How Big Dix and A Good Ryder Can Win Showdown 45
- Aug 2, 2018
- 5 min read
Showdown 45 is on the horizon, and for fans of the Adelaide Crows or the Port Adelaide Power, it’s do or die. The two teams battled out a close game earlier in the season, where Steven Motlop kicked a goal with only seconds left to win it for the Power. But this time, the Crows will be out to seek revenge, so what has to happen for Port to win back-to-back showdowns?
The game for Port Adelaide is a must win, they have more on the line this season than the Crows. Losing showdown 45 would mean they would likely drop out of the top 4, and even fall close to the bottom of the top eight. Port Adelaide haven’t been able to build a good percentage this season and hold the one of the lowest for competing teams, this makes keeping ahead of the teams below them is vital. As for the Crows, their finals chances are pretty much already buried, but they will be out to redeem themselves after being heartbroken last time. Both teams will be out to play hard, and as simple as it sounds, the harder team will win on the day.
Skills will be important on the day, and if either team can kick with efficiency and hit targets then they will be one step ahead. However, Showdown’s are scrappy, and bodies will be going hard at each other and at the ball. The first key to Port Adelaide winning Showdown 45, is that they have to win the contested possession. This will mean players like Ollie Wines, Travis Boak and Sam Powell-Pepper will really have to step up, get in and under the defenders and put their bodies on the line. It is seen almost every week from hard-hitter Powell-Pepper, but the last few weeks have proven to be reasonably quiet for Wines and Boak, who don’t seem to have had the standout games that they are capable of. These two will need to step up and win us the ball in 50-50 situations. Last time, the Power won the contested possession count 157-137, and on the last sequence, a contested possession was the difference between winning and losing.
Staying with the scrappy theme, Port Adelaide will have to lay as many tackles as they can. Missing tackles really isn’t an option against the Crows. Their ability to get out and run is extremely dangerous, and on a fast break is when their inside targets like Tex Walker are most dangerous. If Port Adelaide can slow the game up with tackles and create turnovers through their pressure the it will be a huge step towards a victory. Earlier this season Powell-Pepper broke the club record for tackles in a single game with 17. A repeat performance might be a bit too much to ask, but double-digit tackles from him would definitely set the tone. Our backline will have to record a few, but perhaps the most important will be tackles made in our half of the field by out forward line. The Power will have to put a focus on forward line pressure and keeping the ball down our end of the field, away from the weapons of the Crows. Dixon will need to make his presence felt, not only as a marking option, but as a tackler while players like Wingard. In the previous meeting, Port made 13 tackles in their forward 50, 5 more than the Crows, the value of these tackles can’t be underestimated.
Port Adelaide’s goal kicking hasn’t been fantastic this season and if it isn’t good on Saturday then another focus will be on intercept marks when the ball is leaving our forward 50. Westhoff has had an incredible year and seems to be involved in just about every marking contest. The Power will need a big game from The Hoff to crash packs all around the field. Polec will also need to be present around the contests to either crumb or pick up some intercept marks.
The Port Adelaide defence has been fantastic this year, only allowing an average of 70 points against them, while the Crows allow an average of 84. On the flipside, the Crows average one more point than the Power, 83-82. Port will have to capitalise on every opportunity the get from turnovers in the backline. This means kicking efficiency will be vital, as will the previously mentioned contested possessions when the ball goes to ground after leaving the backline.
In Showdown 45, Dixon didn’t make an impact on the scoreboard, yet still played a pretty good game. After kicking five goals last week, it will be a huge boost if Dixon can continue with that form and really make his presence felt on the scoreboard. However, even if he doesn’t kick goals, it doesn’t mean he hasn’t done his job. The body of Dixon has the ability to take two or three of the Crows out of the contest. This opens up opportunities for our small forwards to get the ball when it goes to ground. Providing Dixon throws his body around as much as possible, Port Adelaide will have plenty of opportunities to score.
Finally, comes perhaps the most important battle of the day. . . The ruck contest between Patrick Ryder and Sam Jacobs. The two have gone back and forth the last couple of showdowns, Jacobs wins one game, and then Ryde wins the next and the impact of who wins the rucking contest is evident in the result of the game. While Ryder doesn’t have to dominate the ruck to be effective, he has to compete. This doesn’t mean winning all the ruck contests, but it means interfering with Jacobs enough that he can’t tap the ball to where he wants to. Coming back from injury the challenge is set out for Ryder, but the Power will need a big return game from him after only playing a small amount last week against the Bulldogs.
The Power have struggled a bit of late and haven’t been in their best form, but Showdown 45 will give them the perfect chance to make a push to solidify a finals place, find some form and momentum heading into the home stretch of the season. If Ryder steps up and plays at, or close to the All-Australian level he played at last year, and our mid-fielders and forward line manage to apply pressure through tackles and winning the 50-50 balls, then the Power should be looking good to win back-to-back Showdowns.
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