Thursday night football is back on our TV screens tonight as the Port Adelaide Power are out to strengthen their grip inside the top eight as they host the Western Bulldogs at the Adelaide Oval. Whilst the odds are severely stacked against the Sons of the West, they'll be wanting to put in a decent contest, after having had a week off with the bye.
With the weather forecast to be pouring rain in the city of Adelaide tonight, the Bulldogs will have to find a strategy much different to the last time they were up in the city of churches. Against the Crows back in round nine, they could only kick two goals in over 120 minutes of footy. This was due to over-possessing the footy and of course, inability to put goals on the board when the game was in the balance.
Whilst the Dogs average just 68 points per game this season, Port's scoring record this year hasn't been much better, averaging 82 points per game, ranked just 13th in the competition. Last week's win over the Tigers at the Adelaide Oval was a great win and showed that they can match the teams above them. However, scoring will become a huge concern as the season progresses, because history has shown, premiership teams find ways to stop the opposition on the scoreboard, yet put up a decent number themselves.
History at the Adelaide Oval doesn't favour the Bulldogs at all. In their five outings at this stadium, they have only won once, that being the last time these two sides met at this particular venue in 2016. Aside from that, since 2013, each side has won three games each, so perhaps there may be some history favouring the visitors as they go into a massive game tonight.
Whilst sitting in the bottom five with just four wins from 11 games, this team still remains an outside chance of playing Finals. There is time to turn around this season, as unlikely as it sounds. It begins tonight at the Adelaide Oval. The Teams
Western Bulldogs
IN: Zaine Cordy, Mitch Wallis, Lukas Webb, Shane Biggs
OUT: Dale Morris (Knee), Matthew Suckling (Achilles), Tory Dickson (Hamstring), Jordan Roughead (Omitted)
B: Bailey Williams, Jackson Trengove, Ed Richards
HB: Hayden Crozier, Zaine Cordy, Easton Wood
C: Jason Johannisen, Lachie Hunter, Patrick Lipinski
HF: Caleb Daniel, Josh Schache, Mitch Wallis
F: Luke Dahlhaus, Marcus Bontempelli, Billy Gowers
FOL: Tom Boyd, Toby McLean, Jack Macrae
INT: Lukas Webb, Mitch Honeychurch, Shane Biggs, Roarke Smith
EMG: Lewis Young, Josh Dunkley, Jordan Roughead, Lin Jong
The Western Bulldogs have made four changes to the side that lost out to Melbourne , with three of those being forced changes. Dale Morris, after playing his first game of 2018 in round 11, injured his knee earlier in the week and will require minor surgery, forcing him to miss at least another four weeks of footy. Tory Dickson strained his hamstring for the second time this season and will miss the next six weeks. An achilles complaint will keep Matthew Suckling out of this match, whilst Jordan Roughead has been omitted. Zaine Cordy returns after missing the match with Melbourne game with concussion and has been a very important player in defence this season. Mitch Wallis returns after a couple of solid games in the VFL, as does premiership player Shane Biggs who had a good last outing in the VFL, whilst Lukas Webb comes back into the side as well.
Port Adelaide
IN: Jack Hombsch, Todd Marshall, Lindsay Thomas
OUT: Tom Jonas (Hamstring), Jake Neade, Jack Watts (Both Omitted)
B: Riley Bonner, Jack Hombsch, Dan Houston
HB: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Clurey, Jasper Pittard
C: Steven Motlop, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec
HF: Travis Boak, Justin Westhoff, Chad Wingard
F: Sam Gray, Charlie Dixon, Robbie Gray
FOL: Paddy Ryder, Tom Rockliff, Brad Ebert
INT: Dougal Howard, Todd Marshall, Sam Powell-Pepper, Lindsay Thomas
EMG: Karl Amon, Jimmy Toumpas, Jack Trengove, Aidyn Johnson Port have made three changes to the side that beat Richmond last Friday night. With the big omission being in-form defender Tom Jonas, who misses with a hamstring complaint, and Jack Watts, who is dropped after an ordinary game against the Tigers that saw him register just the 12 touches. In addition, he has only kicked six goals in his last seven games after a strong start to his career at Port Adelaide. Jake Neade also makes way.
They will welcome back Todd Marshall for his first game since round four. Since that game, Marshall had taken compassionate leave due to the passing of his father and has also suffered a shoulder injury at SANFL level which has delayed such a good start to his year, kicking nine goals in the opening four games for the Power this year. Lindsay Thomas comes back into the side after being sensationally hit with a four-match suspension for his hit on Scott Selwood in his first game in Port colours, whilst Jack Hombsch will come in to replace the injured Jonas. Recent History (Last 10 Matches)
Round 22, 2017 – Mars Stadium: Western Bulldogs 11.13.79 def by Port Adelaide 14.12.96 Round 12, 2016 – Adelaide Oval: Port Adelaide 14.13.97 def by Western Bulldogs 15.10.100
Round 19, 2015 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 19.14.128 def Port Adelaide 9.10.64
Round 10, 2015 – Adelaide Oval: Port Adelaide 16.4.100 def Western Bulldogs 9.8.62
Round 14, 2014 – Adelaide Oval: Port Adelaide 19.14.128 def Western Bulldogs 8.8.56
Round 10, 2013 – TIO Stadium: Western Bulldogs 10.7.67 def Port Adelaide 8.10.58
Round 12, 2012 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 13.17.95 def Port Adelaide 8.9.57
Round 22, 2011 – AAMI Stadium: Port Adelaide 15.7.97 def by Western Bulldogs 24.13.157
Round 16, 2010 – TIO Stadium: Western Bulldogs 12.11.83 def Port Adelaide 7.5.47
Round 12, 2009 – TIO Stadium: Western Bulldogs 21.11.137 def Port Adelaide 7.2.44
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs
Jackson Trengove
A huge night sentimentally for the ex-Port big man Jackson Trengove as he saddles up for his first meeting against his old side. Trengove played for the Power for eight seasons and featured in 153 games between 2010-17. After missing the last four games for the Power, including the Elimination Final, he signed with the Dogs via free agency and whilst injuries have made him miss seven games this season, he has shown over the past few weeks, why he was an important member of Port's team for so long. Has a big match-up on Charlie Dixon awaiting him tonight - favoured to take the chocolates in atrocious conditions. Hayden Crozier
Whilst I have been impressed with what Trengove has done so far, one recruit that has yet to impress so far this year is the former Docker Hayden Crozier, who has played seven games for the Dogs and has done very minimal in his games so far this year. Perhaps a little harsh considering that he missed five weeks earlier in the season with a knee injury, but he hasn't been able to make an impact on the side so far. Had 17 disposals and five rebound 50s in the loss against Melbourne in round 12, maybe a sign that he's settling into a new-look Bulldog defence – He needs a big game tonight.
Port Adelaide
Ollie Wines Out-of-contract at the end of 2018, Ollie Wines has not let that fact distract him from having a great season. 29 disposals, 12 tackles, 10 inside 50s and seven clearances against the champs last week and is putting together another fine year, averaging 26 disposals, six clearances, five tackles and three inside 50s. Has good history against the Bulldogs and will have to be one to stop if the visitors are to have their way with the Power tonight. Averages 27 touches, eight clearances and nearly six tackles per game against the red, white and blues.
Sam Gray
Keeps on being one Port Adelaide player that gets overlooked in this team, and is continuing to have a solid season playing up forward. Kicked 28.28 in season 2017 and is well on track to beat it this year, kicking 17.11 so far in 11 games. In addition, he also averages 16 disposals, four marks, three tackles and three inside 50s per game. In a game where small forwards are more likely to cause damage up forward, this man, along with his namesake Robbie Gray, are the two most dangerous small forwards that the defence must stop tonight.
Final Verdict
If we are basing it on the last time these two sides met in Ballarat, the Bulldogs are a good chance to snatch a victory here, but their form over the past month hasn't been the most pleasant, and they will need to bring everything to the table here against a Port Adelaide side playing for a spot in this year's Finals Series. Unfortunately, I cannot see this team toppling the Power over in Adelaide. The Dogs haven't been able to show a consistent four-quarter performance at all this season and even with a week's rest, they will be struggling in the wet against Port.
If they are to pull off an upset, the midfield is where it must be won. Paddy Ryder will dominate in the hitouts with Tom Boyd shouldering the ruck duties. But it’s the midfielders that must be quelled. They are the number one clearance team in the competition averaging nearly 42 per game. Travis Boak got the three votes last time they met, Brad Ebert has been solid this season and Tom Rockliff is just starting to find the form that he is capable of. The Dogs will need to be at their best if they are to cause an upset.
Port Adelaide By 27 Points
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