Port Adelaide faces off with the Western Bulldogs in a huge clash between two finals aspirants at Adelaide Oval.
After an up and down stretch, the Power (9-6, 101.%) bounced back with a two-point win over St Kilda, leading to emotional scenes with coach Ken Hinkley post-match.
The Dogs (8-7, 120.2%) meanwhile sit on the cusp of the top eight after winning three of their last four games. But they’ll be without Liam Jones and Cody Weightman, with the former’s absence to test their defence.
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This match gets underway at 1.45pm AEST from Adelaide Oval.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504) [note: check if it’s a 503 game] from 1.30pm AEST.
MATCH UPDATES
There were no late changes, with Logan Evans (Port Adelaide) and Joel Freijah (Western Bulldogs) named the starting subs.
Luke Beveridge pulled an early surprise, putting Sam Darcy in the ruck over Tim English to face off against ex-Bulldog Jordon Sweet.
The Power stacked on two early goals through Mitch Georgiades to get the early jump at home.
Ken Hinkley’s side controlled the first term, with the game played in its front half amid severe pressure on the ball.
“They’re all over the Dogs at the moment, they can’t find an easy exit,” Roos legend David King said on Fox Footy. “Ken Hinkley would be rapt with this, this is exactly how they want the game to look.”
Darcy Byrne-Jones made it three in a row in the ideal start for the Power.
The Power led 5.2 (32) to 0.2 (2) at quarter-time.
Tom Liberatore could come under fire for a dangerous tackle on Connor Rozee, who along with Zak Butters ran riot in the first term.
Mitch Georgiades could similarly face scrutiny for striking behind the play.
Meanwhile Aaron Naughton was subbed out of the game in the second term due to concussion in a big blow to the Dogs.
The Port avalanche continued in the second term, kicking three of the first four goals to take ascendancy in a spicy clash with several scuffles around the field.
Ken Hinkley’s side kicked 10 goals in the first half in a big statement, leading 10.5 (65) to 3.3 (21) at half-time.
Tim English kicked the first goal of the second half to keep the Dogs alive.
While Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy noted it’d been such an “even performance” from the Power, Jason Horne-Francis owned the third term.
The former No. 1 draft pick kicked consecutive goals and missed a third that would’ve brought up a career-best four majors as Port stayed in total control.
Port led 12.8 (80) to 4.4 (28) at the last change.
Georgiades continued his hot form in the fourth term, kicking his outright career-high fifth goal in a big performance from the young forward.
Meanwhile Joel Freijah kicked his first career goal in the final term to give Dogs fans something to cheer about in an otherwise tough day.
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Source Agencies
