Port Adelaide have pulled off a major upset in round one, they’ve ousted the fancied Swans on their home turf and they’re good value for it.
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Final score
Sydney Swans 12.10.82
Port Adelaide Power 17.8.110
The AFL is back! Round one sees last season’s grand finalists the Sydney Swans take on Port Adelaide at the SCG on Saturday afternoon. Join The Roar from 4:35pm (AEDT) for live scores and participation in our live blog.
Footy is back on our screens and it’s not a moment too soon! The Swans take on the Power in an interesting encounter in Sydney as the home side look to get their campaign to go one better than last season off to a flying start.
Pre-season proved interesting with big clubs often opting to rest their big guns, nevertheless a youthful Swans outfit emerged with two victories in three outings. On the other hand, Port picked up where they left off last season, going down twice in three games.
It’s tough to see Port coming even close to causing a round one upset here. The Swans’ midfield, led capably by new captain Josh Kennedy and 2016 All Australian selections Dan Hannebery and Luke Parker, is close to the best in the AFL and will be looking to stamp their dominance early in the season.
Add to that the power of Buddy Franklin down forward and the solidity of the Swans’ back six which boasts names such as Heath Grundy and Dane Rampe, it’s tough to see Port putting up much of a challenge.
Having said that, the Power lineup does feature a bit of star power in its own right. The likes of Travis Boak, Chad Wingard, Ollie Wines and Robbie Gray have all proven their standings as top quality footy players in the past few seasons.
In player news, the Swans will be without Isaac Heeney who is absent thanks to a bout of glandular fever, while Sam Reid returns to the side after missing the entire 2016 season with an extended injury layoff.
Youngster Oliver Florent will make his debut for the Bloods this week after being picked up at pick 13 in last year’s draft.
The last time these sides met at the SCG, it wasn’t pleasant viewing for Power fans – with the Swans running out 67-point winners and keeping the visitors to just four goals for the afternoon. In fact, historically the Swans hold a serious advantage over their interstate opponents for this clash.
Sydney have beaten Port Adelaide each and every single time in the last five meetings between the two clubs, regardless of location.
Prediction
It really is difficult to see the Power causing an upset here. The Swans midfield is just too strong and I back Heath Grundy to keep danger man Charlie Dixon relatively quiet on a hot SCG afternoon. Sydney to win at a cantor.
Sydney by 44 points.
Make sure to join The Roar from 4:35pm (AEDT) for live scores and to participate in our live blog!
Hyena
Guest
Hopefully this was just a case of first round blues.... swans notorious for losing after a break. See that last few years byes, and the break from end of season into the finals.
Connor Bennett
Editor
That's a pretty disappointing start for the Swans. A lot of pre-season talk about how their usual top four finish was a shoe in again this year, but not with performances like that. Not to take credit away from the Power though. I'm sure Kochie is losing his marbles somewhere right now.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Port Adelaide have pulled off a major upset in round one! They've ousted the fancied Swans on their home turf and they're good value for it! They pushed hard all day and deserved their victory. The Swans just couldn't go with the rampant Power who really turned it on at a wet SCG. Wines and Young were two of the best for the Power while there were multiple goal kickers all over for the Power. Sam Powell-Pepper came up big on debut with two goals, while the Swans welcomed back Sam Reid from an injury layoff of over a year - he bagged three goals. Sydney's big gun midfielders didn't have their usual impact and the Swans didn't look the same team that went all the way to the grand final in 2016. Port Adelaide (17.8) 110 defeat the Sydney Swans (12.10) 82. Goalkickers: Swans: Franklin 4, Reid 3, Robinson, Kennedy, Tippett, Jones, Jack, Port: Young 3, Wingard 3, Dixon 2, Boak 2, Powell-Pepper 2, Polec, Amon, Byrne-Jones, Trengove, Hartlett Major Ballwinners: Swans: Kennedy 28, Jones 25, Parker 25 Port: Wines 33, Boak 26, Ebert 25
XI
Roar Guru
Really disappointing effort from the Swans. Their efficiency, particularly inside 50, was just terrible l
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Terrific performance by Port - and an Insipid performance by the Swans - what a bunch of pretenders
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 Laidler lines up from 50 and looks to soften the scoreline for the Swans. But the backman can only manage a minor score. Swans 12.10 – 82 Port 17.8 – 110
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 Well, what a result for Port Adelaide. They've outplayed the Sydney Swans and kicked a big score - seldomly seen at the SCG. Longmire will not be happy with his men who will have their confidence shaken ahead of a grand final rematch against the Western Bulldogs next week.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 Paddy Ryder snaps from the pocket now and he's missed the lot. Still Port by 23 but they're not done yet with two and a half on the clock. Wingard with a mark now and he'll kick from close range on an angle. Chad goes back and the Power are powering home! That's three for Wingard and Sydney are shocked. Swans 12.9 – 81 Port 17.8 – 110
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 Another behind for Port. Charlie Dixon with the raking effort but its through for a point. Surely Port will go on and register one of the least believable upsets in recent round one memory! Swans 12.9 – 81 Port 16.5 – 103
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 SHUT THE GATE! PORT COULD BE HOME! Hamish Hartlett goes bang from range and slots it through the middle! Nobody was home and he drove it home powerfully. PORT BY 21! FOUR ON THE CLOCK. Swans 12.9 – 81 Port 16.4 – 102
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 We're inside the final five mintues now and Sydney look done for. 15 is the margin and Port Adelaide look like they've got all the answers. Who saw this coming??
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 Ollie Wines with the chance to ice it for the Power but he's shanked his snap completely! No one around him and he's kicked it out on the full! 15 the margin.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 Absolute scenes at the SCG! Hugely intense footy as the Power lead by 14 with 7 on the clock.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 POWELL-PEPPER FOR THE POWER!! The lead is back to 19 now as he used brute strength to win it out of the stoppage, had one crack before having a second goal and banging it through for a major! What a debut this young man is having! NO! WAIT!!! It's a score review and its bee changeed to a behind!!! Its ruled to have been touched by Cunningham off the boot and its a kick in. SWANS STILL IN THIS!! Swans 12.9 – 81 Port 15.5 – 95
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 An absolute scrap deep in Sydney's forward 50!! Its high intensity footy as the Swans throw everything at the Power. Kieran Jack with an effort now!! But its off the mark and through for a behind. Sydney need a goal here badly!! Swans 12.9 – 81 Port 15.4 – 94 Its a 13 point ball game now with 8 on the clock! Swans must kick the next goal now!
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 Tippett with a big mark now! Just outside the 50. He pops it in the Buddy direction but he's swarmed by 5 Port players. Its out for a throwin deep in the pocket.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
You're not wrong mate. We'll see if the Swans can conjure something up here.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 10 Minutes on the clock now! It'll take something very special from the Swans to come back from here. Are they equal to the task??
Connor Bennett
Editor
Swans by 44 not looking great right now mate
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Q4 This game isn't over yet!! Write off the Swans at your own peril!