Match

Port Adelaide vs West Coast Eagles

Commentary / 17 Mar 2024

Pre Game

00:00

West Coast won nine of its first 11 games at Adelaide Oval but has lost its last five at this venue by an average of 65 points.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

00:17

The Eagles were ranked last in centre bounce clearance differential in 2023 and have conceded the first such clearance to the Power today.

02:42

Port Adelaide had a strong forward half game last season scoring the most points from both forward half stoppages and forward half intercepts. The ball has been entirely in the forward half for the Power to start this game.

04:37

After the Power won the opening centre bounce clearance, West Coast has won the next four clearances with boom recruit Harley Reid winning two of these.

07:44

SCORE GOAL - Power (Charlie Dixon)

07:52

The opening goal of the game for Port Adelaide came from a chain started with a defensive 50 clearance. The Power scored just 1.1 points per game from this source in 2023.

09:28

Some excellent ball movement from the defensive 50 from Eagles led to their opening goal of the game. Harley Reid was involved in the scoring chain and currently leads all players for disposals (5).

11:44

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Jackson Mead)

13:03

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jake Waterman)

13:18

Both scores for the Eagles have come from defensive 50 chains in an indication of improved ball movement. West Coast averaged 12.3 points per game from these chains last season.

13:59

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Jeremy Finlayson)

17:00

West Coast is edging Port Adelaide for ground balls (13-9) early in this game. The Eagles were ranked last for contested possession differential in 2023.

20:13

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Jeremy Finlayson)

20:30

Port Adelaide has generated three of its four scores from defensive 50 chains. The Power averaged 11.8 points per game from these chains in 2023 (ranked 16th) and have scored 1.2.8 from this source today.

21:48

SCORE GOAL - Power (Zak Butters)

22:23

Both teams have had seven stoppages in their forward 50, but the goal from Zak Butters was the first time that the attacking team has won the clearance. Port Adelaide averaged a competition-high 11.4 points per game from forward 50 stoppages in 2023.

23:23

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Bailey J. Williams)

23:43

West Coast has answered with a forward 50 stoppage goal of their own and the Eagles continue to have their nose in front in the contested possession count (23-20).

25:40

SCORE GOAL - Power (Charlie Dixon)

26:03

Willie Rioli has provided the score assist on both goals from Charlie Dixon who has already recorded five disposals in the forward 50. Port Adelaide leads 18-11 in forward 50 disposals despite the inside 50 count being even.

27:58

Port Adelaide has recorded more corridor disposals (33-18) with clear intent to move the ball through this zone. When moving the ball from defensive 50 last season, Port Adelaide used the corridor 23.3 percent of the time, which was the highest percentage of any team.

28:34

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Ryan Burton)

29:18

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Petruccelle)

29:48

A second goal from a defensive 50 chain for the Eagles (this time from a kick-in) who have displayed improved ball movement throughout this quarter. The Eagles generated 6.8 percent of their scores from kick-ins last season which was the highest percentage in the league.

30:58

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Charlie Dixon)

32:25

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Charlie Dixon)

32:33

Charlie Dixon has had an equal game-high eight disposals in the opening quarter with all of these being in the forward 50. Dixon has been involved in six scores providing one assist and scoring 2.2 from his shots at goal.

33:20

West Coast matched Port Adelaide for clearances and contested possession in the opening quarter, but the Power were able to generate nine scoring shots from just 13 inside 50 entries and had the game played in their forward half for 64 percent of the quarter.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

00:12

Bailey Williams contributed game-highs for clearances (3) and metres gained (225) in the opening quarter while taking the majority of ruck contests for the Eagles.

02:54

SCORE GOAL - Power (Charlie Dixon)

03:02

Charlie Dixon continues to dominate this game with his third goal among seven score involvements and Port Adelaide has now scored 2.1.13 from six intercepts in the defensive midfield. West Coast conceded a score from 22.3 percent of opposition defensive midfield chains in 2023 (ranked last).

05:16

Port Adelaide has now returned a wasteful 2.5 from its set shots at goal. West Coast is yet to score from a set shot at goal.

05:39

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Miles Bergman)

06:47

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Todd Marshall)

07:07

The Power are starting to have the game played on their terms with 9-3 forward half intercepts and 68 percent time in forward half.

09:13

The last seven scores have all come from Port Adelaide including a classy long-range goal from super boot Kane Farrell. Four of the five goals for the Power have come from defensive half chains despite also dominating time in forward half.

12:06

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Bailey J. Williams)

12:20

Dan Houston is carrying on from his All Australian form in 2023. Houston has won five intercept possessions including three intercept marks and his ten disposals include four score involvements.

13:14

SCORE GOAL - Power (Jason Horne-Francis)

14:02

Port Adelaide averaged only 25.6 points per game from defensive half chains in 2023 (ranked 17th). The Power have already scored 33 points today from such chains displaying some slick ball movement.

17:40

West Coast scored from only 27 percent of its forward half intercept in 2023 (ranked last). Today the Eagles are yet to score from seven such intercepts. Port Adelaide has scored 0.3.3 from its ten forward half intercepts.

19:16

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Rushed)

20:58

Port Adelaide has dominated in the air today with 7-1 contested marks, 7-4 intercept marks, 44-20 uncontested marks, and 10-1 forward 50 marks.

21:43

SCORE GOAL - Power (Ivan Soldo)

22:03

Port Adelaide has scored 2.1.13 from its three kick-ins today. The AFL average is a score from just eight percent of kick-ins making three from three a rare return.

23:42

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)

24:18

Jamie Cripps has been involved in four scores from his six disposals with his last goal ending a run of four goals to the Power. It was also the first score of the game for West Coast to come from a forward half intercept.

27:09

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Dan Houston)

27:18

Port Adelaide now holds a 68-33 advantage in corridor disposals with the Power able to move the ball fluently through this zone.

28:19

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Petruccelle)

28:43

Both teams have now scored 2.1.13 from kick-ins displaying some excellent ball movement. Last season teams averaged just 3.4 points per game from these chains.

30:07

SCORE GOAL - Power (Darcy Byrne-Jones)

31:10

Connor Rozee leads all players for clearances (6), disposals (18), and score involvements (8) in a prominent display from the new Port Adelaide captain.

32:48

SCORE GOAL - Power (Willie Rioli)

32:52

A dominant second quarter from Port Adelaide winning clearances (11-6) and contested possessions (34-24) and using the ball effectively to take eight marks in the forward 50 and generate ten scores from 15 inside 50 entries.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

00:08

Just the three disposals in the first half for Andrew Gaff. The Eagle winger averaged just 20 disposals per game last season which is his fewest since 2013.

00:54

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Oscar Allen)

01:55

Port Adelaide continues to have remarkable success from kick-ins scoring 3.1.19 from four kick-ins. Kane Farrell has taken three of these kick-ins with the Power keen to use his powerful left foot as much as possible.

04:53

The corridor ball movement of Port Adelaide continues to expose West Coast defensively. The Power have 83-41 corridor disposals including 66-27 post-clearances. This continues to provide scores from the defensive half for Port Adelaide.

05:31

SCORE GOAL - Power (Willem Drew)

06:44

Only once last season did the Power score more than 22 points from defensive 50 chains and that was 46 against Hawthorn in Round 12. Today Port Adelaide has already scored 32 points from these chains.

08:49

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Reuben Ginbey)

09:54

On average teams convert 20 percent of defensive 50 chains into inside 50 entries and score from nine percent of these chains. Today Port Adelaide has generated an inside 50 entry from 50 percent of its defensive 50 chains and scored from 35 percent.

10:32

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Petruccelle)

12:44

Ivan Soldo has been heavily involved in his first game with the Power. The former Tiger has contributed ten hitouts to advantage and won four clearances launching seven scores from this work at stoppages.

13:12

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Darcy Byrne-Jones)

13:15

Eagles Interchange - Andrew Gaff and is possibly out for the game.

15:45

The Power leads 35-19 in first possession wins at stoppages but only 26-21 in clearances. However, they have converted this into 23-15 effective clearances and 36-8 points scored from stoppages.

16:24

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)

16:49

West Coast has scored 4.1.25 from defensive 50 chains today. This is more than double its season average from last season (12.3) and only once last year did it kick more than four goals from these chains (seven against Essendon in Round 21).

18:42

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Liam Duggan)

18:54

Consecutive goals to the Eagles with the last goal following a forward half intercept. West Coast now leads 14-3 in points scored from this source and Port Adelaide was the No.1 ranked team last season in points scored from these chains.

20:44

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Oscar Allen)

21:00

West Coast has now scored 2.4 from its set shots at goal, while Port Adelaide has returned 8.6 from its set shots at goal including 7.2 since quarter-time.

22:19

Power Interchange - Jed McEntee and is possibly out for the game.

24:54

In the last ten minutes, West Coast has won the contested possession count 14-6 including ground balls 10-5 and has recorded the last three scores during this period of ascendancy.

26:06

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Travis Boak)

27:44

Port Adelaide now has an 18-4 advantage in forward 50 marks continuing to use the ball effectively when entering this zone.

28:08

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Willie Rioli)

29:43

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Todd Marshall)

29:47

In the third quarter, the Eagles shaded the Power for clearances (8-4) and contested possessions (29-24) but still conceded time in forward half (59 percent) and inside 50 entries (9-14) to Port Adelaide.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:14

The first score of the final quarter from Port Adelaide again came from a defensive 50 chain. The Power have scored 34 points from chains starting in this zone which has easily been their most productive zone.

02:26

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Petruccelle)

03:16

The Power won the inside 50 count in 74 percent of games last season (ranked No.1) and look set to continue that today with a 44-33 advantage in this measure.

03:38

SCORE GOAL - Power (Jason Horne-Francis)

04:01

Another goal from a kick-in chain for Port Adelaide. The Power have generated seven inside 50 entries from eight kick-ins and scored 4.1.25 from this source. Port Adelaide did not kick a goal from a kick-in the first ten rounds last season and never kicked multiple goals from these chains.

05:13

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Noah Long)

05:55

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Miles Bergman)

06:23

The Power directed 90.2 percent of its kicks forward last season (the highest percentage of any team). Today only five of their 198 kicks have gone backwards.

07:14

Port Adelaide launched an inside 50 from 22.8 percent of its defensive 50 chains last season (ranked equal-second). Today the Power have generated an inside 50 entry from 54 percent of defensive 50 chains.

07:40

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Petruccelle)

07:56

One area where West Coast has had the ascendancy is in points scored from forward half intercept. The Eagles now lead 20-5 in points scored from this source including the last goal from Jack Petrucelle.

09:04

A second long-range goal from Kane Farrell who continues to be an offensive weapon for Port Adelaide. Farrell has gained 435 metres from his 15 disposals and has been involved in eight scores.

11:08

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Miles Bergman)

11:36

Port Adelaide scored from 45 percent of its inside 50 entries last season (ranked fourth) and has generated 32 scores from 48 entries today in a potent (but inaccurate) offensive performance.

12:34

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Charlie Dixon)

13:46

Jeremy McGovern is averaging 3.4 intercept marks over the last three seasons which is ranked equal second in the AFL behind only Liam Jones (3.6). McGovern has taken four such marks today and has again been an important interceptor for the Eagles.

14:55

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Kane Farrell)

15:38

Last season Tim Kelly averaged a career-high 28.2 disposals, and had at least 20 disposals in every game. Kelly has recorded just 15 disposals today and has been involved in only two scores.

17:06

SCORE GOAL - Power (Willem Drew)

17:16

Today is the first time that Willem Drew has kicked multiple goals in a game. The hard-working Drew has attended six centre bounces today but has been used primarily on a wing and recorded eight score involvements.

19:13

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Willie Rioli)

19:21

Port Adelaide has produced nine scores from ten inside 50 entries in the final quarter with West Coast finding it difficult to disrupt the ball movement of the Power.

20:11

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Travis Boak)

20:47

The most behinds that Port Adelaide has ever scored in a game is 23 (against Brisbane in Round 19, 2016).

21:18

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Rushed)

22:27

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Jeremy Finlayson)

22:34

The last nine scores have all come from Port Adelaide but only two of these have been goals. The Power have now returned 9.13.67 from set shots at goal and scored 5.14.44 since half time.

24:58

The goal from Ivan Soldo was the first of the game for Port Adelaide to come from a forward half intercept. The Power lead 25-12 in such intercepts and have now scored 1.9.15 from these chains.

26:50

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jake Waterman)

28:03

SCORE GOAL - Power (Connor Rozee)

29:50

West Coast conceded 18 points per game from centre bounce clearances in 2023 (ranked last) which was well up on the AFL average of 10.7. Port Adelaide leads 21-9 in points scored from centre bounce clearances today.

30:08

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Oscar Allen)

31:15

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Campbell Chesser)

31:21

A comfortable win in the end for Port Adelaide who displayed great ball movement from the back half finishing with 41 points from defensive 50 chains and 40 scores from 57 entries partly due to 146-67 corridor disposals.