew Thompson, Max Hudghton, Justin Koschitzke, Luke Ball and Luke Penny through injury, along with young but now senior ruckmen Trent Knobel and Barry Brooks.
But the win also indicated how good Port Adelaide’s depth is considering it was missing the likes of Matthew Primus, Josh Francou, Michael Wilson, Roger James, Stewart Dew and Matthew Bishop.
The Power proved that despite several key injuries, the team can rise to the challenge of covering key players, whereas the emerging Saints are still some way off from the quality of their opponent.
However, St Kilda didn’t help itself with poor kicking in front of goal, which was a key factor, considering the Power only had two more scoring shots.
The Saints were also virtually playing with 21 players, after Xavier Clarke experienced tightness in his hamstring during the pre-match warm up, which forced him to spend the game on the bench.
The performance from Port Adelaide produced even contributions from all 22 players, but the two standout players were Brett Montgomery and Dean Brogan.
Montgomery was outstanding as he mopping up across half-back and helped to set up plenty of attacks into his side’s forward 50. The 2002 All-Australian notched up 25 disposals and 16 grabs, with his marking a feature of the game.
Brogan, who is one of the most improved players in the competition, was also a fine player for the Power and took full advantage of Saints depleted ruck stocks.
The likes of Stuart Cochrane, Josh Carr, Jarrad Schofield, Peter Burgoyne, Nick Stevens, Shaun Burgoyne and Gavin Wanganeen were also outstanding contributors, while Stephen Paxman and Darryl Wakelin were terrific in defence. Byron Pickett also chipped in with three goals and was the leading goalkicker for the match.
And once again, St Kilda dynamos Robert Harvey and Lenny Hayes were among the possessions, racking up 32 touches each, while Nick Riewoldt worked tirelessly and finished the game with two goals.
The match began with Port Adelaide booting six goals in a stunning term, as St Kilda could muster just one major for the quarter via Riewoldt.
The Power led by 30 points at the quarter-time, as their midfield brigade led by Carr, Schofield and Stevens provided plenty of drive out the middle. The trio had close to 30 touches during that period, while Carr booted two early goals.
The Port Adelaide show looked set to continue early after the first break, when Che Cockatoo-Collins added his second, while Montgomery across half-back, Cochrane in the middle and Brogan in the ruck were running amok.
However, the Power’s dominance was soon eased when veteran midfielder Justin Peckett bobbed up with the Saints’ second for the match at the nine-minute mark. A further three goals were added for the term, with St Kilda adding two late in the quarter to cut the deficit to a 23-margin at half-time.
But the Saints had their chances to reduce the Power’s lead even further, yet they booted five behinds for the quarter. A Harvey miss on the run late in the term was a crucial blow when the Saints had registered the previous two goals.
St Kilda opened the second half in a positive fashion when Hayes kicked truly to bring his side within 18 points. The Saints looked set to march towards a comeback in front of their ‘home’ crowd, but the Power with clinical precision added five consecutive goals to thwart any hope of St Kilda win.
Warren Tredrea and P.Burgoyne posted two goals each, while the Saints again wasted their opportunities in front of goal, as nippy goalsneak Stephen Milne added two posters late in the term.
With the result all but over heading into the final quarter, both sides managed two goals each, yet it mattered little as it was overall a disappointing day for the Saints.
PORT ADELAIDE: 6.2 8.6 13.8 15.9 (99)
ST KILDA: 1.2 4.7 5.11 7.15 (57)
GOALS: Port Adelaide: Pickett 3, P.Burgoyne 2, Carr 2, Cockatoo-Collins 2, Tredrea 2, C.Cornes, Paxman, Salopek, Schofield
St Kilda: Riewoldt 2, Gehrig, Hayes, Milne, Lawrence, Peckett
BEST: Port Adelaide: Montgomery, Brogan, Cochrane, Carr, Schofield, P.Burgoyne, Stevens, S.Burgoyne, Paxman, Wakelin
St Kilda: Harvey, Hayes, Riewoldt, Lawrence, Jones
INJURIES: Port Adelaide: Stevens (corked thigh)
St Kilda: Clarke (hamstring)
CHANGES: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Coates, Nicholls, McInerney
CROWD: 17,763 at York Park, Tasmania.
