Round 18 – Melbourne v Port Adelaide: Dees Flick off Power’s Finals Light

It is finals dream over for Port Adelaide Power on the back of Kysiah Pickett’s career-best six-goal haul at Alice Springs’ picturesque TIO Traeger Park on Sunday afternoon.

Pickett was the difference in the game as the Melbourne Demons returned to the winner’s list: 12.11.83 to 10.9.69.

The Power will basically have to win the remaining five games to stand any chance of making the AFL finals.

Port looked in a strong position as they booted three straight goals to jump out to a 10-point lead early in the third quarter.

Dan Houston, the light-footed Connor Rozee and Karl Amon gave Port plenty of drive through the middle of while veteran Travis Boak’s hard running was clear for all to see in the Red Centre.

The ruck tandem of Charlie Dixon and Jeremy Finlayson gave gun Demon skipper Max Gawn and young superstar Luke Jackson more than a contest.

But the reigning premiers flexed their midfield muscles and with the brilliance of Pickett to the mix with goals five and six, the Dees were on their way with seven straight goals prior to the Power adding some respectability late to narrow the margin.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley was in Adelaide due to Covid-19 and forward coach Nathan Bassett took the helm.

He said Port’s poor ball use – and Pickett – were the main reasons the team lost. ‘We lost control of the ball as much as anything else,’ he explained after the game. ‘Our fumbling and our ball use was quite poor in the back half of the second quarter. We were able to right the ship again early in the third and then probably the defence – we missed some tackles, weren’t able to hold up in the contest and Melbourne kicked seven unanswered goals, which was the difference.’

Port faces another premiership contender in the Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval this Saturday in a twilight match.

MELBOURNE            0.4     5.7    8.10   12.11 (83)
PORT ADELAIDE      2.1     5.3    7.6     10.9 (69)

GOALS
Melbourne: Pickett 6, Fritsch, Brown 2, Jackson, Melksham
Port Adelaide: Bergman, Boak, Marshall 2, Finlayson, Dixon, Rozee, Drew

BEST
Melbourne: Pickett, Petracca, Viney, Langdon, Jordon, Harmes, Brayshaw
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Boak, Houston, Wines, Dixon, Finlayson Byrne-Jones

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