FREMANTLE'S sacking of coach Ross Lyon couldn't have come at a worse time for Port Adelaide as the Power hope their finals flame will still be flickering on Sunday afternoon.
Providing cross-town rivals Adelaide upset the eighth-placed Western Bulldogs at Ballarat in the early game on Sunday, the Power could then catapult into September with a big win over the struggling Dockers in the last game of the home and away season.
The Power lost control of its own destiny after losing to the Roos last round. Picture: AFL Photos
But the task has been made all that more difficult after the Dockers parted ways with Lyon on Tuesday.
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The Dockers will attempt to be the fourth club this season that has won the week immediately after changing coaches.
North Melbourne, Carlton and St Kilda all benefited from making a change at the top, leaving Power star Travis Boak wary the Dockers would receive a similar boost.
"We're expecting a strong performance from Freo, there's no doubt about that," Boak said.
"They got us in Perth earlier in the year and for some reason, whenever a coach goes, their performance goes up the next week.
"But we're expecting a strong performance, led by (Nat) Fyfe, so we know they can produce some really good footy."
The Power blew their chance to have their finals destiny in their own hands with an embarrassing 86-point loss to North Melbourne last weekend.
Boak said making amends for that defeat was their main priority, while the result of the Bulldogs v Crows game would be secondary.
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"There’ll certainly be a little bit of excitement there (if the Crows win), but it won't change the way we play," Boak said.
"We're going out there to play the way we need to play and bounce back from a disappointing performance."
Boak said ruckman Scott Lycett was a strong chance of returning to the side after two strong SANFL performances, while winger Xavier Duursma could also come back after missing last weekend's loss with a bruised heel.
