The Port Adelaide Power welcome a rejuvenated GWS Giants team to the Adelaide Oval in a game where both sides will fancy their chances. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 4:40pm (AEST).
It was a poor day at the office this time last weekend for Port Adelaide. Fremantle at home are a different proposition, but it’s a game Ken Hinkley would have been more than confident about walking away with four points from.
There is just such an unpredictable nature to the Power, and it’s leaving more questions than answers about them.
They are in a superb position to finish within the top four but, with the competition being so even, last week was not a game they would have liked dropping.
What didn’t help was losing Robbie Gray and Paddy Ryder throughout the match, but I don’t think Hinkley will be looking for excuses.
In terms of players that did stand out in the loss, Chad Wingard looked threatening as usual with two majors and 24 disposals.
Ollie Wines was superb reeling in 30 disposals but, apart from the two mentioned, there was very little support.
In team news for the Power, Paddy Ryder (injured) and Riley Bonner (omitted) come out of the side. Jasper Pittard and Jarrod Lienert are their replacements.
As for GWS, last week was huge. The win against Richmond put them back within the top eight for a while and, with some players returning from injury, they may be hitting form at the right time.
If the Giants were to get a spot in the top eight, they are a side many would like to avoid. They have been hampered with injuries this season and it has no doubt impacted their form but, with certain individuals returning, they are starting to look a threat.
Everyone played their role last week against the Tigers, but there were a few that stood out. Zac Langdon was clinical kicking three goals straight.
Josh Kelly reeled in 20 touches and two goals. Tim Taranto had a similar day out, kicking two majors and notching 23 disposals.
In team news this week for the Giants, Ryan Griffen comes out of the side due to injury. Brett Deledio is his replacement.
Prediction
This is a tough game to predict due to Port Adelaide’s unpredictable nature and GWS’ change in form, but I’m leaning towards the Power purely due to the home ground advantage.
Port Adelaide by 19
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 4:40pm (AEST).
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
No issue - there is not that many of them and they are leaving early anyway!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Surely Davis was behind the mark (draw a line straight out from the goals) and then Wingard played on?
Mumbles
Guest
8 mainly soft free kicks to Port to nil from late in the 3rd quarter till 6 mins from the end. Free kick against Shaw in the behind post was a howler. I have seen stitch ups in RL to make the finish interesting and good for Tv but this rates with them. The AFL should look into this
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
I used to give Port grief for being soft and lacking in effort but actually it’s the opposite. They’re just not a skilful team. That was a huge effort to make a game of that when they were so inferior and if they had the talent to back up all that effort when they had 100 chances to get within a kick they amazingly could have won that.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full Time The Greater Western Sydney Giants have earned themselves a vital away win in Adelaide, their second for the year, to jump back inside the top 8 with a 11.14.80 to 8.10.58 win over an overpowered Port Adelaide Power. Both teams were fighting for crucial ladder positions, but it turned out that the Giants' top 8 carrot was more enticing than the Power's top 4 aspirations. The match was won in the first quarter, when the Giants kicked 4 goals to 1, and with the Power chasing the game, the Giant's just couldn't be caught. for the Power, Charlie Dixon had a commanding day out with crucial goals at crucial times, but he was a lone wolf in a star-studded wolf pack, as Robbie Gray was kept relatively quiet, while Chad Wingard, Ollie Wines, and Brad Ebert had their moments, just not consistently enough to make a real impact. For the Giants, their key men stood up when it matter, in particular Toby Greene firing up front. The Giants have a spring in their step, with bigger battles to come. As for the Power, they have a hard run home, and in a competition where the difference between a top 4 spot and missing finals is marginal, the Power now will run a fixture tightrope to feature prominently in September. A great contest in Adelaide, won by the Giants. Giants by 22.
Port Adelaide Power: 58 Greater Western Sydney Giants: 80
XI
Roar Guru
Yessss! That's how to win away Giants!
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 29' - The game is slowly clearing out. Crowd slowly filing out of the stands. Credit to Giants here. Very professional win in the end.
Port Adelaide Power: 58 Greater Western Sydney Giants: 80
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Behind 27' - Giants with a behind. Giants by 22. This will be an important win for them, and a devastating loss for Port, especially given the Swans' slip up this round.
Port Adelaide Power: 58 Greater Western Sydney Giants: 80
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 25' - And jsut to show it wasn't a fluke, Power do it twice. Giants always with the man in that goal square.
Port Adelaide Power: 58 Greater Western Sydney Giants: 79
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 24' - That hurts. Power with all the hard work, they get into scoring position, bu the snap is weak, and kicked straight at the Giants defender int he goal square. Ouch.
Port Adelaide Power: 58 Greater Western Sydney Giants: 79
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 23' - I'm almost tempted to call this. I just cannot see how Port have 4 unanswered goals in them.
Port Adelaide Power: 58 Greater Western Sydney Giants: 79
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Good to see you've given up Port. Hopefully you've got the money ready to refund all the suckers who keep showing up to watch your mediocrity.
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 21' - And now Langden with another! Great speedy play by the Giants, that will win them matches that matter! Giants by 21.
Port Adelaide Power: 58 Greater Western Sydney Giants: 79
peter chrisp
Guest
And if you can get away with it why not
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 20' - And that is a kick to the guts for Power. Tomlinson kicks true. Giants by 15
Port Adelaide Power: 58 Greater Western Sydney Giants: 73
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Nope. He had no pressure, and changed direction to run over the line. The actual atrocious call was not paying 50 against Phil Davis even though he was less than 10 metres away from Wingard.
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 19' - Delledio sends it inside 50, and it winds up in Tomlinson's hands for a mark and set shot. Crowd is suddenly quiet.
Port Adelaide Power: 58 Greater Western Sydney Giants: 67
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 17' - I swear Giants are running down the clock. It's a bold strategy cotton.
Port Adelaide Power: 58 Greater Western Sydney Giants: 67
XI
Roar Guru
That was an atrocious call.
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Behind 16' - Chad Wingard swings around from the resulting free, and PHIL DAVIS TOUCHES IT! Behind. Giants by 9 again.
Port Adelaide Power: 58 Greater Western Sydney Giants: 67