Port Adelaide has celebrated milestone man Travis Boak’s 350th AFL game in style, with a 30-point win over Richmond at the MCG.
The undermanned Tigers were gritty in the first half, and threatened an upset when Liam Baker cut the margin to just seven points at the final change.
But Port simply had too much firepower in attack to run away 18.14 (122) to 13.14 (92) winners on Sunday.
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The Tigers, who were already without Dion Prestia (hamstring), Tylar Young (concussion), Josh Gibcus (knee), Jacob Hopper (knee) and Nathan Broad (calf soreness), were forced into a late reshuffle when Maurice Rioli Jnr injured his back pre-game and was ruled out of the contest.
But coach Adem Yze can take plenty of heart from the way his side continued to fight for three quarters.
THE 3-2-1 (via Will Faulkner)
3 – TIGERS BRAVE ONCE AGAIN BUT FALL SHORT AT FINISH LINE AS BOAK WINS 350TH
Another admirable effort from a depleted Richmond side hasn’t gone unnoticed, however Adam Yze and his side will again feel that they have let another potential win slip out of their hands in their five-goal loss to Port Adelaide.
Early inaccuracy cost the Tigers a breakout start, with nine of their first 13 scores in the first quarter and a half behinds.
With a 17-point lead in their favour on the stroke of half-time, an upset that seemed unlikely became a real reality.
Speaking at the half-time break, Hawthorn champion Jordan Lewis was confident in the game style the Tigers had adapted in the first half.
“Their defensive half scores, nine shots (4.5) in the first half – that is a huge score for a side that hasn’t been able to do that under Adam Yze so far [this season].” Lewis said.
“It hasn’t been a part of their game in the first two games.”
In addition to their scores from the defensive half, the four-time premiership player highlighted that the ruck battle between old teammates Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo was hanging in the balance.
“I think both players have had their moments when they’ve been dominant,” Lewis stated.
“Whoever can give their mids first use I think will bring their side back into the game, or continue with the lead.”
Their midfield, predominantly run by Liam Baker (23 disposals, three goals), Shai Bolton (22 disposals, two goals) and Tim Taranto (26 disposals, one goal) matched it with Port for most of the game, leading in both centre and stoppage clearances at the main break.
A third-quarter spark from the visitors however threw Richmond right back on the defensive, before two extremely late goals from Baker pulled the margin down from 19 to seven points.
From there, a six-goal last quarter for Port ensured victory was theirs, and that former Port captain Travis Boak left the MCG with a smile on his face in game number 350.
The 35-year-old veteran had 15 disposals at 87% disposal efficiency, as well as six score involvements in his milestone game.
2 – BUTTERS-LED BLITZ IN THIRD QUARTER LEAVES RICHMOND STUNNED
Heading into the second half 11 points behind the hosts, Port Adelaide had their backs up against the wall after losing several key stat lines around the stoppage.
However, their engine room – highlighted by Zak Butters – and key forwards flicked the Power switch, completely outclassing the Tigers after the main break.
Tall forwards Jeremy Finlayson and Todd Marshall both kicked two goals in the third quarter to swing all momentum the way of Port Adelaide, while Charlie Dixon also made his presence felt with a goal.
Port coach Ken Hinkley had prefaced where his men had gone wrong at half time, with the goalkickers responding with authority.
“The transition game has got us, because we’ve been poor in the aerial battles,” Hinkley said before the third quarter.
The 45-point quarter from the visitors resulted in a seven-point lead at the final break, after what could be described as a sloppy first half.
The delivery to the Power’s key men up forward was very good all day, and backed up by the side’s immaculate disposal efficiency of 75.1%.
Zak Butters’ third term brought about 14 disposals, with nine contested possessions and a whopping three goal assists in one of the best quarters by a player all weekend.
His composure around the contest under pressure was duly noted, and left him standing out in a crowd that had been playing mostly frantic football.
Triple-premiership player Jack Riewoldt gave high praise to Butters for his lift in the second half.
“He has been the difference, Zak Butters – his ability to use the ball inside 50 is such a weapon for Port Adelaide,” Riewoldt said.
“He never looks like he’s under pressure, and he never over-kicks it; he just kicks it to the advantage of the forward.”
1 – PORT FINDS GROOVE WITH TALL FORWARDS
After a very quiet first half collectively from Port Adelaide, a restructure in their attacking half saw the Power reap the rewards from their talented talls.
Nine goals between Todd Marshall (4), Jeremy Finlayson (3) and Charlie Dixon (2) in the second half made an already tough task impossible for Richmond, who were severely undermanned in defence after injuries to Nathan Broad, Josh Gibcus and Tylar Young last week.
The change in plan was noticed by Fox Footy’s Jordan Lewis who was impressed with their ability to turn the momentum after a slow start.
“The three talls have worked better in the second half… They’ve certainly changed the way they’ve gone inside forward,” Lewis said.
“I think Dixon’s been more of a presence further up the field – he [Marshall] has been the deeper forward.”
Their nine goals in the second half was a complete contrast to their showing last week against West Coast, with Charlie Dixon the only tall forward to register a goal (3.3).
Jeremy Finlayson kicked four behinds for no majors, while Todd Marshall’s three minor scores were a cause for concern in their first hit out for 2024.
All three forwards were able to get involved in each other’s success too, with Marshall, Dixon and Finlayson having 10, nine and seven score involvements respectively.
The chemistry of the trio in the second half will raise questions at the selection table, with other key forward Mitch Georgiades waiting in the wings at Alberton for opportunity at AFL level after recovering from an ACL injury last year.
Source Agencies
