3 minute read
Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2021 AFL Season.
We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.
PORT ADELAIDE V RICHMOND
Friday 9 April @ Adelaide Oval
The last time these two squared off it was a classic. Can that be repeated so few games later?
Port and Richmond met on this ground in the Prelim last year and the Tiges just prevailed. Once that gave them the chance of another GF, they took it with glee.
There have been fascinations on this ground between the two. Beside the famous Elimination Final of 2014 when the Power kicked a zillion goals in the first quarter running with the wind, there was also a couple of years back when Tom Lynch surged the yellow and blacks home when they were stricken with injury, illness and suspension.
You would normally have expected these two would be arriving off positivity with the chests out. As it is, they hit the Adelaide Oval off spankings. Port was at the hands of the Eagles while the Tigers had theirs handed to them by the upstart Swans.
Port Adelaide was never ever in the match in Perth. You always need to start well when facing either home team at Optus Stadium so when they were down by 27 at the first break, you knew they were in big, big trouble.
They were picked apart by the elite kicking that West Coast as known for as well as the superb high flying marking too. Three bigs up forward made the defensive style that Port enjoy look a worrisome tactic. This week will be slightly different but not that much.
Aliir Aliir was traded in to be that intercepting, drop off defender so accountability was lacking given that opposition. Will it be better suited here – it could be.
Their best midfielders were OK but you need to be at your best to beat the Eagles. Run and carry and slicing through is more their play but the Eagles mids easily had the best of that battle.
As we mentioned in the Sydney Essendon Preview yesterday, Richmond just never looked likely on a hot day at the MCG.
While it was surprising, this little pattern has been something they've become accustom through their glory period of late.
An early season glitch of large proportions had some asking questions and yet by the time September or October came around, they were atop their mantle.
The one difference in 2021 is the rule changes could have impacted upon the method. Speed through the middle with ball movement means the midfielders become less able to drop back and help the defence and in turn those defenders need to be more accountable.
Zoning off instead of playing man on man with arms across may not be much of a move for a while. And while Sydney has been brilliant in their games up forward, you'd have to say Port has an even more well-known front 50 line up.
Dustin Martin was not at his best last week so will be wanting to switch that back on fast. It was a dual system of tagging there with Parker/Kennedy doing it at the centre bounces and then Hewett around the ground.
Maybe, with the depth of the Power's midfield, could Boak and Wines take him at times by sacrificing their games for the good of the team?
Richmond would love being stark outsiders in a game for the first time in a long while. Hardwick would have the walls painted with impressions that the football community has given up on them. They will be ferocious – especially early.
Long term they will miss Prestia and others and it might mean a little short term pain while playing the longer game.
Port Adelaide just but nothing would surprise in 2021.
Match Selection: Port Adelaide by 3 points
Suggested Bets: Richmond H2H after Q1 @ $2.20
