LAST week’s result was a horror story for Port Adelaide - having come from behind to effectr a 10 goal turn-around after quarter-time in the Balfours Showdown 30, the loss to Gold Coast by 3 points after being up by 40 at the 28-minute mark of the third term was terribly disappointing for players, coaches, staff, and supporters alike, with Matt Primus apologising to the latter for the final quarter performance.
But the beauty of home and away football is that there’s always another week, and Round 6 saw the Power head to Melbourne to take on North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium. Several changes were made to the Power side, with Steve Salopek and Jason Davenport both making way in the selected side, while Travis Boak was ruled out with injury on Friday morning and Daniel Stewart a late withdrawal on Saturday.
Dean Brogan recovered from a leg injury to lead the club once from from the front in the absence of an injured Dom Cassisi, alongside the returning Kane Cornes and Paul Stewart while Mitch Banner was selected to play his first game in 2011. He was the starting sub for the game, with Cam Hitchcock, Cam O’Shea and Tom Logan all starting on the bench.
In a surprise to absolutely nobody, Kane Cornes made his way straight to Brent Harvey for the beginning of the game across North Melbourne’s half-forward line. Guess who won the first two frees of the game? Kane Cornes, first for a high tackle and then a second to be going on with. Pettigrew gave one away for a don’t argue straight to the face, resulting in North kicking the first goal of the game after the forward 50 entry from the free saw a roved goal from Speight.
The Power worked the ball forward from a free deep back, with Ebert earning a free - he centred the ball to the top of the square and Surjan roved the pack but his snap slammed into the post. Rodan won the clearance from the long kick-in but his kick at goal was inaccurate. As the Kangaroos worked the ball forward Matt Thomas got caught holding the ball and Wright waltzed into an open goal to boot the Kangas’ second.
Another free in the centre square saw North tumble the ball forward where they won a throw-in, but Kornes earned another free burrowing under the pack and getting in the back. Terrific desperation from Pittard saw a great spoil at the 8 minute mark of the quarter from a marking contest, forcing the ball out of bounds again. North’s forward pressure was excellent, forcing regular contests in their forward 50. Pittard’s excellent work saw another strong mark running back with the flight a minute or so later to stop another North forward thrust. Eventually all of North’s domination was rewarded with a third goal.
A series of comedic errors across half-back saw the Power win the ball, but Gray missed a golden opportunity to kick the Power’s first goal of the game as he missed running into an open goal. North’s ability to freely move the ball forward of the defensive 50 was very disappointing to see, but eventually the Power was able to get the ball forward with Motlop winning a one-on-one contest and booting the first goal of the game for Port Adelaide.
A terrific mark by Chad Cornes went unrewarded as a result of an interchange infringement, with Port Adelaide penalised across half back and a 50m penalty ensuring a certain goal. An opportunity to go forward was turned over after Motlop gave away a free across half-forward, but some excellent defensive work from Pettigrew saw the ball moved forward. A boundary throw-in saw Brogan earn a free, but he was unable to boot it through for a goal.
QUARTER TIME: 2.4.16 to 4.5.29. Goals to Motlop and Westhoff. Kornes and Hartlett 8 possessions, Brogan and Gray 7, Chad 6 and 4 marks, Surjan 6.
Despite winning the clearances, North were clearing their defensive 50 with ease, and worked the ball into their forward line quickly from their backline to begin the second term. Boomer Harvey snapped a goal following a defensive error, stretching the lead to 20 points in the first 2 minutes of the term.
North Melbourne continued to win the ball across half-back then surge forwards with little pressure through the central corridor, but missed opportunities to really hurt the Power on the scoreboard. Eventually Hansen was able to take a strong mark and boot a much-deserved goal for all their domination of the term thus far.
The lack of targets across half forward was presenting up was a major issue - there was just no one working hard enough to present to the ball-carrier. Eventually Motlop earned a free across half-forward, chipped it in to Paul Stewart, who kicked it deep forward where Brogan earned a free and scored a much-needed goal.
Lack of forward pressure saw a Power point rushed forward by North to get into their 50 with the ball eventually slipping out of bounds from another kick at goal by Harvey, with another point added by Thomas after a boundary throw-in.
A lovely mark by Gray across half-forward saw a goal just missed, and a lack of defensive pressure saw North move the ball forward with ease, as Harvey ran around opponents like witch’s hats to boot another goal on the run. North’s desperation was superb, with tackling intensity seeing them win the ball forward and Thomas earning a free directly in front for a high tackle, but he kicked another point. The Power won the ball forward, with Hartlett zooming a pass to Motlop, who booted a goal on the siren.
HALF-TIME: 4.6.30 to 7.12.54. 2 goals to Motlop, 1 to Westhoff and Brogan. 15 possessions to Hartlett, Brogan 12, 6 earned frees and a goal, Kornes and P Stewart 11, Gray 10.
Harvey began the second half with the same level of domination as he began the first - he booted his third goal after out-marking Pittard too easily. Port won another clearance - one of the few things the side was dominating in this match - with Ebert taking a strong mark up forward and kicking truly to get that first goal back immediately.
Finally some break away play was effected, with Ebert getting the ball to Motlop after receiving it from Hartlett to kick his third goal of the game. Port’s workrate continued to improve, despite a defensive error gifting North a goal, with Thomas working hard to ensure Surjan a shot on goal inside 50 - unfortunately he failed to make the distance from 40m out.
Again, defensive pressure was paramount, and Thomas kicked the ball forward where Motlop took a strong mark and booted his fourth of the game. North replied to stretch the lead, but Port’s desperation was noticeably stronger. Mitch Banner, the sub for the game, was activated for Surjan just as Lindsay Thomas finally broke his drought, extending the lead back out to five goals.
North peppered away at goal twice through Thomas, before eventually Swallow was able to rove the pack and kick a goal on the run. Westhoff took a mark up forward that probably hit the ground first, but missed the chance at goal. Ebert took a strong mark overhead and made no mistake.
North continued their domination of the quarter, with North extending the lead through Harper to 41 points at the end of the third quarter before nearly every player on the ground was involved in a mass push-and-shove.
THREE-QUARTER TIME: 8.9.57 to 13.20.98. Goals: Motlop 4, Ebert 2, Westhoff, Brogan. Possessions: Hartlett 21, Kane Cornes 18, Gray 14, Westhoff 14, Brogan, Rodan, P Stewart, Thomas 13.
At the beginning of the third term, 9 Power players had failed to lay a tackle for the game: Rodan, Broadbent, Chaplin, Hitchcock, O'Shea, Logan, Surjan (subbed off), Chad Cornes, Pettigrew, Carlile and Banner (subbed on). Hartlett was the leading possession-getter on the ground, but other than that the best players were hard to find for the Power.
Brogan gave away a free kick directly in front of goal and Goldstein continued an excellent game to boot another goal. The lack of defensive pressure was deplorable as opportunities continued to present themselves for North players, with Petrie nailing another. Hansen booted a goal running in them slammed into the fence, resulting in a long delay to play.
With the game effectively over the Power moved the ball through the middle of the ground and two quick goals came - the first from a brilliant dribble by Gray after an excellent Brogan tap, then another from Broadbent after roving the pack at the top of the square. But it was very much a case of too little too late, with North in control of the game on the scoreboard, as Wright booted his third for the game.
The scoreboard difference didn’t truly reflect the dominance of North’s display, with plenty of missed goals before Atley booted another to stretch the lead out to 10 goals. It was very much a case of a disappointing day for the Power, with the side well and truly outplayed by a side who simple wanted the ball more.
Best: Hartlett, Brogan, Motlop.
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