Port Adelaide
Form: WWWWWLLLLLWWWL
Ranked: 8th
Hawthorn
Form: LWWWWWWWWWWWWWL
Ranked: 1st
Last time
Port Adelaide led Hawthorn early at Aurora Stadium but the Hawks eventually clicked into gear to put the Power away under interim coach Garry Hocking.
Round 20, 2012: Port Adelaide 13.9 (87) def by Hawthorn 24.15 (159) at Aurora Stadium
Form Guide
Past 5: Power 1 v Hawks 4
Past 26: Power 15 v Hawks 11
The fine print
AFL Multicultural Round - Round 16
Port Adelaide v Hawthorn
Saturday July 13
AAMI Stadium
Turner Drive, West Lakes, SA
First bounce: 1:15pm (ACST)
Live Social: #pafclive #aflpowerhawks
After match function at the Port Club, Queen Street Alberton
Buy tickets
Match information
Broadcast guide
The three
1. Brad Ebert
Ebert has been Port Adelaide's best and most consistent player since Round 10. His blitzing first half against the Bombers on Sunday was the clearest indication yet of his return to his 2012 form. He was influential around stoppages and continued his strong output when the Bombers got on top of Port in the second quarter. Ebert’s return to form has been critical in the Power’s recent wins and suggests a good end to the year for him.
2. Angus Monfries
Monfries has been around the mark all year but hadn’t quite managed the killer haul that the former Essendon leading goalkicker promised when he returned to South Australia in the off-season. Perhaps it was the opportunity to rile his old crowd, but Monfries swag of four goals formed just one part of a strong performance all around the ground. He has kicked goals in most games this year and contributed through the midfield, but Sunday’s effort was by far his best for the year.
3. Robbie Gray
Gray hasn’t quite broken a game apart this year but has been dangerous since his return in Round 4. Gray was at his elusive best on the weekend and, like Monfries, had his best return in front of goals for the season. There hasn’t been much to separate his best and worst this year – which is a good thing – but by his own lofty standards he will want to continue to push his form north and start having a bigger impact and influence on the scoreboard and in the midfield.
Final Word
Port will miss Justin Westhoff this weekend.
He isn’t the single-role forward some see him as.
His ability to pinch-hit in the ruck and drift back into a defensive role makes him a versatile player capable of influencing the outcome of games.
His suspension in unwelcome and Ken Hinkley was disappointed the experienced goal kicker put himself before the team.
So Port Adelaide will need to find a way to cover his absence.
That will come partly through John Butcher who has been in reasonable SANFL form and was dangerous in his last AFL game against the Giants.
Jackson Trengove will likely play jointly as the Power’s key back and backup ruckman for Matthew Lobbe.
Fortunately for the Power, Jasper Pittard looks set to play after recovering sufficiently from a foot injury.
That means Port will go into Saturday’s match almost fully stocked.
The conditions will hopefully play into the Power’s favour against the clinical Hawthorn outfit – rain is forecast on Friday and across the weekend, so a deck similar to the one Port utilised in its three-goal win over Sydney is increasingly likely.
Port will expect an aggressive Hawthorn this week after the Hawks' loss to the Cats last week.
Hawthorn poses a natural challenge in any case - it is the highest-scoring team of the year, while the Power is tenth.
While the odds are stacked against the Power again this weekend, it has triumphed over them twice in the past three weeks and almost did so again against Essendon.
No less than a four-quarter performance will do for the home side though and it can’t afford to let the Hawks get momentum in a critical match for both teams this Saturday.
Current odds
Port Adelaide 4.75 – 1.19 Hawthorn
