A fast-finishing Richmond have pipped Port Adelaide by 13 points in a brutal battle to climb into the AFL’s top four.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Port Adelaide Power 8.15.63
Richmond Tigers 11.10.76
The Port Adelaide Power and Richmond Tigers will be looking to consolidate their spots in the top eight when they do battle on a Saturday night. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:40pm (AEST).
The Port Adelaide we thought we were getting in 2015 may have finally arrived this season, with the Alberton mob perched in the top four at 8-5 and sporting a healthy percentage north of 135.
An embarrassing 70-point loss to Essendon three weeks ago – their third defeat in five matches – had the Power reeling, but in the ensuing fortnight they’ve done enough with comfortable wins over Brisbane and Collingwood.
This year’s competition is as even as ever though, so despite sitting in fourth for now, Port are just two wins separated from 12th.
Ken Hinkley’s men are also yet to knock off a side currently in the top eight this year, so they’ll be keen to make a statement against the visiting Tigers.
Richmond have also enjoyed a resurgence into the eight after a disappointing 2016, but they’ve spluttered badly after a 5-0 start to currently sit precariously in sixth at 8-5.
The Tigers have been very competitive, with the last four of their defeats all by fewer than ten points, but some questionable decision making in all four of those close losses has had their big-game, big-moment mettle rightfully queried.
With their last two victories coming against lowly duo North Melbourne and Carlton, Damien Hardwick will be desperate to prove his side are still a force to be reckoned with in 2017.
After drawing on the last day of the 2012 season, these sides have played six games – winning three each.
None of those encounters have come close to a deadlock though, with the average margin across the last six a solid 37 points.
Prediction
Richmond are certainly an easy target in the AFL, and the play of both sides over the last month suggests their status as complete outsiders in this match is actually quite unfair.
They’ll push Port Adelaide all the way, but the Power’s very strong record at home this year should be enough to see them get the points.
Power by 11 points
Swanny
Guest
Great wotk swannies. One of the 17 teams u support won tonight .
Stirling Coates
Editor
» Click here to read the full match report PORT ADELAIDE v RICHMOND THE ROAR AFL MVP VOTES 3 VOTES - Dustin Martin (RCH) - When his team needed him in the second half - he delivered in spades. Finished with 37 disposals, eight marks, eight inside 50s and the goal that put Richmond in front for good. 2 VOTES - Chad Wingard (PA) - Tried his heart out with 39 touches, 14 inside 50s and 10 clearances. Easily his side's best, but some poor decision making in the fourth quarter stopped him from being the game's best. 1 VOTE - Kane Lambert (RCH) - Tough at the coalface for the Tigers. 33 disposals, a team-high 12 contested possessions, nine tackles, six clearances and six inside 50s.
Swannies
Guest
Great win by Richmond tonight! Let's hope they can keep it together in the run home to finals. The top four is in reach.
Stirling Coates
Editor
PORT ADELAIDE v RICHMOND FULL TIME REPORT Port Adelaide - 8.15 (63) Richmond - 11.10 (76) GOAL KICKERS Power: Powell-Pepper 2, Ebert, Neade, Dixon, S. Gray, Trengove, R. Gray Tigers: Butler 3, Stengle 2, Riewoldt, Lloyd, Cotchin, Rioli, Martin, Short DISPOSAL LEADERS Power: Wingard 39, Wines 28, Polec 25 Tigers: Martin 37, Lambert 33, Ellis 29
Stirling Coates
Editor
Port won the free kick count 18-12 - not that an even free kick count is what we're supposed to strive for. Can't agree with you on that one. Port couldn't hit the side of a barn when they had the ascendancy and it came back to bite them.
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIREN After falling 15 points behind in the third quarter - and looking close to gone - Richmond stunned Port Adelaie with six unanswered goals as they ran out 13-point victors over the Power in Adelaide. The Tigers are back in the thick of the top four battle, Port Adelaide on the other hand now still have question marks over them. PA - 8.15 (63) RCH - 11.10 (76) FULL TIME
Bob
Guest
Hope the umpires get a nice payout. The tigers weren't in it until the obvious bias started in the third quarter.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Good to see Port struggling against another top 8 team. Fecking useless this outfit. Well done Tiges — great away win.
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL POWER Sam Powell-Pepper unleashes a long bomb towards 50 that clears the one-on-one in the goal square. Just four seconds to go - it means little unfortunately. PA - 8.15 (63) RCH - 11.10 (76) Q4: 1'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Richmond content to just chip the ball around the ground with a handful of seconds to go. A stirring win for the Tigers tonight. PA - 7.15 (57) RCH - 11.10 (76) Q4: 1'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Jason Castagna goes for a dashing run inside 50, slows up, sizes them up from 15 out and... ..misses everything. You can laugh now Tiger fans - 94 seconds to go. PA - 7.15 (57) RCH - 11.10 (76) Q4: 2'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL TIGERS A poor kick coming outside 50 from Jared Polec is straight to the advantage of Jayden Short, he uses his full 15 and unleashes a long bomb that clears the fist of Darcy Byrne-Jones and rolls through! Bryne-Jones is adamant he touched it and they go the automatic review, but word comes down from upstairs that it's a goal - and you'd think that'd be it! PA - 7.15 (57) RCH - 11.10 (76) Q4: 3'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Richmond don't look like they want to run the clock down just yet, keen to go in for the kill. This would be an enormous win in the context of their season if they can close it out. PA - 7.15 (57) RCH - 10.10 (70) Q4: 4'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL POWER Don't switch off just yet! Paddy Ryder is stiff not to be awarded a mark inside 50, but Port Adelaide recover, send it toward the hotspot and Sam Powell-Pepper is able to gather off the deck and sneak home an important goal under pressure. PA - 7.15 (57) RCH - 10.10 (70) Q4: 5'
Stirling Coates
Editor
The Port Adelaide kick inside 50 gets past Alex Rance and bounces toward goal, but they can't capitalise after Travis Boak's clumsy tackle on Trent Cotchin is definitely high. PA - 6.15 (51) RCH - 10.10 (70) Q4: 6'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Richmond have a good chance to put Port away with free men everywhere inside 50, but Shaun Grigg's delivery takes too long to get there and puts Josh Caddy under pressure. He gathers and dishes off to Connor Menadue, but his rushed kick comes off the side of the boot and ends up out on the full. PA - 6.15 (51) RCH - 10.10 (70) Q4: 7'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Jake Neade throws his foot at a loose ball at full forward, but even with an additional set of posts that wouldn't have even been a behind. PA - 6.15 (51) RCH - 10.10 (70) Q4: 8'
Stirling Coates
Editor
A very telling statistic from the Fox Footy LAB. Both sides have managed 11 scoring shots off opposition turnovers - Richmond have kicked 6.5, Port Adelaide have only managed 2.9. PA - 6.15 (51) RCH - 10.10 (70) Q4: 9'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL TIGERS Trent Cotchin is able to to get away from the pressure of three Port defenders far too easily inside 50, before wheeling around and hitting up Dan Butler in too much space. Butler's kicking from 35 out on a slight angle, and he threads it through. Richmond are going to be very hard to beat from here. PA - 6.15 (51) RCH - 10.10 (70) Q4: 10'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Alex Rance has lifted in a big way after a poor second quarter. Very smart defensive play just then, punching the ball forward off a teammate's handball rather than taking possession and getting tackled straight away. Port just can't solve him. PA - 6.15 (51) RCH - 9.10 (64) Q4: 11'