St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna has officially put Port Adelaide under the microscope after their narrow loss at home to Melbourne in round three.
Speaking on AFL 360, Montagna questioned whether or not the Power are being too aggressive with their offence which is in turn, hurting their ability to defend.
“They do have a really strong, identifiable brand and that came through in the way they played last year, and it has also continued on the way they’ve started this year,” Montagna said on Fox Footy.
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The Power are ranked first for time in forward half in 2024, first for inside 50s against (sixth in 2023), second for clearance differentials (sixth in 2023) and first for scores per inside 50 % (fifth in 2023).
“They’re a team based on strong clearance game, playing the game in their front half and winning the ball back,” he said.
“Their offence has not been a problem and has been a stable part of their game for a long time.”
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Conversely, Montagna highlighted how the club ranks eleventh for points against (12th in 2023), 15th for scores per inside 50% (13th in 2023) and 18th for defensive half intercepts (17th in 2023).
“We know if you want to be a premiership team you need to be in the top six [for points against],” the Fox Footy commentator said.
“Their inability to stop the ball being scored when it came inside their defensive 50 and they weren’t a strong team at winning the ball back in their back half.
“We’ve played three rounds now and the same problems lie, so the question is: is it personnel or is it actually the system and the way they play?”
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Astonishingly, Port Adelaide have not lost a single defensive one-on-one contest this year.
“When you take a look at the system, we know they’re an aggressive press team, but it’s been interesting to see how many times so far this season, they actually allow the opposition to have a player forward of the ball.
Montagna said it was time for someone to step up and take control.
“It doesn’t matter who you’ve got as your key defenders, it leads to score,” Montagna said.
“Who are the leaders down there for Port Adelaide demanding and yelling out to someone to come back and even the numbers?
“They’re defending reasonably well in a one-on-one contest, but the problem is, they’re getting too many opportunities where they’re not even in a one-on-one.”
Montagna said Port Adelaide have a “unique” style of defending, which focuses on one-on-one contests rather than zone defence.
“Port Adelaide defend in a unique way, they’re not a team that roll around and support as much as some of the other really strong defensive sides, they play a very much one-on-one brand,” he explained.
“There’s no real desire for any winger or any other midfielder to roll around and help out and it leaves them exposed, it’s just been a bit of a trend for Port Adelaide not just this season but going back last year as well.
“It raises the question of whether it’s the personnel, or if they need to look at their system and not be as aggressive with their press if they want to get the balance right and be a genuine premiership contender.
The next six weeks will be crucial for the Power, who including last Saturday’s loss to Melbourne play five of six games at Adelaide Oval in what Montagna labelled a “golden run”.
Source Agencies
