On Sunday afternoon, the defensive combination of Alipate Carlile, Troy Chaplin, Michael Pettigrew, Jacob Surjan, Nathan Krakouer and Steve Salopek restricted Essendon to a meagre nine goals in fine conditions at AAMI Stadium.
The inexperienced group with an average age of just 22 years, had been considered the weak point in the Port Adelaide line up.
But on Sunday Carlile and Chaplin kept Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas to just one goal between them and Krakouer and Salopek provided plenty of creativity across half-back.
“One thing that stood out for me was the (performance of the) backs,” Williams said after the game.
“Looking long-term there, we’re starting to see some nice future gains.”
New skipper Dom Cassisi said the young group had taken a ‘big step’ in the 41-point win over the Bombers. “Our backs were one-on-one with the Essendon forwards a lot of the time,” Cassisi said.
“For our tall backs to be able to knock the ball to the ground, run off and create was a great sign for us.”
The Power showcased passages of brilliant run and carry and quick ball movement and improved in the key areas of clearances and contested possession.
The home side, which finished with a scoresheet of 15.17, should’ve sealed the win in the first half but struggled to convert in front of goal.
Regardless, Williams said he was pleased with his side’s endeavour.
“To start the year so positively with a win was great. I thought Essendon kept at the game and challenged us right to the last part, but it was great to have our fitness shine through. We probably didn’t take all our chances as the game went on, but I thought most players did their little bit,” he said.
“Some of our skills weren’t as good as they should’ve been and we’ll clean that up. I thought our effort was good. Dean Brogan was diving underneath. Chad Cornes nearly marked the ball at centre-half forward and then said, ‘OK, I didn’t mark it’, but threw himself underneath the pack, caused a spillage and we got a goal from it.
“It’s round one. We’ll build on it, but understand that it’s only one game.”
