The first of tonight’s AFL Round 4 matches will be played at Metricon Stadium between Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide Power. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:40pm AEST time with the away team Port Adelaide Power current favourites in the market and have been well supported to continue their unbeaten record this season. View our live scores and results for the game between Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide Power.
WHERE AND WHEN: Metricon Stadium, Saturday April 20, 7:40pm
Gold Coast Suns $2.65 vs Port Adelaide Power $1.50 at Sportsbet Australia
Gold Coast Suns $2.65 vs Port Adelaide Power $1.49 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
The Gold Coast take on Port Adelaide for the last Saturday game at 7.40pm at Gold Coast Stadium. Port Adelaide are undefeated so far in 2013, and will go into this match as favourites despite the Suns home advantage. To be fair, the Gold Coast have definitely improved this year, playing well in Round 1 against the Saints and also performing well against the Lions last week. It is an interesting match-up between Kane Cornes and Gary Ablett this weekend, especially with Ablett carrying a hand injury into this match.
Gold Coast Suns:
B: Joel Wilkinson, Matthew Warnock, Jack Hutchins
HB: Tom Murphy, Rory Thompson, Greg Broughton
C: Michael Rischitelli, Gary Ablett, Jarrod Harbrow
HF: Dion Prestia, Steven May, Aaron Hall
F: Jared Brennan, Sam Day, Brandon Matera
Foll: Charlie Dixon, Karmichael Hunt, David Swallow
I/C: Zac Smith, Jaeger O’Meara, Harley Bennell, Matt Shaw
Emerg: Luke Russell, Trent McKenzie, Danny Stanley
IN: Murphy, Prestia
OUT: Russell (omitted), Allen (omitted)
Port Adelaide Power:
B: Tom Jonas, Alipate Carlile, Cameron O’Shea
HB: Jasper Pittard, Jackson Trengove, Lewis Stevenson
C: Kane Cornes, Brad Ebert, Travis Boak
HF: Matthew Broadbent, Justin Westhoff, Angus Monfries
F: Robbie Gray, Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard
Foll: Matthew Lobbe, Ollie Wines, Hamish Hartlett
I/C Dom Cassisi, Campbell Heath, Jake Neade, Brent Renouf
Emerg: Tom Logan, Sam Colquhoun, Andrew Moore
IN: Cassisi, Gray
OUT: Mitchell (Omitted), Stewart (Knee)
Inside knowledge a trap?
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says his inside knowledge of the Gold Coast Suns and their captain Gary Ablett is a trap.
Port aim to extend their unbeaten season on Saturday night on the Gold Coast, where Hinkley spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach.
And Hinkley has spent much of his life as a mentor to Ablett, forming a tight bond with the superstar midfielder when both were at Geelong.
But Hinkley says such intimate knowledge of Ablett and his Suns teammates could be counter-productive.
“I hope it gives you some advantage but sometimes it can be the opposite I reckon, you can sometimes think you know too much about them,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
Added to the inside intelligence mix is Matthew Primus, who Hinkley replaced as Port coach and since joined the Suns as an assistant coach.
“He will certainly have a really good handle on our group and their strengths and weaknesses,” Hinkley said.
“But sometimes it can trick you. You have got to make sure you prepare your own team the best way you can.”
Hinkley had no doubt Ablett would overcome a hand injury and play against the Power, seeking a fourth consecutive win.
Such was their strong friendship, the pair were continuing their regular conversations in the lead-up to the game.
“It’s a bit different because every time I have been around Gary he has been on the same team,” Hinkley said.
“Gary and I always talk … we’re very close, we have been for a long time.
“He’s an amazing footballer, first and foremost. But I think he’s also an incredible person and just the way he does things, the way he goes about things, he’s a really giving sort of a fellow.
“I look forward to him playing well every other week, bar this week.”
Hinkley played with Ablett’s father at Geelong but wasn’t prepared to nominate which Ablett was the best footballer.
“The best two players I have seen, they both have got the same names. It’s hard to split, his Dad was a great player and obviously junior is proving to be quite a freak himself.”
