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FANATICAL forward pressure from Richmond set up their 66-point win on Saturday afternoon.
With the Tigers’ tall timber Jack Riewoldt and Tyrone Vickery still building in the lead-up to round one, pressure from a brigade of small forwards, most notably Sam Lloyd and Ben Lennon kept the ball in the Tigers’ territory for much of the game.
A strong tackle from Dustin Martin on Port speedster Matt White set the tone early, with clearing kicks easily intercepted across half forward.
Lloyd was the beneficiary of the Tigers’ pressure, kicking four for the afternoon, and coach Damien Hardwick said the likes of Riewoldt would be in top form by the time the season started.
“The work rate of our forwards was really good, we wasted the ball a little bit inside 50, but the intensity was good,” Hardwick said.
“Our key forwards in these sorts of games are probably the last ones to click.
“Jack probably gave a few away that he should have gone back and made his own, but then he goes and shepherds two balls across the line, so it goes to show what you’re going to get out of him.”
Dustin Martin dominated through the middle, and found good support from Ben Lennon and Taylor Hunt, who will be aiming to hold their places in the side, with the likes of Trent Cotchin set to return in next weekend’s NAB Challenge match against North Melbourne, with defender David Astbury also waiting in the wings.
Anthony Miles was quiet after suffering some slight hamstring soreness.
He will be available to play against the Kangaroos.
Hardwick invited Richmond members to email the club with suggestions, with the form of Taylor Hunt and Ben Lennon causing new-found selection headaches.
“Taylor Hunt is a monty for round 1 if he keeps playing the way he is in my opinion,” the coach said.
“Our list now is in a better position to what it was this time last year.
“He and Kamdyn Mactintosh showed a bit of run and carry today, so we’ve got plenty to look at ahead of round one.”
Few of Port Adelaide’s young brigade will be in the frame for round one selection with the likes of Travis Boak, Ollie Wines and Hamish Hartlett among a roll of big names left out of Saturday’s side, but some new faces showed enough to suggest they might feature in weeks to come.
Kane Mitchell was best afield for Port Adelaide with 26 disposals, while familiar face Nathan Krakouer showed some good, albeit limited, signs.
Krakouer had 10 disposals in his second game back at the Power, and showed some poise and class rebounding from defence.
Stand-in coach Matthew Nicks said Krakouer was solid, without being outstanding, while Jarrad Redden’s first game since 2013 was a success.
Redden kicked a goal and competed well against Ivan Maric in the ruck, with Nicks saying he was a little bit underdone.
“We’ve got a bit of work to do on his fitness as we know, but to have him on the park is fantastic,” Nicks said.
1. Dustin Martin will be a force to be reckoned with.
The 23-year-old was best afield by a long way, gathering 27 disposals and winning plenty of ball in the middle. Putting contract talks behind him is probably the best thing Dusty could have done for himself, as he set the tone for the game early by chasing down Matt White and winning a free for holding the ball. In one pre-season game, he shortened Brownlow odds from $67 down to $51.
2. The AFL gets behind James.
Football operations manager Mark Evans was on hand to present James McQuillan with a $56,000 cheque for his future fund. James and his father, Jack, were on hand to accept the donation, with James thanking the AFL and the 8451-strong crowd for their support.
3. “The Recruit” gets his first run.
After finding his way onto Port’s list via Foxtel reality show The Recruit, Johann Wagner played his first game in the teal and white. Stand-in coach Matthew Nicks said Port knew their young forward line would be under the pump against the likes of Alex Rance and Troy Chaplin, but he saw enough from Wagner and Wagga product Dougal Howard to suggest they could be stars in years to come.
4. Jake is King of the kids.
Eagle-eyed Tigers fans would have spotted former Tiger Jake King hovering around the grandstands just before the bounce of the ball. It seems King remains just as popular off the field as he was on it, with the poor bloke getting pinned into a corner by a legion of excitable fans.
5. Low-key comeback for heartbreak kid.
Port Adelaide’s Jarrad Redden has had more than his fair share of bad luck, so the vision of him kicking a goal in his first game since 2013 would have been some solace for Power fans on the back of their 66-point drubbing. The luckless ruckman managed 21 hitouts against Ivan Maric, in what was one of the few good-news stories for Port.