Richmond v Port Adelaide PreviewAndrew Slevison
SEN
21 March 2024Richmond and Port Adelaide resume hostilities at the MCG this Sunday.
The Tigers were much, much better in Round 1, pushing Carlton all the way only to end up with a five-point loss.
The Power opened their account with a comfortable 50-point triumph over West Coast, just as expected. They didn’t really need to get out of second gear.
Port’s main damage-doers were of course captain Connor Rozee and Zak Butters who combined for 54 disposals, 25 score involvements, 11 inside 50s and three goals. Jason Horne-Francis chipped in with 20 touches, 12 score involvements, five inside 50s and two goals.
The Tigers midfielders will have their work cut out for them in trying to quell the influence of the aforementioned trio.
Adem Yze will be much more positive entering this than he was prior to the Blues clash, knowing that his Tigers side has the capacity to get their hands dirty and have a real crack.
Getting minutes into Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch was vital and that premiership pair will be relied upon to provide some attacking vibrancy.
They do need to fill some defensive holes, however, after the devastating knee injury suffered by Josh Gibcus and the concussion sustained by Tylar Young. It looks as though Ben Miller will be called on to hold down a defensive position.
New Power ruckman Ivan Soldo steps out for the first time against his old club and will go head-to-head with his former captain and premiership teammate Toby Nankervis. It’s a fascinating match-up.
Underneath the feet of that battle, the Power should have too much quality especially after Richmond’s Dion Prestia succumbed to another soft tissue injury, leaving a void around the ball.
Ken Hinkley’s Port are intent on remaining a top four team in 2024 and you get the feeling they’ll have enough in their arsenal to overcome a plucky Tigers outfit still striving to get their first win under Yze.
Furthermore, it’s Travis Boak’s 350th game and the Power have a fairly good record in Boak milestone matches, winning five of six.
Tip: Port Adelaide by 14 points.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/03/20/who-will-win-and-why-the-tips-and-predictions-for-afl-round-2/
