Port Adelaide Power vs GWS Giants: AFL match result, highlights

Match result:

The GWS Giants win a one-point thriller over the Port Adelaide Power to possibly end the home side’s chance at finals.

In the first quarter, Giants took control, kicking two goals and five behinds in what was a poor scoring quarter for both sides.

Comparatively, Port missed everything, recording just the three behinds, seeming to weather the storm with Justin Westhoff proving a pillar in defense.

Come the second, Port add three goals to their tally with Robbie Gray getting them rolling for their first. Port go onto to win the second term, with GWS only adding two to their overall total.

Jeremy Finlayson exploded onto scene for GWS in the third, recording two goals in the span of two minutes. Port add a fourth and fifth goal to their tally but began losing touch again as GWS regain momentum.

In the fourth, GWS added just the one goal, while Port add two with four behinds to get within one-point at the final siren.

GWS held off the onslaught in the end and gain their consecutive win for Heath Shaw’s 300th.

Finlayson and Jeremy Cameron were immense in the forward line, recording three goals each in the win with 14 and 15 disposals respectively.

Toby Greene led AFL Fantasy points for the game on 126 despite some poor kicking throughout the night. He finished with 30 disposals, eight marks, 31 pressure acts, 465 metres gained, six tackles, five inside 50s and four rebounds.

For Port, Robbie Gray proved big with three goals, 14 disposals and five marks in the loss.

Travis Boak led AFL Fantasy with 114 points, a game-high 40 disposals, five marks, seven clearances and six inside 50s.

Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma also impressed in the tight affair.

GWS continue to their campaign back into the top-four, continuing their streak over the Power in a big win.

Final score
Port Adelaide Power 7.13.55
GWS Giants 8.8.56

Match preview:

The Port Adelaide Power look to re-join the winners list when they face their third consecutive finals contender in the GWS Giants at Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:40pm (AEST).

Suffice to say Port Adelaide have been the hardest team to pin down in 2019 – having earned some big wins in Geelong and Adelaide, while struggling to string a streak together, copping losses from Brisbane and Richmond in the last fortnight.

If they plan on keeping their finals hopes alive, Port will need a big lift against their in-form opponents.

As of now, Port lead the competition in contested possessions with an average of 159.7 per game and sit second for disposals (397.6 per game).

Unfortunately, for the Power they also hold one of the leagues lowest disposal efficiency (69 per cent) in 14th and sit 16th for their goal accuracy (43 per cent).

Karl Amon impressed last week in their clash with Richmond, snaring 28 disposals, two goals, 456 metres gained and five marks on his way to 103 AFL Fantasy Points.

Matthew Broadbent also lifted with 26 disposals, nine marks and four rebound 50s with 100 AFL Fantasy Points.

This week Joel Garner and Paddy Ryder return to the side in place of Charlie Dixon and Steven Motlop.

Last week GWS rebounded well following consecutive losses to Essendon, Brisbane and Richmond, defeating Collingwood at home with a huge eight-goal first term.

Tim Taranto was immense in the victory, recording 31 disposals, five marks, six clearances and 14 tackles on his way to 145 AFL Fantasy Points.

Similarly, Zac Williams brought the pressure, recording 26 disposals, 20 kicks, 10 tackles and 122 AFL Fantasy Points.

The Giants have been a hot side all season, delivering last week despite a huge exclusions in Phil Davis and Stephen Coniglio. Despite three consecutive losses, they still set sixth on the table – only one win below Richmond and Collingwood.

With Port Adelaide this week and Sydney, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast to come, a top-four spot is still well within the Giant’s radar, but it starts this week.

Adam Kennedy, Jackson Hately and Phil Davis return to the side this week in place of Brett Deledio, Jack Stein and Lachlan Keefe.

Prediction
GWS look to be back in form after last weeks performance and should shut Port out comfortably.

GWS by 35 points.

First bounce: 7:40pm (AEST)
Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Watch: Fox Footy, Kayo Sports

Port Adelaide
B: Houston, Clurey, Bonner
HB: Hartlett, Jonas, Byrne-Jones
C: Duursma, Rockliff, Amon
HF: R.Gray, Howard, S.Gray
F: Westhoff, Ryder, Rozee
FOLL: Lycett, Powell-Pepper, Boak
I/C: Broadbent, Butters, Garner, Sutcliffe

GWS Giants
B: Shaw, Davis, Tomlinson
HB: Whitfield, Haynes, Taylor
C: Williams, Reid, Kennedy
HF: Hately, Cameron, Lloyd
F: Daniels, Himmelberg, Hill
FOLL: Mumford, Greene, Taranto
I/C: Perryman, Hopper, Finlayson, Simpson