Match details
Saturday, July 21, 7.10 pm (local time), TIO Stadium
Broadcast guide
Form
Melbourne: L, L, L, L, L, L, L, L, L, W, L, Bye, W, L, L, L
Port Adelaide: W, L, L, L, L, L, L, W, W, W, L, L, Bye, L, L, L
Ladder position
Melbourne: 16th
Port Adelaide: 15th
Head-to-head
Played: 24
Melbourne: 11
Port Adelaide: 13
Drawn: 0
At this ground
Played: 2
Melbourne: 2
Port Adelaide: 0
Drawn: 0
Last time they met
Round 24, 2011: Port Adelaide 17.10 (112) d Melbourne 15.14 (104) at the Adelaide Oval
Recent streak
Melbourne has won three of its past five encounters against Port Adelaide, but lost its most recent clash
Memorable match
Round nine, 2010: Melbourne 17.9 (111) d Port Adelaide 16.14 (110) at TIO Stadium
The first time the two sides met in Darwin was a close fought contest that resulted in a one-point victory to Melbourne. Leading all day, the Demons held a 33-point lead at the final break, before Port Adelaide kicked eight goals in the final quarter to Melbourne’s three, effectively levelling the scores. There was just a minute remaining when a rushed behind to Melbourne gave it the lead and the victory. Brad Miller kicked five goals, Jamie Bennell (four) and Brad Green (three) for the Demons. Aaron Davey gained a team-high 26 disposals and Colin Sylvia had 25.
Milestones
Melbourne: Nil
Port Adelaide: Kane Cornes (239 matches). He is due to play his 239th game for Port Adelaide, drawing him level with older brother Chad Cornes in third spot on the all-time club list.
Coaching record
Mark Neeld: 15 matches, 2 wins, 0 draws, 13 losses
Matthew Primus: 44 matches, 12 wins, 0 draws, 32 losses
Players to watch
Melbourne: Stefan Martin
The key position player/ruckman has been arguably Melbourne’s best over the past three rounds, and since his return to the side against Greater Western Sydney in round 13. Martin, who had played two matches this season up until that point, impressed early up forward against Fremantle last week, before taking up the ruck duties when Mark Jamar went down with a calf injury in the first term.
Port Adelaide: Travis Boak
The midfielder is one of the Power’s most integral players, and it’s not hard to see why he is being hotly pursued by rival AFL clubs. Boak had 29 disposals against Essendon last round - his second best effort for the season. He recently notched up his 100th AFL match and at 23 years old, is sure to chalk up many more.
Match-up to watch
Stef Martin/Jake Spencer v Jarrad Redden/Matthew Lobbe
With All-Australian ruckman Mark Jamar and first year Power ruckman and 2008 Hawthorn premiership player Brent Renouf both sidelined, the ruck contests will be inexperienced. Martin impressed last round and beanpole Jake Spencer returns after a cracking performance in the VFL, which included the match-winning goal for Casey. Redden and Lobbe are emerging big men at the Power. It will be fascinating to see how this battle pans out.
Most disposals
Melbourne: Nathan Jones (337)
Port Adelaide: Kane Cornes (367)
Most marks
Melbourne: Jeremy Howe (87)
Port Adelaide: Troy Chaplin (95)
Most tackles
Melbourne: Jordie McKenzie (92)
Port Adelaide: Brad Ebert (102)
Most goals
Melbourne: Mitch Clark (29)
Port Adelaide: Jay Schulz (28)
How’s stat?
When Melbourne played Port Adelaide in the final home and away round (round 24) at the Adelaide Oval, history was made for the ground. It was the traditional cricket venue’s first AFL match, putting it in the company of six other single game venues: Albury, Brisbane Exhibition, Euroa and Yallourn from 1952, Bruce Stadium from 1995, and most recently Blacktown from 2012.
Foot in both camps
Those who have been involved with both clubs include: Matthew Bishop, Brent Heaver, Peter Walsh, Byron Pickett, Dean Bailey, Peter Rohde and Josh Mahoney
What Mark Neeld says …
“From my point of view, it’s (the match in Darwin) about winning a game of footy - first and foremost. The boys have been training differently for the last three weeks. David Misson has been having them do different things in trying to prepare them from a conditioning point of view for the trip to Darwin. So we believe we’re well placed there. The club itself has some things planned and we want to get a footprint into the Darwin community and Northern Territory community.”
Key Melbourne question
Can Melbourne make it three in a row against Port Adelaide in Darwin, given it defeated the Power in 2010-11?
Key Port Adelaide question
The Power will play its ninth match at TIO Stadium - the most of any AFL team. But it has won just once from its past six matches there. Can it record its first against the Demons?
Summary
Despite a disappointing season, which has produced just two wins, the Demons will enter this clash with some confidence, given they have won their past two encounters against the Power in Darwin. Port Adelaide has won four matches this season, but has not won since round 10 - the same round as when Melbourne opened its account against Essendon. The red and blue’s only other win came against Greater Western Sydney in round 13. Last week, the Demons were impressive early and competitive for three quarters against Fremantle, before falling away to lose by 34 points at Etihad Stadium. The Power went down by 50 points to the Bombers. Although another close result could be on the cards - Melbourne won by one point in 2010 and 21 points in 2011 - it will be fascinating to see how this match pans out, given finals are no longer on the agenda for Melbourne and are now highly unlikely, although mathematically a chance, for the Power.
