Round 6
	V
Port Adelaide 12.12 (84)		Richmond 8.9 (57)

Port Adelaide was forced to drain its power resources to beat a determined Richmond by 27 points at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night, 12.12 (84) to 8.9 (57).

What looked a certain Port win looming, especially after a stunning first term, turned into a hard-fought slog, and coach Mark Williams stated the obvious by declaring he was pleased to walk away with the premiership points in his 100th game as an AFL coach.

It was also a big night for Jarrad Schofield, playing his 150th AFL game (including 64 with the West Coast Eagles), and Michael Wilson, his 100th after two knee reconstructions, and they obviously savoured every moment.

But as much as the personal milestones were appropriately recognised this game was about further consolidating the Power’s position on the ladder, and it was a far greater struggle than the final scoreboard may have indicated, or certainly anticipated by the 29,608 home crowd.

Port had five goals on the board before Richmond looked like kicking one, but the Power’s overwhelming presence diminished from then on, being restricted to just four behinds in the second term.

Richmond, already without an array of forward talent including Matthew Richardson (hamstring), felt further harnessed by the late-first-quarter loss of captain Wayne Campbell (calf).

Yet, despite reduced options by coach Danny Frawley, the Tigers battled gamely. Predictably, they flooded Port’s forward lines, and frustrated the hosts. At times, it worked, but ultimately Port’s class shone through.

Although Richmond failed on the scoreboard in the first term, it was significant that Port’s regular trump Chad Cornes was restricted to just two handballs by Andrew Kellaway in the first quarter, and another mission succeeded with Mark Coughlan denying key on-baller Roger James a touch. Cornes later emerged triumphant.

Others broke the collars too, including Port’s Nick Stevens against Chris Newman, while Richmond’s Kane Johnson had a great battle with Damien Hardwick.
The Tigers’ second-quarter goals came in grand style with Andrew Krakouer taking a magical falling mark in the goalsquare against two opponents, while Greg Stafford soared and goaled after the half-time siren.

The game broke open in the third term, and for 90 seconds Richmond held the lead. But Port responded with four goals, with Richmond kicking only one, when Stafford dodged three opponents like a bustling rover.

Port led by 17 points at three-quarter time, and the match was all-but sealed early in the last term when Wilson took a fabulous mark midfield, handballed to Schofield, who kicked Port’s eleventh goal. It merely added to their big night. And when Shaun Burgoyne kicked his fourth goal, the Tigers trailed by 30 points and the Tiger growl was almost completely muffled.

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