It was arguably probably the most devastating show of the AFL season as Port Adelaide piled on 71 factors earlier than ladder-leading Sydney had troubled the scoreboard. The injury was executed lengthy earlier than the primary break however even after dropping down a gear for the second half, the Energy pulled away for a 112-point triumph that laid down their marker as a real 2024 premiership contender.
Simply 48 days later, Port Adelaide return for a rematch now tagged as underdogs. Even when supposed momentum wasn’t behind the Swans, it’s doubtless that Ken Hinkley would have discovered a option to shift the intangible pressure over to them. The Energy coach likes his facet to play with their backs to the wall, whether or not they’re beneath hearth from their very own followers, taking their flip because the punditariat’s weekly goal, or because the sufferer of a cheeky opponent’s pre-match jibe.
Port haven’t misplaced to the Swans since 2016, successful all eight matches since then by a median 34 factors, however will arrive on the SCG with their very own historical past to rewrite. This will likely be Port’s fourth preliminary remaining in 12 seasons beneath Hinkley; they’re nonetheless hoping to succeed in a primary grand remaining since 2007, not to mention finish the membership’s now 20-year anticipate a second flag.
Hinkley is joyful for his gamers to be charged with emotion even whether it is debatable whether or not ardour can solely get a soccer group thus far. However no matter impressed the extreme strain and dogged dedication that propelled the Energy in direction of a three-point victory over Hawthorn final week is one thing they are going to wish to carry into their conflict with the Swans on Friday night time.
The Energy have been capable of get the sport on their very own phrases in latest conferences with the Swans, dominating the clearances 41-31 and contested possessions 135-108 within the rout lower than seven weeks in the past. On this vital space of the sport, the Energy have solely lowered their colors to the Swans as soon as in clearances and twice for contested possessions throughout their eight-match successful streak.
Whether or not or not the Energy can prolong their supremacy over the Swans to a ninth encounter will doubtless rely upon the battle between every of their star-studded midfields. The Energy bat deep with captain Connor Rozee returning to type, Zak Butters and Ollie Wines main the best way as combative onballers, and the explosive Jason Horne-Francis seemingly at all times on the point of tearing a recreation aside.
However crucial position might fall to the versatile Willem Drew because the Energy midfielder requested to minimise the affect of the Swans’ triple menace. Twin All-Australian Errol Gulden has had weak spot uncovered in latest weeks when beneath the impact of a tough tag, restricted to a season-low 14 disposals towards Collingwood at the same time as Sydney began to shake off their late-season droop.
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Isaac Heeney, not coincidentally, had his quietest recreation of the season within the heavy defeat to the Energy, gathering solely 17 disposals that night time because the Swans’ different prime mover Chad Warner completed with 19. The dynamic duo have since bounced again and all however dragged their facet throughout the road in a qualifying remaining thriller towards GWS Giants, when Heeney was imperious throughout the competition with 30 touches and three objectives whereas Warner saved his greatest for the final time period as he collected 13 of his 27 disposals.
The Swans pair are simply as essential to their hopes within the ahead half with Warner booting 32 objectives and Heeney 31 to each be among the many prime three midfielders within the competitors for impression on the scoreboard. Even with no formidable point of interest, the Swans are the best scoring facet within the league whereas averaging 97 factors a recreation, however solely managed a season-low 36 within the spherical 21 humiliation towards the Energy. Locking down on the Swans’ heavy-hitters and scoring potential has been a key to the Energy’s head-to-head success, proscribing their opponents to a median 61 factors throughout their eight-win stretch.
The Energy had been capable of overcome fielding an inexperienced backline of their semi-final towards the Hawks, with Aliir Aliir and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher marshalling the defence whereas younger gun Jase Burgoyne delivered a breakout efficiency. Aliir lined up at full-back the final time the Swans defeated the Energy in 2016, however was carrying pink and white at the moment earlier than switching golf equipment 4 years later.
After struggling for type and even shedding his stronghold on a place on the again throughout his final season with the Swans, Aliir earned an All-Australian blazer in his first yr with the Energy. The 30-year-old has averaged related numbers for disposals, rebounds and intercept marks this season in comparison with 2021, although he hasn’t fairly had the identical direct affect on a outcome as on his final go to to the SCG.
The Energy had overrun the Swans within the remaining time period in spherical 4 final yr when Oliver Florent had a possibility to grab victory with a set shot after the siren. The midfielder’s rocket from the 50m arc regarded set to sail by means of for a purpose till Aliir leapt highest to knock the ball again into play. That two-point margin continues to be the closest the Swans have come to beating the Energy in eight years, and whereas the latest blowout is unlikely to be repeated the previous two outcomes ought to be agency reminders that Hinkley’s mob can win in a number of methods and thrive on being underrated.
