The fifth game on Saturday for AFL Round 16 is between Port Adelaide Power and Essendon Bombers. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:10 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 Essendon Bombers.
Round:Round 16 , July 05, 2014 , 7:10 PM
Stadium:Adelaide Oval
Weather: 15° Possible shower.
Featured Bookmakers:
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Preview:
BOTH sides have an incredible amount to play for in this clash, with Port Adelaide competing for its spot in the top two, while Essendon needs the win to keep its finals hopes alive. The Power sit just a win clear of fifth-placed Geelong, albeit with a healthy percentage, and the Bombers remain four points out of the eight. They’ll be up against it at Adelaide Oval though, with the Power looking to rebound from their first defeat at the venue last weekend. Recent history is on the Bombers side though – they’ve won the last four of these encounters.
LAST FIVE TIMES
R15, 2013, Essendon 18.10 (118) d Port Adelaide 12.16 (88) at Etihad Stadium
R16, 2012, Essendon 19.13 (127) d Port Adelaide 11.11 (77) at AAMI Stadium
R2, 2012, Essendon 16.15 (111) d Port Adelaide 13.8 (86) at Etihad Stadium
R23, 2011, Essendon 17.18 (120) d Port Adelaide 17.11 (113) at Etihad Stadium
R7, 2010, Port Adelaide 17.7 (109) d Essendon 16.10 (106) at Etihad Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Essendon’s current winning sequence of four games against Port Adelaide is a club record; prior to this the Power had won 12 of 14 contests.
2. The Power continues to be a strong inside 50 team, taking the ball into the forward line an average of 57.7 times a match, ranking them second in the League. The Bombers are seventh with 51.9 entries a game.
3. In the Bombers’ win over the Power in 2013 it was the key forwards who proved the difference. Tom Bellchambers kicked five goals and Michael Hurley three.
4. Port Adelaide lost its first game at Adelaide Oval last week against Adelaide; it was only the second time this year it kicked less than 100 points in a game and their final score of 10.16 (76) was a new club low at the ground.
5. Essendon remains the number-one kicking side in 2014, averaging 230 a game. But Port Adelaide isn’t far behind, ranked third with 214.5 a game.
6. Robbie Gray’s superb season could spell trouble for Essendon. Not only is he equal first for goal assists this year, he has kicked 11 goals in his last three outings against the Bombers. Gray still only rates 125th in the Official AFL Player Ratings.
Teams:
PORT ADELAIDE 
B Cam O’Shea, Jack Hombsch, Dom Cassisi
HB Matthew Broadbent, Tom Jonas, Jasper Pittard
C Angus Monfries, Travis Boak, Kane Cornes
HF Jared Polec, Justin Westhoff, Matt White
F Robbie Gray, Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard
FOLL Matthew Lobbe, Ollie Wines, Brad Ebert
I/C Kane Mitchell, Jarman Impey, Hamish Hartlett,Aaron Young
EMG Tom Clurey, Benjamin Newton, Sam Gray
IN Cam O’Shea, Dom Cassisi, Aaron Young
OUT Jackson Trengove (Ankle), Sam Gray (Omitted), Alipate Carlile (Hamstring)
ESSENDON 
B David Myers, Cale Hooker, Mark Baguley
HB Courtenay Dempsey, Michael Hurley, Brendon Goddard
C Travis Colyer, David Zaharakis, Brent Stanton
HF Zach Merrett, Joe Daniher, Patrick Ambrose
F Jason Winderlich, Jake Carlisle, Paul Chapman
FOLL Patrick Ryder, Heath Hocking, Dyson Heppell
I/C Kyle Hardingham, Jackson Merrett, Ben Howlett, Jake Melksham
EMG Orazio Fantasia, Elliott Kavanagh, Dustin Fletcher
IN Mark Baguley, Jason Winderlich
OUT Dustin Fletcher (Omitted), Michael Hibberd (Ankle)
