Port Adelaide’s four-game losing streak is over as the Power put an in-form GWS to the sword in a 51-point win at Adelaide Oval.
With their top two hopes on the line, the Power were out of the blocks with a bang – piling on the biggest score GWS has conceded since 2015.
And the pain didn’t stop there as Port Adelaide refused to allow the Giants any rhythm before running out 21.10 (136) to 13.7 (85) victors.
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It’s Port Adelaide’s highest-ever score against the Giants in a remarkable display that sealed their top four finish in 2023.
Willie Rioli, Todd Marshall, Miles Bergman and Jason Horne-Francis all finished with three goals. Horne-Francis had a day out as he racked up 27 disposals and seven score involvements.
The Giants are now one win outside of the top eight off the back of a second-straight loss.
QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT
The Power made a late change, with Sam Hayes replacing Francis Evans in the 22. Evans and Jacob Wehr (GWS) were named starting subs.
It was young Ollie Lord who found himself in the right place at the right time to snap the first goal of the match for the Power.
Willie Rioli had Port’s second a short time later – albeit after a score review delay when Sam Taylor claimed to get a fingertip to it.
With inconclusive evidence, the goal umpire’s call of a goal stood.
“Good signs for Port early with their ball movement,” commentator Jonathan Brown said.
When Giant Callan Ward was caught standing still, the spoil came and Miles Bergman took full advantage to nail Port’s third goal for the term.
“I know he’s played a lot of footy (Ward) and sometimes you think no one’s around you but if in doubt, you’ve got to go at it. Take the man from behind you out of the equation,” Mark Ricciuto lamented from the boundary.
Just as the Power looked to be cruising with a 26-point advantage, two quick goals to Jake Riccardi – including a hands in the back free kick against Aliir Aliir – ensured the Giants got on the scoreboard.
Bergman added his second off a few steps from 50 as his brilliant opening term rolled on.
And when he added a third for the term, after the quarter time siren, the Power had a remarkable 45-18 lead.
Port’s 7.3 is the worst first quarter score GWS has conceded since 2015 in alarming signs for coach Adam Kingsley.
The pain continued for GWS in the second term as Port Adelaide extended their lead to 48 points.
The Giants backmen didn’t get a break as the footy came in at pace repeatedly.
“They look exhausted the Giants defenders,” Brown said.
“They just haven’t been able to breathe.
“The fuel tank would be crashing at empty – they’d be looking at the clock looking to half time.”
The only sour point for the Power in the second term came when star Aliir Aliir came crashing down from a pack mark attempt.
Given the defender missed last week in the concussion protocols, it was a hold-your-breath moment for coach Ken Hinkley.
At half time, the Power were up 67-26.
The second half began just like the first term as Port Adelaide “could smell blood” to pile on two quick goals – including a ripping snap to Sam Powell-Pepper.
Jason Horne-Francis hit Jeremy Finlayson out the back in a brilliant passage of play, but he couldn’t convert.
“When they’ve had the opportunity, they’ve exploded out of their back half,” Brown said.
Only a “breakdown” in Port’s back half allowed the Giants to kick their fifth goal.
When Powell-Pepper crashed through at stoppage, he was able to dish the footy off to Darcy Byrne-Jones in the square to ensure Port enjoyed a 53-point lead.
The Giants found a spark and kicked back to back goals as the intensity lifted.
When the skipper Toby Greene found an avenue to goal, GWS weren’t done with yet.
But just as the visitors looked to have momentum, it was Horne-Francis who shut the door with a big goal on the run and then a second minutes later from the pocket.
“When Port Adelaide have had their chances, they’ve gone forward and been damaging,” Nathan Buckley said.
“All of a sudden GWS potentially lose hope again,” Brown added.
At the final change it was Port up 105-53.
A “stiff” free kick against Powell-Pepper allowed the Giants to open scores in the final term as both sides traded blows.
Rioli ensured Port still held a big advantage when he went early and brought down the one-on-one mark and goaled.
And the Power confirmed they were still a team to beat come September as they ran out 51-point winners.
THE 3-2-1…
3. UNDERMANNED PORT ‘SUFFOCATE’ IN-FORM GIANTS
The Power were forced into six changes for the clash with GWS after illness has swept through the camp.
Fox Footy’s Mark Ricciuto revealed players had been told to stay away from the club early in the week in a bid to stop the spread.
But the team shake up mattered little as Port were punishing in the opening half – and had the match essentially won by the main break.
The Power kicked 7.3 in the opening term – the worst first quarter score conceded by GWS since 2015 as alarm bells started to ring.
And those bells became full-blown problems in the second term as Port Adelaide put their foot down, when their “DNA” returned.
“Port’s pressure was suffocating in the first half,” Fox Footy’s Jonathan Brown praised.
Statistics showed the home side had 13 scoring shots from 25 inside 50s in the opening half – with a remarkable return rate of less than one in three for a goal.
“This is Port’s DNA – it’s back. This is exactly how they were in the first half of the season. Front half turnovers and then swoop from there,” Brown said.
“They are really getting to the fall of the ball.
“When it hits the ground, it feels as if the Port smalls are the first at it. And if they are not, they’re putting the pressure on.”
The Power racked up 24 front half intercepts to half time – when their season average for an entire game is 26.
The footy just lived in Port’s front half, putting an enormous strain on the Giants’ backmen.
“They look exhausted the Giants defenders,” Brown said during the second term.
“They’ve just got to get it out of their back half at the moment.
“The Giants can’t take a mark to take the sting off the game.
“They are disorganised now behind the ball.
“There’s holes opening up. Port can take their time going inside 50 and hit up the leading target.”
Mark Ricciuto said it looked like the Giants just “weren’t on the same page” while Nathan Buckley described the match as “a let-down they wouldn’t have been expecting”.
2. HOW ‘FREER’ JHF FOUND HIS ‘LETHAL’ GROOVE
It was the big off-season deal that saw former No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis land at Port Adelaide after he demanded a trade home.
And after setting the competition on fire early, the second-year young gun fell away in terms of match impact.
But against GWS, the rookie was back to his best – and Crows premiership hero Mark Ricciuto believes the youngster’s form could be the difference in September.
“If Jason Horne-Francis can play some great footy … he’s had a sore back over the last month or two but he looks like he’s moving freer … he was electric through that midfield,” he praised.
“His speed, on top of what (teammate Connor) Rozee and (Zak) Butters can do, is absolutely unstoppable.
“If he can be consistently good from here on in and just couple up with Butters, Rozee, (Ollie) Wines, Willem Drew – it’ll be a lethal midfield come September.
“He’s really struggling with his back for a couple of months, getting a fair amount of treatment, struggling to train, but he looks a lot freer.”
Horne-Francis was the difference in the third term when the Giants did actually fire a shot.
When Toby Greene brought his side within six goals, it was Horne-Francis who turned the tide back in Port’s favour with two quick goals.
The first was a snap on the run and his second came from a big mark in the pocket.
He added a third goal in the final term to put icing to Port’s big win.
“He gets better and better every week!” commentator Dwayne Russell said.
Lions premiership great Jonathan Brown said Horne-Francis had “enormous power” that was hard to stop.
“The way he explodes through stoppage, (Giants opponent) Tom Green couldn’t go with him. He’s got massive power through those hips and legs and he’s a beautiful finisher as well,” he said.
Nathan Buckley said the fact the former No.1 draft pick was able to hit the scoreboard and finish his work made him a “dangerous” opponent.
Horne-Francis said he was just happy to come away with the win and his progress on the back issue.
“It’s probably been holding me up a bit. Been a bit sore but I’m trying a few things to get better. It’s helping out,” he told Fox Footy.
The midfielder finished with 27 disposals, seven score involvements and three goals.
1. WHERE DOES HAYES SIT?
The Power have five players at 200cm and taller on their list in an embarrassment of ruck riches.
Rookie Brynn Teakle, Sam Hayes, Scott Lycett, Dante Visentini and Charlie Dixon are all options for coach Ken Hinkley in the ruck.
Add in the fact Jeremy Finlayson and Ollie Lord can pitch in and as a result, Hayes has struggled to get regular game time.
But with injuries to Lycett and Dixon, Hayes was given the nod ahead of young Teakle to take on in-form Giant Kieran Briggs.
With Demon Brodie Grundy looming as a big trade target, according to reports, Mark Ricciuto said Hayes was “playing for his career” in these final games.
“Just second game of the year, ninth overall,” Ricciuto said.
“Hayes would be playing for his career here.
“He was written off. Didn’t look like he’d get another game.
“Plays well tonight and he might be keeping his spot in the side in the next couple of weeks.”
Dwayne Russell said Hayes had spent six seasons on the list to “show them he can play”.
“He’s done his job (against GWS),” Russell said before Hayes was subbed out in the final term.
Vision of the big man at half time showed him getting work on his shoulder, and as he sat on the bench in the final term grabbed at it again.
“He’s grabbing his left shoulder there, certainly carrying it. I think he’s only played a couple of games in the last month nursing it through,” Ricciuto explained.
South Australian Grundy remains on the outs at his new club Melbourne as he struggles for regular ruck time with Dees skipper Max Gawn.
Instead, Grundy has been forced to ply his trade as a forward.
But making any potential trade for Grundy more difficult is the fact Port Adelaide does not own a first-round pick in this year’s draft, having dealt it in the Jason Horne-Francis swap last year.
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