With Hawthorn pulling away at the top of the table earlier on Saturday and with Geelong getting the job done on Saturday night, victory was needed at Adelaide Oval for the Sydney Swans to remain on level pegging with the competition leaders. Win they did, but they were made to earn it. Port mounted an almighty challenge late in the final term and threatened to steal the game, but the Swans managed to hang on. The win wasn't enough to wrestle back top spot from the Hawks – but it kept them in the hunt.
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2. Ferocious Swans outmuscle Power
The Swans' tackling and pressure game proved too hot to handle on Saturday night, particularly once the rain started falling in the third term. Too often Port's players looked panicky, spending possession before earning it – tell tale signs that they were under constant fire from the opposition. The Swans easily won the tackle count on the night (69-56) and were generally just cleaner and cooler when in control of the ball.
3. What could have been?
Port coach Ken Hinkley said his side would need to do everything right if it was to upset the Swans and that certainly meant taking its opportunities in attack. The Swans had trouble making the most of theirs as well, particularly in the second term, but when you get a run on against the class of the Swans you have to make it count. Players who are usually so clean by foot like Chad Wingard, JaySchulz, Robbie Gray and Brad Ebert all missed important shots at goal and left to wonder what could have been.
4. Schulz slips
Jarryd Roughead's five goals against Melbourne earlier on Saturday saw him move two ahead of Port's Jay Schulz in the race for the Coleman Medal. But Ted Richards wouldn't have a bar of it. Schulz was smothered by star Swan Ted Richards and held goalless for the first time this season. Normally so accurate by foot, Schulz was well off his best – missing thee goals he'd normally slot and missing targets he'd normally hit around the ground.
5. Westhoff beats ankle
Bound to crutches on Friday and unable to train after spraining his ankle on Wednesday, all the signs pointed to Justin Westhoff sitting the game out on Saturday night. The club labelled the crutches little more than a precaution – allowing him to take all weight off his injured ankle and give him the best chance to play. It worked…sort of…Westhoff played, but he had little influence. 'The Hoff' had just five possessions in the first half and although lifting in the second he remained down on his 2014 standard.
Twitter: @AFL_Harry
2. Ferocious Swans outmuscle Power
The Swans' tackling and pressure game proved too hot to handle on Saturday night, particularly once the rain started falling in the third term. Too often Port's players looked panicky, spending possession before earning it – tell tale signs that they were under constant fire from the opposition. The Swans easily won the tackle count on the night (69-56) and were generally just cleaner and cooler when in control of the ball.
3. What could have been?
Port coach Ken Hinkley said his side would need to do everything right if it was to upset the Swans and that certainly meant taking its opportunities in attack. The Swans had trouble making the most of theirs as well, particularly in the second term, but when you get a run on against the class of the Swans you have to make it count. Players who are usually so clean by foot like Chad Wingard, JaySchulz, Robbie Gray and Brad Ebert all missed important shots at goal and left to wonder what could have been.
4. Schulz slips
Jarryd Roughead's five goals against Melbourne earlier on Saturday saw him move two ahead of Port's Jay Schulz in the race for the Coleman Medal. But Ted Richards wouldn't have a bar of it. Schulz was smothered by star Swan Ted Richards and held goalless for the first time this season. Normally so accurate by foot, Schulz was well off his best – missing thee goals he'd normally slot and missing targets he'd normally hit around the ground.
5. Westhoff beats ankle
Bound to crutches on Friday and unable to train after spraining his ankle on Wednesday, all the signs pointed to Justin Westhoff sitting the game out on Saturday night. The club labelled the crutches little more than a precaution – allowing him to take all weight off his injured ankle and give him the best chance to play. It worked…sort of…Westhoff played, but he had little influence. 'The Hoff' had just five possessions in the first half and although lifting in the second he remained down on his 2014 standard.
Twitter: @AFL_Harry
Cam O'Shea and his Port teammates will be wondering about what could have been. Picture: AFL Media
