A BRILLIANT seven-goal second term has helped Port Adelaide keep its season alive, notching up a gutsy 38-point win over Richmond in tricky conditions at Adelaide Oval on Friday night, 14.10 (94) to 8.8 (56). 

The Power returned from their round 14 bye following back-to-back losses but, after a slow start, hunted the Tigers ruthlessly in the second term, winning inside 50s 20-6.

The defeat was Richmond’s fifth from as many Friday night encounters this year.

Five talking points: Port Adelaide v Richmond

The victory leaves Port two wins from the eighth-placed Western Bulldogs.

Power skipper Travis Boak (26 disposals, 11 tackles, two goals) was best afield, while Matthew Broadbent (two goals, four clearances), Ollie Wines (10 clearances) and Brad Ebert (eight clearances) were forces on the inside and Kane Mitchell (24 disposals, one goal) curbed the influence of Tigers captain Trent Cotchin (14 possessions).

Anthony Miles (28 disposals, six clearances) did all he could for Richmond, as did Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt (four goals).

Power coach Ken Hinkley highlighted the club’s tackling pressure (106 tackles to 63) and specifically one laid by Robbie Gray, which he said started the second-quarter, seven-goal run.

“It’s probably as good a quarter as we’ve played (in 2016), considering the conditions,” Hinkley said.

“It started with Robbie Gray’s tackle I reckon. There was a tackle in the middle of the ground which was significant. Robbie gets a lot of credit for his outside stuff. It was that tackle on the inside that got us going.

“Our tackling shows our intent and when our intent is high we usually play pretty well.”

A stray boot flung by Justin Westhoff in a marking contest somehow delivered Port its first goal, but there was nothing lucky about Sam Lloyd’s two replies at the other end, pushing the Tigers to an early, albeit narrow lead.

Cotchin didn’t take kindly to Mitchell’s close attention and the resulting physicality showcased just how much was on the line as the opening term drew to a close.

The scuffle sparked the Power into a rampage; seven goals later the game was theirs to lose.

Broadbent was sensational for Port on the inside, winning four clearances for the quarter - two of which resulted in goals.

Heavy rain may have improved the value of each Power major but did nothing to take the heat out of the contest, with niggle between Mitchell and Cotchin again bubbling over before Martin and Ebert turned their backs on a nearby stoppage to lock horns.

Power double lockdown ruffles feathers

Down by 23 points at the main break on a saturated oval, Richmond required a monumental effort to pull itself back into the contest in the second half and Jack Riewoldt loomed a man capable of leading the Tigers out of the depths.

His powerful left-foot snap breathed a little life into his side, but any hope of a comeback was cracked early in the final term when Chad Wingard slammed home his second from the goalsquare, and it was long shattered by the time Mitchell capped a terrific return to senior football by snapping truly from under Adelaide Oval’s historic scoreboard.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said his side was badly beaten at stoppages.

“They out-hunted us and were more physical around the contest,” Hardwick said.

“We lose contested ball and lose tackles by over 30, maybe 40 in the end - we’re always going to get beaten around scrimmages.”

MEDICAL ROOM
Port Adelaide: Jack Hombsch was a late withdrawal from the side after injuring his quad in a final training session before Friday’s game. The club will have another look at him on Monday before determining how long he’ll be sidelined for. 
Richmond: No injuries for the Tigers, although there will surely be some sad and sorry players flying home. 

NEXT UP
Both club’s face massive tests next week: Port will take on Hawthorn next Thursday night at Adelaide Oval and Richmond meet the eighth-placed Western Bulldogs. The Tigers are cooked but if the Power are to continue dreaming of finals they’ll have to cause a massive upset.

PORT ADELAIDE   2.2   9.2   11.5   14.10 (94)
RICHMOND             3.2   5.3     7.6     8.8 (56)  

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Broadbent 2, Boak 2, Wingard 2, Westhoff, Young, Dixon, Impey, Trengove, R.Gray, Amon, Mitchell
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Lloyd 2, Vickery, Short 

BEST 
Port Adelaide: Boak, Trengove, Wines, Broadbent, Mitchell, Ebert, Neade
Richmond: Ellis, Miles, Riewoldt, Rance, Deledio 

INJURIES 
Port Adelaide: Nil
Richmond: Nil  

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Nicholls, Hay, Harris, Ryan

Official crowd: 37,848 at the Adelaide Oval

There was plenty of feeling in the game on Friday night. Picture: AFL Media