Port Adelaide’s finals temperature check: Run home, wildcard player, why they can win it and more

SEN’s The Run Home team of Andy Maher, Josh Jenkins and Julian De Stoop have undertaken a finals temperature check on the teams still in contention.

They have taken a close look at some varying categories which could decide whether they qualify for finals in some cases or even contend for the premiership.

The categories are: The Run Home, Recent Signature Win, Wildcard Player, Medical Room (key outs), Why They Can (make it/win it) and Why They Can’t (make it/win it).

Port Adelaide is on the agenda next. Ken Hinkley’s Power currently sit seventh on the ladder with a record of 11-7 and with plenty or work to do to qualify for finals.

The Run Home

Round 20: v Carlton (MS)
Round 21: v Sydney (AO)
Round 22: v Melbourne (MCG)
Round 23: v Adelaide (AO)
Round 24: v Fremantle (OS)

De Stoop: “That’s a really tough run.”

Recent Signature Win

De Stoop: “They belted the Dogs by eight goals two weeks ago, that’s pretty strong.”

Wildcard Player

__Charlie Dixon and other Power forwards __

De Stoop: “Dixon is the obvious. They’re so inconsistent with their key forwards.

“Mitch Georgiades has been pretty good off an ACL. Todd Marshall hasn’t had a good year and is out of the side at the moment with an injury.

“Dixon has been hot and cold. He hasn’t had a great year either but I think he can produce more.

“Willie Rioli has kicked 19 goals in 12 games, it’s not enough for a player of his quality.”

Medical Room (key outs)

Lachie Jones (concussion, test)
Jeremy Finlayson (spleen, season)
Sam Powell-Pepper (knee, season)
Ivan Soldo (knee, 2 weeks)

De Stoop: “I think Soldo is still important to them if they can get him back.

“Todd Marshall and Kane Farrell are in the mix this week, they’re clearly in their best 22.

“I’m not convinced Lachie Jones is in their best side.”

Jenkins: “I’m not convinced Todd Marshall is either.”

Maher: “He better be, they’ve give him a seven-year contract.:”

Why They Can

De Stoop: “The fact that Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis on their day can torch anyone.

“If those three are on, and we saw it against the Bulldogs recently when there wasn’t enough time put into them, they can torch anyone.”

Why They Can’t

De Stoop: “Their key forwards and key defenders are too inconsistent.

“As we went through, I think their draw means they can’t make it. I think they’ll find themselves out of the top eight by the end of the season.”

Jenkins: “They ain’t making it.”