Fitness not enough for Port

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Port Adelaide coach, Ken Hinkley, admitted his side did not handle the pressure around the football as well as the Kangaroos did.

Hamish Hartlett at Port Adelaide training. Picture: SARAH REED. Source: News Corp Australia

PORT Adelaide's claim as the AFL's fittest team is not enough to also establish the Power as a top-four contender.

Premiership-winning veteran Kane Cornes acknowledged this as the Power dealt with the lessons of the seven-point loss to North Melbourne that highlighted the Port players need strong minds to match their fast legs.

Cornes praised the Kangaroos for putting the Power under "amazing pressure - the best pressure we have faced for a fair amount of time" - and exposing his young teammates to invaluable lessons not on offer in fitness training at Alberton.

"The lesson is - when we are challenged - continue to play the way we know is successful," Cornes said.

"The group was exposed to amazing pressure (on Sunday when the Power conceded a last-quarter lead). And when that happens you have to keep playing our way; don't go safe - and take the game on. That is our strength.

"North Melbourne forced us to over-handball the ball - and that put us under more pressure. We're finding our way through the balance of kick-handball (ratios)," added Cornes.

Port Adelaide expect their star recruit Jared Polec to cop plenty of attention when he faces his former club, Brisbane Lions, for the first time.

The Power returns to Adelaide Oval on Saturday to celebrate its 2004 AFL premiership triumph when it hosts Brisbane, the club it dethroned at the MCG a decade ago when the Lions were billed as football's greatest-ever team after winning three consecutive flags.

Port will return to its 2004 jumper, the team's inaugural AFL guernsey with the teal top and black base to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the club's ultimate triumph from the extraordinary rivalry between the Power and Lions in 2001-04.

The match will mark the first test of the Oval's drawing power to football fans after a fortnight of "firsts" with the Showdown opening and the Crows' first home game on Saturday. And Cornes notes the Port fans have a major role against the Lions while the Power players are still trying to learn how to gain on-field advantages at the Oval.

"With the way our supporters turned out for the Showdown it should not take too long (to make the Oval into a Power fortress)," Cornes said.

"We still need to learn as a group how to play the Oval, but it is a fast ground and lends itself to high-scoring football. The teams that can defend the best and reduce the opposition's attacking options are the ones that are going to have the most success.

"We just need to continue to fine tune our defence, defend really hard, tackle hard and win contested footy and the fans will come and make it a loud and hostile place."

Port yesterday trained on the Oval and declared All-Australian Chad Wingard (ankle) would join fellow small forward Angus Monfries (hamstring) on the sidelines with injury. However, key forward Jay Schulz (foot) is clear to play.

Power assistant coach Josh Carr declared Monfries should not spend more than a month on the sidelines - and Port had enough depth to passd the injury test posed while senior coach Ken Hinkley rethinks how to re-structure his attack without the opportunist duo of Wingard and Monfries.

"We definitely have guys in good form in the Magpies," said Carr. "Aaron Young is a chance, Sam Gray is a chance, Paul Stewart, Cam O'Shea, Sam Colquhoun ... there are a number for players there who we think they can come in to full those positions if we go like-for-like or something else. We are confident anyone who comes into our team can play the role."

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Gray may make debut against Lions

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Sam Gray, second from the left, make play against Brisbane this weekend. Picture: David Cronin. Source: News Limited

PORT Adelaide director of coaching Shaun Hart has thrown up rookie Sam Gray as a potential inclusion for this Sunday's game against Brisbane.

The Power are down two small forwards because of injuries to Angus Monfries and Chad Wingard.

Hart said Cameron O'Shea, Aaron Young, Cameron Hitchcock and Gray — who would need to be upgraded from the rookie list — are "definitely in the mix for this week's game".

Gray, a 176cm midfielder who has starred in the SANFL with the Magpies in recent seasons, was selected in the rookie draft last year.

"I think he's acquitted himself magnificently since I've been here," Hart said.

"He's very diminutive there's no doubt about that but he's work ethic, his hunger for the contest — he just seems to have a good little package.

"I've also loved his ability to show real team care and to make sure he's making decisions for the team.

"I think Sam will definitely play a role for us this year."

The Power has a vacancy on its senior list after adding Mason Shaw to the long-term injury list a fortnight ago.

Hart indicated Andrew Moore, Lewis Stevenson and Ben Newton would all return from injury through the SANFL.


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Kangaroos run halts Power

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They've been criticised for falling away in tight games, but North Melbourne have bucked the trend to defeat Port Adelaide by 7 points at Etihad Stadium.

Brent Harvey celebrates his match-winning goal. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia

LADIES and gentlemen, meet North Melbourne's next generation.

Yes, you had heard a lot about them, but had no doubt been wondering why you haven't seen just as much of them.

After all, this was a youthful group happy to come along for the ride, but when the elders weren't around they tended to fade into the crowd.

All that changed last night against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.

It was three quarters of football that had seen the cards fall perfectly for North's batch of much-talked about youngsters to stand up and deliver.

Drew Petrie had been thrashed by Alipate Carlile, Daniel Wells subdued by Kane Cornes and Brent Harvey, who admittedly would rise late, shackled by Matt White.

North Melbourne coach, Brad Scott, says 'while we weren't perfect, our effort was'.

With those three quiet at three-quarter time and heading into a last quarter 10 points down against arguably the best finishers in the competition, Roos fans had a right to fear the worst.

But this time it would be different.

Ben Cunnington was simply brilliant. His 30 disposals - 19 contested - seven tackles, nine clearances and six inside 50s represented everything North Melbourne hoped he would be.

Jarman Impey can't catch Shaun Atley. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia

Levi Greenwood went from sub last week to four-quarter ball magnet this week, finishing with 34 touches, seven tackles and six clearances.

What about Sam Gibson? He had 33. Then there's Brad McKenzie, whose 15th game finished with 25 disposals and five clearances.

Aaron Mullett was terrific off half-back, ditto Luke McDonald and Shaun Atley - the latter taking the game on with a surging run through the middle in the dying moments.

All may have played better individual games, but the significance of these performances was enormous for them and their club.

In many ways, this was the defining game for North Melbourne. If the Roos "are coming" this year then this 14.13 (97) to 13.12 (90) win might be where it all truly started.

This was a win that snapped North out of what had been a season of mediocrity. Winning ugly, losing pretty, whatever the plan might have been, nothing buoys a club and its connections more than talent being fulfilled under in the heat of battle.

Chad Wingard looks to send Port Adelaide forward. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

North Melbourne trailed by 21 points half way through the third quarter when Chad Wingard kicked a brilliant second goal from close in. But the kids never threw it in, and when Harvey rose to prominence with two last quarter goals and Nick Dal Santo forced his way into the contest, it was a recipe that wouldn't be denied.

Port Adelaide will rue missed chances, particularly in the first half when it dominated inside 50s 30-18 and scoring chances but couldn't capitalise fully.

Angus Monfries, Port's best player up until half-time, went down with a torn hamstring early in the third quarter and had to be subbed off, while Wingard played through the pain after twisting an ankle.

But Port didn't lose this game, North won it.


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Tex’s footy comeback delayed?

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Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson addresses the press following his teams 131-74 loss to the Sydney Swans.

Adelaide forward Taylor Walker looks on at training. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

GUN Adelaide forward Taylor Walker has had a minor setback in his comeback from a knee reconstruction, reporting hamstring soreness after training on Saturday.

Walker — who the winless Crows desperately need back in their side — could have his comeback delayed by a week because of the soreness.

He was not going to be considered for AFL selection in Sunday's crunch game against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium but was expected to be a strong chance to resume in the SANFL the following week.

Now his return from the torn anterior cruciate ligament he sustained against Carlton at the MCG on April 27 might be put back a week.

Adelaide insists Walker hasn't strained his hamstring and had only reported soreness.

Three Crows who played in Saturday's 63-point home defeat to Sydney — midfielders Scott Thompson (corked thigh), Sam Kerridge (poke in eye) and Mitch Grigg (adductor soreness) — face fitness tests before the Saints clash.

But the club expects all three to be available.

Veteran Jason Porplyzia suffered a corked buttock in Adelaide's inaugural State League loss to North Adelaide yesterday and must also pass a fitness test before being considered for selection.

Teenager Matt Crouch, who had 18 disposals on debut against the Swans, described Sunday's clash against the Saints as crucial to the Crows' hopes of making the finals.

Asked if it was time Adelaide made an on-field statement, Crouch said "Yes it is".

"This will be s big week on the track and I think you'll see a better performance from us next week.

"We're a pretty resilient group and we'll fight through this."

Crows forward Eddie Betts flicks the ball over his head. Picture: Mark Brake Source: News Corp Australia


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