SUMMARY
With both teams among a group of five with six wins, victory is crucial to keeping their slim chances of reaching the finals alive. The Power have lost their past two, but are well rested with a 13-day break after their disappointing 17-point defeat to Fremantle. Ken Hinkley's men could be boosted with the addition of key forward Jay Schulz (back) and defender Jack Hombsch (hamstring). They take on a Tigers side that has won its past two, albeit against both Queensland teams who are near the bottom of the ladder. The Power are much stronger than when they beat Richmond by 35 points in round six, with their two All Australians, Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard, back in the side. The Tigers were missing key defender Alex Rance through suspension on that occasion, but will need a strong performance on the road to keep in touch with the top eight.
The Power were too strong for the Tigers in round six this year. Picture: AFL Media
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Friday, July 1, 7.20pm ACST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R6, 2016: Port Adelaide 13.16 (94) d Richmond 8.11 (59) at the MCG
R8, 2015: Richmond 11.10 (76) d Port Adelaide 5.13 (43) at Adelaide Oval
1EF, 2014: Port Adelaide 20.12 (132) d Richmond 11.9 (75) at Adelaide Oval
R17, 2014: Richmond 19.12 (126) d Port Adelaide 16.10 (106) at Etihad Stadium
R7, 2013: Richmond 18.6 (114) d Port Adelaide 10.13 (73) at AAMI Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Port Adelaide's 35-point win over Richmond in round six shows that statistics don't always tell the whole story. Bachar Houli (34 possessions), Shaun Grigg (32) and Dustin Martin (31) found plenty of the pill and the Tigers dominated the hit-out count (64 to 24), but the Power led at every change.
2. Hard work at the contest has been Port Adelaide's trademark this season. The Power are ranked second in tackles in the competition with 78.8 per game, while the Tigers are last in that category, with a dismal 62 per game.
3. History favours the Power, but the Tigers can take heart from their recent record against Port Adelaide. The Tigers have won four of their past seven games since 2012, including a draw. But the Power still have the edge overall 16-10 since the club's entry into the competition.
4. Richmond's forwards are getting plenty of great service from their midfield, taking the second-most marks inside attacking 50 this season with 14.5 per game. The same can't be said of the Power, with just 10.2 to rank third-last.
5. This is the first serious challenge for the Tigers in a number of weeks. While on the surface they are in great form having won five of their past six games, their past four have been against the bottom-four sides.
6. He's firming in the Brownlow Medal markets every week with a slew of best on ground performances, but that hasn't translated in Richmond star Dustin Martin climbing up the Schick AFL Player Ratings. Martin is 39th overall (468 points), but only fourth at the Tigers behind Brett Deledio (28th, 478.8), Shane Edwards (32nd, 475) and Alex Rance (34th, 473.9).
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Robbie Gray.
Port Adelaide's dual All Australian was held to just 18 touches by Michael Barlow, who had a career-high 43 possessions of his own, in Fremantle's 17-point upset of the Power in round 13. Gray needs to exert his influence in the midfield and be strong enough to shake off the tag he's certain to get.
PREDICTION: Port Adelaide by 24 points
