Match

Port Adelaide vs Gold Coast Suns

Commentary / 19 May 2019

Pre Game

00:00
One aspect to watch will be Port Adelaide's potency with any territorial advantage. The Power have only scored from 40.8 per cent of forward 50 entries (ranked 15th) this season, while the Suns have allowed their opposition to score from only 41.1 per cent of entries conceded (ranked second).

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
06:50
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Brayden Fiorini)
07:06
It took over six minutes but the Suns have finally generated their first forward 50 entry of the game and converted it into the first major of the match. Port Adelaide recorded the first three entries but is kicking at just 33 per cent efficiency so far.
08:44
SCORE GOAL - Power (Billy Frampton)
08:56
Billy Frampton has hit back for the Power, marking strongly and converting for his second career goal in this his second senior game. The 84th selection in the 2014 National Draft made his debut in Round 23 last season.
11:52
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (David Swallow)
12:10
The rain is starting to fall heavily at Adelaide Oval and the game is turning into a bit of a scrap. There have been 16 stoppages (eight ball ups and eight throw ins) so far, already matching the season average of stoppages per quarter.
15:37
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Alex Sexton)
16:07
In now very soggy conditions, Gold Coast has enjoyed 80 per cent time in forward half in the past ten minutes and have kicked two in that time. In that period the Suns have averaged 14 disposals per turnover, well superior to the Power with just three disposals per turnover.
17:06
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Xavier Duursma)
17:48
SCORE GOAL - Power (Kane Farrell)
19:59
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Alex Sexton)
21:03
A second clanger kick in a number of minutes by Port Adelaide within its defensive half has gifted Gold Coast with another goal from forward half intercepts. The Power only average 4.5 clanger kicks behind half way per game this season.
21:44
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Anthony Miles)
23:20
SCORE GOAL - Power (Karl Amon)
24:07
Even in the rain, both sides are finding space in general play once inside forward 50. The Suns have won eight forward 50 ground balls and kicked three goals from general play, while the Power have won three ground balls in that zone and kicked to majors of that type.
24:45
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Ben Ainsworth)
29:22
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Brayden Fiorini)
29:43
Alex Sexton looks to be on track for another fine game, already with game-highs in metres gained (197 metres), forward 50 entries (five) and goals (two). This season the Gold Coast forward has averaged four scoring shots per game (ranked fourth in the league).
30:42
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Jack Martin)
32:11
The Suns have kicked their third-highest score in a quarter for the season, on their way to a nine-point lead at the first break. After the six-minute mark, Gold Coast won six more clearances than Port Adelaide on its way to generated ten more forward 50 entries.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:31
SCORE GOAL - Power (Zak Butters)
01:42
A good start to the second quarter for Port Adelaide with the first goal through Butters. The Power have outscored their opposition by a total of 86 points in second quarters this season, ranked first across the league.
02:52
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Zak Butters)
07:12
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Josh Corbett)
08:18
An indicator of the difficulty moving the ball cleanly, neither Port Adelaide (17 attempts) or Gold Coast (nine attempts) have managed to transition directly from defensive 50 to forward 50. Heading into this match, the Power did so on 16 per cent of attempts this season (ranked 16th).
10:49
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Rushed)
13:45
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Alex Sexton)
15:51
Port Adelaide has taken the lead for the first time in the match, with some reward for effort in this second term. The Power has won seven midfield intercepts this quarter (while the Suns have won none), setting up eight extra forward 50 entries than its opposition.
17:58
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Jack Bowes)
19:25
Twice now from their past three attempts have the Suns been able to transition directly from defensive 50 to score. This quarter Gold Coast is tending to favour kicks, with a kick-handball ratio of 3.5 for the term, well up on a ratio of 1.3 in the first stanza.
22:09
SCORE GOAL - Power (Sam Gray)
22:43
Sam Gray takes back the lead for Port Adelaide with a neat snap following an uncontested mark. From set shots, the Power have kicked 4.1 (25) while the Suns have kicked just three behinds.
25:15
Dougal Howard has been staunch in defence for Port Adelaide, taking three intercept marks and applying a game-high nine spoils for the half. This matches the season best of first half spoils, also nine applied by West Coast's Tom Barrass in Round 1.
25:55
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Wil Powell)
28:59
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Ben Ainsworth)
29:01
A goal after the siren to Ben Ainsworth (the Suns' first from a set shot for the game) gives Gold Coast the lead at the half. This is the first time the Suns have led the Power at the main change since 2014.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:28
SCORE GOAL - Power (Billy Frampton)
02:11
It is pouring at Adelaide Oval but Port Adelaide has caught Gold Coast napping, kicking the first goal of the second half before the Suns have managed to record a disposal.
03:36
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Rushed)
06:46
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Billy Frampton)
10:13
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Peter Wright)
10:23
History is repeating in the second half with Port Adelaide controlling the quarter in the early proceedings but Gold Coast scoring against the run of play. The Power have won 76 per cent time in forward half this quarter.
11:43
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Josh Corbett)
14:38
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Paddy Ryder)
15:01
Port Adelaide seems to have the greater firepower in the air of the respective forward lines, with double the amount of marks inside forward 50 (eight to four). This season the Power averages 12.1 marks inside 50 per game (ranked fourth).
16:44
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Travis Boak)
20:09
Port Adelaide has owned most of the play for the quarter, set up by winning ten more ground balls than Gold Coast (14 to four) mirroring the same numbers in forward 50 entries. The Power have been in possession for 20 per cent more of the quarter than the Suns.
22:35
Although both teams have managed just one goal for the quarter, it has taken Port Adelaide nine shots while Gold Coast have had just two. The Power have recorded five complete misses this quarter alone.
23:39
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Sam Gray)
24:08
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Zak Butters)
25:32
It has taken Port Adelaide until its 12th shot for the quarter to kick just its second goal. The Power have generated 19 forward 50 entries within 25 minutes (set up by 16 midfield intercepts) in comparison to just four by the Suns.
26:48
Port Adelaide has been awarded 11 free kicks this quarter, with the latest to Rockliff leading to his centre clearance which set up back-to-back goals. This season the Power average 3.2 more centre clearances per game than their opposition (ranked first in the league).
32:20
Port Adelaide has dominated the quarter everywhere but on the scoreboard, with 80 per cent time in forward half the highest proportion by any team in a term this season. The Power recorded 14 shots for the quarter however these only returned three goals.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:42
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Steven Motlop)
04:10
Dougal Howard is up to 12 spoils, followed closely by Dan Houston and Tom Clurey with seven apiece. The Power (46) have recorded double the tally of spoils than the Suns (23) for the match, and have eclipsed their average of 44 per game (ranked first in the league).
04:45
SCORE GOAL - Power (Kane Farrell)
07:28
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Karl Amon)
07:29
The Suns haven't been able to keep up with the Power after half time, applying only 12 tackles in the second half even with the Power recording 28 more disposals. Port Adelaide has generated the past 24 forward 50 entries of the match.
07:36
Suns Interchange - Ben Ainsworth off due to an injury.
10:02
It has taken almost a full quarter for the Suns but they have finally entered forward 50, their first such entry since the 12th minute of the third quarter. Gold Coast has only recorded five disposals inside forward 50 in the second half.
16:07
SCORE GOAL - Power (Connor Rozee)
16:23
Connor Rozee has kicked his second goal after half time, with Port Adelaide once again capitalising on its territorial dominance. Since the main break the Power have won 28 forward half intercepts in comparison to just two by the Suns.
17:44
SCORE GOAL - Power (Billy Frampton)
20:25
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Jarrod Harbrow)
20:40
A telling measure might be percentage of attempted tackles laid effectively by both sides. In the first half, 77 per cent of the Suns' attempts were effective but that has plummeted to just 46 per cent since then. The Power's rate has jumped from 57 per cent to 89 per cent this half.
24:13
SCORE GOAL - Power (Kane Farrell)
27:22
Travis Boak has done it again against Gold Coast, winning 17 ground ball gets, seven clearances and six intercepts on his way to 36 disposals and 514 metres gained.
29:01
Port Adelaide has steamrolled Gold Coast after half time to win comfortably by 38 points. In that period the Power won 64 more disposals, laid 12 more tackles and won eight more intercepts on their way to 35 more entries inside forward 50 and seven goals to one.