Port Adelaide’s recent form: WWLWL

Recent results against Richmond
Round 13, 2008: Richmond 20.7 (127) d Port Adelaide 19.9 (123), AAMI
Round 16, 2007: Port Adelaide 24.11 (155) d Richmond 15.10 (100), MCG
Round seven, 2007: Port Adelaide 16.19 (115) d Richmond 10.15 (75), AAMI
Round 14, 2006: Richmond 14.8 (92) d Port Adelaide 6.18 (54), AAMI
Round 17, 2005: Port Adelaide 14.12 (96) d Richmond 12. 11 (83), AAMI

Medical room          
Port Adelaide
Josh Carr (hip) - 1 week
Hamish Hartlett (hamstring) - test
Toby Thurstans (hamstring) - test
Kane Cornes (AC joint) - test
Steve Salopek (dislocated shoulder) - 1-3 weeks
Justin Westhoff (foot) - 3-4 weeks
Shaun Burgoyne (knee) - 4 weeks
Nick Salter (knee) - 3-4 weeks
Jarrad Redden (ankle) - 2 weeks

Richmond
Nathan Brown (groin) - test
Kane Johnson (knee) - 2 weeks
Alex Rance (fractured cheekbone) - 2-3 weeks
Matthew Richardson (hamstring) - indefinite

Summary
It was a tale of two halves for both sides last week.

Port Adelaide, minus injured stars Kane Cornes and Steve Salopek, recovered from five goals down at half time against North Melbourne to fall just one straight kick short of stealing an unlikely win.

Veteran Warren Tredrea climbed to equal sixth on the AFL goalkicking ladder with another bag of three and Dom Cassisi played his best game as skipper finishing with 27 possessions (11 contested) and a game-high 12 tackles.

Richmond’s performance against the Brisbane Lions was a mirror image of the Power’s game across the road at Docklands.

The Tigers led by five goals partway through the second term but crumbled to hand the Lions a comfortable 26-point win.

Port Adelaide showcased its potential as one of the most dangerous teams in the league with four goals in five minutes to send a scare through the Kangaroos’ camp in the dying stages.

But the game needn’t have gone down to the wire. The Power booted an inaccurate 2.5 in the defining second quarter while the Roos added seven goals straight.

While Sunday’s game is fourth v 15th, Port Adelaide proved last week that three competitive quarters of football is simply not enough to beat anyone in this cut-throat competition.

Key match-up
Peter Burgoyne v Ben Cousins
It may not eventuate, but it would be brilliant to see the two veteran match winners go head-to head at some stage on Sunday. Burgoyne had an innocuous 14 possessions against the Roos and will be looking to recapture his stellar early-season form. Cousins was impressive, despite playing limited game time in his return from injury and will be out to create some better memories than those of his last game here in SA.

Kick it to me    
Travis Boak continued his rise to elite midfielder status with another impressive game against North Melbourne. The mature 20-year-old gathered 27 possessions, five inside 50s and two goals. He also worked hard the other way putting on 10 tackles. Opposition teams have singled out Peter Burgoyne and Danyle Pearce for close attention this season, allowing Boak to quietly go about his business.

Somebody stop me
Nathan Foley did his best to pull Richmond out of its downward spiral last week, racking up 31 possessions, seven clearances and laying six tackles. Coach Mark Williams is unlikely to have the luxury of supper-stopper Kane Cornes at his disposal this week and will need to find another match-up for both Foley and the dynamic Brett Deledio.

At the selection table
Kane Cornes (sprained AC joint) maintains he’s a chance of playing this week, but it’s possible Port Adelaide will need to cover the loss of both he and Salopek at the selection table on Thursday.

Promising first-year player Hamish Hartlett, who missed the loss to North Melbourne with hamstring tightness, should be available to fill the vacant spot across half-back and Nick Lower and Marlon Motlop also remain around the mark.

It’s not generally known that...
Kane Cornes has not missed a game since round 17, 2003 - that’s 134 games straight.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.