PORT ADELAIDE 2.4 8.6 12.11 18.13 (121)
MELBOURNE 2.7 4.9 9.12 10.16 (76)
Goals: Port Adelaide: C Dixon 5 A Young 2 C Wingard 2 J Impey 2 D Byrne-Jones D Howard H Hartlett J Neade N Krakouer R Gray T Boak. Melbourne: J Hogan 3 J Watts 2 M Gawn 2 A Neal-Bullen D Kent J Garlett
Best: Port Adelaide: C. Dixon, J. Westhoff, C. Wingard, D. Byrne-Jones, B. Ebert, J. Pittard, T. Boak, R.Gray. Melbourne: M. Gawn, N. Jones, J. Hogan, B. Vince, J. Watts
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Jacob Mollison, Sam Hay
Venue: Traeger Park, Alice Springs
Melbourne's Alice Springs adventures may be a commercial success, but on-field, they remain a failure. The Demons frittered away ample chances against Port Adelaide on Saturday, losing to the Power at Traeger Park for the third straight year. In doing so they blew a chance to move two games and percentage clear of Ken Hinkley's side.
The 45-point loss could prove even more costly – with midfield dynamo Jack Viney likely to face attention from the match review panel for a flurry of first half whacks to the face of Power opponent Brad Ebert. Dees backman Colin Garland was also left groggy after copping a stray elbow in the final term.
By definition, this match pitted the two most average sides in the competition. Melbourne entered the game ninth on the ladder; Port Adelaide were 10th.
The first quarter was marred by wastefulness from both sides. Jack Watts kicked the game's opening goal, but the Dees' next seven scoring shots were all behinds. Dom Tyson was twice an offender, while Watts and Jeff Garlett also failed to convert chances. It says something then that Port were arguably the sloppier of the two teams in front of goal during the early stages. Dougal Howard sprayed the match's first shot to the right, while Chad Wingard's lively start was undermined by his profligacy.
The one reliable target at either end was Charlie Dixon – who slotted four goals before the long change. Dixon's bearded partner Justin Westhoff was also among the best players on the ground, with the veteran roaming far and wide to impart significant influence on the contest.
Wingard kicked one early in the second term, but missed another shortly afterwards. He had learned his lesson though. Halfway through the stanza he opted against trying his luck from the pocket – instead centring the ball to captain Travis Boak, who duly slotted a regulation set shot. It underpinned a key theme of the first half: the Power were more disciplined.
Melbourne got physical at times. But it was the wrong kind of physical. This was best represented by Viney. The young Demons star had just two disposals to quarter time, but appeared keen to partake in a minor quarter time melee after sending four open-palmed whacks the way of close-checking opponent Brad Ebert. Viney copped a stern word from coach Paul Roos at the first break. The midfielder lifted his game as the day wore on, but his side were still well beaten in the tackle count.
As happened 13 days earlier against the Western Bulldogs, Jesse Hogan's aerial dominance was undone by at-times poor finishing. He kicked steadying goals at the end of both the first and second quarters, but ended his day with 3.4. Max Gawn – relieved on occasion by Watts – monstered Port's makeshift ruck combination of Jackson Trengove and Howard – the latter of whom ended the day icing his hamstring. But there weren't enough Melbourne contributors, with Port's deep midfield besting a Dees' on-ball brigade that left too much work to skipper Nathan Jones.
Twenty-one points down at half time, the Demons' hopes of a strong start to the third quarter were quickly dashed. It took them nine minutes to get the ball inside 50, by which time the Power had extended the margin to 34. Melbourne threatened after consecutive goals to Watts and Alex-Neal Bullen, but thereafter Hinkley's dogged side responded. Port looked have to weathered the red and blue storm, and Howard could have restored the lead to 28 points when he bounded towards goal deep into time on. He missed, and Melbourne raced down the other end. In Gawn they finally found a player capable of outmarking the dominant Westhoff. The ruckman's second brought the margin back to 17, giving Paul Roos' men a chance at three-quarter time.
The Power steadied again though. An early Aaron Young snap snuffed out much of the Demons' energy. Jones, Bernie Vince and Hogan all missed before Port surged forward, allowing Wingard to cap an impressive Indigenous round showing with his second goal. By that point it was effectively over. By day's end, both teams were 5-5, and both still about average.
VOTES
M.Gawn (Melbourne) 9
C. Dixon (Port Adelaide) 8
J. Westhoff (Port Adelaide) 7
C. Wingard (Port Adelaide) 7
D. Byrne-Jones (Port Adelaide) 6
