Port Adelaide have started their China careers off with a win, and a big win at that, smashing the Gold Coast Suns in Shanghai.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Gold Coast Suns 4.14.38
Port Adelaide Power 16.14.110
The Gold Coast Suns come face-to-face with the Port Adelaide Power in a historic clash that sees the sides battle it out in Shanghai. Catch all the live scores, highlights and action on The Roar from 3:15pm (AEST).
This will be the first time in the long, long history of Aussie Rules footy that two sides will play for competition points, not only in China but outside of Australia and New Zealand. Ever.
Both sides are coming into the game off the back of some shaky form in the opening seven rounds.
Port Adelaide are just on the cusp of the finals equation with four wins and three losses, leaving them in eighth place on percentage.
For the Suns, they have the reverse record of three wins and four losses, leaving them on nervous ground early in the season at the wrong end of the standings and struggling with consistency.
Gold Coast are fresh off a huge confidence-boosting win over the Cats last week, piling on 124 points to snag the upset and a launching ground to get their season back on track.
After demolishing the hapless Lions in Round 6 with an 83-point win, Port Adelaide were brought back down to Earth last week, losing by ten to West Coast to keep hanging on the edge of the top eight.
These two have met seven times since the Suns came into the competition and it’s not happy reading for Gold Coast fans. They have won just a single game so far, having lost the last five straight dating back to 2011 against Port.
Team News
Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade will be without three of his troops this week thanks to injury that has left them back in Australia.
David Swallow has succumbed to a knee injury, while Matt Rosa and Callum Ah Chee have been hit with persisting concussion and back problems respectively.
Eade has welcomed an extended squad for the clash, bringing in Brayden Fiorini, Rory Thompson, Matt Shaw, Jack Bowes, Keegan Brooksby and Josh Schoenfeld as cover.
For the Power, they have managed to avoid any injury troubles from last week, with just one player being left at home.
Dan Houston has been left out of the side. Callum Ah Chee may have been forced out for the Suns, but older brother Brendon has landed a spot in the Power squad.
Karl Amon, Aidyn Johnson and Dougal Howard are the others to make the trip over to China for Port.
Prediction
Both sides have been so up and down in the opening exchanges of this season that it’s nearly impossible to tell which half of them will turn up today.
Overall, Port have looked the better side in 2017, and with such a big occasion, both sides will have so much more to play for on the big stage as an advertisement for the game in China.
Port’s superior presence up front and execution in front of goal should be the deciding factor today on their way to a close win.
Port Adelaide to win by 14
Andrew
Guest
Doesn't look all that full does it.... I am sure the AFL will tell us it's a complete sell-out, my eyes must be deceiving me, or there is a massive queue to the toilets. I suspect that of the 3000 tickets Australian companies bought and gave to their Chinese businesses partners as gifts, many did not attend.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
» Click here to read the full match report FULLTIME The final siren sounds and it puts and end to a very long afternoon for the Gold Coast Suns, going down by a mammoth 72-point margin in a historic day in China. Port Adelaide sunk 16 goals to just 4, dominating the bulk of the game and getting the result to show for it. There were 10 different goal scorers for Port who never looked like losing. Port Adelaide 16.14 (110) Gold Coast 4.14 (38)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Both sides jogging at this stage, winding down the clock. It's been a tough day for the Suns and Port already have their piece of pie. Port Adelaide 16.14 (110) Gold Coast 4.14 (38)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL POWER!!! Sam Gray hits his first of the afternoon in the dying minutes to keep the scoreboard ticking over in a scrappy final term. The Suns continue to hang their heads. They want this one to be over. Port Adelaide 16.14 (110) Gold Coast 4.14 (38)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Port on the counter now... Dixon finds Trengrove, WHO MISSES AN OPEN GOAL!!! What was that? Trengrove had no one in front of him when he got the ball 40 metres out. Instead of running it in to goal he has a crack from there and doesn't just miss goal, but misses everything!! The ball just dribbled out over the boundary line for a throw in. Port Adelaide 15.14 (104) Gold Coast 4.14 (38)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Peter Wright with a nice lead out, getting a hold of the mark and a set shot at goal. Gets the distance, but the direction is off and they get yet another behind on the board. Port Adelaide 15.14 (104) Gold Coast 4.14 (38)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Boak looking towards goal... but he's missed again!! He has a pair of goals to his name, but three behinds has left a lot behind. Port Adelaide 15.14 (104) Gold Coast 4.13 (37)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Gold Coast continue to rack up the behinds in what has been a pretty poor kicking display. They have 13 behinds for just four goals. That's a coach-killing ratio right there. Port Adelaide 15.13 (103) Gold Coast 4.13 (37)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Free for a late hit to the Suns and this should be a goal. It has to be! NO WAY!! Can you believe that... Jarrod Witts had the set shot from 15 out and directly in front. He comes in off a two step run up and somehow, someway, slices it wide for a behind. That is just terrible. Port Adelaide 15.13 (103) Gold Coast 4.11 (35)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Gold Coast have just the one behind so far in the final term. It's been a real grind for them this afternoon. Port Adelaide 15.13 (103) Gold Coast 4.10 (34)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Loose delivery on the snap there from Boak who sprays the shot around the corner through for a behind. Port Adelaide 15.13 (103) Gold Coast 4.9 (33)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Wingard flying through traffic in the centre square as Port continue to roll forward. The Suns are really just trying to survive at the moment. Port Adelaide 15.12 (102) Gold Coast 4.9 (33)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL POWER!!! Ah Chee has another one!! That's three for him and they've all come in the second half after being brought on late. Port pass the hundred mark with a nice finish on the set shot inside forward 50. Port Adelaide 15.12 (102) Gold Coast 4.9 (33)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Alright, Westhoff will have another chance, this time on the left side instead of the right on the set shot... But he misses again!!! He just can't get that accuracy on line and that's two goals gone begging in the last minute. Port Adelaide 14.12 (96) Gold Coast 4.9 (33)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Oh no not a great shot from Westhoff there. He really should have bagged the goal there but he's hooked it badly through for a behind. Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) Gold Coast 4.9 (33)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Port playing short through the midfield with numbers in hand up front... and Westhoff grabs the mark 25 out. Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) Gold Coast 4.9 (33)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL POWER!!! Inside the first minute of the final quarter and Port are right back on the board again. Travis Boak caps off the lead out run with a peach of a set shot from 40 metres out, sending it straight as a ruler right through the centre gate. Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) Gold Coast 4.9 (33)
Connor Bennett
Editor
FINAL QUARTER Port snag the centre bounce and head up field as they look to pick up where they left off from the opening three quarters. Port Adelaide 13.10 (88) Gold Coast 4.9 (33)
Connor Bennett
Editor