Port Adelaide
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Finished: 7th
Collingwood
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Ranked: 6th
Last time
Port Adelaide stormed out of the blocks in front of 31,121 supporters at AAMI Stadium to take the lead from Collingwood 12 minutes into the first term and never looked back. Matt Broadbent recaptured his 2012 form with 34 disposals while Justin Westhoff and Jay Schulz kicked three goals each.
Round 14, 2013: Port Adelaide 13.8 (86) def Collingwood 7.9 (51) at AAMI Stadium
Form Guide
Past 5: Power 1 v Magpies 4
Past 23: Power 10 v Magpies 13
The fine print
AFL Second Elimination Final
Collingwood v Port Adelaide
Saturday 7 September
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Brunton Avenue, East Melbourne Vic
First bounce: 7:45pm (AEST) / 7:15pm (ACST)
Live Social: #PAFClive #AFLFinals
Match information
Broadcast guide
Buy tickets
FINALS HUB
Post-game function at Hilton on the Park, 192 Wellington Terrace, Melbourne.
Power points
- This is the Power’s eighth finals campaign and first in six years. It is Collingwood's eighth-consecutive finals campaign. - While the Power trails Collingwood in overall wins and losses (10-13), the two sides are tied for wins at the MCG with three apiece.
- Port Adelaide’s win in Round 14 snapped a six-match losing streak against Collingwood dating back to August 2008.
- This is the third time Port Adelaide has met Collingwood in a final, previously losing encounters against the Pies in the 2002 Qualifying Final at AAMI Stadium and the 2003 Preliminary Final at the MCG.
- Collingwood leads the Power on average scores across their 23 encounters 98-84.
- Port Adelaide has played at the MCG four times in the last four home-and-away seasons, making it one of the least-experienced sides at the venue.
- The Power’s average age in its Round 1 match at the MCG was 23 years and 87 days, compared to its Round 23 match at AAMI Stadium at 23 years and 358 days. The average age of Collingwood’s Round 23 team was 25 years and 17 days.
Key Players
1. Travis Boak
The Port Adelaide captain will feature prominently in the Brownlow Medal count, is Port’s highest ranked player in the AFL Coaches’ award, has been nominated for the AFL Players’ Most Valuable Player award and is a top-two shot at this year’s best and fairest, such is his esteem within the AFL industry and at his club. He is a big game player and an excellent leader on-field. His consistent form throughout the season as a key inside midfielder capable of winning clearances and impacting the scoreboard will have him closely checked by the Magpies on the weekend. He is Port’s most important midfielder on Saturday.
2. Chad Wingard
Like Boak, Wingard has been highly rated in the numerous post-season awards set to be announced in the coming days and is likely to challenge his captain for the Power’s best and fairest medal. His breakout season has been characterised by a number of big-game performances including against Sydney in Round 13 and Adelaide in Round 19. He’ll float between deep forward and the centre throughout the night with a primary objective of damaging the scoreboard but also providing run-and-carry on the outside of play. He lives for these games and will relish the opportunity to play on a big ground in front of a big crowd.
3. Justin Westhoff
Westhoff has been another of the Power’s big game players in 2013 and was particularly prolific at the start of the season when he found himself spending most of his time in the forward line. Since then he has reverted to his dynamic utility role as an effective runner around the ground. Westhoff’s biggest quality, aside from his ability to find space and convert accurately, has been his composure under pressure. His final-quarter grit in the final term against St Kilda in Round 17 and Carlton last weekend were met with high praise. Arguably Westhoff won the Power that match against the Saints and was pivotal for keeping his team in with a sniff late against the Blues. It’s international beard day on Saturday and the Power’s hirsute warrior will be a key part of the Power’s team that night - hopefully he can do his bearded brethren and his club proud.
A history like no other
Another chapter will be written in the history of two major Australian rivalries on Saturday night.
While the nation’s major parties go head-to-head in their triennial stoush at the ballot box, the two clubs that made black and white the two most hated colours in national sport will write another page into their own enmity that evening.
For decades Port Adelaide dominated the sporting scene of South Australia as the black and white Magpies, while Collingwood did the same in Victoria.
When Port ascended to the AFL in 1997 with a new moniker and a splash of teal, it was only appropriate that its first game would be against its former ‘sister’ club at the MCG.
Since that match the two sides have risen and fallen with the football tides, but their clashes have always been some of the most keenly anticipated by their respective supporter bases.
Saturday night’s Second Elimination Final will be the third time the clubs have met in a major round encounter.
Collingwood won the two previous finals over a decade ago – by 44 points in the 2003 Preliminary Final and by 13 points in the 2002 Qualifying Final.
While the two clubs were in similar on-field positions back then, this weekend’s clash will be one of many contrasts.
Ken Hinkley will preside over the youngest side of the eight teams in this year's finals series; his opposite number Nathan Buckley will coach the most experienced.
It is true that Port Adelaide has little finals experience – from the Round 23 team only Dom Cassisi, Kane Cornes, Travis Boak, Brad Ebert, Tom Logan, Angus Monfries, Brent Renouf and Justin Westhoff had played in an AFL final.
Cassisi and Cornes are the only players remaining from the Power’s 2004 Premiership team.
Collingwood has been at the pointy end of the finals since 2007, whereas the Power has struggled to crack the top eight since its grand final loss that year.
To beat Collingwood on Saturday the Power will need to be at its defensive best.
It senior players - names like Boak, Westhoff, Jackson Trengove and Jay Schulz - will need to stand up around the ground and lead by example.
Its spirited and clinical performance at Round 14 secured one of its best wins for the season and the key that night was a solid team defensive from its 22 players - young and old.
The Power was the underdog that night, just as it is on Saturday.
Few expect Port to win through to the semi finals, but one thing has been certain this year: Port Adelaide never gives up.
And if it brings a four-quarter performance and its best brand of football, Port will match the fancied Collingwood at the home of football.
