Port lock in third spot despite 'concern'; Dusty statement amid ...

Port Adelaide has locked in third place on the ladder after a 31-point win over a brave Richmond at Adelaide Oval, 13.16 (94) to 8.15 (63).

A tight contest all day, Ken Hinkley’s men kicked five goals in the last term to run away with the victory and book in a Qualifying Final clash against Brisbane at the Gabba.

It meanwhile ended Richmond’s season, finishing in 13th place as the club ushers in a new era after the mid-season departure of long-time coach Damien Hardwick and retirements from club champions Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin.

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QUARTER-BY-QUARTER MATCH REPORT

There were no late changes, with Dylan Williams (Port Adelaide) and Rhyan Mansell (Richmond) named the starting subs.

The Tigers got off to a promising start, peppering the goals early before Shai Bolton put through their first for the day.

Richmond had very much brought great pressure and effort – dominating territory and inside 50s in the first quarter – with Jack Graham finishing a scintillating play for the visitors’ second goal for the day.

“They’ll leave nothing in the tank today the Tigers,” Fox Footy caller Dwayne Russell noted.

An unfortunate double 50m penalty against Richmond set up Port’s second goal before Willie Rioli narrowly missed a snap that could’ve given the home side the lead.

Noah Balta was moved forward in a negating role on Aliir Aliir in a bold coaching move by Andrew McQualter.

The Tigers’ pressure rating was up at 210 in the first quarter, labelled “fantastic” by Hawks legend Dermott Brereton and their “premiership-winning trademark” by Russell.

Ollie Lord kicked two goals for the Power in the first quarter to help fill the void with no Marshall or Charlie Dixon.

“Its almost like a fate accompli: ‘Ollie you will take a backseat once we get a full and fit team.’ But if he keeps playing like this, he might just force his way in,” Brereton said of Lord.

“You like a bloke who makes an opposition go: ‘Where’s he? I don’t like being tackled by him’.”

Port took a five-point lead into quarter-time, 4.3 (27) to 3.4 (22).

Richmond kicked the opening goal of the second term after a Jacob Baeur bouncing kick fortuitously bobbed through the big sticks.

Fox Footy pundits noted that Port was playing well below its best form, with the Tigers looking more dangerous with the ball.

“No rhythm whatsoever, they’re on their heels a bit here and a bit tentative. In that sort of protection mode of what’s to come,” Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson said of Port on Fox Footy.

After Richmond got another inside 50, Johnson added: “This is becoming a bit of an issue now the weight of numbers Richmond is driving the ball inside 50 – already up to 23.

Brereton added: “I’m with you Brad, this is getting a little concerning. I don’t think Ken’s going to be happy with 13 inside 50s for his team and 26 to Richmond. Though they hold a slender three-point lead, it’s not what he wants.”

Francis Evans kicked a timely goal from a tight angle for the Power to extend their lead to nine points as the club’s more efficiency forward 50 proved crucial compared to the wasteful Tigers.

But Ivan Soldo would help turn the tide with a powerful mark inside 50 and goal to get the Tigers back within a point.

“They deserve it because we’ve spoken how well they’ve played this quarter without the reward on the scoreboard, now 2.6 on the quarter,” Johnson noted.

The Power took a narrow two-point lead into half-time, 6.7 (43) to 5.11 (41).

It was goal for goal to start the third term including Dan Rioli capitalising on a costly Port turnover.

Rioli had an opportunity in front of goal after the Power got a downfield free kick, but he couldn’t convert the shot.

In a blow for the Tigers, Maurice Rioli was subbed out in the third quarter with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

Sam Banks meanwhile kicked his first AFL goal to give his side the lead as he was mobbed by teammates.

Evans however very swiftly responded for the Power to give them back a four-point lead.

After a Kane Farrell long bomb goal on the three-quarter time siren was disallowed, the the Power took a six-point lead into the last change, 8.13 (61) to 7.13 (55).

Both sides missed opportunities in front of goal in the fourth quarter in what’d become a real arm wrestle at Adelaide Oval.

Sam Powell-Pepper finally broke the deadlock for the Power to extend his side’s lead out to 12 points, while Evans added another with an opportunistic finish from the outside of his boot.

With the game getting away from the Tigers, who else but Dustin Martin would respond with a trademark clutch goal to keep them alive.

Xavier Duursma pinged Dylan Grimes for holding the ball at deep full forward to stretch Port’s lead back out to 18 with just over three minutes remaining.

The Power stacked on two more goals to balloon the lead out to 30 points in a strong finish from Ken Hinkley’s side.

THE 3-2-1 ...

3. POWER OVERCOME ‘CONCERN’ TO LOCK IN THIRD SPOT

It’s official – the Power have finished the season in third place and will play Brisbane at the Gabba in a Qualifying Final in a fortnight’s time.

After a lull last month, Port won its last three games to close out a strong campaign full of confidence as it’ll regain forward stars Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall in addition to No. 1 ruckman Scott Lycett for finals.

The more efficient Port Adelaide withstood an abundance of inside 50s in the first half against the Tigers and made good on its chances in a determining factor in the game.

While the Power were able to even things up in the second half, in total, the home side went at 56 per cent inside 50 efficiency including a 45 per cent goalkicking accuracy.

Conversley, the wasteful Richmond went at 40 per cent and 35 per cent in the same areas respectivley.

Speaking at half-time, Hawks legend Dermott Brereton noted that it was a ‘concern’ Hinkley couldn’t afford to carry into finals if his side is to contend for the flag.

“The numbers that jump off the page for me 34 (Richmond inside 50s). If you extrapolate that out to a full game, 68, not many teams win against another side that goes in 68 times,” Brereton said on Fox Footy.

“That is something Ken will look at and say to himself: ‘We have to stop their ability to put the ball through transition from their defence to their forward.’

“That is a number he does not want to turn into finals, having to deal with that situation.

“That is something you find it difficult to live with … that is a concern.”

2. PORT STAR NULLIFIED FOR A HALF ... AND WHY FINALS OPPONENTS SHOULD TAKE NOTICE

Noah Balta played an effective shutdown role on Aliir Aliir until the star Port Adelaide defender got off the chain in the second half.

A clear tactic from Andrew McQualter by swinging Balta forward to nullify Aliir, stopping the Power gun’s natural intercepting game went a long way in keeping Richmond in the game.

Take notice Port’s finals opponents ....

“Noah Balta has been fantastic … he really gave Aliir Aliir a full set of cards he had to deal with,” Hawks legend Dermott Brereton said on Fox Footy.

“He struggled there for a little bit and has had very little effect on the game.”

However Aliir would take five of his eight intercepts in the third quarter alone to build confidence and help turn the game.

Western Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson noted that Port Adelaide playing more in its forward half – winning the inside 50 count 19-9 in the third term – allowed Aliir to “be more dangerous on the wings” and not “caught out in defensive 50.”

Ironically, Brereton believes Balta was more cautious of Aliir in the third term instead of playing his natural game.

“It was as if Noah Balta said: ‘Right, I’m just going to play on Aliir Aliir this quarter and tag him.’ But he got off the chain,” the five-time premiership player said.

“It’s amazing we can call it a centre half back getting off the chain. But all those intercepts in the third quarter, it was just so strong for his team there.

“Noah Balta was a handful when he went and marked the ball in the first half, he changed his game style approach there.”

1. ‘RUNNING HIS OWN RACE’: DUSTY STATEMENT AMID ‘RIDICULOUS’ AA DISRESPECT

Has Dustin Martin quietly put together an All-Australian calibre season?

The Tigers superstar continued his hot form against Port Adelaide to lead his side’s midfield brigade, finishing with a game-high 33 disposals, 14 contested, to go with five tackles and a goal.

Beyond the numbers, it was a truly vintage Dusty performance, even putting through a trademark clutch goal in the fourth quarter to keep his side in the game.

So while there’s a clear changing of the guard at Tigerland, some things have stayed the same.

A three-time Norm Smith medalist, Brownlow medallist and four-time All-Australian, Martin, one of the greatest players of the modern era, is arguably a victim of his own lofty standards.

But after averaging 23.6 disposals, 1.2 goals and five inside 50s in 2023, the 32-year old would have to be, at the very least, in the All-Australian conversation.

“We love talking about him because what he does produce … he’s running his own race out here at the moment,” Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson told Fox Footy at half-time.

“He’s in and around the contest, a little bit more of a different role up the ground and in and around the stoppage.

“He’s breaking through, looks good and is using his teammates really well.”