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Three reasons why Port Adelaide are not premiership contenders

23rd July, 2020
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Roar Guru
23rd July, 2020
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Port looks like a well-oiled team at the moment and for the first time since 2007 they are on top of the ladder, but are they really that good?

These are three reasons why Port are not premiership contenders.

Reason 1: Easy draw
Port have only played three teams who were a part of the finals last year and the other teams they have played are middle-of-the-runs or bottom-table teams. Also, they played against West Coast at Gold Coast which suits Port perfectly because playing in Perth is the hardest trip in the league and West Coast is not embracing hub life.

Also, both GWS and West Coast have been lazy and are not at their best while Port are peaking too early. Look at Richmond’s 2018 season if you need to reference a side peaking early and being unable go all the way.

Also, the other games they have played were easy wins against bottom-ranked sides and a lucky win against Carlton. Also, I question if they are premiership contenders why did they lose to Brisbane even though it was at the Gabba? Port dominated the match early with leading the inside 50s in the first quarter but after that were outplayed.

Their so-called young guns were nowhere to be seen as Connor Rozee and Zak Butters were shut down. Moreover, it seems that they could not stop Lachie Neale or Hugh McCluggage, who killed them around the ball and killed them in the contest with over 60 touches between them while some of the so-called top Port players like Travis Boak and Robbie Gray only had 37 touches between them.

Port also was horrible in front of goal and were the same in their previous match, where they should have kicked four goals in four minutes against Carlton. If this happens against Collingwood, Richmond or Geelong they will be punished and more then likely will be blown out of the water.

Reason 2: They got lucky against the Blues on Sunday
In the last four minutes against Carlton on Sunday, they outplay the Blues but missed four shots right in front in the space of four minutes in the last quarter. Then Carlton moved the ball forward and David Cuningham, who was on the run, had a chance to seal it but couldn’t kick the goal as it was marked on the line by a Port defender.

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If that happened against Richmond, Collingwood or any other contender they would have kicked the goal because they have the players to kick in the clutch moment. Carlton’s inexperience was shown in the last few moments in the game.

Carlton will be kicking themselves as by gaining territory they turned the ball over, then thumping out to the boundary line their stalls could not impact the kick out of defence. When Port had the ball they had the overlap and with the Carlton defence out of whack they were able to find Robbie Gray.

Gray was having a quiet game until kicking the match-winner, he had no impact until that moment with only 16 touches. So if you ask me they have gotten lucky especially against Carlton and if you need a recap, watch the last four minutes to see what I am talking about.

Xavier Duursma

(Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Reason 3: False hope
We have seen this before when Fremantle was the best team in the regular season in 2015, but couldn’t become premieres due to a horrible injury to Nat Fyfe in the preliminary final and the fact they were playing against one of best sides in the modern era. Moreover, Port has shown this before winning early but then fading out like last season.

If you have seen last season, they were in finals contention at the bye being six wins and five loses but then lost three in a row after the bye, so I think that should prove they have played nobody until they play the premiers in Richmond, Collingwood and Geelong who will test them and more likely shut down the likes of Charlie Dixion and Gray. And if Brisbane could dominate against a so-called elite midfield, then it would not be a surprise that Port will drop games and fall back to the pack.

Their next five games are key to Port’s season and being finals contender. If they do beat Richmond, then they are true premiership contenders but if they lose to Geelong or Richmond then you can cross a line through them. What are your thoughts footy fans? Are Port the real deal or not?

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