It’s a day game at Subiaco but don’t be surprised if there are fireworks. After a tough pre-season Port Adelaide is out to make amends for its embarrassing round 22 loss to the Dockers. The Power will head to WA full of confidence and with a significantly stronger team than the one which played in round 22. Freo has experience on its side but the young Port Adelaide team will not be easily intimidated.
Port Adelaide’s recent form: Lost to Fremantle by 79 points, beat Adelaide by 14, lost to Collingwood by two, beat Western Bulldogs by 14, lost to Kangaroos by 19.
Recent results against Fremantle:Round 22, 2006 Fremantle 23.13 (151) d Port Adelaide 9.18 (72), SubiacoRound 3, 2006 Fremantle 15.20 (110) d Port Adelaide 11.13 (79), AAMI StadiumRound 22, 2005 Port Adelaide 18.12 (120) d Fremantle 11.9 (75), AAMI StadiumRound 1, 2005 Fremantle 13.10 (88) d Port Adelaide 7.11 (53), SubiacoRound 13, 2004 Port Adelaide 17.10 (112) d Fremantle 16.6 (102), AAMI Stadium
Strengths: Port Adelaide has identified speed as its greatest strength and will aim to move the ball quickly against Fremantle. Even without Peter Burgoyne, the Port Adelaide midfield boasts some serious sprinters in Danyle Pearce, Shaun Burgoyne and Steve Salopek, not to mention ball magnets Kane Cornes and Dom Cassisi. Add Nathan Krakouer and David Rodan to the mix and the Power is capable of moving at warp speed.
Fremantle may have the tallest ruckman in the competition but Port Adelaide has the best. All-Australian ruckman Brendon Lade and a fit Dean Brogan will combine to take on man mountain Aaron Sandilands. Lade and Brogan in tandem should provide superior ground coverage and also strong marking options up forward. The Power duo will have their work cut out at the stoppages but should be able to gain an advantage over the Freo big man around the ground.
Potential weaknesses: For Port Adelaide, with one of the youngest squads in the competition, experience is one thing the enthusiastic list is short on. Impressive youngsters Nathan Krakouer and Adam Cockshell will make their AFL debuts against Fremantle in place of Warren Tredrea and Peter Burgoyne, who are both approaching the 200-game mark. The Power will field seven players who have fewer than 50 games under their belts. Fremantle, on the other hand, has more than 10 players who have already passed the 100-game milestone.
They’re sweating on: While skipper Warren Tredrea slowly works his way back from injury, the Power need a handful of players to step up in the forward line. Port Adelaide was rapt with the development of Damon White last season and the hard-running forward looms as Tredrea’s likely replacement. Brett Ebert has been in stellar form over the pre-season and will have to kick enough goals to cover the absence of goal sneak Josh Mahoney. Ex-Tiger David Rodan is another who impressed at Alberton over the summer and could provide a small forward option along with Daniel Motlop, who is finally injury-free.
Dangermen:
Chad Cornes: Cornes faces a tough challenge in his return to centre half-back. The versatile Cornes admits Fremantle’s Matthew Pavlich has stitched him up in the past but the determination written on the face of the 27 year-old suggests it won’t happen again. Pavlich booted 71 goals last season and will be keen to lead by example in his new role as captain. But Cornes’ aerobic capacity and strong marking make him the perfect match up for Pavlich. If he can restrict the Docker star to only a couple of goals, it will go a long way towards winning the game for Port Adelaide.
Shaun Burgoyne: After a standout 2006 season, Shaun Burgoyne can expect some heavy attention from opponents this year, and attention doesn’t get much more physical than from Fremantle’s Josh Carr. Whether it is Carr, James Walker or another Freo stopper who gets the job, Burgoyne will have to shake the tag and provide his team with the run and poise he is renowned for. Port Adelaide will also be hoping it’s newest vice-captain can improve his goal tally of 20 from last season.
Brett Ebert: The 54-gamer has really found his niche in the forward pocket. Ebert is in career-best form, booting 10 goals over the pre-season including bags of four against St. Kilda and Sydney. Without fellow small forward Josh Mahoney, Ebert will need to have another big game if the Power are to win.
It’s not generally known … Nathan Krakouer can run 20m in 2.83 seconds – the fastest time at the 2006 draft camp.
The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
