Hartlett injury sours Power win

Hamish Hartlett was subbed out of the game at quarter time with a groin injury. Photo Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

ROBBIE Gray produced a masterclass performance as Port Adelaide lived up to its pre-season hype with a convincing 40-point win against West Coast in its opening NAB Challenge match at Norwood Oval.

In a win soured by a groin injury to midfield playmaker Hamish Hartlett, the Power — playing its first match since losing last year's preliminary final to Hawthorn — kicked four unanswered goals in the opening 12 minutes and then held the Eagles at bay to give stand-in coach Matthew Nicks a win in his first game in charge.

In good signs for Port, second-year midfielder Karl Amon showed some class, one-game defender Tom Clurey was solid in the back half and second-chance utility Nathan Krakouer had some nice touches when activated as the sub.

But the big talking point was Gray's standout display.

AFL - NAB Challenge - Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles at Norwood Oval. Robbie Gray wraps up Sam Butler. Photo Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

The winner of last year's AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year and Power club champion awards, Gray was a Brownlow Medal flop, polling just 14 votes — 12 behind winner Matt Priddis from West Coast.

But Gray's brilliant performance shows he deserves to be one of the favourites for this year's Brownlow.

Veteran teammate Jay Schulz declared 26-year-old Gray was primed for an even better season this year after watching him burn up the training track up over summer.

And he didn't disappoint in his first competitive match of the year, looking a class above most other players on the ground.

The midfielder/small forward had 28 disposals and kicked a game-high three goals in a vintage display which proved the difference between the two sides.

Captain Travis Boak, vice-captain Brad Ebert and powerhouse on-baller Ollie Wines were other strong performers for flag contender Port as it blew the cobwebs out in emphatic fashion.

Josh Kennedy marks over Cam O'Shea. Photo Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

The Power was expected to struggle early against the Eagles, who had already had two serious hit outs against the Indigenous All-Stars and Carlton.

But it hit the ground running, tackling hard and running in numbers to put the visitors to the sword early to race to a 25-point lead after 12 minutes.

With Priddis, fellow midfielder Andrew Gaff and key forward Josh Kennedy on top, West Coast hit back to tie the scores up late in the second quarter.

But the Power, which prior to the game omitted first-choice players Matthew Broadbent, Jared Polec and Jack Hombsch from its 29-man squad, took control again late in the second term and careered away in the final quarter.

While Hartlett's injury was the bad news for Port, the Eagles suffered some injury blows of their own with Xavier Ellis (hamstring) and Sharrod Wellingham (leg) pulling up sore.

SCOREBOARD:

PORT ADELAIDE 1.11.14 (89)

WEST COAST 0.7.7 (49)

BEST — Port: R. Gray, Boak, Ebert, Wines, Cornes, Stewart, Moore.

West Coast: Priddis, Gaff, Rosa, Lamb, Kennedy, Lycett, Sheed.

SUPERGOAL — Port: Moore.

GOALS — Port: R. Gray 3, Mitchell, Butcher, Amon, White, Lobbe, Westhoff, Young, S. Gray.

West Coast: Lycett 2, LeCras, Gaff, Kennedy, Lamb, Lucas.

INJURIES — Port: Hartlett (groin).

West Coast: Ellis (hamstring), Wellingham (leg).

UMPIRES — C. Deboy, J. Schmitt, C. Kamolins, S. Meredith.

CROWD — 9212 at Norwood Oval.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Hartlett injury sours Power win

Dengan url

http://astagaberita.blogspot.com/2015/03/hartlett-injury-sours-power-win.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Hartlett injury sours Power win

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Hartlett injury sours Power win

sebagai sumbernya