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.
Stirling Coates
Editor
THE ROAR AFL MVP VOTES 3 VOTES - Matt Priddis (WC) - Finished with a positively outrageous 26 contested possessions to go with 11 clearances, 10 tackles and five inside 50s. Match winning performance. 2 VOTES - Scott Lycett (WC) - Did just about everything you can do in a game of football. 23 hit-outs (as the back up), 13 disposals, 11 tackles and two timely goals. 1 VOTE - Josh Kennedy (WC) - He played deeper than he normally does, but still punished the Power with a dominant seven-goal haul.
Stirling Coates
Editor
PORT ADELAIDE v WEST COAST EAGLES FULL TIME REPORT Port Adelaide - 13.8 (86) West Coast Eagles - 14.10 (94) GOAL KICKERS Power: Young 4, Wingard 3, Dixon 2, Polec, Hartlett, Westhoff, Ebert Eagles: Kennedy 7, Lycett 2, Cripps 2, Yeo, Shuey, Hill DISPOSAL LEADERS Power: Gray 28, Boak 26, Polec 24 Eagles: Priddis 28, Wellingham 24, Shuey 23 TEAM STATS Disposals: Power 393, Eagles 344 Contested Possessions: Eagles 164, Power 159 Tackles: Power 97, Eagles 76 Inside 50s: Eagles 61, Power 55 Clearances: Eagles 45, Power 36
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIREN So there's the siren! West Coast silence a lot of doubters with a big away win, downing the Power by eight points in a fierce contest. PA - 13.8 (86) WC - 14.10 (94) FULL TIME
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL POWER Long high kick to full forward bounces around, Aaron Young ends up roving the tap and he snaps home his fourth goal. Nice evening for him in his 50th, but with 10 seconds left it won't be a match-winning effort. PA - 13.8 (86) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 1'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Port Adelaide fans have been most unhappy with the umpiring tonight, although I can't say I've seen anything missed or unwarranted ones paid. They had several opportunities to get themselves closer in this game, but squandered some chances. PA - 12.8 (80) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 1'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Ollie Wines sends it to full forward with Charlie Dixon on the lead, but it bounces off his hands and that will absolutely do it. 1:04 on the clock now. PA - 12.8 (80) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 2'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Mark Hutchings a little worse for wear after coming off second best in a very hard, but completely fair, contest from Robbie Gray. Match starting to slip away from Port now, they've fought valiantly, but the West Coast defense is holding firm. PA - 12.8 (80) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 3'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Josh Hill has played a great few minutes as the 'goalkeeper', cutting off two Port Adelaide shots for goal just standing on his own in the goal square. PA - 12.8 (80) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 4'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Ball up in Port Adelaide's forward 50 with 4:31 on the clock. Port Adelaide have no intentions of dying wondering. PA - 12.8 (80) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 5'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Hamish Hartlett is back on the field for Port Adelaide, which is good news, although he looks barely capable of walking. Surely 18 fit players on the field is better than 17, regardless of talent? PA - 12.8 (80) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 6'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL POWER Jake Neade with a superb effort to gather the footy just outside 50, and his spearing kick to full forward is marked superbly by Chad Wingard in amongst three opponents! Kicking from directly in front, 20 out, he slots it and all of a sudden we've got a game! PA - 12.8 (80) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 6'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Port Adelaide have lifted noticeably since the Polec goal, but the difference in effort from when they've had the game in striking distance and when they've not is too big. PA - 11.8 (74) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 8'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL POWER Well don't just pencil this one in just yet! Travis Boak wins the ball out of the middle, but instead of blazing away up forward, he sends it across the ground to Jared Polec. Polec runs to a vacant 50 and slams home a goal that makes this game just a little more interesting! PA - 11.8 (74) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 9'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Robbie Gray's looked very good in his first game back for Port Adelaide, picking up 25 touches, eight tackles and seven clearances. Just not enough help from his teammates. PA - 10.8 (68) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 11'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL POWER Good kick to half forward for Port Adelaide is snapped up by Chad Wingard, he outpaces three West Coast defenders and gets a fantastic snap across the body for a goal. Port on life support, but not dead just yet. PA - 10.8 (68) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 12'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL EAGLES Josh Kennedy drops a chest mark he should've taken, runs onto the ball in the pocket and while Jack Hombsch looks to have him covered, Kennedy turns around him way too easily, runs to the line and slams through lucky number seven! PA - 9.8 (62) WC - 14.10 (94) Q4: 13'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND POWER Chad Wingard unleashes a long shot at goal with the goal square vacant, however it only barely sneaks in for a point. PA - 9.8 (62) WC - 13.10 (88) Q4: 13'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND EAGLES Elliot Yeo receives a push in the back free kick in the forward pocket and the Port fans have had enough. The replays incenses them further, although Yeo squanders his chance to put the game to bed, spraying the short distance shot across the face. PA - 9.7 (61) WC - 13.10 (88) Q4: 14'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND EAGLES Jack Darling avoids the Port Adelaide defenders far too easily at half forward, but his snap is a weak one that dribbles wide. PA - 9.7 (61) WC - 13.9 (87) Q4: 15'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND EAGLES Robbie Gray sticks his right leg out and trips up Mark LeCras at half forward, that gives LeCras a shot at goal and earns Gray a spot in the umpire's book. LeCras' kick drops short and gets spoiled over the line. PA - 9.7 (61) WC - 13.8 (86) Q4: 15'