Port Adelaide Power v Melbourne Demons: Which is the genuine AFL contender?

Mick Stirling

•
Port Adelaide Power v Melbourne Demons: Which is the genuine AFL contender? image

Port Adelaide takes on Melbourne on Friday night in what should be a great contest, but is it a battle between contenders or pretenders?

Both clubs have had moments of favouritism in footy pundits eyes, but are so far yet to deliver on the faith shown in them.

This year’s pre-season saw many ‘experts’ put the Demons as their surprise choice for premier, while the addition of Tom Rockliff, Jack Watts and Steven Motlop had others expecting great things from the Power.

MORE: Collingwood v Carlton: All you need to know | Jake Lloyd and Swans disagree on contract terms

After 12 games the two sides each sit on eight wins and four losses, and whoever takes the points tonight will be just one win (and possibly percentage) off top spot and considered a genuine flag contender, while the loser will still be surrounded by doubts and accusations of fragility.

So who will win and what actually separates these sides?

The midfielders.

Port Adelaide’s midfield is a hard-working unit. Ollie Wines is the bull, Tom Rockliff the amasser, Brad Ebert the rock and Robbie Gray the class. Then there’s the flash of Steven Motlop, the speed of Jared Polec and the brilliance of Chad Wingard when he gets a run on the ball.

There’s a bit more flash about Melbourne’s mids but the grunt shouldn’t be underestimated.

Jack Viney, Nathan Jones and Clayton Oliver love nothing more than being on the bottom of a pack, while Christian Salem, Angus Brayshaw and Dom Tyson receive and deliver. Then there’s the big-body of Christian Petracca, but does he do enough?



Which side takes the midfield points? As listed above they’re a very even mix of in-and-under types and outside runners, consistent performers and unreliable contributors, but the Power can also add Travis Boak and Sam Gray to the mix, giving them the edge around the ball.

The forwards.

Port Adelaide has the twin beards of Charlie Dixon and Justin Westhoff to look for when they head into attack. Melbourne has cleanskins Jesse Hogan and Tom McDonald.

Reputations may not have much between the two pairs of key forwards, but actually hitting the scoreboard is another thing altogether.

The Power duo has a total of 20 goals between them from a combined 24 games this year. The Demons have 56 from 19 outings (McDonald missed five games). That’s a big difference.

Melbourne’s small forwards are also hitting the scoreboard well with Alex Neal-Bullen (16 goals), Jake Melksham (14) , Mitch Hannan (13) and Bayley Fritsch (11) also getting amongst it.

Port Adelaide’s leading goalkickers so far in 2018 are actually Robbie Gray (19) and Sam Gray (18), with the next best Jack Watts (13) running around in the SANFL this weekend.



Goal scoring midfielders is not necessarily a negative, but the Demons get the prize for the stronger forward line.

The back half.

With names like Bernie Vince, Jordan Lewis, Neville Jetta and Michael Hibberd, Melbourne’s defence sounds impressive, but Port Adelaide’s less-sexy back six have been one of the tightest units in the league this year.

Riley Bonner, Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Clurey, Dougal Howard and Tom Jonas have been a no-nonsense unit shutting down some star-studded attacks and there’s no reason to think they can’t do it again on their own dungheap at Adelaide Oval.

The rucks.

Max Gawn v Paddy Ryder, two of the game’s leading big men who both do plenty around the ground.

Ryder’s not yet back to his best after missing rounds two to six with an Achilles issue, but he’s getting better each week and will give Gawn a run for his money.

At the end of the day though the big Demon is having a great season and will be the better of the two on Friday night.

So who wins?

Overall it’s a close one to call, but the game is still won and lost in the midfield and the Power has more depth in the guts.

Melbourne is an attacking unit but that might not work to their favour here. With Port getting most of its goals from the midfield the Demons need to shut them down coming out of the centre and it’s just not Melbourne’s preferred style of play.

Port Adelaide by 17 points.

Mick Stirling