The Port Adelaide Power need to win and win big when they host the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.
There’s a top-four spot on the line here for Port Adelaide. Their fate is somewhat in their hands… but not totally.
If Richmond lose on Sunday, then a win here will see them jump up into fourth place and finish there.
However, if Richmond win, or if Sydney win and overtake Port on percentage, then the Power will fall short and miss out on top four.
Either way, Port are set for a finals campaign, which is good news. It seemed a long way beyond them at the start of the year.
Gold Coast on the other hand have their minds firmly planted in 2018 mode at the moment.
They’re currently beginning the search for a new senior coach after Rodney Eade was sacked a fortnight ago.
They’re also weighing up what to do about Gary Ablett who went through another classic “named in the team, withdraw five minutes later” scenario this week.
Can’t imagine they’re going to see him in their colours again at this rate.
Can the Suns possibly work through those distractions to finish the year with an upset win? No, probably not.
Jasper Pittard is in for Port this week, Tom Jonas will miss the match through suspension – their only change.
Will Brodie, Jarryd Lyons and Brad Scheer come into the team for Gold Coast, while all of Jesse Lonergan, Jack Leslie and Josh Schoenfeld have been dropped.
Gold Coast beat Port Adelaide in the first ever meeting between the two clubs back in Round 5, 2011. They’ve lost to them seven times in a row since then.
Port will slam the Suns like nobody’s business in this one. $1.33 for Port to win by 40+ isn’t great value, but it’s the overwhelmingly likely result.
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