Port Adelaide will look to reinforce their status as a likely finals side and possible premiership contender when they host West Coast on Saturday.
The Power have had a strong start to the season and sit 4-2 after six rounds, content in the knowledge that their two losses have come against quality sides – Adelaide and GWS.
They’ll need to improve to the point where they can beat those opponents at some point during the season if they want to win it all, but to even be in the conversation is something that will bring them joy at the moment after so troubles in recent years.
West Coast are also at 4-2 but less impressive. While they’ve had some solid wins, they seem to have the same trouble as last year: they don’t travel well.
Both of their losses for the year have come when playing away at the MCG, and their caning at the hands of Hawthorn was particularly galling given how poor the Hawks have been in their other matches this year.
This match then presents them with a golden opportunity to set the ledger straight – a win here on the road against a quality opponent would sillence at least some of the critics.
Port Adelaide have made a single change for the match – captain Travis Boak comes back into the side after missing last week with a hamstring injury, with Karl Amon dropped to make way.
West Coast haven’t made a single change to the side that comfortably dismantled their crosstown rivals Fremantle last week.
The Eagles are a team that threaten to put it all together at some point and become a dominant team, but unless they do that this week then Port Adelaide should get a comfortable win.
But by how much? That’s difficult to say as it’s entirely possible that West Coast could again wilt when stepping outside their home state.
$1.33 for Port Adelaide to win seems about right if not particularly good value.
Chad Wingard had 31 touches last week playing through the middle of the ground – $2.80 is a good price for him to get 25 this week, even $9 for him to get another 30 could be worth a flyer.