Preview Round 16, 2018: Port Adelaide v St.Kilda - Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7th July, 4:05PM ACST

[George]

Previous Meetings:
Round 19, 2017 - Port Adelaide (9.9.63) defeated St.Kilda (8.13.61)
Round 1, 2016 - Port Adelaide (20.13.133) defeated St.Kilda (15.10.100)
Round 18, 2015 - Port Adelaide (17.10.112) defeated St.Kilda (6.13.49)
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Preview

Port Adelaide v St.Kilda

St.Kilda's season seems to be slowly getting back on track, with the Saints recording their 3rd win of the season and second in a row for the first time since rounds 15 & 16 last season. St.Kilda took the game on, played with real dare and were damaging inside 50 as they led Melbourne at one stage by a game high 28 points, however the Demons rallied late but ultimately fell short in what was a thrilling last two minutes and deserved victory for the men from Moorabbin.





A day earlier it was the Power who travelled to Melbourne to face Carlton at the MCG. Port spoiled Carlton's Kade Simpson's 300th game with a hard fought 21 point win, with the Blues challenging the Power on more than one occasion but the class of Port Adelaide getting them over the line in the end.


Let’s have a look at possible best 22s:

St.Kilda Best 22
B: Jarryn Geary, Nathan Brown, Dylan Roberton
HB: Shane Savage, Jake Carlisle, Jimmy Webster
C: Jack Sinclair, Jack Steele, Jack Newnes
HF: Blake Acres, Josh Bruce, Jack Billings
F: Jade Gresham, Paddy McCartin, Tim Membrey
Foll: Billy Longer, Seb Ross, Jack Steven
I/C: David Armitage, Koby Stevens, Sam Gilbert, Mav Weller

Port Adelaide Best 22
B: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Clurey, Tom Jonas
HB: Hamish Hartlett, Jack Hombsch, Matthew Broadbent
C: Steven Motlop, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec
HF: Travis Boak, Justin Westhoff, Chad Wingard
F: Sam Gray, Charlie Dixon, Robbie Gray
Foll: Paddy Ryder, Tom Rockliff, Brad Ebert
I/C: Jasper Pittard, Jack Watts, Karl Amon, Sam Powell-Pepper



Medical Room

A setback for the Saints, with key defender Nathan Brown leaving the field five minutes into the third quarter with a left hamstring injury that kept him out for the rest of the game.

For Port Adelaide Jasper Pittard left the game with his tracksuit on after being hampered by hamstring tightness. He's likely to be assessed during the week, having missed the majority of the second half due to the injury.





Preview

After a thrilling come from behind victory against the Suns, the Saints were fresh off of their bye week break and with a full head of steam took the game to Melbourne, coming from 19 points down early to go 28 up during the third quarter. It was a high scoring, fast paced game and the Demons nearly snatched it in the end, getting within 2 points with under a minute to play before St.Kilda iced the game through midfield star Jack Steven winning the centre clearance and locking up play until the final siren in what was surely the Saints best performance all year.

In a big win for the club it was livewire forward Jade Gresham who led the way, the damaging forward booting four majors to go with 19 disposals in a best on ground performance.


Others who stood up included midfielders David Armitage (26 disposals, 6 marks, 7 tackles, 1 goal), Jack Steele (20 disposals, 3 marks, 11 tackles, 1 goal) and Jack Steven (27 touches, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 1 goal). Sharpshooter Tim Membrey bagged four of his own for the winners.

On Saturday afternoon the Power arrived in Melbourne to take on the Blues in Kade Simpson's 300th game.

Port could never get the game on their terms, the Blues charging back strongly on two occasions and getting within a kick late in the 3rd quarter, however Port Adelaide's class around the ball proving too much for the lowly Blues to handle. It was the usual suspects who stepped up in the Powers win with Tom Rockliff, Chad Wingard, Travis Boak and Ollie Wines doing the damage, amassing 29, 24, 16 and 21 disposals respectively.

Port Adelaide started the season slowly but have worked their way into it and are in fine form leading into the back end of the year. Wins against Fremantle, Sydney, Brisbane, North Melbourne, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Richmond, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and Carlton see the Power sitting comfortably in 5th position - their only losses against Essendon, Geelong, West Coast and Hawthorn. It really does show that the Power must be taken seriously and are a genuine top four side.


Potential changes

St.Kilda defender Jimmy Webster looks set to return to the senior side this week and will be crucial to the Saints chances. Jimmy is having a career best season and will sure up the St.Kilda back line.

With St.Kilda's VFL affiliate Sandringham recording a big 55 point win over Port Melbourne on Saturday, ruckman Tom Hickey (34 possessions) and Josh Bruce (3 goals) could also be considered in Alan Richardson's side for Saturday.




Key Match-Ups

Robbie Gray & Port Adelaide's midfield
Dynamic midfielder/forward Robbie Gray will need a lot of work put into him by the Saints onball brigade if they are better their chances of leaving Adelaide Oval winners on Saturday afternoon. Gray is one of Port Adelaide's most dangerous players, evidence by his late goal in the Power's thrilling 2 point victory over the Saints at the same venue last season. Last weekend against Carlton, Gray finished with 13 disposals and 3 goals.

Westhoff & Dixon vs Carlisle & ???
We should all be aware by now of Port's potency front of centre, and the key forward duo of Justin Westhoff & Charlie Dixon will need to be quelled if the Saints are any chance. Defender Jake Carlisle will take one of the talls, but with Nathan Brown succumbing to a hamstring injury last weekend, who will take his place?


Tip

Port Adelaide have shown all year they are a genuine top four threat and their premiership credentials are hard to question.

St.Kilda had a great four quarter effort against Melbourne on Sunday afternoon in what was probably their best game of the year. However travelling to Adelaide to face a quality side in the Power may be too much for the Saints and whilst I think we will have a crack, ultimately they will be too good for us.


Power by 21 points.



Thoughts?​

 

[triggering bro]

Acres & Webster should be fit to play

 

[Grav]

Acres & Webster should be fit to play

Would Acres come straight back in?

 

[George]

Big game for the Power. We need to continue the momentum we've generated over the last two games. I'm sure many will remember what happened here against Port last year. I think we match up well with them, but we really do need Webster and Acres back. Maybe Bruce comes in although our forward setup has been working as of late. Hard to see where Brucey fits.

Brown probably will miss and think Joyce will have a spell in the two's again. Hopefully minimal changes regardless, can't flirt with form.

 

[bangerharvey]

Do we ever play Port or Adelaide at home??! I may be mistaken but I can't remember a home game v Port in the last 3-4 years.

 

[Yabadoo22]

Out:
Brown, rice, Joyce

In:
Goddard, webster, gilbert

Austin isn’t like for like for brown so it’s either Goddard, gilbert or Marshall for full back. Think it’s time to give Goddard a go.

B: geary Goddard webster
Hb: savage Carlisle McKenzie
C: Sinclair Steele Clark
Hf: Billings battle newnes
F: membrey McCartin Gresham
Foll: longer Ross Steven
Int: Gilbert dunstan armitage weller

Emer: Joyce, freeman, hickey, minchington

 

[King_Steele]

Out: Brown, Joyce, Weller & Longer
In: Austin, Webster, Acres & Hickey

Geary~Austin~Rice
Savage~Carlisle~Webster
Sinclair~Steele~Clark
Billings~Battle~Acres
Membrey~McCartin~Gresham
Hickey~Steven~Ross
McKenzie~Armitage~Dunstan~Newnes

Emg: Coffield~Marshall~Phillips~Gilbert

 

[cooperrules]

Would Acres come straight back in?

Yes for dunstan.

 

[triggering bro]

Would Acres come straight back in?

Hmmm. Prob not

 

[MUFKilda]

Very difficult game in Adelaide. Power to win, but Saints to give a good account of themselves, is my prediction. Port by thirty, Saints to maintain the intensity in performance.

 

[Magus]

Do we ever play Port or Adelaide at home??! I may be mistaken but I can't remember a home game v Port in the last 3-4 years.

2013 was the last time I reckon. We only seem to meet once a year for the last 5 or 6 years too. Very odd fixturing.

 

[Saintbloke]

PA have more leg speed than the Demons- hopefully Webster OK. Might be Austin or Gilbert for Brown

 

[Rors]

Out: Brown (inj.) Joyce Dunstan

In: Webster Austin Phillips

Luke comes out for Ed to add an extra run. The other 2 changes are pretty straight forward

 

[The Jack]

Fancy playing Port once this year. And fancy it being played in Adelaide. I'm gobsmacked.

 

[St Kilda Death]

Brown out, try Goddard?
Joyce for webster.

Can we bring in brucey?

 

[Jughead77]

I prefer we keep it simple,

Out: brown
In: webster

Would like to see barnaby get another game to show what he can do. First game in he was bound to slip up a little. Give him another go.

 

[George]

Preview's up

 

[MUFKilda]

What time is kick off in the UK?

 

[George]

What time is kick off in the UK?

7:35am

 

[MUFKilda]

7:35am

That's good, much better time than today!

 

[Saint Watto]

Do we ever play Port or Adelaide at home??! I may be mistaken but I can't remember a home game v Port in the last 3-4 years.

At a guess....reckon it was 2013.

 

[lewdogs]

Out: Longer Brown (inj)
In: Hickey Webster

Surely there's no way Longer can stay in the side given Hickeys VFL game? Hopefully Jimmy back in.

 

[Stewart66]

Out: Longer Brown (inj)
In: Hickey Webster

Surely there's no way Longer can stay in the side given Hickeys VFL game? Hopefully Jimmy back in.

Personally would prefer Out : Weller , Brown , Longer , Joyce

In : Austin , Marshall, Hickey , Webster

Won’t happen though unfortunately Richo already made comment pre game Acres will play VFL and
doesn’t change winning teams much in the past.

 

[tim_saints]

Tough game.... port off of a loss and we have to travel.. in saying that we ran the eagles to the last minutes of that game. Who knows I’m not expecting a win but we played well against them last year until some Ryder/Robbie gray brilliance.

 

[Indie Rock]

Tough game.... port off of a loss and we have to travel.. in saying that we ran the eagles to the last minutes of that game. Who knows I’m not expecting a win but we played well against them last year until some Ryder/Robbie gray brilliance.

Port beat the Blues, but it was by less than 4 goals so maybe counts as a loss?

Agree, don’t expect anything either but if we give as good an account if ourselves as we did last year then we will be a very good chance.