You want to believe in the best version of any team.
Round 1 is a fountain of positive thinking and misinformation, and it fits Port Adelaide perfectly.
Every year it’s too easy to talk yourself into the Power. They always look good on paper and their electric best is more memorable than their confused worst.
Heading into this season, though, the perception changed. Too many people had been burned by the Power. After years of being an over-hyped pre-season fancy, Port found themselves outside the top ten of premiership betting and opened the season as a near-six goal underdog.
People had talked themselves into Essendon instead.
Suddenly Port didn’t look so appetising on paper – a disappointing savouriness made worse by the absences of Ollie Wines and Charlie Dixon. The big names now appeared small. Steven Motlop, Jack Watts and Tom Rockliff had been written off after underwhelming debut seasons at Alberton, the backline looked weak, and the forward line lacked an obvious focal point without Dixon.
Even the most heralded players weren’t as imposing. Robbie Gray and Travis Boak are getting on and Paddy Ryder’s best hasn’t been seen since 2017.
Concerns abounded over the coach, Ken Hinkley, who has little in his recent past to suggest innovation or the possibility of reinvention. It all added up to ‘blah’.
So, as Port were running rampant over the touted Dees at the MCG – bullying them around the contest, outrunning them in space and slicing them by hand through the corridor and out wide – as a neutral, you almost felt betrayed.
Where was this in previous years, when we all believed that you could do this?
It won’t matter much to Port or their fans, who only need today and tomorrow, both timelines that now look a lot more appealing than they did a week ago.
The idea of Port Adelaide as a great team has always been easy to conceive: they’re brutal around the contest with big-bodied physical midfielders, they run endlessly, and they have just enough class in individuals like Gray and Ryder to finish off the hard work.
The problem has been that the brutality has never stopped at the contest, extending to the team’s ball use by foot. Outside of Gray, it’s hard to find elite ball users in the team and that issue hasn’t gone away.
AAP Image/Ben Macmahon
When the game slows down and defensive, soundly structured teams set up against Port and put men behind the ball (like Geelong, in particular, did against them last season), they haven’t shown the ability or skill-level to meticulously work their way to scores.
And if they’re not scoring heavily, the defence hasn’t shown it’s able to hold up.
Melbourne didn’t play Port the way you’re supposed to play Port. Melbourne didn’t really do much of anything. They were just slow, lifeless bodies on the field around the Power’s quick, alive bodies, and that was really the match.
There is reason to think Hinkley’s team in 2019 might be different. With an injection of youth and a commitment to aggressive ball-use, the team has some vigour after going stale in the back-end of last year.
The new rules favour Port and all teams that can win the ball in the contest at an elite level, because they’re banging the ball forward to more one-on-one match-ups.
Exiting defence has been an issue, and the new rules providing defenders on the last line greater space will help them.
The older brigade isn’t done yet and the youth is tantalising. Zak Butters did things on the weekend that players a decade older don’t have the courage or genius to do.
Jack Watts played what might be his most promising game – carrying himself with a confidence and effortless calm reading the ball in defence, no longer burdened with the need to lead up to the ball and find it like a needle in a haystack, instead able to just patiently react to it coming his way, as, perhaps, he was always meant to.
(Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Tom Rockliff looked himself again and Scott Lycett is exactly what this team needed. Justin Westhoff continues to exist in the happy level just barely below star.
It’s too early to buy into Port or anyone. The tests will come in rounds three through five – at Brisbane, home to Richmond, at West Coast. By then we might know whether things this time might finally be different.
Lroy
Guest
Port are one of half a dozen teams who could have won it if things had of gone a little differently. If McGovern shanks his match winning kick against Port last year how do the respective seaons end?? I think that was the Eagles premiership moment right there.... lose that game they dont finish top 4, goodbye home final. Lycett is a bona fide gun ruckman, one of the best in the comp, and Rockliff is an A-Grade midfielder, both of them would be good players in any team in the comp, so if the rest of their guys do their bit and they all stay healthy they are going to be hard to beat. Theyve Already rolled the media favorites the Demons. Any win in Melbourne by an interstate team is a very good achievement... but a big win over a quality side? You need to sit up and take notice when that happens ;-)
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
The jury is out on that, it didn't help being shifted all around the place last year, Charlie needs one job, big forward and that's it.
maxy
Roar Rookie
if westhoff was playing in Melbourne he would be spoken about and more highly rated than what he actually is,people at port know how good he is ,he has become nearly every coaches dream,he has kicked 10 goals in last 2 home and away games and you could start him on the wing this week or play him a kick behind the play when we get in trouble, I think superstar and star is a word used on way to many afl players,keep hearing the media talk all these guys up but to me the hoff is right up there with the best of them,250 games this week hope the boys come to play for him cause he deserves to be carried off a winner,such a team player
maxy
Roar Rookie
bit like the swans ,people say Sydney play better without franklin [not comparing the 2] not so buddy orientated ,although he arguably one of the greatest players in this era,im obviously a port fan and my favourite ever all time player was tony locket,things he could do was amazing big strong kick it to me type player,talk about matchwinners. I agree with you ditto in a small way, best example of it was the westcoast elimination final I think it was 2 years ago ,he probably played one of the best games for a big man or power forward for some time ,took a ridiculous amount of contested marks and think he kicked 1 goal 7 behinds if I recall correctly,we lost I think by 5 points.last year I cant remember him leading out from the forward line to take a mark they just bombed it on his head[had to be game plan]bomb it in and try and keep it in,felt sorry for him actually,always 2 or 3 coming over the top of him.I am wait and see on him,coming off a very bad injury ,game plan has changed think it will suit him he is capable of 50 plus goals a season,just need that right mix up forward ,so not so 1 or 2 dimensional
PowerFan
Guest
I disagree, I think he does have skill. I think Port's method of moving the ball forward and delivery to him has been shocking. The tactic has been to bomb it on his head, which was also the tactic Port started using when they got Ryder that first year to play predominantly as a forward with Lobbe in ruck. Port have typically won the inside 50 count by just bombing it in and locking it in there, which doesn't leave a lot of space for a key forward. Hopefully a bit of a change this year with some quick ball movement.
Ditto
Roar Rookie
I'm an Adelaide supporter, but I watch Port reasonable often, maybe I'm stirring the pot, but I think Port are a better team without Charlie Dixon. In his first season at Port he was a big guy who threw his weight around, but had no skills. There have been times since when he has shown more than this, but even when he's doing things right he probably won't be able to hit the side of a barn.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Westhoff is absolutely a star of the comp, name another player that can play the utility role as well as him? I can't think of one. People are down on Port because they all read the media, listen to so-called experts who usually say the same things based on the last half of the last season, not one of them tipped Port last weekend. Prior to that Port were 11-4, then their ruckman goes down, they lose the next however many, a couple by less than a kick in pretty controversial circumstances and everyone jumps off. Port has a better list than most, the question mark is on Ken, Polec was a loss, Wingard needed a new challenge so not so much, that trade is a win for Port, we got Burton and Butters from it......The list is there. Top eight or bust, top four should be the goal.
sammy
Guest
And Essendon get pick 1...But round 1 generally throws up some odd results
Jack
Guest
It was round one wouldn’t be surprised if blues roll them
Pelican
Roar Rookie
It's to early to be convinced about anyone this season Pete. It might be a very tight race. I am happy with the list and how they have formed it. They traded players in at previous drafts and went for it this time. We have some exciting players from previous drafts who are ready now like Marshall, Bonner, Drew, Houston, Howard, Farrell and Lienert. And yes the should be kept on at this stage.
Pelican
Roar Rookie
The other bright spot for me Paul is getting Schofield and Montgomery to the club. And yes he is running out of time but I have a inkling he's going to pull it all together this year. Lycett makes a huge difference in our durability in the Ruck and by default the forward line. Charlie Dixon will hopefully never have to go in the ruck again.
Darren
Guest
Just between you and me, I think we are a bit of a Smokey for a double win at AO this week. Just don’t tell anyone on The ROAR in case we get smashed and I look like a goose.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
How is Westhoff rated below a star? Maybe he is, but it's wrong, he's been the best utility in the game for 5 years, no one notices because he's quiet, but make no mistake, Humphrey is a star of the comp. I'll say this again for the masses who dont pay a lot of attention to Port, Ryder went down last year and Port started losing, people ignore that fact but most teams with NO ruckman, not just a sub standard bloke, but none at all, will struggle, and that's on Ken. This year though we have backup and solid depth, we could do anything but I cant see us with less than 12 wins at the end of the year. Having said all that, I've seen it before and we'll wait until the back half of the year until we get excited. No Pittard will give us a couple of extra wins in the close ones as well.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Piker!! :)
Macca
Roar Rookie
As it stands right now you get pick 5 and we get pick 4. ????
Darren
Guest
Not staying at Adelaide Oval Saturday night Macca - I’ll go home and go back Sunday (I live in Adelaide) :).
sammy
Guest
Unfortunately the AFL won't be handing out front ended priority picks so no pick 3 for Carlton
DingoGray
Roar Guru
You get a top 2 pick and Carlton get a top 3 pick! Everyone wins
sammy
Guest
No..I am just looking forward to the top 2 pick we will get :-)
Macca
Roar Rookie
” see the challenges starting in round 3.” I hope so to, would be great to slip under their guard. You staying for the Sunday game Darren?