Port Adelaide
80
Match Complete
Melbourne
76
| Fourth Quarter | ||||
| S. Powell-Pepper |  | 25:52 | ||
| 24:44 | | B. Fritsch | ||
| C. Rozee |  | 23:03 | ||
| Z. Butters | | 22:06 | ||
| 19:10 | | K. Chandler | ||
| 18:02 | | T. McDonald | ||
| 16:43 | | Rushed | ||
| O. Lord | | 13:30 | ||
| J. McEntee | | 11:28 | ||
| J. Finlayson | | 9:59 | ||
| S. Powell-Pepper | | 7:44 | ||
| J. Finlayson | | 6:24 | ||
| W. Drew | | 4:36 | ||
| 8.8 (56) | Third Quarter [+] | 10.7 (67) | ||
| Z. Butters | | 34:18 | ||
| 30:54 | | B. Grundy | ||
| 27:10 | | L. Hunter | ||
| 20:57 | | C. Spargo | ||
| 19:36 | | K. Pickett | ||
| 18:02 | | C. Petracca | ||
| 15:56 | | J. V. Rooyen | ||
| 12:56 | | C. Petracca | ||
| R. Burton | | 11:54 | ||
| Z. Butters | | 10:00 | ||
| 7:33 | | C. Petracca | ||
| 3:19 | | T. McDonald | ||
| O. Lord | | 1:42 | ||
| 5.7 (37) | Second Quarter [+] | 3.5 (23) | ||
| D. Byrne-Jones | | 28:58 | ||
| 26:37 | | B. Fritsch | ||
| O. Wines | | 22:02 | ||
| 17:12 | | B. Fritsch | ||
| Rushed | | 15:14 | ||
| 13:55 | | J. V. Rooyen | ||
| 12:35 | | Rushed | ||
| D. Houston | | 10:55 | ||
| 8:49 | | Rushed | ||
| R. Bonner | | 6:20 | ||
| D. Houston | | 3:44 | ||
| R. Burton | | 1:03 | ||
| 3.2 (20) | First Quarter [+] | 1.2 (8) | ||
| J. Horne-Francis | | 29:21 | ||
| J. Finlayson | | 26:49 | ||
| J. Finlayson | | 25:02 | ||
| O. Lord | | 14:47 | ||
| 13:23 | | E. Langdon | ||
| 9:29 | | T. McDonald | ||
| S. Powell-Pepper | | 7:15 | ||
| 3:54 | | K. Chandler | ||
A top four clash for the ages will grace the Adelaide Oval this evening sees Port Adelaide host Melbourne for Friday night footy. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEST).
Percentage is all that separates the two sides this evening, with Port be looking to make it seven wins in a row in front of their home crowd.
It is a rare feat in the modern game to win six games in a row, and the Power have taken it to solid opponents to reach this level of quality footy. Their midfield brigade of Ollie Wines, Zak Butters and Connor Rozee have been key to the success in their recent performances, standing tall against the Bulldogs, Bombers and Saints in recent weeks. These three will again be the most important ingredient against the Demons.
Key forward Todd Marshall (concussion) is the only forced change, with Darcy Byrne-Jones returning along with ruckman Scott Lycett.
Melbourne have made it count over the past four weeks playing teams in the lower half of the ladder and showing their class across all sections of the ground. They have the most desirable ruck duo in the game in Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy, while Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney are playing at the level they were at in 2021 and will match up well against the emerging Power midfield.
The Demons have named Petracca despite concerns over an ankle injury, but Harrison Petty’s foot injury will keep him out for up to six weeks. Tom Sparrow is suspended, but Tom McDonald and Christian Salem are able replacements.
The Demons have won the last three clashes between these two sides, but I am tipping Port to win by two goals and extend their winning streak to seven.
Game information
Venue: Adelaide Oval
First bounce: 7:50pm (AEST)
TV: Channel 7, Fox Footy
Streaming: Kayo Sports
Betting: Power $2.25, Demons $1.65 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Port Adelaide
B: A. Aliir, T. McKenzie, T. Jonas (c)
HB: D. Houston, R. Burton, R. Bonner
C: T. Boak, J. Horne-Francis, M. Bergman
HF: S. Powell-Pepper C. Rozee, J. McEntee
F: D. Byrne-Jones, J. Finlayson, O. Lord
R: S. Lycett, O. Wines, Z. Butters
I/C: K. Farrell, D. Williams, W. Drew, F. Evans
EMG: T. Clurey, L. Jones, J. Burgoyne, J. Mead
IN: Byrne-Jones, Lycett.
OUT: Marshall, Teakle.
Melbourne
B: J. Bowey, S. May, M. Hibberd
HB: C. Salem, J. Lever, A. Brayshaw
C: T. Rivers, C. Oliver, K. Pickett
HF: E. Langdon, T. McDonald, J. Viney
F: C. Spargo, B. Grundy, B. Fritsch
R: M. Gawn (c), C. Petracca, L. Hunter
I/C: J. van Rooyen, A. Neal-Bullen, K. Chandler, J. McVee
EMG: B. Laurie, J. Jordon, J. Smith, T. Woewodin
IN: Salem, McDonald.
OUT: Petty, Sparrow.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Did a lot better than 14 other teams. Those are successful seasons. Only one team wins the flag each year; that does not mean the rest are failures, disappointing, weak, crumble under pressure...or anything else. If they put themselves in with a chance, they have done well.
XI
Roar Guru
Yeah but they were minor premiers a couple years ago and were second the year after. Didn't lead to a GF appearance.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You can only play finals at finals time, though. Port are giving themselves a great chance of getting that opportunity. Winning games provides better opportunities than losing games does.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Some of the kicking last night was unbelievable, in those conditions the amount of times I almost died thinking no don't try to bite off that kick in those conditions but butters, rozze, jhf and Williams were awesome. If only we could learn to make the most of our opportunities in front of goal it would save some heartache and stress, it will end up costing us a game at some stage but for now so proud of the team and their work and being able to fight back when things went wrong and again our young midfield being able to keep up with the bigger bodies of petracca, viney and Oliver was a huge effort. There should be some epic battles between these two midfields un the years to come.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
You should apply for a job on the Carlton board.lol. Be happy man we won, are we perfect, no far from it but what teams are perfect at the moment.
XI
Roar Guru
My thinking is Port have had excellent H&A seasons recently but haven't performed in finals. That'll be the really meaningful example of their improvement
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Rack em and stack em people.Tigers up next but I will sit back and enjoy the other sides going at it this weekend.Flagendon better bring the heat this weekend,I expect a brutal contest
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Remember Jonboy and Freo? Joel is just a more literate version of that same dumbness.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
They just beat a top side.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Just lazy commentary to undermine the losing side as a reason why the winner won. Each game is a competition and surely by now, this season, people realise 15 or 16 teams are a chance to win any game.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I don't think any team winning 7 straight would be concerned by questions about opposition or questions about the margin. They have just beaten the unquestioned top 2 prospect...and now the credentials of that top 2 prospect is questioned. Winning teams win games, Liam.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
One good quarter doesn't usually win you games. Although Port had one good quarter against the Eagles... Well played Port. Took your pressies from the umps.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
As Aaron said, I don’t think any team, other than the pies, has been impressive so far.
Buster
Roar Rookie
now rivalling Collingwood for winning the tight ones...Swans, Dogs, Saints, Bombers and Dees thats 5 in a row
Kevo
Roar Rookie
I still need a little convincing too but it’s a big turn around from the start of the year and the doom and gloom sayers. They’ve got plenty of time to build momentum and develop their game. And when you’re in the finals, especially top 4, things are possible! Rosee, Butters, Dursma are at the age where they can improve rapidly…… they’re already good quality…and by finals who knows how good they’ll be firing. JHF will continue to grow and he’s already class and strength. Small backline is their weakness atm.
RT
Roar Rookie
Is it just me, ir is it really rude when BT interrupts others interviewing players? He does it every week.
Gary
Roar Rookie
Agreed. It's a promising sign, more so given the conditions, but Melbourne have been flogging lightweights so not sure how good they actually are. I am impressed by this win though.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
When Joel is happy, then doom shall fall, the tombs split open and all those Port supporters who have died since their last flag will go around to his house and sing the appalling Port song until the neighbours call the police.
Aaron Paul
Roar Rookie
to be honest, has anyone really played impressively other than collingwood and maybe the crows in flashes this year? I could swear a number of the best sides are holding back to keep a lid on injuries
Ando7369
Roar Rookie
Gday doc,think dees aren’t that good,lucky beat Richmond,umpires won game for them against Gold Coast four there other wins,swans north west coast hawthorn