What to Expect
Port Adelaide will be desperate to replicate the hard and fast form that earnt them their first win of the season, as they take on the Hawks on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.
After trailing deep into the final quarter against North Melbourne, late goals to Aaron Young and Kane Mitchell saw the Power snatch a thrilling eight-point victory, with an improved contested- ball performance critical in getting them over the line.
“Its been a challenging start, but really pleasing that we were able to hang on tough in the last quarter, and win the battle of the inside stuff that we really set ourselves for this week.” Coach Ken Hinkley said post-match
“Tonight the boys, to their credit, the one thing they wanted to do is make sure is they were hard enough when it counted.”
Hinkley confident that his side’s tough start to the season will have them well and truly prepared for what lies head, as they now face the reigning premiers for the first time since last year’s preliminary final loss.
“The last three weeks have been pretty brutal…so our boys have been put through the ringer a little bit early, but that’s going to hold them in really good stead though, that’s going to make them stronger and harder and ready to play,”
Midfielder Hamish Hartlett is also looking forward to taking on the side that denied Port Adelaide a birth in last year’s grand final by just three points.
“It is a great challenge for us, we got pretty close to them last year in the prelim, so that will spur us on to play just as well as we did in that game,” he told media on Monday.
Players to watch
Brad Ebert has continued his strong start to 2015, with three goals and 22 disposals at 86.4% efficiency against the Kangaroos. Averaging almost 28 disposals over the opening three rounds, Ebert’s ability in the clinches will be vital to their chances against the Hawks.
Key midfield duo Travis Boak and Hamish Hartlett were also amongst the Power’s best, with Matthew Broadbent and Jasper Pittard influential off half-back as they found plenty of the ball.
Port key defender Jack Hombsch kept Jarrad Waite goalless after booting seven goals in Round 2, and may well be sent to Hawks spearhead Jarryd Roughead, who matched Waite’s haul against the Bulldogs.
Possible Changes
Port’s match committee will be forced to find a replacement for Ollie Wines, with the hard-nosed on-baller set for a four to five week stint on the sidelines after dislocating his wrist against the Kangaroos.
Matt White will also be in doubt after rolling an ankle in their first win for the season, while veteran Kane Cornes is more than likely to take on the Hawks after Ken Hinkley all but guaranteed his return.
“We left Kane out of the side, basically managing him through the season. Now we get an opportunity to put Kane back out there next week fresh at his age and stage. That’s a positive for us.”
Port is also hopeful of Matthew Lobbe’s return, but won’t risk the ruckman unless fully recovered from a quad injury.
Meanwhile, Paul Stewart, Cam O’Shea and Sam Colquhoun and Andrew Moore all impressed in the SANFL and will be under consideration to be included for Round 4.
