PORT ADELAIDE captain Tom Jonas has joked that it was nice of Richmond forward pairing Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch to find form just as the sides are due to meet.
Riewoldt and Lynch booted seven goals between them against Brisbane on Tuesday night, having previously managed a combined four in their previous two outings.
Before the Brisbane game Riewoldt had managed just nine goals in nine games and Lynch 13, but they were dominant against the Lions, prompting a wry response from the Port skipper, who’ll likely match up on one of them on Saturday evening.
“That was good of them to find a bit of form just before they play us but it’s a great challenge and we love it,” Jonas said.
“You want to challenge yourself against the best players in the competition, whether it’s Dusty (Dustin Martin), Cotch (Trent Cotchin), Lynchy or Riewoldt.
“I have full confidence in our backline. Tom Clurey did a job on (Josh) Bruce on the weekend and he’ll look to do something similar again and where I fall, I’m not sure but I’ll just be happy to do whatever I can and come off and help those other boys when I can.”
It was a sentiment echoed by one of Jonas’ deputies, Ollie Wines, who is expecting to spend some time on Dustin Martin during Saturday’s twilight encounter at Adelaide Oval.
“We all love a challenge here so wherever he is – if he’s a forward coming up to the stoppage or as a pure onballer – I’m sure I’ll have an opportunity like a lot of other guys and we’ll be trying to get the job done,” Wines said.
“They’re the form side, of not just the last four weeks but over the last four years.
“We know what they can do and as much as you can analyse them, they’re going to turn up and they’re going to most likely get it done so we’re going to have to be at our ultimate best to get them done. It’s a big clash coming up, Saturday night, in front of our people again so we’re looking forward to coming up against the best.”
Jonas and Wines will share a milestone on Saturday as they each play their respective 150th AFL games, and both could not be happier to share it with a great mate.
If recalled, ruckman Scott Lycett will also finally play his 100th AFL game, having been locked on 99 for the last three weeks while recovering from a knee injury.
Jonas said Port could go in with two recognised ruckmen given Peter Ladhams has performed strongly in Lycett’s absence paired with forward/ruckman Justin Westhoff.
“Whichever way we go it shouldn’t matter,”
Our ruckmen are pretty nimble – you see Pete Ladhams plays like a midfielder half the time, he follows up his own ball and thinks he’s a small forward so whether it’s him and Scooter (Lycett) or Scooter and Hoff (Justin Westhoff) or Pete and Hoff, not a whole lot changes for us.”
Port is currently top of the ladder, a spot it has remarkably held since Round 1 with Richmond now third after five wins in their last six matches.
Jonas said his side was full of belief that it has what it takes to beat the reigning premiers and anyone else this season.
“I think the more strong performances you piece together, the more you believe,” he said.
“There’s still a lot of water to go under the bridge but at this stage we’ve done what we can.
“We’re developing a strong playing group that believe in each other, believe in the game style and we’ve got another great challenge on Saturday night.”
First bounce at Adelaide Oval is 4:05pm on Saturday.
