It’s a case of deja vu for Port Adelaide who have had a win stolen from them by West Coast after the siren at Adelaide Oval for the second time in 12 months.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Port Adelaide Power 9.4.58
West Coast Eagles 9.8.62
The West Coast Eagles will look to continue their perfect record against the Port Adelaide Power when the two clubs meet in a crucial Round 21 contest. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:35pm (AEST).
In four trips to the Adelaide Oval, the Eagles have an unblemished record against Port Adelaide, which included an elimination final last year going to extra time.
It was a shocking way to end the season for the Power, who find themselves in a spot of bother just a few rounds from the end of the season.
With a difficult run home, featuring this match and one against Collingwood on the road next week, they are right on the edge of the top eight and teetering on the brink of playing finals footy again.
The Power have been hurt badly by two losses in the last three weeks. A home loss to the GWS Giants by 22 points seemed to expose where the club are truly at, but last week’s heartbreaking three-point loss to cross-town rivals the Crows would have stung.
It leaves them on 48 points, level with the Sydney Swans and fending off a pack of chasers on 44 featuring Geelong and North Melbourne.
With such a tight race for the eight, every game becomes crucial. It could well come down to percentage, so the Power, even if they lose, need to not bleed points.
The Eagles have obviously had a tumultuous week off the field following the Andrew Gaff incident last Sunday against Fremantle. While they came out of that match with a 58-point win, the West Coast will be without one of their best for the remainder of the season.
Still, they have been in superb touch.
Last week’s victory means the Eagles have won four of their last five, with the run of victories propelling them to second in the competition.
They have a six-point buffer to the Giants, and a win here would more or less ensure a home final in the first week of action.
The Eagles’ forward line had a field day last weekend, but that was set up by excellent games by their half-forward line in Jamie Cripps, Jack Darling and Willie Rioli. The trio seem the key for the Eagles if they are going to win against at the Adelaide Oval.
Don’t expect this to be high-scoring though. The Power have the second-best defensive record in the competition, followed by the Eagles who are fifth.
Prediction
Even if the Power are desperate – and they most certainly will be – it won’t be enough to stop the Eagles, who, even without Andrew Gaff, should take care of this contest in a pretty straightforward manner.
Eagles by 18.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Round 21 match from 4:35pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Preview written by Scott Pryde.
Gerard Klomp
Guest
See how good Melbourne are when the play the Eagles at Optus Stadium Next Sunday.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
Thats such an ignorant statement....... They are 4th for average goals in a game.....
Chris
Guest
Nobody won a Premiership by kicking nine or ten goals in a final. WCE don't score heavily enough.
Chris
Guest
DISPOSALS /CLEARANCES/INSIDE 50S/CONTESTED POSSESSIONS/ TACKLES/ HIT-OUTS/FREE KICKS Rich: 368 34 59 148 62 28 18 WCE: 357 36 54 142 60 48 23 GWS: 383 40 54 152 68 36 19 Haw: 383 36 56 142 69 39 21 Coll: 404 38 55 151 66 45 23 Melb: 392 39 61 163 71 51 21 P Adel: 377 40 54 150 71 40 21 Swans: 376 37 51 148 63 32 20 These statistics have been taken from the official AFL webpage. It’s my unshaken belief that one of either Melbourne or Collingwood will roll Richmond and/or WCE in September. The one thing that stands out is the fact that Richmond have more inside 50s than any other side. That’s impressive when you consider their fairly low possession count. So, the Pies need to marginally raise their numbers in the three most important KPIs above,namely Inside Fifties; Contested Posessions and Tackles. Whilst, the Demons have already achieved that. Watch this space! If Melbourne make the Qualifying Final, Richmond are going to start packing their suitcases and will be well on their way home…This is what I have been saying for the last three weeks. I am sticking to my guns!
Gerard Klomp
Guest
What a win by the Mighty Eagles. Heading for a Richmond and West Coast Eagles Grand Final 2018. I do not think Hawthorn, GWS and Melbourne or Collingwood got the team to beat Richmond or West Coast for the Premiership.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Yep, I've been calling all year for Hinkley to go. They say you should be hard to play against as a football club, Port are the only team in the land that make it hard on themselves.
User
Roar Rookie
Lol yep, don't forget the awful fans.
Josh
Expert
Full match report from today's game. Thanks for joining me!
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Why would he have an issue with McGovern? He marked it fair and square. We boo Shuey because he pulled a Selwood.
XI
Roar Guru
Yeah. But they did the same thing last week. And in the first Showdown. And against the Lions. Their last quarters are a real problem with a full bench or not.
Matto
Guest
Were the better team for all but the 1st qtr. Port fans will have to boo Mc"balls of steel"Govern next year along with shuey hahaha
anon
Roar Pro
You could see it coming. anon said | 6:47pm | ! Report Your comment is awaiting moderation. I missed it. Was it a cheap shot 30m off the ball? Eagles should do this given Port is two players down.
anon
Roar Pro
Surely you're used to it by now under Hinkley?
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
You beat a club with one man on the bench for two quarters. But sure, you guys are premiership certainties.
Matto
Guest
Yeah but the culture problem Matti ;P
Matto
Guest
Any team would struggle with one player on the bench for the last qtr.
User
Roar Rookie
Just to reiterate anon I'm very confident. ?
User
Roar Rookie
Lol and premierships beyond wce, it's wce to lose this year time to realise wannabes
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
YES!!!! Great kick under pressure. Amazing finish. Jeez there have been some great games in the past couple of weeks. Full marks to Port for almost hanging on with 3 key players injured. But what a finish by McGovern - shades of Shuey in last year's final against Port at Adelaide Oval.
XI
Roar Guru
Wow! Port really can't finish games off can they?