AFL Port Adelaide v Kangaroos

[pico]

i am taking port adelaide -18.5

damn, i feel like i am the only one on this forum betting on afl. any aussies out there?

Match preview: Port Adelaide v Kangaroos

AAP
Thursday, 20th September, 2007 8:52:00 a
Where and when: AAMI Stadium, Friday September 22, 4:30pm.

Head to head: Port Adelaide four wins, Kangaroos 13 wins.

Last time: Port Adelaide 17.20 (122) d Kangaroos 15.14 (104), round 2, 2007, at AAMI Stadium.

SUMMARY

Think back to your pre-season predictions – if you dare – and check where you placed the Kangaroos and the Power. Top eight? Maybe one of them. Top four? Not a chance. Somewhere down below West Coast, Sydney and St Kilda you’ll most likely have left these teams, but boy, haven’t they proven the football world wrong.

In particular, the Kangaroos have been a revelation this season. They still lack respect in some quarters as far as being a premiership contender, but the facts speak for themselves: they’re just two matches from a fifth flag. It’s a remarkable achievement, one made even more amazing when you consider the belting they copped at the hands of the Cats two weeks ago.

As for Port, save for a mid-season blip they’ve had a brilliant season. To finish second in what should have been year two of a multi-year rebuilding plan speaks volumes about the master coach Mark Williams and his ability to get the best out of his players. However, rebuilding plan or not, he won’t be satisfied until he’s hoisting the premiership cup.

MEDICAL ROOM

POWER
Nathan Batsanis (groin) – season
Alex Lee (shoulder) – season
Hugh Minson (foot) – season
Nick Lower (hamstring) - 1 week
Damon White (knee) - 1 week

KANGAROOS
Nathan Thompson (knee) – possible
Corey Jones (foot) - season

STRENGTHS

POWER: Port have something in abundance that other clubs seem to have in small quantities – pace and execution. They’ve got so many players capable of running other teams off their feet, and it’s enabled them to win games many thought they wouldn’t. The Kangaroos, whilst not slow, could struggle to keep up, particularly as the match wears on.

KANGAROOS: When all hope is lost, or seems to be lost, you can count on the Kangaroos digging deep and finding something. Their monumental effort to claw back from a shocker against the Cats and roll the Hawks was something to behold, and it’s got to say something about the type of stuff this team is made of. And their dominance in the head-to-head count against the Power is significant.

WEAKNESSES

POWER: There are very few chinks in the Power armour, but their lack of a gun forward capable of breaking the game open could be a problem if the Roos begin to get on top of the contest. Anthony Rocca did it for Collingwood last week at the crunch moment, even if he didn’t get that much of the ball. Warren Tredrea isn’t quite the player he used to be, Justin Westhoff is still raw and Toby Thurstans might need to be deployed in defence.

KANGAROOS: It’s never a nice thing to point out a team’s inadequacies, but the Kangaroos had their shortcomings brutally exposed in a very public display two weeks ago. It was on show for all to see that day, and coach Dean Laidley won’t want to be reminded. They looked clueless, directionless and incapable of executing. The reason? Pressure, pressure and more pressure. They exerted it on Hawthorn last week, and stayed alive, but Port will up the ante yet again.

GAMEBREAKER

POWER: Peter Burgoyne

Little brother Shaun threatened to steal the limelight earlier in the season after a blistering start, but Peter Burgoyne has continually raised his game whenever coach Mark Williams has called for it. He topped the possession count for Port against West Coast, and when someone uses it as well as he does, he’s a genuine midfield weapon.

KANGAROOS: Daniel Wells

Last week’s 28 touches marked one of Wells’ best games in the blue and white. Some questions linger over whether he can do it at again, but if he can the Roos will be an infinitely better side. A match-winning showing this week would cement his reputation as one of the game’s most creative and important players.

X-FACTOR

David Rodan: POWER

He didn’t get to experience September action of any kind at Punt Road, so you can bet that with his first finals game out of the way a fortnight ago, Rodan will be desperate to stamp his authority on such a big game. Josh Mahoney performed similar heroics for the Power not long ago after a similar rise from obscurity, and Rodan could be primed to do the same.

[bigboydan]

I went with the Kangaroos in this game Pico.

[pico]

133-46, port adelaide won big.

[pico]

now geelong cats is going to face port adelaide next week. think i am putting my money on port adelaide ml. i think the spread will be small...taking the spread if it is between ml and -12pts for port adelaide. taking the ml if it is smaller than +12.

[pico]

Power bound for Grand Final after belting Roos

Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network
Saturday, 22nd September, 2007 5:03:00 p
PORT Adelaide smashed the Kangaroos in the second preliminary final at AAMI Stadium this evening, running out winners by a massive 87 points.

The Power turned a 32-point lead at the long break into a huge advantage at the final change after they outscored the Roos eight goals to one in the third term. The match petered out in the final quarter, the home side eventually running out convincing 20. 13 (133) to 5. 16 (46) winners.

Earlier in the day, Daniel Motlop kicked the first of the match from point blank range in a sign of things to come. He was shirt-fronted by Glenn Archer after marking 25m from goal and was awarded a soft 50m penalty.

Shannon Grant replied for the Roos with a great running left-foot snap soon after, but Kane Cornes then kicked the Power’s second. When David Rodan played on and goaled after marking a floating kick close to goal, Port Adelaide led by 11 points.

The Roos stayed in touch when Grant snapped truly again under pressure while tucked deep in the right forward pocket and Aaron Edwards lodged his first major to give his side the lead for the first and only time.

Motlop ensured the advantage was short lived, kicking his second, and late goals from Danyle Pearce and Travis Boak gave the Power a 6. 0 (36) to 3. 2 (20) lead at the first change.

The Roos missed some opportunities early in the second term when a long Brent Harvey effort was touched on the line, Aaron Edwards missed a kickable chance from 35m out and Daniel Wells hit the post.

Ebert made the visitors pay with a classy snapped goal from a tight angle after nine minutes as the Roos’ inaccuracy continued.

Rodan then lodged his second and Motlop evaded Josh Gibson for his third to open up a 30-point lead and things were looking grim for the blue and white.

The rest of the quarter was played on the Power’s terms, but the Roos managed to stem the flow of goals, and the home team led 9. 3 (57) to 3. 7 (25) at the long break.

In the third quarter the Power stamped their authority on the game. Steve Salopek kicked the first of the term, Ebert kicked two straight and veteran Warren Tredrea chimed in with his first to put the home side out by 59 points.

Tom Logan made things even worse for the Roos with his first after 13 minutes and Tredrea’s successful right-foot snap a minute later was followed by an extravagant bow to the Power fans.

A miss by Aaron Edwards from a set shot only 10-metres out and Jess Smith hitting the behind post from 40m summed up the day for the Roos.

Meanwhile, Tredrea’s third for the quarter at the other end enabled Port Adelaide to rattle up the ton and a 77-point lead.

With one minute to go in the term, Harris ended a 70-minute drought with his first goal, his team’s first since the 18-minute mark of the first quarter.

But Chad Cornes finished the term with his first of the day and his side’s eighth of the quarter. At the final change the Power led 17. 10 (112) to 4. 10 (34).

The Roos tried hard to regain some respect in the final term, Ed Lower kicking the first goal of the quarter, but Logan regained the momentum for the Power with his second after 14 minutes.

Goals to Justin Westhoff and Salopek’s second capped the resounding victory for Port Adelaide and secured its second Grand Final berth.

Probably the only negative point for the Power was veteran Michael Wilson snapping his achilles, perhaps ending the 30-year-old’s career and certainly his season.

Retiring Shinboner Glenn Archer tried his heart out for the Roos in his last game, recording 17 possessions, and skipper Adam Simpson had 25 touches.

The Power has plenty of stand-outs – Pearce took 25 possessions and Trop Chaplin was impressive with 30 touches.