Port Adelaide faces Sydney to open Saturday’s AFL game in a crucial battle between two clubs struggling to climb the ladder.
Power (5-7, 103%) are looking to recover from last week’s defeat to Richmond in a result that hurt hopes for the club’s final, which currently has three games out of the top eight. with Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell. it’s “essentially a elimination final” for Ken Hinkley’s team.
The Power welcomes Mitch Georgaides as he unleashes mid-season recruit Brynn Teackle, while Robbie Gray (rested) and Travis Boak (HS protocols) leave.
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The Swans (8-4, 118.8%), who are coming off their mid-season farewell, welcome Buddy Franklin, while a win would take them to the top four, even if they are only momentarily pending the outcome of the season. Geelong’s confrontation with West. It costs later on Saturday.
MATCH REPORT
There were no late changes for either side, with Xavier Duursma (Port Adelaide) and Braeden Campbell (Sydney) appointed as medical subordinates.
Returning Buddy Franklin scored the first goal of the match to gain some early confidence in the visitors.
Isaac Heeney followed with the next major of a long-range seven-shot to keep the momentum going with the Swans, who won the 50-yard touchdown run 8-2 in the first 10 minutes of the match.
“He’s a big Heeney, he looks like he’s ready to explode,” Brownlow medalist Gerard Healy told Fox Footy.
However, the Power responded in a big way from then on, throwing the next three goals to take the lead suddenly, and Healy noted that Sydney’s defense was “set”.
Todd Marshall, who leads AFL in goal-scoring accuracy this year, scored his second goal of the season with the siren of the quarterfinals to extend Power’s lead to eight points, 4.3 (27) and 3.1 (19).
Will Hayward scored the first goal of the second quarter, but Marshall responded at the other end for his third major of the day.
Port Zak Butters limped off the field and was replaced by Xavier Duursma.
Fox Footy experts noted that it represented a great opportunity for Duursma, who this year has fallen into disgrace to play, playing only five games.
In the concerns of Power, first player Brynn Teakle suffered a collarbone injury after a major blow to Justin McInerney, who also ended prematurely on the day of the mid-season draftee.
Port still took a four-point lead at halftime, 6.6 (42) to 5.8 (38).
Charlie Dixon made Port a perfect start to the third season with a goal in the opening play, while Marshall continued with his fourth major after making a tight shot from the edge of the box.
“This is Sydney’s challenge because Port Adelaide is a believer. They don’t care about injuries, they’re just playing to win,” Healy said.
The match started at 13.45 from Adelaide Oval.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504) or broadcast it on Kayo, starting at 1:30 p.m.
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