by Booney » Mon Apr 12, 2021 10:32 am
In what is fast becoming a genuine rivalry Port Adelaide and Richmond played out yet another enthralling contest at the Adelaide Oval. These sides bring out the best in each other with the last three head to head battles being some of the matches of the year in 2020 and now here, in 2021, nothing has changed with Port Adelaide holding on to win by just 2 points. The game was played as you would expect from two sides with premiership ambitions, hard, fast, pressure and skill all on display in what turned out to be a costly affair for Port Adelaide with several injuries coming from the match.
Early on it was the contested ball that Port Adelaide controlled. Under the pump after a dismal display against the West Coast midfield last week Port’s lead ruck Scott Lycett stepped up to the plate, along with evergreen Travis Boak and Ollie Wines ( averaging 30 touches, 15 contested, 5 tackles and 5 clearances a game in 2021 ) the inside ball and territory battle was controlled by Port for the first half and there’s little doubt the 7 point half time lead Port held was unders. Way unders. 7 more scoring shots and it had that feeling of opportunity missed. Richmond can and will make you pay for missing your chances.
With Port controlling the territory for much of the first half it was some Tiger class that kept them in the match. While Port Adelaide held the ground and continued to threaten it was several coast to coast goals where Richmond cut Port’s zone to shreds and Jack Reiwoldt with 3 first half goals benefited from the slick ball movement of his defence and midfield. Short, Broad and Houli were not only thwarting Port’s attacking forays they were producing the type of rebound football some of the games best running defenders are capable of producing. It was brilliant to watch for the neutrals, heart in the mouth stuff for those emotionally invested.
The second half played out much the same, if not a little more evenly in terms of the territory the ball was in. Houston snapped truly to bring Port back into reach after Costagna and Lycnh had goaled after the main break for the Tigers and when Rozee ( on one leg ) intercepted an errant Nankervis across the ground kick Port once again had a narrow lead. With the game in the balance Port’s leaders again stood tall, Boak, Wines and Hamish Hartlett who roosted one through the southern goals from the northern car park to set the ground alight. One of those genuine spine tingling moments to be a part of. Hartlett has been off the boil since missing round 1 and you could tell that he and the group were happy to have him back after that kick. What a roost it was!
At ¾ time the 11 point Port lead felt like it wasn’t enough, but it also felt like it was going to be hard to peg back as all champion sides do Richmond did indeed peg it back. No surprise that a Martin don’t argue was followed by a goal, the bloke is a freak. When there’s a moment needed by his team he simply Is. The. Man. Freak. But on the other side is another man who has been at the top of his game for 2 years on the “other side of” 30, Travis Boak. After Martin goaled Travis Boak won a centre clearance, doubled back on Martin ( whose defensive effort in this contest will be highlighted ) and took a handball back only to lace out young gun Mitch Georgiades who nailed the set shot from the top of the arc. When Aarts and the perennial Port Adelaide pest Kane Lambert goaled it felt like the Tigers were going to snatch another victory from Port Adelaide’s grasp.
Nope.
R.Gray. Robbie. Freaking. Gray! With just under 5 minutes to play Gray marks 40m out on a 45 degree angle and makes no mistake. Absolutely nailed the most clutch of clutch moments. I lost my shit. No bones about it. I’m thinking I’ll have some voice again by Friday. The next few minutes were a seesaw of emotions as Richmond pressed and Port took the blows. Late in the game Jonas, Wines and Drew all took important time consuming marks and Port Adelaide hold on in another thriller between two quality sides.
I’ve not mentioned one bloke until now, Xavier Duursma, he was clearly Port’s best last week and prior to going down injured his last quarter was exceptional. He along with Karl Amon stood tall several times in the last 30 minutes as did Dan Houston across half back, really pleasing to see 3 young players developing their games as they are.
With Durrsma set to miss 6 weeks or more with a knee, Butters to be sidelined for a similar time with an ankle and Rozee, Clurey and Lycett all finished with corkies it was a fantastic win at a significant cost. We’ve spoken about how our depth is as good as it’s been for some time, we’re about to find out who is going to step up.
Boon’s best – Wines, Boak, Butters, Lycett, Amon, Aliir.
PAFC. Forever.
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