Round 2 – Port Adelaide v Essendon: Carr’s Port crushes win(g)less Bombers.

 

 

 

 

 

Port Adelaide v Essendon – Sunday, March 22, 2026

Round 2 – Adelaide Oval

 

Carr’s Port crushes win(g)less Bombers

Port Adelaide Power bounced back from its horror first-round outing against North Melbourne in an emphatic way to thrash Essendon Bombers by 63 points at a sunbaked Adelaide Oval on Sunday – 20.13 133 to 10.10 70.

 

The result was also Josh Carr’s first victory as the new Power coach.

 

There was a sour note when Power captain Conner Rozee hyper-extended his left knee midway into the third quarter.

 

Port’s forwards Mitch Georgiades (two goals), Carlton recruit Corey Durdin (two), the returning Jack Lukosius (three) and promising key forward Jack Whitlock feasted on gilt-edged deliveries with a collective seven goals

 

In perfect mid-Autumn conditions, the Power’s midfield went to work early and never lapsed as forward-mid Jason Horne-Francis (26 possessions) kicked three first-quarter goals to get the hosts off to a flier.

 

Despite ex-Gold Coast Sun Hayden Fiorini snapping the game’s first, Port powered through nine successive goals before Essendon’s midfielder Sam Durham got his struggling team’s second.

 

Zak Butters’ potential value as a free agent has risen (if that’s possible!) as he continually won his own contested ball or as a linkman in Port’s impressive slingshot transition from defence that was brilliantly led by key talls Alir Alir (19 marks) forward-turned-defender Todd Marshall and Esava.

 

Butters had 36 touches.

 

Jackson Mead returned to the Port line-up and excelled in his new role across half-back as did youngster Logan Evans.

 

In contrast, it couldn’t get any worse for Essendon in the first half as Durdin wobbled through his second which could have easily been avoided if an opposing defender was there to leap at the footy and touch his kick through for a behind.

 

That error, one of many for the visitors, would’ve infuriated an already agitated Essendon coach Brad Scott.

 

The energetic and talented Nate Caddy (four second-half goals) provided much-needed Bomber spark with back-to-back goals to start the second half while ruckman Lachlan Blakiston was involved in promising passages of play.

 

For all of Essendon’s efforts to will its way into the match, Durdin and Georgiades scored truly to extend the result beyond doubt at three-quarter-time as Rozee watched from the bench with a smile on his face.

 

Jack Watkins booted his first goal in the AFL for the Power early in the final quarter followed by a long-range major by Jase Burgoyne (20 possessions).

 

Veteran Darcy Byrne-Jones gleefully accepted a look-away Joe Berry (two goals) handball to become Port’s 12^th goalscorer.

 

To the Bombers’ credit, the young side didn’t give up in the final quarter with Caddy a shining light in the second half.

 

 

HORNET BLASTS BOMBERS

After a lacklustre performance against his old club last weekend, Port’s Jason ‘Hornet’ Horne-Francis wanted to make amends against Essendon.

 

That he did in a blistering first quarter with three goals.

Two of those goals faded left to right and right to left respectively. He also set up numerous goals as he slowly returns to his damaging best.

 

 

CADDY BREAKS THE SHACKLES

Essendon’s Nate Caddy showcased his immense athletic talents despite the heavy defeat.

 

After a goal-less but threatening first half, the blonde key forward snapped two ripping goals in the third quarter.

 

His work-rate continued to be rewarded with two final quarter majors to finish as the game’s top goalscorer with four.

 

 

PORT ADELAIDE    6.5    10.7     15.10     20.13 (133)
ESSENDON         1.3     2.6     5.8      10.10 (70)

 

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis 3, Lukosius 3, Georgiades 2, Berry 2, Richards 2, Durdin 2, Drew, Sweet, Bergman, Watkins, Byrne-Jones, Burgoyne
Essendon: Caddy 4, Fiorini, Langford, Durham, Caldwell, Kako, Perkins

 

BEST
Port Adelaide: Butters, Horne-Francis, Aliir, Burgoyne, Rozee
Essendon: Caddy, Merrett, Caldwell, Johnson

 

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Rozee (leg), Bergman (ankle)
Essendon: Redman (knee), Sharp (ankle)

 

Malarkey Votes

3 – Jason Horne-Francis (PA)

2 – Zak Butters (PA)

1 – Mitch Georgiades (PA)

 

 

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