Port Adelaide Power vs Melbourne Demons preview, tips, odds and teams – 2014 AFL Round 18

The first game on Sunday for AFL Round 18 is between Port Adelaide Power and Melbourne Demons. The opening bounce is set to commence at 12:40 PM with the game to be played at Adelaide Oval. The favourite for the match is home team Port Adelaide Power. View our preview and teams for the game between Port Adelaide Power and Melbourne Demons.

Round: Round 18 , July 20, 2014, 12:40 PM
Stadium: Adelaide Oval
Weather: 14° Partly cloudy.

Featured Bookmakers:

Tips: Port Adelaide -41.5 at $1.92 with Sportsbet + get a $250 FREE BET on the match

Preview:

AFTER a fourth loss in five weeks, Port Adelaide desperately needs to find its mojo and begin its attack on the top four. On paper and on ladder position, the Power have the perfect opportunity to rebound on Sunday against 16th-placed Melbourne – which has also lost four of its last five games. The Demons’ losing margins have blown out in recent weeks with consecutive 10-goal-plus defeats and coach Paul Roos would be determined for his side to return to the competitive football it played through the middle of the season.

LAST FIVE TIMES
R11, 2014, Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) d Melbourne 11.9 (75) at Traegar Park
R1, 2013, Port Adelaide 19.19 (133) d Melbourne 8.6 (54) at MCG
R17, 2012, Port Adelaide 12.12 (84) d Melbourne 8.8 (56) at TIO Stadium
R24, 2011, Port Adelaide 17.10 (112) d Melbourne 15.14 (104) at Adelaide Oval
R17, 2011, Melbourne 17.11 (113) d Port Adelaide 14.8 (92) at TIO Stadium

THE SIX POINTS
1. Since the sides last played in round 11 neither has been in impressive form; from their six games Port Adelaide has two wins and Melbourne has just one.

2. The Demons remain the worst clearance side, managing only 33.2 a game; the Power are fifth with 40.4 a game.

3. No side in 2014 has taken the ball inside 50 fewer times than Melbourne, which averages only 40.9 entries a game. That’s compared to Port Adelaide, which is ranked second with an average of 57 a game.

4. It took Port Adelaide’s big guns to fire to get it over the line against Melbourne in round 11; Kane Cornes had 30 possessions, Travis Boak 28 and Robbie Gray 25 and two goals.

5. The Power and Demons played in the first AFL game at Adelaide Oval in round 24, 2011. The Demons don’t enjoy travelling to Adelaide though and have won just six times from 31 games, including one of their last 18.

6. Both Port Adelaide key forwards, Justin Westhoff and Jay Schulz, are slipping in the Official AFL Player Ratings. Westhoff is still ranked third in the list of key forwards, but Schulz has dropped to seventh after sitting in fifth place ahead of round 15.

Teams:

PORT ADELAIDE
B: Cam O’Shea, Jack Hombsch, Dom Cassisi.
HB Matthew Broadbent, Tom Jonas, Jasper Pittard.
C Jared Polec, Travis Boak, Kane Cornes.
HF Paul Stewart, Justin Westhoff, Matt White.
F Robbie Gray, Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard.
Fol Matthew Lobbe, Ollie Wines, Brad Ebert.
I/C Hamish Hartlett, John Butcher, Jarman Impey, Benjamin Newton, Aaron Young, Thomas Logan, Sam Gray (Three to be omitted)
In Dom Cassisi, Paul Stewart, John Butcher, Benjamin Newton.
Out Kane Mitchell (Omitted).

MELBOURNE
B: Colin Garland, James Frawley, Lynden Dunn
HB Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe
C Jack Grimes, Bernie Vince, Jordie McKenzie
HF Jack Viney, Cameron Pedersen, Jack Watts
F Rohan Bail, Chris Dawes, Aidan Riley
Fol Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson
I/C Dean Kent, Sam Blease, Viv Michie, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Luke Tapscott, Max Gawn, Dean Terlich (three to be omitted)
In Sam Blease, Viv Michie, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Max Gawn
Out: Matt Jones (omitted).

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