The Sydney Swans again failed to defend their home ground, falling to a combative Port Adelaide team that was harder at the footy, for longer.
I could end the review right there, and if that was your one take away from this contest, you would be well-served to hold your own in any discussion about the game. However, those who love stats would argue against you.
You see, the Swans won just about every important statistical measurement in this game. Get a load of these numbers
+76 in disposals
+9 for inside 50s
+13 for clearances
+46 in contested possessions
And +3 in intercepts.
They should have won this contest. The stats say so. The stats tell us that it was Sydney that were harder.
The stats were wrong.
Sydney should have used that ball dominance to overpower Port, and pick up their first home win of the season. They should have capitalised on a great number of things. They should have kicked straighter, tackled harder, and taken more marks inside 50.
But they didn’t, and they were beaten by a team that defied the numbers, defied indicators, and at times, defied logic.
They were beaten by a Port Adelaide team that made the most of the opportunities presented to them, or opportunities they created, themselves. They were defeated by a Port team that capitalised better on their opponent’s errors, and made them pay when they turned the footy over. And they were beaten by a side who made less mistakes than them.
In reality, I am writing about the Swans losing this game, but it was Port Adelaide doing the right things when it mattered most that should garner the headlines. The Swans didn’t lose – Port absolutely beat them.
It was Zak Butters, Connor Rozee, and Jason Horne-Francis – the Port Adelaide Big Three – all playing vastly different roles to complement each other. It was Willie Rioli snagging three goals after a pretty full-on week, and it was the tandem of Aliir Aliir and Esava Ratugolea patrolling defensive fifty to cut the Swans off at the knees.
Plenty to get through in this one. Time for HB to fire up the Big Questions, and see what answers we can find.
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