The Port Adelaide Power finished their season on a high, defeating the Gold Coast Suns by 23 points on Saturday night.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Gold Coast Suns 9.12.66
Port Adelaide Power 13.11.89
The Gold Coast Suns and the Port Adelaide Power will play something of a dead rubber match in the last game of the season for both clubs at Metricon Stadium this evening. Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a blog of the game, starting from 7:25pm (AEST).
2016 has been a disappointing season for both of these sides as they’ve both really failed to improve on their 2015 seasons.
Port were tipped to make finals in both years but will now fall short on both occasions. They’ve had just one win over a top eight side for the year and have struggled even to consistently beat the other sides around them on the ladder.
Gold Coast have just had another woeful year. They started the season in good form with wins over ailing Essendon and Fremantle sides but have fallen completely off the pace in the time since.
Now with Dion Prestia, Jaeger O’Meara and possibly David Swallow all looking for trades away to Victoria, the expansion club is at its lowest ebb.
Simply put, both teams would love any kind of positive feeling to finish the season on and for that reason they will both be keen to win tonight.
With a long off-season coming up, they’ve also got the knowledge that they can throw everything at each other without needing to worry about pulling up in time for next week. So, expect some fireworks.
In team news, Gold Coast have brought in Jesse Joyce, Mitch Hallahan, Darcy MacPherson as replacements for injured players Jarrod Harbrow (Hand), Sean Lemmens (Concussion) and Jarrod Garlett (Shoulder).
Port Adelaide are taking the opportunity to blood some youth, with Riley Bonner and Will Snelling set to play their first AFL games. Logan Austin is also in with the outs being Jimmy Toumpas, Cam O’Shea and Jake Neade, all omitted.
Prediction
Port Adelaide are the strongest of these two sides on paper but in a dead rubber game just about anything can happen depending on what kind of mental game each side chooses to bring. Tip Port, but don’t be surprised if Gold Coast get up.
Port Adelaide by 24.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a blog of the game, starting from 7:25pm (AEST).
Josh
Expert
One on the TV, one on the phone!
TomC
Roar Guru
Wow Josh, how'd you manage to blog this game while the Roos were playing?
Josh
Expert
» Click here to read the full match report That's the game! Port win by 23. Only a point off the margin I tipped! Not bad, eh? Gold Coast 9.12.66 Port Adelaide 13.11.89
Josh
Expert
Another behind for the Suns, Fiorini. Gold Coast 9.12.66 Port Adelaide 13.11.89
Josh
Expert
Darcy Macpherson kicks a behind. Gold Coast 9.11.65 Port Adelaide 13.11.89
Josh
Expert
Brad Ebert boots a goal, and Sam Gray adds a behind too. Gold Coast 9.10.64 Port Adelaide 13.11.89
Josh
Expert
Aaron Young a behind for Port too. Gold Coast 9.10.64 Port Adelaide 12.10.82
Josh
Expert
Matthew Broadbent adds another behind for Port. Gold Coast 9.10.64 Port Adelaide 12.9.81
Josh
Expert
After a bad night in front of goal, Tom J Lynch finally boots a major. Gold Coast 9.10.64 Port Adelaide 12.8.80
Josh
Expert
Will Snelling kicks his first career goal. Gold Coast 8.10.58 Port Adelaide 12.7.79
Josh
Expert
Darcy Macpherson pops in a goal for the Suns, margin back to 15. Gold Coast 8.10.58 Port Adelaide 11.7.73
Josh
Expert
Jarman Impey a free kick, and he finishes well with a goal. Gold Coast 7.10.52 Port Adelaide 11.7.73
Josh
Expert
3-quarter time. Gold Coast 7.10.52 Port Adelaide 10.7.67
Josh
Expert
Alex Sexton pops another goal through for the Suns and it's down to 15 points the margin now. Gold Coast 7.10.52 Port Adelaide 10.7.67
Josh
Expert
Sam Day adds another goal for the Suns. Good patch from them. Margin back to 22. Gold Coast 6.9.45 Port Adelaide 10.7.67
Josh
Expert
Brayden Fiorini bangs through his second goal, very nice effort from him. Gold Coast 5.9.39 Port Adelaide 10.7.67
Josh
Expert
Rushed behind for the Suns. Gold Coast 4.9.33 Port Adelaide 10.7.67
Josh
Expert
Robbie Gray kicks a fourth goal. Dominant performance from him. Gold Coast 4.8.32 Port Adelaide 10.7.67
Josh
Expert
Sam Day pops through a goal for the Suns. The margin is 29. Gold Coast 4.8.32 Port Adelaide 9.6.61
Josh
Expert
Aaron Young adds a behind to Port's tally. Gold Coast 3.8.26 Port Adelaide 9.6.61