The best defence comes up against the best attack in the competition when competition leaders Port Adelaide welcome reigning premiers Hawthorn to what is expected to be a sold-out Adelaide Oval this Saturday night.
The Power currently lead the competition with seven wins and just one loss, marking their best start to a season in their 18 years of existence.
Just how far they have come since the dark days will be put to the test against the benchmark team of the last two seasons, Hawthorn, who are a close second behind them on the ladder.
Both teams enter this showdown on the back of a bye, before which the Power defeated Fremantle at home by three goals and the Hawks lost their second match for the season against the Sydney Swans in Sydney.
Port Adelaide’s resurgence from a laughing stock, in which it lost to both expansion clubs within the space of 16 months, to a serious premiership contender culminated in its Round 6 victory over Geelong, but the Power don’t plan to stop there.
Having also accounted for the GWS Giants, West Coast Eagles, Brisbane Lions, crosstown rivals Adelaide and Carlton this season, the Power will look to add the Hawks to their ongoing list of scalps for the first time since 2010.
Chad Wingard is fast becoming one of the premier midfielders and forwards in the competition. Having won All-Australian selection in 2013, he could be a Brownlow Medallist in the making.
If Gary Ablett unexpectedly does not win the medal this year, then Port’s most exciting player since Gavin Wanganeen could potentially be the one to watch out for at this September’s count.
So far this season he has continued to impress, notably kicking four goals in the first ever Showdown at the Adelaide Oval and kicking three goals in the Power’s last-start win over Fremantle.
While the Power made their surge from the bottom half of the ladder to the upper echelon of it in the past 18 months, the Hawks have been grand finalists for the past two seasons.
After losing to Sydney in the 2012 decider, the Hawks dominated throughout the following season to claim their 11th premiership at the expense of Fremantle. Despite the high-profile departure of Lance Franklin during the off-season, they still remain the team to beat in 2014.
Prior to the loss to the Swans in Sydney, the Hawks had won their six matches by an average of 70 points, including defeating St Kilda by 145 points in Round 7. The other loss in this period was against rivals Geelong in Round 5.
The premiers face a testing few weeks, with Sam Mitchell and Brian Lake both out injured and Jarryd Roughead suspended from the trip to Adelaide after his careless bump on Sydney’s Ben McGlynn last start.
Luke Hodge is expected to return after being a late withdrawal from the match against Sydney, which will slightly boost the Hawks’ chances.
A win for Port Adelaide will officially complete their transformation from the laughing stock of the competition to a genuine powerhouse, which would be a throwback to 2004 when they buried years of finals failure to capture their only AFL flag.
It would also see them maintain their undefeated record at the Adelaide Oval, which has been nicknamed ‘Portress’ by their fans.
The Hawks may have other ideas, as they look to regain the competition lead on percentage (163.7% to the Power’s 150.1%). Even so, the Power will remain at best second or at worst fourth at the completion of the round.
The stage is set. Who will take the chocolates in the match of the round?
Gyfox
Guest
I think Mastermind's question has been answered. Thought the umpiring was terrible last night.
Baigus
Guest
Pretty sure I t was a condition of AFL support and bulldogs are in the same boat
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
...so you don't think the NSW and Qld teams enjoy the same advantage?
Michael huston
Guest
I'm also curious as to how well they play away. The SA and WA teams enjoy a strong home ground advantage because of the supposed "19th man". They've played five of eight games at home and get another this week. Their one loss was, surprise surprise, in Melbourne. Between rounds 14 to 16, they have three consecutive games at Adelaide Oval. Like I said, what I've seen has been good, but they haven't really been challenged yet.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
If that's true then Port's violating salary cap rules, which require total player payments not less than 95% of the cap.
Baigus
Guest
Does not seem right that a team with the 3rd youngest list and smallest football department spent in the competition can be on top at the moment. I read Port were about 1.5million under the salary cap in 2013 which is about 85% Make you think there is a lot of upside for this young team in the years to come
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Sanderson? Wrong team mate
hawker
Guest
I've already seen enough of Port to convince me they are top 4 material. they've handled geelong and freo convincingly. the only next step for me is for them to beat another contender away from adelaide oval.
hawker
Guest
to be even more accurate hawthorn are also missing whitecross and anderson who if fit would be in or very close to the 22. especially with the current outs.
Brian
Guest
To be accurate Hawks will be missing 5. Lake, Gibson, Mitchell, Rioli & Roughead. Hodge, Shiels & Sewell are fit.
Ando
Guest
Im actually disappointed that Hawthorns injury list is as deep as it is at the moment. Would have loved to see both sides reasonably close to full strength going at it, just to see where Port actually sits compared to Hawthorn, considering I rate them as the most skilful side the game has ever seen. With the side that they're gonna have to end up fielding though, it'd take a 10 goal victory from Port for me to think Port exceeded expectations.
ads
Guest
Hawks have to many players out to judge this match .
Penster
Guest
On the contrary, I think Port are def looking the goods and have been since late last year, particularly their finishes. Looking at the Hawks - they have not beaten Sydney (hit hard by injury tho) but were pretty much full strength for Geelong and couldn't get it over the line. The only top 4 side from last year that the Hawks have beaten are Freo and their season has been a bit patchy. Port have only had one loss to North who are capable of beating anyone when they feel like it.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Don't think it means much if Hawks lose. No side could withstand the injuries they have, this coming from a fan who likes to see their demise. Depth is one thing. 6 experienced players + 2 other starting 50+ gamers is just draining. If Power lose, I would suggest this is actually an upset.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The other way to look at this is that the game will show us whether the Hawks still have it.
Michael huston
Guest
Well I'd like to see them get into fifth gear. I'm not saying they can't match it with the best, I'm just saying I haven't seen them play like a top of the ladder team yet. But if they really are as good as we think, I shouldn't have to wait too long should I?
POWAAR
Guest
Port fans didnt name adelaide oval the PORTRESS, that was gerald healy. If your going to try and make us look bad atleast get your facts straight.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
I will actually be quite disappointed if Power lose this game. Would be their first loss at home and Hawks injury/suspension list is quite deep. I said a few weeks ago injury tolls shouldn't matter but that statement runs dry to a certain number of players. I would say about 4 or so. For Hawks they are missing about 7-8. That hurts. Depth is one thing, but experience is another - 6 of those players are well experienced, the other 2 have 50+ games into them.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
I always have a little chuckle when I hear coaches, players or fans of a team in form say they've got still got plenty of improvement in them and everyone else should be scared of just how much better they will be than everyone else when they get to their true potential. Achieving that form-nirvana almost never happens. When you're in form everything seems possible, and the usual human foibles seem so glaring that it feels you just need to eliminate them to take it up two or three levels (to the perfect performance). But unfortunately we tend to underestimate the difference between the level we play at when in top form and our regular playing level, we see it as a mezzanine rather than the ceiling it is.
Woof
Guest
It will be an interesting match - but not mean that much. Hawthorn have their two best defenders (Lake, Gibson) out. It would be a different game if they were playing.