Round 2 – Port Adelaide v Essendon: Danger game?

 

 

In what was deemed as a danger game for Port Adelaide Power was anything but that.

 

The beauty of hindsight because it’s exactly what was going through my head.

 

That is Port’s blinding start. Then, as my crystal ball would tell me, the Power would then be in cruise control and save its energy for the blockbuster round three clash against West Coast Eagles in the west.

 

After the first 15 minutes, the game was all but over as the Power booted the first five goals of the game en-route to a 18.11 (119) to Essendon’s 9.11 (65) at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

 

Engineered by young midfielder Zak Butters and a four-goal return to the returning Mitch Georgiadis, who replaced fellow young key position forward Todd Marshall (back), some argue Port Adelaide could have won by more.

 

The young Bombers were riddled with injury and had not been for the efforts of wily veteran Cale Hooker and the mercurial Anthony McDonald Tipungwuti, who both booted three goals each, the margin could have been 15 goals.

 

Charlie Dixon imposed himself for the Power with four majors while Dan Houston’s elite foot skills was a treat to watch.

 

Houston would have to be one of the top three field kicks in the AFL.

 

He just keeps getting better and better while champion midfielder Travis Boak keeps on keeping on with another polished display through the middle of the ground.

 

Steven Motlop’s workrate has been second-to-none working up and down the wing and he chimed in with two goals.

 

His Port team-mate on the other wing, Karl Amon, keeps getting it done as does skipper Tom Jonas and gun recruit Aliir Aliir as key defensive pillars.

 

Former Bomber Orazio Fantasia (two goals) had an immediate impact helping set up the first goal of the game when he speared a kick into Port’s forward line and Dixon did the rest to set the early tone of the game.

 

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley told AFL.com.au that there is a selection squeeze on at Alberton.

 

“That’s a good thing for us,” he said of Georgiadis’ haul of four goals after he was a late call-up to replace Marshall.

 

“The squad mentality is the way we approach it and people are going to play roles and accept roles.”

 

“We’re going to have Rozee (Connor) available too so that will put a squeeze on and the boys understand that and that everyone has to take their turn at the right moment.”

 

All the Power names mentioned, and some, need to be at their best in the west when Port tackle West Coast Eagles this Saturday night in Perth.

 

From what we have all seen thus far, the Power are up to this litmus test but the Eagles are no North Melbourne or Essendon.

 

It promises to be a cracking contest in the Perth cauldron that is Optus Stadium.

 

 

PORT ADELAIDE  6.1   11.6    15.10    18.11 (119)
ESSENDON           1.4    4.7      6.8         9.11 (65)

 

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Dixon 4, Georgiades 4, Ladhams 2, Motlop 2, Fantasia 2, Butters, Amon, Houston, Lycett
Essendon: Hooker 3, McDonald-Tipungwuti 3, Langford, Snelling, Cox

 

BEST
Port Adelaide: Butters, Dixon, Georgiades, Wines, Houston
Essendon: Hooker, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Ridley, Merrett, Redman

 

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