Summary
This one was over ten minutes into the first quarter, making it tricky to draw major conclusions from. However, it is uncontroversial to recognise that these are two sides at very different stages of their development. The Power are once again in the mix for a flag. The Bombers are just looking for some respite from their run of injuries to show there could be green shoots in Ben Rutten’s solo tenure.
The match continued the free-scoring, open, attacking start to the season. Port Adelaide were thrilling launching attacks from defence, time and again linking chains of play down both flanks before hitting a forward on the lead. Dixon was a forceful presence for his 4.2, Georgiades more mobile for his 4.0. Around them Motlop, Ladhams and Fantasia all bagged braces, the latter the subject of much focus against his former side
In midfield Butters, Wines, and Boak were everywhere, while further back Aliir’s intercept marking complemented the Power’s rebounding gameplan to perfection.
By contrast, little went right for Essendon. Undermanned from the outset they lost three players to injury during the contest, Caldwell to a hamstring, Draper to a rolled ankle, and of most concern, Shiel to a knee injury that saw him leave the ground on crutches.
To their credit, they never gave up, and continued to push for a score despite playing the majority of the game safe in the knowledge they had been beaten. Hooker did his job as full forward, McDonald-Tipungwuti was lively alongside him, but the midfield was too easily carved open when the Power had momentum. It could be a tough early season period for Rutten with St Kilda next, followed by interstate trips to the Swans and Lions before the blockbuster ANZAC Day clash with the Pies.
That’s all from me for today. We’ll be back to do it all again soon.
Power 18.11 (119) v 9.11 (65) Bombers
A comprehensive home victory for the Power. Much much too good for a battered Essendon.
Q4: 1.00 mins remaining: Power 18.11 (119) v 9.11 (65) Bombers - Another majestic lead, leap and mark from Dixon to honour Ladhams’ delivery. Great to see the big men like him and Walker back in full flight. The finish is leaky though.
Raz gets his second and caps off a great day for the Power ✌️#AFLPowerDons pic.twitter.com/qyTNIVXIAl
— AFL (@AFL) March 27, 2021
Q4: 2.00 mins remaining: Power 18.10 (118) v 9.11 (65) Bombers - The sound of the home faithful singing “Pow-er” reverberates around Adelaide Oval. It’s lovely to hear things like that again. The match has degenerated into a fatigued, scrappy affair, as you might expect in the context.
Q4: 8.00 mins remaining: Power 18.10 (118) v 9.9 (63) Bombers -Fantasia has two, picking up the pieces at the top of the square after good attack on the ball form Georgiades. The move began, as so many have today, way back in Port Adelaide’s half. The ball progressed neatly along the right flank, by hand, and foot, until the centring ball caused havoc.
Q4: 12.00 mins remaining: Power 17.10 (112) v 9.9 (63) Bombers -Shiel is back up and on the bench - carrying crutches - a sight you never want to see. Fingers crossed he’s not too badly hurt.
Q4: 13.00 mins remaining: Power 17.10 (112) v 9.9 (63) Bombers - Lycett makes amends for his error by holding onto a one-handed mark on the run then drilling home the angled set shot across his body.
Q4: 14.00 mins remaining: Power 16.10 (106) v 9.9 (63) Bombers - McDonald-Tipungwuti gets coathangered on the run by Lycett. The livewire Don gets up, goes back, and kicks his third. The Bombers are digging in late on here.
Q4: 15.30 mins remaining: Power 16.10 (106) v 8.9 (57) Bombers - Houston slots a superb strike from range out of nowhere. He was hanging out the back of a stoppage and slapped home a pure belter from 48m on an angle from a standing start.
Now Cale Hooker’s hurt a finger. He’s playing on, but it looked like he might have done some damage to a fingertip after he failed to hold onto a tumbling ball over his head.
Q4: 16.30 mins remaining: Power 15.10 (100) v 8.9 (57) Bombers - Now it’s Shiel’s turn to limp off in the hands of trainers. The former Giant’s left knee took some punishment in a Jonas tackle and he’s been helped down to the rooms. What a day this is turning into for Essendon.
Q4: 17.00 mins remaining: Power 15.10 (100) v 8.9 (57) Bombers - Port Adelaide have yet to get going since three-quarter-time, and they almost cough up another goal but Smith hits the post.
Q4: 18.00 mins remaining: Power 15.10 (100) v 8.8 (56) Bombers - The Dons have their second of the quarter before Port Adelaide have even touched the footy! How important are centre clearances these days? The lucky Bomber to snag the sausage roll is young Cox, who gets his maiden goal in first grade footy.
Q4: 19.00 mins remaining: Power 15.10 (100) v 7.8 (50) Bombers -Snelling, who began his career with Port Adelaide, lays a tackle 30m from goal, then goes back and slots home the free-kick.
Draper is done for the day. He’s got his left ankle iced. At least two Bombers now awaiting the result of scans early next week.
In other footy news...
Gary Rohan has been offered a two-week suspension for striking Lachie Neale. pic.twitter.com/ABlydagf8q
— AFL (@AFL) March 27, 2021
3QT: Power 15.10 (100) v 6.8 (44) Bombers
The 56-point margin feels unders at three-quarter-time for a thrilling Port Adelaide outfit. Essendon have yet to give up, but they were ineffective in that third quarter and have lost Caldwell to injury while Draper looks proppy too.
Port Adelaide's football is a thing of beauty 🔥#AFLPowerDons pic.twitter.com/ZzzkEJsql1
— AFL (@AFL) March 27, 2021
Q3: 3.30 mins remaining: Power 15.10 (100) v 6.8 (44) Bombers - Terrific chase-down tackle from Motlop sets up attacking field position for the Power. They can’t find clean footy but eventually Dixon brings the ball to ground at the top of the square and an off-balance Fantasia snaps a point to bring up the century.
Q3: 4.00 mins remaining: Power 15.9 (99) v 6.8 (44) Bombers - Tom Cutler is on as Essendon’s medical sub for Caldwell.
Q3: 5.00 mins remaining: Power 15.9 (99) v 6.8 (44) Bombers - Another razor sharp entry into 50, another one-on-one monstering by Dixon, but this time he fluffs his lines with the set-shot.
Q3: 5.30 mins remaining: Power 15.8 (98) v 6.8 (44) Bombers - Caldwell is on the pine with ice on his hamstring and a very sour look on his face. Today is going from bad to worse for the Dons.
Q3: 6.30 mins remaining: Power 15.8 (98) v 6.8 (44) Bombers - Some more industrious work from Hartlett, and another huge handball, sets up the Power again. This time Motlop makes the right call and the chain of possession is glorious. Flowing, at pace, with multiple options, Wines picks out Georgiades to slam home his fourth.
Q3: 7.00 mins remaining: Power 14.8 (92) v 6.8 (44) Bombers -One long bomb, one long Hartlett handball, and the Power have stormed from defence to attack. Motlop then burns them all with a poor decision despite runners left right and centre.
Q3: 8.30 mins remaining: Power 14.8 (92) v 6.8 (44) Bombers - Dixon floats to the ball and grabs it at its highest point in classic Dennis “like a cork bobbing on the ocean” vibe. The big lad caresses the six-point kick.
Q3: 10.00 mins remaining: Power 13.8 (86) v 6.8 (44) Bombers - Essendon are stiff, conceding a free for a high tackle when it looked holding the ball. Port Adelaide rebound but Amon’s finish is off target. The Bombers have their tails up though and punch their way up the guts. Caldwell is instrumental, linking midfield and attack, but it’s McDonald-Tipungwuti who is crucial at ground level, darting to the ball first and doing enough to smuggle the ball through for his second.
Q3: 11.30 mins remaining: Power 13.7 (85) v 5.8 (38) Bombers - First soft turnover coming out of defence for Port Adelaide, and Essendon pounce. Merrett has the tricky job of picking the final pass, but he does superbly, timing the kick over the top to Hooker’s advantage. The big forward holds onto the mark and runs home for his third.
Q3: 12.30 mins remaining: Power 13.7 (85) v 4.8 (32) Bombers -Fantasia runs down McGrath 25m from goal, shortly after the pair clashed in a melee following Georgiades’ set shot. The former Don then threads the needle to bring the roof off Adelaide Oval. That’s the moment that will be replayed on highlights reels all week.
Q3: 14.00 mins remaining: Power 12.7 (79) v 4.8 (32) Bombers - Port Adelaide show Hooker how it’s done. The latest in a long line of daring, dashing attacks ends with Georgiades kicking his third. The commentators coo over the simple repetitive set shot kicking technique.
Q3: 15.00 mins remaining: Power 11.7 (73) v 4.8 (32) Bombers - The ball eventually works its way into open field and McDonald-Tipungwuti is on hand to show some quick thinking and free Hooker over the top. The big forward is pursued by Jonas and the pair shadow box for a step or two until Hooker snaps on his left, just wide.
Q3: 16.00 mins remaining: Power 11.7 (73) v 4.7 (31) Bombers - A scrappy couple of minutes with the ball in dispute on right centre-wing. Incredible how few of these passages we’ve seen this season.
Q3: 18.00 mins remaining: Power 11.7 (73) v 4.7 (31) Bombers - Essendon do get their hands on it on a few occasions but can’t penetrate. The first time is good work from the superb Butters, the second a free for hands in the back against Wright, then Aliir takes another intercept mark. Eventually Port Adelaide regroup and bounce from one to the other rapidly but Hartlett cannot finish accurately.
“Get our hands on it,” is Ben Rutten’s message to his troops at half-time, reflective of a 22-11 clearance disparity.
Some half-time analysis from Jason Dunstall really stands out. The era of scoring from forward-half turnovers appears to have been replaced by goals from coast-to-coast. This means more structured, open attacking footy, more marks for leading forwards, and higher scores. Everyone’s happy with that, right?
Updated
Aliir has been impressive in the air defensively for the Power, and everybody ahead of him has looked hot going forward.
Goals: Dixon 3, Motlop, Georgiades, Ladhams 2, Amon, Butters
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) March 27, 2021
Disposals: Butters 18, Houston, Wines, Drew 16, Boak 13
Half-time: Power 11.6 (72) v 4.7 (31) Bombers
41-point for the Power at half-time. On occasion it threatened to be much more, but Essendon have dug in and fought hard, despite the gulf in class.
Amon only needed a couple of steps to go BANG 💥#AFLPowerDons pic.twitter.com/KQ1nlctvM8
— AFL (@AFL) March 27, 2021
Q2: 0.30 mins remaining: Power 11.6 (72) v 4.7 (31) Bombers - Long bomb to the hot-spot following a free-kick, a pack forms, and Ham comes down with the Sherrin. He can’t convert though.
Q2: 1.00 mins remaining: Power 11.6 (72) v 4.6 (30) Bombers - Port Adelaide have kicked 8.0 from their defensive half, in one half of footy!
Q2: 2.00 mins remaining: Power 11.6 (72) v 4.6 (30) Bombers - Terrific tough tackling defence from Essendon, followed by their most attractive series of kick-marks for the afternoon, with Redman involved in multiple phases. They can only winkle out a rushed behind for their troubles though.
The Power slam back the other way and go coast to coast in no time, a move ending with Motlop kicking his second.
Q2: 4.00 mins remaining: Power 10.6 (66) v 4.5 (29) Bombers - Good tackle in midfield from Cox sets up Essendon for a slow build. The first phase is rebuffed but the ball comes back quickly and a nice entry to a 2-on-1 ends in Langford’s hands. He kicks truly from 45m to trim the lead.
Q2: 7.30 mins remaining: Power 10.6 (66) v 3.5 (23) Bombers - Hooker kicks his second after Clurey is pinged for interfering in a marking contest. The free-kick isn’t easy but the big Bomber strokes it home with ease from 40m out on an angle.
We've had 17 inside 50s to 3 this quarter. Steven Motlop gets on the end of the last and kicks his first of the day.
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) March 27, 2021
⚡ 10.6 (66)
✈️ 2.5 (17)#weareportadelaide #AFLPowerDons pic.twitter.com/sP0abJrCLJ
Q2: 8.30 mins remaining: Power 10.6 (66) v 2.5 (17) Bombers - The pressure keeps coming and coming from the home side and another hopeful punt forward comes up trumps. Aliir takes another towering intercept mark before belting it forward. The Power clean up after the ball comes to ground, another hopeful hack forward finds Motlop, and the former Cat keeps the scoreboard purring.
Q2: 9.30 mins remaining: Power 9.6 (60) v 2.5 (17) Bombers - Fantasia misses his second soda of the afternoon after another decisive centre clearance. Port Adelaide look like they’re playing in a different weight category than Essendon.
Q2: 10.30 mins remaining: Power 9.4 (58) v 2.5 (17) Bombers - Port Adelaide have so many willing runners and so many leading forwards they are a many-headed beast to try to stop. The latest sortie is down the right where Butters takes a couple of bounces before hitting Ladhams lace out. The resulting goal was a formality.
Q2: 13.00 mins remaining: Power 8.4 (52) v 2.4 (16) Bombers - Drew should score after benefitting from a fortunate mongrel punt that lands in his hands 30m out straight in front, but his set shot is poor.
Q2: 14.30 mins remaining: Power 8.3 (51) v 2.4 (16) Bombers - Another decisive centre clearance, another bursting runner hitting up a leading forward, another mark, another goal. This season is going to be fun. Charlie Dixon has three, and there’s plenty more where they came from.
Q2: 15.00 mins remaining: Power 7.3 (45) v 2.4 (16) Bombers - Essendon convert their one attack of the quarter into a goal - and it’s a very special goal from McDonald-Tipungwuti. The Dons win quick ball from the centre clearance, McDonald-Tipungwuti does well to control it inside 50 then snap through off-balance on his left. Excellent finish.
Q2: 15.30 mins remaining: Power 7.3 (45) v 1.4 (10) Bombers - Another hit and hope to the top of the square. This time Dixon brings it to ground and crumbs his own footy. That sets up a nice chain of handballs that ends with Amon in space and he strikes cleanly through the ball just inside 50m, sending the Sherrin soaring towards the distant Cathedral and through for six points.
Q2: 16.00 mins remaining: Power 6.3 (39) v 1.4 (10) Bombers - It’s still one-way traffic, but Port Adelaide continue to struggle to create clear scoring opportunities. Essendon hanging on in defence, for now.
Q2: 17.00 mins remaining: Power 6.2 (38) v 1.4 (10) Bombers - An even start to the second quarter, but some excellent forward pressure from the Power earns them a point. Essendon are doing their best to repel danger, but it’s desperate last ditch stuff time and again as attack follows attack. None of them are in chains of flowing movement though, so the crucial final ball is regularly to a forward caught under the flight. Hind catches the eye again, doing his bit defensively then rebounding at pace.
Come on Brendan, I am not having that. Rutten clearly coached the majority of last season, and it was only Essendon’s own weird PR decisions that brought any confusion into the picture. And during that time questions were raised by people more knowledgable than me about his tactical approach. This is not a “media” witch hunt, simply legitimate scrutiny of a club with challenges.
With the run of fixtures the Bombers have they’re unlikely to be favourites until round seven, by which time they may well be 0-6. How do you think that will play among Essendon powerbrokers?
QT: Power 6.1 (37) v 1.4 (10) Bombers
Essendon fought their way back into the contest, if not the scoreboard, in the closing stages of the quarter, but Port Adelaide are already up and sprinting off into the distance. Their attacks are razor sharp, goal-kicking true, and they have options aplenty, tall or small.
Q1: 0.30 mins remaining: Power 6.1 (37) v 1.3 (9) Bombers - Port Adelaide turn defence into attack superbly with one brave kick infield. Essendon defend the sortie well though, Hind once again to the fore, and when they rebound they make some smart sharp plays down the left wing to reach 50m in quicktime. Devon Smith has the Sherrin in his hands but he doesn’t look confident with the distance. He gives it a whack but it lands just short. But there’s a whistle, and the Bombers have a free. Shiel accepts the layoff and... strikes the post from point blank range.
Q1: 3.00 mins remaining: Power 6.1 (37) v 1.2 (8) Bombers - Shiel has a free-kick 55m out but can’t capitalise. Port Adelaide smuggle the ball clear and a few phases later have territory and ball movement that allows Dixon separation inside 50. He’s found on the lead and the big forward slots the goal. Against the run of play somewhat, but an indication of how formidable this Power side are in attack.
Q1: 5.00 mins remaining: Power 5.1 (31) v 1.2 (8) Bombers - Since that Hooker goal Essendon have fought their way back into the match. They’re quicker to the ball and harder in the contest around the ground and dictating terms across midfield.
Q1: 6.30 mins remaining: Power 5.1 (31) v 1.2 (8) Bombers - Peter Wright should make it two in a minute, but after holding onto a mark that took full advantage of his reach, he squirts the set shot wide.
No prizes for guessing how important centre clearances are going to be today.
Q1: 8.30 mins remaining: Power 5.1 (31) v 1.0 (6) Bombers - Cale Hooker stems the bleeding, holding onto a steepling hack towards the right forward pocket then smartly kicking a left-footed snap across his body.
Q1: 9.30 mins remaining: Power 5.1 (31) v 0.0 (0) Bombers - Ladhams is front and square to snap a left-footed goal from 15m out after Dixon crashes a pack to bring the ball to ground. This is carnage.
Q1: 10.00 mins remaining: Power 4.1 (25) v 0.0 (0) Bombers - Hind does well from the centre bounce, but his bomb is punched clear by Aliir, under pressure from three red guernseys. Port Adelaide again slice through the Bombers down the left flank like a knife through butter. And again the move ends with a leading forward marking inside 50 - Georgiades once more. And he kicks his second in a couple of minutes. Handy late inclusion.
Q1: 11.00 mins remaining: Power 3.1 (19) v 0.0 (0) Bombers - Port Adelaide are winning the possession count 55-20 and they’re using the pill smartly, carving through Essendon’s midfield. Another chain ends with a shot, this time it’s Georgiades, and this time the late inclusion kicks the set shot truly (from a near identical spot to Fantasia).
Q1: 13.00 mins remaining: Power 2.1 (13) v 0.0 (0) Bombers - Duursma with the strong tackle in midfield sets up Boak to drive forward. He lifts his eyes and finds Fantasia in space inside-50. The former Don plays on and tries a snap, for one point, when a set shot for six seemed the simpler option.
Q1: 15.00 mins remaining: Power 2.0 (12) v 0.0 (0) Bombers - “Harder to play and harder to umpire,” says Mark Ricciuto on TV after Jason Dunstall drove a coach and horses through the current relationship between holding-the-ball instructions and dangerous tackling interpretations. Hear hear.
Q1: 17.30 mins remaining: Power 2.0 (12) v 0.0 (0) Bombers - Aliir Aliir takes a lovely intercept mark in defence, from where Port Adelaide piece together a lovely attack that ends with Butters floating across and taking a mark with the supportive shielding of Dixon alongside him. The No18 goes back and slots the goal. The Power flying early.
Q1: 19.30 mins remaining: Power 1.0 (6) v 0.0 (0) Bombers - Woah, that was too easy. Fantasia makes an immediate impact, bursting away from the centre bounce, belting the ball forward, where Charlie Dixon wrestles his way free over the back to kick the simplest of goals.
Opening bounce!
Underway at Adelaide Oval...
And here come the home side, in their traditional prison bars all-black uniform, with a hint of teal.
Best supporters in the 🌏 #weareportadelaide#AFLPowerDons pic.twitter.com/BlpjnbKsCR
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) March 27, 2021
Essendon are out on the glorious Adelaide Oval turf. They’re in their change strip of red guernseys with red sash, and white shorts.
Time to work.#AFLPowerDons pic.twitter.com/G8jzfbf9Dy
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) March 27, 2021
It’s mild and dry in Adelaide today, but a brisk southerly wind may influence proceedings.
Meanwhile, Buddy’s back, and his Swans are 2-0 after proving more accurate than the Crows in a Saturday shootout at the SCG.
Buddy kicks his third of the day right before the three-quarter time siren!#AFLSwansCrows pic.twitter.com/3i4luSV6zm
— AFL (@AFL) March 27, 2021
“Cannot believe the silence about Selwood’s goal after Guthrie “gave “ him the ball,” emails Bruce Allan. “As big a howler as the final minute non-decision. Geelong always get a great run from the umpires!”
There were a few very obvious clangers last night (and the night before, for that matter), the highest profile of which were clearly in favour of Geelong. However, my own personal take was that Brisbane had the better of the umps overall - borne out by the Lions winning the free-kick count by +2.
As for umpires/referees favouring the home team, that’s been proven time and again. But after a year of sport without fans, I am not going to nitpick a match where a vocal partisan crowd may have influenced the outcome.
Updated
And without further ado, onto last night... let the floodgates open!
Bombers XXIII
Essendon coach Ben Rutten has been dealt a late blow with skipper Dyson Heppell a late withdrawal with a back injury. He is already missing Jake Stringer (Achilles), Michael Hurley (hip infection), Patrick Ambrose (foot), James Stewart (hamstring) and David Zaharakis (knee).
B: J. Laverde, C. Hooker, M. Redman
HB: N. Hind, J. Ridley, M. Gleeson
C: N. Cahill, Z. Merrett, D. Parish
HF: D. Shiel, H. Jones, W. Snelling
F: B. Ham, P. Wright, A. McDonald
R S. Draper, J. Caldwell, K. Langford
I/C: N. Cox, A. Francis, A. McGrath, D. Smith
SUB: T. Cutler
In: M. Gleeson
Out: D. Heppell
Power XXIII
Ken Hinkley was forced to find a late replacement for Todd Marshall, who misses out with a back injury. Otherwise, the headline news is the continued demotion of Tom Rockliff. At Brisbane, Rockliff was one of the most feared midfielders in the competition, but he has not kicked on since his move to the Power and for the second week running finds himself the medical substitute.
B: R. Burton, T. Clurey, D. Houston
HB: A. Aliir, T. Jonas, D. Byrne-Jones
C: X. Duursma, O. Wines, K. Amon
HF: O. Fantasia, P. Ladhams, S. Motlop
F: Z. Butters, C. Dixon, R. Gray
R S. Lycett, W. Drew, T. Boak
I/C: H. Hartlett, K. Farrell, M.Georgiades, M. Bergman
SUB: T. Rockliff
In: H. Hartlett, M.Georgiades
Out: R. Bonner, T. Marshall
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Port Adelaide v Essendon in the second round of the 2021 AFL premiership season. We’ll be underway at Adelaide Oval around 4.05pm local time (4.35pm AEDT).
An understrength Essendon will be up against it at the home of the formidable Power. Port Adelaide were free-scoring in round one against North Melbourne, while the Bombers were wasteful as they slipped to a narrow defeat to Hawthorn. With a tricky run of fixtures to open their campaign, Essendon, and coach Ben Rutten, could feel the heat pretty soon.
The leading subplot this afternoon involves Orazio Fantasia. The speedster was traded by the Dons in the offseason and kicked four on debut for his new club. Former Bombers have been calling for the 25-year-old to feel the heat when he steps out against his old teammates.
There’s plenty more going on besides, which we’ll touch upon as the afternoon turns into evening. Not least what happened at the Cattery last night, and that incredible late decision not to penalise Mark Blicavs for holding the ball in the goalsquare.
Don’t forget to join in throughout the day. Comments are open below the line, and you can also send emails to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com and tweets to @JPHowcroft.
