Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
Faceoff
Round 16, Port Adelaide v Adelaide
AAMI Stadium, Sunday, June 20th, 2:40
Its hard to remember a more lackluster form line, with both teams limping into the game with a severe lack of form. Adelaide have come crashing to an almost standstill, after their early season form, losing their last four to stand at 8-7, whilst Port last tasted victory on the first day, Last years Grand Finalists standing at 4-11.
Still, despite all this, there should be no talk of this game meaning nothing. It’s a Showdown, and with the ledger now tied up at 12 each, there are big time bragging rights on the line. Some have stated that the rivalry is dying down numerous times over the past few years, but if the range of responses after Ports antics in the last game were anything to go by, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Recent Form-
Adelaide lost to Collingwood last week to make it four straight defeats. However, all have come against teams with legitimate finals claims, so its difficult to know whether this is a case of Adelaide completely imploding, or just coming back to earth after an unsustainable start to the season. Certainly, in that string of losses, three games were winnable.
Port have been disappointing for their fans this season, theres no two ways about it. The team that lost last years Grand Final (admittedly by a record margin), are now sitting in the bottom four, with only four wins for the year. They’ve lost five straight games, and a staggering 6 of 7 games they’ve played at AAMI thus far.
Changes-
Adelaide-
Is it time for the Ghost who Walks? Should Port Adelaide look behind them, cuz that’s where the Rangers gonna be? Will those boots Walk all over you? .... Ok, im all out of cheap puns. Still, no matter how many different ways I try to say it, ill still fall short of matching the amount of threads the Adelaide board has seen demanding that Taylor Walker gains selection after his stunning SANFL form. Each thread has been more enlightening than the last, and I truly feel that we’ve unlocked the great secret to fixing our forward line. Well, maybe not, but if (and its incredibily likely that he will) Tex misses selection again, I expect another round of outraged posters, tapping their keys in rebellious rejection of Neil Craig, and everything AFC.
Adelaide will have to make at least two changes, with arguably their two most important forwards out, Jason Porplyzia will miss with a shoulder problem, and Brett Burtons season appears to be over after tearing the ACL in his knee.
Andrew McLeod is a chance to resume this week however, and Adelaide would benefit from his extra run and carry, and he has a potential impact on how the Crows forward line shapes up Post-Burton, whether that’s playing up forward himself, or freeing up Johncock, a former leading Goal Kicker to do so.
Adelaide need forwards, and the most likely candidates are… wait for it… Ken McGregor, Nick Gill, and Luke Jericho. Craig has hinted that McGregor might not come in as a forward, but might play down back, freeing up probable AA CHB Nathan Bock to play as a forward. Gill is a potential forward target who slots into a similar role (though not even close to similar output as Burton, and Jericho simply adds another forward line option, having kicked something like 12 goals in his last 5 matches. I don’t think all three will come in, but with what you’ve seen from the Crows selection panel, its pretty hard to see the team named without at least one of them under the IN header.
Port Adelaide-
The only definite out for Port Adelaide is the injured Damon White. Its hard to predict the other changes. The always insightful posters of the Port Board are calling for the heads of Chad Cornes, both Burgoyne’s, Deluca, Westhoff amongst others. On face value, theres a good case for why any of those players should miss, but its not easy to predict the changes at Port, who have resisted the axe for a lot of the year, despite underperforming.
It seems the most popular choice for inclusion is the Crows fan favorite Matt Thomas, no comment.
Key Players-
Nathan Bock- Bock could play forward, he could play back. He’ll be a key player either way. As a forward he would give the Crows the tall target they so desperately need right now, and could go along way towards straightening the team up. However, if he stays back, where he plays his best football, he has been a crucial play maker for Adelaide, and will be important in setting up the run from the half back line.
Ivan Maric- Despite the doomsday predictions, the Crows have done well in the Ruck this year, with Griffin performing earlier in the year, until an injury has slowed him down, and big Ivan coming in with something to prove, and doing a darn good job recently. Amongst our best against the Magpies, it will be crucial that Maric matches it with Brogan, (and Lade if he comes in), both in the ruck and around the ground. Maric is a big guy with a natural aggressive streak, so he’ll become important if the game turns spiteful again.
Bernie Vince- The reigning Showdown medalist has come back to earth somewhat, after his career best performance against Richmond (30 possessions, 3 goals). BV (and his inverse VB) will once again be important against the Power. If he can find some run, he is a legitimate midfield goal kicking threat.
Simon Goodwin- The Captain has stopped kicking goals, but hes still plowing along in the midfield picking up touches. He needs a big game here, to set the example for the rest of the team. He’s a multiple time Showdown medalist, so he knows how to perform in these clashes, so hopefully he can find the Big sticks a few times.
Daniel Motlop- By far Port Adelaides most dangerous player this year, Motlop is either brilliant, or unseen. His best however is amongst the best in the league, hes kicked bags of some of the best goals you’ll ever see. If Port Adelaide are going to kick a winning score, he’ll need to be involved in a big way.
Dean Brogan- Looking likely for the Port best and fairest, Brogan adds a lot around the ground, and in the ruck. His hit on Luke Jericho last showdown fractured the smaller mans sternum, and it’s this sort of presence which makes him a player to watch.
Warren Tredrea vs Ben Rutten- He might be a shadow of the player he was, but for some reason, this duel never gets old to me.
Prediction-
Its hard to see either team kicking a big score. With Burton and Porpy out, the Crows will really struggle to kick a score. Against a good team, I wouldn’t come close to picking them right now. However, despite how bad things are at the Crows right now, the Power have it worse, with key players far out of form, and a habit of losing close games at home to teams they should have beaten.
It wont be a blow out, neither team is scoring freely enough for that, but I think Adelaide take out the victory. Adelaide by 18 points.
Round 16, Port Adelaide v Adelaide
AAMI Stadium, Sunday, June 20th, 2:40
Its hard to remember a more lackluster form line, with both teams limping into the game with a severe lack of form. Adelaide have come crashing to an almost standstill, after their early season form, losing their last four to stand at 8-7, whilst Port last tasted victory on the first day, Last years Grand Finalists standing at 4-11.
Still, despite all this, there should be no talk of this game meaning nothing. It’s a Showdown, and with the ledger now tied up at 12 each, there are big time bragging rights on the line. Some have stated that the rivalry is dying down numerous times over the past few years, but if the range of responses after Ports antics in the last game were anything to go by, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Recent Form-
Adelaide lost to Collingwood last week to make it four straight defeats. However, all have come against teams with legitimate finals claims, so its difficult to know whether this is a case of Adelaide completely imploding, or just coming back to earth after an unsustainable start to the season. Certainly, in that string of losses, three games were winnable.
Port have been disappointing for their fans this season, theres no two ways about it. The team that lost last years Grand Final (admittedly by a record margin), are now sitting in the bottom four, with only four wins for the year. They’ve lost five straight games, and a staggering 6 of 7 games they’ve played at AAMI thus far.
Changes-
Adelaide-
Is it time for the Ghost who Walks? Should Port Adelaide look behind them, cuz that’s where the Rangers gonna be? Will those boots Walk all over you? .... Ok, im all out of cheap puns. Still, no matter how many different ways I try to say it, ill still fall short of matching the amount of threads the Adelaide board has seen demanding that Taylor Walker gains selection after his stunning SANFL form. Each thread has been more enlightening than the last, and I truly feel that we’ve unlocked the great secret to fixing our forward line. Well, maybe not, but if (and its incredibily likely that he will) Tex misses selection again, I expect another round of outraged posters, tapping their keys in rebellious rejection of Neil Craig, and everything AFC.
Adelaide will have to make at least two changes, with arguably their two most important forwards out, Jason Porplyzia will miss with a shoulder problem, and Brett Burtons season appears to be over after tearing the ACL in his knee.
Andrew McLeod is a chance to resume this week however, and Adelaide would benefit from his extra run and carry, and he has a potential impact on how the Crows forward line shapes up Post-Burton, whether that’s playing up forward himself, or freeing up Johncock, a former leading Goal Kicker to do so.
Adelaide need forwards, and the most likely candidates are… wait for it… Ken McGregor, Nick Gill, and Luke Jericho. Craig has hinted that McGregor might not come in as a forward, but might play down back, freeing up probable AA CHB Nathan Bock to play as a forward. Gill is a potential forward target who slots into a similar role (though not even close to similar output as Burton, and Jericho simply adds another forward line option, having kicked something like 12 goals in his last 5 matches. I don’t think all three will come in, but with what you’ve seen from the Crows selection panel, its pretty hard to see the team named without at least one of them under the IN header.
Port Adelaide-
The only definite out for Port Adelaide is the injured Damon White. Its hard to predict the other changes. The always insightful posters of the Port Board are calling for the heads of Chad Cornes, both Burgoyne’s, Deluca, Westhoff amongst others. On face value, theres a good case for why any of those players should miss, but its not easy to predict the changes at Port, who have resisted the axe for a lot of the year, despite underperforming.
It seems the most popular choice for inclusion is the Crows fan favorite Matt Thomas, no comment.
Key Players-
Nathan Bock- Bock could play forward, he could play back. He’ll be a key player either way. As a forward he would give the Crows the tall target they so desperately need right now, and could go along way towards straightening the team up. However, if he stays back, where he plays his best football, he has been a crucial play maker for Adelaide, and will be important in setting up the run from the half back line.
Ivan Maric- Despite the doomsday predictions, the Crows have done well in the Ruck this year, with Griffin performing earlier in the year, until an injury has slowed him down, and big Ivan coming in with something to prove, and doing a darn good job recently. Amongst our best against the Magpies, it will be crucial that Maric matches it with Brogan, (and Lade if he comes in), both in the ruck and around the ground. Maric is a big guy with a natural aggressive streak, so he’ll become important if the game turns spiteful again.
Bernie Vince- The reigning Showdown medalist has come back to earth somewhat, after his career best performance against Richmond (30 possessions, 3 goals). BV (and his inverse VB) will once again be important against the Power. If he can find some run, he is a legitimate midfield goal kicking threat.
Simon Goodwin- The Captain has stopped kicking goals, but hes still plowing along in the midfield picking up touches. He needs a big game here, to set the example for the rest of the team. He’s a multiple time Showdown medalist, so he knows how to perform in these clashes, so hopefully he can find the Big sticks a few times.
Daniel Motlop- By far Port Adelaides most dangerous player this year, Motlop is either brilliant, or unseen. His best however is amongst the best in the league, hes kicked bags of some of the best goals you’ll ever see. If Port Adelaide are going to kick a winning score, he’ll need to be involved in a big way.
Dean Brogan- Looking likely for the Port best and fairest, Brogan adds a lot around the ground, and in the ruck. His hit on Luke Jericho last showdown fractured the smaller mans sternum, and it’s this sort of presence which makes him a player to watch.
Warren Tredrea vs Ben Rutten- He might be a shadow of the player he was, but for some reason, this duel never gets old to me.
Prediction-
Its hard to see either team kicking a big score. With Burton and Porpy out, the Crows will really struggle to kick a score. Against a good team, I wouldn’t come close to picking them right now. However, despite how bad things are at the Crows right now, the Power have it worse, with key players far out of form, and a habit of losing close games at home to teams they should have beaten.
It wont be a blow out, neither team is scoring freely enough for that, but I think Adelaide take out the victory. Adelaide by 18 points.
