Round 17 – Port Adelaide v GWS: Port turns Giants to minnows

 

 

 

 

by Nick Kossatsch

 

 

In a game that essentially meant more for Port Adelaide Power than for Greater Western Sydney Giants, the former did what it had to do – and some – in a thumping 12.12 (84) to 3.11 (29) win at Adelaide Oval.

 

The visitors never threatened as Connor Rozee again lived up to his potential with a best afield four-goal, 24 possession game as a mid-forward.

 

Todd Marshall threatened to be in for a massive game with two opening quarter goals but he still played a key role as his emergence as a vital cog in the Power’s forward line continues.

 

The ruck-forward tag team tandem of Charlie Dixon and ex-Giant Jeremy Finlayson (22 disposals) proved a success again with Dixon adding muscle and grunt at the centre bounce while Finlayson, while predominantly losing the tap, hedges his bets by winning the ground ball.

 

Ideally, the imminent return of Scott Lycett will provide coach Ken Hinkley with the luxury of using Dixon and Finlayson as key forwards – maybe as soon as this weekend against reigning premiers Melbourne Demons at Traeger Park in Alice Springs.

 

Aliir Aliir returned to form in defence and along with Darcy Byrne-Jones and Ryan Burton, the trio provided drive from defence.

 

Sam Powell-Pepper could also stake a claim for best-on-ground honours with another aggressive and industrious display in midfield and forward of centre and Zak Butters collected 26 quality touches and half of evergreen Travis Boak’s 24 possessions were contested.

 

Hinkley said ‘Team D’ was key.

 

“I thought both teams blew some chances but overall, we finished the game strongly, which was pleasing,” Hinkley said.

 

“That’s a team we played who over the last six weeks ranked second in offence in the competition and to keep them to 29 points was an outstanding performance defensively. Really strong.

 

“We knew the threat for us was their power and their ability to score. They missed some shots but at the end of the day we did a really good job.”

 

Port meet Melbourne on Sunday at Traeger Park in another game it needs to win to keep its finals chances alive.

 

 

PORT ADELAIDE           4.2       8.6       9.9       12.12 (84)
GWS                                     1.4       2.4       3.9        3.11 (29)

 

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Rozee 4, Marshall 2, Farrell 2, Bergman, Dixon, Powell-Pepper, Georgiades
GWS: Hogan 2, Greene

 

BEST
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Butters, Finlayson, Boak, Powell-Pepper, Aliir
GWS: Coniglio, Himmelberg, Kelly, Hogan, Cumming

 

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
GWS: Davis (hamstring), Kennedy (concussion)

 

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Jed McEntee (unused)
GWS: Xavier O’Halloran (replaced Davis in the third quarter)