The Scout Report | Round 22 v Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Tale of So Far:
Port Adelaide come into this fixture with a 15 win record and 5 losses. They are riding a bit of a wave at the moment having won the last 4 games.
A side that was hot and cooled in the middle part of the year, they look to have hit their straps at the right time, at the right time of the year.
Carlton, on the other hand, has been disappointing after their bullish intent at the start of the AFL Season, Like Port, their inconsistency has been on show at large parts of the Season however unlike Port the game plan doesn’t create enough quality ball to get them out of trouble.
The Real Story is the Blues say goodbye to a stalwart of the Club Marc Murphy who will play game 300 and the Blues will hope to be able to put the nail in the coffin of Ports top 4 Chances, While Port will be Pole position should they win.
Thanks Murphy! Captain Fantastic!
The Backline
The Port backline is traditionally undersized, on paper it would make you feel that it is susceptible to Taller strong Tall Forwards, but they buy into a swarm mentality, What the Backline tends to do with the ball in the hands of the opposition, is to push the opposition to the wings, this makes the entry traditionally a long contest in the centre of the 50, where they will back themselves to Spoil first and bring to ground and exit by hand and foot quickly, or a nothing ball into the pockets, where Aliir Aliir looks to pin the intercept so they can transition quickly and effectively out of the back half of the ground and work their way down the flanks with Bonner, Byrne Jones, Houston often charged with transition score launches.
The Backline – Defence / Transition
As discussed previously they look to protect the corridor, to push sides out wide and to force them to take on the longest method to goal. This allows them to condense centrally and create congestion to pick off marks that are aimed at the talls. They will then from Aliir Aliir Position (Arrow) look to spread rapidly, utilising a lot of switches to the open side, this is partly because naturally, sides will fill one side of the ground in attack, this gives them an open field to go very quickly and very direct.
Once at halfback, they will look to exploit down the line, or hit up runners in the corridor and dissect the opposition as they get back into their defensive patterns, the amount of fitness that the Port side has, allows them to run hard in numbers on both ends, often overlapping the corridor and creating out numbers around the ground. From around the centre circle, you will see the CHF drive hard to the ball carrier, creating separation from the Keys, and allowing Dixon often stationed at Full Forward to be one on one.
The Backline – Personnel
General Defenders
Ryan Burton – Tackles = 2.6, Pressure Acts = 10.6, Ground Ball Gets = 3.8, Disposals Eff = 74.7%
The Good :
Strong 1 on 1
Quick from a standing start
High IQ
Strong Kick
How To Beat:
Usually, with Ryan, his weakness is his ability to handball in traffic, when pressure is applied his efficiency to act quick can catch him in trouble. When kicking under pressure it is often to the corridor, this creates pressure as it opens up the ground for the opposition. Aerially if the ball is brought to the deck, this is a weak area and can be opened up at the ground level.
Likely Matchup: Josh Honey
Projected Winner: Ryan Burton - 55%
Aliir Aliir – Tackles = 1.4, Pressure Acts = 5.7, Ground Ball Gets = 3.3, Disposals Eff = 83.8%
The Good :
Lightning Quick
Reads Ball In Flight Well
Peels Off His Man Quickly
Attacks The Ball, And Looks To Transition
How To Beat:
Have to block the run, if he is allowed space to run into and intercept he will intercept mark all day and kill any momentum in the forward line, traditionally the way to beat him is to get the ball on his head and create contests, and keep him accountable if whoever he is guarding is 2nd fiddle then he will find space to roam.
Riley Bonner – Tackles = 1.0, Pressure Acts = 9.9, Ground Ball Gets = 3.3, Disposals Eff = 75.1%
The Good :
Penetrating Kick
Finds space to hit targets in D.50
Often goes unassuming
Good stopper of play
How To Beat:
Tackle pressure is a clear weakness and struggles with a quicker evasive body. Looking to pull him out of position leaves space behind, and often is guilty of tracking the man instead of plotting the play.
Likely Matchup: Eddie Betts
Projected Winner: Eddie Betts - 59%
Darcy Byrne-Jones – Tackles = 3.0, Pressure Acts = 15.9, Ground Ball Gets = 4.1, Disposals Eff = 70%
The Good :
Naturally has accumulation ability
Overlap threat
Strong Running Capacity
Strong Both Ends Of The Ground
Attacking Threat From Down Back
How To Beat:
Can be guilty of overusing the footy, likes to take the game on and look for the inside ball or take off himself. Keeping him pegged in the D.50 is paramount here, as his disposal under pressure isn’t very strong, so keeping in his eye view with the ball in hand creates an opportunity for the turnover
Likely Matchup: Ed Curnow
Projected Winner: Darcy Byrne-Jones - 62%
Tall Defenders
Tom Clurey – 1 on 1 Win % = 74.2%, Spoils = 6.2, Intercept Marks = 2.0, Metres Gained = 254.9, Disposal Efficiency = 87%
The Good :
Strong 1 on 1
Good body usage so can impact even though he doesn’t get his hands to it
Covers ground well
Great Kick of the football
How To Beat:
Undersized for today's game, so the strength to beat him, starts from the midfield pressure, putting the ball out in front of the forward gives the best chance of success versus Clurey, He makes it difficult so leading patterns are essential and due to Ports backline system dummy runs can be his undoing
Tom Jonas – 1 on 1 Win % = 79.5%, Spoils = 5., Intercept Marks = 2.4, Metres Gained = 187.5, Disposal Efficiency = 77%
The Good :
Very Good User of the Ball
Strong Rebounder
Exceptionally Strong Below His Feet
Has the Pace Advantage On Most Talls
How To Beat:
A massive height difference in his usual matchups, but makes up for this with his ability to cover ground. If he is allowed to get away from the tall he is one of many who can peel off and hit the transition very hard. But keeping him isolated gives you a great chance to expose his lack of size and get on top.
The Midfield
Ports strength is in Midfield, where everything depends. They are very strong in their ability to track back and create outnumbers down back, and they stream forward in a high forward press.
Containing very good users, who utilise the handball very well to pick holes and create gaps in behind and a mix of strong bodies, they are as close to a complete midfield as you can find in AFL.
They work incredibly hard though in both fazes of the game, and this can cause them to drift in and out of the game. A primary focus in the midfield is to stop the opposition from playing and to filter them on the outside of play.
Teams that find success against Port, utilise this to their advantage and look to spread the game outside and then look to run it inside as opposed to kicking inside, if you can do this successfully and bring your pressure in and around the ball, Hinkley will commit men to aide the midfield and thus the gaps in the corridor begin to appear
The Midfield – Ball Movement Patterns
The ball movement chart, shows the method of Ports play, they look to move the ball in the angles down back, looking to penetrate the oppositions press, and mix it up down the flanks using their good pace, and then hit it back in the corridor from there, often with the addition of players like Robbie Gray, they like to carefully find the space outside of Forward 50, and chip the kick into running leads and make sure of the 6points.
Often they can be guilty of overusing it in the forward half of the ground, but they are very strong to defend any such turnover, as the ball movement is precise and encourages them to move up the ground in a controlled manner, this enables to defend transition very effectively but also themselves be at the fall of the ball should you attempt to attack the corridor, which is their primary focus to stop.
The Midfield – Personnel
Xavier Duursma – Disposals = 19, Disposals Eff % = 76.7 %, Score Involvements = 3.3, Marks = 5.1, Goals = 0.4, Clearances = 0.7, Ground Balls = 3.7, Tackles = 2.6
The Good :
2 Way Runner
Elite User of the Ball
Strong Running Capacity
Clean with the Ball
Line Breaking ability
How To Beat:
Does his best work on the outside and looks to play one-twos as part of his role, can though be exposed in contested play, sticking close to him and letting the ball become a chase scenario allows you to expose his agility on the outside.
Willem Drew – Disposals = 18.7, Disposals Eff % = 73.3 %, Score Involvements = 3.8, Marks = 2.2, Goals = 0.2, Clearances = 0.7, Ground Balls = 4.3, Tackles =6.7
The Good :
Strong Tackle Player
Elite Pressure
Natural Extractor
Strong in contested situations
How To Beat:
Have to stay close to him, he is strong at his ability to stop a player from playing well, but also can impact the game himself. But he can get into the habit of playing the man not the ball, constant pressure applied can cause him to look to gain territory and get the ball away quickly, rushing his disposals his accuracy goes down very quickly
Likely Matchup: Matthew Kennedy
Projected Winner: Matthew Kennedy - 51%
Karl Amon – Disposals = 23.6, Disposals Eff % = 72.4 %, Score Involvements = 5.4, Marks = 6.1, Goals = 0.6, Clearances = 1.7, Ground Balls = 3.7, Tackles = 4.0
The Good :
Natural Wingman
Exceptional aerial ability
Great Engine
Good Penetration on the kick
How To Beat:
Probably, in my opinion, the best wingman in the competition, but his one weakness is his ability to kick on his weaker foot, the ability to stay on his strong side allows you to force Karl to turn or get free on his strong side, can be caught in this position but also will often cough up possession
Likely Matchup: Lochie O’Brien
Projected Winner: Karl Amon - 69%
Travis Boak – Disposals = 27.5, Disposals Eff % = 71.8 %, Score Involvements = 6.1, Marks = 2.6, Goals = 0.3, Clearances = 6.5, Ground Balls = 8.5, Tackles = 4.8
The Good :
Strong in the clearance
Finds space where there is none
Good user
Ability to set the tempo of the game
How To Beat:
Not many weaknesses in the Old Dog, But has been stretched when playing against pace, is not overly strong against the quicker players and has weakness aerially on the switch. Have to drive him away from the contest and will move to stop the outside ball
Likely Matchup: Paddy Dow
Projected Winner: Travis Boak - 65%
Ollie Wines – Disposals = 32.1, Disposals Eff % = 68.3 %, Score Involvements = 6.3, Marks = 4.3, Goals = 0.4, Clearances = 1.7, Ground Balls = 6.2, Tackles = 4.1
The Good :
Bull in the midfield
Strong handball
Sets up play and gets it outside
Reads the tap well
Elite when the ball is on the deck
How To Beat:
Almost the perfect on ball player, but has limited kicking ability, has a gain territory mindset so players who have put the pressure on him, and not let him have any time will often find success as the ball will be kicked forward from the contest
Likely Matchup: Patrick Cripps
Projected Winner: Ollie Wines- 51%
Scott Lycett – Hit Out Win % = 45.9%, Hit Outs To Advantage = 28.1%, Clearances = 3.3, Marks = 3
The Good :
Covers Ground Well
Good in and around the ball
Strong tapping game
Reads the play behind the ball well
Stops runners in the midfield as his elite 2nd efforts
How To Beat:
His strength of being able to move around the ball and be deployed where they need a strong threat aerially can be where a Ruckman can win the battle around the ground, will live in the arcs in the corridor, so it is bringing him outside is the strength, look to impact and peel him away off the ball, and knowing in the stoppages he tends to tap ahead of play so getting the midfield to make him adjust his tap
Likely Matchup: Tom De Koning
Projected Winner: Scott Lycett- 71%
The Forward Line
The forward line at Port is very dynamic, offering a mix of elite levels of pressure but also high levels of speed and skill.
They utilise this to a great degree as they are all charged with interchangeable but very specific roles, The talls will hard lead for the ball and leave space for their smalls to feast in behind. They have a great selection of options traditionally to play 3 talls or go 1 down and play a bit smaller and move a winger up there and move a tall down the wing to give them outlet balls to keep the opposition guessing.
A very vivacious unit that is fluent in snagging from crumbs but also very dynamic aerially with Rozee and Gray able to play on the 3rd tall and create aerial contests
The Forward Line – The Danger Zone
Port look to play the ball in their hot zones just outside forward 50. Their ability to move the ball shallow and quickly, means often they have the outnumber when streaming inside the oppositions defensive end.
Their habit to focus on the Left-hand side opens up a switch at this point, with the defence set to stop a central or a pocket entry.
Port are more than willing to play it in a switch here and then hit up a short target just inside 50 usually unmarked. Their movement requires a defence to continually be aware as they will contain possession outside the arc and only enter when they are in favourable percentages.
The number of entries targeted into the goal square is very high, and this is a sign that their ability to be constantly on the move opens up FF to a one on one Contest and that is where the strength lies with all the Port Adelaide's Tall Forwards.
The Forward Line – The Personal
Robbie Gray – Disposals = 17.4 , Goals = 1.1 , Score Involvements = 5.6, Tackles = 2.5 ,
The Good :
Natural conduit between midfield and forward lines
Elite at ground level
Evavise skills
Elite Goal Sense
Ability to find uncontested marks inside 50
How To Beat:
One weakness that has been over the years for Robbie Gray is the ability to make him have to defend, if he is being defended and leading the defender to where he wants to go its game over, but teams have had success at using attacking-minded defenders on him and causing him to have to sit back a bit more and give himself time to stop the exit
Likely Matchup: Lachie Plowman
Projected Winner: Robbie Gray- 53%
Mitch Georgiades – Disposals = 10.1 , Goals = 1.6 , Score Involvements = 4.4, Tackles = 1.7,
The Good :
Good Overhead
Strong Leading to the ball
Tackle Pressure is good for a tall
How To Beat:
The ability to keep up with him is paramount and not be drawn into following him up the ground, discipline beats Mitch 9 times out of 10, as his primary role is to come deep for the ball and isolate Dixon, so the ability to read the passages will be important
Likely Matchup: Brodie Kemp
Projected Winner: Brodie Kemp- 56%
Connor Rozee – Disposals = 15.1 , Goals = 1.1 , Score Involvements = 4.8, Tackles = 2.8
The Good :
A supreme reader of the play
Strong Engine
Effectively a midfielder across half-forward
Vision is strong
How To Beat:
Taking away the short option with Connor is extremely important, if he has time and space he will hit targets and will create scoring opportunities, having someone drive him more up the ground will create pockets of space that allow the transition to hitting the midfield quickly
Likely Matchup: Tom Williamson
Projected Winner: Connor Rozee- 62%
Orazio Fantasia – Disposals = 12.4 , Goals = 1.8 , Score Involvements = 6.3, Tackles = 2.4
The Good :
Natural Goal Sense
Strong with the ball on the deck
Looks to create opportunities for himself and others
How To Beat:
Keeping pressure on Orazio is important, the skill he has is his ability to create separation at the last minute, playing strong users on the ground level are your keys to success versus Orazio, as defensively he is a lot weaker than the rest of the forward line here
Likely Matchup: Adam Saad
Projected Winner: Adam Saad- 57%
Charlie Dixon – Disposals = 12.8 , Goals = 2.1, Score Involvements = 6.5, Tackles = 2.2
The Good :
Elite overhead
Strong and Uses his frame well
Great Goal Kicking
How To Beat:
Have to bring the ball to deck with Charlie, if you allow him to go one on one he will eventually tire the defender out, but if you can get the ball to deck his lack of pace allows a mobile tall to win the matchup
Zak Butters – Disposals = 19.1 , Goals = 0.9, Score Involvements = 5.3, Tackles = 3.8
The Good :
Elite Pressure
Brings players into the game
Forward line tagger
How To Beat:
Have to make him commit to a full defensive role, getting him involved in a slugfest which is craved is key to getting him to take the eye off the ball. His role in the forward line is to be the pressure man, but if you can get him involved in a show of strength it creates opportunities to get the handball in close and exit via run
The Pine
Peter Ladhams
The Good :
Good Aerially
Versatile
Good User For His Size
Where Will He Be: Could be deployed out wide or more often seen rotating in the ruck and at both deepest ends of the ground
Todd Marshall
The Good :
Strong around the ground
Good at ground level
Aerially strong
Where Will He Be: Will rotate down back and in the Ruck
Dan Houston
The Good :
Elite with the ball in hand
Great Vision
Strong two-way runner
Game-Changing ability
Accumulator
Where Will He Be: Will be Down the dangerous left side, either off half-back or on the wing floating on the ball, will be used as the ace in the hand type player
Miles Bergman
The Good :
Good Tackler
Good User of the ball
Strong running
Where Will He Be: Will slot into a defensive role down the right-hand side or up forward if they need a stopper
Summary
Port Adelaide are a strong pressure based side, that use their strong tactical game to control the way the opposition moves the ball. They will look to keep you on the outside and make you play the longer parts of the ground.
They want the corridor kick to come in at the 50 areas, this allows them to have numbers at the fall of the ball and to hit the opposition with pace down their left side or looking to turn the ball inbound and hit up early inside the 50s and create one on ones
Around the stoppages they are super strong, and utilise their big-bodied mids well, forcing the opposition to commit men into the contest and thus taking them away from behind the ball. Very rarely do they look to do this themselves which is why they dominate in their ability to stop centre clearances and stoppage clearances
A very well rounded team who are now at full strength and will be very tough to stop, the system down back is dangerous as it encourages the long ball inside 50 due to it appearing small, but this plays into the hands of their strong interceptors and also their run and carry off half-back
