Firstly, the one thing I love most about Showdowns is the physicality. I’m a bit of a neanderthal like that.
There is something about the clash between the two South Australian-based teams that is primal. It’s gladiatorial. There is genuine heat, genuine hatred, and a genuine feeling that things could kick off at any moment.
As a result, it is always must-watch footy.
Irrespective of where the teams sit on the AFL Ladder, there is barely ever a clear favourite, with the lower-ranked team seemingly able to “get up” for the hometown clash.
When you have emotions running high, and players at a fever pitch, it lays the foundation for things to escalate. Sometimes very quickly. Make no mistake, EVERYONE is aware of how big this rivalry is. Don’t give me any of this historic Carlton v Collingwood rubbish – the disdain between the opposing Melbourne sides has nowhere near as much feeling as that which exists between the Crows and the Power. The SA Showdown makes the other rivalries seem like kids’ parties.
It can lead to situations that become the talking point of the entire AFL, and in this case, may have the finals hopes of the Power resting on them.
As much as this story is about a bump, and what will come of it, the other factor is how it indicates where Port Adelaide are at, and what they’re thinking in relation to the finish of this AFL season.
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