Editor
The West Coast Eagles with stood a late charge from the Port Adelaide Power on Saturday, taking their first away win for the season by 8 points at Adelaide Oval.
REPORT: KENNEDY STARS AS EAGLES SINK PORT
Final score
Port Adelaide Power 13.8 (86)
West Coast Eagles 14.10 (94)
The Port Adelaide Power and West Coast Eagles both have a lot to prove when they face off at the Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:35pm (AEST).
Port Adelaide’s stunning fall from premiership favourites to frustrating also-rans has been well documented.
Many predicted them to shake off a disastrous 2015 and return to the top eight in a canter, but eight weeks in and they’re still adrift of the league’s best.
They’ve dished out punishment to Essendon and Brisbane but have found themselves on the wrong side of some hidings against Adelaide, Geelong and GWS.
They need to take a big scalp if we’re to take the Power as a threat again.
Last year’s runners-up West Coast, on the other hand, have been dogged by accusations all year that they’re just flat track bullies who can’t play on the road.
The stats don’t lie, with the Eagles currently 5-0 at home, with an average winning margin of 66 points, 0-3 away with an average losing margin of 43 points.
A convincing win here would be a huge monkey off their backs.
These sides have not met in over a full year, with the last contest being played in Round 6, 2015.
Back then, West Coast’s ten-point win over Port in Adelaide was seen as a monumental upset, with the Power’s premiership credentials questioned and the Eagles being spoken of as a finals chance.
How things change.
Prediction
This is a very big test for both teams. West Coast supporters have pointed to the quality of their road opposition (Hawthorn, Sydney, Geelong) as mitigation for their poor road form, but that excuse will wear very thin if they lose today.
Port Adelaide are a chance, but they’ve simply been too unreliable in 2016 to warrant favouritism.
Eagles by 23 points
So will the Power prove too strong and continue the Eagles’ road woes for 2016? Or will West Coast be able to get their first win away from home? Join The Roar from 4:35pm to stay up-to-date will all of the action.