Head to head: Port Adelaide 13 wins, West Coast six wins
Last time: Port Adelaide 17.10 (112) d West Coast 11.10 (76), round 16, 2009 at AAMI Stadium
MISSING IN ACTION
West Coast
Adam Cockie (knee) - 1 week
Tim Houlihan (foot) - 8 weeks
Ryan Neates (shoulder) - 1 week
Brad Sheppard (cheek) - 4 weeks
Koby Stevens (knee) - 1-2 weeks
Port Adelaide
John Butcher (back) - indefinite
Robbie Gray (back/hamstring) - test
Hamish Hartlett (hamstring) - test
Daniel Motlop (hamstring tightness) - test
Marlon Motlop (fractured foot) - indefinite
David Rodan (knee) - test
Wade Thompson (fractured eye socket) - 3-4 weeks
SUMMARY
Does pre-season form count for anything? These two sides are about to find out.
Port Adelaide demolished West Coast by 78 points when the two sides met at Subiaco in round two of the NAB Cup, but the Eagles should be better prepared to combat the visitors’ new pressure-cooker style of play this time around.
The Power were relentless in the first half against North Melbourne last weekend.
Mark Williams’ men laid 86 tackles, more than in any of the club’s games last season, to harass their way to a 50-point lead early in the third term.Port Adelaide demolished West Coast by 78 points when the two sides met at Subiaco in round two of the NAB Cup, but the Eagles should be better prepared to combat the visitors’ new pressure-cooker style of play this time around.
The Power were relentless in the first half against North Melbourne last weekend.
The Roos fought back to go down by just 14 points, but straighter kicking from Port Adelaide early in the game would have brought about a different result.
The Eagles were also impressive in their round-one clash with the Brisbane Lions, despite losing by 32 points.
West Coast trailed by just two points at the final change, but were outrun and outclassed in the last term.
Port Adelaide will have extra incentive to make it two wins-in-a-row this week, with former skipper Warren Tredrea set to become the first Power player to reach 250 games.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Four-time All-Australian Dean Cox had a quiet start to the season with limited game time last weekend. West Coast's premier ruckman managed just seven disposals opposed to Matthew Leuenberger and Mitch Clark. Port Adelaide ruckman Dean Brogan dominated with 37 hit-outs in the win over the Roos, but the club’s distinct lack of a back-up big man could be a factor if Cox and Nick Naitanui can combine to work Brogan over on the big Subiaco ground.
Conditions didn’t suit tall forwards at AAMI Stadium last weekend, but Warren Tredrea still managed to kick two goals. Tredrea, 31, played further up the ground against North Melbourne and finished with an equal game-high seven inside-50s. Port Adelaide’s reigning best and fairest winner showed no signs of slowing down over the pre-season and will be keen to celebrate his 250th AFL game in style.
QUESTION MARKS
How will Port Adelaide’s ruck brigade stack up against star West Coast pair Cox and Naitanui? Brogan was well supported by forward Justin Westhoff and first-gamer Jackson Trengove last weekend, but the prospect of Cox and Naitanui could prompt the Power to change tack on Saturday.
Can West Coast find some options up forward? Josh Kennedy showed promise, kicking two goals against the Lions but the Eagles managed just 10 marks inside-50 for the game. Port Adelaide had 31 scoring shots in the wet against the Roos and the home side will need to muster a bigger score than last weekend (12.10) to be in the contest on Saturday.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
The Power boast a good winning record at Subiaco Oval but getting the points on Saturday night will be a tough ask.
The Eagles pushed top-four fancies the Brisbane Lions last week and the home ground advantage might just be enough to get John Worsfold’s men their first win of the season.
PREDICTION
West Coast by three points
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
