Port Adelaide have notched up their first win of the 2015 season after edging out North Melbourne by eight points in a four-quarter thriller at Etihad Stadium.
The Power managed to lead at every break yet couldn’t extend their lead past 20 points.
North’s defensive pressure all around the ground forced Port into making some uncharacteristic errors with the ball early. However, both teams ultimately lived up to varying outside expectations, Port being the fourth-quarter specialists and North losing yet another close one.
North Melbourne were forced to use their sub early in the game after hard nut Jack Ziebell was left spitting out blood after a bruising collision with Ollie Wines in the first term. He was taken straight to hospital for precautionary scans on his chest and lungs.
This put the Kangaroos’ midfield into immediate disarray, let alone being one rotation down against the fittest team in the competition. The Kangaroos managed to match the Power on the outside in the first half and the likes of Sam Gibson (28), Luke McDonald (28) and Ben Jacobs (30) provided plenty of drive.
Port Adelaide where back to their 2014 best from the first bounce, a real sense of intensity shone through as they managed ten of the first twelve forward entries to dominate the play.
Ken Hinkley had clearly reiterated that his side would continue to take the game on and would certainly not go into its shell and turn into a centrally defensive side. The signs of a quality coach right there.
They failed to capitalise in front of goal and in turn kept the depleted Roos in the contest, and a few standout efforts would prove to be the catalyst for an unexpected momentum shift.
Skipper Andrew Swallow proved pivotal in the second half, dominating around stoppages and managing to clear the ball on eight occasions. He and fellow best and fairest winner Ben Cunnigton (four centre clearances) managed to get North back into the contest after quiet first halves.
Looking back, a run of three quick time-on goals to the Power proved crucial in the scheme of things, giving Port a 20-point buffer at the main break. North failed to take a contested mark for the entire match.
Lindsay Thomas stood up in the last quarter with three goals and when he gathered the loose ball 25 metres out and snapped it on his left book through the big sticks, the Kangaroos hit the front with seven minutes remaining.
It was a tough scramble with plenty of sore bodies gasping for a breather, yet neither side was giving an inch. Mason Wood missed an opportunistic shot on goal just moments later to extend the lead to five points. Port maintained its composure and an Aaron Young goal followed a Ryder behind to see the visitors snatch back the lead with three minutes left on the clock. The Power left two back in defence and began to wind down the clock to perfection.
Kane Mitchell found himself on the receiving end of a right-footed stab pass from Angus Monfries and made the most of it by slotting the match sealer from 40 metres out on a slight angle. The relief was immediate from the Port players, who were desperate to get their first points of 2015 on the board.
Young was good in his first game of the season, providing solid pressure around the contest, and was very strong around stoppages with an impressive eight clearances to his name. Brad Ebert continued his outstanding start to the season and in his milestone 150th match he kicked three goals and had 22 disposals to be Port’s clear standout player.
Matthew Broadbent was also outstanding, playing the usual sweeping role across half-back, rebounding the ball out of defence and providing his forward line with plenty of opportunity with his booming leg.
Todd Goldstein won the ruck battle with Paddy Ryder, winning the hitouts 49-35, while getting 13 disposals of his own and laying six tackles. Port managed to capitalise more in the centre of the ground, leading the centre clearance count 21-11.
The intriguing match-up prior to the contest was going to be the battle between Jarrad Waite and Jack Hombsch. After winning the battle twice in 2014, Hombsch ultimately went 3-0 up and restricted Waite to just 10 disposals and nil shots on goal.
At the other end of the ground things weren’t going the way of a frustrated Scott Thompson. He gave away three free kicks to Jay Schulz who managed to slot four majors. He and speedster Matt White (three goals) both had ankle concerns early in the game but they managed to shake it off, which proved crucial for the Power.
The importance of the Power’s win can’t be stressed enough with two hard games against Hawthorn on Anzac Day and Adelaide in the Showdown to come. Young gun Ollie Wines looks set for a stint on the sidelines with a potential broken wrist.
It doesn’t get any easier for North as they prepare to tackle Geelong down at Kardinia Park next Sunday. The battle of the Scott Brothers will be intriguing and Brad will be sweating over the fitness of both Daniel Wells and Jack Ziebell, the eight-day break being a godsend of sorts.
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