Port Adelaide have maintained their Shanghai supremacy, downing Gold Coast by 40 points in a wet-weather AFL slog at Jiangwan Stadium.
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Final score
Gold Coast Suns 6.6.42
Port Adelaide Power 11.16.82
The Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide Power take AFL to Jiangwan Stadium, Shanghai. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3:15pm (AEST).
Last Saturday, the Suns hosted a dominant Melbourne at the Gabba and suffered their third consecutive loss.
Meanwhile, Port Adelaide, are coming off a thrilling victory in the dying seconds of Showdown 44. Steven Motlop’s match-winning goal completed a second-half comeback that will go down as one of the greatest Showdowns.
Ken Hinkley’s post-win emotion has been short-lived though, as the club’s focus immediately shifted to their trip to China and the significance of this match to their brand.
Both teams arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday, taking several days to settle in and acclimatise to the warm and smoggy conditions.
In team news, both clubs have extended squads present but have made limited changes.
For the Gold Coast, the suspended Sam Day is replaced by debutant Jacob Heron. A small forward, Heron is an academy product who brings speed and defensive pressure to the forward line.
The Power have an unchanged team, although Jared Polec is listed in the centre despite reporting ill on Monday and taking a separate flight to Shanghai.
In 2017, these teams met in Round 9, for the inaugural China game, and again in Round 23. Port were dominant in both, winning by 72 points in Shanghai, and 115 points at Adelaide Oval.
Prediction
In the past, the Power have struggled coming off the Showdown, particularly after a win. What’s more, after three consecutive losses and with last year’s disappointing losses in the back of their minds, Gold Coast will be fired up.
However, while the Suns will come out firing, expect the Power to absorb that and kick away.
Port Adelaide by 37.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3:15pm (AEST).
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Port Proud in Shanghai The Port Adelaide Power have defeated the Gold Coast Suns by 40 points at Adelaide Arena, Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai. It was a hard slog for the Power, but they got the better of the Suns in the last quarter, holding Gold Coast scoreless, and increasing their lead to 40 points. After the first term it was a low-scoring affair; 9 goals were kicked between the two teams in the first, however, they could only combine for another eight goals in the next three quarters. Port had opportunities to blow the margin out, but inaccurate goal kicking made it frustrating for players, coaches and fans alike. Captain Travis Boak led from the front for the Power, racking up 29 disposals and kicking one goal, in a best on ground performance that saw him awarded another piece of silverware to add to his collection. Sam Powell-Pepper, Tom Rockliff and Ollie Wines had 26 disposals each and were a force in the Port midfield. Chad Wingard and Sam Gray both kicked two goals up forward, but it was Sam Powell-Pepper’s amusing goal – kicking over his shoulder, while lying on the goal line – that was most impressive. Jarrod Witts (22 disposals, 43 hitouts and 1 goal) was huge in the ruck for the Suns and drew some free kicks early from frustrated Port ruckman, Patrick Ryder. Aaron Hall (29 disposals) and Jarrod Harbrow (27 disposals, 9 tackles) found plenty of the ball as well. Jack Martin was a late withdrawal from the Suns’ side after waking up ill, Matt Rosa replacing him in the side. Rosa though, injured his hamstring in the second quarter and spent the second half icing his leg on the bench. Nick Holman also copped a knock to the head in the last quarter, coming off the ground with the blood rule. After sweltering weather over the past few days, rain drizzled all game, and while the players would have enjoyed the albeit wet, but cooler conditions, the fans seemingly did not with plenty of spare seats. It wasn’t the spectacle everyone had hoped for and the crowd looked disappointing on television, but Port Adelaide and the AFL will continue to work out ways to continue this international venture. Both teams will have next weekend off, with their ‘bye’ coming a little earlier than the rest of the competition. The following week in round 11, Gold Coast will play Geelong at Metricon Stadium in their first true home game of the year, and Port Adelaide will travel to Tasmania to take on Hawthorn. Final Score Gold Coast 6.6 (42) Port Adelaide 11.16 (82)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Thank you for tuning in this afternoon. I'll post a match review soon.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Port did just enough to get themselves across the line in Shanghai, inaccuracies killed them - particularly in the third quarter - but they held Gold Coast scoreless in the last to take a 40 point win. Gold Coast were good early, their pressure forced Port to adjust their game plan. Witts was good in the ruck and had Ryder giving plenty of frees away early. Travis Boak takes the BOG medal and collects the trophy, thanking the Port Adelaide fans for travelling to China for the game.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
FULL TIME The Port Adelaide Power have defeated the Gold Coast Suns by 40 points at Jiangwan Stadium. Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 82
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Roar Guru
GOAL POWER Gee Powell-Pepper, he has the coach laughing in the box. Throws it on the boot, over his head on the goal line. Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 82
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Roar Guru
BEHIND POWER Gray tries the dribble kick and misses. Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 76
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Roar Guru
Tom Jonas off with ice on his shin. Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 75
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Roar Guru
Holman off with the blood rule, straight down to the rooms for repairs. Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 75
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
10' left in this one. Port have a 33 point lead, looking to extend this further. Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 75
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Roar Guru
BEHIND POWER S Gray with another mark, this time leading out from the goal square. His set shot is on a slight angle, doesn't connect with the boot well and misses to the right. Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 75
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL POWER S Gray uses his body well, takes a chest mark at the top of the goal square. He sneaks it through for a goal, another shocking set shot but luckily this one just makes it through. Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 74
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL POWER Strong mark from Powell-Pepper as the Suns tried to exit defence. Finally a set shot through for Port! Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 68
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Roar Guru
Final quarter underway Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 62
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Roar Guru
Three-quarter time Twenty points the margin, Port haven't put them away and Gold Coast just keep peppering. Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 62
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Roar Guru
BEHIND POWER Free kick for a dangerous tackle on Neade. Neade misses, had a chance to make them pay at the end of the third but not to be. Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 62
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Roar Guru
GOAL SUNS On the rebound Gold Coast find one through Miller, good kick from 40. Port should have been putting them away this quarter but inaccurate goal kicking could come back to bite them. Gold Coast: 42 Port Adelaide: 61
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Roar Guru
BEHIND POWER Tap down ends up in the hands of Powell-Pepper who runs in to goal and misses. Shocking miss. Gold Coast: 36 Port Adelaide: 61
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Roar Guru
2' on the clock. Gold Coast: 36 Port Adelaide: 60
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Roar Guru
BEHIND SUNS Ah Chee blasts it from 50, but can only manage a behind. Gold Coast: 36 Port Adelaide: 60