Essendon Bombers vs Port Adelaide Power: AFL match result, highlights

Match result:

The Port Adelaide Power have belted the Essendon Bombers by 59 points on Saturday afternoon in Melbourne.

The victory keeps the finals push alive for the Power, who dominated most of the game, but were only able to run away with it in the second half, on the back of an enormous third quarter as Essendon fell apart.

The Bombers were wasteful in front of goal, and poor with their accuracy kicking in general play, and it told on the scoreboard as the Power ran away with the contest in dominant fashion.

While it was Robbie Gray who led the way during the first half with three goals, Dan Houston, Connor Rozee and Todd Marshall were their best during the second half.

Essendon have plenty to work on after that game, and while their start wasn’t horrendous, they just always looked a step behind Port Adelaide throughout the contest.

Final score
Essendon Bombers 9.13.67
Port Adelaide Power 19.12.126

Match preview:

The Essendon Bombers will be out to keep their winning streak going against the inconsistent Port Adelaide Power in a critical Round 20 contest. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the match from 1:45pm (AEST).

There is no bouncing around just how important this game is for both clubs, and the in-form Bombers can all but wrap up a spot in the top eight with victory.

It would take them to 48 competition points with three weeks to play, and while they are till at the back-end of the eight, a fifth straight win would keep them at least eight points from danger.

The other way to look at it for the Dons is that a win would move them to within striking distance of the top four and double chance come the finals, or, worst-case scenario, a likely shot at finishing fifth or sixth to play at home in Week 1 of the finals.

While this is an important game for the Bombers, it’s not quite make or break for the club like it is for their opponents, who have been simply impossible to get a read on in 2019.

The Power sit tenth on the ladder, and while they are just four points out of the eight, they have lost three on the hop, with two of those coming at home.

While Port Adelaide have faced some tough opposition, they just haven’t been able to be consistent and this does feel like a must-win game to arrest their slide.

Containing a strong Essendon midfield will be absolutely critical if they are going to walk away with the four points, with the form of Dylan Shiel, Daniel Clarke, Orazio Fantasia and Daniel Zaharakis making life fairly easy up front for Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and co.

Paddy Ryder and Travis Boak will be the main men for the Power if they are going to fall over the line, with the need to win rucks and stoppages about as important as anything for Port.

Prediction
How can you tip the Power? They are about as inconsistent as it gets, and while logic might say they are due a good performance, the Bombers are finishing 2019 with a very wet sail.

Bombers by 25.

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Game information

First bounce: 1:45pm (AEST)
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
TV: Live, Fox Footy 504, Channel 7 (SA only)
Online: Live, Kayo Sports, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, AFL Digital Pass, 7Plus (SA only)
Betting: Bombers $1.50, Power $2.54
Overall record: Played 30, Power 16, Bombers 14
Last meeting: Power 13.11 (89) defeated by Bombers 17.9 (111) at Adelaide Oval
Last five: Bombers 3, Power 2
Record at venue: Played 14, Bombers 8, Power 6
Umpires: Andrew Stephens, Simon Meredith, Nathan Williamson

Essendon Bombers
B: 27 Mason Redman, 26 Cale Hooker, 8 Martin Gleeson
HB: 10 Aaron Francis, 29 Patrick Ambrose, 11 David Zaharakis
C: 13 Orazio Fantasia, 7 Zach Merrett, 4 Kyle Langford
HF: 3 Darcy Parish, 28 Mitch Brown, 43 Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
F: 40 Will Snelling, 44 Shaun McKernan, 1 Andrew McGrath
FOL: 20 Zac Clarke, 9 Dylan Shiel, 37 Dylan Clarke
I/C: 45 Conor McKenna, 35 Matt Guelfi, 25 Jake Stringer, 42 Adam Saad
EMG: 36 Michael Hartley, 23 David Myers, 33 Brayden Ham, 15 Jayden Laverde

Port Adelaide Power
B: 43 Dan Houston, 17 Tom Clurey, 26 Riley Bonner
HB: 8 Hamish Hartlett, 42 Tom Jonas, 33 Darcy Byrne-Jones
C: Xavier Duursma, 11 Tom Rockliff, 15 Karl Amon
HF: 9 Robbie Gray, 22 Charlie Dixon, 46 Sam Gray
F: 39 Justin Westhoff, 38 Peter Ladhams, 20 Connor Rozee
FOL: 4 Paddy Ryder, 2 Sam Powell-Pepper, 10 Travis Boak
I/C: 50 Cam Sutcliffe, 5 Matthew Broadbent, 18 Zak Butters, 13 Todd Marshall
EMG: 32 Dougal Howard, 24 Kane Farrell, 12 Trent McKenzie, 34 Sam Mayes