Recent results against Hawthorn:
Round four, 2009, Port Adelaide 17.13 (115) d Hawthorn 12.13 (85), MCG
Round eight, 2008, Hawthorn 17.15 (117) d Port Adelaide 15.12 (102), Aurora
Round 20, 2007, Port Adelaide 12.15 (87) d Hawthorn 12.10 (82), Aurora
Round 10, 2007, Hawthorn 17.7 (109) d Port Adelaide 10.15 (75), AAMI Stadium
Round 11, 2006, Port Adelaide 22.13 (145) d Hawthorn 7.7 (49), AAMI Stadium
Medical room
Port Adelaide
Travis Boak (corked thigh) – available
Dean Brogan (corked thigh) – available
Josh Carr (flu) – available
Troy Chaplin (bruised shin) – available
Chad Cornes (bruised knee) – available
Tom Logan (flu) – available
Danny Meyer (wisdom teeth) – available
Jacob Surjan (corked calf) – available
Michael Pettigrew (hamstring tendonitis) – 1 week
Daniel Motlop (fractured ankle) – 4 weeks
Hawthorn
Garry Moss (knee) – test
Stuart Dew (hamstring) – 2-3 weeks
Mark Williams (knee) 4-5 weeks
Trent Croad (foot) – TBC
Tim Boyle (knee) – season
Rick Ladson (knee) – season
Mitch Thorp (foot/shoulder) – season
Clinton Young (hip) – season
Summary
If Port Adelaide is serious about playing finals in 2009 it must bounce back from a disappointing Showdown defeat with a win over Hawthorn on Sunday.
Top-eight contenders Carlton and Essendon are preparing for clashes with bottom-four sides and a loss to the Hawks could see the Power slip to a game and percentage out of ninth place with trips to Subiaco and the Gabba to come.
The much-hyped Showdown spirit was supposed to safeguard against a potential letdown on Sunday night, but unfortunately Port Adelaide was only able to ride the high for 10 minutes.
Top-eight contenders Carlton and Essendon are preparing for clashes with bottom-four sides and a loss to the Hawks could see the Power slip to a game and percentage out of ninth place with trips to Subiaco and the Gabba to come.
The much-hyped Showdown spirit was supposed to safeguard against a potential letdown on Sunday night, but unfortunately Port Adelaide was only able to ride the high for 10 minutes.
The Power kicked the opening two majors of the game, but conceded seven unanswered goals in the second term and watched as the Crows ran away with a 70-point win.
Coach Mark Williams lamented his side’s ability to win the 50-50 ball in Showdown XXVII and will demand a more committed effort against the Hawks.
Hawthorn and Geelong played out one of the games of the season in the grand final rematch at the MCG last weekend.
The Hawks, through Lance Franklin and Sam Mitchell, streaked to a 22-point lead at three-quarter time, but Geelong kept coming and a Jimmy Bartel point in the dying seconds snatched victory for the Cats.
Port Adelaide recorded one of its best home and away wins in history when it toppled the reigning premier at the MCG in round four, but it will face a completely different Hawthorn outfit this week.
The Hawks have got their act together over the past month and also need a win to keep their premiership defence in tact.
Key match-up
Troy Chaplin/Alipate Carlile v Lance Franklin
Franklin has found his mojo in the latter part of the season averaging 23 possessions and nearly five goals in each of his past three games. Chaplin and impressive young full-back Alipate Carlile restricted Franklin and Roughead to just three goals combined when the two sides met in round four and will need plenty of help to keep the in-form pair quiet on Sunday.
Kick it to me
Robbie Gray sparked Port Adelaide’s fast-start in Showdown XXVII kicking three first term goals to set up his side’s eight-point quarter time lead. The elusive forward bagged two majors against the Hawks in round four and amassed 20 possessions, 12 marks and two goals when the two sides met early last year. Gray provides the x-factor up forward in the absence of Daniel Motlop and will be looking for another big game against the reigning premier.
Somebody stop me
Luke Hodge has been another key player in the Hawks’ revival. Hodge, who played a key role in defence last year, has been re-assigned to the midfield with great effect. The gritty onballer averaged 27 touches a game between rounds 11 and 16, but was successfully shutdown by star Cats’ tagger Cameron Ling last week. Kane Cornes usually does the job on Hawthorn skipper Sam Mitchell when these two sides meet, but the Power would be foolish not to take a leaf out of Geelong’s book and assign someone the job on Hodge.
At the selection table
Only Daniel Motlop (ankle) and Michael Pettigrew (hamstring tendonitis) feature on the club’s official injury list, but there were a fair few absentees at training on Wednesday. Chad Cornes (finger/knee), Jacob Surjan (corked calf) and Troy Chaplin (bruised shin) were all restricted to light duties, while forward Brett Ebert came from the track after copping a kick to the leg.
Dean Brogan should return from a corked thigh and Nick Salter, who was dropped for the Showdown, will be knocking on the door after booting seven goals for Woodville-West Torrens. Port Adelaide is also keen to get gun recruit Hamish Hartlett back into the mix sooner rather than later.
It’s not generally known that...
Kane Cornes has held Sam Mitchell to 20 possessions or less twice in the past four hit-outs between the two sides. Cornes has also averaged 30 touches of his own in the process.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
