The area of Port Adelaide's game causing major concerns in their premiership bid

23/04/2024 04:33

Port Adelaide fell significantly against reigning premiers Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday, losing by 42 points despite holding a 51-22 lead during the second term.

The Power, despite being 4-2 on the season, continue to falter against the top teams, with both losses this season coming against fellow contenders (including Melbourne), off the back of a straight sets exit in the 2023 finals series.

With the club being touted as a premiership contender, their inability to get the job done against the elite has caused concern for Adelaide premiership captain Mark Bickley.

"Whilst it's not something that's obvious or glaring at first glance, they continually come up short against stiffer opposition," Bickley said on SEN SA Breakfast.

"That is somewhat concerning given their recent history in finals, including two losses last year (Brisbane and GWS), and consecutive home preliminary final losses in 2020 and 2021.

"The core is very much the same. (Travis) Boak, (Connor) Rozee, (Zak) Butters, (Dan) Houston, (Ollie) Wines, (Willem) Drew, (Sam) Powell-Pepper, (Charlie) Dixon, (Todd) Marshall, (Miles) Bergman, Aliir Aliir, (Darcy) Byrne-Jones and (Ryan) Burton."

The concern for Port Adelaide spawns from their contested battles against strong opposition, failing to top the contested numbers in several of their recent losses.

Through the first six games, the Power rank 15th in the AFL for contested possession with an average of 126 per game, rivalling the likes of West Coast (130), Richmond (124.8) and Fremantle (124.7).

"Port were smashed 120 to 161 in contested possessions (against Collingwood on the weekend)," Bickley added.

"That's a disastrous number.

"In their knockout loss to GWS last year, the contested possession was 125 to 144, and if you go back a bit further, their diabolical loss to the Bulldogs in their home preliminary final in 2021 it was 136 to 166.

"These numbers are pretty basic, and they are raw, but they do paint somewhat of a picture and a pattern as to where it goes wrong in the big games against the strong sides, and that is around the contest.

"For all the talk about Port Adelaide having the best midfield in the competition, it may be time for some introspection from Port's players and coaches as to how they go about it when they next get an opportunity."

With St Kilda and Adelaide to come, Port Adelaide will need to get their contested game right before heading to GMHBA Stadium to take on the unbeaten Geelong in Round 9.