Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide
Saturday 8 August 2015
2:10pm, Etihad Stadium
Port Adelaide have enjoyed a consistent three-week period, kicking over 100 points in their last three matches.
With wins against St Kilda and Essendon the Power have kept their finals hopes alive, although they require a perfect final five rounds to make the eight.
The number one clearance team in the competition has been led by Travis Boak, Robbie Gray and Brad Ebert and their high-tackle game will create an interesting match-up with the Dogs.
Senior coach Ken Hinkley had this to say after his side’s win against the Saints in round 18, keeping their door to September action ajar.
"Our last month we've won three and lost one and we lost it by one kick, so we've been pretty competitive.
"We know we've given up scores the last couple of weeks and haven't been playing perfect football but sometimes you've just got to grind your way back into form.
"This side's doing what we said we'd do – we're not going to give up, we're going to keep trying as hard as we possibly can and we're going to grind away and see what happens."
The Power will however be without their young midfielder general Ollie Wines, after it was revealed on Wednesday he would undergo a shoulder reconstruction and miss the remainder of the season.
Wines collected 33-disposals, and was best on ground, when the Power and Bulldogs met in Round 10 at Adelaide Oval, with Port Adelaide kicking six goals-to-one in the final quarter to runout 38-point victors.
In the Saturday night encounter in early June, the Power’s straight kicking proved the difference, slotting 16.4 to the Bulldogs 9.8, while the Bulldogs won the contested ball (152-140), clearances (58-47), hitouts 70-58) and inside 50m (46-44) differential.
Port Adelaide were also more efficient by hand and foot going at 71.7% efficiency, with their high-pressure game forced the Bulldogs to go at 62.7%.
Port Adelaide Key Stats
- #1 in league for clearances (725)
- #1 in league for tackles (1245)
- #2 in league for stoppages (508)
- #3 in league for one percenters (822)
- #4 in league for rebound 50s (674)
- #4 in league for hit outs (849)
Players to Watch
Robbie Gray
Last year’s AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award winner has maintained his form in 2015. Gray is averaging 26 disposals, four tackles and 99 AFL Fantasy points per game. He is averaging over eight clearances a game, sitting second in the league behind Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe. The midfielder is forming a formidable combination with Travis Boak and Brad Ebert. Gray was influential in the Power’s earlier season win over the Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval, with 20 disposals.
Chad Wingard
Wingard seems to be able to do it all. Averaging 20 disposals, four marks and three tackles per match, he has one of the most rounded games in the competition. He currently sits fifth in the race for the Coleman Medal, averaging 2.5 goals per game. Wingard was amongst the Power’s best in the Round 10 match against the Bulldogs, kicking three goals and accumulating 23-dispsoals.
Head to Head
Western Bulldogs 11
Port Adelaide 13
Last time we met
Port Adelaide 16.4 (100) defeated Western Bulldogs 9.8 (62) at Adelaide Oval, round 10 2015
Port Adelaide last three games
R18 2015 – Port Adelaide 17.10 (112) defeated St Kilda 6.13 (49)
R17 2015 – Port Adelaide 20.9 (129) defeated Essendon 17.14 (116)
R16 2015 – Adelaide 18.8 (116) defeated Port Adelaide 17.11 (113)
