Port Adelaide players say they struggled to communicate with each other against Hawthorn because of the awesome atmosphere their crowd created, but know it is something they will have to adjust to.
Robbie Gray training at Adelaide Oval today. Picture: Calum Robertson. Source: News Limited
ROBBIE Gray reaches the 100-game milestone this Saturday ranked as the number one small forward in the AFL.
Teammate Chad Wingard and Hawthorn's Luke Breust kick more goals and the Western Bulldogs' Luke Dahlhaus wins more of the ball, but for overall impact no one can match Gray over the first nine rounds of the season.
After failing to crack the top 10 in Port's best and fairest last season as he worked his way back from a long-term knee injury, Gray is in All-Australian form in 2014.
He's averaging career bests in disposals, disposal efficiency, contested possession, clearances, inside 50s, score assists and goals and has the Power on track for their best season in attack since 2001.
Gray baulked when asked if he was playing the best football of his career, but there's no doubt he is.
"I'm not too sure, it's sort of a hard one to judge. Hopefully I've still got some good footy ahead of me," Gray said.
"I'm at the age now where I've been around for a while, I suppose it's about doing it consistently now and hopefully I can do that going forward."
Port is scoring 111 points per game in 2014, which if maintained for a full season would rank second to the club record of 112ppg set in 2001.
The Power had multiple options in attack that season — Warren Tredrea (51 goals), Stuart Dew (44), Che Cockatoo-Collins (41), Gavin Wanganeen (41) and Peter Burgoyne (30) all reaching the 30-goal mark.
It's a similar story this season. Jay Schulz, Wingard, Gray and Matt White are all on track to pass that mark, while Angus Monfries would if he could stay on the park.
"We've got a good mix down there at the moment," Gray said.
"But we're only as good as the delivery coming in. The defence and the midfield have such a huge impact on the way we move the ball and that makes it easier for us as forwards.
"It probably makes us look a little bit better."
AFL'S BEST SMALL FORWARDS
Champion Data Ranking Points
1. Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide) - 108.1
2. Jimmy Bartel (Geelong) - 107.2
3. Luke Dahlhaus (Western Bulldogs) - 102.2
4. Luke Breust (Hawthorn) - 97.8
5. Paul Chapman (Essendon) - 97.3
100 shades of Gray — Robbie reaches milestone
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100 shades of Gray — Robbie reaches milestone
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100 shades of Gray — Robbie reaches milestone
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