We kick off Round 23 with the Friday night special as the Port Adelaide Power play host to the Essendon Bombers from Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and updates from 7:50pm (AEST).
If only these two teams had each managed one more win this year, this match would be a cracking start to a Round 23 race for the finals.
Alas, Essendon’s early season form caught up with their late season form, while Port’s early season form deserted them in the latter part of the season.
What do you do with a team like Port Adelaide?
Replete with skilled players, a seemingly solid coaching set-up, their ability to annually disappoint right when it matters does not cease to amaze.
Last weekend’s loss to Collingwood really stamped the end of Port’s truly disappointing season. Hitting the heights early on this season, it appeared that the acquisitions of Tom Rockliff, Jack Watts and Steven Motlop would prove to be masterstrokes.
Instead, Port find themselves on this Friday, needing to win, and win big, and pray that the Suns develop the ability to walk on water, or as far as miracles go, equally, beat Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
Port will look back on those close losses, and think that this season is one of the greatest cases of ‘what might have been.’
And really, while the season form guide ended up going in the reverse of Ports, the Bombers will think about what might have been, had they at least managed to win just one more than the two matches they won in those first eight rounds.
It will be a curious off-season for the Dons. They had in fact recruited quite astutely last offseason, so it is something of a head-scratcher as to what they do this off-season with a team that has underperformed.
Still, there is something for Essendon to play for, and that is sending veteran and champion of the game Brendon Goddard off on a winning note.
Prediction
Power will be eager to make amends for last week’s capitulation against Collingwood, and maintain some hope that the Suns will do them a favour.
Essendon may also be somewhat fatigued, having played essentially finals matches for the last three months, in the hope of playing finals, though ultimately proving unsuccessful.
Power by 15.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match starting from 7:50pm (AEST).
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
The coaches are rubbish (surely Voss is now finished) but their list is the worst disposal team by foot in the comp. That is the player's fault!
anon
Roar Pro
Couldn't understand how Port were $1.60 in the betting. I thought questions would have to be asked of Essendon if they couldn't beat this mob.
adam houghton
Guest
Do not judge the Port players by this disastrous season , have a look at the shocking use of the player talent by the 'so called' coaching staff
User
Roar Rookie
I'll enjoy watching my team play finals Joel ?
perry cox
Roar Guru
They lost to Fremantle, Western Bulldogs, and Carlton. Regardless of how tough the draw was, that is just simply inexplicable.
JoshC
Guest
Yes AD, it mustn't be fun being a freo supporter living in Adelaide. Your compisition team joined 2 years before our club and both are connected by representing the workers, play hard footy, the wharf. We've won a premiership, and you had Dale Kickett.. My apologies on feeling good about some small solace in replying to your comment. It's been a tough night! All the best for the weekend against the pies.
perry cox
Roar Guru
One last point - remember, this team was touted as top 4. They've finished 10th. Whatever way you look at it, that's disappointment. Maybe I'm being a bit harder on them because of how well they should have gone.
perry cox
Roar Guru
You look at the Tigers, West Coast, Hawks, Pies and Swans this year - if you want to win the premiership, you have to be consistent for more than a mere patch of the season. Credit to the Bombers for playing well over the last half of the year, but remember they still lost the big games against the likes of the Tigers and the Hawks in that stretch when their season was on the line. This team needs consistency, and tonight can't paper over the poor start and lost matches all year that will cost them finals.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full Time The Bombers have won their last game for season 2019, beating Port Adelaide 17.9 (111) to 13.11 (89). Port have been truly disappointing, not just tonight, and while both teams will wonder what might have been, it is only the Bombers who can look to 2019 with any hope. Port's last three wins were against most of the bottom 6, and they have finished the season winning 1 of their last 7 games. Somewhat disgracefully, Port will finish the season in 9th, and even that barely by 2 percentage points. This from a team that was top 4 post-bye. Essendon meanwhile, but for one or two close losses early in the year, would be playing finals, and threatening. Tonight brings to an end the illustrious career of Brendan Goddard, or it has been brought to an end in all likelihood. he will go out as the winner that he deserves to be. Port will have yet another long hard and deep introspective summer. This year repeats the common theme of this Port era: so much promise, so little delivered. All credit to Essendon tonight though. That 40 point quarter to start the match was some of the cleanest, but hardest, football you will see. Essendon will leave a signpost at the end of season 2018 that reads: Beware, the Bombers are coming. Bombers by 22.
Port Adelaide Power: 89 Essendon Bombers: 111
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
If you ever want to figure out the easiest way to lose fans in a two-month period, just watch Port's last seven weeks of the year. Arguably worse than the horror days of 2011 and 2012.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Whatever. You obviously believe that every moment in football is created equal, so I'll just let you be wrong.
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Behind 32' - Polec with the outside banana, but it's across the face for a point. Bombers by 22.
Port Adelaide Power: 89 Essendon Bombers: 111
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 31' - BT with the worst call of the night, something about Scomo and Mojo. Someone get that man off my tv. Just 40 seconds left. Port have been embarrassed. Essendon have been exceptional.
Port Adelaide Power: 88 Essendon Bombers: 111
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 29' - Essendon really have been the 2017-Hawthorn of this year - horrid start, but a great finish to give more than a little hope for the next season. Essendon just moving the ball around with ease now, until the forward 50, when a scramble ensues, and Gray with the ball. He handballs back. Port Adelaide Power: 88 Essendon Bombers: 111
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Behind 27' - Neade awarded a high shot there, and a melee ensues. Heppell not happy, but who would be. Neade though can't hit that target. Just the point. Bombers by 23.
Port Adelaide Power: 88 Essendon Bombers: 111
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The two Adelaide teams have been very disappointing this year but at least the Crows had the injury excuse.
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 25' - Ball inside the forward 50 for Port. Hooker wins that battle. Frampton just has not come alive for Port tonight.
Port Adelaide Power: 87 Essendon Bombers: 111
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 23' - Laverde crumbs, snaps, points. But Zaharakis, now he scores the maximum. That's the game! Bombers by 24.
Port Adelaide Power: 87 Essendon Bombers: 111
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 22' - I'm not sure what will die first: Port, the hope they keep giving their fans, or their fans. Boak with a goal, tight on the left pocket, margin back to 17. Bombers by 17.
Port Adelaide Power: 87 Essendon Bombers: 104
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 19' - What's that about first to 100? Langford ends the contest, and kicks from the right, tight angle, but that ball splits the sticks. Bombers by 23.
Port Adelaide Power: 81 Essendon Bombers: 104