Recent results against Adelaide:
Round 16, 2008, Port Adelaide 13.14 (92) d Adelaide 11.14 (80), AAMI
Round three, 2008, Adelaide 12.13 (85) d Port Adelaide 11.13 (79), AAMI
Round 18, 2007, Adelaide 9.19 (73) d Port Adelaide 10.5 (65), AAMI
Round three, 2007, Adelaide 13.9 (87) d Port Adelaide8.15 (63), AAMI
Round 21, 2006, Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) d Adelaide 11.15 (81), AAMI
Medical room
Port Adelaide
Shaun Burgoyne (knee) – 3-4 weeks
Mitch Banner (sinus fracture) – 1 week
Jarrad Redden (ankle) – 1 week
Jackson Trengove (hamstring/knee) – test
Nick Salter (knee) - 6 weeks
Justin Westhoff (fractured foot) – 6 weeks
Adelaide
Chris Knights (fractured eye socket) - test
Rory Sloane (knee) - test
Trent Hentschel (knee) - 2 weeks
Nick Gill (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks
Brett Burton (knee) - indefinite
Summary
Unfortunately, it was Port Adelaide's under-performing alter-ego that turned up to play against league leaders St Kilda on Friday night.
The Power, fresh off a stunning away win over reigning premier Hawthorn, weren't in the contest after 17 minutes of the first quarter and succumbed to an embarrassing 66-point defeat.
But as they say, there's always next week and what better way to recapture lost form than with a Showdown.
The Power, fresh off a stunning away win over reigning premier Hawthorn, weren't in the contest after 17 minutes of the first quarter and succumbed to an embarrassing 66-point defeat.
But as they say, there's always next week and what better way to recapture lost form than with a Showdown.
These two sides played out one of the games of the year in round three last season when Port Adelaide almost harassed Adelaide into submission with a committed physical performance.
The undermanned Crows emerged victorious, but the Power got one back with an upset win in round 16.
Both sides are evenly poised at three wins a-piece and the stage is set for another engrossing encounter.
Key match-up
Dean Brogan v Jon Griffin
Brogan did his best to ignite the troops on Anzac Day weekend, but the game was beyond individual efforts for the Power. On Saturday night, the influential ruckman will be pivotal to his side’s chances when he goes head-to-head with young Crow Jon Griffin. Brogan has more AFL experience than Griffin and Adelaide teammate Kurt Tippett combined and, in tandem with Brendon Lade, should be able to gain the ascendancy around the stoppages.
Kick it to me
Born-again midfielder Peter Burgoyne averaged 32 possessions and a goal in each of his opening three games, before being suspended for kneeing Melbourne’s Aaron Davey in the back. Burgoyne is the Power’s best clearance player and in the absence of his younger brother Shaun will be the go to man in the centre square.
Somebody stop me
Crows skipper Simon Goodwin has relished his return to half-back, averaging 25 possessions and six marks this season. Coach Mark Williams’ decision to put Tom Logan on Hawthorn match-winner Luke Hodge paid handsome dividends in round four and Port Adelaide could employ a similar tag on Adelaide’s playmaker.
At the selection table
Peter Burgoyne will return to the side having served his two-match-ban. Tough nut Matt Thomas, who was rubbed out for a week after making contact with an umpire, is also free to play and could come in at the expense of unlucky half-back Nick Lower.
Williams has put Josh Carr on notice, but the premiership hero’s past Showdown success should be enough to get him over the line this week.
It’s not generally known that...
Josh Carr has never played in a losing Showdown.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
