Risk takers, explosive, dynamic. Port Adelaide launched themselves into the AFL landscape once again last season on the back of their marauding style and two-way gut busting running.
Coach Ken Hinkley was labelled a genius for turning a basket case into one of the most feared sides in the country, attacking in waves at speed going forward while reliable and pressure focussed from the back.
Suddenly, though, in the City of Churches there’s a new sheriff in town. Led by the big Texan and new coach Phil Walsh Adelaide have bounded out of the blocks in 2015 and reminded their little brother that attacking flair doesn’t just wear teal.
Port Adelaide, many pundits’ tip for not just the top four but the premiership, find themselves 0-2 after losses to Fremantle and Sydney. While the losses aren’t massive shocks, considering both clubs are powerhouses in their own right, it isn’t the start the Power wanted and nor should it be ignored.
Not since 2007, when North Melbourne stormed home at the backend of the year, has a side started the season 0-3 and finished the home-and-away season in the top eight (barring Carlton’s inclusion following Essendon’s drugs saga).
Every round is only worth four points yet history tells you the wins need to start now.
Ironically, Port take on the Roos this weekend with North Melbourne also facing a mini-crisis of their own. Following a thrashing at the hands of Adelaide and a couple of ill-timed injuries, North have gone from top four aspirants to almost the great unknown among football fans and pundits alike.
Will they become the premiership threat their off-season recruiting suggested?
Plucking experienced recruits Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite in free agency meant that internally the Roos thought they were a huge chance in 2015 to pinch a flag. But after a smacking against Adelaide, a good win second up, albeit against a bottom four bound Brisbane, and many are wondering whether the contenders tag should be changed to pretenders.
The Roos have a chance to make a statement this weekend.
Both clubs desperately need this win. Port simply have to get off the mark and not lose touch with the competition. North need to show their fans the Adelaide game was an aberration, not the norm against quality opposition.
Both clubs face a very tricky period in their season.
North Melbourne follow this weekend’s game with a trip to Geelong at Skilled Stadium, where the Cats have an imposing record, and then host premiers Hawthorn. The Power face the Hawks straight after the Roos and then their bigger brothers at Adelaide Oval in the Showdown. Both those games are a scary proposition for a side potentially 0-3.
While in no way am I suggesting that a loss this week would be terminal for either club in their finals aspirations, the evidence is overwhelming that a 0-3, 1-4 start is a mountain almost impossible to climb.
The Tigers, for example, recovered just last year to streak home on the back of nine straight wins and make the finals. But the energy taken to be up for so long took its toll and simply making the elimination final became the club’s grand final. They were bundled out without a whimper.
These two clubs don’t want to make up the numbers come finals time like Richmond last year. They desire a top-four finish, a double chance and a genuine shot at a premiership.
To do that history says they can’t go three games off the pace in the race to the top four.
For Port losing this weekend could mean a 1-4 or worse 0-5 record in a couple of weeks’ time, while North may only be slightly better if they drop this home game on Saturday.
It’s only Round 3 and we already have our first critical game of the season. For both of these clubs a win is crucial to their fortunes in 2015.
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We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
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