Port Adelaide’s new era under coach Josh Carr has started with a bang as the Power easily ran out 73-point winners over West Coast in Sunday’s preseason clash.
The Power were on from the opening bounce as they kicked eight straight goals before “a slow” West Coast could find their first.
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Led by star Zak Butters (36 disposals and two goals), Port Adelaide were at their punishing best as they outhunted the Eagles to seal a 22.8 (140) to 9.13 (67) victory – which included an 11 goal third term.
And while it was joy for the Power as Mitch Georgiades found form with his six goals, it was a worrying result for a West Coast side that coach Andrew McQualter described as the “strongest” they could field.
West Coast premiership winner Will Schofield delivered some scathing criticism early for the Eagles as they were “smashed” across the park.
“I don’t know if West Coast could have looked any worse than what they’ve looked,” he said on Fox Footy.
Kangaroos great David King was just as critical of the Eagles’ performance as he described their panicked play as “sluggish” and “inept”.
Despite trailing by just 20 points at the main break, it was all Port Adelaide in the second half as they blew the game wide open.
A late knock to the knee of Harley Reid caused concern on the West Coast bench while Harry Edwards failed to see out the contest after suffering a second term concussion.
THE 3-2-1… (What we learnt)
3. WHAT’S HE WORTH? STAR’S PRICE TAG GROWS
Port star Zak Butters did his rising price tag a favour with an absolutely dominant display against West Coast on Sunday.
Butters was the man who put West Coast to the sword in an opening quarter blitz that included 10 touches and two goals.
“He set the tone early,” two-time premiership winner David King said.
“I know we talk a lot about Luke Jackson being the unicorn but I don’t know about this guy. There’s not many that play with such anger and ferocity and impact like this guy does.
“He set the game up.
“They got off to an absolute flyer because of his intensity and his attack around the contested footy.”
Eagles premiership winner Will Schofield said it was Butters’ work rate that set him apart at Mineral Resources Park.
“He works harder than any other West Coast midfielder and that was how he was able to get on the end of so much of it,” Schofield said.
“Beautiful by foot, he makes great decisions, clean – he’s one of the best in the AFL.”
Given his red-hot form as he comes out of contract at the end of 2026, King said the Power were now faced with a tough task of keeping the midfield star.
“The sky is the limit – what’s he worth?” he questioned.
“We’re talking $2m type range now. Every club wants him.
“Port Adelaide want to keep him. You feel like they’ve got no hope because of the money that’s being thrown at him from elsewhere.
“He’s going to get pretty well paid – there’s no doubt about that.”
Butters went on to finish with 36 touches, including six tackles, four clearances and two goals.
“He’s just doing what he wants out there.”
2. WOEFUL START DRAWS SCATHING CRITICISM
“We’re playing our strongest team we can today.”
That was the word from Eagles coach Andrew McQualter pre-game to Fox Footy.
But unfortunately, West Coast didn’t get out of the rooms in a worrying start against Port Adelaide on Sunday.
While able to keep Port at bay for the opening 11 minutes, the floodgates opened moments later as the Eagles found themselves staring down an eight-goal start to the visitors.
And that led Eagles premiership winner Will Scofield to deliver a brutal truth.
“I don’t know if West Coast could have looked any worse than what they’ve looked,” he said on Fox Footy.
“Sloppy by hand, skills are poor, intensity is off and Port Adelaide the complete opposite.
“They look ready to go this year under new coach Josh Carr.”
Fox Footy’s Adam Papalia said Eagles fans were thinking “here we go again” after heading into quarter time goalless – after they achieved that feat three times in 2025.
“They were just getting smashed all over the field – didn’t have the intensity that was required early the Eagles and learnt the hard way,” David King added.
But after allowing Port to get out to that eight-goal lead, it was the young Eagles who finally lifted and brought the home side to within 20 points at the main break.
Cooper Duff-Tytler managed to nail a goal – with David King believing he’s got to be there for Round 1.
“He has to play,” he said.
“They’ve got to get 60 games into these kids. It’s a little bit like what Hawthorn did three or four years ago.”
King lamented West Coast’s inability to remain composed, particularly in the second half of the contest.
“The West Coast for me have been too accepting to dump the ball, or take wide or not threaten to get a handball chain going as regularly as what Pot Adelaide have,” he said.
“And it makes you look really sluggish, or inept at your offensive game when you accept that level of pressure.”
1. THE MITCH SHOW DELIVERS
Mitch Georgiades is preparing for a breakout year, Fox Footy’s David King believes.
The big forward was at his dominant best with four first half goals.
He then added two more in the third term in a standout performance.
“This guy is going to have a field day,” King said of Georgiades.
“He’s going to have a huge 2026 with this sort of supply (from Butters and Connor Rozee).
“He’s one of the best set goal kickers in the competition.
“He’s just clinical in his ball drop.”
Will Schofield praised the “beautiful technique” that Georgiades had established, as he looks to play a bigger role in attack without Todd Marshall – who has shifted to defence.
West Coast selected side
B: T.Cole, H.Edwards, S.Brock
HB: J.Lindsay, T.Young, L.Baker
C: W.Duursma, E.Yeo, D.Robertson
HF: J.Cripps, J.Shanahan, J.Newton
F: H.Schoenberg, J.Waterman, A.Reid
Foll: M.Flynn, H.Reid, T.McCarthy
I/C: R.Maric, F.Macrae, C.Duff-Tytler, M.Owies, H.Davis, L.Grego, H.Barnett, T.Williams
Emerg: B.Allan, C.Hall, R.Bazzo, J.Williams
Notable absentees: Liam Duggan, Tim Kelly, Jack Graham, Brandon Starcevich, Bailey Williams, Brady Hough, Reuben Ginbey, Tyler Brockman
Port Adelaide selected side
B: A.Aliir, H.Ramm, T.Marshall
HB: L.Evans, L.Jones, K.Farrell
C: J.Wehr, W.Drew, E.Mackinlay
HF: D.Byrne-Jones, J.Richards, J.Berry
F: O.Lord, M.Georgiades, J.Whitlock
Foll: D.Visentini, C.Rozee, Z.Butters
I/C: J.Burgoyne, C.Durdin, J.Mead, J.Watkins, J.Horne-Francis, W.Lorenz, M.Zadow, E.Ratugolea
Emerg: W.Brodie, C.Moraes, J.Sweet
Notable absentees: Ollie Wines, Sam Powell-Pepper, Jack Lukosius, Miles Bergman, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Ivan Soldo, Will Brodie, Jordon Sweet
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