Port Adelaide’s Plan A for the fresh AFL season worked to perfection as their high-profile recruits fired in a 50-point victory against Fremantle.
New chums Jack Watts, Steven Motlop and Tom Rockliff all goaled early in their Port debut in Saturday’s emphatic 16.14 (110) to 9.6 (60) win.
Emerging Power forward Todd Marshall kicked four goals with Watts booting three, and Motlop and Chad Wingard, two each at Adelaide Oval.
The oft-maligned Watts (20 disposals, seven marks) snapped the first goal of the game and was instantly adopted by Port’s 38,324-strong crowd.
Three minutes later, ex-Cat Motlop (19 touches) sped away to convert a rousing goal on the run.
And when Rockliff, in his subdued 12-disposal Power debut, goaled 15 minutes into the second term Port were in the midst of crafting a defining 38-point lead.
Five-gamer Riley Bonner (31 touches) and captain Travis Boak were outstanding but Freo rallied with three late goals to sneak within 21-points at halftime.
The Dockers never got that close again as Marshall highlighted his fourth AFL game with four second-half goals, ensuring the visitors were road-kill.
The 19-year-old Marshall and teammate Charlie Dixon will be scrutinised for late hits on Fremantle players in the opening 13 minutes.
Power spearhead Dixon took some gloss of his polished game by kicking 1.4.
His teammate Justin Westhoff was superb with 25 disposals, nine marks and nine tackles and Ollie Wines (28 touches), Brad Ebert (28 disposals) and Sam Powell-Pepper (19 possessions) provided the midfield grunt.
The Dockers showed some pluck but were never genuinely in the hunt after conceding four of the initial five goals.
Onballer Lachie Neale collected a game-high 38 disposals, including 17 contested, and captain Nat Fyfe was solid, not spectacular, with 22 possessions and a goal.
Key backman Alex Pearce returned successfully after almost two years out with injury, Aaron Sandilands (52 hit-outs) ruled the rucks against Paddy Ryder and new signing Brandon Matera, who had 19 touches, six inside 50s and a goal, battled gamely.
johnboy
Guest
Ross will not make too many changes he always sticks to the same personal, another poor performance when the damage is done maybe .Common sense will see the return of Hamling . Only Ross and Stone would be the only two in WA to not have played him on the weekend.
johno
Guest
Fremantle will be better for adding in Logue, S Hill, Grey, Hughes, Hamling and Bennell - all are best 22 players IMHO And seeing off Ballantyne, D Pearce, Sutcliffe, Johnson, Kersten and maybe one of Tucker or Langdon, bt both deserve more chances Cox needs to show a bit more as does Apeness before they earn selection Grey brings the hardness that the forward line lacked. Logue, Hamling and Hughes strengthen the backline and Bennell, Hill add some class to the disposals
johnboy
Guest
Have you looked at the ramifications of that ? How many clubs are playing two ruckman with success ? I am sure there are none it is 2018.
Guttsy
Guest
I would play Darcy too, as a second ruck.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
Yeah, Tucker was a surprise for me. Expected a lot more from him. Mind you, his super coach points were much higher than his fantasy points, which suggests a tagging role. I always struggle to "see" taggers when watching games in real time (esp. on tv) so I have no idea.
johnboy
Guest
Agree Sandi was ok but he has to be rotated every 2-3 weeks with Darcy for his development he is your future. There are different opinions on whether to play both, i think Ross will try it, but it could cost a couple of losses if your down a running player. In saying that Sandi is injury prone and has missed 60% of footy in the last 2 years and i will be surprised if he does not go down again .By resting him every 2-3 weeks is the way to go.
johnboy
Guest
johno- Good call ,Kersten has to go as well ,Cox and Logue (when fit) are better options.
johno
Guest
Hamling was apparently excellent in Peels flogging of East Perth, as was Dixon, Cerra, Darcy, Jones, Meek These should be the changes this week OUT: D Pearce, C Sutcliffe, Ballantyne, Johnson IN: Hamling, Hughes, Cerra, S Hill (if fit) The players who go out need to tackle. When only 1 player (Walters) lays more than 3 tackles for the match you know you're in trouble if your game is built on pressure Players on notice are Kersten (if Dixon kicks a few more bags he's gone, or Apeness stays on the park) and Tucker - he's in his 3rd year and nearing 50 games so should be getting more than 12 touches and 2 tackles. Unless he payed a stopping role, which if he did then Ross is nuts
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
there's some seriously perplexing claims about Sandi being made, coming on the back of Saturday's game. There were more Freo players that had fewer disposals than him than Freo players who had more. Took 5 marks, laid 2 tackles, kicked a goal. All of that adds up to a satisfactory contribution, and that's before you factor in his ruck work, which includes not only the taps but some excellent follow up and body work. Definitely among Freo's best that day.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Nope, Kiss of Death (kod) pretty much sums it up.
Don Freo
Guest
So funny watching you delight in Freo's losses. What a pointless existence.
Don Freo
Guest
I'll challenge you to even remember what you just said you predicted. I'll bet you have to go back and write it down. You just make it up as you go along.
Pelican
Guest
I get those two mixed up all the time.
Don Freo
Guest
Sandi's best work yesterdasy was on and around the ground. His work on the floor of a pack with excellent handball was there for all to see. I'd swear some of you must not know how to watch footy.
Don Freo
Guest
Grey is still struggling with injury too.
Pelican
Guest
I agree Brendan, this is an oportunity to develope Frampton. If you dont play him now when will he ever get a chance.
johnboy
Guest
Brendon- That is 100% correct, So obvious.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Sandi is the best tap ruckman I've ever seen, but the question has always been, is a tap ruckman that important if they don't get around the ground? If Freo get smashed next week, I'd be running with Darcy for the rest of the year and use Sandi as a depth player who supports and coaches the younger ruckman, he'd be the best back-up ruck in the league, he's to big and slow to play if you have another ruck on the ground, your effectively losing a player once the ball leaves the clearance.
johnboy
Guest
Trying to blame the ground now ! Another cop out or excuse the problem is simple but some fail to see it even though it is staring them in the eye !
johnboy
Guest
Do you really think by playing two ruckman is going to help, Sandilands took all the centre bounces and we were mauled in the middle . Looking to the future Darcy has to play games not every week, maybe alternate someway but you are taking away a smaller player which will weaken another area.