The Melbourne Demons have kept their finals hopes just barely alive with a 26-point win over Port Adelaide on Saturday night.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Port Adelaide Power 7.6.48
Melbourne Demons 10.14.74
The Melbourne Demons head to Adelaide full of confidence after knocking off the three-time premiers, while the Port Adelaide Power are licking their wounds after being demolished by the Swans. Join The Roar for all the action from 7pm (AEST).
Melbourne comprehensively beat the Hawks last week at the MCG, winning against the flag favourites for the first time since 2006, while Port were atrocious against another flag fancy in Sydney.
The Power have won the last seven games against the Demons, which stretches back five years, but with their roller-coaster form and Melbourne showing fight in recent weeks, the visitors may well snap another hoodoo this weekend.
The last match-up was earlier this year, in Alice Springs, when Robbie Gray collected 38 possessions and Charlie Dixon booted five goals in a 45-point win.
Both teams are only separated by percentage on the ladder, so a big win may help the victors’ slim chances of making the finals, but everything would have to go their way for that to happen.
Christian Petracca has been a stand out for the Demons in recent weeks, and he is definitely one to watch in the future. Again, Melbourne will be led in the middle by Max Gawn, who was unstoppable against Hawthorn. With Port’s relatively weak ruck squad, Gawn may again play a big role.
Robbie Gray had a terrible game last weekend, collecting only seven disposals, and he will want to put on a big show to get his confidence going.
Another loss and some may question Ken Hinkley’s side’s ability to perform, the past two years the Power were supposed to be right up there come finals time, but they have under-performed.
Prediction
Port Adelaide by 9.
Can the Demons get another monkey off their back, or will Port again prove to be too strong? Join The Roar from 7pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report Big win to the Demons over the Power. 40 points was the final margin Port Adelaide 8.6.54 – Melbourne 13.16.94. The Melbourne Demons break a 7 game losing streak to the Power with a dominant display away from Victoria. The Port Adeliade Power were on the back foot from the beginning of the game and never really looked a threat to the Demons. Chad Wingard left the game early with a hamstring injury and with one less player on the bench that would hurt the Power later on. Poor kicking from Port Adelaide was the story of the night often unable to find a target and when they did it was not delivered with the accuracy needed. Melbourne carried their stunning form from last week into the game and led at the first change by 19 points, The second quarter was much the same poor kicking from Port while Melbourne took their chances, Some unique umpiring decisions throughout the game made it hard for Port Adelaide but they still took a lead in that category into the halftime break. Melbourne more than doubled their lead at the half. Port Adelaide came storming out of the blocks in the 3rd quarter and dominated for most of the term, again poor decision making from them and bad kicking was costly but they did get the deficit back to 21 points at one point. The term was ended with a scuffle from Max Gawn and Matthew Lobbe, one of many for the game and it looked to blow up. The Demons took a 22 point lead into the break but Port Adelaide seemed to have the momentum at that point. The final quarter was all Melbourne with Port only kicking 1 goal and 1 behind for the term while Melbourne kicked away with 4 goals 7 behinds. Melbourne look to be a team on the rise and although they will miss out on the 8 this year they will have to be in consideration for the finals next season. For Port Adelaide again it will be a question of what went wrong they struggled throughout the game with simple skill errors and poor kicking. Even with Chad Wingard missing for the majority of the game you have to wonder whether he would of truly made a big difference. Nextb up for Melbourne is a winnable game against the Carlton Blues while Port Adelaide will face the interstate rivals Adelaide Crows. Roar MVP. Bernie Vince 3 Max Gawn 2 Ollie Wines Leading Disposals Port Adelaide Ollie Wines 31 Jasper Pittard 28 Robbie Gray 26 Melbourne Bernie Vince 31 Dom Tyson 29 Nathan Jones 29 Leading Goal scorers Port Adelaide Jared Polec 2 Aaron Young 2 4 others with 1. Melbourne Tomas Bugg 2 Angus Brayshaw 2 Jeff Garlett 2 Final score Port Adelaide 8.6.54 – Melbourne 13.16.94 Injuries, Chad Wingard hamstring (Port Adelaide) Thanks for joining me and have a lovely evening
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Melbourne, Right on the Siren Nathan Jones kicks the goal. 0' 4th quarter Port Adelaide 8.6.54 – Melbourne 13.16.94
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Demons. Garlett with the snap around the body for the goal. 1 4th quarter Port Adelaide 8.6.54 – Melbourne 12.16.88
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Behind Melbourne. 1' 4th quarter Port Adelaide 8.6.54 – Melbourne 11.16.82
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Port Adelaide. Too little to late it seems. Young gets his 2nd. 2' 4th quarter Port Adelaide 7.6.54 – Melbourne 11.14.81
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Behind Melbourne. score review shows it was touched. 3' 4th quarter Port Adelaide 7.6.48 – Melbourne 11.15.81
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Score review! Fantastic SD video cameras to help decide a point YAY!
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Demons. That goal from Garlett probably seals it for the Demons. 4' 4th quarter Port Adelaide 7.6.48 – Melbourne 11.14.80
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Not many on the Port side tonight look much chop. They are playing at a Freo level at times.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Behind Demons. 5' 4th quarter Port Adelaide 7.6.48 – Melbourne 10.13.74
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Jesse Palmer doesn't look up to it at this level unfortunately. Not too keen on many of Port's youngsters to be honest, lots of solid reserves players.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Port Adelaide. Ollie Wines with the goal. 8' 4th quarter Port Adelaide 7.6.48 – Melbourne 10.13.73
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Sorry everyone having a few computer issues atm should be sorted now though. Melbourne scored 2 behinds Sam Frost and Jack Viney scored them. 10' 4th quarter Port Adelaide 6.5.41 – Melbourne 10.13.73
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Robbie Gray had no prior, and Viney dropped the mark. This umpiring has been very poor all night.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Noticed that, Although Port had a few in the first half as well.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Behind Melbourne. Max Gawn is unable to get his first major of the game. 14' 4th quarter Port Adelaide 6.5.41 – Melbourne 10.11.71
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Melbourne getting a lot of "handballs" away with their arm pinned. It's a revolutionary tactic.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Melbourne Goal Jack Watts with his first of the game. 15' Port Adelaide 6.5.41 – Melbourne 10.10.70
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Behind Melbourne. Nathan Jones with the opening score of the 4th. 16' 4th quarter Port Adelaide 6.5.41 – Melbourne 9.9.63
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
4th is underway now. Should be a ripping 4th quarter with Port finally finding some form in that 3rd.