Port Adelaide v Melbourne at Alberton Oval, 2.35pm ACST

PORT ADELAIDE

In: K.Lamb, J.Evans
Out: C.Hammond (finger), L.Paterson (omitted)

MELBOURNE

In: Nil
Out: Nil

Avg. games experience of teams as selected:

Melbourne: 40.4

Port: 36.1

Age breakdown of selected teams:

Melbourne: 9 (aged 18-22); 8 (22-29); 4 (30+)

Port: 14 (aged 18-22); 2 (22-29); 5 (30+)

Top 5 avg. disposal efficiency (avg. disposals) Rnd 1-4*:

Melbourne: Chaplin 77.3% (17.8); Hanks 71.3% (28.5); Zanker 70% (14.0); Hore 69.8% (20.5); Paxman 63.4% (18.5)

Port: Goody 71.0% (13.0); Brooksby 61.8% (14.5); Lamb 59.7% (13.0); Syme 58.7% (15.2); Scholz 50.8% (16.8)

*Players with 3+ games and averaging 13+ disposals

In this game:

- The Dees play Port for premiership points for the first time, leaving the Swans as the only opponents we haven't faced in AFLW.

- Kate Hore overtakes Lily Mithen as the games record holder for Melbourne (83 games).

- Megan Fitzsimon plays her 50th game. In 2025 so far, she has 33 tackles, the equal-most in our team and equal-10th in the league.

Edited September 11, 2025Sep 11 by Dees_In_October

An aflw game should had been played last night.

The nrl had a women's game on.

Just feel the afl missed an opportunity

Adelaide forecast is 19°, light breeze and sunny which should suit our tall forwards and style of play.

It is hard to get a read on Port. They were thrashed by North (but who hasn’t been) but thrashed the Suns (who hasn’t). Sholz, Houghton, Woodland and Dowrick are their key players but particularly Sholz, who is a highly athletic ruck and budding superstar.

Love that we go in with an unchanged line-up for the first time this year. That consistency of selection can only help the new players gel into the team.

Go Dees!

Port have scored the fourth highest number of points of any team this year but are the fifth lowest for defence.

Won't be a pushover but we should be stronger and more skilful on the rebound

10 hours ago, dees189227 said:

An aflw game should had been played last night.

The nrl had a women's game on.

Just feel the afl missed an opportunity

But that would have veered dangerously close to promoting the women's game. We can't have that. 🙄

Come on girls. Get the job done again.

On another note, I noticed the pies were at home again & next week to. That's 3 home games in a row. Do they get the same contract as the men's. They don't have to travel?

we're in a game here

poor first quarter. fumbly and missing targets

port are showing plenty of intent and bringing the heat

grumlbe grumble

When it comes to our women's team, I want to see crushings, not slugged out evenly matched fights.

I want Jack Reacher from the series not the movies.

not playing well. need to get their game flowing.
Making some really poor decisions, such as 3 meter [censored] kicks that don't hit targets.

stop phaffing about handballing.

stinear needs to sort this at half time

Any chance someone could kick a goal?

Experienced players have missed who should be better

Going like busteds

port are far more direct. no missing around

we're in real trouble here

Finally.... fast movement with kicks.

I'm not sure who the commentator 'Bec' is but based on her voice and our goalkicking, she had a few drinks with our forward line pre-game.

i hope we find our shooting boots and put them on at half time

woeful kicking for goal

poor half

port are applying the heat so credit to them but our skills are letting us down

we can win this but we need to be cleaner and we have to take our chances. another 1-7 will not get it done.

Very high pressure from both teams so far. According to the app, our pressure rating was 247 in the first quarter, and Port were 237.

7 minutes ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

Very high pressure from both teams so far. According to the app, our pressure rating was 247 in the first quarter, and Port were 237.

Geeze. Not how we want it. As Harford said, we want to be putting handball chains together, not getting into an endless arm wrestle.

Sort the structure out. Port have extra players in dangerous parts of the ground.

great tackle colvin

we are all over the place. no structure or method at all

Mick having a nap today?

our defense could be better but isn't our biggest problem today harford

we can't move the ball.

colvin has been one of our best today