No motivation is required for a Showdown, but with a place in the finals on the line, the stakes are high as Port and the Crows prepare for another battle
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Recent results against Port Adelaide:
Round six, 2009, Port Adelaide 15.15 (105) d Adelaide 12.7 (79), AAMI Stadium
Round 16, 2008, Port Adelaide 13.14 (92) d Adelaide 11.14 (80), AAMI Stadium
Round three, 2008, Adelaide 12.13 (85) d Port Adelaide 11.13 (79), AAMI Stadium
Round 18, 2007, Adelaide 9.19 (73) d Port Adelaide 10.5 (65), AAMI Stadium
Round three, 2007, Adelaide 13.9 (87) d Port Adelaide 8.15 (63), AAMI Stadium
Medical room
Adelaide
Nathan van Berlo (ill) – test
Patrick Dangerfield (head knock) – available
Robert Shirley (ill) – test
Tyson Edwards (hamstring) - 1 week
David Mackay (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks
Nick Gill (ankle) - 3-4 weeks
Shaun McKernan (arm) - 4-5 weeks
Brad Moran (knee) – indefinite
James Moss (hip) – indefinite
Chris Schmidt (shoulder) – season
Port Adelaide
Shaun Burgoyne (knee) – test
Hamish Hartlett (hamstring) – test
Daniel Motlop (ankle) – 5 weeks
Summary The in-form Crows flew to Melbourne quietly confident of causing an upset against St Kilda, but returned home with their pride pricked and the knowledge they’re still a fair way off the best team in the competition.
Adelaide stayed in the contest until quarter time, but crumbled under the Saints’ relentless pressure in the second term and lost the confidence to play the attacking brand of football that’s become a trademark over the past eight weeks.
The loss was compounded by a hamstring injury to promising young midfielder David Mackay.
Port Adelaide continued its up and down season on the weekend responding to a shocking effort against former bottom side Melbourne in round 15 with a comfortable win over West Coast.
The news was also better for the Power on the injury front with vice-captain Shaun Burgoyne expected to return from a 14-week lay-off with a knee injury.
The Crows lacked overall intensity in one of the less memorable Showdowns in recent times at AAMI Stadium in round six.
Adelaide kicked the first two goals of the game but watched the lead evaporate after quarter time before succumbing by 26 points.
Both teams have a lot on the line in Balfours Showdown XXVII.
The Power must win to keep in touch with the top eight, while the Crows need to restore some confidence ahead of games against finals fancies Geelong, Collingwood and Hawthorn.
Key match-up
Ben Rutten v Warren Tredrea
Rutten had a rare bad day out against a rejuvenated Tredrea earlier this year. Tredrea kicked three first-half goals to set-up the Power win and could have easily finished with a bigger return if not for some inaccurate kicking. Rutten’s task was made all the more difficult by the lack of pressure on the Port Adelaide ball carriers.
Truck did a superb job in restricting Saints’ big man Justin Koschitzke to a solitary goal last week before being moved onto the dangerous Nick Riewoldt and will be an integral part of Adelaide’s defence on Sunday.
Kick it to me
Adelaide was soundly beaten in clearances (42-22) and contested possession (117-102) when the two sides met in round six and the club will look to Scott Thompson to lead the turnaround in these areas on Sunday. Thompson managed just two clearances against St Kilda last weekend, but is traditionally one of Adelaide’s best in-and-under performers and will need to match the likes of Power skipper Dom Cassisi in order for the Crows to snap a two-game Showdown losing streak.
Somebody stop me
Danyle Pearce has been a barometer for Port Adelaide in 2009. The lightning quick onballer has averaged 26 possessions in each of the club’s wins this season, but when opposition teams have managed to shut him down the Power have, more often than not, lost. The likely return of Shaun Burgoyne might take some of the focus off Pearce, but he and Rodan are two genuine match-winners in the Port Adelaide line-up and can’t be overlooked.
At the selection table
Nathan van Berlo and Rob Shirley should return to improve Adelaide’s defensive game, but midfield duo Tyson Edwards and Mackay will miss with hamstring complaints.
First-round draft pick Phil Davis continues to impress in the SANFL and the Crows could shuffle the line-up to include the promising forward/defender.
Davis’ North Adelaide teammates Tony Armstrong and Rory Sloane are also in good form and will get a look-in at AFL level sooner rather than later.
It’s not generally known that...
Tyson Edwards has not missed a Showdown since round 21, 1999. The durable veteran has played in 23 games against Port Adelaide second at the club only to Andrew McLeod (25).
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
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