Huge Roo comeback ends Power’s hopes

Kangaroos   100 defeated Port Adelaide   96

A huge second-half effort by the Kangaroos has enabled them to escape with a tense four-point victory and all but end the Power’s slim finals hopes at a cold Manuka Oval this afternoon.

Staring at a 40-point half-time deficit, the Roos once again launched a big comeback, kicking 12 goals to five in the last two quarters, to overhaul the sluggish Power in the dying minutes, courtesy of a long bomb from Troy Makepeace.

The Kangaroos' 11th win for the year puts them firmly in the race for a top four position, while consigning the Power to the finals scrapheap with four games left in the season.

The Roos’ Corey Jones was best-afield with five goals and 12 marks, Jess Sinclair and Daniel Wells provided great run through the midfield, particularly after half-time, and Glenn Archer and Leigh Colbert were stoic in defence.

For the Power, Warren Tredrea with four goals and the Burgoyne brothers with 45 possessions between them were excellent, Kane Cornes was tireless in gathering 21 disposals and Gavin Wanganeen showed some old dash in defence but the run stopped after the major break as the Roos took almost complete control.

Both sides suffered significant personnel losses prior to the game, with Kangaroos captain Adam Simpson a late exclusion for John Baird, while his Port counterpart, Matthew Primus, failed to come up from a back injury. The Power’s Peter Walsh was also a last-minute withdrawal, and they were replaced by first-gamer Stephen Gilham and Michael Pettigrew.

The importance of the contest ensured a high pressure opening, but with that brought poor skills and decision-making as both teams struggled to find an efficient way forward.

The Power eventually decided upon the aerial route to goal and a pair of long bombs from Josh Mahoney and Brendon Lade gave the reigning premiers the much sought-after quick start. Acting captain Tredrea soon worked his way into the game, proving more than a handful for Shannon Watt, as he booted the next two majors before the Kangaroos could make an impression on the scoreboard.

At the 25-minute mark, veteran Glenn Archer drifted down and converted from a tight angle, but the Roos still found themselves in a 19-point hole at the first break.

Following a quarter-time tongue lashing from coach Dean Laidley, the Kangaroos looked to peg back the Power and two goals within five minutes brought them within a manageable 13 points.

But a piece of magic from Port Adelaide debutant Danyle Pearce triggered an explosion from the Power. His left-foot checkside from deep in the forward pocket sparked his teammates, who added another three goals in quick succession to sprint to an imposing 40-point margin at half-time.

The Power’s Gavin Wanganeen was enjoying a return to form with 15 possessions in the first half, Michael Wilson and Chad Cornes were dominant in the air while a host of runners - led by Shaun Burgoyne - were creating havoc in the midfield. Tredrea was damaging up forward with three goals.

For the Roos, Daniel Wells and Glenn Archer were their best up to the main break, with Leigh Colbert also important with seven marks in defence. But they lacked a dangerous forward and could not generate any run through the middle of the ground, as Port Adelaide congested the midfield area.

Both sides traded goals early in the third quarter as the Power looked to maintain their lead, but gradually the Kangaroos began to stem the tide and work their way back into the contest.

Jones kicked his second, which was followed by a Leigh Harding snapshot and the Roos were jumping. They started to exert themselves in the centre, running in waves and finding multiple avenues to goal.

The Kangaroos booted six consecutive majors to trim the deficit to just four points and another Shinboner comeback was underway. A late Dean Brogan goal gave the Power a 10-point buffer at the last break and some much-needed breathing space but they were under extreme duress by a surging Roos outfit.

The three-quarter siren seemed to come at just the right time for Port Adelaide, and when they added the first two goals of the final term to skip to a 21-point margin, the match looked almost over.

However, with a top four spot on the line, the Roos refused to yield and continued to attack the slowing Power. The exciting Jones slotted two more goals to take his personal tally to five, while Saverio Rocca finally found his kicking boots to give the home side their first lead of the match at the 20th minute mark.

Port Adelaide’s Kane Cornes responded quickly to snatch back the advantage, but with two minutes to, the Kangaroos found a hero in defender Troy Makepeace, who streamed forward to kick a long left-foot goal which finally ended the Power’s miserable season.

Next week, Port Adelaide make a rare trip to the MCG to tackle the Blues, while the Kangaroos continue their run to the finals against lowly Collingwood at the Telstra Dome.

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