The last week of bye rounds sees another Friday night fixture for Port Adelaide Power hosting the Melbourne Demons at Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:50pm (AEST) on Friday.
The Power sit in 7th position on the ladder and appear to be climbing thanks to some team chemistry coming together. Their fifth win in six matches came last week thanks to a 57=-point thrashing of the Western Bulldogs.
On the other hand, the Demons are holding on to 4th place after their Queen’s Birthday debacle at the hands of Collingwood.
How the Dees respond after a week off will be the big test for themselves. As they’ve noted through the week, it’s ‘just another game’ — a sign that perhaps on the big stage of Friday night they’d like to downplay the significance to get the result.
Jack Hombsch is again unlucky to be dropped after he is in-out player for the Power this week. The omission sees Tom Jonas return to the side. The luxury of the omission shows good depth at Port at this stage of the season.
For the Demons, Timothy Smith and Dom Tyson return to the side for youngster Charlie Spargo and experienced forward Cameron Pedersen (both omitted). Tyson is a welcome addition to the side who hasn’t played since Round 8.
The big head-to-head matchups that will count most are Ryder vs Gawn, Wines vs Viney, Ebert vs Jones, McDonald vs Dixon to name a few.
The Power are 5th in disposals and inside 50s, 2nd in tackles, 1st in clearances, but average the 4th most clangers per match.
The Demons are second in disposals, ranked first in goals scored, inside 50s and hitous, fifth in tackles, and third in clearances, but seventeenth in rebound 50s — perhaps a sign that their scoring prowess is so dominant.
The Dees have won on the past two occasions against Port including a 2016 match at Adelaide Oval by 40 points.
However, it could be said that the Power have had the better fortune for this decade having won the previous seven matches beforehand.
The Dees have won six of their past seven games, and the Power have won five of their past six.
Prediction
It’s genuinely hard to pick the winner here, but Port’s home ground advantage will get them over the line.
The Demons will be arguably fresher with the week off, so a fast start is crucial at Adelaide Oval, however the Power should continue their form after a confident win last week.
Power by 11 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:50pm (AEST).
Pelican
Guest
Do you want a tissue.
Armchair Expert
Guest
Melbourne's decision to draft Toumpas rather than Wines has bitten them on the bum again and cost them this game on top of it costing them a place in the finals last year.
Rob
Guest
Weak as piss dees - it hurts saying that given how brave Jetta and Tom Mcdonald were in the last - but despite rubbish umpiring and that a goal NEEDED to be kicked in the last 30 minutes of play. I dont think this team is anywhere near hungry enough and ive waited long enough. The patience has all but run out.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Port Adelaide Power claims a top-four spot in hard-fought win over Melbourne Demons Port Adelaide Power have given their finals credentials a major boost with a 10-point win over the Melbourne Demons on Friday night at Adelaide Oval. After a slow start from both sides, the Power used their classy midfield to get their run on in the second half to save the game in the Newly re-signed Ollie Wines had 29 disposals (18 contested), and Sam Powell-Pepper (a league season-high 17 tackles) led the way while Robbie Gray, Justin Westhoff and Jared Polec were also solid contributors for the night. The back half were resilient thanks to the consistent work from Tom Jonas and Jasper Pittard. They won the tackle count 99-88 in a show of desperation from the side. For the Demons, who dominated the inside 50s all night, they'll be left thinking 'what if' after endless opportunities went begging. They recorded 68 entries to the Power's 39 but failed to capitalise on the effort from the Demons midfield. The Dees also won the clearance count 54-38 Jack Viney battled hard with 31 disposals and 14 clearances, alongside Clayton Oliver, Angus Brayshaw and Nathan Jones (all 28 disposals each). Jesse Hogan went goalless in a quiet night by his, and most key-forward's standards. It was a low scoring-affair in the first quarter with the first goal not coming until the there were six minutes left in the first quarter. The Demons looked dangerous and got out to a 20-point lead in the early stages of the 3rd term but couldn't hold on as the Power surged to be within striking distance at the final change. Tom McDonald, Tim Smith, and Neville Jetta (concussion) had injury concerns for the Dees, as did Tom Rockliff, Chad Wingard, Brad Ebert, Marshall (shoulder) and Riley Bonner (wrist) for the Power. Port Adelaide will be relieved with the win and have now won six of their past seven matches. While they remain in 4th on the ladder before the round is out, they may fall behind by a position pending Collingwood's match with Carlton. Port will look to their own match against the Blues next week. For the Dees, they fall back into the pack of the top-8 sides and will now need to work out what went wrong in both weeks around the bye thanks to a loss on Queen's Birthday. The Dees take on St Kilda next weekend and will be desperate for a win to break the negative cycle of the past fortnight.
anon
Roar Pro
What a disappointing team Melbourne. Can never win a game that would take them to the next level. Always a tease.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Nicely done, Port. Demons seemed to run out of legs when they had to chase. The injuries coming as they did disrupted both teams, but two points for Melbourne in the last wasn't just down to desperate defending by the Power, but some half-baked kicks and efforts by the Dees. Port in the four, I didn't see it coming but a week is a long time in football
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining The Roar tonight. Check back soon for the post-match report.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Full Time STATS: Port didn't need the stat sheet to win the game, but won hitouts 57-54, tackle count 100-88, and free kicks 30-24. Dees won the disposal count 357-335, clearances 54-38, inside 50s 68-39, and contested possessions 177-158. Disposals: PORT: Wines (29), Polec (23), Pittard (20), Rockliff (20), Jonas (20). DEES: Viney (30), Brayshaw (28), Oliver (28), Jones (28). Goals: PORT: R.Gray (2), Ebert (2), Westhoff (2), Wingard, Boak, Dixon. Thomas, S.Gray. DEES: T.McDonald (3), Hannan (2), Petracca, Salem, T.Smith, Melksham. Port Adelaide: 11.9 (75) Melbourne: 9.11 (65)
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
And that’s why you don’t change rules every 5 mins just because scoring is low. Great game. Well done Port.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Full Time 0:00 - POWER HOLD ON! A 10 point win and they’re into the top 4. Four contested marks along the boundary along the boundary line and it's sealed with a shot on goal at the end for Wines. However, it's a miss. Port Adelaide: 11.9 (75) Melbourne: 9.11 (65)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 1:22 - Hannan gets a snap on goal but it's just missed as it bounces on the line to the left of the goals. Port Adelaide: 11.9 (75) Melbourne: 9.11 (65)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
INJURY NEWS: Jetta comes back on the ground. There's little time left for Melbourne.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Goal 5:06 - WESTHOFF DRILLS IT FROM 50! A huge goal for Port after chewing the clock. Power out to an 11-point lead. Port Adelaide: 11.9 (75) Melbourne: 9.10 (64)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
50-metre Penalty 5:38 - HUGE! Westhoff gets a mark and is cleaned up after the grab. It's a 50m penalty which could lead to a shot on goal. Port Adelaide: 10.9 (69) Melbourne: 9.10 (64)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
INJURY NEWS: Wingard, Rockliff and Ebert all on the bench with minor injuries. It remains to be seen who will play out the game.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 7:30 - Fritsch gets a beautiful pickup off the ground with one hand but snaps a behind back at the Demons end. Port Adelaide: 10.9 (69) Melbourne: 9.10 (64)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 8:09 - Westhoff sprays a kick from the right forward pocket but the Power are up by a full goal now. Port Adelaide: 10.9 (69) Melbourne: 9.9 (63)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
8:20 - A tense final 10 minutes coming up! Port Adelaide: 10.8 (68) Melbourne: 9.9 (63)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 9:50 - Wines takes a quick snap but hooks it too far left. Behind. Port Adelaide: 10.8 (68) Melbourne: 9.9 (63)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Goal 11:29 - Sam Gray kicks a goal and the pressure is on the Dees to respond now. Home crowd may be the difference. Port Adelaide: 10.7 (67) Melbourne: 9.9 (63)