RETURN TO THE SCENE by Mel Rundle

The City of Adelaide played a significant role in Melbourne’s 2021 premiership campaign. The Demons kicked off the finals series over there when they brushed aside the Brisbane Lions on the Adelaide Oval and before that, they began their rejuvenation in early July when they won a true crossroads game against Port Adelaide after a flat month or so during the midseason.

They return to the scene on Thursday night another mission to accomplish - a tricky little encounter against the home side after a humiliating last-minute jaws of defeat loss to their crosstown rivals, the Crows. What can we say about them after that, except the fact that they’re in our hearts and prayers.

The challenge of beating a Port Adelaide that has seemingly been on the slide since it capitulated to the Bulldogs in last year’s Preliminary Final might look easy on the face of it - especially when they go into the game without their key position bookends in Aliir Aliir and Charlie Dixon but it would be folly for the team to completely let its guard to slip against a team with its backs to the wall.

The Power will struggle if they bring the same game and attitude that they took with them into their encounter with the Hawks in Round 2 when they were putrid. As a Demon fan living in the City of Churches, I would like to see a lot more of the same.

However, unless the players have totally lost themselves vis a vis their coach (and I don’t believe that to be the case), then it’s likely that they will be at the very least competitive knowing they’re coming up against the best side and they will be front and square on the football stage on Thursday night. Not only is their club’s reputation at stake but also, so is their own future and that of their coach. This, coming from the club that dominated the competition in 2020 and that has the 2021 Brownlow Medalist working in the team’s engine room.

As against that, it’s being said that at least two premiership players will be added to the 22 who will run out for Melbourne, namely Jake Lever and Ben Brown. The presence of these two can only result in a strengthened team performance over that of recent weeks (which was already good enough to claim the four points) and the Demons will make the most of the circumstances.

The fact of the matter is that Port are not at full strength and are a bit stunned by increased pace in the competition this year. Their style of play does not seem to work against the AFL’s power teams (of which the Power is not one). I suspect that for all his good intentions and effort, poor old Ken Hinkley will be looking sideways and behind his back when the game’s done and dusted.

Melbourne by 33 points.

And when that happens, make sure that you stay in town to watch the Demon Women demolish the other team that goes around in the City of Churches.

THE GAME



Port Adelaide v Melbourne on Thursday 7 April, 2022 at 7.40pm at Adelaide Oval



HEAD TO HEAD



Overall Port Adelaide 21 wins Melbourne 14 wins 



At Adelaide Oval Port Adelaide 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins



Past five meetings Port Adelaide 3 wins, Melbourne 2 wins 



The Coaches Hinkley 3 wins Goodwin 2 wins 



MEDIA


TV — live and on demand on Kayo and live on Foxtel. Check your local guides.

Radio — check your local guides.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

 Melbourne 12.14.87 defeated Port Adelaide 8.7.55 in Round 17, 2021 at the Adelaide Oval

Melbourne charged out of the blocks and led all night maintaining the ability to stave off any minor challenges Port Adelaide would make from time to time during the game.

Christian Petracca with 33 touches and 3 goals was in outstanding form for the Demons.

THE TEAMS

PORT ADELAIDE

B: T.Jonas 1 T.Clurey 17 L.Jones 34
HB: R.Burton 3 R.Bonner 26 D.Byrne-Jones 33
C: D.Houston 5 Z.Butters 18 K.Amon 15
HF: O.Wines 16 S.Motlop 6 C.Rozee 20
F: S.Mayes 32 T.Marshall 4 M.Georgides 19
Foll: S.Lycett 29 T.Boak 10 W.Drew 28
I/C: S.Powell-Pepper 2 M. Bergman 14 J.McEntee 44 J.Mead 44
Sub: T.Dumont Emerg: 43 S.Hayes 25 M.Frederick 45 

In: M.Bergman T.Clurey T.Dumont

Out: M.Frederick (omitted) T.McKenzie (knee) S.Skinner

MELBOURNE 

B: J.Hunt 29 S.May 1 A.Tomlinson 20
HB: A.Brayshaw 10 J.Lever 8 J.Bowey 17
C: J.Jordon 23 C.Petracca 5 E.Langdon 15
HF: J.Viney 7 T.McDonald 25 A.Neal-Bullen 30
F: C.Spargo 9 S.Weideman 26 B.Fritsch 31
Foll: M.Gawn 11 C.Oliver 13 K.Pickett 36
I/C: J.Harmes 4 L.Jackson 6 T.Rivers 24 T. Sparrow 32 
Sub: T.Bedford 12 Emerg: B.Howes 22 L.Dunstan 27 K.Chandler 37

In: J.Lever

Out: S.Smith (H & S protocols) 

Injury List: Round 4

Ben Brown - H & S Protocols | Available 
Jake Lever - Foot | Available 
Harry Petty - Calf | Available 
Michael Hibberd - Calf | 2 - 3 weeks
Daniel Turner - Foot | 3-5 weeks
Christian Salem - Knee | 4-6 weeks