by Booney » Mon Jun 23, 2025 10:36 am
As has been the case for far too long the opening minutes of the 19 point loss to Sydney at Adelaide Oval on Saturday told every Port Adelaide fan everything they wanted to know. Would we turn up? No, was the answer. Were we switched on for the contest? No, was the answer.
The widely held view that Port Adelaide play on emotion had another chapter added to the "You bet they do" series on the weekend as Sydney blitzed Port in the opening minutes. Both sides were deplorable by foot early on in perfect conditions but it was Port's ball use exiting our back half that may have been the worst display of this aspect of the game I have seen in years. 12 forward half intercepts for Sydney in the opening quarter, if not for their lack luster 1.6 on the back of that advantage the game would have been all over as Port not only failed to register a major but didn't actually look like getting one.
Only 6 days earlier the back half had held sway and the forward half produced 16 marks inside 50 from 48 entries, on Saturday from only 35 entries we took 19 marks inside 50, so where did it go wrong? Well, it went wrong for Port Adelaide going forward because it went so well for Sydney in defence. The zone Sydney laid out shifted from side to side as Port's run from the back half dried up. Sinn, Farrell, Burton and Burgoyne failed to generate any run into space as Sydney choked up the back half of their midfield and slowed down any exit from Ports D50. This led to long down the line kicks, repeated ball ins and ultimately Port's forward 50 entries were wide and shallow, hard to kick goals from out there.
On the flip side Temu Buddy at the other end was having a field day 40m from goal, 8 marks inside 50 on his own he had the opportunity to repeat his 9 goals heroics at Adelaide Oval as he did against Adelaide only to have a memorable day for all the wrong reasons. Spraying like a lactose intolerant punter at cheese fest he kick 0.6 and two on the full from 8 shots on goal. He'll take the win and the 4 points but he was one of the main culprits in leaving the door open for Port most of the day.
With Gulden, Mills, Papley and Amarety back into the line up Sydney's midfield strength grew and, despite the win over Melbourne last week Ports midfield isn't going well at all. Heeney had a field day, Mills avoided doing something stupid for a change and showed his worth, Blakey ran riot from half back and McInerney did as he pleased as Port's back line fell to pieces with the general, Aliir, on the sidelines injured. Found it easier to name Sydney's best than I did Ports.
It was probably season over pre-bye when Fremantle put us to the sword in the wet in Perth, a glimmer of hope v GWS before what looked to be 3 winnable home games before things get really tough.
With 5 of the top 6 to play before the end of 2025 it's time to start the Carr.
Boon's best - Butters, Rozee, Powell-Pepper
If you want to go quickly, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.
