The unexpected Power loss has triggered the removal of coach Matthew Primus and the resignation of President Brett Duncanson. Now, former Geelong player Garry Hocking has been instilled as the interim coach for the remainder of the season making Port Adelaide an unpredictable force.

History shows that teams replacing their coach mid-season come out firing the next week and often record wins against their next opponent - and this weekend, the Hawks face the challenge of quelling the Power.

Looking ahead

It is hard to know exactly what to expect from Port Adelaide on Sunday given the turmoil the club has faced since their loss to the Giants, but what the football world does know is that the Power players will throw everything they have at the Hawks.

With Port Adelaide players keen to impress caretaker coach Hocking, a hotly contested opening quarter is expected on Sunday in Launceston. Despite the Power sitting in 14th place on the AFL ladder their contested possession and defensive set up don’t reflect their ladder position.

Often, sides sitting in the bottom half of the ladder concede big scores week in, week out, but that isn’t true of Port Adelaide. The Power has conceded less points to opposition teams that seventh placed North Melbourne (1751), and just 51 points more than the Bombers in eighth (1628). The Power has conceded 1677 points in their 18 matches this season - an average of 93 points per game.

The Power possess two sturdy defenders - Troy Chaplin and Alipate Carlisle who are able to hold their own in one-on-one situations against the competition’s best forwards. Against the AFL’s best forwards, the duo have an impressive record.

Nick Riewoldt booted just two goals in Round 1, Michael Hurley one, Adam Goodes two, Kurt Tippett one, Tom Hawkins two and Matthew Pavlich two. The biggest haul of goals this season against the Power pair is six goals by Adelaide’s Taylor Walker in Round 5.

When considering Port Adelaide’s ability to restrict the scoring of its opposition, the key for the Power to prevail over the Hawks would be to keep the game low scoring. In order to do that, the intensity of all Port Adelaide players must be at its peak, attacking the player and the ball.

Brad Ebert sets the benchmark for the Power in terms of tackling pressure, averaging six tackles per match. Captain Dominic Cassisi isn’t far behind with five along with young gun Hamish Hartlett. 

Their caretaker coach, Hocking was a robust and hard at it player for the Cats, and he will expect nothing less from his players in the final four rounds of the season. To Hocking’s advantage is the fact that the Power already average 139 contested possessions per match. Interestingly, that is just five less than the Hawks.

Midfielders Travis Boak (10), Hamish Hartlett, Brad Ebert (nine) and Matthew Broadbent (eight) are the best at the Power in this area. Compare that with Hawthorn hard men Sam Mitchell (13), Brad Sewell (12), Jarryd Roughead (10) and Cyril Rioli (nine), there isn’t much difference between the two sides in this area.

The Power also average just two less clearances than the Hawks with 38, meaning the battle in the midfield is key given the Power’s weakness is arguably in their forward half. If Port Adelaide can win their fair share of the football and set up Jay Schulz one-on-one up forward, a battle will be on.

Brad Sewell was best on ground for the Hawks in the Round 11 match for his shut down role on Hartlett as well as his ability to gather 33 disposals. Coach Alastair Clarkson could opt to send Sewell to Hartlett again on Sunday.

The Hawks will also need to pay close attention to Danyle Pearce - a key playmaker for the Power. Pearce’s sublime foot skills set up the Power when he’s given space, perhaps a role for speedster Isaac Smith could beckon. Of course, the Hawks will be without midfielder Liam Shiels through suspension - the man that did the job on Pearce in Round 11.


David Hale: “Around the ball they’ve got a few good midfielders, and if we’re not pressuring them and instead allowing them to have good access forward they’ve got some good key forwards in Justin Westhoff and Jay Schulz.

“If we turn up and play the way we should play, we think we can match it with anyone - that’s the main thing for us.”


Christie on twitter: “I would love to see them come out firing because I love seeing our boys show them we are the best! Don't want too easy a game.”

Chris on twitter: “We cannot take them lightly, in saying that though, we will be out to (show) no mercy and no sorrow for the Port boys.”






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