Port Adelaide maestro Robbie Gray has kicked six goals to inspire his AFL club to a comeback five-point win against arch rivals Adelaide.
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Final score
Port Adelaide Power 14.11.95
Adelaide Crows 14.6.90
It’s the first Showdown of the year in one of the biggest derbies in the country, the South Australia match-up between Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows at the picturesque Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 5:10pm (AEST).
For these two games every year, forget ladder positions, you can almost forget form, because there is always everything to play for between these two local rivals.
However, there will be one form line that will be of particular note to the Power team, and that is the five-match winning streak that the Crows are currently enjoying in this fixture.
The last start between these two sides saw a Crows victory in Round 20 last year 18.22 (130) to 7.4 (46). Ouch.
So given both teams have had a stop-start kind of season, you would think that Port have a little more to play for this evening.
The Crows are travelling quite well, at least in terms of ladder position, enjoying third place, while their local rivals have seen a strong start to the season fall to the wayside as they hover outside the top 8 in 11th.
But those ladder positions can be slightly deceiving as well, particularly when you consider the rampant soft tissue injury epidemic hitting the Crows clubhouse.
Also, throw in the news yesterday that Rory Sloane’s foot injury has been upgraded to a Lisfranc injury (an injury that has ended some careers), you can’t help but think that the Crows are surprisingly ripe for the picking here.
With Paddy Ryder back after a solid last round return on the bitumen of Optus stadium, expect the Power to take it right up to their local rivals, in a hotly contested game that will be closer than current form suggests.
Plus, when you are bringing in players the calibre of Chad Wingard, Tom Rockliff and Sam Powell-Pepper, that is a potent line up of names to bring into any side.
Prediction
I’m going to tip the underdog Power here to come out firing and take it to their more favoured opponent. This match will be decided by passion, and if the returning names can’t get Port up to rectify the last start demolition against Adelaide, then I don’t know what will.
Port Adelaide by 11 points
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 5:10pm (AEST).
Sammy
Guest
I am guessing kurt that you really didn't watch the game did you by your very ill informed comments
Kurt
Guest
It's ok Sammy, I feel that way the evening after a close game too sometimes. You'll feel better after a good night's rest, and realise you've made a dill of yourself. Night night.
russ
Guest
poor baby
Sammy
Guest
Umpiring no factor at all..so wingard stages for a free and gets it and a goal and gray gets a non existent holding free and gets a goal..amongst many others. Port get the last 10 straight frees in a tight game. How about paying them both ways when they happen..but no we can get hit high and its ok, they can get tackled and no holding the ball and its ok. Cmon take off the blinkers. They had a soft ride ahainst an injury riddled team far from their best in a game won in the last 20 seconds... if you don't like the facts then go read about your team
Kurt
Guest
Pull your head in Sammy, if you want to be surrounded by nothing but whinging Adelaide-supporting sycophants, why don't you head off the Big Footy Crows forum. I'm a neutral fan and thought it was a great game where umpiring simply wasn't a factor. Power wanted it more, Crows were slicker in the first half but then switched off until 3.20 to go. They lost a thriller, that's sport.
Kurt
Guest
Cat, in short the answer is yes. No single victory or even premiership is deemed legitimate in the eyes of the whinging masses. To be fair this doesn't just apply to Adelaide fans, it seems to be a pattern across all teams and indeed society as a whole.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
To be fair Lamby, Port haven't even been that side for the past couple of seasons. We've just been ordinary against everyone.
Sammy
Guest
But still had more inside 50's meaning we were more direct when we had the ball. Port went sideways and backwards a fair bit and that was a big reason why they had more ball. Take out poholke, gallucci, otten, mckay and add in sloane, milera, brad crouch and hartigan (who has touched up robbie gray before) and it becomes a far stronger team in defence and around the ball
Lamby
Roar Rookie
Yep, Port were better on the night. Can you imagine supporting a side that can play like that every time they play in a Showdown, but hardly put up a whimper for the rest of the year?
Cat
Roar Guru
This site isn’t for Crows fans only. Anyone can comment on anything.
Bob
Guest
You had 75 less disposals, yet somehow still had 25 less tackles. I'd say that's a way bigger reason than a free kick count.
Sammy
Guest
I would like to know how you defend some of those soft arse frees port got that gave them goals to get them going. We had a heap of 1st team players out and still nearly won the game and didn't play that great. Why wouldn't i be bullish if we get our 1st teamers back in front of our crowd for the return later this year. Now go comment on your own team
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
At least that one good match came against the Crows. He could fumble through the rest of the season, and I wouldn't even care.
Fairsuckofthesav
Guest
24 to 14 free kicks in a 5 point game is huge.
Cat
Roar Guru
Glad one game is all that his pay check requires ... it’s about all he is good for each year.
Cat
Roar Guru
Can’t you ever just admit the better side won on the day? Does ther always need to be some umpire conspiracy and assorted other excuses when Adelaide lose?
Fairsuckofthesav
Guest
Agree injuries are hurting us .Port wanted it more in the 2nd half. Umpires certainly gave Port a good run. Be interesting to know what what were the free kicks stats in the 2nd half.
Kurt
Guest
Bwahahahahaha.
perry cox
Roar Guru
My pleasure. That game almost spoke for itself though, I was just happy to be along for the ride!
Sammy
Guest
Yeah..next time we play them when they are at full strength lets hope we have sloane, b crouch, milera, hartigan, maybe b smith and it will be in front of our crowd..then lets see as we were very average in the second half and a number of younger players didnt turn up..and from 14 frees all port got the next 9 (including wingards stage free that cost a goal) and some shockers were missed for the crows and we STILL nearly won...pffft