Despite the nature of a practice match, Port Power have come out firing on all cylinders with a thumping 52-point win over the Crows at Alberton Oval on Saturday.
Adelaide kicked the opening two goals through Reilly O’Brien and Billy Frampton, the latter finishing with three for the day.
In a fast and relentless contest, the match was fairly even throughout until the second half where Port stomped their cross-town rivals with excellency. Last year’s wooden spooners were swamped all over the park as the Power slotted five majors in the opening ten minutes of the third quarter, putting a nail in the coffin.
Their midfields battled over four quarters, with Port getting the upper hand through the likes of Travis Boak and Ollie Wines bulldozing their way to the ball, at the centre and around the stoppages, while Karl Amon and Zak Butters provided handy support.
The efficiency of their engine room spelt tremendous trouble for Adelaide’s defence, especially without the experience of Daniel Talia (knee), and the rebound and intercepting of Tom Doedee (groin). Young Jordon Butts tried with a burning passion, but Charlie Dixon was dominant, polling three majors, while a dozen Power players hit the scoreboard at least once.
New players Aliir Aliir and Orazio Fantasia showed some signs of being quality pickups throughout, Aliir was working well through the first half, until the ball stopped coming down the end at the start of the third quarter. Fantasia, the native South Australian and Crows supporter, chipped in two goals in the second quarter when the game was still alive.
On the other team, recruit Jackson Hately certainly tried his heart out at the coalface but was beaten like the rest of the Crows midfield unit with only a handful of possessions.
Ben Keays chimed in through the midfield as best as he could, kicking two goals, and Ned McHenry showed signs of being an AFL-quality player with his constant pressure while also kicking a nice goal from the pocket.
Darcy Fogarty and Taylor Walker were mostly invisible, the former not hitting the scoreboard, the latter only scoring one goal. Fogarty has not shown enough signs as of yet that he will be a regular in the AFL side, more concerned with trying to bustle through opponents and intimidate rather than nailing the basics like scoring regularly and hitting the contests thoroughly.
A dark spot on a warm and sunny day was Wayne Milera, the talented youngster two years into a five-year contract, injuring himself during the second term and going off. Scans later revealed he has ruptured a patellar tendon. He will undergo surgery and begin the rehabilitation process where he stares down a lengthy time on the sidelines, likely missing the season.
Port Adelade: 5.6, 9.9, 15.12, 18.17 (125)
Adelaide: 4.1, 5.3, 8.6, 11.7 (73)
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I’d say that Boak and Dixon are the two most important players in the team, Dixon’s body has been notoriously frail and could break at any moment, I forgot to add Hartlett in there as well. out of that 7, I’d say only Motlop is really replaceable, but even then he has some cracking games at times, and is a safe set shot for goal. If it’s not this year then next.
Uosdwis R. Dewoh
Roar Rookie
No offence but having all those players over 30 doesn't shout "This has to be our year"
Jacko
Guest
Only 3 of those guys are any good on a regular basis. The 2004 side would beat this Port team by 10 goals.
Jacko
Guest
You're kidding right ?? The majority of our squad have less than 50 games experience. If we finish 10th it'll be a massive achievement at this point in time. As for the author, what level Port Power member are you ??
Prez
Roar Rookie
Crows had their shot and fell short in 2017. Now its time to rebuild and that includes getting games into junior players and also getting as many top end talents as possible.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I don't want socialism to help a team l barrack for. I'd rather finish an earnest 10th and relatively no favours than Bottom 2 with 'juicy' picks. Where's the pride in flaking for bottom?
Prez
Roar Rookie
Crows are banking on another year of top end draft picks so read that as bottom 4 finish
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I appreciate your reply. Maybe it might seep thru my stubborness. I'm probably looking at it thru my eyes and that is an intense disposition.
AD
Guest
Nicks may or may not be the right man to coach us to our next flag - too early to make an assessment on that. But that's also the wrong assessment to make - the question should be: is he the right man to take a bunch of kids (the ones we've already got and the ones we'll bring in over the next couple of years) and develop them into a list CAPABLE of winning a flag? If he's the right man for that job, then he's the right man for now - it may be necessary to change later on if it seems he can't take us all the way. But right now we're not looking for somebody to take us to the top of the mountain, we're just trying to get to base camp so we can start the climb.
Prez
Roar Rookie
Terrible luck for Milera, hope him all the best. But everyone knows Tex is at the end, a year or two won't affect the Crows list, given how much they have already turned over. While Fogarty is only 21, a high draft pick and a forward. The next 2 years will decide his future.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
So I’m a bit harsh on this. However l hope I’m absolutely wrong on Nicks but my gut says other. Can’t help feeling that.
AD
Guest
We finished last year, and are likely to be bottom 4 again this year because we have a bottom 4 list. There are some good signs from some of the younger players, but also worrying ones over a couple of others - Jones, in particular, doesn't seem to be developing as you'd like, and we need to start seeing something out of McAsey this year. These are 2 top 10 draft picks, and you can't afford to strike out on those when you're rebuilding. But we need at least one more year down the bottom end to stock up on quality talent - climbing to mid-ladder this year would be a disaster. Throughout our entire history we've been too focused on being "competitive" rather than winning flags. Nobody would even utter the word "rebuild", let alone seroiusly do one. The attitude has been "make finals, then anything can happen", and what usually happens is we end up in 5th-8th, maybe win a final or two to make us feel all warm and fuzzy, then get knocked out. Which means we have never really bottomed out until now, but also have rarely genuinely challenged, either. And when we have challenged, we get up there for 1 or 2 seasons, then drop back to 10th or maybe 12th for a couple of years, then bounce back into the 8. But we never finish low enough for long enough to be able to stock up on enough of the elite young players that provide a foundation for sustained success. This time we're going to suck properly, and rebuild properly, and see what happens. I'll give Nicks a pass for last year because he was saddled with the coaching panel left behind by Don Pyke. Honestly, a first year coach having to work with the spuds he had around him in the box and the list he had to work with - that is a baptism of fire if I ever saw one. Now he's been given the chance to assemble his own group, and the real work can start.
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
Terrible luck for young Milera. He is a class act. The Crows will miss him big time. While these “practice matches” are difficult to read, I thought the form of Fogarty and Taylor was a real concern. The Crows seem reluctant to make hard calls on player lists and I think it’s starting to hurt the club both on and off the field. I hope I’m proved wrong.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Fair enough points but l fear Nicks is too nice.
Empole
Roar Rookie
No way is that the case, Rowdy - it almost always takes more than a year to bounce back. Anything outside the bottom four is a win for the Crows. If they make tenth I'll be mightily surprised. Give them some time to develop and, provided their crop comes good, chances are they'll be in the eight within the next couple of years. I understand being harsh on your team, but you also have to be realistic. And tenth, considering the club's position, doesn't seem realistic at least in my eyes.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I'm sorry but less than 10th is a fail. EoS.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
This has to be our year, players over 30; Boak, Grey, Dixon, Jonas, Rockliff, Motlop Big names there, all first 22 and Ebert retired last year. We have best list I’ve seen us have in the AFL, must strike now. Strike first. Strike hard. No mercy.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Bit Harsh, I was saying to the old man yesterday that I can't tell if he's a good coach or not, he's got no players. Your 2 key defenders out, and your best midfielder. No forward line at all, Frampton won't kick 3 every game. Adelaide needs another year at the draft.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Well if we didn't know our homework, we do now. If we don't make 10th, or better, we are wasting our time with Nicks. Harsh? So what. We've got new blood, we should show tangible improvement.
Boo
Guest
Bad luck for Milera he looks a good player .Port have a good list if they manage to get another home prelim can't see them letting it slip through there fingers like last season .